LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At a special meeting of the Park La wn Tennis and Croquet Club last night, it was decided that a new croquet lawn be laid down, and that the work be proceeded with at once in order to have the lawn ready for next season’s play. A man named Stephen James was arrested at Korito yesterday by Constable Longbottom and Detective Cooney on a charge of incest Accused was brought before a J.P. at Inglewood and remanded to appear at New Plymouth on May

In the Trinity College of Music examinations held in September last, it would appear that two different results have been published as to the exhibitioner gaining tlie award for the highest number of marks in the intermediate grade (pianoforte) of the exhibition for the Dominion. This is explained by the fact that there are two awards of £0 Os each for the two candidate gaining the highest number of marks, which in this case were awarded to Miss Elsa Whittle (I’2 years), New Plymouth Convent, and Miss Borgia McSherry (14 years), Greymouth Convent. It seems singular that while a man and Ijis wife cannot manage to live together, yet., each may be passionately fond of th&' children. The natural thought is, that the little ones would be a bond to unite them. In no fewer than three cases at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court last week (says an exchange), the husbands were quite willing for their wives to live separated iroi.i them, but stipulated that they must be allowed to see the children. In one ease, where the wife absolutely refused to allow her husband near her house, the magistrate gave an instruction that the little ones should be sent to a particular place to meet their father every Sunday afternoon at a fixed hour.

The Hon. George Fowlds made a few interesting remarks at Auckland, recently on Chamber of Commerce activities in Canada and America. Having recently returned from his sixth visit to Canada and tile United States, Mr. Fowlds said he was more than ever impressed with the magnitude of everything in those countries. He referred to the growth of the “eat and talk” system. They had a custom in America of having frequent lunches at which speeches were delivered on various topics of interest. Some were weekly lunches for that purpose. The Chamber of Commerce in Los Angeles was now the largest in the world, having a membership of 7000. Meeting Americans at home had convinced him that they were after all much like the rest of the Anglo-Saxon-speaking people. “Anyone,” said Mr. Fowlds, “who tries to stir up ill-feeling between the British Empire and the United States is a traitor to the cause of humanity The well-being of the world depends to a great extent upon the continuance of a good understanding and friendly relationship between those two great Eng-lish-speaking peoples.” Recently-, says the Grey River Argus, the customary half-yearly visit of local and visiting Chinamen to the Greymouth cemetery took place, and the proceedings, though not as animated as those of a Chinese funeral, weri interesting to watch. A visit was made by one Celestial in the morning to intimate to the departed that their friends on terra firma were about to pay them their usual halfyearly visit. In the afternoon the friends journeyed out to Karoro in vehicles. On arrival at the cemetery the members of the party sought out the graves where lay the remains of their respective lives. They first placed on the graves lighted aromatic tapers, after which they went through what appeared to be a set religious formula, during which candles were lighted. A small feast was then laid out, consisting of rice, Chinese brandy, eggs, whisky, roast duck, and pork and fruit. Crackers and bombs were exploded to drive off the “devils” fol the ensuing six months, and on the graves rice and other food were placed for the departed. Lollies, fruit, and whisky were freely distributed amongst the European onlookers. The participants in the function then returned to town, where a feast was held in one of the Chinese houses, and full justice done to such viands as were not left at the graves for the benefit of those on the other side of the “Great Divide.”

Full particulars of Mr. H. J. Major’s clearing sale are advertised in our auction columns. The cows are an exceptionally good lot, and the implements, etc., are in first-class order. Everything is to be sold without reserve.

A mild flutter is being caused in Southland wholesale and retail circles connected with the soft-goods trade by the price-cutting activities of a wholesale house (states the Invercargill Times). Some lines are being quitted, it is stated, at half the ruling prices, and brisk business is resulting. “Have we power to compel natives to clear noxious weeds on their properties?” asked a member of the Waipa County Council. The assistant engineer said he had made several attempts to induce Maoris to keep their sections clean, but they held that it was the pakeha’s duty to clear the weeds, as they introduced them into the country. (Laughter). “I am one of those who think it is well that courting should be encouraged at the churches. It is better and safer there than at kinemas, theatres, music-halls, public-houses, and in the streets. The church will do well to afford opportunities for wholesome social intercourse for young men and maidens,” said the Rev. F. R. Bell, of Daventry, in an address at Stamford, Lincolnshire.

A remarkable snooker performance was put up a few days ago by the New Zealand professional champion, W. E. Stephenson, who accomplished what is considered a world’s record, clearing the table in two cues. He was opposed by C. Roberts, a winner of the Crystalate Cup, who broke the balls, and then Stephenson made a break of 36, when he played a safety shot. Roberts failed to score, and then Stephenson went on and cleared all the reds and colors, amassing 85, and bringing his total to 121. A business man of Melbourne writes to a Christchurch friend as follows: “I saw in one of the papers here that there is some talk of electrifying the railways in New Zealand. They havs them running on some* of the suburban lines in Victoria, and they are a great success. They look very funny going along without an engine, as/ they give the appearance of runaway trains. They start very smoothly, gather pace very quickly, and stop quickly and smoothly. There is no engine smoke, and they travel much. ( faster than the steam, trains, and of course, lighted by electricity. They would be just the thing for the Lyttelton-Christchurch line, but would he too expensive to install for the Christchurch-Dunedin express, the distance being too far for such a few trains.”

“Canadian geese are now becoming fairly plentiful in our district, and if they continue to thrive it may be possible to permit the shooting of these birds in a few years,” states the Otago Acclimatisation Society’s annual report. The successful acclimatisation of these bij-’ds is a notable feat. The society has been making inquiries about importing partridges from South Africa. If it seems likely that these birds will succeed, a trial shipment may be made next year.

Teaching history by reconstruction was undertaken during last week at Te Awamutu (states the New Zealand Herald). A number of school children, both European and Maori, were taken to Orakau Pa, and the historic fight in which Rewi Maniapoto hurled his defiance at the pakeha was re-enacted by them in all detail. One incident, however, marred the realism of the scene. The Maori defenders were making their .escape, leaving their dead behind them, • while the attackers were charging down on the pa. Whether overcome by the excitement of the moment or daunted, by the fierce aspect of the attackers, the “dead” suddenly rose and ran with the swiftest of the escaping warriors. The New ’Plymouth Horticulture Society is holding its last show for this season on Thursday. The fine weather of the last few days has ensured a good show of chrysanthemum blooms. Dahlias and cosmos are also to be on exhibition. Whiteley Hall will be an attractive scene on Thursday. Messrs. Newton King, Ltd., advertise particulars of a clearing eale at Tatarainiaka. Absolute clearance, vendor having sold *his farm. The offering includes a herd of good young cows, mostly Jerseys, 5 half-draught horses, and all farm implements, etc. Fashions for winter dressings are now being discussed. In new coatings. Morey [i nd Son are displaying some really beauHful and durable materials. Call and inspect.