LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During December last there were 72 men employed on the west end of the Stratford—Main Trunk railway construction works, and 57 on the east end. On the Opunake branch there were 41 employed. The weather in Taranaki took another marked change yesterday, the 'day being fine but cold, while last night was exceptionally ebld. There was a remarkably heavy fall of snow on Mt. Egmont yesterday, reaching well down to the ranges and making an exceptional fall for this time of the year. Nominations closed yesterday in connection with two vacancies on the Inglewoo.d County Council, caused by the resignation of Alessrs. J. H. Lyon (North Riding) and M. Cameron (East). For the North Riding Messrs. Geo. Capper and J. Staehurski are- -seeking election, and for the East vacancy Messrs. Wm. Topping and H. Blaekburne were nominated. A poll will be held on Wednesday next, March 2,

A pupil of the New Plymouth Boys* School, Clifford Deare, t met with an accident at the foot of the Eliot Street hill yesterday, as the result of being thrown from his bicycle. He was cycling down on his’way to lunch, and when the brake was applied the chain jammed, causing Deare to be pitched heavily to the ground. He received a severe shaking, facial abrasions and bruises about the body, and was removed to h'is home. According to the Government Statistician the average price of groceries during the December quarter was lower in New Plymouth than in any other of the 25 principal towns, the index number being 1958, while -that for Auckland was 1988. No other town was below 201-2 . (Greymouth). Milk, however, was dearer than in most places, and so also was meat. New Plymouth is the only Taranaki town for which a record -is kept, and the figures are similar to those /prevailing in other parts of the province. The beginning of the end, A few more days and your chance of big bargains at Rennie’s Sale at the Big Store, Waitara, will pass away. Prices have been cut to the bone, and on many lines half prices will be accepted. - See page 4. “Fairy Wonder” washing powder makes light work of a heavy Wash. This wonderful,labor saving compound is to be found in -thousands of homes throughout the Dominion, where it is now considered to be absolutely indispensable. Once; tried alWM’t u»ed. Of all

At the Auckland Supreme Court sessions, over which Mr. Justice Stringer will preside, 88 divorce and 85 civil cases are set down for hearing. At a special meeting of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, to consider the proposed rule for dealing with the recognition of district committees, it was decided to defer further consideration for six' months..—Press Association.

A branch of the Taranaki Employers’ Association was formed at Hawera on Tuesday night. Mr. W. Syme was elected president, and the following members of the executive, with power to add: Messrs. Hooker, Gilbert, Pacey, Harrop, Blake, H. L. Spratt, Maslin, Blair, Murdoch, Townsend. Mr. Burdekin consented to act as secretary. The question of appointing a board to control the Huatoki Reserve (part of Saxton’s bush) was considered at a meeting, of Vogeltown. and Frankley Road ratepayers last night. It was decided to recommend to the Government that Messrs. J. Therkleson, G. W. Browne, G. Lawrence, A. T. Moore, J. H. Freethey, W. Bendall, and W. Rumble be appointed. The following members of the Fitzroy Fire Brigade left by the mail train yesterday morning for Napier to take part in the annual demonstrations of the New Zealand Fire Brigades’ Association next week: Firemen J. Johnson, B. Linn, G. Bartley, L. Lealand, H. Todd and R. Jenkins (emergency). Captain R. Parker, who is to act as delegate at the annual conference, left by the same train.

The Eltham school excursion to the New Plymouth beach will be held today. It is being eagerly looked forward to by children and adults, and it is expected that at least 1200 will make the trip. In addition to the Eltham school several of the district schools are joining in, including Mangatoki, Riverlea, Lowgarth, Rawhitiroa, and Rotokare.

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Arthur Clarke Sumner, who met his death by falling from the balcony of the Empire Hotel, Hawera, on Tuesday, was held before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey (coroner) yesterday. Deceased was a returned soldier, aged 51 years, who had been wounded during his war service, necessitating the use of two sticks for walking. He had no relatives :, i New Zealand. A verdict of acc'u. ntal death was returned.

A picnic sunder the auspices of the New Plymouth Returned Soldiers’ As* sociation is to be held at Mrs. C. ,H. Burgess’ residence, at' the Meeting of the Waters, to-day, and the committee in charge have mapped out a programme which should provide a jolly day for all. Refreshments, including tea and fruit, will be provided, so those making the journey will not be troubled with the provisioning of hampers. Cars will leave the Soldiers’ Club from 1.15 up till 2 o’clock this afternoon. At the Eltham Magistrata’s Court yesterday judgment was given by default for £9 2s (id in the course of S. l.isSamon v. J. Jackson. On a judgment Fred Hook was ordered to pay A. E. Smalley the sum of £9 3s 10d forthwith, in default nine days’ imprisonment, and the same debtor was also ordered to pay Carl Ritter the sum of £9 7s Od forthwith, in default nine days’ imprisonment.

A correspondent (“Interested”) writes asking ‘’whether, in the event of one ,or more members of a school committee resigning, the remaining three (where there is a committee of five members) can legally carry on the work of a committee? Should not the Education Board be notified when any member or members resign and others take the vacant place, or school commissioners be appointed?” The matter was referred to the chairman of the Taranaki Education Board (Mr P. J. AVhite), who states: “The remaining members can carry on in thp meantime, but should recommend to the board for appointment the names of other householders to fill the vacancies, and the usual practice of the board is to -elect the new candidates on the recommendation of the remainder of the committee in office. All new appointments, whether members of a committee’or have to be sanctioned by the board.”

A serious warning of the responsibility which persons finding articles- which do not belong to them have of trying to trace- the rightful owner, was given by Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., at the Eltham Magistrate’s Court yesterday. A young man was charged with the theft of a lady’s handbag and contents, which he had found and had made no subsequent effort to return to the owner, even though evidence of ownership was -contained on two pieces- of paper in the bag. The Magistrate, in fining the defendant 49s and costs, said that if a person finds an article in a public place and makes no attempt to find the owner and return it, he is guilty of theft. 1 The onus of endeavoring to trace the owner was on the person finding the article and he should either advertise it or report to the police. In the case of trivial articles, however, this need not be done, but the finder must endeavor to “return anything of value. The defendant had not taken anything like reasonable steps to find the owner and must be convicted, of theft, but as the articles had been returned and no one had suffered only a light penalty ‘would be imposed.

In our issue of yesterday the number of lambs to be offered to-day at the Puniwhakau sheep and cattle fair was given as 90 instead of 990. The following will be the programme for the vocal items to be rendered at the Concert in Pukekura Park on Friday evening next, 25t'h instant: Quartette, “In ' Absence”, Melody Four; song, selected, Mr. Ashley B. Macdonald; quartette, “Doan Yer Cry, Ma Honey”, Melody Four; song, “My Kingdom”, Mr. W. P. Okey. This part of the programme will be rendered from the tea kiosk at intervals between the band selections.

Here’s where the Melbourne’s Sale saves you money: —Genuine Shirley President braces 5/6; men’s pure wool cashmere socks further reduced to 4/6; best Jinen collar’s 1/4; lovely wide end ties 1/11; men’s white silk tennis neglige shirts now 24/6; boys’ panamas and washing hats’all reduced to Is each.

The New Plymouth Sports Committee has arranged a concert for Friday night 25th insi.. in the Pukekura Park, commencing at 8 p.m. With the kind as-

sistance of the Citizens’ Band and several of our best local vocalists, an excellent programme has been arranged. The grounds will be well lighted, and there will be boating on the lake, so that with fine weather a very enjoyable evening is assured to those who attend. It is expected that the concert will attract a very large audience, and the funds o> the sports committee should greatly benefit thereby, which will erfable that body to carry out much needed improvements to the sports ground