LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Snow fell last week in several parts of northern Hawke’s Bay.

A movement has been initiated to establish a Savage Club in New Plymouth.

The New Zealand Paper Mills, Ltd., made a profit last year of £16,400 on a paid-up capital of £94,775. It is expected that work on the Otira tunnel will be completed by September next.

A number of business firms in Napier have reduced hands during the last few days. Three hundred telephone connections have been cut off in Auckland, owing to unpaid accounts. The New Zealand railways carried 15,315,614 passengers last year, compared with 12,760,814 in the previous year.

“How is business?” brusquely asked one commercial traveller of another in a Wairarapa railway carriage. “Hush!” was the reply. “You should speak reverently of the dead.” That he was too lazy to work on Monday was the explanation of a Chinaman when charged at the Napier Magistrate’s Court with working in his garden on a Sunday. Intimation has been received by the New Plymouth Borough Council of the gazetting as a reserve of a property of twenty acres at Moturoa, to be known as the Ngamotu Domain. The council decided, as last night’s meeting, to defer consideration as to the control of the reserve till next Monday night.

The Eltham branch of the Farmers’ Union have elected the following officers for the ensuing year: President, Mr. W. ■E. Carter; vice-president, Mr. J. W. Swindlehurst; secretary, Mr. A. W. Holder; executive, Messrs. F. R. Trolove, J. Cocker, H. B. Best, G. Tarrant, F. Silver, H. Wood, and H. Gibson; delegate to provincial conference, Messrs. T. W. Owen and H. Gibson.

At last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council the Mayor referred to the manner 'in which the bylaws were being set at nought in King Street, by the use of both sides of the thoroughfare as a car stand. He said there was one side available for parking cars, but at present motors were being placed indiscriminately on both sides, and as this had a tendency to block traffic in the street the position would have to be enquired into. Commenting on a suggestion to try the dumb policeman system to control street traffic, Cr. T. N. Blackhall stated, at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, that he thought Inspector Day’s proposal in his monthly report was along the right lines, and it should be given effect to. In reply the Mayor (Mr. F E. Wilson) said the council had discussed the position in January last. On that occasion it was pointed out that anything to be effective would have to be lighted up at night, and power was not available. Immediately additional current could be obtained the whole matter would be dealt with.

The question of toll-gates appears to be disturbing Wanganui local bodies as well as those of other districts. Last week the Wanganui County Council received a letter from Rangitikei County Council, stating that Mr. Newman, M.P., had been informed by the Minister of Public Works that the question was being investigated by a committee of inquiry. Councillor Hine said that the matter had hung fire too long, and they should take similar action to Waitotara County Council and go ahead. After some discussion it was decided to advertise the scale of proposed charges, and to have the toll-gate as close to the Wangaehu boundary as possible.

Apropos of a Press message containing a telegram from Mr. G. Witty, M.P., ■Christchurch, with reference to butter, the National Dairy Association writes as under: “Mr. Witty quite overlooks the fact that the price of butter in Britain, which he refers to, is a summer price, with the cost of production at its lowest point, whereas the price in New Zealand is a ‘winter price’, with the cost of production at its highest. On a free market the price in Britain at this period of the year is invariably lower than the price in New Zealand.”

The hour to be adopted as the closing time when Saturday becomes the halfholiday in New Plymouth was discussed by a meeting of the Grocers’ Union last night. The question arose as the outcome of a proposal from the master grocers asking if the assistants could agree to 12.30 p.m. (instead of 12 noon as observed now on Thursdays by the terms of the trade award), The ’employers stated that if the proposal for 12.30 closing could be agreed to there was a likelihood of all businesses coming Into line; but, failing this, other shops would remain open till one o’clock. At last night’s meeting the result of a ballot taken of all members of the union was received, and it was unanimously in favor of keeping to the award time - namely, twelve o’clock closing.

The working of the electric ’bus service in New Plymouth for the financial year ended March 31 last is reviewed by the tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley) in a report to the New Plymouth Borough Council. The report states, inter alia: During the year the vehicle has travelled 20,104 miles, carried 199,58'S passengers, and earned in fares £1193 16s 2d. The units consumed arp 23,720, or 1.18 per mile. The* passengers carried per mile are 4.95, or an increase of 16,589. In considering these figures it must be remembered that the vehicle was taken off the road for body painting and overhaul for six weeks; consequently the figures given are for six weeks short of the full year’s working. From an engineering point of view these results would be considered as satisfactory. Commenting on the position generally it would appear that the revenue of the service has increased 24 per cent, approximately, and the expenditure 54 per cent, approximately. It must also be remembered that the council during the year has reduce. 4 , the fares.

An important -notice to unattached reserve and retired officers is advertised Iby the Defence Department in this issue.

. There were 100 bales of wool destroyed in a fire at Huiroa on Saturday night* 1000 bales as reported yesterday.

The New Plymouth borough inspect jt was instructed last evening to prosecute ’ persons depositing hedge cuttings and ' noxious weeds upon borough streets. The Defence Department proposes to make a display at the Coronation Hall, New Plymouth, of war trophies and articles * manufactured in vocational workshops, etc.

Additional automatic fire alarms in New Plymouth are to be installed at the Whiteley Street corner (Breakwater Road), Mill Road, and the corner of Belt and Tukapa Roads.

The chairman of the Taranaki Education Board received advice last night that a grant had been made by the Education Department for the purchase of two acres as an additional site at the Hillsborough School. On Sunday morning an improvised telephony service between Wellington, Blenheim and Nelson was opened. Felicitations between the Mayors of Blenheim, Nelson and Wellington were passed as well as by representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Progress Leagues on both sides of the water. At the annual meeting of the executive of the Wairarapa Provincial District of the Farmers’ Union, a farmer wrote stating that at the mid-April London wool sales he had sold 127 bales of wool at 5Jd per lb. As the freight on bales amounts to approximately 4d per lb, this farmer will receive about per ]b for his clip.

A prosecution which is probably unique in the world is to be brought in Timaru at an early date (reports the Timaru Herald), the ranger of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society having stated his intention to bring a charge against the local Aero Company for disturbing and pursuing game on a sanctuary—namely the Washdyke Lagoon. ‘

The ladies’ committee of the Taranaki Agricultural Society is to be heartily congratulated upon the really wonderful results of its work at the recent stock show. The catering, for instance, resulted in a net profit of £lBB 8s 9d, compared with £133 6s Id last year, while the fruit and soft drink, stall made a profit of £4l 4d 6d, compared with £29 5s 6d in the previous year. As a result of the recent Chrysanthemum fair and dance the ladies realised a further £B2 9s after meeting all expenses.

The beautiful Aurora Australis was visible in the southern sky from 6 to 8 on Sunday evening in many parts of New Zealand. The richness and distinctness was beyond anything usually seen. It was much nearer the polar regions than is generally the case. Telegraph operations were much affected on Saturday and Sunday. A cable from New Y’ork says violent earth currents due to the Aurora Borealis have crippled the telegraphic service throughout the country. A resident of Samoa, writing to a friend in Christchurch, states that Dr. O’Connor, who has been sent to do research work in Samoa by the London School of Tropical Medicine, has found that a very large proportion of the natives he had examined are suffering from hookworm. The correspondent adds: “It reduces their vitality and leaves them no power of resistance to other diseases. This, no doubt, accounts for the terribly high death rate in the influenza epidemic in 1918.”

Some remarks on the responsibilities of motorists were made by Mr. C. R. Orr Walker (the Coroner) in returning the verdict at the inquest yesterday on Saturday’s motor fatality on the Junction Road. He said all drivers should remember the possibility of an accident through, not their excessive speed, but the carelessness of someone else, and therefore must take care to drive slowly on all dangerous parts of the roads. There were many such spots, and in the case under review there was a hill with a bend at the bottom of the incline, and it behoved every motorist to slow down ir. such cases, with a view to providing against the want of care on the part of other people. In the Supreme Count at New .Plymouth yesterday a petition by Frank Death, storeman, of Eltham. for a dissolution of his marriage with Annie L. Death, was heard by His Honor Mr. Justice Reed. Mr. Weir appeared for petitioner, whose claim was based on the grounds of desertion, his wife having left him in 1916. Thre was no appearance of respondent, and after formal evidence had been taken His Honor granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months. Petitioner was granted the custody of> the child of the marriage in the interim. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth High Schools Board of Governors was held last night. Present: Messrs. L. C. Sladden (chairman), H. Trimble, J. S. Fox, A. E. Washer, S. G. Smith, M.P., F. W. Atkinson and L. A. Nolan. Leave of absence was granted to Dr. Fookes. Mr. Nolan’s action in purchasing a piano for the boys’ school was confirmed. The chairman and Mr. Nolan were authorised to spend up to £5O for the improvement of the paths at the boys’ school. Mr. Washer was authorised to secure the necessary cement and shingle for concreting the floor of the shed at the farm property. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. F. E. Wilson for granting the use of three acres of land free of rent. The Taranaki Jockey Club was also accorded a hearty vote of thanks for its donation of £5O towards improving the school grounds. Those interested in the good work of the Dr. Barnardo’s Homes for Destitute Children are reminded of the sale of work to be held in the Athenaeum Hall. Eltham, to-morrow (Wednesday) after-

“Fairy Wonder” washing powder is the greatest household help of the century. Nothing like it has ever been on the market, and to compare other washing compounds with “Fairy” is like comparing an old-fashioned blunderbus with a modern machine gun. “Fairy” does the work while you sleep. All grocers stock it.

Purchasers of drapery and clothing are notified that the Melbourne’s sensational price reduction sale will end on Saturday next. For the last week greater bargains than ever will be offered, and customers will be well advised to take full advantage of the offerings.

Owing to the high cost of new suits, costumes, dresses, etc., thousands of people are now having their garments renovated, thereby saving the cost of new dnes. The firm of J. K. Hawkins and Co., dry cleaners and steam dyers, have one of the most up-to-date plants in New Zealand for doing this class of work, and they receive goo s to renovate from ah parts of the country. At the cost of a few shillings soiled and faded garments can be made equal to new. Now is the time to economise—so have a look over your wardrobe. —Advt.

For Bronchial Coughs, take Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 4