LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The distribution of native rents is at present proceeding in Taranaki. A cable from London says Mr. Hellaby, an Auckland artist, ih painting a three-quarter length portrait of Mr. Massey for New Zealand.

The Pakeha arrived at Wellington yesterday from London with over 800 immigrants of both sexes, most of them coming to positions or friends (says a telegram from Wellington). At Opunakc on Friday Mr. T. S. Hickey, proprietor of the Times, was the victim of an unexpected assault when a resident of the district entered his office, and without provocation or any warning attacked him. Fortunately assistance was close at hand, and the aggressor was secured until the arrival of the police constable, who nad been telephoned for by others in the office when the assault was made. When Constable Clouston arrived he at once placed the man under arrest. The accused was brought into New Plymouth, and as the result of medical examination he was committed by the Magistrate to the Porirua Mental Hospital.

Alteration of rules in connection with the merging of the New Plymouth Citizens’ Band into a regimental band, were considered at a special meeting of the committee held on Saturday night. Rule 4, dealing with the name of the organisation. was altered from reading the “New Plymouth Citizens’ Band” to the “4th Battalion Wellington Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) Band.” which will be the new title. The portion of the constitution dealing with the number on the committee was amended to provide for twelve members Instead of ten as previously, the additional representatives being from the regiment. Mr. T. B. Pienaar, captain of the Springboks, was interviewed at the close of the Wellington match. “Your people are the best sports du the world,” he said. “Where else in the world could you meet people that would cheer every bit of good play by a visiting twin, even though it was winning against their own? Where else in the world could you get people that, their own team having lost, would not show the bitter ness one often me#ts in such cases, but actually carry‘the captain of the visitors’ winning team off the field. It has astonished me, I can tell you.”

The danger of allowing cattle to stray on the roads at nights was forcibly illustrated on two successive nights last week to a prominent coastal resident, who is also member of a local body. On the first night he was motoring from Hawera to Okato when his car ran into a cow which was standing in the middle of the road round a bend At Warea. The car was somewhat damaged, but the passengers' escaped injury. On (the following evening, while motor-cycling from Warea to Oakura with a passenger behind, a cow was encountered in the middle of the road on the Petone hill. Fortunately the cyclist was not “scorching,” and though not able to altogether avoid striking the cow, got off with very slight damage to the machine.

As indicating the interest that is being taken in the forthcoming third test match to be played at Wellington against the Springboks, no fewer than five applications were received at last night’s meeting of the New Zealand ' Union for special trains to run from i provincial centres to the city. The ap- ; plications were from Nqw Plymouth. Wanganui, Napier, Palmerston North, and Masterton, and they were an referred to Mr. >S. S. Dean, who to interview the General Manager of Railways on the subject. Already the New Zealand Rugby Union has received applications from country residents for more reserved seats in the grandstand at the Athletic Park on the day of the third test match than are actually available. Wanganui residents, for instance, asked for one hundred seats, and New Plymouth for a similar number. The final consignment of trout ova for the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society arrived on Thursday night and have been placed in the hatching tray. The eggs, which were obtained from the Government hatcheries at Hakataramea, Otago, arc a particularly clean and healthy sample and should develop ‘into strong fry. The society will have when hatching is completed, 100,000 rainbow trout fry and 200*000 browns The rainbow fry will be strong enough for distribution'shortly and will be liberated in the following streams:—Maketawa (Inglewood), 20,000; Okahu (Rahotu) 12,500, and Stony River (Okato) 37,000. V isitors are invited to inspect 'the hatcheries which are nt the head of the lily pond in Pukekura Park, and Mr. Bell, who is in charge of the operations, will be pleased to show anyone interested round any morning. “Intimately related to the question of freightage, in fact, a material part of it is that of dispatch in the handling of cargo inwards and outwards,” said Mr. G. W. Leadley in his presidential address to the New Zealand Farmers’ Union ■Conference yesterday. “As showing what is possible, may I cite the case of a ship visiting Hamburg whose captain reports that the German wharf laborers in one day unloaded a vessel and also put on board 3000 tifhs of cargo? He remarks on the cheerful willingness with which the German workmen turned to. If some of that spirit could be infused into the men who load and unload our ships, it would help veyy considerably towards the solution of our shipping problems. A suggestion has been made that the present system 'of payment o-f wharf labor by the hour or day should be replaced by the contract system, payment being made per ton. Tt seems to me that the suggestion is worth considering: if alt classes of cargo were scheduled and a tonnage rate fixed, I think there would be more expedition used in the work. The time of the, ships would be saved, and the men could, if they wished, earn higher wages# It may be objected that the men would not take on the contract system. Well, probably others might be found who would.”

On Wednesday at their new mart Webster Bros, are holding an important sale of new and guaranteed sound Wilton pile. Axeminster and other squares and runners. The carpets will be on view on Tuesday afternoon and evening, and all are being sold with a warranty.

Members of the Equitable Building Society of Now Plymouth (Second and Third Groups) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable today (Monday. August 1), 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. In this issue the N.Z. Meat'Packing and Bacon Co. (Co-op.), Ltd., notifies farmers and others that the company is a buyer of calf ekins, for cash on the farms. The Bacon Comprny is represented by Mr. G. H. Short in thia district.

Returning home after two years in hospital through wounds in the war, Police Constable Percy Mears, an ex-officer, found that his name appeared among the fallen on a war memorial in Nottingham County Hall. A “star” has now been added to his name, and the words engraved: “Has since returned.”

Figures given in British Parliamentary papers show the great increase in divorce in the last few years. In 1913 there were 312 decrees nisi made absolute on the petition of husbands and 234 by wives, with 41 marriages annulled. Last year 2351 divorces were granted to husbands and 690 to wives, and there were 49 decrees of nullity of marriage. Business is improving in the United States according to late reports received. First, from a consumers’ point of view, it was better because prices were rapidly reaching bottom. This applied particularly to food products, clothing, tyres, building materials, automobiles, and farm implements. On account of reduced prices buying had improved, and it was the opinion of an expert that the bottom of the business depression had been reached, and a rise to better things was taking place. Details of the Australian Census returns' cabled during the last few weeks show that the Commonwealth has gained population during the last decade at a slightly higher rate than New Zealand—22.ol per cent, as against 18.8 per cent. But Australia’s development has been rather more lop-sided than that of New Zealand. Out of a gain of population by the Commonwealth of 969,721 souls in ten years, Now South Wales took 449,659, or 4f1.3 per cent, of the increase. Still more lopsided has been the growth of New South Wales’ population, for 245*840 of the added population, or 54.6 per cent, of the whole, belongs to Sydney. While New South Wales gained 27.3 per cent, of population in ten years, Sydney gained 37.7 per cent. In 1911 Sydney contained 39.5 per cent, of the population of New South Wales. This year’s census shows the percentage to be 42.8.

A lovely range of blouses showing at, the Melbourne is creating interest among the ladies. The new models are all cut on new and approved lines. The materials comprise striped and plain silks, crepe de chinas, and georgettes, meny of which are prettily embroidered. Although exclusive,, prices are extremely moderate.

Dairy cows are now coming in fast, and prospects for the coming season are decidedly bright. Milking machines and separators are being overhauled, and as cleanlincßs is the first consideration of all, the wise farmer is laying in a stock of “fcinus” the champion milking machine cleanser, so that his machines, tubing, and cups may be kept in a hygienic, .condition 'throughout the sGa-

A special sale of. high-class pedigree and grade Jersey cattle is advertised in this issue by Newton King, Ltd. At Stony River sale on Tuesday next there will be a full yarding of store and dairy cattle, also sheep. See sale advt. and note time the sale commences.

One of the best property bargains offered for sale during recent years is advertised in thia issue by Fairburn and Falconer, the well-known land agents, of Wanganui. The properly is situated in a part of the richest laud in the Waikato, is all flat and plenghable, and will carry, all the year round. One dairy ow to two acres. Land of this quality at such a low price is rarely available, and will be purchased by the first man to inspect.

Mr. Frank Sole’s clearing sale of dairy cows will be held to-day, at Stony River yards, commencing at 1 o’clock.