LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A telegram from Nelson states that J. AV. Gribble won the New Zealand apple-packing championship. It is reported that the Government propose establishing a camp for exservice immigrants in the neighborhood of Palmerston North. Linseed oil is dropping in price very fast. A few months ago a New Plymouth firm had to pay 17s 6d per gallon for boiled linseed oil. To-day they can buy it for 2s 5d per gallon—-about the pre-war price.

Stephen James was brought before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., at the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, on a charge of having committed incest. On the application of DetectiveSergeant Cooney, accused was remanded to May 9. Two German machine guns, being war trophies allotted to the Taranaki County, have been received by the County Council from the Defence Department. The matter of permanently housing the guns was brought up at yesterday’s meeting, but was deferred.

At the Brick ;and Tile Company’s worlds at Avondale, Auckland, while work was in full swing, a fly-wheel of about 10 tons burst, and the main flywheel, 12 feet in diameter, followed on. The end of the building was. wrecked but no one was injured. A German subject who recently left the Manawatu district for his native country states in a letter to a friend that the conditions in Germany are by no means bad. The money he made in this country goes much further in the Fatherland ‘ than it docs in New Zealand.

A New Plymouth firm just got a line of goods from Montreal, the freight on which from that port to Wellington was £56. Tne transhipping and coastal freight from Wellington to New Plymouth was £2B, or half of the over-

seas freight. Another argument in favor of direct shipping. The charges against P. H. Hickey and J.’ Glover, of circulating seditious literature, were called in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Friday, and, on the application of Mr. F. H. Haigh, who stated . that Mr. P. J. O’Regan, retained for the defence, was out of town, a remand for a week was granted. A reliable indication of the state of unemployment in Wellington is afforded by the fact that last week 196 applicants for work called at the Labor Department’s employment bureau. Of this total only eight were assisted to obtain private jobs. At present 76 names are on the waiting list of men seeking employment. —-Press Association. Quilt time is now, find the place to select a handsome and comfort-giving quilt is Morey’s. The new designs are most attractive and are carried out in those ever-popular materials—-satin, sateen and satinette. Call and inspect.

An association of horticultural societies is being formed for the Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke’s Bay districts. At yesterday’s meeting the Taranaki County Council decided to make application to the Minister of Finance for permission i.o receive deposits at call, as' a method of helping the finances. The council proposes to pay interest at five per cent.

Mr. F. Bicknell, a railway guard on the Hawera staff, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday evening as a result of an accident at Patea. He sustained a fractured leg, but is doing as well as can be expected. Cable advices have been received by dairy companies in Pahiatua that shipments of first grade colored cheese per Grari, Arawa and Pori. Nicholson have realised 162 s per cwt at London, white cheese per same steamers realising 140 s to 1425.

Owing to the indisposition of the general manager (Mr? F. T. Bellringer), the installation of the Mayor and councillors of the New Plymouth borough, which was to have been held to-morrow (night, has been postponed, and will probably take place next Monday night. The South Taranaki Jersey Breeders’ Association has decided to go on its own and not co-operate with the Stratford or New Plymouth societies in the matter of the auction sale of Jersey stock. Messrs. Linn, Hodge, Bennett and Buxton have been appointed dele-, gates to attend the annual conference of the New Zealand Jersey Breeders’ Association.

It was reported from Waitara yesterday that the body of Captain Stearne, who met his death in the wreck of the launch Turanga at the Mokau heads in the early hours of Friday morning, had been recovered alongside the wreckage of the vessel. No confirmation of the report had been received in New Plymouth last night by the police or by Mr. P. E. Stainton, managing director of the company which owned the vessel. The total postal and telegraphic revenue in the New Plymouth postal district for the March quarter was £30,950, as compared with £24,984 for the March quarter of last year. The Post Office Savings Bank deposits were £306,356, and the withdrawals £258,111, as compared with £407,656 and £328,219 respectively. Savings Bank figures for the whole Dominion showed a corresponding change.

In reply to an enquiry as to when the values in Taranaki County are to be revised, the Valuer-General (Mr. F. 11. Flanagan) has informed the council that the work of revision was in the hands of the late Mr. H. F. Russell, but was interrupted by his death. Arrangements were now being made for the work to be re-commenced by another valuer.

The shooting season for native and imported game opened yesterday. In the Taranaki Acclimatisation district Californian quail are reported to be somewhat fewer, though- there is an apparent increase in the numbers of native quail noticed. Native pigeons are protected. The summer was a good one for game generally, and some fair clutches, of pheasants have been reported. Opossums are very numerous in the National Park, and, in fact, have become somewhat rof a pest. It is understood that efforts are being made to have the protection on these animals removed.

There were several New Plymouth competitors in the Auckland egg-laying competition just concluded. In the White Leghorn division, Mr. J. AV. Smith, of Vogeltown, came 14th on the list, his six birds laying a total of 1272 eggs, while Mr. J. K. Hawkins was 17th on the list with a total of 1250 eggs. There were 38 competitors in this section. Mr. J. N. Eva won the Bro\yn Leghorn division with a total of 1113 eggs. To qualify for prizes for weight of eggs teams had to pass the standard of 1250 eggs, and in this connection it is interesting to note that Mr. Smith headed the list of averages of all breeds of fowls.

AVlien the Eltham Thursday Halfholiday Committee commenced their campaign they immediately made provision for the (financial side of the business. A levy was made and fund? were collected. The polling took place on Wednesday. On Friday afternoon all accounts were paid, and a refund of 3s Gd in the £ made to all contributors—pretty slick work, it must be admitted. The same night the committee met Mr. C. A. Wilkinson’s house, the balance sheet was placed before them, and, at the conclusion of business a happy evening was spent in. songs, recitations, stories, and cardbplaying. Ai hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson for the hospitable entertainment afforded.—Eltham Argus. At Saturday’s conference of the Wellington District Returned Soldiers’ Association, held at Palmerston North, the Hawera delegate (Mr. Symes) referred to the difficulties many returned soldier settlers were experiencing as a result of the financial stringency. He pointed out that numerous firms who had dealings with these men were suffering in consequence of the disabilities of the men in financial matters, and were virtually supporting them. In fairness to the firms, who did not wish to retard the settler in his struggles to gain a footing, this position should be overcome as soon as possible. The Prime. Minister had promised to render assistance. and the Government should be urged to give effect to such promise. A resolution was carried as follows: "That the Cabinet be asked to indicate the manner in which it proposes to carry put the promises made by the Prime Minister at Hawera on April 12, to help returned men in financial especially those upon sheep country, who arc depending upon private firms to exist.”

A commercial man, whose operations extend along the coast, when asked what benefit was arising from the New Plymouth harbor development, spoke in terms of enthusiasm (says Saturday'af Wanganui Chronicle). He stated that, since the direct boats have been able to berth, not only has the status of the port been raided to that of a deep-water port, but the whole Taranaki district is benefiting, and will benefit more in the future. Direct importation is being fostered, and the fact of almost all Home liners visiting the Dominion being able to come into port, importers are gaining confidence, and larger imports may be looked for as time goes on. As to what extent the improvement at the port benefits towns lower down the line, it is difficult to compute, but there is no room for doubting that New Plymouth itself is growing each day. and a different tone is evident in the realm of commerce. 'fhe C.T. referred to considered that New Plymouth has a great future before it. With business interests this end, he has for years past been anxious for the Wanganui port being similarly developed, but he feels that until something is done to expedite matters, Wanganui port affairs will tend to languish rather than expand.