LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Daily News will not be published on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or New Year's Day. A Sydney cablegram reports the death of Mr. Samuel MeAuley, Comptroller of Prisons.

Mails despatched from New Zealand on November 8 arrived in London on the 16th inst. The Christehureh Sun confesses editorially that the southern city "can show more cranks to the acre than any other centre that could be named."

In his report to the Harbor Board yesterday Captain Waller stated that the Kia Ora, which recently visited New Plymouth, was the fifteenth home liner to berth at the wharf.

The latest count in the voting for the holiday queen carnival competition gave the following result: East End (Miss LBellringer) 715, Ngamotu (Miss Claudia Weston) 584. In his report to the Harbor Board yesterday the engineer stated that the No.' 2 tunnel on Moturoa Island would be completed about the 20th instant, ana that it had been arranged to fire the tunnel at 3 p.m. on New Year's Day. The Malaita, which is expected to arrive at the New Plymouth breakwater on Saturday or Sunday, has a full cargo of guano consigned to the Farmers' , Co-op. Organisation Society of New Zealand, Ltd.

A summary report of the operations of the savings banks in France for 1917 and 1918 shows that the confidence of depositors. in the stability of these institutions has not diminished during the past two years. During the period from January 1 to October 1, 1919, the excess of deposits over withdrawals amounted to 750,251,431 francs, wfiich total constitutes a record. A London cable states it is noteworthy that while communications for the Germans at Scapa Flow were sent to London and were examined by the censor, Admiral von Trotsa's letter to Admiral von Renter evaded the censor. It is believed that it was hidden in a loaf of bread brought among the provisions by the transports which arrived at Scapa Flow on the same day as Admiral von Reuter issued instructions for the sinking of the interned vessels.

"Builders making fortunes! Don't you believe it," said a master builder to a News' representative the other day "I will show you. I've just finished the erection of a flve-roomed house that I started for my&elf when I had 110 work in hand for my staff. I've just checked the accounts and made up the cost. The building, which is well constructed of the best timber, has run out at £987. A few years ago I could have built it for £550." The reporter asked him how he accounted for this huge increase. Ho replied that in 1914 he landed a shipment of timber in New Plymouth for 8s 3d per 100 ft. It is now costing 38s. Roofing iron was then £ls.per ton; it is now from £55 to £6O. Cement was £3 7s 6d; it is now £7. Wages were: Is 3d carpenters, Is Id laborers; now they are 2s 3d to 2s 6d for .carpenters and Is 8d for laborers. "We used to cast up the cost of a house at- 6d per cubic foot; the amount is now Is 6d. Will prices ever come down? That's difficult to say. I know this, I could make more money out of building before at low prices than I can now out of high ones"

Since the beginning of this year, 49,042 soldiers have returned to the Dominion and demobilisation cards for them referred to the Repatriation Department. The position on November "20 was that only 218 men were on tha lists as "awaiting employment," while at the date of the report only 11 men were in receipt of the unemployment allowance pending their engagement. The position in regard to vocational training is equally satisfactory. A total of 526 have completed their training, while 1781 are now employed under the Department's subsidised wages scheme, and 803 are receiving sustenance while attending technical classes. Altogether 75,707 demobilisation cards are on the Department's flies, but apparently fewer than 18,OOC discharged soldiers have had to seek its assistance in finding employment, in equipping themselves for civil occupations, or in starting in business. In addition to these figures is the record of that great branch of repatriation, the settlement of soldiers on the land. The outstanding fact, however, is that the whole force mobilised for active service is being re-established in civil life smoothly and rapidly, a result that demonstrates the efficiency and the enthusiasm of the Eepatriation Department and all its agencies and the prosperity of the country. The special monthly service for the people will be held in the Whiteley Memorial Church, Liardet Street, on Sunday evening at seven o'clock. In harmony with the season, there will be a Christmas festival of song, a large, choir and orchestra, conducted by Mr. R. Laurie Cooper, rendering a number of Messiah choruses and Christmas carols. A brief Christmas homily will be given by the Rev. J. Napier Milne, and the subject will be "The view from the stable door and the cottage window." Residents, visitors from other parts of the Dominion, people who do not go to any of the churches, will be cordially welcomed. There will be a short musical service at 0.45. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile draw attention to their final sale this year, in their Stratford yards, on Tuesday next, at 12 noon. Particulars on pajje eitfht of this issue

A poll was taken at Wauganui yesterday on a proposal to borrow £140,000 for tramways plant and. extensions. The proposal was approved Dy a two to one majority.—Press Association. It is said that much disquietude is being caused in the Dunedin building business by offers (certainly of a tempting nature) being made to reliable craftsmen to transfer their quarters to the North Island. Labor supporters were prominent throughout the day (says the-New Zealand Times, writing of election aay in Wellington), and more red badges were noticed than have been seen on the occasion of any other election. In his valedictory notice, Mr G. V. pearce states: "I am more than pleased that this seat has been won by the Reform Party, though it is the first time for eleven years that it has been gained on a minority vote." It }s understood that the eleven New Zealand graduates from the Duntroon Military College, who arrived from Sydney this week, will next year be drafted into the Indian Army for the purpose of gaining experience before taking up staff work in New Zealand.

At yesterday's meeting of the Harbor Board the engineers reported that the .result of the explosion at Moturoa recently was thoroughly up to their expectations, and the passage between the island and Lion Rock had been reduced in depth by an average of 6ft 2iin all along the line.

At the Magistrate's Court, Hawera, yesterday, the licensee of the Dominion Hotel was lined £lO and costs on a charge of Sunday trading, the Magistrate advising him to be very careful in future. The licensee of the Okaiawa Hotel was also fined £lO and costs for supplying liquor to a Native for consumption off the premises in a proclaimed district. During the course of his lecture in New Plymouth last night, Mr. B. E. Murphy, lecturer in economics at Victoria University, Wellington, said that the two most successful students he had in his class during the past year came from Taranaki. Mr. Murphy said he, would be glad to pay another visit to New Plymouth, because it was felt by the lecturers that as Victoria University was the centre of education for Taranaki as well as Wellington it should extend its scope beyond Wellington. A meeting of the West End School Committee and Kawaroa Park Committee was held last night (Mr, W. Thomson presiding), when the accounts in connection with the recent gala day were submitted. These showed a credit balance of about £7B, which will be equally divided between the two committees. Considering the unfavorable weather, the result was considered very satisfactory. Votes of thanks were unanimously passed to the Kawaroa Park Committee, and especially the ladies, to'whom undoubtedly the success of the function was due. Mr. Beal, president of the Kawaroa Park Committee, in acknowledging the compliment, paid a tribute to the splendid work of the children, their parents and the teachers.

The New Zealand publishers (Whitcombe and Tombs) have just published some Christmas books and booklets for young folk written and illustrated by New Zealanders. They are very creditable productions, attaining a standard even higher than the majority of imported publications of the same nature. We have to acknowledge copies of "Adventures of Toby," and "Sphinx in Flowerland," by Alister McClunie, illustrated by Alice Poison, and "The Enchanted Packman," by the same writer and artist, both bright and cheerful books that make suitable Christmas presents for ; girls and boys, whilst for the little one there are "Little Make Believe,7 and "The Bonny Book of Humorous Verse," both by Isabel M. Peacocks, illustrated by Trevor Lloyd; as well as "Little Make Believe," by Edith Houper, illustrated by Alice Poison. They all smack of New Zealand and should find, as they merit, a ready sale, especially at this time of the year. The alterations and additions to the usual railway service at Christmas are advertised on page one of this issue, and attention is drawn thereto. The rooms of the New Plymouth branch of the Plunket Society will be closed from December 23 to January 2. Owing to boiler alterations, the Municipal hot water baths at New Plymouth will not be available until next Tuesday. Buyers of Christmas gifts are invited to view the Melbourne, Limited's, fine windqw display of shirts, ties and handkerchiefs for men and boys, and also the beautiful assortment of ' pretty blouses and handkerchiefs for ladies. All goods extremely moderately priced.