LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An Order-in-Council was gazetted yesterday revoking the prohibition on the exportation of potatoes.—Press Assn. At recent rates of exchange you would receive fdr the British £1: £5O 4s 2d in Austria, £l4 6s Id 1 in Germany, £3 13s Gd in Italy, £o Gs 3d in France, and 14s in the' United States. “The Native Land Purchase Board is negotiating with the Native owners for the ‘purchase of the Urewera blocks, and so far 329,115 acres of the reserve have been acquired,” stated the Hon. J. G. Coates (Native Minister) on Wednesday.

A serious accident occurred at the Whiteley Road train stop on Wednesday afternoon. A little boy about six years of age, son of Mrs. R. A. Jones, of Pioneer Road, who was travelling on a tram, evidently alighted before it stopped, falling on his head and receiving severe concussion. The boy was taken to the hospital. His condition is serious.

In reply to a question asked at the end of the last Parliamentary session, the Hon. J. G. Coates stated on Wednesday that a Bill dealing with main roads would be drafted at an early date, and that two or three jponth's would be allowed for local bodies to consider its contents and make suggestions. The final publication of the Bill would be made after the suggestions had been carefully considered.

At the' Eltham Court yesterday, before Messrs. H. G. Carman and H. H. Judd, J.P.’s, John Costello, alias Light, was charged with being an idle and disorderly person, Constable Townsend having found him sleeping out at night on private property. Costello was convicted and ordered to cpme up for sentence when called condition being that he at once leave town (to become a nuisance to some other place). From an early hour yesterday morning torrential rain fell in New Plymouth and district, and continued for some hours. .Rivers rose cusiderably, and the water - channels in town were in many cases quite unable to cope with the large volume of water. The rain will do a great amount of good, particularly tp pastures, which were very dry notwithstanding the fact that there has been quite a number of good downpours during the last three or four weeks.

Says the Dominion: However much they may rave against the butter producers of Taranaki and elsewhere at their city gatherings our Labor-Socialist friends talk soft and low or say nothing at all on the subject in their country electioneering. It is not likely, however, that the farmers of the Patea electorate are so short in the memory as to have forgotten the attacks made on them at recent times by members of the party whose member they are now asked to support. •‘I have arranged to continue the subsidy to widows. The Treasury are now preparing a report with regard to the position of other superannuated civil servants,” is the reply given by the Finance Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) to Mr. R. A. Wright’s question, given notice of last session, as to whether it is intended to continue the bonus to superannuated civil servants for the financial year 1921-22.

The inauguration of the aerial mail service between Auckland, and Whangarei is temporarily in abeyance. The New Zealand Flying School has secured the contract fbr the service, but its machines will run only to Onerahi, as the river at Whangarei is too narrow for the seaplanes to manoeuvre. The provision of some means for the prompt carrying of tlie mails between Onerahi and Whangarei, a distance of three miles-, is the present difficulty. Negotiations are in progress, and when they are completed the Flying School will commence the service. •While Parliament was in session recently, Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) asked whether the Government would impose a special tax on all foreigners who resided in £Tew Zealand, and who were not naturalised as British subjects. In a note to his question he stated that France charged £4 per head per annum on all foreigners staying within her boundaries. The reply issued on-Wed-nesday by the Minister of Internal Affairs is that it is not proposed at present to impose such h tax. The Minister presumes that the number of unnaturalised foreigners in New Zealand would not be sufficient to yield any substantial revenue.

In.yeply to a question asked last session Jby Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South), the Prime Minister has issued a •statement to the effect that the Government will during the recess consider the advisability of appointing a commission to inquire into and report on the following matters suggested by the member: (a) the defects of the existing methods- of waterside control; (b) the desirability of changing the present systems \to ensure permanent employment under good conditions, and regularity of service; (c) the most practical method to adopt for the reform of conditions.

During the recent session of Parliament Mr. R. P. Hudson (Motueka) asked the Minister of Agriculture what, if anything, was being, or had been, done in connection with the introduction into New Zealand of the Canadian black beetle for the purpose of exterminating or checking the spread of the blackberry. The Hon. W Nosworthy has replied: “No action has been taken in connection with the introduction into New Zealand of the Canadian black beetle for the purposes stated; but inquiries are being made as to its actual utility, and also as to whether any detrimental results in other directions might follow its introduction.”

Judging by the comparatively slow progress which is being made with the extensive alterations to the Union Steam Ship Company’s premises, it will be some time before the transfer of the head office staff from Dunedin to Wellington will be effected. It has been freely stated that 43 families will be brought to Wellington when the change is made.} Such statements, it is felt, are not likely to -make the lot of the transferee any easier in the matter of finding housje accommodation. Doubtless they are having the effect of inducing property holders to hold for higher prices in anticipation of the arrival of the staff. " Although the number of families who will be affected by the transfer cannot be definitely given at the present, it does not appear as though anything like the number stated will be affected. As far as can be ascertained, the removals will be spread over a considerable period. To-morrow, at the Mart, L. A. Nolan and Co. will conduct a sale of jewellery on account of Mr. A. Thompson, of Inglewood. Particulars will be found in aur auction

The question of introducing legislation having for its object the fixing of the calorific standard of gas is now under consideration, according to a statement made on Wednesday by the Minister of Internal Affairs. “A revised railway tariff is in course of preparation, and will be issued as soon as possible. The work is well advanced, but the date of issue cannot be definitely fixed,” states the Minister for Railways (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) in reply to a question, notice of which was given last session, by Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki).

“The important question of markets for New Zealand produce is receiving the full consideration of the Government. The Prime Minister will devote close attention to the matter during his visit to Great Britain,” states the Hon. E._P. Lee (Minister for Industries and Commerce), replying to a question given notice of lust session by Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki).

A'man named Walter McKay was arrested in New Plymouth on Wednesday by Constable Small on warrant, for failing to contribute towards the maintenance of his children in respect to whom an order was made by the court some time was taken to the New Plymouth gaol to undergo a sentence of 14jlays, being the term fixed in default of payments under the order.

A Chinaman who was leaving Auckland by the Maheno for Sydney, en route to China, was found to be in possession of £7O in gold when examined by a Customs- officer (states the Herald.) The money was contained in a belt underneath the Chinaman’s clothing. As it is an offence to take gold out of the country, the money was confiscated, but the Chinaman was allowed to proceed on his voyage.

In the House of Representatives last session Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) gave notice to ask the Minister for Railways whether before leaving New Zealand for the. Imperial Conference he will give instructions to have installed on the mail train between Wellington and New Plymouth heating apparatus similar to that on the Auckland and South Island express trains with a view to making travelling in the winter more comfortable? To this Mr. Massey has replied:—“Material for steam-heating of carriages was ordered by the Department some months ago, but- it is doubtful whether it will be to hand in time to enable additional trains to be equipped before the winter.”

Many letters received by the Board of Trade from the various interests concerned (including the public) express appreciation of the board’s impartial work in connection with the building regulations and the control of essential materials. From the date of the gazetting (June 2if 1920) to the suspension of the regulations (March 19) the board dealt w*ith more than 3000 applications for permits for buildings other than dwell-ing-houses or farm buildings. In the same period, local bodies, which acted in co-operation with the Board of Trade, dealt with about 4150 applications for permits for dwellings and farm buildings. In addition to the regular permit, business the board received many inquiries from persons who wished to ascertain whether an application was likely to be granted. When the reply indicated that a permit would not be available till the supply of essential materials warranted it, the application was not lodged. In districts outside of Wellington the board’s control of the distribution of cement ceased on March 19; but in Wellington the end did not come till April 2. From July 1, 1929, to April 2 the quantity of cement distributed under the board’s control was nearly 63,000 tons.

Ladies, don’t waste time experimenting with inferior washing compounds. If you want satisfaction plus economy and saving of labor ask your grocer for a packet of “Fairy Wonder”, and see that you get it. All reputable grocers and storekeepers stock “Fairy”.

Ladies’ nightdresses in very smart styles are being shown by the Melbourne Ltd. These comprise longcloth, flannelette and wincey, embroidered and plain. Many of the ’finer longcloth garments are trimmed with real lace. Prices are, as usual, lowest in the trade.

The working bee on Baines Terrace will'be resumed to-morrow (Saturday), at 2 o’clock. Afternoon tea will be provided. The committee will welcome all willing to assist.