LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Reporting to the New Plymouth Borough Council on the inspection of food shops during July, the inspector (Mr. R. Day), states that 501bs. of bacon and some dried fruit were seized as being unfit for human consumption. At the next sitting of the Eltham Magistrate’s Court, a Matapu man, who is alleged to have knocked down the toll-gate keeper at Riverlea, will be called ..upon to answer a charge of “forcibly evading payment of toll at the Riverlea toll-gate, in the Eltham County,” says the Argus. In his July report to the New Plymouth Borough Council, the inspector (Mr. R. Day) states: The building trade is still brisk. Buildings to the value of £13,000 were authorised, and fees amounting to £7O were paid. The total fees for all licenses, etc., collected amounts to £lO3 10s.

The question of extending the tram service to Westown is being revived. A petition is in circulation securing the support of residents to a proposal to extend the line from the dead end in Morley Street up the length of Morley Street to Wallace Place, and thence to a point ,where the population commences to be scattered.

Stock slaughtered for local consumption at the New Plymouth abbatoir during July comprised 232 cattle, 10 calves, 953 sheep ; 3 lambs, and 81 pigs. Compared with last July the figures show an increase of 5 cattle and 161 sheep, and a decrease of 24 calves, 14 lambs and IS pigs. Three cattle were condemned.

The chief of the New Plymouth Caledonian Society (Colonel Meldrum), is to be entertained to a real Scotch night shortly, and all those ladies who are willing to assist the committee are requested to attend the meeting which is being held in the Soldiers’ Club on Thursday, August 18, at 8 o.m

The Huntly Press tells a grim story of an estimable citizen of that town who, in an endeavor to relieve the housing shortage, let the local morgue to a family in the belief that the building was his own. The excited residents quickly disabused his mind of this impiession and shifted the morgue elsewhere.

According to % a. letter read at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council from Mr. R. Day, the New Zealand Swimming Association is endeavoring to secure Mr. F. E. Beaurepaire to give exhibitions of swimming in various centres about January. Mr. Day said the exhibition could be secured at New Plymouth for a guarantee of £2O, and 1 .. asked .for sanction to secure the champion’s appearance at the baths. The council approved of the suggestion.

A shooting mishap at Omata on Sunday resulted in a young man named H. McKoy receiving rather severe injuries about various parts of the body. The accidental discharge of McKoy’s gun, it is stated, occurred while he was negotiating a fence, and he received the charge on the right wrist and right cheek, in addition to sustaining abrasions of the abdominal wall. He was admitted Io the New Plymouth Hospital later in the day, and last night his condition was reported as fair.

Joy-riding is still very popular with some Eltham youths. Recently three young fellows, all of whom reside in Eltham, appropriated a car from a local garage and went for a trip to Hawera. They attended a dance there, and after having a “good time,” returned to Eltham. When they went to take back the car, however,-the garage was closed and the doors locked. The only thing to do was to leave the car on the street.. Had they been able to return it to its place in the garage their escapade might have passed unnoticed, but having to leave it on the road gave them away, and they will appear before the magistrate at the next sitting of the Eltham Court to explain their conduct.—Argus.

A deputation from the Westown Progressive Association recently met the Borough Council’s finance committee in regard to providing a second electric ’bus for the Westown and other suburban services. At last night’s meeting of the council the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) informed members that the committee had put forward two proposals to the deputation, one being that they should be prepared to take up a certain proportion of the tramways loan, and the alternative was that the association might buy the ’bus, which would be bought back by the council by instalments spread over three years. These, however, were merely suggestions. The council could not do anything under present conditions, however necessary tfhe case might be. Attention to the possible dangers arising from , dazzling headlights on motor-cars is drawn by the Federated Tramway Employees’ Union in a circular received by the New Plymouth Borough Council through the local Tramway Employees’ Union. The communication, which was read at last night’s meeting, suggested that a by-law be framed making compulsory the dimming of headlights on motor-cars when approaching tramcars. The Mayor (Mr. F, E. Wilson) ex-pressed the opinion that such a regulation could be better controlled by the Government. Inspector Day said the council already had power to compel dimming under the lights on vehicles’ regulations, ahd one case had been taken on this question. It was decided to reply to the Tramways Federation in. the above terms. An insect which causes the destruction of spruce trees is reported to be fair)}' prevalent around New Plymouth, with the result that a number of trees have been killed. The effect of the grub was noticed recently in some trees in one of the Borough Council’s reserves, and enquiry from the Agricultural Department elicited the following reply from the biology section: “The pine trees are attacked by a species of aphis (aphis abietana), an insect which is doing a considerable amount of damage to spruce trees in various parts of the North Island. Amongst the specimens received there have always been found several grubs of a natural enemy which is doing considerable good work in checking the aphis. You can easily find these grubs amongst the aphids on infected trees; they are fleshy and greyish green with darker stripes, and measure about in length. If possible the trees should be sprayed with black leaf 40 (one parton 800 of water).” /

Some advice in connection with the installation of electric light to houses in the course of erection is given by the electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) in his monthly report to the council. The report records that there has been a marked decrease in the number of applications for connection received during the past month, and the engineer remarks: “I would strongly recommend consumers who are building new houses not to omit the lighting, because it cannot. be connected at the present time. If it is their intention to have the wiring, etc., installed - it can be done more cheaply and better while the building is in course of construction; also the department will not keep these consumers waiting a minute longer than is absolutely necessary. The connections will follow, as has always been dur practice, in the order in which they are received and registefbd.”

Carpets, rugs, -etc., at your own price seems too good to be true, but such is the ease, we are assured, for those people who attend Webster Bros.’ big sale on Wednesday, 17th inst., at 1.30 p.m., in the new mart in Devon Street. Sheeting, fire irons, eiderdown quilts, etc., will be sold also at your own price.

Best quality all wool colonial blankets can be supplied at the Melbourne, Ltd. The stock comprises full double blankets, Kaiapoi make. at. 65s per pair, and the well-known Petone “Hospital” blankets at 72/6 per pair. Smaller blankets also in stock.

Use “Fairy Wonder” washing powder, and the beautiful snowy whiteness of your washing will excite the envy of your friends. No other washing powder on the market gets results like “Fairy.” No other compound is so economical in labor and fuel. Give it. a trial. All grocers stock it.

An advertisement appears in the auction columns relative to the forthcoming sale of pedigree Jersey bulls at Waiwakaiho. Breeders are requested to put in their entries ns soon as possible. Newton King, Ltd., invite/entries for their Waiwakaiho, Stony River, and Inglewood Horse Fairs. See advt. Twenty years’ experience with Sharland’s Moa* Brand Egg Preservative has proved it to be absolutely reliable. The eggs are kept fresh and sweet—without the slightest smell or disagreeable taste. Packed .’u small fjn«. alan 4-jral., 1-gal. and 4-gal. tins.