LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

News of to-day’s big football match between New Zealand and South Africa will be received promptly by the Daily News this afternoon. The half-time and final results will be posted in front of the office in Currie Street, and also in Courtenay Street, while they will also be shown in the window of Mr. Preece (tobacconist) in Devon Street central. Progress reports of the match will be shown at Pukekura Park, where the Taranaki-Otago game will be played. At yesterday’s haymarket sales in New Plymouth a line of pigs from the borough depot realised £3 4s per head. Building permits to the value of £20,000 were granted in New Plymouth during August.

It is reported that the Wairarapa rivers have been considerably depleted of fish Ks the result of dynamiting operations of poachers last year.

The further “cut” in the railway service, involving the amalgamation of the Rotorua and Thames expresses, will come into operation on Monday, September 1!).

The operations of a contemptible individual of the grave-robber type, who was collecting flowers at the Linwood Cemetery, evidently for sale, were brought to an end suddenly on a recent morning. He was disturbed by two observant girls, and, departing hurriedly. left his bicycle, with whi.li the police hope to be able to trace him.

A movement is afoot in Otago to arrange for a big shipment of apples to England about next April. The cooperative ifruit-growers of Otago are taking the initiative, and are communicating with the various apple-growers, advising them that if a consignment of 25,000 cases or more can be arranged for, a vessel can be got to load them at Port Chalmers.

The special train for to-day’s test match at Wellington took about one hundred and twenty-five passengers from New Plymouth last night a bigger quota than was anticipated. Weather conditions were very unpromising as the train drew out at 9.10, carrying Rugby enthusiasts on their allnight journey. It was anticipated that a large number of passengers would join the train at the other stations in the province. The train is timed to reach Wellington about 7.30 a.m. today, and the return journey will be commenced from Wellington at 8.35 p.m. to-night, arriving in New Plymouth shortly after 7 o’clock to-morrow morning. Many others have gone to Wellington by motor-car.

A meeting of representatives of dairy companies in North Taranaki was held lin Now Plymouth yesterday to discuss I the question of co-operating with companies in the southern part of the province in the matter of coal supplies. The meeting was convened at tlie request of tlie South Taranaki companies, who, it is understood, have been considering the advisability of securing an interest in the coal areas in the Ohura. A committee consisting of Messrs. A. Morton, J. S. Connett, J. Purdie, G. Sangster, and J. Wooldridge was set up to confer with the convenors.

In reply to a request that the Minister of Education would officially open the new technical school at Hawera, the Mayor (Mr. E. Dixon, M.P.), has received the following telegram from the Hon. C. J. Parr: “In view of the imminence of the session, I very much regret that it will be quite impossible for me to come up to Hawera on the 20th inst. Perhaps, under all the circumstances, you had better open the school forthwith. leaving the formal opening by one of the Ministers, probably myself, for, say, a fortnight later.”

“The Waiwakaiho River has remained fairly low throughout the month, in fact the levels for about two weeks were but two inches above summer level, which is rather extraordinary for th is period of the year,” states the New Plymouth borough electrical engineer (Mr. R. IT. Bartley) in his report for August. The report says that the plant at the power house and distributing stations was operating satisfactorily. The applications received during the month were 39: the connections made to iho mains numbered 20, and the additions to existing consumers’ installations were 18.

A suggested improvement to facilitate the handling of motor traffic at Te Henui Cemetery is made by the borough engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) in his monthly report. lie says. “The circle roadway leading to the chapel is proving to be of too small radius to allow motor cars to easily make the turn. Many have to work their way out by backing; it would be a great convenience and avoid undue delays if the roadway was widened to allow of going ahead without having to stop and reverse, this being the only means with long wheel base cars.”

The number of sheep slaughtered at the New Plymouth abattoir last month was 80 in evcess of the highest number since the abattoir was opened. Details of the stock handled are given by the manager (Mr. T. J. Reakes) in his usual report to the Borough Council. The figures are: Slaughtered for local consumption 232 cattle, 1 calf, 1084 sheep and 69 pigs. Compared with last August they show an increase of 223 sheep, and a decrease of 9 cattle and 28 , calves. One- cow and one sheep were condemned.

Twenty-nine connections with the water service wore made in New Ply•mouth during August. The engineer states in his report for the month that applications i>f coming in freely, and that it will be found at the end of the year that the number of new services will have exceeded the total in any of 'the last four or five years.

The last week of sale is notified by .the Bon Marche. Eltham and Kaponga. Hundreds of satisfied shoppers throughout Taranaki testify to the genuine \bargains offered. The last week of sale •will produce record business, and provide a great money-saving opportunity for all keen buyers of drapery and clothing.

“Sinus,” the famous milking machine cleanser, is meeting with an extraordinary sale this season, due no doubt to

the recent criticism at dairy factory meetings in regard to the supplying of impure milk. Absolute cleanliness is one of the first laws in handling milk, and it is gratifying to find our dairy farmers awakening to the fact.

Melbourne, Ltd., blouses continue to lead the way in value, style, fitting and finish. The new tailored blouses now showing are particularly smart. The principal fabrics are silk, georgette, crepe de chine, striped Fuji and white silk in th® firm’s well known .quality.

“There is a football team in Natal wholly composed of New Zealanders,” said a visitor to the Thames, who had spent many years in Africa, “and they provide a formidable ol»tacle to any team they come in contact with.” The team, he explained were all New Zealand residents of Natal, who had banded together and formed a football team.

A valuable cockatoo, a family pet, lost its life in peculiar circumstances at Avonside (Christchurch) on a recent night. The bird, which had attained the age of 27 years, and which was a good talker, was, as usual, placed in an outhouse. In the morning a meqjber of the family, on entering the outhouse, missed the bird's greeting, and, looking inside the cage, he saw the cockatoo lying dead with its head off. The body was quite bloodless. A ferret is blamed for the killing, it being surmised that it managed to squeeze itself through the bars of the cage, and thus reach the bird.

The Tuapeka Times Is responsible for the following: Among the vast concourse of people who assembled at Dunedin to witness the first test match All Blacks v. Springboks, was an enthusiast from the backblocks who had travelled over forty miles on horseback to view the game. To secure a good seat he went to the ground some four hours before the match started, providing himself with sandwiches and liquid refreshment in the shape of six bottles of beer. As the result of partaking of the latter not wisely but too well, he fell asleep, and was only awakened by the cheering crowds at the termination of the match. He then asked, “Has the match started yet?” and when informed that it was over, he said, “By jove! I’m glad I was here, anyway.” Another euchre party in connection with the Fitzroy School Fete was held in the schoolroom on Thursday evening, 22 tables being occupied. Mrs. J. Kibby won the ladies’ prizes and Mrs. Lands was second. Mr. Millham won the men’s prize and Mr. Goodhall the second. Dancing was carried on in an adjoining classroom, a very large number of young people taking part. The ladies of the suburb provided the music and Mr. V. George ably carried out the duties of M.C. / t