LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Twenty-five Indians have left Fiji for Auckland (says a cable from Suva).

A small quantity of cement arrived at New Plymouth yesterday in the shape of a cargo of 145 tons brought by the Hi mu from Whangarei, which will he discharged to-day. The Rarawa brought i tons for this port. A conference of all local bodies forming the Taranaki Hydro-Electric League will he held in the Stratford Borough Council chambers at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, .June 2, in order to discuss the formation of a Power Board for Taranaki.

Infectious diseases notified in the Tarnnaki district for the week ended ou Monday were: Tarnnaki—Diphtheria 1, puerperal septicaemia 1. influenza 48, I'ericella 1. Stratford—Scarlet fever 1, diphtheria 3, influenza 24. Hawera— Scarlet fever 1, influenza 40, varicella 2. Patea—lnfluenza 2.

After a somewhat slack period at the port of New Plymouth for the past week or two there were five steamers at the breakwater yesterday discharging or awaiting discharge. ' Owing to the labor available being insufficient, only three of the vessels were being Worked, and one of those had not a full complement.

blasters of overseas vessels awarned in the la tost Gazette that a small percentage of drifting mines are known to exist in a water-logged condition, a faction oi which may be dangerous. This type of mine is hard to see, and special precautions are therefore necessary to ensure that a good lookout is kept, Tho striking of low floating flotsam should be avoided.

During his stay in Wellington the Prince of ales held a meeting of the Privy Council. He was made a Privy Councillor himself before leaving England. and Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, with him. formed the necessary quorum. The object was to swear in Lord Liverpool, who was appointed to the Council some time ago, but had never been admitted. A similar ceremony will be held in Melbourne.

"There appears to be a somewhat popular, though quite erroneous impression among the general public that the medals or medal ribands of diseased soldiers may be worn by their next-of-kin," Btates a general order issued from General Defence Headquarters. It is pointed out that no authority exists for such it practice. On Sunday afternoon the Hon. J. G. Coates had a flight over the city of Christehureh with Captain Dickson. When over the aerodrome, at the conclusion of the flight, at a height of 1300 feet, Captain Dickson asked the Minister if ho would like "to stunt." Mr. Coates agreed, and Captain Dickson did one loop and one roll, and then sideslipped vertically from 1000 feet to the ground. To-day there is to be an afternoon of music, etc., at St. Mary's Hall with a stall for produce and also one for flowers. The proceeds are in aid of the Queen Victoria School for Maori girls in Auckland. A scholarship that will keep and educate a girl at this school is at present £3O a year, anil it in to provide one of these scholarships that the entertainment is held. Many of the Maoris (ire paying for the education of their girls, but some are not well enough off to do so. The Government helps with a certain number, but the remainder are educated by means of these scholarships, which are all voluntarily given bv different districts or persons. It is hoped that all those who are interested in the Welfare of the Maori race will help by coming to the afternoon's entertainment m St. Mary's Hall. A sale of unusual interest to those requiring homes of their own appears in this issue. It refers to the Maratahu Estate now being placed upon the market. The property has 29 frontage sections and is situated past the late Mr. A. Slandish's residence. The sections are all fronting the main Westown road and on the first tramway extension, and offer undoubtedly the. best opportunity of securing residential sites tiw.t has come before the public for many years.

The Taranaki Agricultural Society request that all applications for space at the forthcoming Winter Show, to lie held on June !>, 10, 11, and 12, should lie in the hands of the sec.'oiarv hv Friday next, 21st inst, This is ti enable the committee to lay out the spues U> the best, advantage of the exhibitors. Men's working trousers (denims), lis fid and cotton cords 15s Od at the Melbourne, Ltd.; Police braces, 3s (id; wool socks, 2s lid to 4s (id; cashmere socks. 4s lid to 8s (id; pyjamas, l.'is fid to 10s (id; boys' pyjamas, 0s lid and 10s (id; men's working shirts, Ss lid to 13s (id; men's handkerchiefs, Is, Is 3d and Is Cd.

A SATISFIED CLIENT IS OU" BEST ADVERTISEMENT,

which accounts for the increasing demand by women all through the Dominion for RUSMA, the superfluous hair destroyer Correspondence strictly confidential. Write Dept. N., Mrs Hullen, 3A CourtsBay Place, Wellington,

The lonic, with passengers (including a large number of immigrants) and mails from England, is due at Auckland at eight o'clock this morning. The Stratford Borough Council unanimously resolved at its meeting 011 Monday night to circulate a petition asking the Government to bring in legislation next session making Saturday the statutory half-holiday throughout the Dominion.

For some time past quite a lot has been said and written regarding profiteering, many and varied opinions being expressed upon the subject. In view of this some figures elicited by an Eltham Argus reprejentative concerning the sales and gross profits of a grocery business—situated not a hundred miles from Eltham—may ba of interest. The figures cover the past two years, and make an enlightening comparison. For the year ending 31st March, 1910, the sales of the firm in question totalled £ 11,502, and '.he gross profits amounted to £1358, or 11.7 per cent. For the year ending 31st March, 1920, the sales reached £11,035—a slight increase—but the gross profits were only £lo4*, or D per cent. Out of these gross profits there has to be paid wages, cost of delivery, rent, office expenses, lighting, and other charges, and it will readily be admitted that the figures quoted provide very little evidence of profiteering.

Mr. and Mrs. N; Fulton have ju3t returned to New Plymouth from a three weeks' motor tour in the Hawke's Bay and Rangitikei. In speaking of his tlip, which lie said had been most enjoyable and_ • favored by fine weather (throughout, Mr. Fulton told a News reporter that they had travelled 70S Iniles. The appearance of the Hawke's Bay plantations and orchards in their autumnal dress was most beautiful, the tinted foliage affording a sight not easily forgotten. The appearance of the fruit trees also testified to the abundance of the apple yield this season. Mr. Fulton said the results of the long dry season of the past summer were yet visible, stock in much impoverished condition being now fed on good lucerne hav. Stock owners had stated that the recent rains had produced only a sufficient, growtli of sheep pasture for the coming winter and the outlook for cattle was not very bright. 1 Large quantities of lucerne were, grown, and prairie grass was finding great favor with dairy farmers 011 account of its rapid rowth, and its utility as a fodder when cut- Mr. Fulton remarked that what the motorists missed over there was the splendidly formed and tarred roads which made Taranaki the motorists' paradise. The Loan jind Mercantile draw attention to the clearing sale which they are holding on nccoilnt of Mr. J. R. Hooper, at Mangotea Tariki, to-morrow (Thursday), 20th inst., at 12 noo;i. Mr. Hooper has sold his farm and is leaving the district- Full particulars of stock, implements, sundries, etc., will be found on page S of this issue. Cars will leave the company's Stratford office at 10.30 on the morning of the sale.