LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday, it was stated that rates to the amount of £3952 were outstanding.

The clerk of the Inglewood County Council reported at yesterday’s meeting of the council that approximately £lO,000 in rates had been collected to date. The annual Stratford school excursion will be held at Moturoa on Thursday, the 17th inst.

An earthquake was felt in New Plymouth shortly before nine o’clock last night. The tremor was not very strong, but it lasted for several seconds. “It would probably be well on in 1922 before any metal in large quantities would be available from the Mt. Egmont quarry,” said the Minister of Public Works in a letter read at the meeting of the Inglewood County Council yesterday. The Egmon't County Council yesterday appointed its engineer and foremen inspectors under the new by-laws dealing with heavy traffic. Cr. Wright considered that the time had arrived when the council should appoint an officer who would devote his whole time as ranger and dog-tax collector, and inspector under the by-laws. The report presented by the engineer to the Egmont County Council yesterday contained the following paragraph: “The plant working at Warea was stopped two days on account of the races at New Plymouth, and it is within the bounds of possibility that both plants will be stopped for the Hawera races.”

The harbormaster at Patea reported to Monday’s meeting of the board that the bar was straight, .with about 13ft at high water spring tides and about Bft Bin at high water neap tides. During the last neap tides the boats were coming in and going out drawing Bft in, with only 6ft on the gauge, which he thought very good. In another report the’ harbormaster stated that for the year there had been 204 arrivals and 204 departures, as against 212 arrivals and 212 departures for 1919. The Taranaki Progress League wrote to the Egm'ont County Council yesterday, asking for particulars of stone, etc., that the council would be prepared to take from the Mt. Egmont quarry. Councillors expressed the opinion that plenty of metal was available in the county that could be obtained cheaper than from Mt. Egmont, and, moreover, the absence of a railway was another drawback. A similar letter was received by the Inglewood County Council yesterday, and it was decided to reply that the council would guarantee to take 7000 cubic yards of crushed stone and 3000 yards of chips. The matter of securing an adjustment of accounts between the Inglewood County Council anil the Taranaki County Council was again before the Inglewood Council yesterday, when corresn. tdonce which had passed between the council and the Minister of Internal Affairs, and Mr. R. Masters, M.P., and the Minister, was read. The attitude of the council was that it was not satisfied with the Minister’s proposal that the Auditor-General should adjust the accounts, and' it had again asked for a commission to be appointed, but to this request the Minister had not yet replied. In view of the tightness of the money market at present the chairman of the Inglewood County Council mentioned at yesterday’s meeting that he thought it would be advisable, before submitting the loan proposals to the ratepayers, to write to. the superintendent of the State Advances Department, with the object of ascertaining if there was any possibility of raising the money in the event of the loan being carried. He believed it would be best to do this, because if there was no possibility of raising the money it would be wise to save the expense of holding a poll at the present juncture. This view was endorsed by other councillors, and a motion embodying the chairman’s suggestion was carried.

The noxious weeds problem was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the Egmont County Council. In reply to a resolution passed by the council at its last meeting relative to the spread of noxious weeds, Mr. James Allan (inspector of noxious weeds, Hawera) notified that all possible care was being taken to combat the noxious weeds in the county. If the douncil would forward the names and addresses of any farmers who were n,ot obeying the instructions received, he would be pleased to take'action. Mr. F. W. Sutton (New Plymouth) forwarded a similar letter. On the motion of Crs. Tosland and O’Brien, it was restolved that the council again draw attention to the weeds spreading within the county, and that the council feel it is the duty of the inspector to see in whose properties these weeds were growing, and to prosecute them, and also enforce the conviction. At the meeting of the Patea Harbor Board on Monday, Mr. Winkelmann wrote on behalf of the West Coast Ironsand .Smelting Works, stating that the company was erecting works in Onehunga for the purpose of extensive tests with ironsand, and desired to obtain an option for .one year over the Patea ironsands. The clerk, with instructions from the Works Committee, had written offering the option on payment of £lOO. In reply to this, Mr. Winkelmann stated that he did not think his company would consent to paying this amount. He pointed out that if the company carried out. its present intentions great benefits may result to Patea and the whole Dominion. It was decided to grant an option on the same terms as one was granted to a previous company, the area covered by the option to be three acres on v the south of Patea and the amount to be paid £5. When the proprietors selected the word “Fairy” for their wonderful washing powder it was singularly appropriate, as by using this great invention it seems like having a “good fairy” in the house, so much does it lighten and save labor. There is nothing else like it on the market for washing clothes snowwhite without rubbing Ask your grocer for a packet. Stocked everywhere. A fine display of curtainings and cretonnes is attracting many lovers of the artistic to Morey’s just now. These goods are most moderately priced, and are in good variety. Eight strong men are required for freezing chamber at Waitara.