LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At St. Mary's Church last night the vicar referred to the forthcoming licensing poll and urged the congregation to vote for prohibition. At other New Plymouth churches the licensing question was touched on at either the morning or evening services. The progress reports of the East EndNgamotu Holiday Queen Carnival are as follows: First count: Miss Lilia Bellringer 279, Miss Claudia Weston 208Results will be announced twice weekly. Votes may be bought and recorded at Hoffman's and Price's shops. At the meeting of the Eltham County Council on Saturday a letter was received from the State Advances Office 6tating that the Council's application for a loan of £IO,OOO had been granted. The chairman said that this would make the Council and the travelling public smile, for it would mean a tarred road from Eltham to Hawera.

His Honor the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, has been appointed a special commission by the Government for the purpose of inquiring into the dispute between Sir Joseph Ward and the Government in regard to the payment of a bonus to Post and Telegraph officials. During his visit to New Plymouth, the Commissioner has been carrying on this inquiry. Several important witnesses arrived here, representing the Postal Officers' Association, and these were examined by Sir Bobert. The report will be made to the Government when the inquiry is completeAt the meeting of the Eltham County Council on Saturday, the chairman urged that now they could borrow money from the Government for the purpose it would be a good idea to go into the question of building cottages for some of their workmen. He thought they should set up a committee to go into the matter. By providing cottages they would get a better class of men and" the men would become contented. Tlie chairman moved that a committee be set up to go into the matter, consisting of Councillors Campbell, McGuinness, the engineer and himself. The motion was seconded by Cr. McGuinness and carried. Cr. McGuinness said there were several places between Eltham and Awatuna where suitable areas might be obtained for workers' dwellings by arrangement with the Government. The Melbourne's special display of Christmas handkerchiefs and blouses is attracting considerable attention. Ladies' lovely presentation handkerchiefs in an infinite variety of designs 6d to 2s Bd; men's handkerchiefs, Is to 5s fjd; children's handkerchiefs, 4d, sd, and Od.

The New Plymouth tramways took in fares last month £IOSO, and the electric 'bus £B4. The connections with the electric mains were 30, and additions to existing connections 17. Speaking at the Opera House, Hawera, on Friday night, Mr. Mcllvride, states the Star, made a threat to the effect that if a Reform or Liberal Government were returned, industrial troubles in this country would only begin. In the Supreme Court on Saturday morning, the young man named William Donald Blair, who had been remanded for sentence on a charge of the theft and destruction of postal packets to which he had pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 18 months' reformative detention.

There were slaughtered in New Plymouth for local consumption last month, 183 cattle, 12 calves, G4B sheep, 170 lambs and 91 pigs, whilst 170. tripes, etc., were cleaned. Compared witli last November they show an increase of 30 cattle, 7 calves, 58 sheep, 07 lambs, 41 pigs, and 26 tripes, etc. One pig was condemned. Fees for the month amounted to 140 18s, an increase of £24 7s Id.

Mr. W. R. Harris, of Kakaramen, publicly acknowledges the help he has obtained from Mr. W. D. Powdrell. He says: "I wish to acknowledge his help of advice, backed in practical form by guaranteeing my accounts 'without charge or obligation in any shape or form.' I know of at least eight cases where Mr. Powdrell has and is assisting returned soldiers in South Taranaki, also of a soldier in Nelson, and another in Wellington, who were advised to consult Mr. W. D. Powdrell for assistance to secure suitable farms. His reputation for practical help to soldiers has travelled far."

At Hawera, on Friday evening, Mr. P. Fitzherbert, the Labor candidate for Patea, condemned the daily press in unmeasured terms, and recommended the people to read the Maoriland'Worker if they wanted the truth. He also said the small farmer had no representation in the House except by Fraser, Semple, and Holland. It is worthy of note that the Maoriland Worker was about the publication that opposed the Dominion's war efforts and endeavoured to set the workers against the military authorities, whilst the actions—and punishment—of Fraser, Semple, and Holland in"*connection with the way will never be forgotten by the loyal people of New Zealand. If ever such extreme and irresponsible men secured power, New Zealand would be a good country to live out of.

Mr. Wyverh Wilson, S.M., intimated at. the Magistrate's Court, Manaia, on Thursday that that would be his last sitting, as Mr. T. A- B. Bailey, S.M., of New Plymouth, was taking over both Mannia and Hawera, it being more convenient to work Hawera and Manaia from New Plymouth than from Wanganui. Mr. A. G. Bennett expressed the regret of the Bar at the removal ot Mr. Wilson, and wished him the compliments of the season. Mr. O'Dea also spoke, saying that Mr. Wilson had proved proved himself a strong Magistrate on the Bench, holding both counsel and witnesses with a 'strong hand. Mr. Wilson replied, saying that he regretted leaving such a prosperous district, and thanking the Bar tor their courtesy and consideration.

Reporting to the New Plymouth Borough Council, the General Manager 9tates: A further step forward was made during the month in connection with the proposed pnurchase of the Gas Company's int»rests by the appointment of Mr. Wm. Ferguson, consulting engineer of Wellington, to value the company's assets on behalf of the Council, in accordance with the arrangement made with the company permitting this to be done. Mr. Ford, representing Mr. Ferguson, has been here since Friday last, valuiug and taking an inventory of the plant and investigating the condition of the gas mains. This latter work has necessitated the opening up of the mcins in various parts of the Borough, and for the last few days has drawn very largely upon the limited number of workmen available in the borough engineer's department, some 37 holes having to be excavated in some cases through the tar macadam. Mr. Ferguson himself will visit New Plymouth about Christmas time, and anticipates being able to place his valuation in tile Council's hands early in February next.

At the Magistrate's Court, Hawera, on Friday, Mr. Wyvern Wilson delivered a lengthy written judgment in the case of Pama v. James and Gillman and the South Taranaki Building Company. Briefly, he found that the action for fraud failed, but that judgment would go for plaintiff against the defendant company on the other claim for £SO and costs. Concluding his judgment, his Worship said that the company was the undisclosed principal of both Mr. Lewis when he entered into the contract of agency, and of James and Gillman when they procured the contract of sale. It seemed to him that the contract of agency under which the defendants claimed a right to retain the deposit in settlement of their commission was void for illegality, and the plaintiff may recover the amount of money had anil received to their use. . . . As to defendant's contention that the plaintiffs had waived their right by completing the sale, he considered it was' a completion under protest, and.not a waiver. Security for appeal was fixed at £7s.—Star.

A settlement in the dispute between the New Plymouth plumbers and their employers was reached on Saturday. Both parties asked the M >r (Mr. James Clarke) to arbitrate in the matter and he consented to do so. but t when the conference met Mr. F. D, Payne, who acted for the men made it perfectly clear that nothing less than 2s Cd per hour would be accepted by the men. Mr. Clarke thereupon declined to arbitrate. He remained at the conference, however, and it was on his I suggestion that an agreement was ! reached, similar to that recently made between the Borough Council and its [general laborers, namely that provision should be made for paying a lower rate of wages to men who were less skilled than others. On that basis the increase ! to 2s Bd per hour was conceded by the employers. The agreement is for a term of twelve months, and where a | man does not come up to the standard his case is to be referred to a conference of employers and employees, to asrree upon the reduced wage to be paid him. This evening, Sir Robert Stout, K.CM.G,, is to deliver a lecture of very general interest to all who desire to keep in touch with the latest scientific I discoveries. The lecturer's exceptionally alert mind is richly stored with [knowledge of the surprising revelations recently announced by the Mount Wilson astronomers. A visit to the Good Templar Hall at 8 o'clock to hear this versatile exponent of the wonders of the heavens, will be amply repaid. A profitable butchery business is ad- , vertised for sale on page 1 by Messrs W. IE. 1 E. and J , McGarry. Slthain.