LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ratepayers of Palrterstom North yesterday authorised totalling £120,273 for various local works (says a Tress Association telegram).

The members of the executive of tho War Relief Association are not at (ill satisfied with the response to the offers of scholarships made to the children of returned soldiers. It was thought that the scholarships would be eagerly taken up, but, so far, they have been allowed to go begging. Members referred to the apathy shown as discouraging and disappointing. One member said that he had endeavored to interest a couple of gentlemen, supposed to pay attention to educational affairs, on the objects of the executive, but they scarcely deigned to notice his remarks.

The holiday picnic excursions to New Plymouth, which have been in abeyance for several years on account of railway restrictions imposed during the war, were revived yesterday, when a long train of seventeen carriage* brought from Hawera a large number of scholars and friends of the Hawera Methodist and Presbyterian Sunday schools to New Plymouth. There were probably 1000 people on the train, which was taken right to the breakwater, one party of the train load leaving the train at Kawaroa Park and the rest going on to Ngamotu. Both parties spent a very enjoyable day and the train left on its return at about o o'clock in the afternoon

A cable from Sydney says that owing to tlie heavy cost of paper the Sun is raising its price to three-halfpence.

The executive of the Taranaki War Relief Association authorised, at its meeting yesterday, the payment of about £7OOO under its permanently disabled soldiers' scheme-

A youth named Bradley, a jockey's apprentice, was arrested at New Plymouth last night by Detective Fitzgiljbon, and will be charged with the theft of a Stetson hat, valued at £4. 10s, at Stratford, on December 31st. Nominations closed yesterday for the Te Awaiuutu Electric Power Board with only the required number of candidates, who were declared elected (says a Press .Association message). This is the first Power Board in the Waikato in connection witli the Hora Horsi scheme.

The Bremen, with over 1000 passengers, including Government passengers, and some Imperial details, arrived at Wellington at one o'clock yesterday morning from Plymouth. The Ruapohu, which is the last of the trainsports, though a few details still have to return, is due at Auckland to-day. Col. Collins, executive officer of the Dominion Rifle Association, has been advised by the Defence Department that five hundred! new rifle barrels are being shipped by the Tainui, and Ave hundred per week li.i"? V- • promised by the makers (states a telegram from Christchurch.) Miss Louise Mack, who is staying at the Terminus Hotel, Will appear before a New Plymouth audience next Monday night at the Empire. Miss Mack is a novelist, poetess, traveller, V-A.-D., warcorrespondent, and lecturer. She is now writing an official book, "New Zealand after the War," to be published in London by Fisher TJnwin next autumn.

Whilst a party consisting of father, mother, two children and a lady visitor were boating up the Patea river recently (states the Press) the boat struck a snag and commenced to All rapidly. As the boat could not be moved, the father had to swim ashore with each of the others on his back in turn, the party having to walk seven miles in their wet clothes.

Patea (reports the Press) still holds the record for being the chief cheese export port of the Dominion, the value of the cheese exported for the 11 month? ending - November 30th last being £1.604.450. New Plymouth was next with cheese valued at '£1,340,063, whilst Auckland was third with £1,226,898 worth of cheese.

T. Kaponga' Fire Brigade were called out about 11 p.m. on Monday to a fire at the boiling-down works at Mr. R. S. Williams's slaughter yards, and beyond the water supply. The fire had a strong hold, and it was almost impossible to do anything. The building and contents were completely destroyed. As there was no insurance on the property, Mr. Williams is the loser of between £2OO and £3oo.—Star.

On Tuesday afternoon Messrs S. Smith, A. Lees, IT. Eaves (members of the Education Board), Moore (architect), E. S. Sage (chairman of the Hawera Technical High School Committee), D. J. Goodwin (member of the committee); and E. C. Hayton (chairman of the Reserve Committee of the Hawera Borough Council), with Mr. A. Gray (Principal), inspected the grounds of the new Technical High School, and finally selected the site upon which the school is to be built.

It was stated reslorday at the meeting of the War Belief Association that the permanently disabled soldiers' scheme had worked without a hitch since it was first put into operation. While provision had been made for weekly payments in the case of a man who could not bo trusted to spend a lump sum in the best interests of himself and others dependent on him, there was only one case, according to Mr. Patterson, in which the executive had deemed it necessarv to themselves of this provision to date £14,000 had been paid, or authorised to be paid, under the scheme.

At a general meeting of the New Plymouth Returned Soldiers' Association hold last night some discussion took place on the illegal wearing of the association's badge. Several members referred to eases winch had come under their notice, and others of which they had heard. The chairman pointed out that it was the duty of any member of the association, having any knowledge or suspicion of such cases, to immediately notify the executive, or the police, as the illegal wearing of the badge was nn indictable offence. The secretary reported a case of a returned soldier having his, badge snatched away by two other return™ l =olfKetß, who were not association members.

A special meeting of the committee of the North Taranaki Head Centre of the Royal Life Saving Society was held last night. Advice was received from the Dominion executive that the Government subsidy for the local centre for last season would be £ 1.5. Mr. N. A. Christiansen was appointed honorary organiser, for the purposes of maintk'i&ing/ and, if necessary, raising the standard of instruction; of organising classes to secure uniformity of instruction; of selecting examiners, and fixing dates of examinations. He is to report in writing to each monthly meeting of the centre! It was decided to send a delegate to the Now Zealand swimming championship meeting to he held in Auckland next :-.ii..i[',, Mr. Christiansen being appointed.

The question of what should be done With any balance that might remain in hand, after the Taranaki War Relief Association had dealt with all the eases brought wider its notice was discussed at a meeting of the executive yesterday. It was pointed out that case* already dealt with could be reviewed and a morn liberal treatment shown, including the permanently disabled men. On the other hand' it was thought that complaints and troubles yet undeveloped would absorb any apparent balance in sight at the present time, and it was too soon to come to any conclusion on the matter.

_ A final reminder is given of the Waterside Workers' Union picnic, which is being held at the breakwater to-day. The men of the waterfront extend a' hearty invitation to the public andi kindred unions to attend their annual gatherings. Tea, hot water, milk and sugar free. A programme of races, etc., will be arranged during the day. In addition to the launch mentioned previously, "■>. Newton King has also placed his fine boat at the service of the committee. These harbor excursions should form ail attraction in themselves. Given a fine day, the success of this popular function, held at an appropriate locality, seems assured.

Island hats 2s 3d fit the Melbourne, Ltd.; boys' washing hats, Is ild, 2s (Id and 2s lid; white silk hats, 3s lid; boys' Panamas. 2s lid to 10s 6d; men's Panamas, 19s fid to 455; men's felt hats 14s fid, 10s Cd to 29s fid; men's boaters, 12s 6d; boys' college caps, 2s Bd.