LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual teachers’ examinations for C and D certificates and also for senior public service are at present being conducted. In New Plymouth the teachers are sitting at the Technical College, the examinations being held under the supervision of Mr. 11. Dempsey,' who is being assisted by Mrs. Ballantyne. About 50 candidates are sitting at the New Plymouth centre. The Postal authorities are now advised that the R.M.S. Tahiti, which left Vancouver for New Zealand, called at San Francisco en route 'and shippedjfor New Zealand an additional 693 bags of mails. She left San Francisco on January 4 for Wellington. The Postal authorities have received advice from Sydney that the s.s. Cape Colony sailed at 11 p.m. on January 5 for Lyttelton. She carries 95 bags of mails for New Zealand. An absconder from the Weraroa training farm> T litre Joseph Collins, aged 13, was charged before the Magistrate (Mr. T. A. B. Bailey) at New Plymouth yesterday with the theft of a variety of articles, between January 3 and January 7, including a lady’s wristlet watch, a pair of field-glasses, a gold band ring and a gold buckle ring, a small brooch, a photo locket, a rug, and a model boat, a total value of £l2, ‘and money amounting to- at least £1 9s. He was convicted on the four charges preferred against him. and the Magistrate ordered him to be Returned to the training farm. Detective-Sergeant Cooney appeared for the police. Harvesting operations in the district are now in full swing (reports the Nelson Mail). Most of the oat crops have been cut, and in some cases put into stack. The wheat crops are well forward, and are just turning color. In the Waimea West district some particularly good fields are to be seen, and the yield should be a good one. Other cereal crops are also well advanced, while most of the hay crops have been gathered. The weather continues excellent for harvesting. »ut showers would be welcome for the root crops. “The era of the skyscraper is passing away in the United States,” said Mr. Archibald Howie, of the.firm of Howie, Moffat, and Company, builders, who returned to Australia from a visit to America and Europe by the R.M.S. Niagara recently. “The tendency in America now,” remarked Mr. Howie, v 'is to limit the height of buildings to about twenty storeys, which would be about 260 ft. There will be no more Woolworth or Singer buildings. Experience has taught that these exceptionally tall structures are not an economical proposition.” The difficulty being experienced in getting schools built was mentioned by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, at Avondale the other evening. As an example mentioned that in one ease a practical architect had estimated the cost of rebuilding a burned school at £l3OO. Cabinet had granted the sum, but the o.nly tender was for £2900. “Even the offer to pay increased cost of materials and wages will not induce tenders,” said the Minister. “Often in tlie city the icost of a school is estimated at £3OOO, and the lowest tender is £4500. T do not want to start a Government Department to build schools, but the problem is very perplexing.” The German people are applying themselves to the work of reconstruction,” said Mr. C. A. Hughes, who returned to Auckland by the Makura on Thursday. “I was very surprised to snd that conditions in Germany were very much better than I expected to find them.” Mr. Hughes said’that with the exception of the poorer classes, the people in Germany appeared to be enjoying life just as well as the people in other countries. Living was no dearer there than it was in England, and it certainly was not as high as it was in America. The Bolshevik influence did not affect the people generally, the only section which fa-ored it being those who through the after effects of war were for the time being out of employment. “It is important from the national point of* view that we should have good highways,” said the Minister of Public Works, Hon. J. G. Coates, in the course of some remarks before deputations at Awakino. The Minister said the object of the Main Roads Bill which would be introduced next session would be the establishing of good communication between the centres in New Zealand by first-class roads. The proposal was that special boards of control would be sot up to take charge of the various main routes. The exact roads to be declared main roads would be decided by a commission, who would judge the question from a Dominion standpoint rather than with regard to local requirements, the ordinary roads in the various districts being the especial care of the county councils.

“Would it be possible to put a clause in the Counties Act to prevent a local body collecting a special rate for metalled roads from settlers who have only a bridle track?” This was a question asked of the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works) during his trip through the Waitomo electorate. The questioner said he did not think it was fair that a farmer should have to pay an extra rate when he did not get any benefit from the road for which it was levied. Tie stated that in his own case he had had no opportunity to make an appeal. The Minister replied that a setlter had the right of appeal to a Magistrate and he thought this power was sufficient. The case cited by the enquirer was an isolated one, but he would see what cojydd be done towards putting the matter right. It is reported that Cabinet is experiencing some difficulty in finding suitable successors to HU the vacancies in the list of Supreme Court Judges, and a barrister sufficiently qualified to take the place of President of the Arbitration Court, wlKch may shortly be vacant on account of the appointment of Mr. Justice Stringer to the Supreme Court judicial -circuit in Auckland (says the Christchurch Press). In legal circles there .is a good deal of speculation as to who will be chosen. It is rumored that Mr. A. Gray, K.C., of Wellington, has already refused an offer of appointment as a Judge, and Mr. S. G. Raymond, K.C., of Christchurch, who is at present, on the way back from the Old Country, is mentioned as a Cabinetselected nominee, hut as far as can be learned. Cabinet has not been informed whether he will accept the appointment as a Supreme Court Judge. Labor circles are anxious that Mr. P. J. O’Regan, the well-known Wellington solicitor, should be appointed a Judge and be made President of the Arbitration Court.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to draw clients’ attention to their Matau sale which they are holding in their Matau saleyards on Friday, January 14, 1921, at 1 p.m. Full particulars of entries will be found on

The next sitting of the Conciliation Council at New Plymouth will be presided over by Mr. T. Harle Giles. The business, which will be taken on Friday, the 21st inst., concerns the butchers and dairy factory employees’ cases. The Dannevirke dairy farmers have now approved the' appointment of a dairy instructor for the district. A few months ago there was a decided want of co-operation among the dairymen, but at a meeting held recently the discussion opened up many possibilities, with the result that* it was unanimously resolved to appoint an instructor. it was decided, however, not to fill the position until the end of the. present season. Cargoes of Nauru phosphate for New Zealand will soon be on the way. The work of preparing phosphate for use as a fertiliser will have to be performed in this country, and it is believed that there will be sufficient works in operation to deal with all the phosphate that New Zealand is able to use. A farmers company has lately erected extensive works at Onehunga, and when the Prime Minister visits the North about the end of this month he will inspect the plant. The boy scouts from the St. Mary’s and Te Henui troops, New Plymouth, who have been camping in the Stratford Domain, commenced their trek homewards yesterday morning and will probably take three days on the journey instead of two, which was all they took in coming from New Plymouth (writes our Stratford correspondent). The lads all enjoyed themselves thoroughly while in Stratford, and speak in high praise of tlie kindness shown to.them by many Stratford residents. They camped at Inglewood last night, from where they reported “all well.” Discussing the last rise in cement, a Wanganui business man .expressed surprise to a Herald reporter that the rise had taken place. Before the rise, imported cement was, according to the then quotations, almost on a competitive basis with the manufactured article, and this last rise would reduce the margin of difference still further. ]f there was any truth in the statement that there was a glut in shipping, space for cement would be easier to procure, and under these circumstances it would appear as if large importations of cement will be made in the near future.

Three gentlemen and two ladies from Taranaki spending the week-end in Palmerston, gave an interesting and a useful itinerary of a motor tour to the local Times. They left Inglewood in the early morning, spent the night at Waitomo Caves 124 miles, next Hamilton 40 miles, Auckland 81 miles, saw the Davis Cup matches and the races, back to Hamilton 81, Rotorua 69, Wairakei 50, Napier 104, Palmerston 122, Inglewood 137. These, with diversions, totalled 900 miles without a puncture. Benzine cost £l5 for five passengers and luggage. Railway fares would have been £32. They travelled and sojourned for 17 days without getting a shower on the road, and enjoyed every hour. Several persons had narrow escapes fxom drowning while bathing at the Castlecliff beach, Wanganui, on Sunday afternoon. The first bather to get into trouble was a Mr. J. Stowe, but almost immediately a lady in the vicinity got into difficulties, and her daughter pluckily went to her aid. Mr. Mayes went to the rescue of Mr. Stowe and brought the latter ashore in such an exhausted state that he had to receive first aid. Mr. P. Howe brought one of the ladies in, and the other—the daughter—managed to swim back to shallow water. Several other bathers got into trouble, but m?t of a serious nature. —Chronicle. “The most interesting trip I’ve ever made,” was the verdict of a ’visitor to New Plymouth who joined the motor party to Mokau on Sunday. He stated that he had been all over the Dominion, and explored most of the rivers, but none of them came up to the Mokau for diversity of scenery or natural beauty. It was an ideal day fqj- boating on the river, and the party enjoyed themselves immensely. They “did” about nine miles, and then camped in the midst of some wonderful bush, from which all were loth to tear themselves in the afternoon. The run through the country, with the ever-changing views, was another interesting feature. Capital breakfast wag prepared at Tongaporutu by Mrs. McKoy. The whole trip was most enjoyable, the arrangements made by Mr. Geo. Gibson being all that could be desired, and the next trip, which is advertised for February 6, is certain to be awaited with interest. Next Sunday Mr. Gibson has arranged a round-thc-mountain trip, via Dawson Falls, detail?, of which are advertised. The call of the sea been so insistent as at present. The Melbourne, Ltd., report a huge demand for their bathing costumes at 2/6, 2/11 up to 12/6 for all wool two-piece costumes; also rubber bathing caps at 2/9, 2/11, 3/11 and 4/11.

Wise housewives avoid doing their washing during the heat of the day simply by soaking the soiled linen overnight in cold water to which has been added a tablespoonful or more of the famous “Fairy Wonder” washing powder. This wonderful compound helps do the work while you sleep. Ask for it. All grocers stock it. A marvellous millinery offer is made this week by the Big Store, Waitara. The whole stock of new season’s imported millinery models and ready-to-wear hats for women and children is being cleared .out ata reduction of 5s in the £1 for ten days only. Come and get first pick. Hurry!