LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A message has been received by the Prime Minister from the High Commissioner to the effect that the immediate cause of Lord Plunket'3 deatli was haemorrhage of the stomach. The Governor-General has dispatcher the following cable to Lady Plunket:~ The Government and people of New Zealand join with Lady Liverpool and myself in expressing our great grief at the death of Lord Plunket. former Governor of this Dominion, and our deepest sympathy with you and your family in vour sorrow.

The University Senate at Bunedin (lidded that the number of junior University scholarships be ten, and adopted a committee's recommendation to kcrease the value of the junior and tie senior scholarships in view of the increased cost of living (says a telegram from Dunedin.) On arriving from Wellington yesterday afternoon the Corinna anchored in tin stream to await medical inspection. Dr Home visited the vessel, but found that the only complaint, which was believed to be influenza, was only caused by a bad cold. He, therefore, gave permission for the vessel to berth, and this was done at 2.45 p.m.

A Native, who spent a month in gaol awaiting trial on a charge of forging what is now proved to be his own name, was brought before the Gisborne Magistrate and released. It appears that accused had overdrawn his account at the bank and fearing the consequences when questioned about the cheques he had issued, concealed his identity, therebyleading to the forgery charge. Since the last rise in the price of tobacco took place many men have been threatening to cease smoking as a protest, but it ha 3 been left to the Auckland waterside' workers to formally ban tobacco. Several hundred of the' men, who were sheltering from the rain in their waiting shed on Saturday, unanimously passed a resolution pledging themselves to refrain from smoking, find lo urge others to do the same, until a substantial reduction was made in the price of tobacco.

A number ofc changes of clergy in Catholic parishes are announced :—Tlie Very Rev. Dean Tubman, S.M., is leaving Timaru to take up his duties as parish priest to Hokitika, in place of Rev. Father Clancy, S.M., who is going to Napier. The Dean will be succeeded by Rev- Father Hurley, of Wellington. The Eev. Father Bartley, S.M., of Timaru, will take up professional duties at St. Bede's College, Christchurch, and his place in Timaru will be filled by the Ilev. Father F. Barra, a military chaplain, who returned a fortnight ago from service in France. The Eev" Father Kerley ,S.M., parish priest at Temuka, is going to St. Bede's, Christchurch, the Eev. Father Hoare, S.M., of Wellington, succeeding him. The Eev. Father O'Beirne, S.M., of Maslerton, becomes parish priest of Levin. Eev. Father Stewart, S.M., of Waimate, has been transferred to St. Mary's. Christchurch. and will be replaced bv Eev. Father Herring, S.M., of Blenheim". The Eev. Father Daly, of Upper Hutt, lias been transferred to Dannevirke, and will be succeeded by the Rev. Father Minogue, a recently returned chaplain. The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Excelsior Lodge , M.U., 1.6.0. F., was held last evening, Bro. W. A. Brown, N.,G., presiding. Delegates were appointed to attend the annual district conference at Stratford, on March 11th, and it was decided to accept an invitation to visit the Loyal Eltham Lodge on February 11th. The annual balance sheet was submitted, showing a very satisfactory state of affairs, the total worth of the Lodge being £8358 7s, an increase of £297 Ms lid on the previous year. Receipts totalled £1514 !)s 9d, being," contributions £577 Is 3d, interest £521 14s Gd, refunds from New Zealand Branch £415 13s ]od; expenditure, which included £203 2s 4d, sick pay, and £'l7o funeral allowances, amounted' to £1216 12s lOd. The membership was stated at 114, an increase of five. The. district C.S., Bro. (i. Papps. in congratulating the Lodge on its exceptional financial position, stated that according to the returns of the Registrar of Friendly Societies the Loyal Excelsior Lodge wis unsurpassed by any other lodge of the Manchester UUnity in New Zealand. As a gentle laxative for ladies and children Sharland's Magnesia >. invaluable Do not be without it in the home. Sold everywhere.

The Education Department hag agreed to make a grant for additions to outoffices for infant children at Hawera school, costing £2Bl.

Mr. J. W. Hayden has resigned from the position of president of the TaranaKi Employers' Association. Mr. Hayden also, it is understood, intends vacating the seat he holds on the New Plymouth Borough. Council. Replying to Sir James Allen's invitation to accompany the Parliamentary party to Samoa, Dr. Thaeker, M.P., wired: "It is not my intention to proceed on the visit to Samoa. I think it is quite unnecessary at this juncture to incur the expenditure the visit will cost." "Visitor" writes:—"l respectfully suggest that the controlling authority of the Paritutu should depute someone to repair the stranded! wire hand-support, as it is in a bad state. At one place it is worn through, but for one strand, and at others spikes are sticking out that mutilate the hands and tempt the soul." Complaints are being made that the assistance promised by the Government for municipal housing schemes is "totally insufficient to obtain even a semblance of relief for the community." Auckland alone desires to build 75 houses, and will require £OO,OOO, while the Government assistance promised is a maximum of £IO,OOO, which will not provide for more than twelve to fifteen houses.

The matter of safeguards on tramcars was referred to at a meeting of the Auckland City Council. Mr. 11. N. Bagnall asked i'f the Public Services Committee would report on the cost of installing on the cars "dead-man's hand" controllers, and as to the desirability of installing them. The Mayor ruled that Mr. Bagnall was out of order, as the matter was one of policy, and notice of motion must be given. "There is to be a revolutionary change in the gas bill of the British householder. In the near future he is to get what he pays for, instead of having to continue to accept the assurance of the meter (as he has had to do for many years) that anything that comes through the gas pipes must be gas. The president of the Board of Trade is introducing i n the House of Commons a bill based on the recommendation of the Fuel Research Board, by which private and municipal undertakings supplying gas to the public, will charge for the actual number of heat units supplied, not by the volume of gas passed through the meter. It is hoped that the New Zealand Government will follow suit, and ensure that New Zealanders pay for gaa and not air that they consume. In pre-war days excursions to the Beaside at New Plymouth were very popular with, the public of the inland towns and districts, and the great majority of the youngsters and manv of the adults were greatly diisapppointed when the exigencies of the times compelled the Railway Department to abandon them. Now that the railway privileges are resumed there is every probability that these excursions will be quite as popular as ever, and it is expected that there will be a crowded train from Hawera to-day, when the finit excursion picnic of the season takes place, the Hawera Methodist Sunday school journeying to Kawaroa Park, ' and the Presbyterian Sunday school to Ngamotit.

The .Melbourne Ltd. are still selling genuine Shirley President braces, heavy Hid light weights, at 4/6 a pair: Cheaper 'Bakes also in stock at 2/11 to 3/11. Police braces, 2/U. Pado garters, 1/9. Paris garters, 1/11. Boys' braces, 1/3 and 1/(1. Youths' braces', 1/9 and 1/11.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile and Mr. N'ewton King draw attention to the sale of lambs, which they are holding, on .account of Mr. W. H. Perry, Tutuawa, in Newton King's Douglas saleyards, on Monday, February 9th, at 1 p.m., when 'they will offer 2,300 good rape lambs and 500 .store lambs.