LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The exhibition of war trophies, which attracted great attention when displayed in the main centres, is to lie brought to New Plymouth. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) has been advised by the military authorities that the amended itinerary of the exhibition has been drawn up and it is proposed to send the war trophies to New Plymouth for exhibition from August 8 to 13, both dates inclusive.

A testimony to the value of Paritutu rock for harbor construction purposes was given by Mr. S. Gorman, of Nelson, in the course of conversation with a Daily News representative yesterday. “The rock has a good solidity and specific gravity, and I was simply amazed with the immense blocks there,” said Mr. Gorman, who has had a good deal of practical experience in such matters, including first-hand knowledge of practically all of the harbor' works in New Zealand. The Paritutu rock, in his opinion, compares most favorably with any other in New Zealand. Mr. Gorman, who is on a short visit to New Plymouth, was formerly representative for Nobel’s explosives in New Zealand for thirty years. While indicating that he had no desire to enter into any of the local controversy on the subject he stated, after an inspection made yesterday, that there is no doubt the rock is good and a valuable asset for the development of the harbor.

The Taranaki Acclimatisation Society's trout hatcheries' at Pukekura Park are now in full working order and ready for trout ova. The council of the society has received advice that its order of 200,000 brown trout eyed ova and 50,000 rainbow eyed ova will arrive in New Plymouth in about ten days’ time, when the ova will be transferred to the hatcheries. The brown trout ova will come from the Hakataramea hatcheries in Otago and were secured from lusty fish taken from the larger cold waters of that district, wlyile the rainbow ova will come from the Government hatcheries in Rotorua and from specially selected mature fish. A healthy lot of fry can therefore be looked forward to for distribution in Taranaki streams.

A request was recently sent ;o the Government by the Paritutu Protection League, asking that the Government geologist (Mr. Morgan) bo allowed to inspect the quality of the stone at Pantutu. The Minister of Mines agreed, and Mr. Morgan arrived in New Plymouth by the mail train last night Dr. Benson professor of geology at Otago University, who came to New Plymouth at the invitation of the league for the same purpose, has returned south and will forward his observations later.

The draw for the model bungalow which was on exhibition at the New Pl.'mouth Winter Show, has been made, Mr. Herbert Sampson being the winner. The Waitara date for the presentation the “Bran Pie” revue is Monday, June L, and not 20th hast., as was advertisL yesterday;*

It is understood that a number of scientists contemplate visiting the Kaitaia swamp for the purpose of investigating the ancient drains and relics which have been discovered as a result of draining.

A shipment of 50 horses, purchased in and around the Waikato by slr. D. Norton, of Calcutta, will be carried by the collier Dakanoa, which leaves for Newcastle on Monday. On arrival at Newcastle the horses will be transhipped to Calcutta. A number of polo ponies and several thoroughbreds are included in the consignment..

“What with the rabbit a well-estab-lished nuisance and the opposuin a growing one, New Zealand threatens to become one of the great fur-producing countries of the world,” said a Wellington resident who is interested in acclimatisation matters.

Mr. W. B. Leyland, of the Auckland Harbor Board, stated the other (day that recently at Auckland it took five weeks to discharge 400,000 ft of sawn timber from a Hftrque. Ten years ago a single Auckland firm took delivery of 420,000 ft from two vessels in two days, and maintained this rate for ten days.

“/School books are provided free of cost to children, but in actual practice it is found that a sufficient supply is not always given, and children have to supplement these by books purchased by themselves,” the Director of Education remarks in the course of his report upon his visit to New South Wales and Victoria. “History, geography, and other text books are standardised and printed by the Department. This principle is sound enough in itself, though some text books so compiled are not quite suited to the minds of young children. I understand that they are under revision.”

Referring to the stagnation that prevails in the pottery trade in the midlands of England, the Times Trade Supplement of March 19th points out that many manufacturers have had substantial orders countermanded. It adds that “cancellations and requests for delayed delivery apply particularly to Australia, New Zealand, South America, and India. Trade with the last-named country is almost at a standstill. Business with the United States and Canada is also less satisfactory, and not a few firms report that crates of wares are lying at overseas ports owing to the refusal of customers to accept deliv-

As showing the value of tree-grow-ing, a pinus insignia planted 38 years ago at Motueka was recently cut down and sawn into timber, which brought £l5 royalty at 5s per 100 feet; branches converted into firewood paid over £10; 401bs weight of seed sold at 5s per lb ( £10), and the dried cones sold at 2s per sack, the total received being £42 12s. An acre of ground would carry probably 25 such trees, giving a return of £1065. The tree in question was grown on comparatively poor stoney soil at Hau, Motueka. It gives an idea of the wealth to be derived from planting areas unsuitable for agricultural purposes.

An American farmer, writing to a Feildin’g stud breeder, states that nobody made money in the sheep business in America last year (states the Feilding Star). Practically every one lost money, and very- many wealthy men who were engaged in the sheep business two or three years ago are now bankrupt. It is impossible, writes the American, to raise sheep in that country in competition with wool grown from Australia or mutton lambs from New Zealand. A reasonable tariff would doubtless give enough protection to keep them in the game and allow the sheep men to buy stud rams and perhaps a few ewes from New Zealand.

What is the origin of the name “Sinn Fein”? A recent book, “The Evolution of Sinn Fein,” tells this story about it. Some people, it says, being convinced that “the freeman’s friend is Self-Reliance,” asked a well-known Irish scholar for a Gaelic phrase to express the idea. He told them a story of a country servant in Munster sent with a horse to a fair. The horse was sold and the servant, after some days came back happy, but much the worse for wear, and sprawled out on the kitchen floor. To the inquiries of some neighbors, who came in, as to just where lie had been and what had brought him to that state, he answered: “Sinn fein sinn fein.” (Family matters are. matters for the family.) Sinn Fein is commonly translated, however, “For ourselves alone.”

During a performance at the Napier Municipal Theatre, a man was noticed sitting on the outside ledge of the lower tier of windows at the town side of the Municipal Theatre. He was engaged in peering into one of the dressing-rooms, where a member of the company was changing her costume between scenes. On receiving the information, one of the stage hands went outside, pulled the intruder down, and hit him hard with one-two-three. The man took to his heels hurriedly and N raced down the road in the direction of Clive Square Later in the performance two more men were discovered at a similar occupation. What happened is not very clear, but two or three stage-hands went out after the men, and pulled them down. Then there was a stand-up fight between the bigger of the men and the stage-hands. How long it lasted is not clear, but eventually the men retreated round the back of the theatre, went round the other side, and down Tennyson Street.

One of the richest sources in these later days of treasure trove, in the shape of Maori relics, is the swamp in the process of being drained. Many a finely-wrought specimen of the handicraft and art that the old-time Maori loved to lavish on his implements of war and peace has been disinterred in late years from the embalming swamp, while quite recently one of the canoes which that fierce raider Hongi is supposed to have lost in his advance on Rotorua was restored to the light by the gradual subsidence of the Rangitalki swamp. Among the articles most irequently discovered in this wise is vne paoi, a wooden pestle, mainly used for pounding fern root, which formerly shared with the kum&ra in Maori diet much the same importance that flour docs with ourselves. Mr. J. W. Davies, of Kaitara, about twelve miles out of Whangarei, recently, came upon an ancient and well-used looking specimen while draining on his property. It we.s lying in the clay under a layer of nearly four feet of peat and earth, having evidently sunk through the semi-liquid swamp, being of heavy hard puri-ri, when its owner let it fall. This particular paoi is rather smaller than is usual, and though in a very fair state of preservation shows signs of having done good service in its day. The paoi was one of the few implements upon which the art of the carver is not exercised.

“I was greatly impressed with the value of the correspondence classes conducted through the agency of the Training College in Melbourne for the education of backblocks children,” states the Director of Education in reporting to the Minister upon his visit to Australia. “I was surprised to find to what extent it was possible, merely through correspondence, to carry on education of children who have never seen a teacher from the time they began to read to the time at which they complete the extended primary school course at the age or thirteen or fourteen. In many respects these pupils do better than the children in the schools. This is particularly noticeable in their English and especially in their composition. This is duo to the fact that the children throughout the whole oi* their school life have been in constant correspondence with a teacher whose own letters are models of good English.” A survey of the low saddle between Tahuna and Hoe-o-Tainui for the purpose of connecting the Piako and the Waikato rivers by means of a canal is being made. The Tahuna stream makes a natural depression into this low saddle toward the Mangawhara stream, which flows down the Hoe-o-Tainui Valley. The Maoris have a tradition that the Waikato river once flowed through this valley into the Piako, and that the low saddle and the surrounding hills came up in a night. There appears to have been a volcanic crater in what is now known as the Rangoona swamp. The sides are volcanic. The area of the rich dairying land in this valley is something like 10,000 acres. In the Hoe-o-Ttainui Valley there is an historic pa, where a battle took place between the natives. A native chief killed his half-brother. Four hundred others were killed in this engagement. The proposed canal appears to be practicable, and will be an immense asset to a district which suffers from lack of means of communication.

The head of a well-known Wanganui furnishing firm, when discussing the prices of furniture with a Herald reporter, stated that up to the present time his firm had not received advice of a single imported article utilised in the manufacture of furniture that had receded in price. On the other hand, advices showed a tendency to firm, that the public could not look forward to getting cheap furniture for some considerable time. Another important factor was the price of timber. The class of timber used in furniture according to recent invoices from the mills, showed little decline. Timber for furniture was of no use unless kept in stock for a long time to season, and as it is necessary to carry large stocks bought in a dear market, no reduction could be looked for in this direction for a considerable time. The business man added that with a decline in the price of oils one would naturally look for a corresponding drop in linos, but so far this advice had not come to hand, and the price was still firm. Unlike the carpentering trade, there was not a slump in furniture manufacture, and so Jar the firm were employing all its hands, and hoped to be able to continue to do so. Work on Baines’ Terrace, New Plymouth, will be resumed to-morrow afternoon.

The date of. Messrs. Newton King, Ltd.’s, clearing sale on account of Mr. J. Harvey, Inaha, has -been altered to June 22.

A splendid investment, ensuring warmth and comfort to the feet during the cold winter nights, would be a pair of Doekrill’s English slippers, of which they hold a large and varied stock at prices to suit all pockets. Mr. L. E. Hoffmann, of New Plymouth, well-known in the piano trade throughout Taranaki, has been appointed sole representative of the English and Foreign Piano Co., Auckland. Elsewhere will be found particulars of easier terms for the purchase of pianos. The opportune arrival of small shipments of white and grey blankets from Petone, Kaiapoi, Napier, and Onehunga woollen mills is announced by the Melbourne, Ltd. The present cold weather should create a keen demand for blankets, consequently buyers are requested to make early application. Prices are extremely moderate.

The demand for “Fairy Wonder” washing powder is astounding. The increased sales for this remarkable product indicate that practically every up-to-date housewife in Taranaki uses it. The same story is told of the other provinces. There must be a reason. If you are not a user, give it a trial. All grocers stock “Fairy.”