LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A discussion regarding the speed of motor vehicles on the county roads took place at the meeting of the Hawera County Council on Saturday. It was decided to erect notices at toll-gates restricting the speed at those places to 12 miles an hour and to instruct the toll-gate keepers to report any offenders.

The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce at a meeting of the council last week, decided to again take up with the Government the matter of the extension of the telephone line from Tahora to Tatu. The connection means direct communication with Taranaki’s hinterland. Weather conditions in New Plymouth during the week-end showed a marked, change. A day of sunshine on Saturday ended in drizzling rain in the evening, and this developed into a very heavy downpour. A strong gale sprang up and conditions were boisterous through the night. Yesterday was very bleak, with a cold atmosphere, and ihm Ma further rain during the

A further reduction has taken place in the prices of keiosene and petrol, both of which are now in improved supply in the Dominion.

The chairman pf the Christchurch Prices Tribunal declares that profiteering, as it is commonly understood, does not exist in Christchurch.

A Dodge Aioor-car is reported to have been exchanged in the Wairarapa recently for 5000 sheep. A man who was arrested in Christchurch this week on a charge of drunkenness had in his (possession notes and loose cash to the amount of £154.

Writes a correspondent:—“l happened to notice a chalk address on one of the tarpaulin truck covers of a train in Inglewood the other morning, which took my fancy. It was ‘Ytara.’ On another part of the cover was written ‘Waitara,’ but it struck me as neat and concise at least.”

An aerial mail service between Auckland and Whangarei is to be inaugurated to-day. The mails will consist of letters only, and the postage will be Cd per letter up to 4oz, with a minimum extra charge of 6d per letter when the express-delivery system is utilised.

The passenger from Sydney by the Riverina, Mr. E. J. Newton, of Dunedin, who refused to take the oath or affirmation under the Immigration Restriction Act of 1920, returned to Sydney by the Riverina from Auckland. Mr. Newton, who was detained on board the vessel since last Monday, is travelling back to Australia at his own expense.

Hares are becoming a source of great annoyance to fruitgrowers in the Manawatu district. At the annual meeting of the Fruitgrowers’ Association, one member reported that the had recently planted a young orchard, and over two hundred of his trees had been completely destroyed by hares ring-barking them. The Association has decided to urge the Agricultural Department to make hares a pest, and to class them with rabbits.

Complaints in regard to wandering stock were made at the meeting of the Hawera County Council on Saturday. Cr. Washer said that something should be done in connection with wandering stock. He had been informed that in one locality parents were afraid to send their children to school because of a bull wandering on the road. During the discussion it was mentioned that the council would be g’ad to receive the names of owners of wandering stock so that they could be prosecuted.

A man named Charlie Christensen was arrested by Constable Phillips in New Plymouth on Saturday on a warrant from Wellington, the charge against accused being that on February 27 he obtained from Wm. Glover, tram conductor, Wellington, the sum of £7, by, it is alleged, falsely representing he was to receive £BO the next day from Borthwick and Sons, to whom (he said) he had sold a section of land. Accused will appear before the court this morning and will be remanded to Wellington.

The index number for the three food groups as at March 15 (Dominion weighted average) is, according to the Government Statistician, 1810, a decrease of 63 points as compared with the preceding month’s figure (1873), and an increase of 69.16 per cent as compared with that for July, 1014. The decrease of 13 points in the groceries group as compared with February is mainly accounted for by a further fall in the price of tinned fruits, while eream of tartar also manifests a universal reduction in price. The fall of 171 points in the meat group is due to a still further reduction in the price of all cuts, the quotations showing a general decline of approximately Id per pound.

At a special meeting of the Pahiatua County Council, it was decided, on the recommendation of th§ finance committee, to reduce the rates from 2id to l%d —a reduction of y 2 d in the £l. This action, which was recommended by the finance committee, after a long and careful consideration of the estimates and finanial position, will mean a reduction in revenue of £2860. A drastic cut has, as a result of this decision, been made in the works in the county, and only the most important are to be proceeded with. The question of wages was deferred for further consideration.

Much interest is being shown by the, people ’of Lawrence and surrounding district in the proposed celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Gabriels Gully, at which a number of the pioneers now resident in different parts of the Dp ; minion have signified their intention of being present. It is proposed that the proceedings will extend from Thursday, 19th, till the afternoon of Saturday 21st inst. The programme is as follows:—Friday morning: Visiting pioneers to be conducted to the various parts of the diggings where they worked in the good old days. In the afternoon a social gathering will be held under the auspices of the ladies of the town and district, and in the evening a dinner will be given in honor of the visiting pioneers to be followed by a smoke social in the Town Hall. During their sojourn in Lawrence the visiting pioneers will be the guests of the citizens.

From time to time articles have appeared dealing with the wonderful cures made through the agency of the Maori healer Ratana. Many of these articles have been copied by the leading English, American and Australian journals, with the result that each incoming mail brings large numbers of enquiries from all sorts and conditions of people. In many cases the writers state their intention of breaking up their homes and coming out to the Dominion with a view to receiving treatment. In view of Ratana’s statement that faith only is required, and that a personal visit is unnecessary, the Wanganui Chronicle is advising these people to stay where they are, pending a communication from Ratana himself. The diseases and afflictions mentioned in the various letters range froiji blindness, paralysis, tuberculosis, ingrowing toe-nails. All the letters make pitiful reading, but a marked feature of most of them is the -belief in the power of Ratana to heal through Divine inspiration. One letter reads, inter alial am truly desirous of being cured, but not by any other means than through Christ. Can you inform me if Ratana is a real Christian, is truly a Christian, and that through his belief in the words of our Saviour in the 14th chapter and 12th verse of St. John he works these miracles. If 60, I believe, he can cure me, but if it is in gods of wood and stone it is not possible to believe, and I will have nothing to do with Ratana.” Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Second and Third Groups) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable today, Monday, May 9, at the Secretary's Office, Currie Street, from 9 a.m. to -12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 n,m- and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.—Advt.

A' Southbridge motor-cyclist, while riding to Christchurch a few days ago, had a rather terrifying experience. When between Doyleston and Irwell he discovered his clothes to be on fire. Promptly dismounting, he left the bicycle on the road and. made for the nearest water-race, but he did not reach it until his motor clothes were almost burnt off him. His undercoat was burnt to the waist, and the trousers had one leg burnt off. A passer-by fortunately had a spare pair of trousers, which the motor-cyclist donned, and returned to Sputhbridge, much chastened in spirit and with a severely burnt hand. A pipe lie had placed in the pocket of his overalls had dropped some burning tobacco into his clothes. He is not likely to soon forget the lesson.

Lecturing on the early days at Masterton last Monday evening, Mr. James McGregor, a pioneer colonist, who tramped across the Rimutakas from Wellington to Masterton, recalled the first Maori Land Court held in that town. The claimants were an old chief Ngaturi and another very powerful chief, although at that time a young man of about. 25 years—Mahupuku, of Papawai, “I had heard that the latter was one of the greatest native orators in New Zealand, so I made it my business to hear him, and I can assure you that I was not disappointed,” said Mr. McGregor. Ngaturi, a picturesque figure and probably the last connecting link between the primitive Maori and civilisation in this district, stated his case in true native fashion. His fathers before him had hunted on the land,-and he thought he had. every right to it. After a long recital of his parental tree, the old fellow resumed his seat, leaving his hearers unmoved by his appeal. Then out stepped Mahupuku, who east aside his coat, threw away his pipe, and immediately commenced a weird hop, step, and jumping performance, interspersed with unearthly shrieks. With a leap he left his audience and bounded across to an adjoining paddock, where he continued his antics, to the astonishment of the young white man. Back he bounded, repeating his performance until almost exhausted. His appeal carried the day, and Mahupuku was declared the owner of the land.” Mr. McGregor si d it reminded him of Disraeli’s words, that “there was very little difference among men except in energy.” This Mahupuku was well endowed with.