LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., Ernest Parfitt, who was charged on two informations with the theft of building materials, was further remanded, on the application of the police, until January 15th.

In connection with the aerious collision at Rawhitiroa Koad, Eltham, on Tuesday, between a motor-cycle, ridden by two youths iimne'd Knuckey, and a horse and gig, the Argus corrects its report as to the gig having no light, Mr. Glentworth having stated that a light was carried on the rigtit-hand side. In reply to the/Argus' enquiry yesterday, it was ascertained that Alfred Knuckey had not fully regained consciousness, but appeared to be improving.

The first ascent of Mount JEgmont this season took place on Tuesday, when a party made the journey from Dawson's Falls. The day was gloriously favorable, and the climbers were rewarded by a treat such as comes rarely in a lifetime. The parly consisted* of Mrs B. Cleland (Kaponga), Miss A. Hanna (Christchureh), and Messrs J. C. Tole (Auckland), Stuart Spence (Hawerat, Douglas Fox (Oknto), and J..A. and J. T. lnkster (Wanganui).—Hawera Star.

The Auckland Star celebrated its jubilee yesterday by a special issue giving a history of the paper and reminiscences of the early days. The occasion was marked by a presentation to Mr. Henry Brett, the founder nnd managing director of the company, of a congratulatory address bearing the signatures of over 300 present employees representing all departments.

Touching on the scarcity of butter in England, Mr. J. B. Murdoch, one of the delegates who have just returned, informed the meeting of dairy factory delegates at Hawera yesterday, that during the whole time lie was in England he had only eaten butter on about ten occasions. He had had margarine, which was so bad that one preferred to eat dry bread- He predicted that with the present scarcity, if New Zealand Were given a free market at Home, its butter would realise probably as hign as 5s per lb. In fact, people would have butter at any price.

Mr. H. E. Holland, in an interview with the Patea Press, said, in reference to the strength of the present Labor Party, that the election result had left the lines more clearly drawn than ever before. The position was eminently more satisfactory from a Labor viewpoint than it could possibly have been had the Labor Party held the balance of power in a House in which the Masspv and Ward parties were evenly divided. Tjhe Labor Party in the' new Parliament would lie a fighting party, and he predicted thev would put "up even a better h>ht than that which the five Labor members had nut up in the last sesuion. On the future activities of the Labor Party. Mr. Holland stated that the work before them was the work of education "Trmnisation.

The famous New Soutli Wales State Orchestra, which is visiting New pjy. month on Thursday, January 15, was received with tremendous enthusiasm on its recent visit to Melbourne. The Australian Musical News states that after the first two concerts, no seat was vacant in any part of the house, while taking the aggregate series of concerts literally hundreds who desired to be present found themselves crowded out. It is anticipated that for the New Plymouth concert tickets will soon he at a premium, and readers are advised to book their seats at once, unless they are prepared to run the risk of being met with that disappointing statement "No room left."

A witness in the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday displayed unusual temerity in relating the precise Innguago alleged to have been used by a man who was charged with using indecent language. He said the language was unbearable, and preferred not to repeat the words, and so the Magistrate said he might write the words down. Tli is was done, and Mr. Bailey remarked there did not seem to be anything very unbearable about the language written down. A little homily was then given on the quality of language—from bad to indecent to obscene. The Magistrate said it was important that he should know the actual words used by the accused, snd asked that if any 'worse words than those written down were used they also should be written. "You won't shock me or the police," said Mr. Bailey, "we are accustomed to hearing such things." The quarterly meeting of officials of the New Plymouth Methodist Circuit was held in Wliiteley Hall on Wednesday evening. The Rev. J. Napier Milne, presided and there were also present, the Revs. H. L. Richards and John Nixon, and a good attendance of representatives from the various churches in the circuit. The membership returns for the quarter showed an increase of eight. The financial position was considered very satisfactory, and in spite of unusually heavy expenditure there was a credit balance in the circuit account of £l3 Is KM. It was decided to retain the Rev. John Nixon as third minister for another year. Mr. P. J. White retired from office as senior circuit steward, and Mr. W. Ambury moved up into his place, Mr. J. C. Yorke being appointed junior steward. Messrs White and Ambury were appointed representatives to attend the conference which opens in Auckland at the end of February. A committee was set up to consider and make recommendations to the quarterly meeting, regarding matters relating to the finances of the circuit. A large amount of routine business waa also transuM

A cable received from Sydney last night announces the departure of the Kigoma for Wellington.

It seems somewhat odd to find that in a land that is noted for its dairying that New Zealand imports of milk and cream (preserved) for nine months of last year came to a total of £19,320.

There is a good deal of petty thieving going on. The other day a resident of the Junction Road, just out of New Plymouth, had a coil of wire taken away from near a fence in front of his property. About the same time a neighbor was relieved of three coils from a shed near his house, whilst a Chinese market garden in the vicinity was raided and several sacks of vegetables taken.

The success which marked the opening of the trout fishing season in the Hawera Acclimatisation Society's district is, states the Star, bemg well maintained! Excellent catches are being obtained, the average weight being 13/ 4 lb and even up to 21b. In the past l|lb was considered to be a good average. Licenses have been issued in large numbers, and the season will prove to be the beat in the history of the society, said Mr. B. C. Bennett, president of the society, to a Star reporter yesterday.

Speaking at the meeting of representa- j Uviis of Taranaki dairy factories that was held at Hawera yesterday, Mr. Chapman (Jolls) stressed the necessity of adopting a policy of advertising our produce on Home markets. New Zealand had a good footing in the Old Country, and he considered that the present time would be a good opportunity for advertising on the systematic lines that were adopted by Denmark and other countries. He was sure that the delegates on their trip Home must have noticed the amount of advertising done by our foreign competitors. The chairman (Mr. A. Morton) said that the time was not an opportune one for a discussion of that question, which, however, might be brought up at the meeting that would be held to discuss the delegates' report. This, he intimated, would be held as soon after Mr Forsyth's return an practicable, In connection with the visit of the N.S.W. State Orchestra, a special souvenir programme has been issued. A novel feature has been introduced in its compilation by which it can be used throughout the whole tour of the Dominion. There are sixty-eight items iu the repertoire, which includes overtures, symphonies, ballet suites, and many other orchestral items, both well known and new. There are also violin and piano concertos, as well as soprano and baritone vocal solos. Annotations have been written for all these by Mr. Henri Verbrugghen, so that all who listen to the plaving or singing, as the case may be, will be able to follow the reasons for Mr. Verbrugghen's interpretations. This is claimed by the management to be the finest compilation of its kind ever published. Says the Dunedin Star: Hardware merchants in New Zealand sav that the difficulty of procuring supplies from overseas is greater now than even during the war. British manufacturers are chock-a-block with orders for months ahead, and, whilst booking, they expressly notify that they cannot promise to ship by fixed dates, also that the prices must be as at the date of shipping. There does not seem to he much prospect of relief from America, since the steel companies of the United States of America and Canada have cancelled orders for wire and nails and other goods owing to the strike. In the circumstances, prices all round have a firming tendency, and stocks are running short, and we are told that importers" cannot see anv sign of anything happening to ease the position. British eorrucatod iron, 2G gauge, is to-dav at £SO to" £57 per ton in Dunedin, and it will probably be dearer in the course of the next two or three months.