LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The reduction in the price of meat in Auckland docs not apply to mutton (says a Press telegram.)

A coal of living bonus has been "ranted to the military staff of the Dominion.

It is reported that a well-known Ktuvke's Bay man has/during the last six months, purchased war bonds to the value of ;i:S0.000.

During a thunderstorm at Riverlea a haystack, valued at between -£GO and £7O, the property of Mr. Symes, was destroyed by fire. The fire 'is said to have been caused by the stack being struck by lightning. A misunderstanding between*'the drivers of two cars led to 'a collision at the corner of Victoria Street and (ilover Road, Hnwera, on Wednesday afternoon. A Briscoe was coming down Victoria Street and a Ford coming along Glover Road stationwards. The collision occurred at the corner, both cars being somewhat damaged on front wheel and axle.

_ The violent storm on Thursday interfered with telephonic communication with J Inn a in. after 5 p.m. Lightning fused the wires at the Manala exchange. A few private wires came down in Hawera, but the damage was slight. With the exception of the breaking of a pole in Vogel Street, the electric light company's property suffered little or no damage.

A collision occurred on Wednesday, at about 7 p.m., on the Junction Road, a short distance to westward of the bacon factory, between two motor cars, one driven by Mr. 0. James, of the tanners' Co-op. .stall'. Fortunately none of the occupants- of the cars were seriously hurt, but the two vehicles were put out of action until the damage could be repaired.

The new Home liner Gallic, which is coming direct to New Plymouth from Brisbane on Jier first voyage to New Zealand, is expected to reach here this evening. A wireless message received from the Gallic yesterday by Captain Waller (harbormaster) stated she expected to reach port at '0.30 p.m. It is doubtful if she will berth before tomorrow morning.

A contract has been secured by the Fletcher Construction Company. Ltd., for the erection of a hig nine-storey building for Messrs Milne & Choyce, drapers. Queen Street, Auckland. The new building, which will lie in ferroconcrete and will have eight passenger lifts, will replace (he firm's present building adjoining the Bank of Now Zealand. in Queen Street. The contract price i-v .£IOO,OOO.

"What is the price of bread in New Zealand?" asked a sturdy immigrant of a bystander while disembarkation of the lonic's passengers was in progress at Auckland. When told that if was not more than a shilling for a 41b loaf he. immediately asked, "How much do you pay for butter?" and on horning that it was Is Sd per lb lie exclaimed: "My goodness, and we have been paying 2s Sd at Home.'' After a. moment's thought he remarked, with a sigh: "Aye, the Old Dart,' is a good place to be out of just now."

In refer&nee to the supply of phosphates, the Premier recently announced that, arrangements had been made to import tons from Australia, and on the publication of this information Mr. S. (•'. Smith, M.P., asked the Premier i f he could arrange that Taranaki ehould received 2.W tons of this shipment. Mr. Massey has replied stating that the shipment is on private account and not on Government order, and lie suggests that those requiring supplies should endeavour to place an order with the consignees. A reliable authority on dairying matterms informed a Wanganui Herald reporter recently that a fair sprinkling el' summonses have been issued along this coast within the pss: few months ttgainst. dairymen who were unable to meet, their interest. He qualified the statement, however, by explaining that there were men who had practically lio capital, and rushed recklessly in to buy dairy farms at highly inflated value? without, any regard for consequences. The authoirtv stated that he blamed those responsible for financing these fictitious sales more than the misguided purchasers 'who thought fortunes could he made out of dairying. Some amusing interpretations of the various church bells which are rung in Auckland each Sunday were given by the liev, Jasper Calder at a meeting of the Women's Mutual Aid Society- He said the bells of St. Andrew's Church pealed forth "Immersion, immersion;" the bells of St. John's Methodist Church, Ponsonbv, "Prohibition, prohibition!" the bells of St. James' I'reshyterian Church, "Collection, collection;" the bells of a certain unnamed "select and elect" denomination, "We're all going to heaven; we're all going to heaven!" the answering bells of a neighbouring church "t doubt it, 1 doubt it!" while the bells of St. Sepulchj-e sounded, "Out you go, Jasper! Out you go, Jasper!"

A correspondent writes to the Feildi»g Star from Wellington: The Prince luis come and gone, but one little incident remains unrecorded. The Prince and one of his suite were taking a stroll in the early evening when they suddenly came upon a sweet little* lady of six or seven summers riding her little brown pony, when it resisted all her efforts to get over the tram lines. The Prince, seeing the little lady's plight, stopped and led the pony across, and then continued his walk. But he lmd hardly turned his back when he was startled by the swish-swish of a whip and a clear little voice crying; "I'll make .von go over, you little brown !" The Prince was heard to comment, "Some vigor and some brawn!"

Sprinkling about ten drops of Nazol on the chest of the pyjama jacket at night—or on the singlet ill the morning —is a good way to get the benefit of Nazol inhalation—just try it. What with adverse rates of exchange, high. freight's, and increased costs, foreeign washing powders are as dead as the Dodo. "Fairy Wonder" Dry Soap, the famous Dominion-made article, lias proved itself superior in every respect, to all others, and is now used exclusively in thousands of homes throughout New Zealand.

The Model Fai •m, Stratford, invites applications for the position of farm manager. Applications close on Saturday, oth June, with the secretary, Mj. W. Power, Stratford,

"I. think New Zealand will be all right soon," said a prominent employer to a Post reporter, when discussing the present shortage of labor in the building trade particularly. "I think there will be an influx of men from Australia, where things are pretty bad just now." The Nelson City Council proposes to place the following loan proposals before the ratepayers in June next: —A scheme for the erection of marine baths at Ihe port at a cost, of £9000; a ticheine for the erection of a bridge over the river Maitai in Trafalgar Street at a. cost of £12,0(H); a scheme for motor 'buses, to be run on I lie storage battery system, at a cost, of £2.'1,000, including £7OOO for improving the roadway for the proposed routes for the 'buses'; and a scheme for an improved water reticulation, £20,000.

Patea was" visited on Thursday (says the Press) by one of the worst gales experienced for some time. Shortly before li o'clock a violent storm broke over the town, Accompanied by thunder and lightning and a torrential downpour of rain. Later in the day the wind blew with great violence, and as a result a certain amount of damage, fortunately not of a serious nature, was done. The large hoarding of the South Taranaki Amusements Company opposite the Central Hotel was blown down, as were several fences. The river was in high flood, a large quantity of timber being brought down, which will be acceptable to a large number of people in view of the. scarcity of firewood just now.

An Eltham settler while in Auckland during the railway strike was recalled owing to an accident to one of his children. He made the journey in his ear, covering the distnnce in 23 hours. The weather had been verv wet, and the roads were very bad. Chains had to be used for about 170 miles, for in many parts the mud was up to the axle. On one of the big hills to be negotiated in the hinterland he passed two, and on another hill three cars stuck in the mud. He had the luck to get through without much delay.

Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Second Group) are notified that subscriptions due and payable to-day (Monday, May 24th), at the Secretary's office, Curric Street, from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.—Advt