LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is stated that the Mormon community i« endeavoring to acquire an area of land in the Po-ngaroa district, with the object of establishing a religious settlement. A man who was arrested in Auckland on a charge of drunkenness stated that 1 his condition was entirely due to methy- | lated spirits, which he had purchased ! from a chemist. ■ At the end of 1020 there were 216,091 i pensioners in Aiifitmlia, with a total annual liability to the Commonwealth of £6,051,832. The Minister of Public Health, replying to a Waikato deputation on the system of hospital subsidies, said he would consider the points made, but personally, the arguments for a flat rate of subsidy did not impress him.—Press Assn. The Holland Party says it has no confidence in the Government, because it imported coal when the miners would not produce enough of the local article to keep the home fires burning. Well, Carpentier also felt sore when the knock-out came, but he didn’t turn round and blame Dempsey.—Dominion. “I am opposed to sending very young children to school,” said the headmaster of the Te Awumutu school, recently, “and I specially disapprove of kindergartens. For young children the best school of all is the mother, if she has the time and opportunity to look after them. As a general rule at seven years of age is old enough.” “The environment of the young child should be the natural environment of the mother,” said. Dr. Truby King at a lecture on “Infant Welfare” at Wellington recently. He detailed the wonderful effect of the refining influence of a mother on her young child and the ultimate development into the sturdy citizen. It will be remembered that it was rumored some weeks ago that the steamer that was specially chartered to carry a consignment of Holsteins and Ayrshires bought from Kairanga farmers, from Sydney to Singapore, was lost, with all hands on board. Mr. Kyle has now received the gratifying news that not only diu ’the steamer arrive safely, but that she nad a smooth passage, the stock was . in excellent condition, and that the ' purchasers proposed an early return visit to New Zealand for some more of the , same sort I 4

Burglaries have been so frequent in Dunedin of late that householders have become considerably “seared.”

The steamer Rlvorina, from Sydney, was berthed at Auckland yesterday to discharge (’argo and returned to the stream last night (says a Press telegram).

Not a single arrest for drunkenness was made in Wanganui during the late race meeting. A constable explained it this way: “The beer is too bitter nowadays. There ie not much sugar in it, and lots of people can’t drink the same quantity.”

A Wanganui resident who has just returned from Australia remarked that matters commercially were very much brighter over there than they were four months ago. Business was more active, and there was a more hopeful tone about commercial affairs generally. The proposal of the New Plymouth Harbor Board to run a tramline from Paritutu on to the foreshore, near the foot of the wharf, in connection with the building of a reclamation wall, was the subject of a visit of inspection at Moturoa yesterday by Messrs. C. T. Jeffries (district railways engineer), and Mr. H. A. Harris (traffic manager). The department’s sanction is necessary in connection with the proposed line, as it has to cross the railway, and the visiting officials conferred with the Harbor Board engineer aa to the best route. Their report will be made later.

The sessions of the Native Land Court, which were commenced at New Plymouth on the 13bh inst., were concluded on Wednesday, and .Judge Aicheson, who presided over the sittings, returned to Wanganui yesterday. Included in the business handled by the Court there were about 100 applications for surveys of Native blocks and a number of applications by the Crown for partitions, these being mainly in connection with requests from lessees of West Coast leases for the right to purchase their freehold.

At the Hur ford Road school on Tuesday one of the pupils, Master Jason Loveridge, who had established an excellent record of attendance (having been absent only once in years) was the recipient of a presentation from the Taranaki,Education Board as a memento of his achievement. In handing to Master Loveridge a handsomely-bound book, and a letter of commemoration from the board, the chairman (Mr. P. J. 11. White) emphasised the importance of good attendance, and the beneficial results it had upon a pupil’s training.

Another of the series of euchre parties and dances arranged by the school fete committee was held last night in the Fitzroy schoolroom, 27 tables being occupied by euchre players. The ladies’ prizes were won, first, by Mrs. P. Eva, and second by Mrs. L. Callaghan. The first- gentleman’s prize was won by Mr. L. Coleman and the second was tied for by Messrs. Sampson and Hill, Mr. Sampson winning the play-off. The dance held in the adjoining room was well patronised, Miss Cameron presiding at the piano and Mr. G. Goldsworthy acting as M.C.

Sir George Hunter, M.P., told at the Wellington Town Hall re-union of the parly settlers, how the pioneers greeted the first earthquake shock they had ever felt. They were in a qui vive for attacks by t-he Maoris. The first earthquake surprised them in the dead of night, and, thinking that the Maoris were attacking their houses, they turned, out and fired into the darkness. (Laughter). He thought that, must be the first and last time that an attempt had been made to cure an earthquake with powder and shot. (Laughter.)

Six golfers playing on the Harrow course were struck by lightning simultaneously in a heavy storm on August 24. The well-known golfer. S. F. Brookes, tells t'he London Evening News that he and three friends were ploying a foursome, and two other players a single, all within thirty yards. A vivid flash knocked three senseless, and sent another lying on his liands and knee*. The remaining two were partly dazed, but all recovered.

The landing cost of tea from producing centres has shown d very sharp rise during the last couple of months (says the Sydney Sun of August 23). Common Ceylon tea, which could have been bought in the first Colombo sale in June at a. landed price of B.|d, is now costing the Sydney importer 13d. Medium ueylon broken Pekoe, which was Is 3d in June, is now Is Bd. Fine Ceylon tea has jumped from Is fid to 2s 2d. The the same proportion, and in Java there » very little good tea available, as the Indian market has advanced in about most desirable crops have been sold up to the end of the year. A meeting of parishioners of St. Mary’s Church, New Plymouth, was held in the church hall last night, when parish matters, chiefly relating to finance, were discussed. To augment the church funds it was decided to hold a sale of work, embracing the whole parish, early in December. A committee was set up to organ'-.' .1 series of socials to commence next winter with the object of bringing the parishioners into closer touch with the church work. To enable the public to meet Bishop A. VV. Averill on his proposed visit to New Plymouth in November, it was decided to hold a garden party, and an organising committee was set up for this purpose. The recently mooted proposal to build an Anglican Church at Westown was held over till a later meeting for consideration.

L'li’ Minister in charge of the. Housing Department (Hon. G. J. Anderson) stated in the House on Wednesday that it was not considered necessary to have an inquiry into the administration and work of the department. There had been complaints that the department was not getting on speedily enough, and the consequence was that the Government purchased much of its building material at peak prices. Then it was told that the houses were going to cost too much. The fact remained that the Government houses to-day were built more cheaply and better than any houses erected by local authorities. That the houses had cost more than waa anticipated could not be helped. The building pf them had gone on with remarkable rapidity during the last few I months. He hoped within a few days to make a comprehensive statement regarding the position. Make yourself cool and comfortable for the summer—.select your new season’s underwear at Morey’s. A great range of cotton and silk goods —vests, bloomers, etc. —marked at the lowest possible prices. Call in and inspect when next you come to town. Captain C. F. Bishop, in change of the military surplus stores sales, was in town yesterday, making arrangements for sales to be held in New Plymouth on dates to be notified later. For Influenza, take 1 Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 2