LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tn the course of some remarks at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) expressed the opinion that the

next twelve months was likely to be a troublesome period in borough finance.

At a dinner under the auspices of the Reform Party at Christchurch last night it was decided that a cable be sent to General Smuts congratulating him on the result of the recent South African election and success of the Imperial Party ot South Africa under his leadership.—Press Association.

That Lord Jellicoe might be recalled to London in connection with the naval programme is not greatly credited by Mr. Massey. “Nothing lias reached me officially or otherwise to suggest it,” he said. “Of course you never know what is going to happen, but I do not attach much importance to it so far, at all events.”

At a meeting of the Clarke Memorial Hostel Committee last night the following resolution was carried: “That an invitation be sent to the Y.W.C.A. to visit New Plymouth with a view to the establishment and organisation of the Clarke Memorial Hostel, their organising secretary having expressed her willingness to come after March for that purpose.”

The Rimutaka arrived at Auckland yesterday from Southampton with 303 passengers, including 200 under the auspices of the New Zealand Government, 25 being female domestics. The immigrants included a number of married couples and children, who appeared a happy lot, with high hope', of their prospects in the Dominion.

The first annual Druids’ picnic was held at the Meeting-of-the-Waters on Sunday.' Three motor-buses were required to convey the ninety picnickers. After lunch a lengthy sports programme was gone through in which were events for both young and old. It was a very happy crowd that returned to town at the close of the day’s outing, and the hope was expressed on all sides that the picnic would be made an annual fixture.

Some time ago the New Plymouth Borough Council acquired land for the purpose of widening St. A.ibyn Street at the junction of Queen Street, with the idea of making the corner less dangerous for traffic than is tne case with the present formation. Ai last night’s meeting the council adopted a recommendation that the sum of £221, which was retained from loan moneys for St. Aubyn Street paths, be utilised, for the widening of the street at the Queen Street. junction.

According to a report received at last nignt’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, correspondence has been proceeding with the Public Works Department with a view to dispensing with the department’s requirements for track brakes for the three new Birnie safety tram cars, now on order. The report stated that the deputation which was in Wellington last month on council business interviewed undersecretary and were able to bring this matter to a successful termination. Thfe saving to the council is approximately £3OO.

Writing to the Waikato Hospital Board, the Director-General of Health pointed out that boards should not commit themselves to any capital expenditure unless they see their way clear to obtain the necossary funds to meet such expenditure. The raising of loan moneys, he pointed out, was at present a difficult undertaking, and he understood that the Public Trustee was, for the time being, fully committed. While, of course, the .department would as heretofore, continue to point cut the desirability of. capital expenditure wherever necessary for the efficiency of the institution, yet such would always imply that the* boards should be sure that arrangements could be made for financing such undertakings.

The monthly report of the New Plymouth general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer), which was received at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, contained the following reference to the cemetery: The porfTon of the cemetery enclosed within the existing fences has now almost entirely been taken up. It will be necessary to shift the southern fence some distance back and to have the new ground surveyed and pegged off. I therefore recommend that thia be done. The cemetery account at December 31 last showed a debit balance of £283 7s Hd, and it is apparent that the fees charged are not sufficient to meet the annual expenditure. It will be necessary to increase these fees at least 25 per cent all round and an early opportunity should be taken to do this.

The question of the-delay in the shipment of cheese was brought qp at a meeting of the Hawera branch of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday. The following resolution, moved by Mr. Mills and seconded by Mr. Pierce, was carried: “That while expressing our appreciation of the Prime Minister’s past efforts in endeavoring to provide shipping for the export of produce to the Home markets, in view of the present accumulation of cheese in New Zealand and the possibility of delay in shipping causing serious loss to th* cheese producers, the Prime. Minister be requested to again use his utmost endeavors with the shipping committee to provide more space for cheese shipment at the earliest date.”

A rumor is being circulated in Eltham to the effect that the closing of the Box Factory is ir* contemplation, and that all the work of the company is to be dons on the Main Trunk railway line. There is absolutely no foundation for the rumor. As a matter of fact the Box Company have just purchased a house for one of their workers, are about to build another, and have in contemplation the erection of seven more. That does not look like closing the Eltham factory.—Argus One of the leading swimmers of the Dominion, Mr. Enwright, of Auckland, will give, an exhibition at the New Plymouth bftths to-morrow night, and a number of open handicaps and races for boys have also been arranged. Mr. Enwright has recently been competing at the Dunedin Carnival, where he won the Dominion 106 yards sprint, and was runner-up in the 50 yards event. He. won the championship in the 50 and 100 yards events at the New Zealand Division sports in France, and was also holder of the record of Sflsecs for the 50 yards event. The programme will commence at eight o’clock.

The N.Z Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to draw clients’ attention to the Puniwhakau sheep and cattle fair which they are holding in Mr. Thos. Hayes’ yards on Monday, February 21, at 1 p.m. Full particulars of entries be found on page 8 of this jssue.