LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

London advises that a mail was dispatched for New Zealand on January 14 by file Ruapehu, via Panama.

As. showing the state of the skin and hide market as compared with twelve months ago, Mr. E. A. Washer mentioned to a Hawera Star reporter that he had sold, a number of skins lately for £9, which on the prices ruling a year ago would have returned him £27.

According to a statement by a Hawera ’farmer to a Star reporter, fat cattle as well down in price, and a further drop of 2s 6d per lOOlbs took place last week. The fact of the- matter is, he says, the offerings of fat cattle far exceed requirements. Referring to pigs, he said that prices still had. a falling tendency, and would probably be down to 5d per lb. shortly. A copy of a letter from the Eltham Chamber of Commerce regarding uniform closing hours in shops in Taranaki was read at a meeting of the executive of the New Plymouth Employers’ Association last night. It was decided that the association favor a provincial halfholiday, and that if necessary delegates be sent to Eltham to attend the proposed conference. Mr. O. Hawken, P.P., mentioned to a Hawera Star reporter yesterday that farmers were suffering greatly from a shortage of trucks for stock, and supplies were often a week and ten days behind orders. Mr. Hawken said he was inclined to think that it would be better for Eltham and Hawera if New Plymouth instead of Wanganui was the distributing centre for trucks, but had not sufficient information to express a definite opinion. Dannevirke so far has not been affected by the influx of Hindus to the Dominion, though a trio of dusky ones of this nationality were here a few days ago spying out the land. Visitors to New Plymouth cannot but be struck by the number of Hindus there]) both as fruit vendors and as hotel employees. In the latter capacity they are said to be trustworthy, reliable and sober—this is the testimony of one who has had experience in employing them. — Dannevirke News.

A fully attended meeting of the New Plymouth Employers’ Association executive was held last night, Mr. P. E. Stainton presiding. A sub-committee was set up to deal with the revision of the rules of the association and to go into the question of supplying bulletins to members. The question of organising Hawera was discussed, and it was resolved that members of the executive endeavour to arrange a meeting with Hawera members next month to discuss details. The next meeting of the association will be a quarterly one, and will be held on February I's. Mr. C. H. Weston will deliver a lecture on the Sale of Goods Act and the Companies Act.

A serious accident happened in High Street near the Grand Theatre, Hawera, on Saturday afternoon, as a result of which a little boy named Eric Murtagh, aged 5% years, the son of Mr. J. Murtagh, carrier, lies in the hospital in a critical condition (says the Star). The boy, who was with his mother and an elder brother, wished to cross the street. Mrs. Murtagh sent the elder boy with him, and as he started to cross the street a taxi, which had not been observed by the mother, and seemed, as she put it, to come from nowhere, struck the boy, and the front wheel apparently passed over his head. As far as can be learned his head has been seriously injured, and yesterday morning he was in a semi-conscious condition. Eight years ago last Friday Mr. Murtagh’s eldest boy was drowned in the Waitara River.

Soft corns and hard corns are both rapidly cured by Progandra. Simply apply Progandra on piece of calico, and follow directions. Corns are removed in six dressings, or money refunded. 1/6 everywhere, or post paid from Box 1247, Wellington. 112 a Rheumo rapidly' relieves Rheumatism. Barraclough’s Nervine stoos Tootht aehe—X/6*

The Moeraki arrived at Wellington from Sydney yesterday afternoon with mails and 398 passengers. . Yesterday evening seamen on the steamer Flora, loading at New PlyImouth, hooked a shark about eight feet long. This should serve as a warning to bathor<

At the meeting of the New Plymouth Repatriation Committee last night the secretary reported that two furniture loans of £75 eaeh had been repaid, and that the position in this district with reference to the repayment of loans was still distinctly satisfactory. The amount actually in arrear at January 20 was £B2, being decimal 26 per cent, of the amount advanced by way of loan. With a cargo of 1400 tons of cement the Union Company’s steamer Kamona arrived at New Plymouth from Whangarei yesterday morning, but owing to the congestion of shipping in port she will not berth until to-day The Kamona carries altogether 1600 tons of cement, and on completing discharge here she will go to Greymouth with the remaining 200 tons.

A meeting of the New Plymouth Repatriation Committee was held last night. Present: Messrs. C. H. Weston (chairman), C. Carter, H. R. Cattley, W. J. Chaney, R. J. Clarke, T. Furlong, F. Hartnell, J. R. Rowlands, E. Whittle, and the secretary (Mr. A. S. Allen). An apology for absence was received from Mr. F. W. Okey. The executive’s action in granting eight loans for the purchase of furniture in sums of from £5 to £75 was confirmed. The payment ; of three retained subsidies to trainees I was authorised. A. disabled'soldier was I granted a sustenance allowance for six* i months whilst training at the Technical I College, and payment of half fees for a correspondence course was also granted another applicant. An application from two returned men for a joint loan of £4OO to acquire an interest in a business and another for an advance of £3OO to start a business were recommended for approval. Two applications were deferred for further investigation.

A correspondent writes to ask the meaning of the term “ashes” as applied to test cricket, i The word originated with “Punch,” wliich, after Australia’s victory in the tests on the Home wickets, published an “obituary notice” of English cricket, concluding with the words, “The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” From that time onward the test series has been alluded to as “fights for the ashes.” After the defeat of the Aus.tralians by the Englishmen in the 191112 tour, one of the stumps used in the final test was carefully reduced to ashes, which were enclosed in a golden urn in an attempt to give concrete expression to the idea which “Punch” originated, but the scheme received little recognition outside its originator, and the ashes are still mythical.

The excavations which are at present being made on the ground adjoining Messrs. Smart Bros.’ plumbing workshop, abutting on the Huatoki stream, New Plymouth, have brought to light an. evidence of the old Maori village of Mawhera, which used to be situated in the vicinity. In the clay bank there can be seen, quite clearly defined the Native rua (or kumara pit), shapen somewhat roughly like a large water bottle. It has apparently been filled up with sandy soil since ceasing to be used for its original purpose. It is stated that the landing place of the canoes was in the river just below the village. The Native meeting-house or chape] was built just where Brougham and Powderham Streets now junction. Being the largest and in fact the only suitable place in the locality at the time, a request was made on one occasion for per. mission to hold a horticultural show in the chapel, but the Natives protested as the building was a sacred one. Not long after this, however, the removal of the building was ordered.

A recent Government proclamation declared sections 931 and 932 in the borough of New Plymouth as being set aside for fire brigade purposes. The land referred to fronts Courtenay Street and adjoins the present Central Fire Brigade Station, and the object of the Fire Board in securing the land is to provide for the expansion of activities in connection with the organisation. The proposals of the board are to extend the yard adjoining the station and to use part of the area just acquired for the erection of four houses for married firemen. Quarters are already provided in the station for single men, but for some time it has been desired to have accommodation nearby for married men, as is being done in numbers of towns in the Dominion, and the board intend to push on with this work as soon as convenient.

The Awakino sheep fair will now be held on February 5. A notice in reference to same appears in our auction columns.

The Bon Marche Stores, of Kaponga, are opening a new branch ( at Bridge Street, Eltham, and will hold a gigantic combined sale at Kaponga and Eltham, starting on February Ist. The Melbourne, Ltd.’s, gigantic summer Reduction Sale commences to-day, and every buyer of soft goods in Taranaki should make an effort to visit one or other of the firm’s stores in New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham or Hawera. Never before have such genuine bargains been offered, and customers are assured of reaping magnificent savings. Great shipments of footwear enable Dockrill’s to give a large and varied choice of high grade footwear to their customers. They stock the Government standardised boot for men looking for good serviceable boots at a low price.