LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The New Plymouth Borough Council have let tenders for the erection of four workmen’s cottages, a report to this effect being received from Cr. Kibby at night’s meeting. Two of the houses are to cost £825 each, and the other two were let by tender at £750. All will be erected on the council’s land in Beach Street.

While riding a motor cycle towards Hawera on Friday evening, Mr. F. Lyons, Hawera representative for Wilson’s Motor Supplies, Ltd., met with a somewhat serious accident. When approaching Hawera lie collided with a motor car, sustaining somewhat severe abrasions and bruises, and a bad shaking.— Argus. 'An accident occurred at about 9 o’clock on Sunday night in Glover Road between two motor cycles, one ridden by J. W. Alexander and the other by Vincent Marcinovic. Alexander sustained an injury to his knee and was removed to the hospital, suffering from shock.— Star.

Advice has been received by the New Plymouth Borough Council that the body equipment for the three new tramcars which are to be put into running will be despatched from Wellington by the Kamo, which is due to arrive at New Plymouth on Friday. It will be some time, however, before the cars will be ready for duty.

A petition signed by 42 ratepayers was presented to the Hawera County Council on Saturday requesting that repairs be effected to a hill near the Tawhiti bacon factory at Hawera. Ratepayers who supported the petition at the meeting estimated the work to cost from £3OOO to £4OOO, and pointed out that it was a particularly dangerous spot. After discussion the council referred the matter to the overseer for a report and an estimate of the cost of the proposed work. A deputation from the Fitzroy Ratepayers’ Association waited on the New Plymouth Borough Council last night to urge that the corner of the Mangorei Road (at the junction with Devon Street) be widened, as its present state constituted a danger to traffic. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) replied that though the council had bought a piece of land at the corner for widening purposes they were not yet in a position to do the work, as the engineer wanted to use the spoil from the bank on work which was to be commenced later in another part of the borough. After discussion, it was decided, on the motion of Cr. Parkin, that thirty yards of earth be removed from the hank (qn the Fitzroy side of the corner).

A meeting of members, of school committees in South Taranaki was held at Hawera on Saturday. Mr. S, G. Smith, M.P., president of the Dominion Association, gave a brief but interesting address on the work of the association, and demonstrated the need for all school committees being banded together. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., also addressed_ the meeting. It was resolved: “That "ibis meeting affirms the necessity of establishing a branch of the School Committees’ Association in South Taranaki, and that the Hawera School Committee be asked to convene another meeting of school committees to consider and deal with the establishment of a branch.”— Star.

“That Mr. be informed that the council cannot accept any liability for the damage to his coat, caused by a projecting nail on a fence in Devon Street Central.” These were the terms of a resolution carried at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council in reply to a letter from a resident who wrote stating that, while passing along Devon Street he had torn his coat on a nail projecting from a fence. He understood that the fence had been erected by the council and said he would be glad to know if this was correct, as he was seeking compensation. It was stated that the council authorised the erection of the fence about two years ago, but apparently the liability for thb nail will remain to be decided.

A lecture on “Possibilities” was deliv. ered by Mr. J. A. Valentine, chief inspector of schools in Taranaki, at the weekly meeting of the Whiteley Club in New Plymoutli last night. The Rev. W. J. Elliott occupied the chair. In the course of his address, Mr. Vdlentine said there were only two classes of people — the working thinkers and the amusement seekers. He emphasised the necessity for everyone to have a hobby, and suggested the acquiring of a good vocabulary. The average person used no more than 1000 words, although there were no less than 250,000 words in tile language. The speaker also impressed upon his hearers the value of reading and the necessity of remembering what one read. During the evening songs were contributed by Misses Thompson and Cooper.

Reporting to the New Plymouth Borough Council last night on an interview with the secretary to the Treasury, the general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) stated that last month’s deputation on hydro-electric finance also conferred with Col- Campbell in regard to a £lO,OOO loan for waterworks extensions. The report stated: “Col. Campbell intimated that his limit has been reduced from £lO,OOO to £5OOO, and that he could not agree to any commitment which would exceed £5OOO. He was, however, prepared to let the council have that amount. I then drew his attention to the fact that the council had only drawn £5OOO of the £lO,OOO housing loan and asked him how he would view a proposal to. transfer the remaining £5OOO to waterworks, making £lO,OOO altogether for that purpose. After further discussion he eventually agreed to do this, subject, of course, to. the necessary poll being taken.” The question of providing a tram shel. ter at Strandon was revived at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, when a deputation was received from the Fitzroy Ratepayers’ Association asking that the building of the shed be expedited. In speaking on the subject, Mr. P. Stainton said the residents of Fitzroy were put to a good deal of discomfort in boisterous weather, and the association now offered to do the work of erecting the shelter if the council would provide the materials. It would be done under the direction of the engineer. After the retirement of the deputation the council discussed the request, and the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) pointed out that there was no money available for the work pending the raising of a further portion of the tramways loan. In reply, Cr. E. Dingle suggested that the difficulty would bo overcome by the taking up of a debenture for £lOO (to cover cost of materials), and he guaranteed that this would be done if the council approved of the shed being erected. In view of this suggestion the 'mattei was deferred till next —eek-

Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following cases at the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court sitting yesterday: Fitzherbert and Fitzherbert v. Toro Ngatau, £llO, costs £7; N.Z. Iron Ore Co., Ltd., v. C. H. Lillecrap, £3 Os 7d, costs £1 3s Gd; Burgess, Fraser and Co., Ltd., v. H. A. Nuttall, £39 Ils 4d, costs £4 6s 6d. On a judgment summons R. Booth was ordered to pay Dalgety and Co., Ltd., £lO 6s 2d by the 18th instant, in default 7 days’ imprisonment. Hokinga Te Wheu waa ordered to pay Fitzherbert and Fitzherbert £B7 16s 9d by the 25th instant, in default 30 days’ imprisonment, and at the suit of the same creditor Te Rawhiti Rourangi was ordered to pay £23 9s by the 25th instant, in default 10 days’ imprisonment.

A large number of books to suit all tastes have' just been received at the New Plymouth Public Library, and should serve amply to beguile the tedium of winter evenings for subscribers. A few of the books may be enumerated here: “Diary of Opal Whiteley”; “Outline of History” (H. G. Wells); “The Labor Movement” (L. T. Hobhouse); “The Decline of Aristocracy” (Arthur Ponsonby); “The Lighter Side of Schoo] Life” (lan Hay); “The Governance of England” (Sydney Low); “More Letters of Charles Darwin”, “The Letters of Henry James”, “Indo-China and its Primitive People” (Captain H. Baudesson), <f Set Down in Malice” (Gerald Cumberland), “A Pilgrim in Palestine” (John Finley), “Collected Prose” (J. E. Flecker), ’’lmaginary Interviews” and “Literature and Life” (W. D. Howells), “All and Sundry” (E. T. Raymond), “A Last Diary of the Great War” (Samuel Pepys, junr.), and some works of reference. The newest fiction to hand comprises: “The Devil’s Paw” (E. P. Oppenheim), “The House of Rest” (B. M. Croker), “The Great Way” (Horace Fish), “The Spirit of the Time” (Robert Hichens), “Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo” (Wm. Le Queux), “Jill on a Ranch” (Gertrude Page), “The Judgment of Charis” (Mrs. B. Reynolds), “BatWing” (Sax Rohmer), “The Luck of the Mounted” (Ralph S. Kjpndall), “Rich Relatives” (Compton Mackenzie), and “Blacksheep! Blacksheep!” (Meredith Nicholson). In addition a large number of copies of old favorite authors’ works have been placed on the shelves, and the children’s library has also received comprehensive attention.

Miss Rosemary Rees, who is appearing at the Empire Theatre to-night in one of her own plays, “The Amateur Ad. venturess,” is one of the few New Zealand playwrights who have attained success in the theatrical world. Miss Rees at present has eight of her plays showing in England and America, and “The Amateur Adventuress’’ is another to be added to her list of successes. New Zealanders should be proud of this gifted countrywoman and give her a hearty reception.

Farmers, put house in order. The season will soon be commencing, so see that your milking machines and aeparatora are in a perfect state of cleanliness. See about securing an ample supply of “Sinus” cleanser at once, and so obviate the risk of taking contaminated milk to the factory.

To celebrate football week, Doekrill’s have decided to make special reductions in the prices of footwear. As there is a great probability of a rise shortly in boots and shoes, it will be wise to buy now before the coming advance takes place.