LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The erection of a new St Helens Hospital in Auckland is a work that shortly will be undertaken by the Government, A grant 01 £28,000 for this purpose was recently sanctioned by the Cabinet. It is proposed to place the new building on the present site. Auckland tea dealers are making'a further reduction of tirt per lb in the prices of all grades of tea. A dealer said that the drop was purely a local matter, and was the result of the exhaustion of stocks acquired by merchants at the higher rates existing some months ago. The position in Ceylon had not changed, although the rupee was steadily coming down. The Auckland Weekly Christmas number this year is quite up to its previous high standard, The double tone illustrations are a particular feature, and the work as a whole could hardly be improved upon. Particular attention lias been paid to the production of a colored presentation plate. Generally, the publication is creditable to the publishers, and a big advertisement for the Dominion, <

• An attempted assault on a young lady occurred in New Plymouth, on Wednesday night, about f) o'clock. The lady was going home, via Courtenay Street, and was followed by a man, who stopped and spoke to her near Eliot Street. When she attempted to raise an alarm he put his hand over her mouth, and then made off. The victim went into the nearest residence and sought the assistance of fTtfi lady of rile house for the remainder of the journey home. Though occurrences of this kind are not frequent, the incident will serve as a warning to women going abroad at night unaccompanied. After the telegraph' oflice closed yesterday morning, Parliament continued its sitting until 2.30 a.m.. when the [lousing Bill was read a third time and passed. In committee- Mr. Mitchell moved a new clause designed to prevent nwiiers from holding houses empty for speculative purposes, and the Minister intimated that he would have the matter looked into and have fffe" clause redrafted. Mr. Parry moved a new clause giving the Housing Board power to tak<> river empty houses. The Minister promised to consult the Attorney-General as to the feasibility of the course suggested. A meeting of the executive of the Kew Plymouth branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association was held on Wednesday evening, Mr. A. M. MaeDiarmid presiding. In anticipation of a visit from the Repatriation Department's after-care officer, shortly, a lengthy list of names of limbless men and other serious cases was presented to the meeting. In this connection returned men are asked to hand in {Tieir names to the local secretary (Mr. 0. W. West), or report any cases they have knowledge of. The balance-sheet in connection with the last annual ball was presented, and a resolution was passed expressing the thanks of the association to the committees who made the 1920 ball the success it was.

At Eltham on Wednesday, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson referred to the six o'clock closing Act, and the clause framed by him and adopted by Parliament on the easting vote of the Chairman of Committees making six o'clock closing permanent. When he moved hit amendment there was a great uproar; the leaders begged him to withdraw it, but he insisted on it going to the vote. For a little time his life was not very safe, but everybody was now satisfied that' the early closing was a good thing for New Zealand. During the last Parliament there was a little progressive group or a small band of rebels, who were looked upon with great suspicion. They had evidently made their power felt, for no less than three were now in the Cabinet; so they would see that a little rebellion was a good thing. Mr, Wilkinson mentioned that he would continue to take an interest in politics, not known actively, but as a private citizen.

Speaking at Eltham on Wednesday evening, Mr. I. R. Bridger said that previous to the inauguration of the Progress Committee a pessimistic spirit predominated in Eltham. The destructive criticism indulged in by the local Chamber of Commerce also did the town a great deal of damage. They had belittled their own town to the advantage of their neighbors. The Progress Committee had endeavored to create an optimistic spirit in Eltham to counteract the previous tendency to the reverse, and he hoped and believed that they had been successful. It had not proved an easy matter, and many of tlie methods which they had adopted had 1 been the subject, of adverse criticism, but he was of opinion that the committee had justified its existence. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson mentioned that during the month of September just past his business had shown an increase of 37 petcent., compared with that of the similar period of the previous year. He emphatically declared his faith in the future of the town.

In spite of the chronic state of the weat'her for the past few days, business at the Melbourne's Great Sale has not suffered in the least. People have braved the elements knowing that they will not have such another opportunity for many a long day in which to save money on absolutely necessary everyday Manchester goods, and ladies', men's, and. boys' apparel.

Housewives are guaranteed snow-white clothes with the use of Fairy Wonder" Drv Soap, the queen of washing powders. "Fairy" will not redden or chap the tenderest skin, nor will it injure the finest fabrics. It is par excellence the finest washing compound in the world. All grocers stuck it.

A sale of work' was held by the New Plymouth Salvation Army corps yesterday to augment the self-denial appeal. The various stalls Were well patronised iinil a clearance was made of practically nil the "roods.

The Xew Plymouth High School sport:-, to have been held yesterday, were postponed on account of weather conditions, and will lie held on Thursday, November 11. The Old Boys' annual meeting and re-union dinner have also lieen deferred till that date. "The Stratford main trunk line first appeared in the Public Works Statement in 1870," staled the chairman (Mr. W. P. Kirk wood) at. the annual meeting of the Stratford Railway League on Wednesday night. "Before • some of us were born, and I suppose we will be dead before it is completed," Vdded one of the members sadly.

As no mention was made in the Public Works estimates of any grant for a bridge, across the Mokau River, the executive of the Taranaki Progress League decided at yesterday's - meeting to communicate at once with Mr. W. T. Jennings M.P., asking if'he thought any action-V,' the League was advisable.

On the. occasion of the .""n- 1 '.',ght of the entertainment in New ""'h-iM.uth in aid of the Girls' Hostel tin re v.as a large audience at the Woi .er-.' Mall last night, and the man >,"i>rnr:i had to turn away a number of people. The comedy Kinged and'the vocal items were again much enjoyed by those uv-ont. Tt is anticipated that the two nights will produce about £9O. Owing to the fact that large" numbers ware unable to gain admission to the concert and dramatic entertainment at (he Workers' Sccicl Hall last night, it has been decided, by special request, to give another performance to-night.

At yesterday's special meeting of the executive of, the Taranaki Prepress League, the • progress on the Te RotiOpur.aUe line was discussed, and the opinion was expressed that the work appeared to be going on satisfactorily. In'order, however, that the fullest information should bo available on the subject it was decided to obtain the views of the residents in the districts concerned, and a committee was set up consisting of the chairman (Mr. J. W. McMillan) and Messrs. E. Dixon, W. P. Kirkwood and ,T. B. Richards, to take whatever action was considered necessary.

The attention of shareholders in the Eonitable Building Society is drawn to an advertisement appearing in this issue, reminding them of the annual meeting to be held in the Soldiers' Club, upstairs, to-night, commencing at 8 p.m. Immediately after iha annual meeting four appropriations of .£l5O each will be disposed of out of Xo. 2 group funds, two by ballot and two by tender, and two appropriations of £250 each by ballot out of Xo. 3 group funds. Shareholders are advised to note particularly that tlte meeting will take place ,in the Soldiers' Club, and not the secretary's office, as is usual.

Mrs. Walker and Mrs. C. H. Weston are in charge of the flower stall in aid of (he Girls' Hostel on Saturday, Opt. .1(1, opposite the Criterion Hotel. They would be very grateful for flowers, especially Lily of the Valley.

Attention is drawn to the. sale of house property at Messrs. X"olan and Co.'s mart on Saturday. The auctioneers advise that the house contains five rooms, and not four as previously advertised.

Newton King, Ltd. wish to intimate to clients in the Urenui and Uruti district that the clearing pale on., account of Mrs. Meßae.has been postpone! to Monday, Nov. ], and the Uruti sale to Thursday, November 4.