LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Consent to raise a loan of £OOOO for roading purposes, at the rate of not more than 54 .per cent, has been granted to the Ohura County Council.

Auckland strawberries of medium size have made their appearance on the Wellington market this week, but so far the price is above the reach of the general consumer. The season, however, promises to be a good one in the north, and there are prospects that before the end of the month consignments will be fairly heavy. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce has accepted the offer of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce to send a deputation to Wanganui to discuss with local importers 'the question of combining with Taranaki in arranging direct shipments from the United] Kingdom to New Plymouth. The deputation will make' the visit within the next fortnight. Plans submitted to the Wairarapa Power Board propose a dam 127 feet high in the Waiohine river. With a lesser dam on the Waiau at Opunake, power for the whole Kgmont County could be obtained, and at next council meeting Mr. W. K. Wright intends moving for a report from two electrical engineers on the subject. Tit reply to the representations of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce that a coin-in-the-slot telephone be installed in the west end of New Plymouth", the Minister for Telegraphs has intimated that authority has been given for the placing of a slot telephone at the junction of South Road and Belt Road. This is at a tramway stopping place and in the centre of a, residential area. Yesterday was Guy Fawke's Day, the celebration of which is often looked forward to with relish by the young folks. Yearly, however, the honoring of this old custom spems to lessen. There were a few bonfires combined with exhibitions of fireworks last night in various pants of New Plymouth, and these could be located by the glow cast into the sky, marked intermittently by showers of sparks. Pair weather was experienced, but a strong breeze was blowing. The High School girls are running .the (lower stall in connection with the New Plymouth Girls' Hostel to-day, and will be glad of donations of lilies of the wlkv, v«m. »«4 vth<i- tioweri i9ijiftl* v j

Waverley experienced "some" hailstorm on Wednesday night. For about lil'teeii minutes itlie storm raged with tremendous violence, the hailstones being so large and coming with such force that in several houses, every window on the wcsicrn side was smashed. A resident, too!: the opportunity of measuring one of the hailstones, and found it to be no less than I.} inches in diameter. Vegetable gardens have sneered to a large extent, one Whenuukura resident stating ihat hs had potatoes nearly ready to dig, and now what is left of them is not worth digging.—Press.

A return of the estimated population of New Zealand as at September 'loth shows a total of 1,240,5")!), comprised of 033,712 males and 010,847 females. The excess of births over deaths during the September quarter was 4000, and the excess of immigration over emigration 41(18. The births registered during September quarter numbered 70!)S, an increase of 280 on the number for the preceding quarter, and of 180(1 when compared with September quarter, 1!)1!). The birth-rate for the nine months ended September 30th is equal to an annual rate of 25.0S per 1000 of mean population, as compared with a rate of only 21.55 for the year 1!>1!>.

Although there is a. strict ban against the importation into New Zealand of manufactured goods of German origin, there are representatives of German manufacturers quoting prices and booking orders for forward, delivery. It is believed that they are looking for an early revocation of the regulation. One agent has, been operating in Wellington, quoting : German-made pianofortes at considerably below what either English or American instruments can be purchased for. Many firms in New Zealand are receiving price lists and business letters from German firms, written evidently in the belief that 'there is no bar to the resumption of commercial relations.

Lately the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce has had the somewhat new experience of residents coming forward and asking to be enrolled as members. One leading business man wrote lately: ''For some years I was a member of your Chamber, but a few years ago I resigned. My reason for so doing was that at that time the Chamber was little more than a debating society; they talked about many things, but when it came :u action, it was generally found "not to come within the province of the Chamber,'' and little real work of value from a commercial point of view was done. I have been pleased to no'tice lately that your Chamber has come more to the front and done some good work, and if the members are agreeable to take a wandering sheep back into the fold, I shall be pleased to rejoin."

Advices have been received by the Postal authorities that numerous mails are on the way to New Zealand. The Tofua. which left San Francisco on October 18th for Wellington, carries four bags of mail matter and 100.1 parcel receptacles. The vessel will probably arrive about Tuesday next. On the Ucmuera and the Joiiio, due at Wellington from London about November 13 and November 21 respectively, there are mails from the United Kingdom, but particulars of these are not yet to hand. The Tahiti, due at Auckland on November 11 from Vancouver, has 000 bags of British, American and Canadian mail matter. A parcel mail is also being brought by the Opawa, which left London on October 14. By the Moana from Sydney there! arrived 1177 bags of mails aiid parcels, the Wellington porlion comprising 02 bags of mails and 50 parcels.

Some sixty or seventy telephones installed in the premises in Wellington, of bookmakers or premises reputed to he used by bookmakers, were cut off for several hours on Wednesday. They were subsequently reconnected, and no further action has yet been 'taken. The Post and Telegraph regulations, as most people are aware, provided that the telephones as well as the telegraphs are not to be used for betting purposes. The disconnecting of the telephones, it is stated, was undertaken prematurely without Ministerial sanction. There are believed to be 00 or 70 telephones used by bookmakers, wholly or in part, in Wellington. The authorities have been collecting information on the subject for some time, and it is intended that in the first instance a warning shall be issued to the subscribers concerned that the telephones will be disconnected if they are used for betting purpose. If the warning is not effective, then the telephones will be cut oil'. This is to apply all over New Zealand.

"I don't know how we are, going to get on if this sort of thing goes on," said a master builder on being consulted by a Dominion representative on the effect of the . latest mandatory bonus of its to be paid 'to all day workers. "On the one hand we have people crying out about the tall price of building and the extreme difficulty in getting houses, and on the other ils per week is clapped on to the wages of every man employed in the trade—carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers, drain layers, tilers, and so on. Of course we all know that prices of things have gone up considerably during the past six months—anyone with a household lo maintain is painfully aware of that, but where is it to stop? And, again, many people are condemning the percentage method of building, but how on earth is a man to give a contract juice when such jumps in wages are forced on him? I don't say the percentage sy-ilein has not its disadvantages to those who wish t«> build, but, it seems to me that it has been forced on us ii't belter than perhaps only a loose form of contract. We hear a lot about prices falling, but so far there has been no such thing as far as building material is concerned. The tendency is rather the other way about.''

Mr. H. Derby, of H. Derby and Co., has just driven up from Wellington in the latest model Ford touring car. This car is a Ford Aristocrat, which one can scarcely credit with relationship to the thousands of Fords in use. The latest body, new pattern seats, one-man hood, sloping wind-screen, and detachable vims are visible, while a standard self-starter added to the car at the Ford works is one of the additions which will be a boon to owners. No doubt it will not be long before this new model Ford is as familiar on the local roads as the older models. On this point Mr. Derby expresses himself as very sanguine.

A special display is being made by the New Zealand Clothing Factory, New Plymouth. This being "Hat Week" with (lie firm, they are making a special showing of the new season's hats, in smart uew felts, straw boaters, and Panamas, also an endless variety of boys' and girls' panamas, and children's washing hats make a line showing.— New Zealand Clothing Factory, New £lymottt)i. *

Whether a hell or a bugle is the better for summoning pupils to their tasks was humorously dismissed by the Auckland Education Board, on an application for the latter instrument from New Lynn School. The staggering query was put by one member, what, would happen if the bugler boy left the school? But the satisfactory reply was given that such a contingency could not arise if the headmaster himself were taught the instrument. The board left it at that.

"This is the age of the cargo pilferer," remarked a Melbourne merchant to an Argus reporter. "He is having a royal time, aijd defeating the combined efforts of police, shipping, and insurance companies, manufacturers, and merchants to circumvent him." "In the last two or three months," said an insurance agent, "[ have dealt with claims by clients amounting to about £10,000."

A slump has arrived in West Knd tailoring, and overcoats are four guineas cheaper than recently. Saxony cloths are down (is and Cheviots 4s, and only the best worsteds Temain unchanged. A prominent tailor, in an interview, stated that the end of the high-priced suit bad come, and added that the statements that they would be dearer were all nonsense. The slump is due to customers not buying, and wholesalers have been left with enormous stocks.

An Auckland man, who became bankrupt ten years ago, has just received from his creditors an illuminated addross. The Star states the the circumstances arc remarkable. Ten years ago the debtor found himself cowering from clamorous creditors whose bilk aggregated an amount some hundreds of pounds in advance of the utmost he could possibly pay. lie was in business, so became bankrupt, assigned his assets, and promptly went out of commercial affairs. He set to work for wages, and has been toiling ever since. Some year or two after his failure he took out his savings and paid all his creditor.? a dividend of half-a-crown in the pound. They were somewhat mollified. But as the years rolled by and the man made six more payments of -2s fid in the pound they were considerably pleased. Very recently he declared his eighth and last dividend, but was somewhat concerned because he had not sufficient money to pay interest on the debts. The creditors, however, were quite satisfied, and last week they met hirn to give him a token of their regard for his honesty and his character.

Weather permitting, the New Plymouth Citizens' Band will give another municipal recital at the Breakwater tomorrow (Sunday) aftenioo'i, at 3 p.m. Several new and popular items will be included, and the special collection will be in aid of the band fund.

The proceedings at the Labor sports in Pukekura Park to-day will be enlivened by music selections from the band. Those members of the Citi:". : ri<' Band who can be'present are .. to assemble at the park in uniform at 3.30 p.m.

In this issue, Newton King, Ltd., advertise for sale by auction a valuable town section in the business area.

The Ui'iiti Committee who are working up the Anglican Home Mission Bazaar desire to thank Mr. Newton King for a cheque of .C), St. Mary's Diocesan School, Stratford, for a parcel of made up goods, and St. Mary's H.M. Committee at New Plymouth for a large quantity of articles and toys. The committee . iiope that by having the Bazaar on December Hi to make it a gala day for the children, some of whon\ will have to ride a score or so miles and then drive the rest no get to get to it. Books of all descriptions —music and toys are especially wanted—and parcels addressed Home Mission, Uruti, and entrusted to the care of either Mr. Hamblin, or Mr. C. Johnstone, who run daily motor buses from New Plymouth, will be very gratefully received.

At Newton King's Stony River sale on Tuesday next will be offered three exceptionally line pedigree Jersey bulls on account of Mr. W. Grunt, of Puniho. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. Our readers are reminded that the great Reduction Sale at the Melbourne, Ltd., positively ends to-day. Solid savings on men's and boys' suits, hats, mercery, blouses, and Manchester goods can be effected if purchases are made now. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to draw clients' attention to their sale which they are holding in their Stratford yards on Tuesday next, November !), at 12M0 p.m. Full particulars of eiAries will be found on page S of this issue. In this issue, Newton King, Ltd., advertise full particulars of entries for Stonv River sale on Tuesday next.