LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

By the will of the late Mr. John Downs, who was a resident of New Plymouth for some years, the Borough Council receives a bequest of the estate, (valued at about £1500) subject to a life interest by the widow. When the Borough Council assumes control, twothirds of the money, it is directed, is to be devoted to the improvement of Western Park, and the remainder to the esplanade.

The question of suppressing Mary Pickford pictures in view of the newspaper reports of her divorce proceedings was discussed at the last meeting of the Gisborne Borougli Council. One councillor contended that it was a mistake to train the children to look on Mary Pickford as a heroine in view of the ..Press reports of her private life. The incident closed with the Mayor remarking that if people objected they could prevent their children from going to the pictures.

The Wanganui tramway service is not running too sweetly. The Herald on Saturday reported that "another mishap occurred at the tramway power-house; this time an accident described, by'the officials as slight, happened to the engine. This accident occurred before all the cars were in, and the crews of three had to stand by all night. We understand that they were provided, however, with blankets, and were made as comfortable as circumstances would permit. After working away all night, the staff were able to set the engine running, and we were imformed at midday that it was hoped to get a curtailed service in operation by about two o'clock. This service would continue in operation until further notice."

The first representative football match of the season to be held in New Plymouth took place at Pukekura Park yesterday, in the presence of about 4000 spectators. The gate takings, which v/eve in the vicinity of £IBO, have only been exceeded here on one other occasion at a representative match. The weather was perfect and the ground in good order. The gam.e, which resulted in a win for Hawke's Bay by a narrow margin, was fast, open and hard fought. There were several minor casualties. George (Taranaki), in stemming a rush, injured his hip and had to retire, whilst Malone also received a knock towards the end of the game, but kept on playing. Hebberley, one of the Hawke's Bay forwards, also received a knock and had to retire.

Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., gave his reserved decision at the Manaia Court on Wednesday in the case in which Percy Merrie, taxi driver, Manaia, claimed £2OO damages from Timothy Horgan, farmer, of Pihama. Horgan "was driving towards Hawera when he collided with Merrie near the Kapuni bridge, Manaia. Horgan, who was admittedly on the wrong side of the road, says that Merrie came so fast round the corner that it was impossible to get on to his correct side, so he pulled further over to his wrong side. Horgan's car was practically destroyed, being turned completely round facing Manaia. Merrie's car was also damaged, but not to the same extent, and for these damages he sued. The Magistrate said that in his opinion the accident happened through the excessive speed at which the plaintiff drove his car. He therefpre gave judgment for the defendant, with costs £l7 13s

Mr. Percy <Smith, of New Plymouth, late Surveyor-General, lias given'the following account of his discovery of Kairaiu:—"l was conducting the triangulation north of Auckland in IS7O-74, and on one occasion was in advance of my men, they carrying the instruments and myself using my long knife to cut a track up one of the south-east spurs of Tu-ta-moe Mountain, when I saw (out of the corner of my eye, as it were), in a slight depression, what I took to be a cliff! But as I advanced a few paces I saw that I couldjook round it, and then it dawned on me'that it was a kauri tree of enormous size. I think one of the men measured the tree with his arm, and, at any rate, we came to the conclusion that it was just a chain (66ft) round. Some years afterwards I got Henry Wilson, then Crown Jbands Ranger from Whangarei district, to visit the tree and measure it, This he did, and found it to be just 66ft in circumference."

Even the Government cannot escape rising costs. _ The Government Printer in his annual report states, with regard to paper and stationery; ''The prices for paper are still soaring, and full supplies are exceedingly difficult to obtain. To keep up stocks involves constant attention, the fulfilment of orders never being certain until the goods have actually arrived. This applies equally to printings, writings, and news. All orders for wrinting and stationery supplies from Departments' have to be rarefully scrutinised before being executed, and frequently it has been necessary to cut them down very considerably. Responsible officers of Departments should give careful attention ,to this matter of ordering; ft is very serious, and needs the utmost care. Stationery is in much the same position as paper—prices are abnormal and stocks short. Envelopes are especially difficult to secure, some sizes being unobtainable. Binding materials have advanced considerably, and the prices for some of these goods are startling."

Reports have reached us that some of the settlers in* a certain district are a little concerned regarding the conduct of a couple of Hindus. These went to a farmhouse and appealed* for work. The farmer, who was unable to employ them, escorted them off the farm, then proceeded to a distant part of his holding. His erstwhile visitors watched him to a safe distance and then returned to the house where there were only a couple of womenfolk, who, not liking the demeanour of the men, hastened inside and locked the door. The farmer opportunely returned to the house, and the visitors decamped, and their demeanour has at times apparently been the reverse of friendly. The settlers are at a loss as to how to deal with the visitors'. Offerings of food are refused because of religious scruples, -and their general demeanour is such as to indicate that they would not be desirable employees on a farm where it is necessary at times to leave women and childern unprotected.— Waikato Times.

Ladies! When you ask for "Fairy Wonder" Dry Soap, see that you get it. Don't allow yourselves to be "jostled" into taking some inferior substitute. Don't accept any "just as .good" resurrection from the limbs of "old stock." See that you get the latest and best; that's "Fairy." All up-to-date stores stock it.

At the Haymarket on Saturday next, Mr, Newton King is selling a quantity of timber and other sundries. Particulars (& this issuti