LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A telegram from Auckland says the Maheno, from Sydney, is running late, and’ will arrive to-day When the train with the field guns for Taranaki aboard started from the Aramoho station the -weight of the guns was so great that the engine pulled the end clean out of the truck. A man named William Kirkwood was arrested by Constable Longbottom at Inglewood- on Thursday evening on a charge of vagrancy. He was brought before Mr. J. Sutherland, J.P., yesterday, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in the New Plymouth gaol. At the meeting of the West End School Committee last night, the headmaster (Mr. D. J. Evans) reported that the roll number was now 537, having increased by 36 'since the commencement ‘of the year. The highest weeklyaverage attendance was 523.5. Described as Germany’s busiest undertaking, employing .10,000 men and women, most of whom work overtime, the German Government printing office is not able to turn out the quantity of paper money needed, and has accordingly been compelled to entrust some of the banknote printing to a private firm. A mail for Australia was despatched from New Plymouth by the steamer Joan Craig, which sailed for Brisbane last evening, the postal authorities taking advantage of this vessel’s departure in view of the unsettled shipping conditions at the other ports. As the arrangement was made at short notice the mail was not a heavy one, and was comprised of one bag of postal matter.

Speaking at a meeting of motorists Captain C. E. tflayney, who had resided in Taranaki, declared that it was not the toll-gates there that were responsible for good roads. Long before the toll-gates were established the people of the district had determined to have better roads, and they had been assisted in their aims by reason of the fact that a very suitable metal was obtainable from the slopes of Mount Egmont. It seemed to him that the spirit of the people was more responsible for the good roads in Taranaki than the tolldates

Mails which left Wellington on December 30, per s.s. Surrey, arrived in London on February 21.

The common sparrow is credited with doing quite a lot of damage to kitchen gardens. It is also a very good friend. Just now flocks of sparrows may be seen searching for the flies that are eating out the winter cabbage, broccoli, and other green crops. The sparrow also devours large numbers of caterpillars and other insects.

It is stated that the cost of the 150,000 tons of Welsh coal recently bought by the New Zealand Government is somewhere between £3 and £4, c.i.f, New Zealand ports. The coal is of better quality than the New Zealand article, and actually is costing less. It is an extraordinary state of affairs that coal can be brought 14,000 miles and landed cheaper than coal locally hewn. It is a striking commentary upon the industrial methods that obtain in this country. A subscriber writes complaining that the street lamps on Carrington Road have not been lighted during the past week, and he states that this is causing residents some inconvenience. t The Westown district has also been in a similar position. The matter was referred to the electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley), who replied that the lights had been cut off to economise in power, the plant being required to carry heavy loads. Any relief, he said, would depend on load conditions, but the department would do its best to meet the. situation.

A screening of the cinema films arranged by the Moving Picture Exhibition of British Industries, Ltd., was to have been held in New Plymouth next month, but the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce has received advice from Captain Drysdale, who is in charge of the New Zealand tour, that the visit to New Plymouth has been cancelled, together with the proposed visits to Palmerston North, Napier and Wanganui,, as the result of cabled instructions to Captain Drysdale. In expressing regret at the cancellation, Captain Drysdale states that a flying visit may be possible and,.if one screening can be arranged it will be given. A number of war trophies which have arrived at the Hawera railway station and are awaiting distribution throughout the province, have attracted a good deal of attention (says the Star) The trophies are 4-inch field guns, and bear unmistakable evidence of good marksmanship by the Allies’ gunners. By a simple device, namely, the daubing of the guns with paint of different colors, a camouflage was effected. Altogether there are five guns and one is for Hawera, one for Opunake, one for Stratford, one for Manaia, and one for EL th am.

There is one outstanding feature in the wholesale fruit market—a glut of tomatoes, the season having produced just double last year’s crop. The result is that cases of this fruit are selling in Auckland at prices ranging from Is 6d to 2s| 6d each. It would appear as if the crop ripened at the one time throughout the whole province. Consignments are coming to hand from outside districts such as Whangarei, Cambridge, Hamilton, and Dargaville, where, in past years, the fruit was distributed. The areas are also larger than usual. All other lines of fruit are bringing from fair to good prices.

A seven-seater Oldsmobile car owned by Mr. Gibson, of New Plymouth, was totally destroyed by fire on Wednesday last on the Feilding road, about three miles north of Palmerston, just after a stop had been made for tea. The driver and one passenger were returning to New Plymouth from Palmerston North. Within a few minutes of leaving the car they discovered it a mass of flames, and though an effort was made to secure the fire extinguisher on the car the flames had such a strong hold that it was impossible to do so. The car was valued at about £650, and was covered by insurance to the extent of £5OO.

Old residents ’will remember that the native grayling (upokororo) used to come into the Taranaki streams in the autumn to -spawn in the fresh water. During the migration up the river quite a lot of good sport was secured by taking this lively little fish on the rod. A local angler was whipping the Waiwakaiho the other evening, when he secured a fine specimen of the upokororo on the fly. The fish was in splendid condition, and weighed one pound. Ordinarily it does not weigh over half a pound. It is understood that the upokororo has not been seen for about t-wenty years in Taranaki streams.

The anniversary of the Battle of Waireka, the successful outcome of which saved New Plymouth from the Maori rebels, takes place on the 28th inst. (Easter Monday). This was the first occasion in which British volunteers fought in action as a body. There were 152 in the Taranaki Company, under the late Captain (afterwards Major) Brown, and of this number 29 are stall alive, the youngest being Mr. J. Black, of Fitzroy, who is now 78 years of age. Twelve of the number reside in New Plymouth, and the others are scattered over the Dominion and the world. Mr. S. Brooks states that the account of the accident to him on Saturday evening last was incorrect in some particulars. He does not suffer from deafness, he says. He was going to the pictures and walking alongside the tramline when the tram came down without the warning bells being sounded, and he was knocked over, and might have suffered considerably. He says he has several witnesses to prove that the bells were not sounded, some of those present conveyi’ng to the conductor at the time their disapproval of his neglect in this respect.

On Saturday morning next, at the Haymarket Newton King, Ltd., are selling a number of cabs, horses, gigs, motor cars, etc. on account of Mr. M. Jones, who has given up business.

The enormous sales of ladies’ blouses by the Melbourne, Ltd., show no sign of diminution. On the contrary the reduced prices of the new goods are stimulating the demand. Trade in this popular section of the firm’s business was never so brisk as at present. Come and see the new styles.

Washing soda is notoriously rough on the hands; bar soap when rubbed into clothes .is hard to get out without incessant rinsing and wringing; washboards are hard on the fabrics. Why not abolish these old-fashioned abominations and let “Fairy Wonder” Dry Soap do your weekly wash. It’s simply marvellous stuff. Ask about it. Of all grocers.

Don’t endure corns! Progandra will remove them in six'dressings, or money will be refunded. Progandra does not harm the surrounding flesh. Get Progandra—l/6 from chemists and stores, or post paid from Barraclough’s Pty., Box 1247, Wellington. 106 a. Barraclough’s Nervine stops Toothache—l/6. Rheuxno raoidlx relieves Rheumatism.