LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Preliminary census returns show that the population in the Kaponga town district was 397 in 1916 and 400 in 1921, an increase of three.—Press Assn.

Interest in the visit to New Plymouth of the Commonwealth and Dominion liner Port Pirie was illustrated by the large number of visitors to the wharf yesterday, and in addition to the many townspeople present there were also numerous country residents. The majority went on board the vessel, and there were continual streams of parties making an inspection during the afternoon.

A Large crowd gathered at Rahotu yesterday on the occasion of the -New Plymouth Citizens’ Band concert, visitors being present from Opunake and other coastal towns. On the way out the band stopped at Oakura and played a number of selections, which were highly appreciated. The band received a splendid reception at Rahotu, and under Conductor Lowe, who made his first public appearance as conductor of the band, gave a most enjoyable programme of music. Mr. Chapman heartily thanked the band for travelling so far to provide the people with such an excellent entertainment. A collection amounting to £l9 was taken up. The bandsmen were afterwards entertained at afternoon tea.

At a meeting the general committee of the Taranaki A. and P. Society on Saturday a letter was received from the Legion of Frontiersmen stating that they intended to hold the annual camp of instruction, of about one week’s duration, in June next, and asking for the use of one of the buildings for the accommodation of the members of the squadron. The application was referred to the grounds committee with power to act. The Mayor of Stratford (Mr. J. W. McMillan) has received from the acting Minister of Public Works (Hon. Sir R. 1 Heaton Rhodes) a copy of the report presented by Mr. Birks* regarding his visit to Taranaki. The report deals comprehensively with the hydro-electric position throughout the province, and in concluding the general section of the report Mr. Birks says: “I therefore recommend that if one large potver board for the whole province is proposed it should be encouraged.”

The annual meeting of the Taranaki Law Society was held on Thursday evening and there was a very good attendance of solicitors from all parts of Taranaki. The following officers were elected for the ensiling year:—President, Mr. J. C. N’cholson; vice-president. Mr. F. Campbell Spratt; hon. treasurer, Mr. T. P. Anderson; hon. auditor, Mr. A. C. Lawrey; members of the council, Messrs. F. E. Wilson, H. R. Billing, A. Bewley and R. H. Quilliam: delegate to New Zealand Law Society, Mr. T. S. Weston; secretary, Mr. L. Etherington. The president’s report and. the balance-sheet were read and adopted. The retiring president, Mr. Billing, gave a short address on the council’s work during the year and stated that several applications for admission as barristers and solicitors were to be made shortly. A resolution was passed regarding the delay in the printing of new statutes, a matter which affects the whole of the community.

Speaking at Hawera recently, ’Mr. A. C. Lees, secretary of the T. L. Joll Cooperative Dairy Factory, mentioned the need of the establishment in this district of a school of dairy science. He contended that if would well repay the several dairy companies in South Taranaki to take this up on their own account. It had often been suggested that the Government should be induced to establish such a school, but in his opinion they should not wait for the Government, but get straight into the business on their own account. If this were done their men could be* trained in the very best methods of making butter and cheese, and ’learn, too, how to utilise their by-products to the best possible advantage. They knew very little indeed about the latter, and if a school of dairy science were properly established it would soon pay all the dairy factories very handsomely.—Star.

The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of the Hawera R.S.A. on Friday last:—President, Mr. W. V. Patterson (re-eleeted); vicepresident. Mr. H. B. Burdekin; treasurer, Mr. E. G. Foden, with Mr. Stark as assistant; executive, Messrs. A. Hall, H. L. Spratt, W. B. Johnstone, C. W. White, W. E. Williams and Gorton; representatives on the Patriotic Society, Messrs. H. L. Spratt and C. Gomer; representative on the Repatriation Committee, Mr. M. C. Crighton; house committee’ Messrs. Hall, Fyson and Williams; Quick March representative, Mr. McLachlan; hon. solicitor, Mr. H. L. Spratt; auditors, Messrs. Burdekin and Suisted.

The football season in Taranaki opened on Saturday afternoon in wintry weather, the heavy rain which was genera! being against good attendances. The new system of fixtures was put in operation, providing six interesting senior matches in the province. The standard of play was good, particularly for the beginning of the season, and a notable feature was the closeness of the games, which augurs well for a keen tussle for the premiership. Full reports of the matches appear on Page 3.

It will doubtless be of interest to those of our readers who may have played. a part in “blazing the trail” to that historic spot near Lawrence known as Gabriels Gully the scene of the earliest gold discovery in the Dominion—to know that the citizens of Lawrence, who so successfully carried out the Jubilee Celebrations of 1911, intend to hold a reunion to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the late Gabriel Read’s famoi/s discovery of the 20th of May, 1861. A cordial invitation to be present at the, function is extended to every old Gabriels Gully pioneer of the early sixties who may find it convenient to pay a visit to Lawrence and renew acquaintance with the scenes of the golden days of long ago. It is understood that a strong local committee lias the matter in hand. Any old pioneer who may think of paying a visit to that memorable spot for the occasion should communicate as early as possible with Mr. H. L. Darton, of Lawrence. New Zealand rugs became famous in most parts of the world before the war. They were recognised to be of a quality scarcely procurable from any other source, and the woollen companies of the Dominion used to receive orders from London, New York, and many other cities. To-day very few rugs are being produced by the factories, owing to the concentration of effort in other directions, and it seems that there is some danger of the, reputation that New Zealanders made being used for the advantage of another country. An American business man who was in the Dominion recently took away with him samples of the rugs, and of the wools used in their manufacture, and he stated that he intended to see if an American factory could not produce the same quality of goods. “I could sell 100,000 of these rugs every year if I could get them,” he said The tailoring business is not very brisk in Wellington at the present time. According to a gentleman who has long been intimately connected with the trade, the local houses are on the average down to three-quarter time (says the Dominion). While New Zealand soldiers were returning to the country the tailors had a very busy period, but in October, 1920, the usual summer rush did not set in, p,nd overtime was the exception rather than the rule. A local tailor informed a reporter recently that his house (which is quite a large one) was going through the slackest time it had

experienced for several fears. There is not much unemployment, nowever. Two or three Wellington men are out of work, and the union secretary states that be is unable to place them. “Two other things strike the visitor,” said Dr. J. O. Miller, of Toronto, when interviewed at Auckland prior to leaving by the Niagara. “Your immense undeveloped coal measures and your vast undeveloped water powers. To anyone who has watched the development of electric power at Niagara from its beginning, has seen the immense strides that Ontario has made since the first turbines were put down, it would seem a prudent undertaking for New Zealand, in spite of dear money and all its financial obligations, to pledge its credit still further in order to obtain this means of increasing the national wealth. When the present Chippawa Canal is finished, Ontario will have from Niagara one million horse-power, and it is committed to a second parallel canal which will develop a second million. If the requirements of Ontario are one horse-power per capita of the whole population, surely New Zealand can no longer afford to go without. I should like, as a Canadian, to voice what I know to be the opinion of many Canadians, namely, the, moral probity and high sense of business honor that is prevalent throughout New Zealand. I think we have something to learn from you in this respect, and on that ground alone it would be of great benefit to Canada to cultivate much larger business relations with this country. As an Englishman I may’ also express the feeling of pride that the high ideals of our Motherland are finding themselves perpetuated in her youngest and most distant colony.” As Saturday was wet, the boys of Standards 4, 5 and 6 of the Central School arc ask-ed to muster in force at 2 p.m. to-day at the school to tidy up the building and grounds.

Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Second and Third Groups) are notified that subscriptions will be due and pavable tomorrow, Tuesday, April 26, at the Secretary’s Office, Currie Street, from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.—Advt. The training stables belonging to the estate of Ja'mes Hawkins, deceased, are to be sold by auction by Messrs. L. A. Nolan and Co. on Saturday', 30th inst. The stables are situated at Te Henui, New Plymouth, handy to the racecourse, and are in first-class order. Several sections at Rahotu belonging to the estate will also be, submitted.

The Bon Marche, of Kaponga and Eltham, have just secured manufacturers’ samples of up-to-date costumes, bought at half price, and they will be sold to customers at the same rate.

The Melbourne Clothing Co. are making a nice display of ladies’ lovely allwool knitted sports coats. The styles are quite the latest, while the qualities are all good. Splendid variety of colors and contrasting shades. Prices 39/6 to 89/6.