LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to a strong southerly wind on Thursday nifht the Rimu did not reach New Plymouth from Onehunga until nearly noon yesterday. There was a full yarding of pigs at Newton King, Ltd.’s New Plymouth haymarket yesterday. Weaners made .ip to 325, slips 30s, stores £2 10s. Jersey heifer calve two or three days old 325.

The dead body of a man has been found in the Auckland, harbor. It is unrecognisable, but letters and a railway pass found in the pockets lead to the conclusion that it is the body of Mr. A. E. Skelton, a well-known solicitor, who has been missing since August 20. A later message says the body has been definitely identified as that of Skelton. As the East train approached the Whangamomona tunnel on the journey to Stratford on Tuesday morning, the Stratford Post reports, a huge boulder, estimated to weigh a ton and a half, rolled down off the hill and lodged in the middle of the line just in front of the engine, and it was only by the promptitude of driver McNeill*.in putting on the brakes that tin accident was averted.

At the Stratford Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning a judgment debtor, in the course of examination, stated that he had twelve children. The examining solicitor set out with the idea of establishing that some of the children should be helping the finances of the family, but the first answer upset his plans, the solicitor being informed that the eldest was 16 years of age. When a number of cases of breaches of the by-laws by riding bicycles on footpaths, or without lights, were before the Stratford Magistrate’s Court yesterday the Magistrate asked if this class of case was common in Stratford. The borough inspector said that there had been a good deal of trouble, but the fact that it was known that he was prosecuting all offenders caught was having a deterrent effect. The Eltham Argus states that Mr. Hugh Turner, Mountain Road, had a very narrow escape from poisoning a day or two ago. He intended taking a dose of cascara, but by an unfortunate mistake, helped himself from a bottle containing iodine. Medical assistance was quickly called in, and Mr. Turner was placed out of danger, but he had a very narrow escape. An increase in the quantity of idodine that he swallowed would probably have proved fatal.

The district swede acreage competition challenge shield was on view at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki A. and P. Society. The shield, a splendid piece of work, was made by Mr. J. Bennett, of New Plymouth, and will be on view at his shop in Devon Street for the next two or three days. Last year was the first for which the shield was offered for competition, and in both 1920 and 1921 the Toko Settlers’ Association have proved the winners. The great progress in the matter of building roads in Taranaki was referred to by Mr. O. Hawken, M.P., when speaking at the meeting of local bodies at Eltham yesterday. He said they had counties in Taranaki which were an example of what had been done in the matter of getting good roads without assistance. It was generally believed outside of Taranaki that Taranaki had been helped by the Government, but that was not so. In the last ten years the Eltham County had not received £lOOO from the Government. The roads had been constructed by the local people, and it was an example of a progressive method for the whole of New Zealand. Four counties had 700 miles of roads, of which 500 miles were metalled and 150 miles tar-seal6d. The father of two lads charged with riding bicycles without lights in Broadway North, Stratford, naively informed the Magistrate yesterday that it was a moonlight night and that the lads were in lhe habit of lighting up at the Pembroke Road, which they thought was the borough / boundary. On this occasion they were caught by the inspector before they reached that point, and found that they were in the borough. The Magistrate emphasised the point that if they rode at all at night time they must ride with lights, whether the night was moonlight or not, or whether they were on county or borough roads. In the majority of cases of accidents through collision the whole basis of the trouble was that one or other of the parties had no lights. The fourth annual dance in connection with the Eltham Hockey Club is to he held in the Eltham Town Hall on Monday, September 12. A strong com11.?‘.tee has been Mt up, with Miss Richards and Mr. D. Millar as joint secretaries, and compkUe arrangements are being ?*aade to ensure the success of the function

“The four university colleges of New Zealand have among them four professors of Latin, four of French, sundry professors or lecturers of Hebrew and Greek; there are four professors of mathematics, of economics, of history, of all the sciences; and there are numerous assistants. There are schools of medicine, law and accountancy; of engineering, mining and even of music; but there is no university school, of agriculture and no professor of agriculture. Truly the University of New Zealand provides an intellectual banquet, and even goes into the highways and byways calling guests to the feast. The farmer alone is passed over. Agriculture is like Cinderella in the old fairy tale —sitting at home by cold ashes Surely the main arm of education in this country should be 'education of the rural community for a rural life by persons trained to* appreciate the fulness life.”—Extract from an address given last month to the conference of the N.Z. Council of Agriculture by Mr. N. J. Wild, M.A.B.Sc., F.G.S. (late of Lincoln College).

An outbreak of malignant malaria of unusual severity has added to the troubles of the Northern Territory, and is puzzling the medical authorities (says the Melbourne Age). According to reports received by the Department of Home and Territories, the results have already been serious. In the last three or four months eight deaths have occurred, and there are nineteen patients under treatment in the Darwin Hospital at the present time. Further cases are reported from the southern parts of the Territory, infections having occurred over a wide area. The local authorities have succeeded in tracing the carrier, whose duties have recently taken him to many stations. The task now ••onfronting the Health Department is to ascertain the type of mosquito which is spreading the disease, and, if possible, to discover the breeding grounds in the hope of eradicating them. For this purpose Dr. Cumpston, Federal Director of Public Health, has instructed Mr. G. F. Hill, an expert officer attached to the Townsville bureau of tropical medicines, to go to the Territory and open an investigation. Dr. Blumer, the quarantine officer at Darwin, is also to take part in the campaign against the disease in the interior.

Speaking at the meeting of local bodies, which discussed the Main Roads Bill at Eltham yesterday, Mr. A. E. Juil, of Waipawa, commented on the parochialism shown by many county councils. The Road Board spirit was a very parochial spirit, he said, and this had been incorporated with the forming of new counties. They were departing from the County Act, which provided that counties should take charge of main arteries which could be made a charge over the whole county. They had got to a stage where members were coming to the council table who d-id not care any more about other ridings than if it were another county in another island. They had to show they were capable of carrying on the work of the main road in order to secure a larger measure of subsidies, and they had to show that the local governments were composed of men who were entitled to be encouraged. This could only be done if they could say to the State: “We are in a position to give you as good roads in as early a time and more economically than can the State.”

Speaking at Patea a lew days ago, Mr. W. Morriison referred to the situation confronting the producers of this country (states an exchange). Referring to the remark of Mr. Massey to the effect that everything in the woo! and meat market would lie alright in twelve months’ time, he (the speaker) could not see any hope of an improvement for two years to come. The wool market was very bad, in fact, wool was practically useless. Some of his friends had sent wool Home and found that it did no + pay expenses. If things would only settle down in Europe, the market for wool would look, up, as the people in Eu’-ope were crying out for wool. It was possibly the knowledge on the part oi the Home Government that Germany could undersell Britain that caused them to prevent wool from going into Germany. There had latterly been a proposal to sell wool to Germany and take German goods in exchange. People eaid, why trade with Germany as it is only building her up. But they must remember she had to pay a large indemnity, and she could not do this unless we traded with her as in the past. Sir Joseph Ward had recently stated that Germany had appeared to be in a flourishing condition, and would be able to pay. As all knew, New Zealand was supposed to have a surplus of six millions, but this had been spent, and the four million loan raised in England as well. Personally, he did not see where the revenue was going to come from next year, as there would not be much income tax from the farmers. It appeared to him that they were going to be faced with a hard time in the future.

“Sequah” advertises in this issue that he will remain at his office (over Newton King’s, Ltd., offices) until Saturday, 10th inst.

At Rahotu saleyards on Thursday morning next Newton King. Ltd., are selling by auction 8000 feet of timber. See advertisement.

The monthly meeting or the West Coasters’ Association will be held at the Soldiers’ Club to-night, at 7.45 p.m. The Melbourne, Ltd., are showing several new designs in ladies’ striped Fugi and striped crepe de chine blouses. These goods are extremely popular this season, and the new models shown are extremely attractive. The tailored blouses showing are very smart. Prices range from ■29/6 to 39/6.

There is going to be a great run on “Sinus” milking macliine cleanser this season chiefly on account of farmers awaking to a realisation of the fact that cleanliness in regard to milk pays handsomely. Increased production and better quality is what the Government asks for, and in this respect the regular use of “Sinus” will help materially.

■ A preliminary announcement of the New Plymouth Jersey Breeders’ bull sale is made in this paper. Very keen interest in the fixture is being taken, which is plainly shown by the record number of entries, the catalogue having been closed with 155 lots. A feature of the sale is the high quality of the entry. Tn this respect it is safe to say that all previous such sales held in Taranaki have been eclipsed. At the conclusion of the bull sale a draft of high-class pedigree Jerseys from the well-known stud of Mr. Goulter will be sold.

Ladies! Don’t wait; take Martin’s Pills. Be sure they axe Martin’s, Southampton, England. All chemists and stores sell them. The attention of farmers is drawn to an advertisement by Messrs. Newxon King, Ltd., in respect to the disposal of calf-skins. It would be well to consult the firm before disjjoainxi of any calf-