LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A tar macadam mixer has been imported by the Wellington City Council at a cost of £2OOO.

London advises that mails for New Zealand were despatched on May 26 by the s.s. Paparoa, via Panama.

A Wellington builder told a reporter that the fixed tender to-day was 15 per cent, lower than it would have been on January 1 last. Because he was not re-elected at the annual meeting the chairman of a southern county council took umbrage and immediately resigned and left the meeting.

A mob of cattle lately broke through the hand rail of the upper Porangahau bridge, and, of a dozen that fell through, seven were killed. The Napier Telegraph says the only consolation for the owner is that it did not happen a year sooner, when prices were much different. At the monthly meeting of the Central School Committee the headmaster reported: The average daily attendance for the past four weeks has been 582.7. being 93.8 per cent of an average roll of 621.2. At the present time there is a fair amount of sickness prevalent.

A remit is to be forwarded to the annual meeting of the Taranaki School Committees’ ’Association by the Stratford School Committee asking that all inspectors’ reports dealing with the progress of the schools be handed to the Press for publication. In the course of his report to the Clifton County Council yesterday the engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) advised the council, as a means of protection, to force the heavy traffic clauses in the new by-laws. Foreign traffic, he added, was mainly responsible for offences in this I matteri

A land agent's license was granted to F. P. Corkill, in the Magistrate’s Court, New Plymouth, yesterday. A new and high record for rapid coaling or ships is reported by the superintendent of coaling plants at the Ohristobal coaling station, Panama Canal. The steamship Pakeha. wrs coaled on December 24, 1920, with 1,002 tons, in one hour and ten minutes. This is believed to be a world’s record.

Captain Seabrook made a successful flight from Auckland to Hamilton on Monday in a whippet monoplane, accomplishing the journey in one hour twenty minutes. He attained an altitude of 10,000 ft, and at Mercer passed above a heavy rain storm. He expressed great satisfaction with the behaviour of the machine.

The practice of some settlers on the Clifton County roads in using sledges with runners on for carting purposes was referred to at yesterday’s meeting of the council. The chairman stated that the runners absolutely “scooped” the metal off the road. Offenders should note that the offence is punishable by a £lO fine.

The third military bail under the auspices of “A” Company, Xlth Regiment (Taranaki Rifles), will be held in the Coronation Hall, New Plymouth, tonight. This has become a very popular function yearly and to-night’s ball should be no exception, as all .arrangements for the enjoyment of dancers have been attended to carefully. Music will be provided by an orchestra of eight instruments, and the New Plymouth Citizens’ Band will also assist.

A question was put to the Mayor at last night’s meeting of Moturoa residents inquiring if the Borough Council could not arrange in the tram system for an overlapping section between Whiteley Street and the stop at the junction with the South Road. It was contended that this would be much fairer to residents in the particular area. The Mayor replied that much would depend on the arrival of the new cars. These, he said, would enable a quicker system to be installed, and it was probable that the various sections would be revised.

The ranges which forjp the backbone of the North Island have always held a lure for those who have once felt the gold fever, and for years past they have been intermittently prospected (says the Dannevirke News). Even within the last dozen years the Ruahines at the back of Kiritaki have been visited time and again by old prospectors, who thought they would have one more search—not for gold only, but any other metal the mountains might have concealed in their fastnesses. And old settlers in that district could tell many talcs of the hardships those old fellow’s literally put up with in indulging their favorite hobby.

The New Plymouth Borough Council anticipates that the first tunnel in the electric light extension works' will be driven through in about two months’ time, according to a statement made by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), at a meeting at Moturoa last night. He said that this would add to the water in the Mangamahoe stream and increase the “head” considerably, thus relieving the overloading on the machines. The statement was made as the result of a request from the meeting that the council should consider a proposal to instal a street light at the junction of the South and Breakwater roads, where, it was urged, a light was a great necessity. Ttye Mayor pointed out that at present the power available for street lighting was very restricted.

The Canterbury Petroleum Prospecting Company, Limited, has succeeded in drilling through the sand pump, which was dropped in the well at Chertsey, states the Ashburton Guardian. The sand pump was dropped on March 23. 1920, and after unsuccessful attempts at its recovery, it was decided to out it up in the well. This work has been going on since June 10, 1920. The progress has been very slow’, sometimes only about an inch a day. The pump, which had a length of 16 feet, with a diameter of about three inches, has taken nearly twelve months to cut up, and has 'tried the patience of workmen and shareholders. The indications of ga« and oil are satisfactory, and work will be resumed with encouragement. The Government subsidy of £.lOOO has materially assisted.

A meeting convened for last night, with the object of deciding what steps should be taken in regard to the domain of twenty acres which has been set aside at Moturoa, met with a good response from residents in the district concerned. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) presided* and the meeting carried a resolution affirming the desirability of the development of the reserve as a park. The following committee to control the domain was nominated for appointment by the. Borough Council: Captain Waller, Messrs. W. J. Honeyfield, W. A. Moreton, G. E. Roper, T. A. Weston, W. H. Fitzpatrick, W. H. Jury, Atua Taukoi, and C. H. Mae Kinder. Considerable, interest was displayed by the meeting and it is anticipated that strong support will be forthcoming for developing the grounds as a recreation area. The new park practically adjoins Pioneer Street.

Children have wept over the story of the little girl and her pet lamb and the wicked butcher to whom it was sold to enable the . parents to pay the rent. Parents would not pay much rent out of pet lambs or any other lambs just now r in New Zealand, nor out of the pet oxen. There is a farmer, living close to Dunedin, who took? to the auction yards recently a pet steer—a bonnie beast of nineteen months that he had reared and fattened. It was a pet in the sense that he felt proud of it, and expected bidders to open tlieir eyes when they saw it coming. Bitter are his remarks as to what actually happened. The best bid was 355. The auctioneer inquired if lie would take it, and he replied in an indignant negative. “What w’ill you take?” he was asked. Looking at the circumstances—a slow drive home in the rain—he replied that he w’ould sell for £3 10s. The answer provoked derision, and he went away angry. Crossing to the a'bbattoirs, he inquired as to the killing fee, and it was stated at 5s 7d, so he left the steer there to be slaughtered, and as a result he had delivered 3001 b of very prime beef! This at 6d per lb was worth £B, an'd 6d he reckons a low price. The skin paid for the slaughtering.—Dunedin Star.

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 ones. The firm of J. K. Hawkins and Co., d.y 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 al. parte of the country. At the cost of r. few shillrigs soiled and faded garments can be made equal to new. Now is the time to economise—so have a look pver your

Nearly one hundred motor cars were counted parked outside the Wanganui Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon during the progress of the Rugby football games.

The Australian Tennis Association having decided to invite a team of French players to visit Australasia, the committee of the New Zealand Tennis Association is asking for details of the proposed tour.

“He was always very rude to me when I called to see about the rent,” was one of several reasons a woman gave Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court for taking legal action to have a tenant removed from a shop-dwelling owned by her. “That’s one of the privileges of a tenant,” remarked the Magistrate, wtih a smile, as he proceeded to inquire about less personal grounds for the action.

“This is a country of rivers and sea coasts, and every boy and every girl should bp taught to swim, hot only for his own sake .but for the sake of others who might be in danger,” said the headmaster of the ’ Beckenham School, when asking the Christchurch City Council for help in the erection of a swimming bath. “They should also be taught how to get out of the road of motor-cars find motor-cycles,” said the Mayor (Dr. Thacker).

The heaviest fish known to have been taken from the Hutt River was caught during the past season and turned the scale at Idjl'b, and was secured with a bully near Gear Island; 1 14£lb, 1 ISVglb, and 2121 b comfe next. An angler took from the upper reaches 12 fish, 6 over 31b—best Bib. Two fine fish, B%lb and 6Mb, were landed near Silverstream (minnow); 1 71b near bridge (fly). One regular fisherman took out over 300 fish between October and January; a good average size being maintained. Another regular secured 257 between November and February; 53 fish, weighing 741 b were taken in November from Wainui (fly). Some good baskets were obtained from the Waiwetu, a 141 b and a 9Mb fish being the best- (fly). At Mowhanga a Taihape sport took 4 rainbow weighing 401 b—best fish average 101 b. As this river has only carried rainbow for eight years this record will take beating. . A Rangitoto fly was used. The Manawatu came out of its shell, and provided some surprises —7 brown weighing 141 b (minnow) and 9 brown weighing 281 b (minnow). The Waipoua and Rumahanga Rivers were in good condition, and a veteran obtained several first-class takes (fly). The Makakahi fished better than during ■former seasons—a nice basket of 8; average 21b—best 3Mb—were taken in November (purple March Brown), The Ohan gave fine sport until the drought caused some miles of the river to dry out. The Otaki fished well, and this river will repay intense stocking. The Waikanae upheld its reputatfon as a champion fly stream. Quite a number of limits were obtained from it, and anglers derived much pleasure from this favorite water. . The Hautapu. Kawhatau, and Mangone provided solid fishing—the former especially. The Rangitikei was disappointing, and advices from the local branch state that fish were hard to find.

Everyone desirous of getting footwear, at real bargain prices should visit Dockrill’s reduction sale. The fiTm stocks only the best goods, and in spite of the probable rise in .manufacturers’ prices, are selling boots and ohoes at big reductions to make room for goods to ar-

Mr. H. G. Staub, the well-known Hawera nurseryman, advertises in this issue new season’s seeds, etc.

Messrs. Wesley and Thomas, blacksmiths, etc., of Awakino, are prepared to cany out any work entrusted to them. Best material and sound workmanship guaranteed. The Melbourne, Ltd., announce further reductions in the price of men’s hard.-wear “cotton tweed” trousers to 17s 6d per pair. These were recently sold at 2]s a pair. For honest, hard wear these trousers are hard to beat, and are guaranteed tb give long service. At the Haymarket to-morrow will be sold one ton’ of plain and barbed wire.