LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At tlip usual meeting of the New Plymouth Uoroiijfli Council last evening authority w.is given tor the payment of an annual subscription to the Taranaki Progress League of £lO 10s, .this being the rate fixed for boroughs. Captain Evan Dickson arrived in Blenheim from Wellington at 4.2") on Saturday. Ho left Wellington at 3.30. It was dull when he left, but lie raced a bank of clouds. Otherwise it was a fine trip.—Press Association. "I was greatly impressed with the ex- ! traordinary beauty and varied character of your parks," said Mr Arnold Gridley, head "of the British Electric Company, speaking at a New Plymouth function yesterday. "They are a tremendous asset and I have seen nothing more beautiful in New Zealand." The borough engineer, in submitting a report to the New Plymouth Council last night regarding the damage done on |,thc sea front by the recent storm, expressed the opinion that without the temporary breastwork recently erected the East End pavilion must have been destroyed. At last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, Cr. Collis remarked on the practice of motorists leaving exhausts open, which caused considerable annoyance, and he thought the Council should enforce the regulations. It was decided that the attention of the inspector be drawn to the matter, with a view to the institution of proceedings against offenders. At the last meeting of the Wellington City Council the chairman of the Milk Committee mentioned that he feared ti:ey would have to pay another Id per quart for milk, but the Imperial Government's recent oiler for New Zealand butter makes it likely that the increase will be greater than Id. It is believed that the retail price of milk will reach 9d or lOd per quart before the end of the year. Another busy week of shipping is expected at New Plymouth this week. The liner Otarama left for Waitara yesterday afternoon, leaving the port idle, and the only vessel in port to-day will be but to-morrow three steamers are due, viz., a Japanese vessel from Newcastle, the ICittawa from Westport, and the Flora from southern ports. The Rimu is due again on Friday, and next week there will be another Home liner here, the Port Alma. The present winter has been particularly hard on old folk in Auckland, and within the last five weeks no fewer than sixty deaths of people over seventy years of age have been notified (remarks the Herald). Of these, thirty-two were men and twenty-eight women. The longevity was much greater among the latter, of whom four were over ninety, and thirteen over eighty. Of the men, two were nonagenarians, and ten had passed their eightieth birthday. The monthly meeting of the FrankJeigh Park Residents' Association was held last evening. - At the invitation of the Association, Mr. L. B. Webster delivered an address "fen potato culture. Many important points were touched on. The surface system of planting, having as its principle the maximum of sunshine and the minimum of moisture, was clearly, demonstrated, and it was generally agreed to have many outstanding advantages to the growing plant and at' the same time proving a great laborsaving device. At the conclusion Mr. Webster was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his interesting and instructive address.

The Melbourne, Ltd., have a fine sto<;k of men's felt hats in the following shades: Black at 13s Oil, 21s and 3!)s Art; grey and fawn with black band 17s (id; 27s (id, 30s (id, all latest shapes; serviceable tivecd hats, (Is M and 10's fld; boy-,' tweed hats, just opened, 5s (id; tw-H'.l caps, 2s lid. No matter how hard the water, "Fairy Wonder" will soften it. This new wonderful dry soap is so quick in action it practically reduces time and labor to one half. Not only does it loosen dirt quickly, but it also bleaches without injury and keeps the clothes a good color indefinitely. You must use it. All groce-s s|ock it. vVoods' Great Peppermint Cure, ior Oouelti and Colds, sever failg, i&J/lk

To-day evidence will be taken at the New Plymouth Courthouse regarding the objections being raised by local bodies against the operation of the Taranaki County's proposed vehicle licensing bylaw. Mr. L, B. Campbell, district Public Works engineer, of Stratford, who has been appointed Commissioner, will 'preside. There is an apparent lull in the round of proceedings of landlords against tenants, as there were no claims for possession before the New Plycouth Court at yesterday's weekly sitting, though for some time past tenement disputes have figured, regularly on the list. "People in the timber business believe that values are going still higher," said Mr. R. Nairn at the meeting of the Selwyn ■ (Christchurch) Plantations Board, "and owners of timber are holding off. There is going to be a considerable demand outside of New Zealand also. Australia wants soft timber badly, and if white pine is not obtainable, pinus . insignia will be taken." "One of the first things which impressed me was your clean streets," said Sir Arnold Gridley speaking at a complimentary luncheon tendered to him at New Plymouth yesterday. He said he lived in a town on the Yorkshire coast where they prided themselves on the streets; this was the first town he had seen where the streets were nearly comparable to those of 'his residential place, and they compared favorably because they were better kept. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following cases at the New Plymouth, Court yesterday:—Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board (Mr. Quillityn) v. Henry Bishop, £23 fls (costs £2 14s); Same. v. Harry Watson, £9 15s (costs £1 6s 6d); Same v. Matthew Duggan, 17s (amount of costs on claim paid into Court).' In the judgment summons case, W. T. Hookham v. Ernest George, there was no appearonce of debtor. An order was made for the payment for the amount claimed and costs £25 5s 4d forthwith, in default 25 days' imprisonment. Responding to the toast of "Shipping Interests," at a complimentary function and this would be very shortly, too. Bone, superintendent for the New Zealand Shipping Company, said he had always been greatly interested in the development of the'port at Moturoa. He eaid that no part of the country showed fiuch prospects for shipping as they had in the immediate, district round New Plymouth. , With a little more improvement to the port they would have the largest fjhips that were trading to the Dominion calling at New Plymouth, and this would be very shortly, too. (Applause). ''Every success to the port of New Plymouth," was the superintendent's concluding words. In the opinion of Sir Arnold Gridley, head of the - British Electric Cofiipany, New Plymouth certainly has a good tramway system. He told a gathering of business men at a luncheon yesterday that his surprise at finding so good a service in a town of comparatively small population was lessened when he recollected that he had been told New Zealanders never walked for a hundred yards if they eouid get a tram. Auckland had the distinction of carrying on its trams every day a complement of passengers totalling more than the whole population of the city and surrounding districts. This was a world's record in tramways. He would not care to say whether this could be attributed to the excellence of the system or the laziness o£ the inhabitants. There was a break in the New Plymonth gas,service between eleven and twelve o'clock last night. On enquiries being made at the gasworks by a Daily News representative, Mr. Arthur (the' maiiag%r) stated that the stoppage was due, partly to inferior coal and partly to an inexperienced shift having gone on. The pressure of gas became very weak, and almost completely failed. Mr. T. Furlong (chairman of the Ci.is Company) states that at present the Company is working on borrowed coal, supplies having been obtained from Waitara and elsewhere. The Company will receive a quota of the shipment of coal arriving here by the Kittawa to-mor-row. The most ludicrous deputation that has figured in Wellington this session, is the one that went down from the Wairarap to urge the deviation «f the Eimutaka railway. As might be expected from a district so wealthy the people had plenty of money to sp:nd, so they hired a special train. The money thus expended might have been more usefully spent if it had been presented as a donation towards survey expenses. This particular deputation was headed by a pipe band—probably the newest thing in deputations. It may have been imagined that the "skirl o' the pipes" would terrify the Prime Minister into granting whatever the deputation asked for. -The deputation paid every respect by approaching Mr. Massey with their hats off. The band had gone one better by taking oil what common report says a Highlander cannot be robbed of.—Eltham Argils The big event of next month—the U.S.A. Hall. See the beautiful ball gowns and evening dress fabrics at Morey's. You will witness a special display in view of the interest aroused in this important social function.