LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. T. H. Walker, of the Hawera bacon factory, lost fifteen pigs he had purchased and which were awaiting transport at Auroa. The loss was due to the intense heat.—(Star.

Big supplies of benzine and motor oils have been and are being landed in New Zealand fjorts, and supplies of these commodities are much easier and are likely to be for several months. There is no indication, however, of the decline in price that was reported a few days ago. A quantity of new machinery is being installed both ft the Patea freezing works and grading stores. In both these places work is exceptionally busy at present. Mr. Windleburn, manager of the Opunake factory, on returning home from a meeting on Friday evening, discovered that sqme cases of goods stored near the boiler had ignited; and were burning freely With the rpady help of the factory assistants he was successful in extinguishing the blaze before muclf damage was effected.

Plans for the new infant school in Courtenay Street, New Plymouth, have been completed, according to a report laid before the Taranaki Education Board at yesterday’s meeting by the architect (Mr C. H. Moore), and application has been made to the Education Department for a grant for the erection of the building. Commenting on the small number of young men who are taking up the teaching profession, Mr R. Masters, M.P., speaking at the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, said it was hoped that with the increase in salaries many more would be attracted, but out of the 30 applications from pupil teachers and probationers before the meeting that day, there were only three boys. The speaker said he did not know what the outcome of the shortage would be. The half-holiday question was discussed at the meeting of the Egmont County Council .on Tuesday. The chairman moved that the council declare Saturday as the half-holiday. The motion was seconded. Councillor Green said that Wednesday was recognised as the weekly half-holiday all along the coast, and until such time as the storekeepers and those interested asked the council to make the alteration he thought they should adhere to Wednesday. He proposed an amendment that Wednesday be declared the half-holiday. Councillor O’Brien felt that Wednesday was the more suitable day for the weekly half-holiday and seconded the amendment. The motion was carried by five votes to four.

The tour of the Hon. J. G. Coates and party from New Plymouth to Te Kuiti terminated at the latter place on Tuesday morning, after Pio Pio and Anu had been visited. At Aria the Minister received a’ hearty welcome, a piper in full Highland costume giving a “•skirl o’ the pipes.” In the evening a social was given by the settlers after deputations had been introduced by the member. At Te Kuiti the Mayor and councillors welcomed the Minister, and the chairman and councillors of Waitomo County brought various requests forward. Before leaving for Auckland the Minister said his visit from New Plymouth to Te Kuiti had been an agreeable and instructive one, as he saw country which surprised him, and he would do his part, so far as the finances allowed him, in providing what all newdistricts wanted—better access and egress for residents. The diversion of the Te Roti-Opunake railway was objected to by Councillor Ferguson at the meeting of the Egmont County Council on Tuesday. He moved: “That in view of the present difficulty of maintaining roads with the heavy loads being carted, this council urges the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works to put the traffic on rails by completing the railway line from Te Roti to Opunake at the earliest possible date, and failing the Government taking up the speedy execution of the work they grant the council sufficient money to lay down the formation work to Opunake; also that this council enter an emphatic protest against the action of the Government in diverting the linq to Manaia, which it considers to be a of very little importance compared with relieving the almost unbearably financial pressure on this county.” The motion was carried. “The Power oft Right,” an English picture announced to show at Everybody’s to-morrow, should arouse more than ordinary interest, as H.R.H. the Prince of Wales appears in a small part in the

Advice received from Nelson on Monday gave the quotation for tomatoes at 15s per case f.o.b. Nelson. An instance of the shortage of water is provided at Patea, where the supply has been cut off between 7 p.m. and 7

A conference of New Zealand wheatgrowers has been called for January 19 to meet the Minister for Agriculture at Christchurch, and discuss wheat prices.

The meeting of the New Plymouth Employers’ Association called for last night lapsed owing to the absence of a quorum. Another meeting is called for next Tuesday evening.

In response to au application made by the Taranaki A. and P. -Society, the Education Bogrd yesterday decided that children in North .Taranaki be given a holiday to enable them to attend the show at New Plymouth on People’s Day, March 19.

The New Zealand Alliance has received the following cable from Mr. J. W. Allison, secretary of the Scottish Permissive Bill and Temperance Association (Glasgow): “Final results, 4'l no license, 35 lim '.ation; 446 licenses cancelled.”—Press Association.

The Home liner Wangaratta will arrive at New Plymouth early this morn, ing from Wellington to load produce for England. When the Wangaratta sails the American steamer West Ma-h--wah will come to New Plymouth. A shipment of 1000 tons of cement will be landed at New Plymouth shortly. The Kamona is to leave Auckland on Saturday for Whangarei, she will load the cement. The date of her arrival here is uncertain.

The combined friendly society lodges of Eltham met Dr. D. Mackay, of Palmerston North, on Tuesday, and after a brief discussion, offered him the position of lodge surgeon. The doctor said he was unable to accept the offer immediately, but intimated that he would do so if he could complete the necessary arrangements to make his home in Eltham.

The Taranaki Education Board’s decision to discontinue the cocoa subsidy was the subject of a letter received at yesterday’s meeting from the Stratford School Committee. The committee- expressed the opinion that it was impossible for a school with such a larg? attendance as at Stratford to carry on without a subsidy, and the assistance of the Board was sought in the matter. The Board decided to reply that the subsidy could not be continued as the Education Department had failed to carry out an agreement to subsidise the Board in (he matter of subsidy. At Mahoenui the Hon. J. G. Coates met a number of settlers and returned soldiers, the deputation being introduced by Mr. W. T. Jennings, MP. The returned soldiers asked that vacant Crown lands in the vicinity of their settlement should be thrown open for returned soldiers, as they contemplated, with other settlers, erecting a dairy factory in the future. The member” stated that Mr. Guthrie, Minister of Land’s, proposed visiting the district, and Mr. Coates suggested the matter should be brought before him, and he would speak to Mr. Guthrie about it. Bridging facilities and road access were other subjects discussed and noted by the Minister.

A report presented to the monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, by the acting senior inspector (Mr. W. *A. Ballantyne) expressed the opinion that some of the uncertificated teachers were making little or no effort to secure the teachers’ certificate and were holding positions for which, most probably, certificated teachers could be obtained. As the aim of the Board should be to secure, as far as possible, qualified teachers for all positions he advised that the ee'eretary prepare a return for the next meeting showing (1) names of uncertificated teachers; (2) grade or school and salary: (3) highest examination passed; (4) date of sitting for last examination. The report stated that with this information in hand the position could then be dealt with more fully. The recomm eolations of the inspector as above were adopted by the Board. Mr. Seiffert, of Palmerston North, who has been on a motor trip north, writes to the local Times:—The return journey was made via. Hamilton, Te Kuiti and Stratford Between Auckland and Hamilton the roads were extremely bad, but as the party got towards Taranaki there was a decided improvement owing to the improved methods of construction, especially where limestone 'was employed as a binder. The Taranaki roads were the best of all, enabling the car to travel ten miles faster and with a tenth of the wear and tear. In this connection Mr. Seiffert says he notices some people in New Zealand advocating concrete roads nine feet in width. He feels sure that motorists would prefer to travel on macadam roads sixteen feet in width. Passing a car on a nine foot road is most difficult, and in many places if a motor lorry with a load left the concrete it would be impossible for it to get back. When Mr. Seiffert was in California recently he noticed that even roads of 15 feet in width were being remade and widened to 18 feet. He hopes the County Councils will never be induced to go in for narrow concrete formations.

At the Lands Office, New Plymouth, on Tuesday afternoon, a number of sections in the Tikorangi township and two sections formerly part of Nob’s Line, New Plymouth, were sold by auction. Sixteen sections in Tikorangi township, each containing one rood, were sold to Mr. A. G. Cunningham at the upset price of £lO each, and five sections of similar area were sold to Mr. P. A. Scrimgeour, also at the upset of £lO each. The two sections at Fitzroy were purchased, one by Mr. A. Allhusen at an upset of £45, and one by Mr. E. L. Smith at an upset of £4O. A visit was paid by the Hon. J. G. Coates and party to the tunnel work at the Lower Valley Awakino Road. Good progress is being made by competent workmen, who are principally ex-Waihi miners. They expect to have the tunnel pierced about March. When completed this Lower Valley Road will be a very charming route, as fine bush scenery and the Awakino river are adjuncts to the road, which will be one of the best graded roads in tke Donin ion. At present an attempt is being made to use an American Ohio earth snooper on the road; they have been found successful in America.

To-morrow at their new mart, at 2 o’clock, Webster Bros, are selling a consignment of 500 boxes of choice assorted fresh Auckland and Nelson fruits. The attention of land buyers and investors is directed to the advertisqjnent of Messrs. Grant and Campbell, land agents, of Hawera, who offer for sale a bargain in farm land at Lepperton. This farm is offered for quick sale at a price much below that asked by admitting owners.