LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The price of butler haa been reduced in Dunedin to 2s wholesale and 2s 2d retail, a drop of 2d. Permits for the erection of buildings to the value of £B5OO were issued by the New Plymouth Borough Council during September. Eight dwellings are included in the total. A. Sydney cable reports that in a final interview l.ord Northcliffe stated that he had found three elements which spelt success in life—concentration of purpose, health, anil the seizing of Dame Fortune when she pays a visit.

There are over 100 religions in New Zealand, said Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician, in a lecture at Auckland. ITe mentioned that some of these sects were confined to very small numbers, one of them boasting only one adherent.

Tenders for earthwork, formation and metalling on the Timaru and Pitone hills, Main South Road, were accepted by the Taranaki County Council at yesterday’s meeting. The successful tenderer in each case was Mr. W. Anstis, and the prices were: Timaru, £670 10s; Pitone, £795 10s. A list of persons to whom notices to cut noxious weeds are to be sent was placed before yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki County Council, and was being read by the clerk when it was disclosed that one of the councillors appeared among the defaulters. “They have been cut,” said the councillor, referring to his crop of gorse, and he was therefore omitted from the list. The question of reconstituting a pound at Okato was mentioned at yesterday’s meeting of tbe Taranaki County Council, and the chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett) stated that the inspector was handicapped in his work of clearing the roads of stock by the absence of a pound. After discussion it was decided that enquiries regarding the re-starting of the pound and engagement of a pound-keeper be made by Cr. Wooldridge.

Opposition Io a certain amendment to the Counties Act was recently expressed by the Taranaki County Council in a remit to the Counties’ Conference. The clause referred to, which is intended to operate from March next, provides that only general rates may be credited to a riding, and all other income must go into the general fund. It is pointed out that if this became operative it would mean that ridings in which toll-gates were situated would lose a proportion of the revenue, as the total would have to be apportioned over all the county. When the remit was received by the Counties’ Conference it was decided to obtain legal opinion, and at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki County Council it was decided to communicate with the association asking that steps be taken as soon as possible to endeavor to secure the deletion of the amendment.

There was a large gathering of citizens at the New Plymouth railway station yesterday morning to give a send-off to the Fourth Battalion Wellington Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) Band, who left by the mail train for Thames, where they compete in the contest opening there tomorrow. The band, numbering 31 players, marched from the band-room to the station playing the contest march. A special carriage had been reserved for them, and with some friends accompanying them the party nun»bered thirty-nine. Archdeacon Evans is in charge of the arrangements while the band is travelling, and he was accompanied by Mr. F.- W. Sandford, one of tbe Borough Council representatives on the committee, the other representative (Mr. C. C. Ward) joining the party at Hamilton. A correspondent writes to complain that “there have been no lights in Dawson Street, from the hospital gates to Devon Street, since last Thursday, and that the dangerous corner adjoining Dr. Home’s residence has been, and still is, in pitch darkness.” The matter was referred to the electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley), who stated that if there have been no lights the failure must have been a very recent one, as the circuit was examined on Thursday. Since then the department has not been able to attend to this class of work, as every available man has been concentrated on a most urgent job—namely, the repairs to the forebay at Mangorei. Mr. Bartley hopes that some of the staff will be released again shortly, and points out that the department is always willing to attend to any individual locality if faults are brought under notice. “The administration of justice in the British community is a very wonderful thing,” said Mr. Justice Herdman in his reply to the welcome extended to him by members of the Auckland Bar. “I doubt,” said His Honor, “if in any part of the world, except in a British country, there has been such complete success in the attempt to make the abstract notion of justice a positive reality” He thought it was because of this, and because they understood this, and because they were impressed with the history of the Jaw of England and of Great Britain and recollected the traditions of their profession, together with the high standard of honor that had always prevailed among them, that members of the profession throughout New Zealand did their work and labored in the public interest as they did. A well-known New Plymouth resident called in to the News Office last evening, and asked us to state that the African jungle pictures and lecture by the hunter, Mr> H. K. Eustace, M.Z.S., to be given in New Plymouth and other parts of Taranaki, should on no account be missed by those who take an interest in wild animals and wild nature. He h-axl seen the pictures and heard the lecturd in Wellington recently, and declared they afforded him the rareet treat he had experienced. Mr. Eustace, he said, was no ordinary showman, but a man who had spent 27 years in the jungles, and risked his life several times in taking the wonderful views he exhibits. To secure some of his pictures, notably those of the buffaloes (more dangerous than the fiercest lion or tiger) Mr. Eustace trekked hundreds of miles, and only saved his life by diving into a river when the wild animals heard the “click, i click” of the machine and charged him. The pictures of the lions, rhinoceri, zebras, elephants, etc., were so, realistic that you imagined you were <in Africa itself. It took Mr. Eustace years to take all the animals, yet the New Zealander can see them all in their native state and hear all about them in the course of a couple of hours.

Newton King, Ltd., advertise for entries for a sale at Uruti.

“Sinus” is recommended by all dairy factory managers for use by all farmers for cleansing buckets, pans, milking machines and separators. It is positively non-injurious to rubber tubing or cups, and is guaranteed to remove all bacteria, thus ensuring clean, sweet and wholesome milk. Purity Products Co., Hawera, sole manufacturers. On sale everywhere. For Coughs and Colds, never fails. .Woods’ Great Pannaxmiat Cure. «

A curious fact was mentioned at the Counties’ Conference. It was pointed cut that if a borough or city has property in a county the county cannot charge rates on that property, but if a county has property in a borough or city that property is liable to be, and is, rated.

About half past five on Saturday evening, as Mrs. W. J. Mahoney was crossing Regent Street, Hawera, she was run into and knocked down by a motor cyclist. She was considerably shaken, and had one hand rather badly cut, necessitating medical attention. 'rhe cyclist did not even stop to see what harm had been done.—Star.

At a meeting of the North Egmont Hostel Committee yesterday it was decided to proceed with the erection of eight more bedrooms, whidli will be built away from the main building. It was also arranged to paint the roof of the hostelry ami renovate the building generally, extend the out-buildings, and erect a drying shed, etc. The sitting at the Eltham Magistrate’s Court yesterday was considered to be the shortest experienced in seven years. There were seven civil actions on the list, of which three were adjourned until next Court day and foui* were won on confession. The sitting lasted for barely five minutes.

The life of a Prime Minister in this country is a strenuous one. Mr. Massey’s in England was not a holiday, but a time of hard and constant work, for when the conference of Prime Ministers was not sitting he had to attend to business of al'l kinds. From the time of his arrival in Auckland on Friday he came “on duty.” In the course of an hour and a half during the afternoon he was visited by no less than 20 private deputations, says the Auckland Herald. “Can a girl who is sixteen years of age marry without her parents’ consent?” The general answer is that she cannot, states the Dunedin Star. The law sets out that if eithei’ parent is alive and in New Zealand his or her consent is necessary to the marriage of a person under the age of twenty-one; that if neither parent is alive or in New Zealand the consent of the properly-ap-pointed guardian must be obtained; that if there is neither parent nor a guardian, or if either such available person ia non compos mentis, or unreasonably or for improper motives witholds consent, application may be made to a Judge of the Supreme Court, who may, if he finds \alid cause, authorise such marriage.

There has just came into the possession of Mr. Bruce Bigson, of Frankton, from his ancestors, a “grandfather clock,” 175 years old, which has never been repaired. It keeps correct time and tells the date of the month.

A Wanganui retailer, commenting on the information given out that certain lines of dried fruits would be in short supply for the Christmas trade, informed a Herald reporter that there was a good deal of bluff about the whole business. He had. received reliable advice that Mediterranean supplies would be available in plenty of time, and that the rate would be cheaper than the Australian.

“Th© present influenza, when it all comes to be boiled down, is only catarrhal cold, and if the people took a 'squirt’ of vaccine it would do them a lot of good, and certainly do them no harm,” said Dr. Dawson at a meeting held at Pahiatua on Wednesday afternoon to form a local committee to combat influenza should it break out. Continuing, he said that there was plenty of vaccine in Pahiatua, and he strongly urged its use. He thought the Health Department should do something in the matter. Dr. Dawson said that as far as evidence in England went there was a difference of opinion as to the benefits of vaccine. There were schools of thought, and the Department decided to steer a course between the two. Dr. Dawson stated that he did not think there was any chance of influenza similar to 1918 breaking out again. There was more chance of an epidemic of small-pox occurring, for none of the children were being vaccinated. There had been only one child vaccinated in the district in the past four years.

The Jersey Breeders' bull sale will be continued to-morrow, commencing at 10.30 a.m. sharp, at the conclusion of which will be sold a consignment of pedigree Jersey cows and bulls from the oldestablished stud of Mr. Charles Goulter, ■Blenheim. Mr. Goulters’ cattle are particularly well-bred, and should attract extra keen attention from Jersey breeders in this province. Cattle which lie has sold here on previous occasions have ■turned out wonderfully well, and those to be disposed of this time will no doubt give equaly as good results.