LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The maih which were despatched from Auckland, via Vancouver, per s.s. Makura' on 9th June, arrived in London on (he 17th July. The Legislative Council election in the Suva electorate (two members) resulted as follows:—Henry Milno Scott 242, Henry Marks 194, S. H. Ellis 123, James B. Turner 107.—Cable message. A telegram from Auckland says that owing to the prevalence of influenza among the children in the western suburbs of the city, the Richmond Road, Bayfield, and Ponsonby public schools have been closed for this week. Ashburton has had no revision of its valuation since 1905. One West Coast borough had been untouched since 1898. Only 20- out of 140 places in the Dominion have been re-valued since 194. There are about 170 dairy factories throughout Taranaki, and at the present time only 14 are making Butter. The rest are making cheese, with a prospect of others deciding to do so. Competition by Hindus has developed another phase, as they are now undertaking household washing. It is stated that a number of them are so employed in Auckland. The business of hawking is made the vehicle for introduction as laundry workers, inquiries for work being made at the houses so visited. Following the example of New Plymouth the Rangiora Borough has decided to appoint a "town manager." Out of the 20 odd applicants for the position, Mr. C. Dash, F.1.A.N.Z., town clerk of Sumner, was appointed. Mr. Dash was previously town clerk at Waimate.

The case of the State Advances Department (Mr. A. A. Bennett) v. Elizabeth Johnson, claim for possession of tenement, wjiieli had been adjourned from a previous sitting, was yesterday adjourned for a further three weeks to give defendant an opportunity to secure another tenement. "Hamilton is going ahead as fast as, if not faster than any other town in New Zealand. By the way it is shaping now it will probably be the fifth town of the Dominion in a few years." —Mr. E. C. Banks, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, at a meeting in Hamilton. Ihere is one town that will run Hamilton close for fifth position—New Plymouth, which is only now getting itito its stride. Since 1918 no fewer than 136 new subscribers have been connected with the New Plymouth exchange. The poles for the trunk telephone line from New Plymouth to Opunake are now coming forward. The receiving wire is on hand, and it is hoped to make a start with the work at an early date. The department hopes to erect a trunk line to Urenui as soon as the poles and wire are available.

All berthage at the New Plymouth harbor was occupied yesterday, the vessels in port bei#g the Home liner Ota--I'iima, the Glaucus, and the Ngakuta, while the Flora, with southern transhipments, had to anchor in the stream. The congestion was relieved last night, when the Ngakuta sailed for Greymouth, and her bacth will be occupied by the Flora this morning. There will still remain sufficient room for the Rimu to berth today,'and her arrival will bring the number of ships alongside to four. Tomorrow the Mapourika is due from southern ports, and as the Flora is to sail to-day the Mapourika's discharge will not be delayed.

The grass grul) has made its appearance in Taranaki, as well as in other ■parts, and has caused a good deal of damage to the pasture lands. -Thousands of starlings may frequently he seen in the paddocks near New Plymouth feasting upon the grub, which formerly operated only on the very light lands. In Wanganui district a large black grub has also made its appearance, and the sub-provincial executive of the Farmers' Union has decided to make representations to the Agricultural Department on the matter, with a view to the best method of counteracting the activities of the pest.

Picture patrons are advised that there will not be a matinee performance of "The Miracle Wan" this afternoon. The picture will be shown again to-night and finally to-morrow night. The N7Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to draw clients' attention to their Tarata sale, which they are holding in their Tarata yaVds on Friday. g7th inst., at 1 p.m. Full particulars of entries will be found -on page S of this 1 [ssue.

Some very valuable work is now in progress at the Cawthron Institute (says the Nelson Mail). The soil survey of the Waimea Plains is already in progress, and experiments are also be- j ing made with insect pests and their natural enemies. The natural enemy of the woolly aphis, it is understood, has actually been discovered, but the institute is not-prepared to accept the responsibility of letting the "enemy" loose in New Zealand without the consent and approval of the Government. What the natural enemy of the woolly aphis might do after it had exterminated its prey had to be taken into considera j tion; and great care must be exercised in such matters. A mah named Gilbert Pollock, who svas only released on Saturday morning after serving a week's sentence, was arrested in the evening at the railway station, and appeared before the' New Plymouth Court yesterday morning on charges of drunkenness and obscene language. He pleaded guilty and 1 asked for leniency, pointing out that he had served for over four years in the navy and that he had two years' work in front of him. He was anxious, he said, that a prohibition order should be taken''out. The Magistrate convicted and discharged accused on the charge of drunkenness, and on the second charge orderfed him to come up for sentence if cafftd upon within twelve months. A prohibition order was issued at accuseds own request.

A Taranaki lady, recently from Home, is surprised at the comparative cheapness and plentitude of foodstuffs in the Dominion. She gave a News' reporter some particulars. Sugar was Is 2d a lb, and was expected shortly to 7d; butter (when yon could get it) from 3s to 4s 6d; currants, Is to Is 2d per lb; beef, Is 9d lb; mutton (British), la 9Jd, colonial (frozen) Is 3d; eggs, 3Jd each; potatoes, Is 3id per lb; cheese, Is BJd; and bread (per 4lb) Is ljd (expected to rise to Is fid shortly). There was, she said, a good deal of unemployment just now at Home, and how miiny of the people lived at all she was unable to understand. "New Zealanders do not know how well off they are; this Dominion is the cheapest and best country to be in at the present time." The only thing cheaper at Home was rentals —when they could be obtained.

Mr G. H. Saunders returned by the mail train on Friday night from Wellington, where he had been busy all the week booking up attractions for the local theatres. Amongst the attractions secured there will be a three _ nights' return season of "The Diggers'' early next month, and towards the end of September a four night return season of the popular English Pierrots. Mr. Saunders also booked a number of special pictures including "The Romance of Tarzan" (sequel to "Tarzan of the Apes"), "The Rainbow Trail" (sequel to "Riders of the Purple Sage"), "The Shackleton Expedition," with Mr. George Dean to tell the story during tlio screening, and a number of other features, including two serial stories, "The Mystery of 13." and "The Great Gamble."

We are requested to state Hint the section in Douglas township with buildings, etc., advertised by Newton King, Ltd., on account of Mr. Fred Webb, has been withdrawn from sale. The horses and plant will be submitted to auction tp-morrow, Wednesday, August 25th. The peculiar cleansing properties of "Fairy Wonder" Dry Soap are not confined solely to the wash-tub. "Fairy" will cleanse pots and pans, wood and paint work, and is excellent for scrubbing floors. It also cleanses hair brushes like magic. Also try a little "Fairy" in your bath. It is delightful. At all grocers.

The Melbourne, Ltd., is showing the following lines in men's goods: Navy flannels, lis 6d; navy "Doctor" flannels, 13s 9d; Pcto.:e flannels, 9s (Id; meh's dark union shirts, lis Od; men's smart tweed hats, 9s Gd and 10s 0d; men's black felts, 13s 6d; men's suits, £4 19s Od to £S 10s; men's smart gaberdine raincoats, 80s 6d to 150s.

The Farmers' Co-op. Organisation Society wish to draw attention to the sale advertised on account of Messrs. Neuman Bros., to be held in Messrs. Malone and Worthington's yards, Puniwhakau on Friday, 27 th August, particulars of which appear on page 8 of this issue.

Readers will note from the advertisements on our front page that the new reinforced concrete bridge spanning the Mangawhero-iti stream on the KapongaAwatuna Road has been opened for traffic. Last October wo referred to this work and pointed out that the .Eltham County Council proposed moving the old timber structure bodily to one side to make room for a new bridge, and now that the work has been completed the Council hopes to realise a good price for the well-seasoned wood in the old bridge. The new structure has been erected to the designs of Mr. Tosswill, late engineer to the Kithaii) County, at a cost of just under £2OOO. When the works were nearing completion they were seriously damaged by the heavy flood last January and a considerable amount of replacement was necessary.