LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

London advises that the mail from New Zealand dispatched per s.s. Corinthie, arrived in London on July 28 via Panama.

A donation of £lO 10s from the Taranaki Jockey Club towards the park funds was received at last night’s meeting of the Pukekura Park Board. A letter of thanks is to ba forwarded to the club.

The nuisance of straying dogs in Pukekura Park was mentioned at the meeting of the board last night by the chairman (Mr. C. E. Bellringer). It was decided to enforce the by-laws relating to dogs being taken into the park, and to prosecute offenders in this direction.

In these days of high prices for fuel the Pukekura Park Board are offering an opportunity of obtaining firewood free of cost. It was stated at the meeting of the board last night that there were a number of pine trees in the park that might be taken free of cost by anyone prepared to remove them under supervision.

Mr. C. G. Bottrill, M.A., of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, gave a very interesting and educational lecture on “Cromwejl and his times” at the Whiteley Club on Monday evening. There was a good attendance of members, the Rev. W. J. Elliott presiding. A song by Miss Thompson brought a pleasant meeting to a close. A whrlwind struck a portion of Dannevirke during a gale on Saturday night, passing over the upper end of Cadman and adjacent Toads. A verandah in that vicinity suddenly took wings, also the roofs of two or three sheds. These were lifted bodily and deposited some distance away, while several huge trees were uprooted. The noise was stated to be most alarming. The Melbourne, Limited’s, stock of boys’ raincoats has been further augmented iby the arrival of a shipment of boys’ and youths’ trench coats as worn by College and High School boys. The new coats are thoroughly proofed, and are guaranteed as to fastness of dye and wearing quality. Sizes 10 to 16 ,y«&ra. Prices 59/Q to 69/6.

A mammoth parsnip, thirty-five inch?# in length, has been grown by Mr. W. Nye, of Foxton. A resident of Waiorongomai claims to have discovered a successful means of combating fire blight. A young man who has been “wanted” by the police for nine years, was arrested at Napier on Thursday.

Rats have become so numerous in Napier that the borough inspector has urged a vigorous campaign against the rodents.

The aerial mail service between Auckland and Whangarei was terminated on Saturday last. The service had been maintained for nearly three months. Few people are travelling by train in the South Island at present, says the Ashburton Guardian, and the scarcity of passengers is reflected in the reduced size of the express trains. The express from Invercargill now consists of only about eight carriages, just sufficient fur requirements. Work on the Te Roti end of the Opunake railway is- reported to be progressing slowly. Some filling in requires to be done at the big bridge at Te Roti, and the laying of the rails is then expected to be proceeded with. Work on the overhead bridge on the Skeet Road is well in hand, and this bridge, whe/i finished, will do away with the level crossing, and also improve the bad dip in the road. At a meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening several speakers declared that the town was heading for bankruptcy. Mr. James Watt said the ratepayers should form a committee of five of the best men to make a full and exhaustive inquiry into the financial position of the borough, and then to report to the chamber or a meeting of ratepayers. It was urgent that something; should be done, otherwise it would be a good town to live out of in a few years. Mr. A. Harris said it was time that the ratepayers woke up. He declared emphatically that if the borough was a private concern it would be bankrupt to-morrow. He had come to the conclusion that it would take £300,000 to balance the books to-day, with no money left to extend the water system and put the streets into repair. It was decided to ask the council if they would agree to the commission being set up, and to give facilities to get the necessary information.

The manager of the Government salmon hatchery at Hak’ataramea reports that the run of salmon this .spawning season was the largest yet experienced in New Zealand. The fish were also larger and in better condition than in previous years. A good many specimens of “spent” fish—fish which have lost condition during the spawning—both in the Dobson and the Ahuriri Rivers, measured from 4ft to 4ft 6in in length. According to the American tables a 4ft fish in normal condition would run from 601 b ot 651 b, The collection of salmon eggs at the Government hatchery this year was somewhat disappointing considering the size of the runs which took place in all the tributaries of the Waitaki. This was caused by the river conditions’ being unfavorable to the netting .and trapping (of the spawning fish. The total quantity of eggs taken for the year and put down at the Hakataramea hatchery is 1,133,000.

The decline in telegraphic business in the June quarter, in comparison with the corresponding period of last * year, was somewhat larger than at first indicated. The total, including bureau communications, was 3,111,983, against 3,709,799 in the June quarter of 1920, a reduction of 597,816, or 16 per cent. Ordinary telegrams, including paid Government messages, declined from 1,743,225 to 1,329,518, a reduction of 413,707, or nearly 24 per cent. All classes of business showed increased revenue, the total telegraphic revenue being £167,953, against £151,581, an increase of £16,372, or nearly 11 per cent., while postal revenue was also greater, £360,159, against £274,355, an increase of £85,804, or 31 per cent. The average payment for ordinary telegrams was Is 4d, against 10£d last year.

The general manager of the New Plymouth Borough Council wrote to the meeting of the Pukekura Park Board last night suggesting certain improvements in the facilities for handling the crowds at the park on special occasions. It was stated that the main gate was too narrow to take the crowds at the park on the day of the Springboks* match, and this might be alleviated by widening the main gate and placing an extra gate in the corrugated iron fence near the main gate. Owing to the fact that there was only one roadway into the sports ground, and that there was insufficient room near the lake for turning cars, the teams could not be motored on to the grounds. The expenditure of about £5 in widening the space near the dressing shed would enable cars to be turned there. Even with these drawbacks, the general manager stated that there was no doubt that the sports arena was the finest of its size south of the line. The council’s recommendations were referred to Hie sports committee. that committee to confer with the board before taking action.

An inspection of the New Plymouth High School cadets was made yesterday by Colonel C. W. Melvill, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., officer in charge of the Central Military District, who was paying his first visit of inspection to the No. 8 Regimental District (Taranaki) sfnee the recent re-arrangement of the military districts. Owing to the rain the inspection could not take place on the school grounds, and the units were marched to the Coronation flail, where an hour was spent in executing various exercises in the syllabus. Colonel Melvill addressed the officers and boys briefly before the parade was dismissed. He said that the marching and steadiness of the boys -was particularly good. The physical training also was good, but the rifle exercises, with the exception of one squad, lacked “ginger.” He urged them, whenever they moved, to move as if they meant it. Before the end of the year he hoped to pay another visit, and to find that what faults he had pointed out had been remedied.

The Farmers' Co-op., Hawera, wish to draw attention to their Auroa sale, to be held on August 5, when 150 head of mixed cattle, etc., will be, submitted. A household, help that works while you sleep, that’s “Fairy Wonder,” the magic washing powder, sold, by all shopkeepers and grocers throughout the Dominion. If you are not already familiar with the wonderful virtues of this popular laundry help, get a packet at once. You’ll be amazed and delighted with the results. Full directions printed, on each packet.

Tn this issue Lett and Foster announce to the residents of Inglewood and. district that they have commenced business as decorators in Moil Street, Inglewood, and. are. prepared to undertake all class'es of house and shop decorating, including painting and paper-hanging, signwriting, glazing, etc. They will also willingly give estimates for work, in any part of the district, and intending clients may inspect their fine stock of modern np,i)er>» at any time.