LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Maori fisherman, reported missing on Saturday lias landed aafely on the coast south of Gisborne.—Press Association. Napier reports a severe earthquake shock_ at 2.56 yesterday morning, the direction being west to east. Mr B. Tipping was yesterday appointed by the Taranaki County Council as collector of taxes under \tlie Countv bylaws. 3 3 Whakatane county ratepayers on Saturday carried loan proposals totalling £BO,OOO for road construction and plant, covering practically the whole county.—Press Association. A Maori who had been arrested on Saturday morning in an intoxicated condition was brought before Mr T. A. Bailey, S.M., yesterday. In view of the fact that he was a statutory first offender lie was convicted and discharged. The purchase of the Grand Hotel, Hastings, freehold for £30,000 has been completed by Mrs Phillips, of Wellington, from the Napier Brewery Co. Mrs Phillips has also purchased the lease, and she will enter into possession on November Ist. It is reported that she lias been offered, and has declined, £SOOO on her bargain. 'During the meeting of the Stratford School Committee -last night, a telegram was receiyed by the chairman from the Hon. J. B. Hine, containing the welcome news that Cabinet had made an additional grant of £SOOO towards the erection of the Stratford Technical High School. This makes, a total grant of £12,000 for the new school. It was decided to forthwith put in hand ararngements for the laying of the foundation stone. At a meeting of the Committee of the Inglewood Returned Soldiers' Association on October 4th., a resolution was unanimously carried as follows:—'"That in view of the fact that the 4| years War has so and that the country has passed through such a bitter experience as the result of the unprovoked horror that Germany launched on the world, we view with resentment tlip fact "that thosd but lately our enemies are taking up businesses in the town and urge strong measures to prevent this intolerable insult to returned soldier?." "I know of a teacher, an M.A. with 20 years' experience, who is only gettins 1 £27f> a year," interjected Mr H. Poland (Ohinemuri) in the House of Representatives the other day, when Mr G. R.'Svkes (Masterton) was making a strong appea! for better pay for teachers. Mr Sykes: "I know of similar cases." A Liberal member: "And they pay managers of bacon factories .-01200 a year!" Mr J. A .Young: "They are men of administfative ability and organising power." Mr C. ' 11. Poolo (Auckland West):. "Oh, that's butterfat." (Laughter.) A meeting of t' le Taranaki Workers' Council was held on Friday evening last, when strong exception was takeii by several speakers to the recent rise in the price of meat. Other matters dealt wii.h were the pay of chemists' assistants, the refusal of admission to the hospital without a medical certificate. and also the action of the Taranaki representative to the Education Conference in regard to free dental treatment for children. These matters are to be brought under the notice of the respective authorities. Picnic arrangements were reported to be well in hand.

All arrangements in connection with the Labor Day Sports are so well in hand in every detail that everything points to the {lathering being a complete success. The events are so numerous and varied that there will he no thill moments in between the items The programme of events, as will he seen by posters and advertisements, cater for eevrylyjdy, and the substantial prizes that are offered should attract a large number of competitors. The children are being specially catered for, it. being anticipated that the young ones will remember this outing above all others. In the evening a social and ihnee is to be held in the Coronation Hall. Mrs George's orchestra has been engager!, and the floor will receive the attention of a sperial committee set up for that purpose. The supper arrangements are in t)je Hands of a strong ladies' committee, who promise to excel all previous functions in this respect. The dance in the evening should prove a fitting finale to the day's programme.

"Taranaki has at last been discovered," said Cr. Clarke last night when the question of the production of a descriptive booklet for Taranaki was mentioned and a subsidy was asked for from the council to support the project. It was pointed out that the Government was subsidising the venture, and Cr. Clarke said it was the first time he had known the Government to wake up to the fact that it was worth while doing anything for Taranaki. The Mayor expressed ail opinion that ilie matter was one more for the business people or Chamber of Commerce, who, he thought, ought to support such a proposal. Cr. Collis said that Mr. Lawson, who was writing the booklet, had said that, so far as tourist attractions were concerned, the town of New Plymouth would get the lion's share of the booklet, and there seemed not to be many such attractions in the other places he had visited. He also pointed out that he knew of one recent visitor to the town who had spent £25 a week here, and lie thought that was a fair reason for trying to attract visitors to the place.

At last week's meeting of the Hew Plymouth Repatriation Board the question of establishing an industry for the benefit of injured soldiers was considered, it being stated that Mr H. Cocker was interesting himself in obtaining information regarding the weaving industry. By a recent mail Mr Cocker received a communication from a Sydney woollen firm containing information of considerable interest. Referring to the Weaving industry started by the N.S.W. Red Cross Society for returned soldiers, the firm state that the society has been fairly successful despite Federal Government opposition, and was still working and producing satisfactory woollens. The Victorian industry had not been so successful, but the industry there had been in a different position with regard to the supply of yarn. The N.S.W. industry was dependent on the Australian mills for their yarn, and it eoukl never get delivery of what it required. It had to be satisfied with what the mills would let the soldiers have. Therefore the cloths produced were according to the yarns supplied. The weaving was all done by hand looms which were made by returned soldiers. Production' was limited, as there were only about five or six looms. The price of the fancies was ISs per yard, and £1 for black and blue. Samples of the tweeds were forwarded, and they seem to be equal to Anything amde at home. ■