LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The dispute at the Eltham Bacon Factory has ended, and work is proceeding as usual. The terms of the settlement have not been made public. A fire among the lupins on the west side of the New Plymouth baths necessitated a call bn the New Plymouth Fire Brigade on Saturday afternoon about four o’clock, as the flames were endangering the bath house. Brigade officials again emphasise the necessity for care being exercised on the part of people, who frequent the beach, in the matter of lighting fires. The New Plymouth Fire Brigade received a call about 9.45 o’clock on Saturday night to a fire which had started in some boxes at the back of the premises occupied by Moral Bros., Indian fruiterers, in Devon Street central. The flames were quickly extinguished, the only damage sustained being a slight scorching oi the wall of the adjacent building, which is occupied as a shooting gallery. The country over which the Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H. Guthrie) and party travelled last week dqring the visit to the Waitomo electorate is showing signs of the dry weather and bush fires were numerous. The land in the Awakino Valley was a burprise to those who have travelled over Taumatamaire to Mahoenui. Long stretches of flat country, suitable for dairying were seen, and it is hoped some will be acquired for closer settlement, now that the returned soldiers hate proved what can be done on their holdings, which average about 110 acres.

A recital was given by the New Plymouth Citizens Band at Messrs. Lester Bros.’ Ngaere Gardens yesterday afternoon. There was a very large attendance of the public, the assemblage'being estimated at about 3000 people. The band mustered 38 players, under Conductor Taylor, and the programme rendered was highly appreciated by all, the band being given a splendid reception. The gardens were looking at their best and those present spent a very pleasant afternoon. En route to Ngaere the band stopepd at Inglewood and played , a number of selections, and a collection taken up realised £2 6s. The band also played at Strafturd, The question of obtaining supplies of crushed metal from the Mt. Egmont quarries was discussed at Saturday’s meeting of the Stratford County Council, when letters were received from the secretary of the Taranaki Counties Conference ‘ and the Taranaki Progress League, asking the council to state the probable amount of its requirements from the quarries should they be opened. Cr. Pit said the council’s requirements were 8000 cubic yards annually and he thought it would be fair for the council to state that it was willing to take that amount if it could be supplied at a piAG not in excess of what the council was paying at present. The engineer (Mr. J. W. Spence) doubted if the Government could supply the metal as cheap as the council was at present obtaining it After further discussion of a desultory nature, it was resolved on the motion of Cr. J. H. Thomas, seconded by Cr. J. O’Neill, .that the council reply to-both letters stating that the council had sufficient metal for present requirements within ' its own boundaries and was not at present prepared to state any quantity that it was likely to take 'from the Mt. Egmont quarries.

An appeal relating to the adoption of children by natives has just been decided in Auckland by the Native Appellate Court. Abobi the year 1897 a native named Ihaka Ngakuru obtained an order under the Adoption of Children Act, 1595, constituting him the adopting'parent of a full-blooded European child. On the death of Ihaka recently the Native Land Court appointed the adopted child as successor. The next of kin, represented by Mr. E. C. Blomfield, appealed against this appointment. Mr. Blomfield, in an interesting argument, contended that since the passing of the Native Act. 1909, no child without Maori blood in its veins could succeed to native Idnd by adoption. The Appellate Court decided, however, that, while the contention was sound, if the claim to succeed had been • made on an rydoption, according to Maori custom, it could not apply in cases in which the adoption, as in the present case, had been made under the law of New Zealand. Decisions of the Privy Council and o-f the Supreme Court on the subject were cited. The Native Land Court order was therefore affirmed.

In addition to the special picture ••Sporting Cucliess,” showing at Everybody’s tbi-- evening and to-morrow night, Mr. A. North, late of Kiwi Concert .Party, will sing “Peggy” and “Hiawatha’s Melody of Love.” These are the two latest songs, both of which are taking England and America by storm.