LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Following is the return of the number of births, deaths and marriages for the district of New Plymouth (Mr. J. S. S. Medley, Registrar) for the month of April. The figures for April, 1013, are given in parentheses: Births, -13 (44); deaths, 20 (18); marriages, 17 (20). The local Collector of Customs reports that the duty collected at New Plymouth for the month of April amounted to £4512 14s 2d, and the beer duty to £317 7s Id. For the corresponding period of last year the figures u-ere £7309 17s sd, and £193 lCs respectively. In consequence of solicitors and others coming before tile Taranaki Land Board and bringing on business without notice, the Board proposes to strictly enforce the condition that no business shall be accepted at the Board which has not been received on the Saturday previous to the day of meetiug. The Christchurch Tourist Department lias received a telegram from the West Coast stating the road over the Bullcr Rorge has been blocked by landslides at Twelve Mile and Dublin Terrace (says a telegram from Christchurch). It is hoped the road will be reopened j for traffic before the date on which the Prince is expected to drive over it. Wanganui is the fifth largest centre in New Zealand. The borough population is estimated at 15.363 and the suburban at 6415, making a total of 21,778- Invercargill comes next with 14,807 in the borough and 3359 in the f.uburbs, total 15,72 G. Napier figures are 13,785, 25US, ] 0,383; ralmerston North ]3,1i17, 1249, 14,860; Timam 13,230, 15!>S, 14.525; (lisbornc 11.022, 3344, 14,300; New Plymouth OS2O, 1231 11,051; and Kelson 9107, 1233, 10,310, The Mayor of Hawera wishes to notify veterans and returned soldiers in the district who are not proceeding to New Plymouth to-day, to join in the Royal procession at Hawera. In our advertising columns Mr. Newton King, notifies that .Mr. Alleman's clearing sale will now be held on Thursday next, and not to-day. Tikorangi farmers please note. Visitors looking for entertainment today cannot do better tiian look in at Kverybody"* Theatre, where there wiil be continuous pictures showing nil (lay from 11.30 until 4 p.m. Full particulars are advertised elsewhere in this issue. Owing to the. visit of the Prince of Wales to New Plymouth to-day the usual Government departments will observe a public holiday. The North Taranaki Hunt will open the season on Thursday, (Ith insl., at Mr. Birdling's, Waitara, when, in addition to the hunting, several jumping events are being arranged which should make the afternoon's sport very attraotiv<f

The number of births, deaths, and marriages for the district of New Plymouth (Mr. J. S. S. Medley, registrar; for the month of April were as toliowsBirths 4J! (]!»!», 44); deaths, 20 (Uh<) IS); and marriages, If (1919 20). American newspapers just received announce the death of Mr. John F. Dodge, of the iirm of Dodge Bros., the wellknown inotor-ear manufacturers, of Detroit, in New York on January IS. The fortune of the Dodge Bros, has neon estimated at 50,000,000 dol. { £10,000,000. When the general laborers' dispute was being heard at .Napier last week 'one of the employers' assessors stated that he could keep house qn £4 pelweek and save money. He added that this sum included his housekeeper's wages of £1 per week, and food for himself, his son, and the housekeeper. The new social, intellectual and religious movement amongst men, which had its birth amongst the soldiers in France in 11)19 and styled the fiegnal League of Fellowship, has become very popular amongst all classes pf men in the Old Land. It has now extended to New Zealand, and a branch has been formed in New Plymouth. The Rev. J. Napier Milne has been asked to act and has acecpted the position as representative of the League in the Dominion, and held the first meeting of men in connection with the movement in Whiteley Church yesterday afternoon. There was an attendance of over 60 men. Mr. W. P. Okey presided, and Mr. Milne gave an address which he entitled "Masonry in Religion," in which he set out some of the aims and purposes of the League, which are very wide-embracing, and offer scope for service by men in the interests of the community in many directions. Meetings will be held each Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Next week the address will be given by Mr. G. H. Dolby, M.A. The cessation of our railway service through a strike by the employees is a new experience for the present generation. There lias not been a railway strike in New Zealand for 30 years, and even then it was only a sectional stoppage, incidental to the great maritime strike of 1800. The wharf Laborers' Unions were on strike, and raihvaymen at Westport and Lyttelton were instructed to do work outside their ordinary duties, but connected with the railways. On August 2D nearly the whole staff of the Westport railway struck work, and on September 2 traffic nnd permanent way men at Lyttelton to the number of 44 also refused to handle goods. There 'was a great deal of excitement and some talk of a general strike of raihvaymen, but nothing more was done. The strikers and four members of the association's executive were dismissed from the service, the commissioners, who then managed the system, refusing to discuss requests for their reinstatement. The Momonii Estate, in the Mutamata district, has been subdivided into fourteen choice dairy farms, ranging from S to 300 acres, and these are now offered for sale by Messrs. Lewis anil Co., of' WangKiiui. The land is described as being the best grassed in the Waikato, and its carrying capacity r.s etjiial to aiiv Hawera land, while only a third of the cost. Full details will be found in another column. In the usual column farmers will find some fresh properties advertised for sale by Mr. Robert Hood, of Auckland. The advertisement is worthy of perusal as the list contains some milking propositions that will appeal to Taranaki farmers desirous of a change of climate and conditions. The New Plymouth Post Office will be closed in all branches to-day from !) a.m. to 11 a.m. The drawing of the Carnegie Library Art Union (water colors) will take place at the library at 7.30 this evening. The remaining unsold seats in Pukekura Pari; will be sold at the Park gates from 8 a.m. to-day at 5s each. N. A. Christiansen has removed to new premises next ttadd's, grocer, where he will be pleased to meet all customers, old and new. The Empire Theatre management advertise that the balcony at that theatre will be open this morning for those who desire to get a good view of the procession in connection with the visit of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. Tickets of admission will be on sale at the ticket box half an hour before the procession is timed to pass.