LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The balance-sheet of the Taranaki County Council appears on and 10 of this issue. ° Dairy cattle are selling «f, high prices up country, says the Dunedin Star. This week at Otautau, a man who is shifting away sold his herd at an average of £4O per head—a big price for a mixed lot that would have averaged £l2 or £l3 before the war, and £2O a year or two ago, "There is one man in the House," said Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P., at a Post and Telegraph reunion in Napier, "Who last year only spoke once, ami then lie proposed the adjournment of the House. Yet that man does as much work as two men. He is always busy doing something." For a breach of the County by-law in allowing stock to wander, Albert May, who had two previous convictions, was fined £3, costs £1 Ss, at the New Plymouth Court yesterday. Mr. R. H. Quilliam, who appeared for the County Council, said the prosecutions did not seem to be having much effect. An offender who would, be the subject of prosecution shortly had recently had 106 head of cattle on the road, and this was detected by the inspector very early one m.orning. The Janie Soddon leaves Wellington for Lyttelton to-dav lor the purpose of conveying to Qua il Island » Maori leper recently discovered in the King Conntry Dr. Frengley (Chief Health Officer). interviewed by a Times representative, stated that the Maori in question lived out in the buckblocks of the Taumnruniti district. The ueecssarv steps were at once taken as so in as the case was notified, and (he unfor.-.i-nate man was at; present housed on Homes Island, pending the securing of transportation to Quail Island This, said Dr. Frengley, was the sixth sufferer from the disease now in the Dominion, five other leprosy patients bcuus .already on the island-

Totalisator figures at New Zealand race meetings continue to mount up rapidly. During thp Canterbury carnival, which concluded on Saturday last, the totalisator investments in connertion w itli four days' racing at Riccarton and three clays' trotting at Addington amounted lo 17. This represents an increase of £120,514, compared with the corresponding meetings last spring. Work at the various coal-mines throughout the Dominion is still proceeding smoothly and uninterruptedly; all the mines are in operation, all disputes having been settled, and there appears to he no immediate prospect of trouble over industrial matters as there has been during the past few months. .Although figures are not available whereby to gauge the output and afford comparisons, it is understood the output per man is quite satisfactory, and that the total output is larger than it has been for some time past. The quantity of goods in bond in Auckland is greater than ever before. All four public bonds are packed, and one yesterday had to refuse space to two customers. It appears that heavy importations of spirits, tea and tobacco, particularly .spirits and tea, have made the greatest demand upon the bond space. Other fairly heavy lines so held are tinned fruit and fish, and the total value of bonded goods is considerably increased by a fairly large number of motor cars. Speaking of the excessive stocks held by and for some importers, a business man said the reason was that when consignments ordered a considerable time ago did not come to hand, repeat orders were sent and now both lots have arrived. In other eases buying was made heavier than it would have been had those concerned anticipated a fall in prices and a slack market. Recently representatives of importing firms in other towns had been in Auckland, endeavouring to sell various lines, but lie stated they were disappointed.

"In time of prosperity," said Mr. Massey recently, "men, especially young men, should do everything they can to provide homes for themselves. There is not a 'worker who is physically fit who exerts himself and practices' economy, who is not able to do this. I should like to see a very great deal more done in this direction than is done at present. I am sorry to have to admit, but a very large section of the people seem to be losing their self-reliance, and their- dependence upon their own industry. All they think of is to come to the Government for some miserable pittance or other. T hope we shall find an improvement in the future.;' When he was saying these wise words the Prime Minister was-trying to fend off a little group of politicians who were crying out for pensions mid still more pensions. It seems very obvious that if things go on as they are there will shortly be two classes in New Zealand; those" who are in receipt of pensions and the others. The danger is that the former group will grow larger and the latter smaller, because once it becomes an established principle that the less one earns the more he will be coddled, and the more one earns by industry, thrift, economy and good fortune, the'more he will be taxed to maintain the lazy, the incompetent, ami the habitually ne'er do well, there will be a permanent slackening of the national fibre. The ours- of the politicians is that, well taiowing the danger of drift, they keep on saying Ve's instead of Wo," to the importunate solicitations of the irresponsibles. Mr. Massey plainly realises the trouble ahead, but is driven against his will to calamitous courses.—Manawatn Times. A meeting of the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers' Association was held at the Patea Grading Stores on Wednesday. The managers met for purely instructional purposes, and practically the whole of the time was spent in watching the Government grader Mr. E. C. Wood, and in listening to his remarks on varying qualities of the butter and cheese he had to exercise his judgment upon. Those present were: Messrs. K. RoCve, president (Mangatoki). Neilson, secretary (Pihama), T)unlop (Hawera),' 0. Crawford (.lolls), Thorburn (Whemiakura). W. Crawford (Riverdale), Ivilputrick (Jolls), Hopcroft, (Normanby), Renton (Pihama), Doyle (Jolls), ,T. McColl (Kohi). A. Fraser general manager for .Irtish Young (Mangntoki), Lacey (Meremero), ITewson (Pihama), Seager (Pihama), Davidson (Pokomoko), Can(YVestown), P.ookes Kaupokonui), Brewer (Mangatoki), T. Linson (director Mcrcmere factory), and C'rosbie (Kakaramea!.—Star.

At the sale lipid at Frenui 011 Ist November, on behalf of Mrs. F. F. McRae, it was sin-prising to note the number pf buyer.'? from all parts of the coast. The result was tlvat bidding was very keen, and cows brought as much as .£3(3 10s. The average price for the fID rows sold was £22 Ills. The majority of the rows had been milked for three or four months before the sale. One aged horse brought £32, and all implements sold at a very high price.— Our Correspondent. The annual rose show and sale of work in connection with St. Mary's Church. New Plymouth, concluded yesterday. The function will net approximately £7o, ihe proceeds being devoted to the Sunday school building fund. The Xgaere Gardens were attended by a large number of visitors yesterday afternoon, on , the occasion of the commencement of the new summer programme. The excellent music provided by the new instrumental trio was much appreciated, and the other attractions at. the gardens were also favorably commented on. The same programme will be carried out on Sunday and every Thursday and Sunday following. In addition to the pedigree Jerseys to be sold on account of Mr. H. Stonex, at Waiwakaiho salevards on 26th inst., will be offered three very fine animals, the property of Mr. C. \V. Ruebp. They are .fcrscys bred on most fashionable lines, and arc well worth attention from Jersey fanciers. Particulars appear in advertising columns of this issue. Christmas shopping is usually a source of worry to many when it comes to selecting something useful in the way of little gifts for your men folk. Let us suggest. Hint you make an inspection of our largely assorted stocks of men's ties, shirts, Panamas, pyjamas, hats, etc., for we feel confident that such little gifts as these will be thoroughly appreciated. Dou'L forget, then. Do your Christmas shopping early, and do it at Howell and Howell's, where the prices are right. The men's linen collars for Is (id at the Melbourne, Ltd,, are not only the lowest price in the trade, but arc in addition very much better quality than those sold in other stores at Is fld and Is ].l<l. YOll save both ways by shopping 3t tie Melbourne, 1