LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Prime Minister has received from Sir George Foster, Acting-Prime Minister of the Dominion of Orada, the following telegram:—"There is not now, and has not been, any prohibition of export news print from Canada to New Zealand."

Previous advices were to the effect that the transport Buapehu—the last boat by which troops are returning—was to arrive at Wellington, but the authorities received information .yesterday that she is now expected at Auckland on January 29th.

An unusually small overseas mail is being brought from Vancouver by the Makura, due at Auckland to-morrow morning. The vessel has under 300 bags, and this is thought to include only American and Canadian mails. The steamer Northumberland, which is due at Auckland on Monday next, will probably bring an Australian mail for New Zealand.

The price of packet tea lias taken a jump since Christmas, and it is a rise which will make the thrifty housewife a (leal more careful than has been necessary in the past (sayj'the Dominion). There is a little fluctuation in the price which retailers have been compelled to charge, hut, generally speaking- the rise represents a jump of about 8d per lb. There are teas selling now in Wellington at from 3s to 3s 6d per lb that wero purchasable a year ago at 2s and 2s 6d. The rise in the price of tea—like everything else—is universal. One tea me'rchant slates that for a fair value tea in London Ss fid per lb was being paid. 'At New Plymouth loose tea is selling at 2s fid per lb and packet tea at 3s.

The Government has received no official advice as to the coming of the Prince of Wales to New Zealand this year, but it is taken for granted that lie is coming, and that the suggested dates, about April, will prove to be approximately correct. The Prince will remain in New Zealand for about ft month. One important effect of the visit of His Royal Highness to the Dominion will be that it will make it impossible for members of Parliament, to visit Samoa before next session. The trip to Samoa would occupy not loss than six- weeks. It is not possible for (he Parliamentary party to leave for Samoa before Ifarch, and this means that it will not be possible for the trip to be made before the coming of the Prince to New Zealand. And afterwards there will not be time. Important as the visit to Samoa promised to be, it seems to be impossible this year.

A cable from London says the 'Varsity boat race will be resumed on March 27.

The revenue for the port of Wanganui was ft record last year, amounting to £26,229, compared with £21,940 in 1918 and £14,767 in 1912.—PreBS Association.

The latest figures in connection with the New Plymouth Seaside Queen Carnival are: Miss L. Bellringer (East End Queen) 1755; Miss C. Weston (Ngamotu Queen) 1745. At the meeting of the Clifton County Council yesterday morning Cr. Muske'r referred to the fact that bridges on the main road were limited to 3% tons. He considered that this should not be and that the council should take steps to raise the bridge loan.

In pipe tobacco the main supplies come from Australia, and shipping to Auckland (says the Star) has been so irregular lately that arrivals have been quite inadequate to meet the requirements of the public. The chief cigarette tobaccos come from England, and they are also in short supply, while several of the leading brands of cigarettes aro unobtainable wholesale. The general position is due to a world shortage. Stocks in Australia are low, while a short crop in America has left all the great consuming countries with reduced supplies. During the war, and especially since the return of the troops, every country seems to have developed an increased demand for tobacco, and there is some curiosity as to why it is so pronounced. In England the consumption has increased so much as to attract universal attention. It is suggested there that much of the increased consumption is due to the weaker sex having developed a taste for smoking during the war, partly owing to their munition work and their general entry into avocations formerly monopolised by men. The troubles of a toll-gate collector were ventilated to some extent at the meeting of the Clifton County Council yesterday when, in response to an application from the Taranaki Farmers' Meat Co. asking if the council could charge them monthly with tolls on stock passing through the toll-gate instead of the drivers having to pay each time, the engineer remarked" th'aE the toll collector would sav that the council required a clerk and not a toll collector He pointed out that even now there were numerous matters that cropped' up and had to be gone into each week and he was averse to giving the toll collector any further trouble. Some of the councillors also held that monthly payment might lead to friction, and it could surely be no hardship on the drover to pay each time. It was accordingly resolved that the council regretted it was unable to accede to the. request.

A meeting of the committee and guarantors in connection with the visit of Ihe N.S.W. State Orcli«etra to New Ply. mouth was held last nisht, for the purpose of arranging for the entertainment of the visitors during their short stay here. < • Several suggestions were made and the decision ultimate]v arrived at Ras to give them a motor outing around the environs of New Plymouth durin" the afternoon of Thursday next. A mim°ber of those present offered their cars for the purpose, and the committee felt confident that there would be a sufficient number of people who have motor-ears who would he willing to assist in giving the party of SO or DO Australian visitors ft pleasant outing lor an hour or two A very generous offer was received from Mr. and Mrs C. H. Burgess to entertain the party to afternoon tea at "The Meeting of the Waters," and this the committee decided to accept with very sincere appreciation Anyone with 'a motor, who could accommodate, «av our members of the orchestra, willing to help , the committee provide this simple outing for the town's guests, is asked to communicate with the secretary or the local committee, Air R L Copper, immediately. A start will be made from the Post Offics *t 2 p.m., and it is anticipated the party will be back in town again by about 5 o'clock-

The Melbourne Ltd. have a fine ot men s, women's, and children's twopiece bathing costumes, at the following prices: Jiavy stockinette, men's, 5s Gd" youths 4s Ud; b yfi , 3a ed . ; omen , s: in ', • women - s > fi s Cd; girls' 4s el AH wool costumes 12s 6d,