LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The first shipment of cherries from Sydney, which arrived at Auckland last week, realised from 30a to 3Bs per case of 121b.

Ready support, is being given by many branches of the Farmers' Union to the decision of the Auckland provincial executive to organise a farmers' political party.

At last night's meeting of the Xew Plymouth Borough Council a recommendation was adopted from the Carnegie Institute Committee in favor of advertising for a librarian and curator for the library at £3OO per annum (vice Mr. John Baillie resigned). At the annual meeting of the East End Reserves Committee last night, it was unanimously resolved to enter a candidate in the save the baby competition under the auspices of the Plunkot League, and Baby Drury was selected as the candidate.

At a public meeting at luvcrcargill last night it was decided to petition the Invercargill and South Invercargill Borough Councils to take a poll on a proposal that the weekly half-holiday be observed on Saturday.—Press Association.

Heavy misty weather yesterday caused interruptions in the telegraphic communications in Taranaki, the atmospheric conditions having the effect of reducing the current. The leakage was especially noticeable at the Wellington end. Press matter was considerably delayed last night. Some plumbers, it is stated have been charging as high as 4s per hour for their [labor, which works out at £0 12s per | week of 48 hours, and :CS 16s per week for 44 hours. Many carpenters are said (o have been getting from 3s to 3s (id per hour recently. At the latter rate a carpenter would make £S Ss in a week of 4S hours.—-The Dominion

The supply of strawberries to the Auckland market has been retarded by the recent cold weather, but the daily quantity is now steadily increasing. Prices remain the same, fruit from old beds fetching from Is lid to Is lOd, and that from new beds realising from Is lOd to 2s fid per box. The gate receipts at the Manawatu spring show for the three days of the exhibition amounted to £1915 Ms 7d. On the first and second day the takings were slightly below those of the previous year, but on ''People's Day" they constituted a record, being an increase of £456 15s 2d.

The quarterly criminal sessions of the Auckland Supreme Court opened yestsr•day, before the Chief Justice, Sir Ro bert Stout. The calendar is very heavy, there Being no fewer than 26 prisoners for trial. Among thorn is Samuel John Thorn, who is accused of having murdered Sydney Seymour Eyre, at Pukekawa.. The trial of Thorn will probably commence on Monday, November

Every fine evening may be seen in New Plymouth flocks of starlings making for the sugar loaves, where they roost and breed. The Avro aeroplane disturbed -the birds yesterday, several flocks, evidently frightened by' the peculiar phenomenon, turning from their objective and dispersing to-other quarters. With reference to the disposal of Featherston Camp ebuildings, the UnderSecretary for Public Works (Mr. F. W. Furkert) has written to the New Plymouth Borough Council stating that it is proposed to sell a number of the hutments (both officers' and men's) shortly, but the matter was being deferred at present, as .the Defence Department had a certain amount of material stored in the buildings. The electrical inspector for the Council of the Fire Underwriters' Associations (Mr. F. T. Oilmore) has written to the New Plymouth Borough Council's electrical engineer (Mr. Hartley) expressing pleasure at the improvement in electrical installations in the town, and appreciation of his co-operation in bringing about the required satisfactory standard.

Many acres of land are still under water along the Manawatu railway line. Between Tokomaru and Shannon a lake extends for miles, and one of lesser extent is to be seen near Koputuroa. Stock* has been moved to high ground, but until a mustering takes place it will be impossible to ascertain if any loss has been occasioned by the flood. The Auckland Prices Investigation Tribunal has considered complaints regarding charges for tea-tree .firewood, benzjne, flour, and boots. Six other eases "of alleged profiteering were completed. In two instances insufficient evidence was adduced, in one case a refund was ordered, in two others it was found that no undue profit had been made, and in the final case the tribunal found that in view of trade conditions the price charged was not excessive. The New Plymouth Boys' Higl, ,S c ) 10ol annual athletic sports will be held on Thursday next, A cordial invitation is extended' to all parents, old boys, and Wands of the school.

The question of further popularising seaside resorts in New Plymouth with the public were touched on by I lie president of the East End Society (Mr. A. 1. lioherts) in his report to the annual meeting last night. Air Huberts' suggestions included (lie institution of a series oi' hand concerts, song recitals, and musical evenings. "Another very useful method of obtaining support," lie stated, "is'by teaching the younger generation the aft of swimming. The methods of life-saving could also be imparted to those willing to learn, and 1 would like to see a competition arranged for the younger swimmers.''

On Wednesday evening at Hawera, during a thunderstorm, a flash of lightning ran down the water tower, lighting up the whole place. Apparently it then went across through the pipe connection to the fire station, for Superintendent Pettett and some of his men who wore in the front station suddenly saw a blue flash on the mercury gauge, followed by a report as of a rifle shot. The effect of the light was, says Air. Pettett, quite blinding for a few moments. This flash went right through the station, and, as may be imagined, created something of a feeling of consternation among the inmates. Close examination, however, revealed the fact that no damage had been done. The experience, however, was somewhat terrifying.

Replying in the House' to a question by Mr. I<\ F. Hocltly (Rotorua), the Hon. C J. Parr (Minister for Education and Public Health) stated that during the recess he proposed making a visit to the backblocks for the purpose of personally investigating the conditions obtaining there to schools and educational matters generally. In reply to Mr. W. T Jennings (Wa'itomo), he'said that he would, at the same time, inquire as to the difficulties the backblocks were laboring under in regard to the lack of nurses and medical men.

How far had (h<. Minister for Education got in evolving a Dominion system of superannuation for hospital nurses? asked Air. .1. A. Young (Waikato) in the House of Representatives. The Hon. (J. .). Parr replied that lie was sorry to say that he had not got far. It was a di/lieult problem, as nurses entered a public hospital, stayed a year or two, and then often went into private practice or got married. He had got draft provisions ready, and had hoped to bring a scheme before Parliament this session, but had not been able to do so. The whole question of superannuation was to'be looked into, however, with a view to legislation next session, and this matter would be included He trusted that the difficulties in the way of superannuation for nurses would not prove insurmountable.

The first .shipment of meat for the Taranaki Farmers' moat works at .Vow Plymouth for the American market, was taken by the Leitrim, which sailed from Waitara roadstead yesterday morning for Wellington. Tiie shipment comprised 3000 carcases of mutton and 10,000 carcases of iamb. There remains in store at Uic Smart Road Works .11,000 freight carcases of beef. Til's belongs to Vestey Bros., being a portion of the meat involved in the deal recently completed by 1 which Vesleys purchased all the .surplus beef belonging to the Imperial Government. The question of the shipment of this consignment is in the hands of the purchasers, and no information lias yet been received by tiie Meat Company as to when a liii»r is likely to arrive at Xew Plvmouth to lift the beef.

A meeting of the committee of the New Plymouth Beautifying Society was held at the office of the president (.Mr. Hughes) last night, i The resignation of Mrs. Stevenson (nee Miss Kerr Duncan) was accepted and Mr. John Penn was nppointed secretary. A letter from Mr. Smith, iM.P., was read intimating that lie had conveyed to the Minister for Internal Affairs the resolution of the committee expressing their pleasure at hearing that it was intended to introduce a Town Planning Bill. A letter from the Minister to Mr. Smith was also read promising to forward ,to the Society a copy of the proposed Bill when introduced The animal meeting was fixed for Tuesday the 18th inst. Work at Pari■lutu and Baine's Terrace was discussed, but nothing was decided owing to lack of funds.

Considerable discussion took place at Palmerston North at a meeting of representatives of A. and P. Associations in regard to the question, of overlapping of dates for shows. It was pointed out Hint there was a want of cooperation between the various societies and the smaller organisations were apparently afraid that the larger ones were desirous of doing them an injury. Such, however, was not the case, but by havng fixed dates for the holding of shows, instead of chopping and changing them about, as is the ease at present, much good would result. A constitution was also necessary in order that there should be s9me' ground on which to work intimately it was decided to hold a conference of A. and P. Associations' representatives of the Wellington district to discuss a form of constitution.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to <tfraw clients' attention to their Matau sale which thev are holding in their Matau yards, on Friday, 12th November, at 1 p.m. Full particulars of entries will be found on page 8 of this issue. In this issue Messrs. Fairbrother and Pickering insert a fresh advertisement that contains four very desirable farm properties. The Melbourne, Ltd., are in n position to offer many special bargains in ladies' I). and A. corsets at 10s (Id, 14s (id to 2!>s (id. Special make for stout women 32s Ode Compared with present day, above prices are 20 per cent. down. "Fairy Wonder" Dry Soap has taken pride of place as the 'premier household help by what may be termed "right of conquest." J M the battle for supremacy all other washing powders have proved, so much inferior that grocers and storekeepers will tell you the public now ask for nothing but "Fairy." It's all right. Newton King, Ltd., advertise for sale by auction in this i.,sue (wo valuable blocks of land situated on the Mokau River. A good deal of the country will be suitable for dairying or grazing* when cleared of bush, and there are also valuable deposits of coal. A special display is being made by the New Zealand Clothing Factory, New Plymouth. This being "Hat Week" with the firm, they are making a special showing of the new season's hats, in smart new felts, straw boaters, and Panamas, also an endless variety of boys' and girls' panamas, and children's washing hats make a fine showing.— New Zealand Clothing Factory, New Plymouth.* * J