LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the annual meeting of the Auckland Stock Exchange it was reported that the exchange was in a sound financial position. Mr. O. C. Creagli was re-elected chairman.—Press Association.

A meeting at Greymoiith last night decided to proceed with the project of forming an Industrial Ambulance Association.—Press Association.

It is stated by a local officer that over 10.000 telephones, of which 2500 are in Wellington, await connection owing to lack of instruments. It is noticed that four local government departments have no less than thirtythree in use, seven being for a dying department. Ko fewer than six estates, totalling 12,021 acres and costing £234,203, have been secured in Hawke's Bay under the Land for Settlement of Returned (Soldiers Act (says the Daily Telegraph). The acquired areas will be divided into 47 holdings.

A poll of ratepayers in Dunedin city was taken yesterday on the question of the purchase of the Koslyn cable trams from the company for £35.000,. with the result that 1075' voted in favor of the proposal nnd 10(13 against, tlie majority in favor being twelve. A scrutiny and recount of votes may alter the result Very little interest was taken in the poll.—Press Association.

Professor Hunter stated at the New Plymouth Boys' High School prize-giving last evening that there were forty Taranaki hoys at present attending Victoria University College, Wellington. He paid a compliment to the esprit de corps of the boys, most of whom were from the New Plymouth High School, the progress and success of which institution were becoming recognised in distant parts o' the Dominion. The Wellington Automobile Club, at its last meeting, was addressed by Mr. L. Pickering, who, in furtherance to Mr, T. M. Wilford's remarks at the annual general meeting with regard to importing- petrol at a much lower price than could be obtained at present, put a proposition before the club, with a view of importing 5000 cases, which would probably show a considerable saving to members. The matter .was fully discussed and left over in order to obtain further details. In the course of discussion at a meeting yesterday in connection with the of the Opaku fund foy the promotion of higher education in Taranaki, Mr. I!. Masters, M.P., mentioned that an increasing number of scholarships had been taken up during the lai«t six years. It was estimated, he said, that of pupils passing the. sixth standard about seventy-five per cent, were passing on into secondary schools, and this wan. a very satisfactory feature in the education system. When the circular letter from the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association asking co-operation in the matter of settling returned soldiers on the land by advising the Association of any suitable holdings was before the Egmontli County Council yesterday, a councillor stated that one of the main difficulties was that the Government did not advance sufficient to enable the soldier to purchase the property, and the soldier was debarred to a large extent from dealing privately by "the fact that he could give no security with a second mortgage insomuch us in case of default the mortgagee was unable to enforce his claim, and for that reason some landholders were "gallied" at putting their land in the hands of soldiers. A motor-van from Wanganui, loaded with bottles, was descending a hill at Paten when one of the steering rods broke, causing the van to become unmanageable. As n result it turned sharply at right angles, throwing the whole weight on to one of the hind wheels, causing it to crumple up and turn the van completely upside down. Its two occupants were thrown underneath, but fortunately there was a large eoyered top which enabled the occupants to crawl out little the worse for the accident. The sweet aroma of the Fresh Laven- . der Flowers has made the No. 52 Lav- - ender .Water, fam<iu* ahavs all others, 4

At a meeting of the Taranaki Boxing Association last night, it was resolved to vote £5 oa to the Clarke Memorial Fund.

The matron and nurses of the New Plymouth hospital acknowledge with thank* a donation of £lO 10s from Mr. U. r/raser, Gs OJd from the children at liorito School, and 2s 6d from Kaimiro, making the total to date £271 15s. A bricklayer in London is reported to have laid 28,000 bricks in 18 days, an average of 1555 a day. The work was of excellent quality. It has been frequently claimed that 350 bricks a day is a reasonable amount to lay. Sir Uric (icddes (Minister of Transport), with a relative, claims to have built a, garden wall in six days, averaging more than 1000 bricks a day.

It is rumored in Napier that the benzine market is overstocked, and it is stated that the price has fallen 10s per case. One Nanier syndicate, it is reported, has lost over £SOOO on a shipment. Recently another buyer who ordered 300 cases of benzine at a certain price, was informed that the price had gone up, and he promptly cancelled the order. Since then he has been besieged to take orders at a much lower figure.—Tribune. When the question of obtaining another constable to be stationed at Eltham was being discussed at a meeting of the Council of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce, the chairman pointed out that Eltham had only one policeman while there \vere three or four at Stratford and even more than that at Hawera. Mr. W. H. Shipton remarked that it was somewhat of a compliment to Eltham.

On Monday next, at Inglewood Town Hall, Mr. Tom Te Puni will present with his Maori Kevue Company "Hinemoa." The entertainment is of a very interesting character, and introduces a fine lot of incident of old Maori life and customs. The scenery is in keeping with Maori life, and particularly good. Altogether the evening will provide an unusually good time, and a packed house should result. Elsewhere further particulars are advertised. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to draw clients' attention to their Tarata sale which they are holding in their Tarata yards on Friday, 17th December, at 1 p.m. Full particulars of entries will be found on page 8 of this issus^

Ladies always like a sensible, useful gift at Christmas time, and the wonderful array of lovely wear and fancy novelties shown by Morey and Son provides a great opportunity for selecting gifts that will please at bargain prices. Early shoppers are getting the best of these goods.

As there will not be a Christmas Pantomime in New Plymouth, the children are doing the next best thing by staging the little operetta" "Snow-White." The principals are clever little actors, and with funny songs and dances will show the public that New Plymouth has some very promising budding amateur actors The play will be given at .the Workers' Social Hall on Thursday evening, at S o'clock. There will be no booking, and as a crowded house is expected patrons arc advised to attend early. The doors will be open at 7.30. The funds arc in aid of the Clarke Memorial' Hostel. Music lovers will be interested to learn that the "Kyrie and Gloria," from Mozart's "12th Mas 3," will be included in Thursday's programme at Pukekura Park in connection with the annual appeal for the bandsmen. The hour of commencing is 8 p.m., so that visitors will have an opportunity of admiring the beauties of our Park prior to the rendition of the music.