LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A shipment of 200 ions of cement was brought by the Arapawa, which arrived at New Plymouth from iOnehunga yesterday morning. At Newton King, Ltd.'s, New Plymouth Haymarket on Saturday slips made from 19s to 33s and stores up to £2 14s and £3 7s. N -

"We have also found a new use for our grandstand between shows," stated the president of the Taranaki A. and P. Society in addressing the annual meeting on Saturday. "This building is sheltering two families while the shortage of houses continues." . Two cargoes of coal arc due at New Plymouth this week. The Regulus from Greymouth is scheduled to arrive to-day with 470 tons, and a consignment will also be brought by the Kowhai, at present loading at Westport for New Plymouth aud Onehuuga, and due here on Friday. The patients at the New Plymouth Public Hospital were treated to an enjoyable programme of music yesterday afternoon, when a visit was paid to the institution by the Salvation Army Band (under the baton of Bandmaster A. Smith). The selections were very much appreciated by the inmates, and during the afternoon the Matron thanked Commandant Baylis for the band's kindness. The hearing of the charges of assault against William MeDerinott, ship's fireman, was set down for Saturday morning at the New Plymouth Court, but was further adjourned for a week, SubInspector Hutton, for the police, stating that Hogue, the injured man, would not be out of the hospital for some days yet. An application for bail was made on behalf of accused, by Mr. C. H. Croker, who stated that defendant had when arrested about £25 in cash, and he suggested that bail in this amount be granted, He pointed out that McDermott being a total 3tranger to the town was not able to find sureties; he had been in custody for eighteen days, having been arrested on October 5. The Magistrate (>Ir.T.A.B. Bailey) refused the application, but stated that if any arrangement on a better basis could lie put forward by counsel during the week he would consider it.

A suggestion that the Post and Telegraph Department should cease to employ girls as telegraph messengers in Wellington, was made in the House of Representatives on Thursday by Mr. Burnett (Temuka), who referred with-, out giving details to a case that had been considered by a committee. These young girls, he said, wore exposed to special dangers. An experienced woman ouijht to be in charge of them. The Postmaster-General (Mr. Coates) replied that thirteen girls were employed by the Department in Wellington. They had been engaged because boys could not be secured for anything like the wage that the job was worth. The girls were not, employed after li p.m., and they were under the supervision of an experienced woman. He did not think that any trouble that might have occurred need be attributed to the nature of (lie employment. The Minister added that it was necessary for him to watch expenditure, which was tending to rise in every direction—Own Correspondent.

In washing woollens, use "I'Viry Wonder" Dry Soap, and so avoid any risk of shrinking the garments. -Fairy'' removes grease and dirt fro m the clothes like magic, without rubbing or boiling, or the use of extra soap. It is, therefore. the cheapest and best washing powder on the market. Stocked b.y all grows. ' '

Mr. W. M. Gumi, of Palmerston North, now touring the United States and Canada, says benzine is selling retail af, 12s per case, and asks why 37s Gd and more is charged iu New Zealand. "Expenses on railway construction work luive increased tremendously since pre-war days," said Mr. R. W. Holmes during his statement at the Taupo Totara Timber Company inquiry. ''Before the war earthwork used to cost Is a cubic yard. It now costs 2s (Id. Wages for workers ; were then 8s a day, and now the men receive 155."

Says the Christclmrch Sun:—ln 1915-' 10 the land devoted to butter-fat production amounted, to over 3J million acres. That acreage represented over 20,000 holdings Nearly 40,000 people worked those holdings, of whom over 15,000 were women, The average herd numbered 25 cows. Now—who is going to argue that these small producers, after years of struggle and drudgery culminating since I the war in heavy additions to their overhead expenses, are not entitled to reap the fullest possible benefit from the fact that the Imperial Government is prepared to pay a record price for New Zealand butter 1 "There is a clear reduction of 8170 in the prison criminal population for the first year after the war, the comparison with the last pre-war year," states the Prisons Report for the year 191920. "This is eminently satisfactory in view of the often-expressed opinion that ■the coming of peace would be signalised by a marked increase of crime in all countries engaged in war activities. The reason for this somewhat unexpected position is probably that up to the present time we are still floating upon a wave of apparent prosperity. Employment is plentiful, wages are high, and there is little poverty. If conditions change for the worse, it is possible that the change will be reflected in our criminal statistics."

Mr. Jennings M.P. is asking the Minister of Native Affairs, whether he will bring before Cabinet the advisability of the Government securing the MangaAwakino Block, Mokau River, consisting of close on 5,000 acres of first-class dairying and sheep country. This land he says, is held under lease from the .Natives l'or forty-two years, twenty years of which bave -still to run. Adjoining this land is the returned soldiers' settlement of Mangoira, which has proved a success. The interests of the owners in • the abovo Manga-Awakino Block are now being administered by the Public Trustee, as five out of six Kuropean lessees are dead. If the Government cannot buy the interests of the trustees and settle Avith the Natives, some steps should be devised of altering the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs, which is retarding the progress of the Mokau district.

W.C.T.U.—The meeting will be held in the Workers' Social Hull, lower room, Wednesday 27th, at 3 p.m. Members and friends invited. The attention of dairymen is directed to Stony River Bull Fair on Tuesday next. Some very fine animals are to be offered, including 3 pedigree Jerseys, the property of Mr. W. Grant, of Puniho. A line of particularly choice yearling Jersey heifers, bred by and the property of Mr. Phillip Wells, of Pukearuhe, were disposed of by auction at Uremii sale on Friday for the recoid figure of £lB lCs. Mr. E. Ansford, of Omata, was the buyer. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., draw attention to their Supplementary Bull Fair at Stratford on Saturday, 30th October, at 1 p.m. Pull particulars on page 8.

Those interested in the New Plymouth High School Old Girls' Association puzzle competition, are requested to read (he advertisement, on page one to-day. fn Saturday's issue the advertisement was printed incorrectly. The box plan will be open at Hoffmann's on Tuesday, October 2(1, at fl o'clock, for the concert and dramatic entertainment in aid of the girls' hostel. The programme is advertised to-day.

Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Second Group) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable on Tuesday, October 26th, at the Secretary's Office, Carrie, Street, from D a.m. to 12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.—Advt