LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to slackness in shipping there has been an enormous falling off in wages earned by Wellington waters iders, amounting during the last two months to £2OOO per week. The exports from New Plymouth during July were valued at £281,828, and from Patea*at £272,950, making a total for Taranaki of £554,778 out of £4,959,334 for the whole Dominion. At the date of the last census there weye 59 houses in course of erection in N(*w Plymouth, a number exceeded only by Auckland 119, Hamilton 66, Wellington 215, and Christchurch 129.

Thieves who stole a motor-car at Auckland attached a note to the rear of it thanking the owners for the loan of the vehicle when they abandoned it at a late hour in the night. During July there were 100 men employed on the Stratford-Main Trunk railway construction works, 68 at the eastern end and 32 at. the western. On the Opunake branch line there were 35 men employed. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.), announces that the City Council will be compelled to discontinue relief works for the unemployed owing to the exhaustion of funds available Tor that purpose. About 150 men will be affected.

The war trophies exhibition, which has been on view at the Coronation Hall, New Plymouth, since Friday, August 2*6, concluded on Saturday night. There was a fair attendance of the public through Saturday, bringing the total receipts for the whole period to about £lBO. The balance of trade has swung round in favor of the Dominion. In July the excess of exports over imports was £3,133,492, exports being vaiuea at £4,959,334, and imports at £],825,542. The raising of a five milllion, loan in London will help also to bring about some easing of the financial tightness.

The financial troubles of two Chinese (not to mention their "European creditors) occupied the attention of the Wanganui Supreme Court on Friday. According to one of the Celestials, there is no such thing as bankruptcy in China. Over there, it seems, creditors simply wait for a man to pay. And Chinamen have a sense of honor. ■ The Southland Times states that all precautions are being taken to see that Reginald Matthew’s does not repeat his sensational escape from the Seacliff Mental Hospital. It is said that a cell lined with cement is being prepared for his use, and in order that he may not get to -work under or hide anything in his bed-clothes, a- fresh mattress is given him each day. • •

I A number of members of the New r | Plymouth Caledonian Society intend giving their assistance at the Scottish Society’s social evening, which is being i held at Stratford on Thursday in aid of a Stratford memorial to fallen sol'diers. Included in the performers will be Miss Jean Main, ex-champion dancer New Zealand, and Mr. Rod Mcßae.

A young man, Raymond Woodward, was arrested on the New Plymouth racecourse on 'Saturday by DetectiveSergeant Cooney on a charge of forging a cheque for £l7 on the Bank of New Zealand, Waverley, and uttering same to a New Plymouth firm on Friday night. Accused will be brought before the Court this morning, when a remand for a week will probably be applied for on behalf of the prosecution. About 10.50 yesterday morning a volume of smoke was seen issuing from near the beach at the eastern end of New Plymouth, and an alarm was given at the Fitzroy Fire Station. The outbreak proved to be due to a fire in some gorse at the junction of Nob’s Line and McLean Stre.et, and this was quickly dealt with by the brigade. A cottage immediately adjoining was in danger, but the spread of the flames was prevented by a load of water. It was officially stated at Wellington last week that the sum. required to finance the South African football tour bad been obtained, and that any further amounts received by the New Zealand Rugby Union would be profit. In respect to the New South Wales team, it was anticipated that the gate receipts at matches would about cover expenses, but that this largely depended upon the attendance at the test match, which took place at Christchurch on Saturday.

The volume of tourist traffic in the Dominion is increasing with the approach of spring, and a record in bookings is anticipated for the coming season. The traffic is now so great that it continues through the winter, particularly in the Auckland district. The tours now mainly patronised by visitors are Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo Caves, and the Maheno this week considerably increased the number of local bookings (says the New Zealand Herald).

Last year saw the invention of a safety comb fitted with a razor blade, with which anyone cmild cut his own hair. Now another still more ingenious haircutting appliance has been invented, which consists of a tiny electric motor and hair clipper combined. The whole thing is so small that it can be held easily in one hand, and is connected by a piece of flexible wire to any ordinary electric lamp socket. The clip-clip of the barber’s scissors will soon be heard no more.

In view of the forthcoming Whiteley flower show, a special floral service was held in the Whiteley Memorial Church last night, the preacher being the Rev. J. W. Elliott. The choir, assisted by an orchestra, rendered several anthems, the former part of the service being devoted to old favorite hymns. Solos were given by Mr. E. B. Gill. Mr. Elliott took for his subject, ‘‘Beauty and Strength,” based on Hosiah XIV., verses 5 to 7., and spoke in an inspiring manner to a very largo congregation. The offerings for the day amounted to about £4O.

The Christchurch Press says: It ppears that a certain individual at Springston (near Christchurch) has developed a mania for clipping the tails and manes of horses. Of late several farmers have discovered that th£ir horses have mysteriously been shorn of their long hair, and they have naturally been, threatening all sorts of pains and penalties should they succeed in tracing the night-owl responsible for the damage. Quite recently the manes nd forelocks of two of the Springston County Council’s draught horses were cut off, and the matter was promptly reported to the police. ‘T-lartau” is a word that has been ticked over the cables of Indian news for many months past. Being interpreted, it means a state of strike, and it has proved an exceedingly powerful weapon in the hands of the non-co-operators—-followers of Gandhi. East Bengal and Assam have seen it in its worst forms. It i.s a strike of railway and steamer staffs, of lawyers in the Courts, of shopkeepers, domestic servants, and schoolboys. Their one hope is that the time will come when they will be able to force the Indian employees of the Government. including the police, to obey their orders, when their plan to wreck British interests will be complete.

“Swaraj”—home rule with themselves in complete control—is their motto. The sale of pictures advertised to ne sold at Webster Bros, rooms on Thursday, at 1.30, should attract those who appreciate good paintings. They comprise many beauty spots of New Zealand by J. Douglas Perrett, whose works are greatly prized. There are also some fine examples in oil and water-color by 'English, artists of repute, and etchings and reproductions of great masters. They will be on view from to-day, and those already on the wall have been greatly admired.

To those intending to compete in the Gibson Cup class at the Whiteley Flower Show, a copy of the N.Z. Nurserymen's Catalogue for 1921-2 may be obtained at Mr. C. Career's store. This is the standard adopted by the committee, as the price of bulbs in this class must not exceed 2s each.

Hero are some outstanding bargains at the Melbourne, Ltd.:—Men’s linen collars, 1/4; men’s Shirley police braces, 3/11; men’s Irish lawn handkerchiefs, 9d; boys’ washing ties, 6d and 9d; single bed all wool Colonial blankets, 31/6; Kaiapoi fringe- rugs, 27/6; Kaiapoi saddle trousers, 2-8/6.

The up-to-date grocer or storekeeper keeps a stock of “Fairy Wonder” washing powder. He knows that it is wisest to stock what the people want, instead of wasting time and money trying to sell little known and untried substitutes. When customers ask for “Fairy” they want “Fairy,” and it is good business policy to see that they get it. That the demand for good quality yearling Jersey heifers is still very keen was in striking evidence at Newton King, Ltd.’s, last- Urenui. sale, where a very choice line was sold on account of Mr. W. J. Freeth, of Pukearuhe. The prices realised no doubt constitute a record at auction this year, the high figure of £l4 being obtained for the top draft, and £l2 Is for the seconds. The cattle were very well bred, all being by the pedigree Jersey bull “Swastika’s Conqueror,” whos? half brother sol<l at auction for 400 guineas. They had also been well done, and this, combined with their quality. attracted the keen competition that there was, and it is pleasing to know that each line remained in the district.

A furniture sale of special merit is advertised by L. A. Nolan and Co, in our auction columns. The catalogue includes a Sherlock-Manning pianola piano, almost new, several bedroom suites, also kauri roll-top desk. The sale takes place on Wednesday, at the Workers’ Social Hall.

The Opunake Seaside Society invites tenders for work on Opunake beach.

Auto-pines Is, Nupines Is, Sore Throat Tabs Is 6d, Corn Cure Is, from H. J. Abram’s “Shop by Post” Pharmanv. New Plymouth,