LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1919, Page V

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is reported from Tauranga that an octopus measuring about twelve feet I from tip to tip of its tentacles was recently c-ptured off Motu Otau Island, Tauranga. It was reported at Saturday's meeting of the Hawera County Council that there was about £II,OOO in rates outstanding, and the chairman suggested that a notice should be inserted requesting ratepayers to pay up promptly. Discussing the motives which actuated people to vote, Mr. Clutha Mackenzie said, at a meeting recently, that there was in the Auckland East electorate an old lady, who refused to vote or even to have her name on the roll, because she thought there were too many diseased dogs about the streets of Auckland. A farmer, who recently returned to the Wairarapa from the'Waikato district, says that next season dairymen who supply the dried milk factories havo been guaranteed 2s Od per lb. for butter fat. He contends that grade dairy cows will nest season be selling from £3O to £SO in the VVaikato. Organised brutality in the city grows worse and worse in its deliberate refusal of free speech. Mr. Pirani's recent meeting was remarkable for the worst specimen of mob rule which appeared to be the extremist idea of statesmanship. The public is being taught to prepare for the tyranny of a mob rule Government which will call itself Socialist.—N.Z. Times.

The municipal band recital which was given at the Ngamotu palladium yesterday afternoon" attracted a large gathering of the public. The band played a generous programme, which included a number of appropriate items and favorite selections, and also several new pieces, among which were the overture 'Vanessa" (Etherington), march "Joyce's 71st Regiment" (Boyer), and Clarke's -Warche Aux Flambeaux." Mr. W. H. Perry, of Carrington Road, had the misfortune to lose by fire his country farm house at Tututawa and the whole of the furniture, in the early hours of Thursday morning last. The house contained six rooms, and while the fire is believed to have commenced in the kitchen,.there are no means of ascertaining the cause of the conflagration. There was only a. very small insurance on the property. When a ratepayer/who waited on the Moa Koad Board on Saturday, was offering explanations in regard to his stock straying on the roads, the chairman said the Board had only one policy m regard to. straying stock and that was to discountenance the thing altogether. Another member of the Board said he had been driving some sheep along one of the Board's roads recently and a straying horse ran in amongst them and "Wired two ewes and killed one lamb. He thought the Board Bhould insist on stock being kept off the roads unless under proper control. The solo and quartette competitions in connection with the Citizens r Band are to take place in the Good Templar Hall on Friday evening n W t. A charge of one shilling ls being made for admiision the proceeds going to the bandsmen's Christmas benefit fund. There will be at least seven quartette parties which are aid to be of fairly even quality, and there will be about twelve in the solo competition. It u likely that the junior sections will be commenced at about 0 o clock in order to get through in one evening. 6

To a juryman asking for exemption from service in the Supreme Court at Wellington his Honor, Sir W B Edwards, after perusal of a written "document handed to him, said: "Yes, I think you deserve to be excused on account of your courage. A man who is undergoing medical treatment from a person who is not a duly qualified medical practitioner is entitled to exemption, if only for his courage » The juryman mentioned the name of the treatment. "You may go" said his Honor. "I congratulate you on your courage." During the discussion at the meeting of ratepayers of the Egmont County and members of the Hospital Board at Onu S£f °h S f T - Moß «yolds said that, he had heard a lot about the scarcity of nurses; but the Xew Ply" month hospital turned out some of the th! m 'f e \r d h ' e asked wh «e did they go? Why could not one of these b r Se " t0 Opmake at £2OO per annum. Mr. M. Fraser (the chairman of the Board) said that the scarcity was to some extent due to the high sa f al . ie3 that were prevalent at private hospitals So great was the shortage that the GovernEngland who had put in three or four years service during the war.

At the Magistrate's Court, Kew Plymouth, o n Saturday before Mr T A B. Bailey, 5.M.,. Eriert Parfitt, laborer,' ?L« f°; y ' Was - ? ar - ?ed W with the theftof two windows, one door and a quantity of timber valued at £lO and (2) with the theft of a quantitv of rubberoitl vaMed at £4 10s. Mr. Croker appeared on behalf of the accused, who pleaded not guilty. One of the witnesses in connection with the second charge is absent from New ±>lvmouth and Sub-Inspector Hutton asked for a remand on this charge. Mr Croker thereupon asked that a remand be'granted on the other charge also, so that the two could be taken together Are mand was ultimately granted until next

™. f> y * cllo,urshi P which was not comport for during the past few years owing to the war, ha, again been"! wed, and the sports in connection with the same will be hold nt the New Ply. K ys ' High Scllool on Saturda y # The breaking-up concert and pri?egiving ceremony in connection with the l'rankley Road School are to be held thi, wck. The Westown side school cr! Kail on Wednesday evening, and a splendid programme baa been arranged The children will render a number of varied items, whilst some prominent New Plymouth vocalists will also assist. A dance w,ll follow. On Friday evcnirifithe mam. school will hold its concert and pme-giving ceremony in the Franklev gymnasium. > J fhfw i n £7 8 J , is bein S manifested in the West End School gala day at-Kawa-roa Park on Thursday Gifts are s™l oomnig m freely for the various Btalls, and complete arrangements have been made to ensure an enjoyable afternoon's entertainment-for all motions of the crowd that is expected. Aitlfi da , nCe ''" aid of tlle **dAlmature of Oaontii's nominee at the Ominake Queen carnival, will be held in the Oaonm Hall on Friday evening added to the Melbourne Ltd.'s fine stock durmg the past few days. Conspicuous among many others are some beaut°fu shell pink and white crepe de ehine a FuiT 1" W- AlS ° s °«e «eam JjW silk with stnped Fuji cdllars at