LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

For the points prize at the Hawera sports meeting on Wednesday, Willis (New Plymouth) was first with 6 points, having scored a first in the 220 yards, a second in the 440 yards, and a third in the 100 yards. Scott and Dillon were runners-up with 5 points each. Replying to Mr. R. Masters (Stratford.) in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Hon. J. G. Coates said it was the intention to stop work on the Stratford west railway, in, accordance with the policy announced in -the Public Works Statement.

The concert given in the Rolland Hall, New Plymouth, last night, in accordance with the annual custom of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, was attended'by a very large audience. The programme was an all-Irish one, and the various instrumental, solo and chorus items featured a variety of national airs. The entertainment proved a very enjoyable one for those, present, appreciation being demonstrated by frequent demands for encores. The dance which took place after the concert was well patronised, and was kept up till morning hours. After a long .spell of dry weather, heavy rain fell in the New Plymouth district last night. The downpour will do a\ great amount 'of good, and more rain will be welcomed. The official weather report issued last night states: Present indications are for west to. south-west winds, strong to gale; cloudy, squally and unsettled weather, with rain probable generally. The barometer Will rise everywhere soon.

Flags were flown from public buildings in New Plymouth yesterday, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, and some offices were closed, while in the evening the occasion was marked by a concert in the Rolland Hall. A telegram from Wellington says: St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated here by a largi procession, which consisted of jaunting cars filled with veterans, brass bands, and school children in decorated lorries with symbolic tableaux. Athletic sports were held, followed by a national concert in the Town Hall in the evening. At a mass meeting a resolution was passed, •‘condemning the British Government’s policy of frightfulness towards Ireland, and "recording sympathy with the Irish nation in its struggle for self-govern-ment, and a hope that tjie people would soon be free to work out their own destiny among the free nations.” A copy was cabled to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. .

Something new m the way a restaurant is promised in New Plymouth. Messrs. A. Bartlett and Co., have secured the premises next the Criterion Hotel, and fitted them up without regard to cost. The plant is a particularly interesting one, embodying the latest designs in cooking, etc., cleanliness and efficiency being guaranteed. , The public are asked to view the plant and restaurant tomorrow and Monday, preparatory to the business being opened later in the week.

Included in the list of unredeemed pledges to bp sold to-morrow (Saturday), by L. A. Nolan and Co., are three valuable diamond rings, pendants and an 18 carat gold watch. sale is being conducted on account of the Waitemata Loan Co., Custom Street, Auckland-

The pupils of the Inglewood School held their annual excursion at the Ngamotu beach yesterday. The picnickers came in by special train, filling 17 large carriages, and numbering about 1000. Fine weather prevailed and the excursionists spent an enjoyable time. In the list of public bodies sympathising with Mr. W. T. Jennings', M.P., in the death of his wife, there was omitted the Mokau Harbor Board. This body sent a letter of sympathy and a wire also immediately the news was known at Mokau, writes our Mokau correspondent.

In regard to the price of butter, the' telegram from Wellington appearing in yesterday’s Daily News aroused a good deal of interest both in farming and commercial circles. A Daily News re; porter sought further information from Mr. A. Morton (president of the National Dairy Association), who replied that the position was fully set out in the report. The details were on the lines of the information supplied to factories, and he said there was nothing further to report in the meantime. Some sportsmen who usually go out offer wild duck and other native game are under the impression that they will be able to shoot on' Sunday, May 1. This, however, is an error (says an exchange), as the Animals’ Protection Act expressly stipulates :—“lf the Ist day of May falls on a Sunday in any year then such season shall not begin till the day following.” As to imported game, mallard duck may be killed from May 2 to July 31, &n| Californian quail from June 1 to June 30.

The Minister of Education has arranged for the printing of a souvenir of the visit to New Zealand of the Prince oi Wales. A copy of the souvenir, which is to take the form of a large sheet bearing an enlarged photograph of the Prince and a facsimile of the letter which he addressed to the children of the Dominion just prior to the sailing of the Renown, is to be supplied to each school. The committees will be required to have them suitably framed and hung in a prominent place. A sufficient number will be printed to supply £ll the public schools, primary,' secondary and technical. A request for as full a statement as pdssible •of the financial position of the Dominion for the year ending this month was made in the House of Representatives by Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) The Prime Minister replied that a document was being prepared and would be submitted to Parliament, “I am prepared to give the House full details of the financial position of the country,” added Mr. Mas'sey. “While 1 know that care and economy are absolutely necessary if we are going to get through the present stringency without further difficulty, I see no reason td be*anxious as far as the finances of the country are concerned.”

Replying to a question put by Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) in the House, the Prime Minister (Mr. Massey) stated, that arrangements had been made for the renewal of loans amounting to £10,000,000 that fell due at the beginning of this year. The Treasury had been able to arrange at the same time for the conversion of quite a large parcel of 14% per cent free-of-income tax debentures iihto per cent debentures bearing liability to income tax. He did not think that there thould be much difficulty about renewing a larger amount of loan, falling due about the end of this year or the beginning of next year.

This year the Lens mines will again begin to produce coal. Pumping has been going on steadily for some time, and has reduced the level of the water in the mines by some 10ft, but there is a great difficulty about the work. If every mine were a self-contained compartment, not communicating with others, the pumping would be a simple matter. But in fact there is communication somewhere in the depths between the adjoining groups of mines at Lens, Lievin, and Aleurchin, and he who pumps out one must pump out all. There are, it is estimated, fifty million cubic metres of water in all to be got rid of. Still, it is hoped that by the summer the first coal will have been won. It will be a great day for France. The output should reach a quarter of a million tons this year and grow to three million tons in 1025.

A huge pile of coal is now being stacked up in the yards adjacent to the Dunedin engine sheds (says the Otago Daily Times). It is understood that there are about 25,000 tons of coal—all imported—heaped there, and another cargo is expected shortly. Tn order to enable the coal to be handled expeditiously, temporary railway lines are built on the stacks, the trucks are run up, and the coal emptied. At the present time there is sufficient coal at tlje Dunedin yards to supply the local demand and that from Invercargill and Palmerston for the next six months. If it is estimated that the coal cost, say, £5 per ton—this sum covering all expenses —it will be seen that the value of the 25,000 tons runs out about £125,000. Nearly all this money goes out. of the country.

A definite tendency towards the reduction of wages for agricultural labor in the Ashburton County is said to have set in. According to Ashburton registry agents, whereas before the harvest a. weekly wage of £3 and “found” was offered to a six-horse teamster, the best now obtained is £2 10s. Farmers are showing a leaning towards getting on with less labor. The cause, it is stated, is that they cannot afford to pay out so much ready money when so little is coming in. The attitude of farm workers at first was not to take work at lessened remuneration, but in many eases billets were finally accepted at a lower rate. It is recognised that at the end of a few weeks, when the thrashing mills are paid off, labor will probably be in over-supply. This fact, more than anything else, makes the farm worker willing to accept the wages offering before the anticipated shortage of employment during the winter. Music at test cricket matches is urged by enthusiasts. An excellent ideaandante measures while the scoring is slow, allegretto while it is being merrily knocked up in sixes (comments the Sydney Mail) - . Soothing music when the batsmen get flurried. Every man making a century 'to, be played off the ground with “See the conquering hero comes!” It could be pushed further. A chorus' could in time be engaged to lead the barrackers in suitable songs, with words selected from the barrackers’ own. unique vocabulary. Consider the impetus given for a new and novel form of composition. Here lies —who knows? —an opening for the foundation of a distinctly Australian school of music. When the visiting team is beaten, the day would, of course, conclude with something in the way of a hymn of triumph. When the visitors win, the band would be dismissed before stumps are ijkawiL a