LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The population of Auckland is more than twice that of Dunedin. The Gazette gives the estimated population of both cities on January 1, 1920, as 144,G4G, and 72,048 respectively. Christchurch with 101,747 people is slightly bigger than "Wellington, with 100,898. Such is the scarcity of houses in El-l-ham that the postmaster and his family are obliged to sleep in tents at the rear of the post office, and the Argus states that there is every probability of their ( ,!itinuing to do so during the winter months. The drawing of the Art Union in connection with the Public Library has been postponed for a week. This has been necessitated as there are still a number of books not returned; and the police, acting under instructions from the Minister of Internal Affairs, will not allow an art union to be drawn until the. promoters give a certificate that all tickets sold are in the box. Several leading grocers announce in our advertising columns, the arrival of the long-delayed shipments of the popular Palmerston Estate tea, Talagalla. This tea is the favorite throughout Ceyloa and India. Free samples are offered.

The Christchureh City Council lias decided to allow the parking of motors in various streets in the city (says a Press Association telegram). A Gisborne sheep-owner has just learned that at auction in London his clip was sold at a little more than twice the price paid him by the Government. The tar plant of the Waimate West County Council caught fire on Saturday. The Manaia Municipal Fire Brigade was noon 011 the scene, under Captain White, with the chemical engine, and in a short time put the fire out.

The increased post of paper is indicated by a recent quotation of brown paper at £B4 per ton f.o.b. Melbourne This represents !.!d per lb., and liy the time the paper is landed and'delivered in j\ T ew Zealand the cost would be at least Is per lb. The Human left the Waitara roadstead on Sunday evening for Wanganui, (writes our correspondent). She "took the following cargo from Waitara:'23l2 carcases of beef, ;iCOS carcases mutton, and 42 of lamb, 1045 bales of wool, 1883 cases of frozen sundries, 110 casks tallow, 15 casks pelts, 5 cases casings, 210 sacks hides, 3 casks oil, and 840 cases preserved meats. At the Pati-a wharf on Saturday Mr.' George Mercer, while loading a quantity of iron on a. lorry by means of the Bailway Department's crane, was hit on thehead with great force by the handle of the crane. It was at once seen that he was badly hurt, and medical aid was immediately invoked. Dr. Simmons had Mr. Mercer conveyed to the hospital, where an operation was performed. Mr. Mercer is now progressing well towards recovery, says the Press. The annual report of the Wanganui Harbor Board contains the following reference to the dredge Kaione:— "Unfortunately for some as yet undiscovered reason, the Kaione has not nearly fulfilled expectations, several minor' difficulties having been met with when the dredger is under working conditions. These drawbacks must, and, I feel sure.' will be eliminated, and the dredge do all her builders, Messrs Fleming and Ferguson, of Paisley, stated she is capable of doing. The total cost of the vessel amounts to £38,150, while the actual value is now considerably over double that sum."

The mascot of the battleship New Zeajand, the bulldog "Pelorus Jack," which passed into the possession of the Auckland City Council on the occasion of the visit of Admiral Jellicoe last year, did not survive his period of quarantine at Motuihi Island. The dog died suddenly while being taken out for exercise, after having been on the island for a few weeks over the prescribed period of six months. "Pelorus Jack" had been suffering from some complaint for some, time, and it was 011 account of this that it had been decided to extend the quarantine period. In offering the dog to the City Council, Captain 0. E. Leggett, of H.M.S. New Zealand, stated that it was four years old and had been with the vessel in the North Sea lights, being rated as an "'able se<adog." Prices in Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand are higher than those ruling in Australia, says a Sydney visitor (it present in Auckland. He was surprised to find such a difference, and to prove his contention, quoted prices for various articles of wearing apparel. Another thing that annoys the visitor is the stringent passport regulations. He says (states the Star), that if the regulations could be done away with, there would have been a mucli greater influx of Australians into New Zealand. It is bad enough to have to gc to all the trouble and bother of interviewing endless policemen and other officials." when one is taking a trip to the Old Country, but it is doubly irritating when a man is merely going to run across to New Zealand on a trip of pleasure. A trial is being made with the "travelling library" system in Canterbury, under the guidance of the Canterbury Progress League. The "travelling library" idea arose from a desire to place country dwellers upon a better footing as regards books and reading matter generally. Four boxes, each containing thirty selected volumes, were despatched from the Christchureh Public Library last week to country centres, where a resident lmd offered to act as honorary, librarian, and as the Progress League has made an arrangement whereby a special subsidy is paid to the Public Library, country people may obtain the books free of all charges. The contents of the boxes will be changed each four month*, so that the residents of each "travelling library" district will get about ninety books placed at their temporary disposal each year. The residents will be given opportunities of sending in lists of the books they most desire, when the boxes are returned for refilling. The first consignments are in the nature of an experiment. Five works of fiction and twenty-five other works arc in each box. None of these books are of the "heavy" type. The Lyttelton Times states that thi9 form of library is much used in America, where it has become extremely popular, the boxes being deposited at fixed points in the rural districts. The Christchureh scheme lias been organised br the librarian of the Canterbury Public Library (Mr. 15. J. Bell), and, although it is 011 a much smaller scale than the American system, it is expected that it will extend to several other Canterbury districts when it becomes more widely known.

The men's pyjamas showing at the Melbourne, Ltd., are exceedingly fine value, being made of Ilorroekses' best striped pyjama cloth and therefore guaranteed to give lasting service. The prices, 17s (id and Ms 6d, are extremely favorable to buyers as the cost lias considerably advanced. The peculiar* cleansing properties of "Fairy Wonder" Dry Soap arc not confined solely to the washtub. "Fairy" will cleanse pots and pans, wood aiul paint work and ia excellent for scrubbing floors. It also cleanses hair brushes like magic. Also trv a little Fairy in your bath. It is delightful.—At' all grocers.— * An attractive window display of (ho new season's furs is now being 'made by The Big Store, Waitara. It includes many of the new styles shown in London a few months ago. You arc invited to try on any of those shown and will be delighted to see how well they become you.— * Each inspiration flows divine, Like liquid gold from heavenly mine; <ienius may then its soul impart., But patience is the .source of art. Persistent effort linked with, skill Commands success ar.d always will - When septic forms of cold mature, Persist with Woods" Great Peppermint Cure. 0 Contractors looking for good horses are advised to inspect the loam advertised by Messrs. Fairbrothor nmT Pickering in our advertising columns. For Children's Hacking Cough, . Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, 1/9, 2/9.

Three separate displays will be made in the Auckland Domain by children on the occasion of the Prince' of Wales' visit. They will consist of living words "welcome," physical drill by 3000 boys, and living flag by 3000 children. It is now announced that the engagement offered to Mr. Henri Vcrbrugghcn, of the New South W ales Conservatorium of Music, came from Indianapolis. The offer was £SOOO a year as conductor of a new orchestra there for five years .each season to consist of seven months, "Paper silk" is the name of a new fabric which is being placed on the English market by Japanese, manufacturers. This ,new material is a composition of paper' and silk, and is suitable for making into blouses and sheetings and for dress material. In appearance it is very much like a real silky cotton, and trade representatives in Lor.don were deceived when shown handkerchiefs of "paper silk," which Japan.intends to put on the European-market ,in large quantities at an early date. The manufacturers estimate that the material can be placed on the English market at only Od per length, and millions of yards of the fabric are now in course of manufacture Much ingenuity -ig being displayed by Japanese manufacturers, whose eyes are now turned to the European markets, and in many lines they are the. bulk of the business which, before the war, went to Germany. "What we want in New Zealand is more trees," said, Mr. E. S, 'Pees, a Palmerston -North,.business man who has ret„ rne d from a visit to England, to a Times reporter. ,f That is what makes England so beautiful, her wonderful trees. Not only should all the principal streets be planted, but there should be trees more abundantly about the farms. In one town we visited, a scheme had been inaugurated for the planting of a memorial avenue to the fallen soldiers. Each parent or relation promised a tree, and a plate at the foot recorded the soldier's name."

*>ow the slack time for farmers is approaching many will probably be on the look out for the purchase of larger areas at lesser prices than those prevailing in Taranaki which usually means that they will look to the North to supply their wants. The old-established firm of liobert Hood. Wai tenia ta Chambers, Custom Street, Auckland, advertise in another column several dairy farms and a run that should appeal to anyone desiring a change-. The increase in the dairy 'business throughout the Auckland province during the past few years has been enormous, -rlearly indicating that the land is well fitted for ; (he purpose, though it has taken a long while to realise that fact. However, it has now come into its own and anyone desirous of making a change could not do better than get into touch witli Mr. Hood, who has had 93 years" experience in the province and should he able to give farmers the best of advice. With the increased price of land, farmers in the'hinterland of Taranaki must look to improving their country, and in this connection we recommend' our readers to communicate with Messrs Fairbrother and Pickering, who have now for private sale an exceptionally good team of working bullocks with all gear. Particulars are advertised in this issue. In our advertising columns to-day, we insert particulars of a choice herd of cows for private sale by Messrs Fairbrother and Pickering. Particulars can be obtained by telephone or application by letter.