LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The revenue from the electric ’bus in New Plymouth during June was £llO 16s Bd. The passengers carried totalled 10,691 and the miles run 2224. Compared with June, 1920, the increase in fares is £9 3s 6d, and the additional passengers carried 1705. Details of the traffic are: Westown, 0076; Frankley Road, 524; Vogeltown, 4091; total, 10,691.

Discussing rates overdue at the Waitotara County Council meeting, Councillor Farley sand a number of the back-country settlers were stuck for funds and could not pay, and it would not be advisable to be too hard on them until they had time to get some ready cash. The chairman asked how, if they could not pay this season, they would be able to do so next season, seeing that the prices of products was sc low.

“It is staggering to see the number of Hindus who are coming into this country,” remarked Mr. A. G. Foddy, when speaking for a deputation to the Palmerston North Borough Council. Mr. Foddy especially mentioned the large numbers to be seen on the streets of Auckland and in the small towns on the Main Trunk. A gyeat many were finding their way to the timber mills, one mill near Ohakune being full of them.

A meeting of the New Plymouth Jersey Breeders’ Club was held yesterday, when it was. decided to hold the next fbull sale on October 5. Various arrangements in connection with the sale were discussed. The meeting decided to congratulate the sub-committee who controlled the Jersey booth at the recent Winter Show, on the success of their work. A letter of thanks will also be sent to Mr. F. E. Wilson for his help in connection with this matter.

“That the Government, having recognised the principle of exempting show grounds from land and income tax', be again strongly urged to make mandatory those clauses in the Rating Act which give power to local bodies to exempt agricultural showgrounds from local bodies’ taxation.” The above is one of the remits (appearing under the name of the Manawatu A. and P. Association) in the list of resolutions for consideration at the annual conference of the New Zealand Council of Agriculture to be held next wek. At yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Society it was oxfided to support the remit.

During the month of June 43 applications for supply were received by the New Plymouth electricity department. Reporting to the Borough Council on the month’s operations, the engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) states: A number of these were received after the instructions to close down on further supply and consequently cannot be connected. Some of the applications received prior to this instruction have been dealt with, making 51 connections and 14 additions for the month. „

“1 believe that the Press more than any other factor was the means of welding the Empire together in 1914,” said Mr. Will Appleton during an address in the Chamber of Commerce Hall, Christdhurdh. “We got the facts and the whole Empire responded. If it had not been for the power of the Press and for advertising, which made newspapers possible, we would never have got the facts. People throughout the world should be told more of foreign relations; then there would be less trouble and less friction. Probably a lot of wars would be averted if people knew the facts.”

An inspection of Pukekura Park was made by members of the board on Thursday afternoon, when various improvements were considered. It was, decided to erect a bush-house in the vicinity of the nursery, with a view to establishing a fernery, and Mr. C. E. Bellringer and Mr. V. Griffiths were appointed a sub-committee to deal with this. It was also agreed to form a rhododendron dell, the idea of the board being to feature certain things in the park. Inquiries will be made as to the cost of an additional boat for the lake. A number of paths which have become very slippery will be gravelled.

“During the month the Fire Board offered to undertake the cleaning of the fire plugs throughout the borough for the sum of £.lOO per annum,’’ states the monthly report of the New Plymouth general manager. “The offer was in response to a request made by the council last year, and I am sorry that the council could not see its way to enter into negotiations with the board in regard to this matter. If the annual payment could have been reduced to say £5O per annum the arrangement would have been very much in the council’s interest and would have effectually prevented any possibility of friction arising between the two bodies in the future in regard to this matter. I would therefore urge that some further consideration be given to this question.”

The death occurred at Jerilderie (N.S.W.) Hospital of Thomas Hogg, 51, who was found in Hamilton’s Lane, near Finley, in a serious condition. It appears that Hogg was returning to a farm on which he worked when he fell and broke a leg above the ankle. He lay on the road air night, and was picked up early on the following morning by James Robinette, of Berrigan. Indications on the road showed that for some 50 yards Hogg had endeavored to walk, and his foot became almost severed from hie leg. The unfortunate man suffered acutely as a result of exposure to frost.

Yes, it is hard to miss seeing to 7 day’s match, but we consider it our duty to remain open and supply good hot meals to-night after the arrival of the special train.—Stratford Marble Bar, Ltd., Premier Caterers.—Advt.

Tli Waimate West (Manaia) County Council decided on Thursday to reduce the- wages of casuals, surfacemen, teamsters and foremen by Is per day. The Masterton Dairy Company paid out the sum of £26,861 to suppliers during the late season, as against .£13,326 for the previous year. “If every church member in this diocese gave one penny per week for foreign missions we would raise £12,000 a year towards the project,” remarked a speaker at a meeting of the Wellington Diocesan Synod. The Greymouth Star states that shipping companies are still having difficulty in placing West Coast cargoes of coal or timber. At present full cargoes cannot be got for one port, and vessels have to go to several ports to unload. “Many townspeople think the farmers steal their money and get plenty of it at that. If they had to pay £l5O an acre for land, and £5O to £6O for a good cow, and then sell their butter-fat at Is 6d a lb, they would soon change their minds.” This opinion is credited to a Kauwhata farmer. The Wanganui Choniele, in commenting on the necessity of raising tramway fares in the borough, says that on the basis of the last four montlis’ running the loss will total £BOOO or £lO,OOO on the yeari’s working. The cost-of-living figures for March issued in Australia show a remarkable fall. Compared with the highest point reached last year, Melbourne shows a decline equivalent to over 25 per cent., and Sydney a decline equivalent to 19 per cent.

’Bus-driving apparently looks good to many people as a means of earning a livelihood (says the Manawatu Times). When applications closed with the Palmerston North borough engineer for eight drivers for the borough ’buses, no fewer than 125 men had applied.

A married couple at Auckland was separated last week for a thirteenth time. The wife said the husband drank and would not support his children, and the husband said the wife was continually going to the pictures, patronised the racecourse, and would not wash a shirt for him.

Stock slaughtered for local consumption at the New Plymouth abattoirs during June was a s follows:—Cattle 236; calves 27; sheep 1004; lambs 15; pigs 121; and 9 sucking pigs. Compared with last June they show an increase of 5 cattle, 239 sheep, and a decrease of 7 calves, 8 lambs, 18 pigs, and one pig was condemned. In his report to the Borough Council the abattoirs manager (Mr, T. J. Reakes) states that the number of sheep slaughtered constitutes a record for the abattoirs.

“Gn October Ist, next year £134,000 has to be riiised to meet loans falling due,” states the monthly report of the borough general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer). “As the council has to take a poll upon the proposed £lO,OOO waterworks loan I would recommend that the poll in regard to the conversion loan be taken on the same date. This be considered premature, but it would be wise to have all preliminaries completed well ahead in order that delays may not take place later at an inopportune time.” Two oversea vessels will arrive at New Plymouth this week end. The liner Kia Ora will arrive from Wellington at eight o’clock this morning and will load frozen meat, etc., for England, remaining in port several days. Last night the manager of the Union Company (.Mr, Morrison) received wireless message from the large collier Waitomo (from Newcastle with coal) reporting that she will arrive here at eight o’clock to-morrow morning. The Kia Ora will occupy the overseas berth this morning, but whether the Waitomo will await the Kia Ora’s departure or go to another port has not yet been decided..

The electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley), in reporting to the New Plymouth Borough Council on last month’s work, states: A heavy flood occurred in the Waiwakaiho river on June 3 and 4, completely blocking the intake with shingle and debris, and also carrying away the greater portion of the temporary dam, ai)d it caused a good deal of damage to the protecting wall. The rise in the river was approximately 9 feet. Work is proceeding as the river level will permit to dredge the shingle and rebuild the temporary dam and protecting wall. The South Africans who were entertained by Mr. Halcombe at Urenui yesterday afternoon were much impressed with the horsemanship of some of the huntsmen a .nd huntswomen. Speaking of one of the lady riders, a visitor, himself a capable rider with considerable experience as a mounted man with Genral Smuts’ army, said he had seen nothing like her exhibition anywhere in Africa, England or France. She seemed to form part of the horse, so perfect was her seat and poise, and took thei obstacles, barbwire and all, as to the manner borne. It was a great day for the visitors, despite the rain, and an experience which they will long remember.

In the Lancet, C. Oowdroy writes on “The Danger of Athletics for Girls and Women.” He says:—“Unwillingly, I have been convinced by the logic of experience. Strenuous games, I believe, are bad for women and worse for the girls, and the sooner it is realised that the differences between the sexes are profound and vital, and that these differences are accentuated and not lessened by evolution, the better for humanity. Let it be recognised that the present cult is a retrogression, and the young girl' have placed before her the ideal of true womanhood of all the qualities that make for motherhood; so that whether she has her own family or finds happiness in some other sphere, she may realise it is her gift of ‘mothering’ that makes her of value in the world.”

A good story relating to Mr. James Edward Fitzgerald, first edito of the Press, and afterwards Provincial Superintendent, was told by Mr. O. T. J. Alpers in the Canterbury College lHall, Christchurch, a story which Mr. Alpers guaranteed had not seen print before. Mr. Fitzgerald was contesting an election at Lyttelton in the early days, when the candidates spoke from the hustings. There was present at the meeting a butcher who enjoyed a local notoriety, inasmuch as ha was the proprietor of the first sausage machine to be imported into the new settlement. This butcher heckled Mr. Fitzgerald badly, and in the course of one noisy interruption said he wished he had the candidate in his sausage machine; he would

soon make mince-meat of him. Mr. Fitzgerald replied scripturally. “Is thy servant a dog,” he said, “that thou should do this thing?” The 16,000 feet of Oregon timber which the Waiotapu brought t 7) New Plymouth last week from Vancouver is highly spoken of by local firms who received consignments, and who describe it as 6r>t*class timber.