LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Hawera Hospital Board ha 3 decided to raise the hospital fees to fls Od per day, reducible by Is per day for prompt settlement. Owing to temporary coal trouble, the pressure of gas in New Plymouth fell for a short while last evening. The fault was speedily rectified. At the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday, Cr. O'Brien expressed his intention of giving notioe to move that the Council consider the question of providing rest rooms for women and children. The Egmont County Council yesterday decided to give financial support pro rata to the New Plymouth Borough Council in opposing the Taranaki vehicle licensing by-law. ' The Hamilton Borough Council's resolution in favor of removing the import duty on cement, with a view to improving the present position, was endorsed by the Egmont County Council yesterday. In continuation of her voyage from New York, the steamer Donald McKay is to sail from Wellington on Saturday for New Plymouth and Brisbane. The vessel will discharge 15,000 cases of benzine at New Plymouth. The matter of the frequent offences of allowing stock to wander on the roads was considered by the Egmont County Council yesterday. The names of about twelve recent offenders were placed before the meeting, .and the Council decided, in accordance with a previous decision, to prosecute the individuals concerned. The chairman (Cr. Wright) said that there were two accidents recently caused by wandering cattle. On Friday night last he encountered no less than twelve \ots of stock between Puniha Road and Tipolsa Road. During the year 243 factories have been registered, in which 1718 workers have been employed, states the annual report of the New Plymouth Labor Department, i As compared with the previous year there has been a slight increase both in the number of factories and persons employed therein. There have not been any serious accidents to the workers. Thirty-three accidents were reported, and of this number six were slight, 23 were moderate, and four were serious. There were no fatal accidents. Out of the total number of accidents, 25 happened in the two freezing works, and the remaining eight are spread over the other trades- The overtime worked by boys was 30 hours and women 4498 hours, making a total of 4528 hours. This shows an increase on the previous year of 2454 hours. The greater part of'this overtime has been worked in the tailoring and dressmaking trades. Why not, for safety's sake, try Fairy Wonder Dry Soap? You pay pounds for household drapery, but only a few pence for washing powder. To save a penny or two in soap you risk the pounds paid for drapery. Then you call that economy! Now, Fairy Wonder has proved itself the safest and best, as well as the cheapest in the end. Use it and see for yourself. Blankets are as scarce as ever, and the position is not likely to be relieved this season. As a stop-gap the sateen kapoe quilts at the Melbourne, Ltd., are serving a useful purpose. These quilts are warm, They last for years. "UNIQUE" HOT WATER BOTTLES have heavily vulcanised seams and patent stopper. Cannot burst or crack. On sale everywhere and hvanded on neck of bottle.

The Taranaki Hospital Board notified the Egmont County Council yesterday that the Council's hospital levy amounted to £2370 3s. The Rimu did not sail for Onehunga yesterday, her departure being postponed until this afternoon. This change was rendered necessary by the late arrival of the Rimu from Onehunga yesterday, had weather, and a delay through the loss of the second mate overboard, prolonging the voyage until 1.20 yesterday afternoon. 'Die housing problem is referred to in the yearly review of the Now Plymouth Labor Department, now to hand. The report says:—"A large number of applications for dwellings have been received, and a contract for the erection of six houses has been let. The housing problem here is a very serious one, but with the new Housing Act, and the efforts being made by the Government, the position should soon bo relieved." The Postrosster-General notified the Egmont County Council yesterday that the Council's representations regarding mail services, including a. service between Hawera and Opunake shortly after the arrival of the Wellington-New Plymouth mail train, would receive careful consideration. The Council decided to go further with the subject, and the chairman, 'Cr. Campbell, and Or. Young, were delegated to make enquiries as to the position, and report to next meeting. With the idea of forming a Taranaki Progressive League to further the general interest of the province, local bodies and co-operative dairy companies have been circularised, inviting the appointment of delegates to attend a conference in the Municipal Chambers, New Plymouth, on Monday, 26th inst., at 2.30 p.m.. The convenors are the Taranaki members of Parliament, the Stratford Borough Council, Chamber of Commerce, and Railway League. Passengers by the evening train from Hawera to Wanganui on Saturday evening had a belated tfip (the Chronicle states). It was a big train, a number of extra carriages being put on to accommodate two football teams and their supporters from Wanganui and visitors to the Hawera show. At the first hill after leaving Hawera the train stuck, but eventually struggled on. At the second hill the train had to be cut in halves and taken to the next station in sections. Finally there was another hold-up on the Goat Valley Hill, near Westmcre, but by liberal aoplications of sand the summit was at length gained. The train arrived at Wanganui nearly an hour late, most of the. time being lost between Hawera and Patea. Mr. T. W. Lonsdale has resigned the maiinpement of Monmabaki State Farm (says the Wanganui Herald\. The Government has been starving Moumahaki for some considerable time past, and as Mr. Lonsdale is one of those men who believed in efficiency and was opposed to the policy adopted in regard to the farm under his control, he decided, to'sever his connection with the Government an.l enter upon a farming enterprise of his own. He, therefore, purchased'a farm in North Auckland, and he will shortly be leaving for his new sphere. Mr. Lonsdale is a man of sterling quality, and possesses great abilities as a farmer and an administrator, and the Government service is going to be all the poorer for a man like Mr. Lonsdale quitting it. These are the days when production and more production is required, and when the Government should seek to retain the services of those who can show how to grow two blades of grass in place of one, rather than lose them.

During the year ended on March 30,' 1920, trade generally in New Plymouth has been good both in the manufacturing and retail branches, states the Labor Department's report. There has been practically no unemployment, notwithstanding the difficulties experienced in securing supplies of materials required by the building and manufacturing "trades. There has not been any serious stoppage of work caused by strikes or other like cause, and the year that has passed marks one of progress and prosperity. There have been few inquiries from employers for any class or labor, and the full use of this branch has not been taken advantage of in this respect. During the year five married men with sis dependents, and three single men without dependents, have been found employment. Of this number seven have been sent to private employment and one to Government work. No applications have been received from returned soldiers, and it is believed that the falling off in this branch is due to bpth employers and returned men making application to the local Repatriation Committee. At Mokau on Thursday next, Mr. Newton King is conducting a clearing sale on account of the estate of the late Andrew Kelly. Everything is to be sold, including a dairy hero" of 80 cows, butter-mak-ing and sawmilling plants, and a wide range of sundries. The vendor's interest in the property will also be offered by auction.