LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wanganui' Harbor Board is prepared to take aO.OOO tons of stone from Mount Egmont, provided that satisfactory freight arrangements can be made with the Railway Department.

A supply of sugar for Taranaki will be brought to New Plymouth by the Earawa this morning. For the past week or so the market has been bare, and to-day's shipment will relieve the shortage.

In a cable recently received by the National Dairy Association from its London representative the following item appears: “Butter—Argentine will be procurable at 145 s after control is lifted.” One, hundred and forty-five shillings per cwt. in* approximately Is 34d per lb. A number of requisition forms asking that a poll be taken on the halfholiday question were received by the New Plymouth Borough Council at last night’s meeting iron: the secretary of the sports committee (Mr. P. E.'Stainton). There were about 1200 signatures to the lists, and the council decided that provided the petition was in order the necessary stgps be taken for holding a poll in April.

Speaking at the meeting of the New Plymouth Boro'ugh Council last night, the engineer (Mr. W. 11. Cook) said a very large quantity bf water was being used in the town and there was no doubt a good deal of waste must be taking place: The consumption per head of population at present Was 141 gallons.

In the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, J. G. H. Blane, who was arrested on Saturday for drunkenness and had” a number of convictions for similar offences, was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment. A first offender, who was also arrested on Saturday, was convicted and discharged.

A telegram from Wellington says- the Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Minister for Internal Affairs) has received a telegram from Mr. Moorehouse (conservator of fish and game, Rotorua), who xs at the Bluff, that wapiti and moose are well established in the West Coast sounds. 'Moose and wapiti were released in Dusky sound in 1900 and another lot in 1909.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. wish to draw clients’ attention to their, Tafata sale which they are holding in their Tarata saleyards on Friday, March 18, at 1 p.m. Full particulars of entries will be found on page S of fliis issue.

The Farmers’ Co-operative have been successful in purchasing the block of land adjoining their present site, facing Union Street, Hawera. The recent purchase gives the society ample room for all future extensions. It is the intention of the society to erect in the near future a commodious building on the Union Street site and house there the whole of their departments.

A Hawera resident who was at Patea recently stated that the water and electrie light supply had been ent off in that town for one month ' (says the Star). He understands the machinery at the power station is out of use, and that all users of electric light and water, including the hospital, will have to resort to other means of supply. The church services on Sunday night were conducted by candle light According to advice received by the New Plymouth Borough Council from thp Lands and Survey Department a recreation reserve of - fourteen acres has been set aside at Meturoa. The area, which is to-be known as the Ngamotu Domain, was formerly a prison reserve. In reply to a letter from the department, the council last night signified its willingness to take /over control of the reserve.

In the Quinn v. Catchpole case, in which the jury at New Plymouth awarded the plaintiff Quinn £lOB6 damages on the ground of misrepresentation as to the carrying capacity of the farm which the plaintiff purchased from the defendant, and against which decision the defendant appealed by way of motion for a new trial, on the ground that the verdict was agaipst the weight of evidence and was excessive, His Honor Mr. Justice in his reserved decision has dismissed the motion for a new trial, with 15 guineas costs against the defendant Catchpole. The New Plymouth police received a report yesterday stating that the residence of the Public Works overseer at Awakino was entered on Saturday evening, during the overseer’s temporary absence at a dance, and £l6B was stolen. The money, which was in a padlocked leather case and placed under a matpress, consisted mainly of new £5 notes and £1 notes. The police have no clue yet, but tJjey are investigating the case. In connection with the housing of employee:?, the New Plymouth Borough Council last night considered estimates submitted by the engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) for the cost of dwellings. It was decided to adopt a plan of a fourroomed cottage, and general conveniences, to cost £741, and it is probable about four will be erected by the council. An interesting lecture on astronomy was delivered by the Rev. O. Blundell at the New Plymouth Victoria League’s rooms last night before a "ood attendance of members. The speaker dealt with various phases of the study, such as the starry heavens, the sun, planets, and the mooa. The address was illustrated by a number of fine slides, taken in various parts of the world. The lantern, which was lent by Mr. W. H. Moyes, principal of the Boys’ High School, was operated by two of the senior scholars from, the school.

A number of ratepayers in New Plymouth have in view a proposal to join together and take up a certain amount of the borough loan debentures with the idea of providing the money for authorised works in their locality appearing in the schedule of the streets loan. At last night’s meeting of the council Cr. V. Griffiths enquired if, in the event of such a proposal being put into effect, would the council favorably consider pressing on with the particular works in respect of which the money was offering. Replies made by the Mayor (Mr? F. E. Wilson) and the’ general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) indicated that the council would probably be able to accept propositions such as suggested.

A remarkable increase in the consumption of imported meat to , Britain last year is disclosed in “Weddell’s Review.” This is largely attributed to the fact that the troops acquired a taste for imported meat in war time, and they now prefer it to home-grown meat. A similiar tendency is apparent on the Continent. The ‘Review adds that statistics indicate that the flocks and herds of ’ the world have not expanded since--1900. The United States. Canada, and even Australia appear to have reached their exporting limits. The demand for meat is overtaking supplies. This is partly due to the increase in white populations and the improved standard of living. Preparations are in hand at Morrinsville for the reception of Ratana, the Maori “miracle man,” from Wanganui. Over 3000 natives are expected to foregather to meet him. Five large marquees, 10 bullocks, 50 loads of firewood, two tons of sugar, and an enormous quantity of food and other requirements for such a large gathering have been ordered. Already £l5OO has 'been collected to meet the expenditure that is involved. A committee has been set up under the Maori Councils Act, and the rules and regulations for governing the gathering are of a very strict nature. Special police are being provided for the meeting, which will take place at the Maori Parliament House and. enclosure, on the outskirts of Morrinsville.

Some time ago the settlers on the Mokau River interviewed the Hon. D. H. Guthrie with regard to removing the reservation on some of the scenic reserves on the river. The 'Minister has now replied as follows : “The matter appears to be a burning one. On the one hand there is a demand for scenic reserves ; on the other a demand for their destruction. There is a Scenery Reservation Board which must investigate all such matters, and I cannot act without its recommendation. I am surprised to find an advocacy in the district for the destruction of the scenic reserves, as I consider that it would be a crying shame to destroy it. The day will come when you would be sorry if such action were taken. So far as access is concerned, there is no- difficulty, as provision has been made for taking roads or tracks through scenic reserves. I know what anybody would say who visited the district' as I did. and who subsequently returned to find the beautiful scenery on the river destroyed 1 . However, I shall report the matter to the Scenery Reservation Board to obtain its report. I do not think the report will be in favour of what, you propose.

Housewives! Keep your linen a good color and save labor, time and fuel by using “Fairy Wonder” washing powder, the wonderful Dry Soap that does the work while you sleep. Do your washing the “Fairy” way —expeditiously, economically, sweetly and wholesomely. Ask your lady friends what they know about “Fairy”, or, better still, buy a packet at the nearest grocer.