LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There are about 40 members of the Taranaki L Squadron of the Legion of Frontiersmen at present in camp on the racecourse at New Plymouth. The camp commandant is Lieut. A. L. Hunter. Saturday was spent in physical drill and rifle shooting. Staff-Captain J. A. Miller arrived by the mail train on Saturday evening to take part in the camp. A short service was conducted yesterday evening by Archdeacon Evans. Well known hymns were sung, and an address given on the tradition of “service for all,” the splendid motto of the Legion, which has its members in all parts of the British Empire.

The question of the upkeep of graves is dealt with by the New Plymouth general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) in his monthly report. He states that some years ago it was the practise to accept a lump sum for the cleaning of a grave in perpetuity, and the report recommends that this system be revived, the money received to be placed in the Savings Bank or Post Office, and the interest only being used for the cost of the grave cleaning, leaving the principal intact. The general manager remarks further: “The lump sum to be paid would require to be fixed at such an amount that the interest would be sufficient to meet the actual amount necessary for the annual upkeep. Many people having relatives buried in the cemetery, and who find it necessary to leave the district would, I feel sure, be glad to have the opportunity of ensuring that the graves of such relatives shall receive every care and attention for all time. At present under such circumstances the graves soon have a neglected appearance and eventually become an eyesore.” Theft of money from the office of his employer resulted in the appearance of a boy of 15 years in the New Plymouth Court on Saturday before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M. The* boy, who was employed in a legal office, disappeared one morning, and it was later found that a sum of money was also missing. He was found at Palmerston North and he telegraphed bis mother stating he had arrived there. He, however, immediately returned to New Plymouth, and one evening, finding the door leading to his late employers’ premises open, entered and secreted himself in the building, and awaited the departure of whoever was working in the' office at the time. This was not until about 2 o’clock in the morning. He then took the key of the strong room and helped himself to further sums of money and decamped again to Palmerston by the mail train. The total theft amounted to over £3O. However, 'he left a clue behind in the form of a purse with his name on it, and he was intercepted by the police on his arrival at Palmerston, and returned to New Plymouth on Friday evening. The police report was to the effect that the boy was uncontrollable, and the Magistrate, after reprimanding him, ordered his committal to a receiving home at Wanganui.

A preliminary advertisement of a clearing sale of furniture at Mountain Road, Lepperton, on behalf of the inis l tees in the estate of the late Mrs. A. E. Harrold, appears in our auction columns.

The demand for “Fairy” washing powder is astounding. The increasing 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.”

“The building trade still remains busy,” states Inspector Day in his monthly report to the New Plymouth Borough Council. During May, it is stated, permits to the value of £9500 were issued. Referring to the direction of motor traffic the New Plymouth borough inspector, in his monthly report to the Council, remarks that he has gone into the question of signs for use at corners, and in a few days will be able to submit a sample of a cheap, effective, and permanent mark. The electric bus service in New Plymouth earned a revenue of £llO 13s 5d during May, this showing an increase of £l7 15s lid as compared with the same month in 1920. The number of passengers carried was 10,726, the figures in respect to the different routes being: Westown >6084, Vogel town 4026, and Frank ley Road 616. ■Stock slaughtered at the New Plymouth .abattoirs for local consumption during May was: Cattle 200, calves 60, sheep 857, lambs 17, pigs 152 and 8 sucking pigs. Compared with last May, they show an increase of 138 sheep, 15 pigs and 6 sucking pigs, 17 calves, and a decrease of 11 cattle, and 44 lambs. Fees amounted to £lBO 13s 2d, an increase of £l9 9s 2d. The tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley) in his monthly report to the Council records an increase of £464 15s 8d in the revenue for May as compared with the corresponding month of last year, and states that the traffic generally shows a marked improvement. The total of fares earned last month was £1647 Ils lOd, of which £92 2s 6d was from the Morley Street route. Referring to the general working of the trams, the report states: —The alteration in the half-day closing has affected the traffic conditions slightly, and as far as I can see at present these conditions will be best met by running the Saturday time-table on the Friday, and vice versa. It will be necessary in the near future to re-draft and add to the present time-table and the above alterations During May 55 applications were received by the New Plymouth electricity department for supply, 48 connections were made to the mains, and there were 19 additions to existing installations. A number of applications for heating were refused, on account of the applicants Wing unable to agree to the necessary restrictions over certain hours. In 'his monthly report to the council the engineer states: The loading on the plant has' eased slightly during the month on account of the easing off in many directions by certain of our big consumers. Generally speaking, the whole of the plant is operating satisfactorily. The Waiwakaiho river has been in flood on several occasions during the month but no damage has been done to the headworks, etc.

The progress of tlfe hydro-electric extension work is dealt with by the resident engineer (Mr. R. L. Pearless) in his usual report to the New Plymouth Borough Council. He states that at tunnel A the distance driven during the past month was 217 feet, shaking the total to date 4 chains 58 feet,. No damage inside the tunnel had been done by the recent flood except a. small amount of flaking on a-portion of the untinlbered section. The tram-line has been laid to a distance of 78 chains. The number of employees at present engaged was 31. In connection with contract No. 1, No. 1 tunnel had been extended for a distance of 95.6 feet during the month, making the total distance to date 1536 feet. This left a distance of 264 feet to complete driving. At the present rate of driving it was improbable that the contract would be completed under another four months.

Reference is made by the borough general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) in his monthly report to a conference held recently between the Council and a very representative gathering of business men upon the question of the hydro-electric extensions and incidentally upon the Council’s financial position. The report concludes: “There is no question but that this is a move in the right direction and I feel sure that those present will readily admit that the conference gave them" an insight into the difficulties of the Council and of those charged with the administration of municipal business which they could have obtained in no other way. Such conferences are invaluable and it would be well if arrangements could be made for future conferences to be held at regular intervals, say half-yearly, the Chamber of Commerce, Ratepayers’ Associations, and other leading institutions being asked to appoint delegates.”

A charming suburban property is advertised in this issue, on our front page by Messrs. Fairbrother and Pickering, that the owner will exchange for Taranaki dairy or grazing country. The property is situated quite close to the city of’ Wellington and, we understand, is a most desirable one.

Members of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce are reminded of the annual meeting to be held this evening at 8 p.m. at the Soldiers’ Club.

So extraordinary has been the demand for seats for “Bran Pie,” that the management have decided to extend their season another night, and will play their positively last performance in the Empire to-night. Hundreds of people had to be refused admission on Friday evening and on Saturday double that number were turned away. Messrs. Collier and Co. state that the booking of seats for Saturday’s performance constituted a record for the Empire Theatre.

Mr. F. W. Court, well known throughout Taranaki, has been appointed agent for the Fresh Food Co. for this district,, and is prepared to arrange for the purchase of cream in any quantity for the coming season.

Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Second and Third Groups) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable today (Monday, June 20), at the Secretary’s Office, Currie Street, from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.—Advt. A final reminder is given of the sale of grade Jersey heifers at Stony River yards to-day. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., draw attention to their Stratford sale on Tuesday, June 21, at 12.30 p.m. Full particulars appear on page 8.