LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The steamer Royal Star arrived at Lyttelton from Liverpool on Monday, the vessel’s holds being absolutely empty of cargo.

Reporting to a general meeting of members last night the executive of the New Plymouth Ratepayers’ Association stated that attention had been drawn to the necessity of beautifying some of the waste spots in the town. They regretted that the Borough Council had not undertaken any improvements ip this direction “owing largely no doubt to more pressing demands on their time and funds.”

“The much-needed public convenience is still waiting erection,” stated the report of the executive of the New Plymouth Ratepayers’ Association, which was read at last night’s general meeting. “The association is surprised at the unnecessary delay to which the council have put the public, in not providing a public convenience in the centre of the town.”

At last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Ratepayers’ Association Mr. T. C. List, in congratulating the executive on the useful work done during the past year, particularly in regard to the municipal elections, expressed regret that so few of the business men of the town were on the council. It was a reflection on them that they had to get a number of retired men, many quite new to the town, as representatives. These gentlemen showed a laudable spirit in coming forward, but he did not think it indicated a very active interest on the part of the men who had a stake in the town, who, he thought, ought to take their proper share of the municipal burden.

CLINCHER CYCLE TYRES, made in Britain, give greater value for the money, more comfort in riding, greater freedom from punctures, better and linger service. All cycle dealers. 128.

The Bell Block Dairy Company has accepted the tender of Mr. C. E. Roebuck for the erection of a new and modern factory. The total outlay will be in the vicinity of £‘Booo to £9ooo**

Several wholesale firms are operating in hay in the Wairarapa just now and are offering £7 per ton (says an exchange). The general shortage of grass is bound to create a demand for hay and straw, though not so pouch as some people may think. Farhiers will hardly feed high-priced hay to store stock, unless the price of the latter hardens considerably. The Inglewood County Council has definitely decided to institute proceedings with a view to having the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s award in connection with the adjustment of accounts between the Taranaki and IngleWood Counties set aside. At yesterday’s meeting of the council the committee set up at last meeting reported that after having interviewed the county solicitors they had given instructions to the solicitors to proceed in the matter. The council confirmed the committee’s action.

Applications made at the New Ply- . mouth Labor Bureau, indicate that the number of unemployed during April was an increasing quantity. For the month\ thirty-four new enquiries were received from men seeking work, compared with seventeen in March, in addition to five renewed applications made in the previous month. Nine employers sent in inquiries for labor. Of those seeking work about twenty-five were laborers, seven being farm hands. One builder and two carpenters also registered at the bureau.

The Freezing Workers’ Federation is joining up with the Alliance of Labor, which already includes the miners, waterside workers, seamen, railwaymen, drivers and tramwaymen (writes our Wellington correspondent). The alliance has considered the miners’ dispute lately, but has not made any move. The strength of this organisation is bound to be tested sooner or later by industrial strife. The alliance looks formidable on paper, but its component organisations are not all equally red and stress might discover some weak points. In these days when there appears to be a prevailing impression that the bottom is out of the land sales business, it is interesting to know that dairy farms are still being inquired for in this district (says the Eltham Argus). One of our local agents sold two dairy farms, one in Mangatoki district, and one in Stratford district, the aggregate price being £31,000. These were not forced sales, nor sales at reduced values; in fact they were sold at an an advance respectively of £8 and £lO an acre upon the price they were sold at last season.

Mr. Albert Spencer, president of the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association, who has been visiting Wellington, remarked in conversation with a Times reporter that his observations made in various parts of New Zealand convince him that things industrial and financial were rapidly coming right. Throughout the country, he said, sane Labor was taking a stronger hand in its own affairs with excellent results to both Labor and industry. .The financial outlook was brighter and there was not the slightest cause for alarm. Employers had every reason to keep smiling. The monthly meeting of the Pukekura Park Board was held last night. Present: Messrs. C. E. Bellringer (chairman), W. F. Short, R. C. Hughes, W. C. C. Weston, H. Ford and P. E. Stainton (secretary) In regard to work at the park the chairman reported that the staff had cleaned up the site where a number of trees had been cut down and had carried out some work in preparation for the planting season. In connection with the last-mentioned item he suggested that the board allocate up to £25 to be spent in purchasing some of the rarer species of native trees to be planted out this season. This was agreed to.

In remarking that the valuation of the Borough of New Plymouth was already under way, the chairman of the New Plymouth Ratepayers’ Association (Mr. C. Carter) stated, at last night’s meeting, that some people had realised decided increases were taking place and that these advances were abnormally high. It was the function of the association to watch any revaluation that took place, and he thought that instead of lodging objections singly to the proper authorities, and asking for a reduction, they would have a much better chance of success’ if they stood together in placing before the department matters in regard to valuations which it was thought were unfair or unjust. An amusing case was mentioned at the Hawera Hospital Board meeting on Monday. The Board had an old man in the institution who no longer needed medical treatment, and was a fit subject for treatment in an old men’s home. After considerable trouble the Board managed to arrange for the admittance of the man to a home in Napier, but on being informed of this the man positively declined to go. It was suggested by one member that the hospital fare must be superior to that of an old men’s home. Another hospital case was mentioned which it was thought might be sent to the home instead, and it was left with the secretary and medical superintendent to try and persuade this man to go.—Star.

At Mr. Tait’s invitation members of the Patea Harbor Board went for a launch trip about ten miles up the Patea river on Monday. Mr. Tait’s object was to point out to members how the river was shoaling, and to suggest to them that snagging would be advantageous td their harbor works. His contention was that if the snags were removed and groynes erected at certain points to train the current to the best advantage they would considerably increase the capacity of their tidal compartment. Spring tides backed up for 17 miles, with a rise and fall of six feet at ten miles, and if the utmost use were made of their holding space this must necessarily have an appreciable effect on their head works. The board will probably consider Mr. Tait’s suggestions at next meeting.—Star.

Former residents .of Otago or Southland will find an interesting announcement in our advertising columns to-day, in reference to a “Re-union” to be held on Friday next.

Economy is the keynote with “Fairy Wonder” washing powder. This compound, bulk for bulk, does more work than any other washing powder on the market, and, moreover, does it without the aid or use of extra soap. Less fuel and less work required where “Fairy’ is used.

Housewives are having a feast of bargains at the Melbourne’s sensational sale. Towels, damask, household calicoes, sheetings and linen forfars are being eagerly snapped up at the great.lv reduced prices.

The Western Australian Government is (abandoning State meat works, which have been conducted at an increasing loss.

It is provided by regulation that actual time spent by a child in receiving dental attendance, provided written authority is produced from a dental officer or private dental practitioner, shall be counted as school attendance. The population of the town district of Tinwald, as shown in the census returns just completed, is set down at 669 males 309, females 360. These figures show a serious decline on the figures of the 1916 census, when the population was shown at 1075.

The wages question was discussed at a meeting of farmers at Wanganui on Wednesday. After some discussion it was resolved that “before any permanent hands are discharged the men should be taken into the employers’ confidence and retained at a reduced wage.” A West Coast business man, not in the poultry line, purchased 15 ducks last week, and upon receiving them at his home found them all drakes. His temperature went up to 108!

A Palmerston North architect told a Times reporter last week that the cost of erecting buildings of all descriptions was coming down. This was largely due To the fact that there was no longer a labor shortage. The decline in the cost of construction since Christmas had been fully 10 per cent.

They take their defeat philosophically at Dannevirke. The-man who was at the bottom of the list wrote as follows to the local paper: “Seeing that Labor politics are not wanted in this community, I wish to state that it is not my intention to stand for the North School Committee, as I honestly feel that I am only standing in the light of better men, for their future welfare. The game of politics, in a general sense, is so distasteful that a self-respecting individual who candidly expresses his convictions compromises himself by being mixed in it. and in future, for the common weal, I shall close up like the proverbial oyster.”

“The loyalty of the Maoris and of the Ngatimaru is well known throughout New Zealand; indeed, throughout the Empire,” said Lord Jellicoe, in replying to a Maori welcome at the Thames. “It has been my privilege since I came to New Zealand to see a good deal of the Maoris. I have met them at some of their feasts, and have had some difficulty in disposing of some of the food they have hospitably heaped before me. I have met them at cricket, and have found good sportsmen. But I have not and do not intend to meet them at football, because they are of a build that people of my age are not prepared to tackle at football.”

J’he work of improving Baines Terraci wall be resumed on Thursday .Afternoon at 1.30. Those interested in making thi town attractive would find this a plea sant way of assisting.

A fish, supper and dining-rolm business is advertised by Messrs. W. H. and A. McGarry on page 1. Newton King,. Ltd.’s advertisement of Mr. F. J. Browning’s clearing sale appears on page 8 of this issue, and dairy farmers should not miss this opportunity of replenishing their herds with first-class stock- The herd compr-ses a number of pedigree Shorthorns descended from the famous Darbarslla. strain, the in-calf pedigree Shorthorn heifers showing a lot of quality,* and are all in calf to the purebred Shorthorn bull

“Rockwood Prince of Pukeriniu,” bred by the Hon. John Fisher, of Cambridge. The balance of the cows are Jersey and Jersey cross. The Jersey 2-year in-calf heifers are also a choice selection, mostly fawms, and are the pick of some of the best Taranaki herds. Intending purchasers please note that the sale starts at 11 a.m.. luncheon being provided.