LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is stated that in the camp at Featherston, there a’re a number of billiard tables that are going fast to ruin. Through the want of attention, thp moths are destroying the cloth, and the sun is playing havoc with the polished woodwork.

Replying an the House of Representatives on Monday to an interjection by Mr. AV. A. Veitch (Wanganui)., Mr. Massey said that he was not opposed to State shipping. In -fact, he was not sure that it would not be his duty before many months were over to move in that, direction. But he wished to see, rather, a service in which the State would be a partner. The first day of the Waverley dog trials took place in fine weather yesterday, and the competitors did good work.' Class I. resulted:— G. Lind's Star, 40 points, 1; T. Leahy’s Bob, 39 points, 2; J. K. Corrigan’s Darky, 38 points 3; Alex. Corrigan’s Tam, 37 points 4. Further particulars of the fire at the Patea grading stores show that 10,000 of the 28,000 boxes of butter concerned were not damaged by smoke or water. It is expected the machinery will be ready to use again in nine or ten days. The butter not damaged is Io be sent to Wellington as early as possible. The insurances were £ll,OOO in the R’oyal Exchange and United Offices.

For surreptitiously taking his employer’s ear and driving to the next town to see his sweetlieart, a Masterton chauffeur ; was fined £lO and costs. The car was damaged to the extent of £2OO during the outing.

In consequence of the New Plymouth Harbor Board’s decision at'their meeting on Friday, prospecting of the Paritutu stone quarry has commenced. The tunnel which was driven into the rock before the quarry was dosed many years ago, is being extended, and later wing tunnels will be driven to the right and left to insure a thorough test. It is stated that the distance already penetrated shows promise of yielding suitable stone. At a meeting in Wanganui, Mr. Ewen Campbell made some remarks which help to explain the present position of the meat' freezing companies. When his company formerly paid £345 freight on a consignment of tallow it had last month paid £200'4 for the same quantity. Meat before the war could be got Home for a little over Id per lb, but today it cost 4 3-16 d. At one time it was possible to have a lighter filled with meat, in hours by four men ; now it takes six men three hours to do the same work.

The necessity for the strengthening of the High Commissioner’s staff was the subject of a question put in the House by Mr. O. J. Hawken (Egmont), who complained that the information contained in the commercial cablegrams from the High Commissioner’s Office was not all that could be desired. The producers had asked for improvement. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Nosworthy) said the matter had received attention. The conditions that had prevailed in the London markets lately had made difficult the preparation of exact messages. The markets had been unsettled and uncertain. A witness in a land valuation case heard at the Christchurch Supreme Court, gave it flatly as his opinion that it was impossible at the present time to say what land values were. On Saturday last his firm put up several properties and never received a bld, while the previous Saturday some £50,000 worth of property was sold under the hammer. His' Honor said the present condition of the market was no criterion at all either as regards stock or land. People were holding, and did not know what was going to happen. The witness said he had never before experienced anything like the present position of affairs. A somewhat distressing case came before Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, at the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Friday, when a well set up youth of 18 years was placed in the dock for a sentence on three charges of breaking and entering and theft. Mr. O. C. Mazengarb asked that probation be extended the prisoner. Counsel said the lapse of the youth into crime was inexplicable. He had just left college, and was about to study medicine or law. 'His family name was- highly respected in many parts of the Dominion, and he had one brother a doctor and one a lawyer, and one a bank manager. The Chief Justice admitted the prisoner to probation for a period of two years on stringent conditions, and on the application of Mr. Mazengarb publication of the name of the offender was prohibited. In our report of the discussion at the Borough Council meeting on Monday, with reference to the financial position-of the power scheme, the general manager was reported to have stated that he believed the council could obtain the money at 6 per cent. Mr. Bellringer asks us to correct this. What he stated was that even if the council obtained power to pay 6 per cent, interest, it did not necessarily follow that it would be able to obtain the money. Mr. Massey had stated that the Government would possibly have to pay 61 per cent, to 6A per cent., and that local bodies might be required to pay up to per cent. This statement did not assist matters, as investors would be inclined to hold off in the hope of obtaining the higher rate. The market for hides is still extremely depressed, and very little business in either hides or skins is being transacted (says the Auckland Herald). Last week’s sale in Auckland was described by the representative of a prominent firm as being the worst he had ever attended. There tvere very few sales, only a few picked stout ox hides and best quality calfskins being taken. All other grades were neglected, the lines offered either attracting no bids or only nominal ones. The few picked ox hides that were sold realised up to lOd per lb. The offers in other grades were 4d to 6d for light ox, and 2d to 4d for cow and country hides. Best calfskins realised up to Is per lb., other grades in sound condition 3d to 6d. Damaged lots were of no value. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Plunket Society will be held at the Kawaroa Park bungalow on April 6, at 2.30 p.m. Shareholders of the Blenheim Oil Company, Ltd., are reminded of the adjourned extraordinary general meeting to be held at the secretary’s office today (Wednesday), at 4 p.m. ' Arrangements for the Central School “At Home,” to be held on April 21; with the idea of raising funds for playgrounds improvement, were discussed at a general meeting of the householders’ committee last night. Reports of stallholders and canvassers were encouraging. It was decidted to write to the principals of the High Schools, and also , of the West End, Fitzroy, and Vogeltown Schools, asking that a half-lioli-day be granted on the day of the “At Home.” A further meeting of the committee will be held on Friday, April 8. By using “Fairy Wonder” washing powder you do away with the necessity of using extra soap, a wonderful saving when compared with other washing compounds on the market. “Fairy” washes clothes white like magic, and it is extremely pleasant to use. Ask for it. Of‘all grocers and itorekeepers. Lady visitors to New Plymouth are invited to inspect the wonderful blouses at the Melbourne Ltd. This firm is famous throughout the Dominion for its marvellous values in hosiery and silk and erepe do chine blouses. Money saved on every article purchased.