LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An Auckland district newspaper, the Tuakau Press, has ceased publication. Under the stress of the high cost and scarcity of paper many country journals find it difficult to keep going. The Tuakau Press is the first to succumb to present adverse conditions. It has been found that the poison of the bee is an almost infallible test as to whether a person is likely to succumb under an anaesthetic. If a person suffered from, nervous weakness a bee sting on the hand would cause a largo swelling 1 and affect the glands of the body. The person should not be operated upon. The unselfish spirit of the New Zealand soldier was once again exemplified on the trip of the Rimutaka from the United Kingdom. , While the vessel was at Capetown one of the firemen, E. Paget, died, and the "Diggers," hearing that the man had left a widow and two children, at once made a collection, the result being that a substantial sum was raised. A sheep farmer asks whether the editor or some reader can supply for the information of subscribers the text of the agreement under which wool has been purchased by the Imperial Government, also a statement of the position with regard to the surplus due on account of the past three seasons' wool sold in the open market. One local fanner visited the Lonffon wool sales and saw his own clip, for which he had received Is 3d, sold at 3s 3d by the Government, and naturally asks where he stands in this transaction. A party of motorists recently made the trip between Wellington and Auckland in a Rolls-Royce three-seater car in excellent time, although not attempting •to put up a record. The distance between Auckland and Wellington, via Napier, is over 500 miles, and this was covered in 22 hours. The best portion of the road was over the Tokeroa Plains, where a speed of -lit) miles an hour was easily attained. The worst section of the route was the Rangiriri Hills, where in some places the pace had to be dropped to between five and six. miles an hour. The Melbourne, Ltd., reports quite a keen demand for the following lines of cotton goods in view of the recent heavy advances at Home. Horrockses 36in A.l, calico Is lid yard; nursery flannelette la 6d yard; 36in heavy flannelettes Is lid and 2s 3d yard; Horrockses' famous Ideal twill flannelette, 36ins wide, 3a fid yard.

Owing to the rough weather yesterday, the continuation of the cricket competition was abandoned.

The Fire Brigade received a call in New Plymouth last evening. The scene of the fire was a small wash-house in Pendarves Street, and the outbreak wa3 easily extinguished.

Reports from the Hawke'a Bay, Poverty Bay, Wanganui, Nelson, and Marlborough districts indicate that satisfactory fruit crops are being secured this season.

The Victoria College Council has decided to ask Sir Robert Stout to prepare a congratulatory address to be delivered by him on behalf of the University at the forthcoming anniversary celebrations in connection with the Otago University.

The value of building permits issued by the Hawera Borough engineer for December amounted to £43-25. Two dwellings were included, and the balance was for additions to premises and workshops. Notwithstanding the increase in the cost of materials, a good deal of building is going on in the town just now. —Star.

Another step towards the erection of the new school at Opunake was taken yesterday, when Mr. P. J. H. White, a member of the Taranaki Education Board, with Mr. C. H. Moore, the Board's architect, visited Opunake. The site was selected and a contract let for the supply of shingle, so that the building of the new school will be proceeded with as soon as possible. Whatever were the discomforts on account of the weather last night, or on account of the improvised arrangements for seating, the large audience at the Coronation Hall for the State Orchestra concert, New Plymouth may well feel proud of the compliment paid it by the conductor (Mr. Henri Verbrugghen), who, without solicitation, offered the opinion that last night's audience was the most attentive to which he had yet played in New Zealand.

Advice has been received by the Victoria College Council of the impending arrival in New Zealand of Dr. Stokes, secretary of the Yale University. Dr. Stokes originally intended to be present at the Otago University anniversary celebrations, but he will not now reach New Zelaand in time for this event. As he 13 prepared to spend some time touring New Zealand, the council decided last evening to refer to the Professorial Board the question of asking him to deliver an address under the auspices of the University. At Wednesday's meeting of the Eawera Borough Council, a plan was received from the District traffic Manager of Railways, showing the- proposed new station at Hawera. The District Engineer stated his intention of waiting on the Mayor in connection with the matter. The Council decided to meet at the locality on Wednesday afternoon next at 3 p.m., and that an invitation be sent to the Hawera County Council, members of the Chamber of Commerce, and the chairman of the Town-planning Association. It seems that the unfortunate man Evans, one of the victims of the Kilbirnie tram accident at Wellington, met his death while in the act of trying to stop the runaway car. In the last few seconds preceding the crash he was seen endeavoring to lift the motorman up, and immediately afterwards endeavor to apply the brakes. His courageous act and presence of mind undoubtedly cost him his life (says the Dominion), for had he remained in the. body of the car he would have probably escaped with slight injuries.

"There seems to be, quite a mistaken idea in the pity that the drought has had a had effect upon the feed in the King Country," writes a correspondent. "But farmers who attended the recent dairying conference pay that there has been no dearth of rain; in fact, in many parts tliere has been too much. One dairy farmer said that for six mornings recently the milkers had to go out in the pouring rain. In many places between Te Kuiti and Tamnarunni feed is abundant, and on some of the newer farms which have lately come under cultivation the country is looking- splendid. Just one corner of the northern end. near the Waihito boundary, seems to be very near dry, and the pasture is suffering;, hut this <js just one of those strange freaks connected with the rainfall which often occurs."

"All my experience in the Old Country and in America," said Dr. Trnby King to a Chiistchurch pressman, "has simply gone to confirm and accentuate the New Zealand position with regard to the welfare of women and children, and its relationship to national fitness and prosperity. I am more than ever impressed with the paramount need of recognising that mother and child should be inseparable—that they should be regarded as an indivisible unit—during the first year or so of the child's life. The worst thing that could happen to any nation is the abandonment of home life in order that, married women may earn their living in industrial and other pursuits at the time when the first requirements of the child are not only that it should be fed with breast milk, but that it should be nurtured at the mother's own breast. It is not only the duty, but it is the privilege of the mother, as essential for herself as for the child, that this natural relationship should be retained. Any other course is the broad road to economic inefficiency and the injury and decadence of the race, not only from the bodily point of view, but from the mental and moral standpoint." While in Europe attending the Peace Conference, the Prime Minister arranged with the Admiralty that a ship suitable for training purposes should be handed over to New Zealand. Captain Hooper, of the Training Ship Amokurf., who left for England on June 24th last in order to inspect a number of vessels offered by the Admiralty, and select one to replace the Amokura, has now recommended to the Government that as H.M.S Sapphire is the most suited for the purpose, she be accepted, and it has been decided to take the vessel. The Sapphire was launched in 1904 and completed in 1005. She is a protected thrid-class cruiser of 3000 tons displacement, 360 ft in length, 40ft beam, 14ift draught, and 10,200 indicated horse-power. Her original speed was 22.45 knots, but as the maximum speed for the vessel when used as a training ship will not require to be more than 14 knots, the indicated horse-power is to be reduced by removing some of the boilers, thus 'releasing space to provide coal and water storage and extend the mess decks. Other alterations required will be the removal of the guns and torpedo equipment, etc and rebuilding of bulwarks, the erection of a covering deck to house the boats, and other general work to lit her for her new duties. She will probably not arrive in New Zealand waters for two and tinea au^tfeg.

Reporting to a recent meeting of the Eawera Borough Council, the borough inspector said: "During the month of December there has been a slight increase of notifications of infectious diseases sent to Inspector Gray, of the Health Department, from the" Borough of Hawera. Mr. Gray informed me that the general health of the borough has been very satisfactory for some time back; the outside districts fairly so. The past month reports within the borough consist of 8 cases of influenza—the majority mild—3 cases of pneumonia, 2 cases of diphtheria, and 1 case of measles.

At the annual meeting of the New Plymouth Coursing Club, the secretary reported that the committee had don'.-, a great deal of. work at the club's ground at "Glenavon," and that the forthcoming Waterloo Cup meeting should be a great success, support having been promised from all over the Taranaki province. The home for the hares had been much improved, and he Baid no difficulty should be experienced in having a good supply of hares for the season. The enclosure had been enlarged, and .was now the finest ground in the Dominion. The secretary (Mr. G. Bruce), having tendered his resignation owing to ill-health, Mr. Fred Doughty was elected in his place, with Mr. Frank Nichol as treasurer. The subscription svas fixed at 10s per member.

At a local bodies' conference some time back, mention was made that there was a large area of unoccupied land in Waitotara County. Tho matter was

brought under the notice of the Minister'for Lands by Mr. W. A. Veitch, M.P. The Minister for Lands now states that there are only 148 acres of unoccupiedland in the Waitotara portion of the Wellington land district, but there is a considerable area higher up the river and in the Taranaki land district, and within a line bounded on the south by the Pipiriki West road and on the north by the Whangamomona stream. Much of the land is very rough, and only fit for settlement in large areas. It is intended to throw open ,7000 or 8000 acres as early as possible.