LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The borough of Hastings has doubled its population since 1906. During March last there were 65 men employed at the west end of the Strat-ford-Main Trunk railway and 60 at the east end.

No news of the Rarawft having crossed the Manukau bar yesterday was received in New Plymouth last night. The vessel left Onehunga at 3 p.m. with passengers and sixty tons of cargo, and the weather conditions there made it doubtful if she would cross the bar.

“I could tell you how you could easily raise money for the harbor, and possibly for the hydro-electric works too, and how you could get the money without interest, but if 1 did you would probably say it was Bolshevism, so I won’t.”— Mr. P. B. Fitzherbert at the Paritutu preservation meeting last night. The total exports from Taranaki during the 12 months ended March 31, 1921, totalled £4,564,055, of which £2,211,906 worth went through New Plymouth, £1,948,534 through Patea, and £403,615 through Waitara. For the previous 12 months the total was £4,714,208 and for the year ended March 31, 1919, the total was £3,025,863. The local Maoris are still very worried about the destruction of Paritutu. They believe Paritutu to be “tapu,” hence they predict everyone concerned in its demolition will be pursued by illluck for the remainder of’his days. That is the only consolation they can find in the present situation. A much-needed improvement is the installation of electric light at the New Plymouth Courthouse. Yesterday afternoon at 4.45 an attempt was made to light the gas, but this proved unsuccessful. As a last recourse the Court adjourned to the Grand Jury room, where there are electric lights, and there the remainder of the business was completed. At the annual meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board yesterday for the purpose of electing a chairman, Mr. Newton King was re-appointed to the position, on the motion of Messrs. C. E. Bellringer and J. McCluggage. Mr. Bellringer was re-elected treasurer. The chairman’s honorarium was fixed at the same as last year, namely £l5O. Congatulations were extended to Messrs. Bellringer and Connett (borough representatives) on their success at the recent election.

The rates, per cent of depreciation fixed by the Commissioner of Taxes for allowance in income tax assessments are subject to certain conditions which are specified in the Merantile Gazette. Plant and machinery up to 5 per cent, bicycles up to 10 per cent, carts and drays and wagons up to 7 3 / 2 per cent, electric signs up to 10 per cent, films up to 20 per cent, loose tools in foundries up to 10 per cent, furniture and fittings up to 5 per cent, sewing machines in factories up to 20 per cent, steamers and .launches up to 6 per cent, sailing vessels and lighters up to 5 per cent, premises, wood or iron, up to 3 per cent.

At a meeting of the general committee of the Taranaki A. and P. Society, held on Saturday, the question of instituting a series of lectures, on various subjects of interest to farmers, throughput the district, was discussed. The idea suggesed was that of .securing the services of competent men to give addresses at different centres throughout the district or matters of every-day importance and seasonable subjects in which the farming community are generally interested. It was eventually decided to refer the matter to a committee to go into to see if arrangements could be made for carrying out the proposal which met with the general approval of those present. On the occasion of the installation of the Mayor and councillors of the -New Plymouth Borough last night speakers referred to the excellent work accomplished by members of previous councils and the officers associated with it. As illustrating the progressive spirit which prevailed, in borough administration, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., informed the gathering that on the occasion of the introduction of the Municipal Corporations Act last year a sheaf of suggested amendments were forwarded by the New Plymouth Council, and, with one or two exceptions, practically the whole of these were accepted by the committee in charge of the Bill. At the Eltham' Magistrate’s Court vesterday morning George William Jones, a laborer, of Te Roti, was charged with the theft of a Stetson hat and eight silk handkerchiefs, of the total value of £6, from Messrs. Hallenstein Bros.’ Eltham store on Saturday noon last. Accused pleaded guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily. Constable Townsend stated that Jones went into Hallenstein Bros,’ and said he wished to purchase a cap. While the assistant’s back was turned he took a hat, and telling the assistant that he was not suited, left the shop. The hat was missed, and the firm communicated with him (witness) and he arrested Jones at Taumata Park,'where he was watching the football match. On searching accused he discovered eight silk handkerchiefs in his possession, which were also taken fijom Messrs. Hallenstein Bros. Accussed came from Wellington, and nothing was previously known against him. The only thing that might be said in mitigation of the offence was that accused wag most certainly drunk at the time. The Bench said, that seeing this was a first offence they would only mulct accused in a fine, in the hope that he would benefit by this warning. He would be fined £3, in default a fortnight’s imprisonment.— Arolia.

The body of Captain Stearne, captain of the ill-fated Turanga, wrecked on entering the Mokau heads last Monday morning, was found yesterday morning on the beach at Pioi, opposite Mr. A. H. Budge’s station, about nine miles north of the Mokau.

A Wanganui business man, speaking of paints and oils, mentioned that any painter, at the ruling rates for material, could, after allowing himself £5 per week wages for two weeks, paint a eixroomed house with two coats of paint for £25.

Freemasons are proceeding from all parts of the Dominion to Auckland for the annual communication of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, which is to open to-morrow (Wednesday), and will probably last two or three days. Generally there are about 1506 brethren present at these communications. A contemporary says: “Dr. Elizabeth Gunn visited the Turakina school last Friday for the purpose of examining the children’s mouths principally. Several of the youngsters were startled at having their loose teeth jerked out by the doctor, and on l the whole the doctor’s visits are not appreciated by the child-

The meeting of the newly-elected Borough Council last night was informed by the Mayor that on the estimates, as recently framed, it was hoped to reduce the overdraft by £2OOO by the end of the ensuing financial year. This, of course, was dependent on the assumption that nothing unforseen occurred, and that all went well in regard to the hydro-electric loan. The general rate, he said, showed an increase of one penny in the £, and the sanitary charge had been increased to a sufficient amount to pay the cost of the service. Previously it had been run at a loss.

At a social gathering last night on the occasion of the installation of the Mayor and councillors of the New Plymouth Borough, one speaker predicted that in twenty-five years New Plymouth would be the largest town in New Zealand. While not giving full endorsement to this opinion the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) was optimistic as to the future, and said he looked forward to the time when the town would be almost rate-free, owing to the progress of the borough hydro-electric power scheme.