LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr,. D. Bates, Government Meteorolo' gist, is coining to New Plymouth shortly with some now instruments to be placed in Pukekura Park. London advises that the mails for New Zealand were despatched via Panama on 18th June, and that the mails which left New Zealand on 20th May reached London on 30th June.

Another cold morning was experienced in N.ow Plymouth yesterday, when one degree of frost was registered at .Pukekura Park, The previous day the reading was 3J degrees of frost. The following nominations have be?n received for the Tanmaki Education Board election:—Central: R. Masters. North: P. J. H. White. Urban; Rev. J. F. Martin and R. J. Deare.

At a committee meeting of the Plunket Society at New Plymouth on Wednesday, it was decided to send two delegates to the Dominion Plunket Conference, which is to be held in Wellington on July 20th and 23rd. Mcsdames Burgcw and Millar were appointed delegates. The late David Fleming, of Waverley, bequeathed a farm of 433 acres, at Momohaki, valued at nearly £7OOO, to the Wellington Society for" the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, stipulating that.the income from the lease, at present amounting to £l7O a year, should be used in payment of an inspector's salary. The matter of preference at soldiers' land ballots to limbless men was discussed at a meeting at Christchurch last night of those so afflicted, and, the following motion was carried: "That thn meeting expresses its desire to co-operate With T.B. soldiers to secure preference at future ballots where sections are considered to be suitable for limbless and T.B soldiers."—Press Association.

The Saturday half-holiday question received some attention at the meeting'of the Taranaki Bowling Centre yesterday, when, on the motion of Mr. J. W. MaMillan (Stratford) and Mr. ,T. D. Sole, it was decided to affirm the principle, and to ask all Borough Councils to include the half-holiday issue, at the next municipal elections; also to request Taranaki members of the House of Representatives to use their influence to promote legislation for a universal half-holiday for the Dominion.

Mr. Henry Roche, M.tf.Z. Soc, C.E., who constructed the Horahora power plant for the Waihi Goldmining Company, lias made an interesting proposal to further use the Waikato river for the purpose of generating electric current. Mr. Roche states that a dam could be constructed at a small cost a few miles above Cambridge, where the banks of the Waikato river are very high and of a suitable nature. The water would bo backed up as far as the tail-races of the Horahora, giving a 30 or 40 feet fall; and taking the flow of the river at 10,000 cubic feet per second as an average this would jsivo between 30,000 and 40,000 horse-power. A highly successful camp fire entertainment in aid of thq scout funds was held by the united New Plymouth Boy Scout troops in the Workers' Social Hall last evening. There was a large audience, and Lieut.-Colonel C. H. Weston presided. Thanks badges in recognition of their assistance to the movement wore presented to Mrs. C. H. Burgess nad Mrs. Walker. The first part of the programme was provided by the scouts, and a very realistic camp fire scene, with tent and shrubbery, was arranged on the stage. In addition to the boys, Messrs Williamson, Jones, Hewlett and Goldsworthy contributed'to the entertainment, and, Miss Lister officiated at the piano. For assisting in the success of the function, the troops wish to thank the Legion of Frontiersmen, Mr. L. E. Hoffmann for the use of the piano, Miss E. Buttimore, and Mrs. Russell.

An inquest was held at Riverlca on the body of Cornelius McAuliffe, aged 18 years, farm laborer, employed by Mr. D. Majone. Evidence went to show that deceased went to catch a horse, and after securing a rope round it's neck he tied the other end round his body while lie put the bridle on. The horse evidently bolted, and dragged deceased across the paddock, kicking him on the head. When discovered by Mrs. W. O'Neill the horse was standing with deceased lying beside, with the rope still attached. Mrs. O'Neill cut the rope and let the horse go. Dr. Boyd was at once telephoned for, and on arrival it was found the lad ivas dead. The verdict was that deceased met his death by a horse dragging and kicking him, .by his own misadventure. The jury added a rider that it be a warning to other lads. The foreman of the jury (Mr. Allen) very strongly commended Mrs. O'Neill for, her prompt action and coolness.

At the Now Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday,-before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., William Tweedale was cha'rged with committing ft breach of the Secondhand Dealers Act in failing to have his name in full, together with the words "Licensed Second-hand Dealer," printed in legible characters at least two inches long, on some conspicuous part of hU place of business, Defendant pleaded "guilty through ignorance," and stated that although he had been a second-hand dealer for twelve years he did not know he had to put the sign up. He had a sign with the words "Licensed Broker" outside his shop, and the Borough Council had never notified him that that was insufficient before. He agreed to put up the proper sign at once. The Magistrate, after remarking that it seemed a case of ignorance, imposed a fine of 10s an] costs. Henrys Maddock pleaded not guilty to a similar charge, stating that he was not a second-hand, dealer. After hearing" his explanation, the Magistrate convicted the defendant and ordered him to pay Court costs, 7s. I The New Plymouth Fire Brigade de< | sire to acknowledge a donation of £lO, received from Mrs. E. Douglas, in recognition of the brigade's services at the recent fire in Devon Street. As July 10th. is the night of tile High School Ball, the performance of "Snowwhite" has been postponed until the following Friday, so that those ladies who so kindly promised to help the children may be put to no inconvenience.—Advt.