LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Included in the cargo brought by the Ravawa yesterday were SO tons of cement for various Taranaki districts.

The Marine Department has decided that a magisterial inquiry will be held regarding the recent striking of some obstacle by the steamer Baden Powell during her trip from Wellington to New Plymouth. The nautical assessors have not yet been appointed.

The election of the Hawera Licensing Committee took place yesterday. With a few small returns to come, which cannot affect the result, it was announced last night that the old committee— Messrs A. Pacey, H. Graves, W. Wallace, E. Dixon, and 0. Hawken—had been re-elected. "I have received no definite information as yet from the Imperial authorities with regard to me meat commandeer," stated the Prime Minister to a Wellington Times representative. "This is no doubt due to the fact that Sir Auckland Geddes, the former President of the Board of Trade, has been appointed Ambassador to the United States of America, thus causing some disarrangement and delay of the work of the board."

Speaking at the official leave-taking of the Pataa County Council on Monday', Mr. Horner remarked that when he joined the county in 1882 the revenue then was £27-22 and the general expenditure £1824. In 1919 the revenu* had Increased to £14,550, and the general expenditure to £11,<J53. The county valuation in 1882 (then a strip of country along the sea border) was £29,6 M, and the number of ratepayers 462. In 101!) the county valuation was £3,522,551, and the number of ratepayers SO". A meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the A.S.R.S. was held on Sunday morning to consider the bonus on wages offered' by the Government. After free discussion it was decided not to accept the offer, and the branch pledged its support to the Executive in whatever action was considered necessary to obtain an increase to meet the present high cost of living. Resolutions of protest were passed at Dunedin and Tiinaru last njght. The Timaru resolution condemned the waste of money on the Prince of Wales, and it was decided not to take part in the celebrations,. The produce exports from New Zealand in December of last year were worth £3,071,358, this being somewhat less than the value of goods 'sent out of the country in the last month of 1918. The grand total export figure for the whole of last year is almost 52 millions, which is a comfortable. 24 millions in excess of the 1918 values. exported nearly 914 millions worth and Auckland 8% millions. All other places are considerably under this. The imports, on the other hand, totalled in value something over 2'/ 3 millions for December, making a grand total for the year of something like 30% millions, which 'is 211 millions under the worth of produce exported. The Customs duties for nine months of the year amounted to £3,310,793. A special meeting of the Taranaki Licensing Committee was held on Monday afternoon for the purpose of considering, an" application by the licensee of the Breakwater Hotel for a transfer to Mr. 1?: D. Hammond (Mr. ~ATR. Standish), which was lodged directly after the quarterly meeting of the C'oniop. Thursday Some of the members declined the transfer without the pr'oductiij.tLjjEiajne particulars relating to the transaction. Mr. Standish informed the Committee that the lease s,f„-y for three years, the rental being ,£lO per week. The furniture and Btock wero being taken over at valuation (£1700) and the consideration for the goodwill was £2500. The transfer was approved. % ■■• - >

An important sale of land has just been effected, the New Zealand Herald reports, in the Glen Murray district, Lower Waikato, Mangatea Station, comprising 5000 acres, belonging to the estate of the late Captain H. Horgp, having been disposed of to Mr, M'Cutchan, of AVhangamomona.' The price paid was £lO 10s an acre, and the stock on the property, which was also taken over by the purchaser, realised approximately £12,000, the total" amount involved in (he purchase being, therefore, approximately £04,300. The Mangatea Station was taken up as virgin country by thY late Captain Horsp in 1802, and has been in the possession of the Horsp family until the recent sale.

The pinch of high prices is now being felt. If jthe course of prices keeps normal they will be 7o per cent "higher in the clothing and drapery line before the year is out. The prices now being charged, for suits and costumes are based on the cost of material and linings in ■England twelve months or so ago. Orders are now being placed with the English mills at prices 30 per cent in advance of those already paid. The Modern Tailors, Ltd., purchased last year indigo serge to land in their shop at 30s per yard. A like serge is now quoted 28s per yard at the mill in England, and with the usual landing charges of 33 per cent added plus (he warehouseman's profit, the average tailor will have to pay nt least 47s '.id to 50s per yard for this cloth, and even at this price delivery date is not guaranteed. One standard line of reel cotton used by tailors advanced on February l.Mh last from 12s 10d per dozen reels io 17s lid per dozen. A lining cloth which was purchased on February 17th last at, 4s fid per yird delivered in New Plymouth, is now quoted in England at the mill fls Sd per yard. The four factors in suit costing arc: Materials, linings*, wages, and selling expenses. A legitimate advance iii any of these co*.ts entails a rise in the selling price of suits.. The stocks of materials and linings now held bv The Modern Tailors. Ltd.. at Stratford and New Plymouth should enable them (unless wages or selling costs advance) to continue to sell suits at from .CO to £l3 13s for at least twelve months, but the earlier j»u buy the better Your selection.