LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Taranaki County ranger (Mr. B. Tippins), replying to a question from Mr. C. A. Orr Walker, S.M., at yesterday’s sitting of the Court at New Plymouth stated that there was a fallingoff in. the number of offences in regard to wandering stock. ‘‘My duties have been much lighter since your term on the Bench, Sir,” added the ranger. During the course of a few remarks at the ■Central School concert last night, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., chairman of the committee, suggested to the assembled pupils that a holiday might prove acceptable. On being put to the pupils there was no doubt whatever that, a holiday would be welcomed, and so a holiday was granted for to-day. The infant school, however, will not share in the holiday, as that school is having its annual examination to-day.

In more than one instance parents who appeared before the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the absence of their children from the technical continuation classes, made the plea that they thought their boys had always been regular attendees as they went out at night, presumably to the classes. His Worship (Mr. C. R. Orr Walker) said he could understand a mother or father accepting the statements of the boys that they had been to school, but the parents should go further, and make occasional inquiries from the school to see that matters were right. It appeared in cases under review that the boys had been out at night but evidently were not at the classes.

A meeting held at the Soldiers’ Club, New Plymouth, last night for the purpose of forming a Scottish Society was attended by about sixty enthusiasts. Brigadier-General Meldrum was voted to the chair and in addressing the meeting remarked that a town of the size of New Plymouth should be able to support a live society. It was unanimously decided to form a New Plymouth Caledonian Society, and the following committee was appointed to gather information from kindred societies in New Zealand and submit recomnrendations later: Messrs. J. Austin (secretary pro tern), R. Mcßae, R. W. I). Robertson, L. Monteath, C. McLeod, J. G. K. Kinnehr, P. McKinnon, A. Atkinson, W. Atkinson, and Brigadier-General Meldrum. The executive meets again on Thursday, the 29th inst.

The rainbow trout eyed ova recently received by the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society have hatched out Well, and the Council of the Acclimatisation Society has decided to liberate the fry as follows: Maketawa (Inglewood) stream, 20,000; Okaihu (Rahotu), 12,500; Stony River, 37,000. The liberation will be undertaken in abopt three weeks’ time. A portion of the 200,000* brown trout eyed ova arrived last evening and is being placed in the hatching trays to-day. Mr. W. Bell, who has gratuitously given so much time and good advice, in establishing the trout hatcheries at Pukekura Park, is in charge of the hatching operations, and will be pleased to show visitors to the pafk through the establishment during any morning. At the reception to the South African Rugby Union footballers in Sydney the captain* of the team, Pienaar, asked permission to speak a few words in Dutch to several South Africans resident in Sydney who were present at the function. At a later stage, Sir Henry Braddon, the chairman, said the incident recalled a story of the famous Maori footballer Jack Taiaroa. Back in the eighties Taiaroa was with the New Zealand team at Newcastle, the Mayor of the city insisted upon Taiaroa making a speech in Maori. The footballer did not like the idea, but at last acceded. With the exception of two present none knew what Taiaroa was saying. The two men had difficulty in suppressing their laughter. Later it was discovered that Taiaroa’s speech was the Lord’s Prayer in Maori. Sir Henry hoped that Mr. Pienaar had not sprung something similar on them. Two young boys who were concerned in setting a shed on fire at the back of premises in Devon Street on Monday last, were-brought before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Juvenile Court. New Plymouth, yesterday morning. Their ages were 7 years 4 months and 6 years 2 months respectively, and they were charged with being children not under proper control, while the elder boy was also charged with arson. Dei tective-Sergeant Cooney, who prosecuted, [ said the home conditions were very poor, and the boys were not cared for. On being questioned they had admitted offences. There is a family of ten children and two of the boys are already in an industrial school. His Worship said it was a disgraceful state of affairs,' and, commenting on the parental indifference, said people of such a class were foisting their responsibilities on the State. In this instance he did not think it of any use to convict the elder boy of arson. The young offenders were committed to the Wanganui Receiving Home.

An 'amazing instance of native witchi doctor’s magic was related by Dr. Fel- | kin at his lecture in Havelock North, I says the Tribune. When travelling in j Uganda many years ago he met a na- ■ live doctor who claimed to be able to produce' animals from nothing. He in- ; vited the lecturer to see for himself. Dr. Felkin was taken iito a glade in the forest, yhere he was told to sit quiet and not move. The native doctor seated himself on the, ground near, and commenced to sway his body about and chant, until he frothed at the mouth. In /the meantime a row of small fires had\beeu lighted across the glade, and at the end a. small hut was built, about six feet high. When all was ready the lecturer was asked to name an animal. He asked for a lion, and immediately a lion sprang out of the hut with a roar, and after looking round disappeared in the forest. In succession, a python, a crocodile, and- ; several other animals appeared as called -for. As horses were practically unknown, the lecturer asked for a horse, and a beautiful horse appeared. The doctor could give no satisfactory explanation how it was done; whether it was by hypnotic suggestion In our issue of yesterday the name of Nurse A. M. Rea. who passed the junior examination in anatomy and physiology, was wrongly given as Nurse Ren.

A preliminary announcement of Mr. A. Sorrenson’s clearing sale appears in this paper. His herd is a large one, and is of very good quality right throughout*

The arrival of the Rarawa at New Plymouth from Onehunga is uncertain. After having been bar-bound earlier in the week the Rarawa left Onehunga at 3.30 p.m. yesterday, but a telegram advised that it was doubtful if she would cross the bar, and no advice on this was received last night. The Rarawa has 220 tons of cargo and plungers for New Plymouth. At a meeting of the Hawera Peace Memorial Committee it was suggested that the memorial should take the form of a cenotaph. The proppsal was discussed at length and rejected in favour of an arch, decided upon previously. The Minister for Justice is to be asked to remove the police station and residence as early as possible, owing to the impossibility of erecting the peace memorial while these buildings remain.

At an enquiry' at Manaia on Wednesday, the jury found that the late William Hair rlied from injuries received on May 4 by being knocked down by a motor driven by Allan Robertson. They were of opinion that no blame was attachable to the driver. A rider was added that owing to the evidence submitted the jury considered that the Manaia Domain Board’s attention should be drawn to the effects of lights in the Octagon on motor traffic. While a party was en route to Stratford from New Plymouth on Wednesday night per motor car, a lady was met on the road at Egmont Village (says the Post). The car pulled up and the lady was asked if she was going far. She replied: “No, only to Inglewood.” The lady was asked to get into the car, which she did, and on the journey she said she had missed the train from New Pylmouth, and then endeavored to catch the ’bus, which had also left, and was “padding the hoof” from New Plymouth to Inglewood. Egmont Village is dbout four miles from Inglewood. The Stratford representative of the Wanganui Fresh Food Company (Mr. F. W. Court) has received a wire from his priniipals stating that they are prepared to pay out at least. 2s per lb butterfat until further notice. Although no actual prices are yet definitely fixed, this certainly augurs well for the prospects of the coming season.