LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the course of a statement regarding the cost of living, the Prime Minister stated that cases of alleged profiteering were pending at "New Plymouth and Hawera, amongst other places. The opening of a branch of the Farmers' Co-op. Society at Eltliam was (reports the Argus) celebrated on Friday last by holding a social in the building, at which nearly fiCIO persons were present. The music wyis provided by Fox's orchestra, the M.'sC- being Messrs. F. Death, H. Burgeses and L. Quin. Advice was received by the Postmas-ter-General (the Hon. J. G. Coates) that the seaplane which left Auckland recently for Kaitaia, lf)S miles to the northward, arrived quite safely with the mails. This is the longest flight undertaken so far in connection with the New Zealand aerial postal service. Charges of pretending to exercise a kind of witchcraft designated as spiritualism, and of using certain subtle rseans, professed spiritualism, to deceive and impose on one Catherine Ledger, were preferred against Frank R- Perera at the Wellington Police Court last week, but the hearing was postponed until Friday. In the course of a (statement on the cost of living, made to a Wellington i Times' representative, the Prime Minister stated that a report had been prepared for the Government by the "Board. of Trade, showing the increase in the cost of imported goods since 1913. The return disclosed that, taking, the price _in 1913 as equalling the index number of 1000, in 1915 the number rose to 1210; in 1917, to ISS9; and. in 1919 to 2238. The Hawera Star attained its fortieth anniversary on Saturday last. The proprietary is to be heartily congratulated on the event, as well as on the high tone of the paper and the position it has justly 'gained as one of the leadirig provincial dailies in the. Domnion. Tln> growth and prosperity of South Turannki .are reflected in the success of the Star, which has always advocated what was for the best interests of this progressive district, which lias been particularly fortunate in having such an alilv directed and well managed journal at its service, That the future of our contemporary will be one of continued prosperity aAd usefulness will certainly be the wish of Dominion journalists without exception. The arrangements connected with the visit of the Prince of AVales to H.iwera were the subject of a meeting of the Reception Committee on Friday evening, the Mayor of Hawera presiding. Tlie children's part in the function was left to the teachers, it being suggested tliat the former should stand in line and bestrew tlie Prince's path with flowers. It was decided to feed the children twice, if necessary, a committee being appointed to supervise that work. The Education Board has the foundation stone of t.he new technical school ready for laying, if it fits in with the committee's arrangements. A whole holiday is to be proclaimed, and decorations on an extensive scale will be in evidence, and probably a sports programme and ppture shows. If the day is wet, it is proposed to use the winter show buildings.—Star. "Fairy Wonder" Dry Soap is rapidly displacing all other washing powders and tablets on ihe market by virtue of its remarkable cleansing properties and efficiency. Clean, sweet and wholesome, it works while you sleep if soaked with the clothes overnight. As a time, fuel and labor saver it is "out on its own," All groc»rs stack it,

A memorial to ffllen soldiers, which lias been erected in tlie Urenui Cemetery, will be unveiled by Mr. W. T. Jennings, .VI P., on Anzac Day. The New Plymouth Post Office has issued a statement on the lines of thai: already published drawing attention to the new regulations concerning betting telegrams. These regulations are florin force. The earliest public body in New Zealand to adopt electric lighting was Wellington. The system was installed in 1889. Wellington is also the largest consumer in the Dominion, having ia,250. out of a population of 73,303. _ A new form of vandalism and desecration has appeared in Christchureh— robbing a grave of its \v;eath' ribbons,' 1 Recently about SO wreaths were placed on a grave, And an hour later it was found that every piece of valuable ribbon had been talcen from the wreath. '' A Mastertonian wlio recently returned from Sydney states that candidates for the State Parliament were askftd to pledge themselves to liberate: the I.W.W. agitators who have been sent to prison. He anticipates that the Labor vistorv at the polls will mean the release of these prisoners. As an instance of the increased cost of raw materials in the engineering and allied industries, the following figures were mentioned at a sitting of the Conciliation Council at Christeiiureh: Landed cost of pig-iron per t(Sn, H)IC, £4 15s; 19-20, £l7 lfls. Bar iron, 1910, £S 10s; lfl"2fl, £32 10s. Wages have increased 117 per cent during the same period, it Was stated.

It may seem strange to many (says the New Zealand Times) that at auction sales of household furniture it is quite ft regular tiling to find glaziers and pic-ture-framers in attendance. The reason for their presence is owing to the scarcity of glass suited to their respective trades, they are buyers of old pictures in frames, the sheet of glass contained in each being the reason connect-' ed with their purchase A man saw an announcement in an ironmonger's shop the other day as follows: "Iron sinks," and he went 111 and told the man that he knew that iron sank. "Yes," r,aid the man: "And time flies, but wine vaults, aqid drops, sulphur springs, jam rolls, grass slopes, and music stands; Niagara Falls, moonlight walks, sheep run, Kent hops, and holiday trips, scandal spreads, standard weights, India rubber tires, the organ stops, and the world goes round, trade returns." The customer bolted. Then he returned, put his head in at the door, and remarked: "Yes, I know, and marble busts." Although no further official transports are due to arrive in New Zealand wjtJi members of the Expeditionary Force, within the next few weeks a few details whose return has been delayed fflr various reasons, will arrive by passenger steamers. The Corinthic,"which rwhpr! Wellington on .Saturday, brought 52 soldiers. By the Remuera, which should arrive at Auckland on or about April 2f!th, a small draft of 21 soldiers is returning; and the Tonic should land at Auckland about May 12th with a further 24. All these soidiers are being returned home in passenger accommodation.

There is no immediate prospect of tea being anv dearer (says the Sydney Sun). The tariff does not affect it. and Svdnev stocks are heavy. Tea importers report easier positions in stocks, owing to the heavy -arrivals during the last month, and slightly lower rates ruling in Ceylon. The Indian tea market has closed, and most of the desirable tea in Java has been sold almost to the end of tho ye.v This means that Australia will have to draw most of her requirements in the future from Ceylon, and buyers will have to compete with the rest of the world. Ceylon growers are at present selling on a low basis, but although there is a possibility of a higher price ruling, it seems that Australia' has at present a chance of lining tea cheaper than for some time past. The trade having got its stocks is sitting back. The difficulties of travellers in seenrin? accommodation at the p'resent time are sufficientlv well known (savs the Otago Daily T'mes). but when they are "encumbered" by the addition of a young child their plight becomes even less enviable. A letter was received in Dunedin the other day from a woman who left for Christchurch recently, accompanied by her husband and child, in the course of which she says: "We have had rather a strenuous time since coming here. Everywhere we went we were refused accommodation as soon as the people knew we had a baby, and wc were told that no one was wanted with babies in this town. Wo have managed to obtain rooms with the use of the kitchen for about four months, but goodness knows what we are going to do at the end of that time." When it is added that the writer's husband is a well-paid Government servant, the difficulties of people, in loss remunerative positions are still further emphasised, and if this sort of thing is to be, superimposed on the other problems of matrimonial economy, the outlook for an improvement of .the birth-rate in the near future is not at all promising.

At the meeting of the A. and P. Society Committee on Saturday afternoon, when the chairman was moving votes of thanks to those who had rendered special service and assistance in connection with the recent show, particular reiercncn was macie to the splendid way in which the Hail way Department had served the Society. The officials had heen most courteous and obliging and had done all they could to make matters easy and convenient for exhibitors in the matter of both unloading and londing stock. Special appreciation, was shown of the fact that clean trucks were sent down for the return of stock, many exhibitors stating that they had net. had such consideration at any other station. rhe Melbourne Limited have choice stocks of ladies' beautiful blouses, in white, shell pink, and pale blue, made of excellent quality 10 momme Japanese crepe de chine and guaranteed to wear "ell. This lovely material is becoming very scarce on account of the recent heavy advances in the cost of raw silk. The box plan for the dramatic entertainment in aid of the Girls' Hostel opens at Collier's at ten o'clock this morning. The entertainment, the programme of which is advertised, will be held in the Workers' Social Hall (late Oood Templar Hall) on Wednesday and Thursday.