LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The recent* cold snap has brought with it a good coating of snow on Mt. Egmont, and the melting snow is giving an increase of water in the rivers, the Waiwakaiho showing a much better flow. This will give added power at the intake at Mangorei, and is, we understand, giving a fuller head of water for the electrical plant.

The Conciliation Council will sit at New Plymouth this morning to hear the application of the Taranaki grocers’ assistants for a new industrial award. The union is claiming a weekly wage of £5 10s, and a 44-hour week, as compared with the present conditions, £4 5s 6d minimum for 48 hours.

A competition between the Eltham and Stratford fire brigades for their challenge shield was held yesterday. The two-men coupling event was won by lEltham, and the five-men gear-carrying 'was won by StratfQrd. A three-men team in a similar event was won by Eltham. Since the winners of two events out of the three talTe the shield, the trophy will remain with the Eltham brigade, they having won it in 1920. The Eltham school picnic took place at the Ngamotu beach. New Plymouth, yesterday, about* I'soo holidaymakers making the trip. Though the weather was threatening in the morning, the afternoon turned out fine, aUd with all the opportunities for a pleasant time the picnickers had an enjoyable outing.

In the New Plymouth Court yesterday a man who was arrested on Wednesday night by Constable Phillips on a charge of being drunk and disorderly was brought before Mr. H. R. Cattley, J.P. Being a first offender he was convicted and fined ss, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment.

The Prime Minister was asked by representatives of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union at Greymouth ou Thursday to prevent an American conpany from carrying out its intention to acquire a large area of forest land at Jackson’s, South Westland. Mr. Massey replied that the company proposed to acquire 10,000 acres, but the proposal was opposed by the Forrestry Department, and had been dealt with. He would take precious good care that Government forest land would not be disposed of unless there was good reason for taking that step. He wished to secure the whole of the timber of this country for the people of this country.

The policy of handing over the main roads of the country to the control of a State Road Board has a warm advocate in the person of Sir Raymond Dennis Brothers, who is at present visiting Dunedin. “You have many fine stretches of roads for motoring purposes in the South Island,” he stated, “but they are marred by faulty patches in too many places. I .understand there is a movement on foot in the Dominion to nave the roads taken over by a central control, and from my knowledge of the operation of that system in England I can say that, it works admirably, relieving the local bodies of an inequitable responsibility and giving general satisfaction.”

A very hig)i compliment was paid to the New' Zealand Press by Colonel J. L., Sleeman, 1.G.5., when addressing the Auckland Officers’ Club. “I congratulate you,” said Colonel Sleeman, “on possessing a press which, with few exceptions, stands for the highest ideals possible. I have, given over 300 here in the five years of my appointment, many of which, during* the war period, contained confidential matter. Yet the discretion, the good taste, and the reliability of the prfess and of its reporters have been such that my confidence in its reliability has never been shaken. I cannot leave New Zealand without stating that I consider your press the most impartial, fair and accurate of any I have met during 25 years’ service in many parts of the world. It typifies the spirit of your splendid Dominion. No matter what seas divide us in the future it will ever hid a warm place in my heart.” Webster Bros, are selling to-day 700 boxes of assorted fruits, at 2 o’clock. Messrs L. A. Nolan and Co. have received a wire from Wellington, stating that the hides sales arranged for March lst have been cancelled owing to the industrial trouble.

Owing tp the unfavorable weather the sports committee has decided to postpone their concert, which was to be held in Pukekura Park on Friday evening, until next week.

An announcement elsewhere notifies that Mr. Joe Kenny has entered into partnership with Mr. J. H. Quinn, land and commission agent and music dealer, as from March Ist. The firm will occupy the premises at present known as the Regal Boot -Shop. It is the intention of the’ firm to carry considerable stocks of pianos, musical instruments, sheet music, etc., which has Veen a long-felt want in th* district i

The four bright planets—Venus, Mars*, Jupiter, and Saturn—are now visible in the evening sky, and form very fine objects in the telescope.- The Government Astronomer (Dr. C. E. Adams) states that Saturn is particularly interesting at present as the rings are visible. This phenomenon occurs periodically—about every fifteen years.

Good reports continue to be received concerning the fishing in Lake Rotorua and the neighboring lakes (remarks the Auckland Herald). Several large catches have been made recently. Jjast week Mr. P. Scott secured fifty - three good fish, including a brown trout weighing'Blb. Two other anglers caught forty-one fish the same day. Most of these were hooked near Awahou and Waiteti. ,

This year and hereafter the Post Office Savings Bank year, which has hitherto closed on December 3'lst, will close on March 31st. As a result investors will receive interest for fifteen months for 1920-21. Under the provisions of section 2 of the Post and Telegraph Amendment Act, 1920, interest will be paid to depositors at the rate of 4 per ceht. (formerly 3| per cent.) on deposits or any amount up to £5OO (formerly up to £3oo.only), from January Ist last. Further, interest at the rate of 3J per cent, will be payable on amounts exceeding £5OO and qot exceeding £'5000.. Formerly £lOOO was the limit of interest-bearing deposits. In the case of deposits exceeding £5OOO, the rates of interest above mentioned will apply only to so much of such accounts as does not exceed £5OOO.

A number of Auckland shopkeepers have formed an association for the primary purpose of conducting a campaign for the repeal of the new clause in the Shops and Offices Act making the closing of certain shops at 6 o’clock compulsory. At a meeting presided over by Mr. E. R. Dann, it was decided., that the ti|le of the association be “The Auckland Provincial Shopkeepers’ Association.” It was stated by Mr. E. Braithwaite, who convened the meeting, that a similar association had been formed in Christchurch. He said the new clause would have a very detrimental effect on tire smaller shopkeepers, as many depended upon their takings at night. The hardship would be particularly severe on returned soldiers who had purchased their businesses through the Repatriation Department, and who had to refund the principal and interest in monthly instalments. “I happen to be, for the time being, Minister of Mines,” Mr. Massey said in the course of his speech at Hokitika last Wednesday. “A number of newspaper editors, who think they know all about it, say ‘Mr. Massey has overloaded himself, and cannot do justice to the work in hand/ But if a man at the head of affairs wants to get the run of. the different Departments, and the knowledge he ought to possess, there is only one way to do it—and that is to take over the Department and run it himself, then he will get the necessary detail knowledge. I took our finance, and as. a result I got much information on the subject. I am prepared to say this : That whoever the Prime Minister may be, the one Department that he should control, besides the ordinary work of the Prime Minister’s Department, is that of Finance. He cannot do his work nor his duty to the country unless he is conversant witjkhe details of finance.”

Messrs. Howell and Howell’s timely advice to prepare for the coming of winter should be 1-isßned to by all. This firm announces that they are selling all winter clothing at last season’s prices and below. This in itself should be sufficient inducement to shop early in order to obtain good values in seasonable underwear for the coming cold months. Don’t delay. See this firm’s stocks to-day, for Howell’s is the place for value.

A reminder is given to purchasers and owners of stock that entr?es for the Taranaki A. and P. Show close with the H-cretary, P.O. box 18. New Plymouth, to-morrow (Saturday, 26th inst.), at 9 p.m* The show dates are Wednesday and Thursday, March 9th and 10th.

Motor excursions are becoming more popular than ever in Taranaki, the most enterprising one to date being d trip to Invercargill and back, particulars of which can be obtained at Gibson’s garage.

Corsets are cheap at the Melbourne’s gigantic Reduction Sale. Famous D. and A. make only 12/6 pair. Other notable reductions are ladies’ pure wool cashmere hose 4/6 pair; men’s navy or black all wool cashmere socks 4/6 pair; ladies’ stylish raincoats 39/6; choice voile blouses reduced down to .11/6 and upwards.