LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mail* .which left New Zealand on .fanuary 12, arrived in Jjondpn on 24th inst. As showing the virulence of the present inlluenxa wave in Patea (states the Press) it is interesting to note that no fewer than rive members of its • stall' have been laid aside with the malady during tiie past fortnight. The school will not re-open till the epidemic wave has p-v-ised. The third r.tage of the Canterbury Aviation Co_'s llight, Christchurch to Invorea.-gil], was accomplished on Wednesday, in a, biplane piloted by Captain Euan Dickson flying from Oamaru to Mosgiel in 1 hour 8 minutes. The machine carried a passenger from Oamaru.

The entrants for the annual championship meeting of the VJominion Rifle Association, to open at Trentham next Thursday, include a number of the host rifle shots in the Dominion, including Sergt. Loveday, the winner of the King's Prize at Bisley last year, and also Kifleman R. J, King, the present holder of the Dominion champion belt. The Taranaki climate (states the Argusj provides infinite variety. In the middle of the summer a wet spell is being experienced, which almost raises a doubt as to the season. The district. het\Yos3i- Dpunake and Kaponga on Thur?t3';* ■"•'as subjected to a cold southhat felt very wintry. Mangatoki j!.. 'St in a fog, while in Eltham t' ,e i. tU .ui'i'r was wet but warm.

Information lias been received that one bale of super halfbred slipe woo), ex tin- I'eUding farmers' Freezing Company, and ex; the Tahiti, sold at the London wool salo on December 11th Inst, brought (io'/ 4 per lb. It is believed that this is the highest price so far for this class of wool. The Imperial Government's price to the Freezing Company was r >%d per lb. A reminder is given of the visit of the. New Plymouth Citizens' Band to Pi'nporplv.i m-morrow. A full band will visit the coastal district, and will lie conducted by Mr. F. W. G. McLeod, L.T.C. The programme arranged is a generous one in regarft to the number of items, and the willingness of the band to play request items is known everywhere they have played-, and so far as circumstances will permit the band will be prepared to follow this custom tomorrow. Residents of the coast district may he sure of a musical treat. "Under new agreement we have given the licamen and stewards benefits which they receive nowhere else in the world," said the Union Company's representative during the hearing of the dispute at the Arbitration Court at Chmtchurch. Under the present law when a sqaman is shipwrecked his wages are stopped. Now the company has agreed, to pay the wages of a shipwrecked seaman until ho arrives back. It is the same with medical benefits. Under the existing law where a seaman falls ill his wages are stopped, now he will receive full .jvages and benefits "

At a meeting of suppliers to dairy factories at Levin, Mrs. (,'ordori-C'htss-ford suggested that the Levin Dairy Company should beautify the hurroundings of its factory The speaker stated that the factory near her former home in Taranaki had beautifully kept lawns, and the surroundings were made quite ornamental, and it was quite a pleasure to go to that factory. It was the same inside, and so particular was the management that visitors, including ladies, had to don special linen garments when in the factory. The Customs duties collected at the New Zealand ports during the quarter ended Decembei 31st, mid, brought to the .State coders a revenue of .€l,)!)l|5(11. In the corresponding quarter of the previous year the amount was £SSS,275. The port of Wellington collected tht> most revenue. Its total for the quarter was £383,894, which exceeds bv more than £IOO,OOO t.13 amount collected in the last quarter of 1018. The revenue from excise duties was £105,331, an increase of nearly £40,000 on the 191S quarter.

A strong condemnation of tlie wages offered to youths in the various industries and trades was made at a conciliation sitting at Wellington by Mr. 11. .1. Keardon. ''The wages clauses for you this are a disgrace to this country," he said. "There has never been a decent attempt made by the employers to put a prope:- apprentice law into operation. I myself put before the Government a Bill which made provision that a boy should be placed under proper control from the time lie left the primary school and completed his apprenticeship, but the Bill was defeated through the agency of the employers. There are too many boys going to dead-ends in this country."

The congestion of shipping at New Plymouth was relieved yesterday by the departure of the Ngatoro and the Tarawa. Yesterday the Mapourika had to anchor in the stream to make room for the Harawa, but after the departure of the latter vessel for Onehunga, the Mapourika berthed again. The' Huia is expected to leave for Wangamii to-day. The Giaucus will be worked to-dav, though she will not .finish the discharge of her guano cargo* until next Week. The weather has been a very great contributing factor to the present congestion at, the port, for otherwise discharging operations would not have had to be suspended. If the Huia and Mapourika dear port to-day, the Giaucus only will remain, though the Kokiri, Kittawa', Corinna and Harawa are due early next weekHarvest Festival services will be held to-morrow in the Baptist Tabernacle, Liardet Street. Rev. A. H. Collins, «. president of the -Baptist Union, will be the preacher. On Monday, at 8 o'clock, sale of produce and social. Everybody welcome The prudent housewife while laying in stocks of tea, sugar and dour, 'should not overlook "Fairy Wonder" Dry Soap, the wonderful new scientific clothes' washer. Like everything else, supplies of raw material are not too abundant, and housekeepers would bo well advised to have a few extra packets laid aside in case of emergency. At a general meeting of the Kawaroa Park Society arrangements were made in connection with the Easter Monday picnic. It was decided to have the following stalls: Fruit, soft drinks, variety, balloon and lollie stalls. Contpetttions and side-shows will be provided, and also a treasure hunt, eoeoanut shy. duck pond, ariel glide, soup plate, aiid the new speedometer game. The afternoon tea arrangements were left to the ladies' committee. Permission was given the Boy Scouts to camp at the park during Easter week. They will give displays of ambulance, physical drill, marching, and other items at the picnic.

Of the thirteen new Land Purchase Boards recently set up jn Xew Zealand the Returned Soldiers' Association has representation on nine. Auckland and Canterbury have been ignored in this respect, and complaint is made that I hero has been a breach of faith by the Minister. The subject was discussed at a meeting of the Christchureh Re< turned Soldiers' Association. Various speakers condemned the action of the Government, and urged that a resolution of protest should be sent to the Prime Minister. The chairman, however, explained that the deputation recently in Wellington had made strong representations. The. meeting could rest assured that nominations would be. forwarded at the first vacancy.

All residents interested in potato culture should not fail to inspect the free exhibition of potatoes, which are on view to-ilay only at Messrs Webster Bros.' Room,), Cnrrio Street. The display is exceptional for variety and merit, and it is doubtful if anything approaching it has been made in past years. There are over 900 tubers on exhibition for competition, beside several really fine displays for exhibition only. The Central School has a very creditable display of a dozen or more varieties. The exhibition goes to prove that North Taranaki, flt any rate, is capable of producing potatoes equal to anything in the Dominion. Residents should, not fail to see the exhibition, which will be open all day to-day, and in the evening until 9 o'clock. Men who are small in 'build will welcome the announcement in to-day's issue that Messrs. Howell and Howell have a large stock of well assorted size 3 suits, many of which are pre-war priced, this particular size having accumulated during the war period on account of the slow demand for small sizes. Don't forget Howell and Howell's is the place for these low-priced, goodwearing garments.

In connection with the Art Union, which is being'run as part of the Library Mart Day effort, an exhibition of the ten water color sketches will be given to-day in Mr. John Baillie's studio, Currie Street, from 10 o'clock to 1 p.m_, and-from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, drnv,- attention to their Stratford sale on Tuesday, March 2nd, at 1 p.m. Full particulars will be found' on page 8 of this issue. London advises that New Zealand mails were despatched by the S.S Corinthic, via the Panama, on the 20th inst.