LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Rangitikei Advocate learns that as a result of the shearers’ award, a sheep-owner in tht district whose flocks number over 10,000 will this year employ only two shearers. The greater portion of the shearing Win be done b.v the employer himself and the permanent station hands.

The rainfall yesterday v/ill do an immense amount of good in Taranak'. So far this spring the weather conditions have been ideal. As a result the grass is coming away splendidly, the cows are in good condition, aftpr wintering well, and the milk yield must be a record. The increase in supplies, if the conditions remain favorable, must go a long way towards making up for any decrease in the pays-out. Lord and Lady Jellicoe will visit Opunake. At the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday notification was received that the Governor-General and Lady Jellicoe would be motoring through to New Plymouth on Thursday, October 27, and would remain in Opunake from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. A committee was set up to arrange with representatives of other local bodies a programme for their reception and entertainment. Mr. R. C. Hughes, speaking at the Expansion and Tourist League meeting last evening, said new blood in anything was beneficial. He instanced the mountain house. For years the same ffew gentlemen had been’ engaged in its management. The town owed a great dea’l to them for what they had done, especially for assuming such great financial responsibility in connection with the house, but they were busy men, and, very rightly, they had given way to a new committee, which had signalled its appearance on the scene by making changes and extensions, and generally inaugurating a progressive policy that must result in greater service and suc-

A gentle attack on the taxing policy of the Government came from Mr. J. Coselberg, chairman of directors of the Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-operative Asso ciation, at the annual meeting in Masterton. The directors recommended that no dividend should be paid this year, and on that point Mr. Caselberg commented: “I must make mention of the fact that the taxing policy of the Government lias been such as to prevent companies from building up a dividend equalisation fund, so that when a lean year comes along the usual dividend cannot be paid. A tax of practically 10s in the £, such as we are called upon to pay, completely prevents such a fund being built up.”

At the Expansion and Tourist League meeting last evening, Mr. S. Teed referred to the task of accommodation for visitors in New Plymouth, which was becoming more acute every year; also to the disinclination of boarding house owners to put up people with children. He did not know whether anything could be done to remedy what was a crying shame, but if it could it should be. Other speakers replied that whilst there were more demands for accommodation than could be satisfied, hotelkeepers and boarding house proprietors would discriminate as to whom they put up. The remedy was to be found in increased accommodation, but how and where it was to be found was another and more difficult question.

There is evidently an impression among some returned, soldiers that the land they take up is exempt from taxes for a year, as at the last meeting of the Egmont County Council a returned settler wrote stating that he was not liable for rates on his section at Parihaka this year, as the sections were exempt from rates for a year. He was quite willing to meet his liability to the County of Egmont when he was legally entitled to. and that was not till 1922-23. On receipt of this the clerk communicated with the Commit sioner of Crown Lands, who replied that the sections in the Parihaka block were exempt from payment of rent only and there was no exemption from rates. Touching on the difficulty soldier settlers in some parts were having in paying their rates, etc., the chairman said that there was a remit passed at the counties’ conference urging that the Government should see that the soldiers’ rates were paid. The representative of a Swedish firm recently spent a week-end in New Plymouth. He went to the local park and saw a football match in progress, the crowd happy and prosperous looking. He visited the seaside on the Sunday, and witnessed hundreda of people enjoying themselves. He saw hundreds of motors full of people and trains .packed with people. He was greatly impressed. “Why,” he said, “you people are the best off in the whole world. You don’t know what trouble or worry is. I You should see the conditions in my country and in England, whence I have jcrit- come. They are simply awful. They are face to face with want, with privation. Thousands—nay, hundreds of thousands —do not know where to get the next meal. Times are not only bad in Europe; they are desperate. And you out here are happy, can raise a real laugh —I’ve not heard spontaneous laughter of late until I came to New Zealand —and go about as if nothing ails you, your country, or the world. Happy New Plymouth, happy Taranaki. happy New Zealand! Would that I could bring out some of my people to see, if only for a day, the smiling faces . of your people, and hear the laughter of the children! It’s grand; it’s a tonic to me. Surely there must still be some hope for the world.” Dairy farmers and all interested are reminded of the address on the future of the bacon industry to be given at Omata this evening, and at Warea and Okato on Thursday. Buy a NORTH BRITISH (“Unique”) RUBBER HOT WATER BAG. On eale by chemists, rubber and hardware stores. See the brand bn the neck. Quality i* superb. S

“Factories that have consigned for twenty-five years have only been beaten twice in that period,” said Mr. W. V. Harkness/ chairman of the Tariki Dairy Company at yesterday’s annual meeting, wh/n lie was reviewing the consigning versus selling policy in regard to disposal of dairy produce. In supporting the directorate’s action in consigning last season’s output, Air. Harkness said the company had always been a consigning one, and they decided to stick to the principle. Though they had made a loss this year through following the past policy, he was confident they would make up the difference in the long run on consigning. “Some stuff has been traced through eleven different hands before it reached the market,” said Air. W. V. Harkness, chairman of the Tariki Dairy Company, in speaking at the annual meeting yesterday on the question of the marketing of New Zealand produce at Home, and the efforts of the New Zealand Producers’ Alarketing Association. Air. Harkness pointed out that if the companies co-operated in disposing of their outputs through the one channel they could sell a lot cheaper, and cut out several of the middlemen, in addition to securing better results for themselves.

Some consternation was caused in the Chinese laundry opposite the New Plymouth post office last night by the arrival of a motor car crashing through the window backwards. It appears that the driver of the motor turned into Devon Street from Queen Street, in the reverse gear and brought up opposite the laundry. Intending to proceed down the post office hill, he engaged the reverse gear by mistake and sent the clutch hard home, with the result that the car bounded across the footpath and smashed through the window before it could be pulled up.

The work on Baine’s Terrace on Saturday last consisted in cleaning up the slopes between the Carrington Road and the Huatoki. Some acacia trees on the north side of the bridge in Vivian Street were cut down and removed. These had obstructed the view of motor car drivers and others using the road. Work next week will be commenced in the bend of the Carrington Road, between Vivian and Courtenay Streets. This area requires clearing of debris, eradicating fennel! and other weeds, and levelling and planting. This will involve much, hard work. The committee would be very thankful for further help, both in voluntary labor and money. On Saturday Airs. G. King and Mrs. Summerville provided workers with afternoon tea.

The South African footballers have pleasant memories of the run into the picturesque country of North Taranaki and the visit to the homestead of Mr. A. H. Halcombe, of Urenui, which occupied one day of their visit to New Zealand. The contents of a letter, written at sea and posted at Sydney, which Mr. Halcombe received recently, plainly indicate this. In expressing thanks for the hospitality extended, the letter states that the day was one that would long live in their memory, and the wording of it shows that the visitors particularly appreciated having been made to feel thoroughly at home on that day. A photograph bearing the signatures. of the Springboks has been also forwarded to Mr. Halcombe.

An interesting point relating to the Christmas holidays was mentioned by Air. C. Carter at the retailers’ meeting at New Plymouth last night. Mr. Carter said that as the law existed at present there was no provision to allow Saturday to be observed as the late night in special circumstances. One instance of this would occur towards the end of the year, when Christmas Eve would’ fall on a Saturday. It was usual for shops to close on Boxing Day and the day after, but it would be too long a spell if the Saturday half-day was observed as well on this occasion, as it would mean premises would not reopen till Wednesday morning. He favored some steps being taken to secure an amendment of the Shops and Offices Act. which would be before Parliament this session.

The iced cake presented by the Hygienic Bakery to the Vogeltown School Committee for a weight-guessing competition at Saturday’s fair was won by Mr. R. A. Gilbert. Successful competitors who have not already received their prizes can do so on application to Mr. V. Griffiths at his residence, Vogeltown. The children’s competitions resulted as follows: —Cooking: Rene Gilbert 1. Sewing: Seniors (doll’s dress and hat), Mona Black 1; juniors, Jean Tippins 1. Sew|ng: Seniors (doll’s underclothing), Eleanor Hooper 1; juniors, Leslie Blanchett 1. A special prize presented by Airs. S. G. Smith for best sewing was won by Ida Hanwright. The other prizes were presented by Airs. Walker and Miss Gibson. The prizes in tire boys’ woodwork competition were won by Rex. Brown 1, Ray Lawrence 2. The judges for all the children’s competitions were Mrs. C. H. Burgess and Air. S. G. Smith.

The Te Awamutu papei- saye:— “.The movements of a certain farmer on the Te Aliro soldiers’ settlement have aroused a fund of suspicion in that locality during the last few weeks, and the loss of cattle from the herds of one farmer has caused such grave ‘ concern that the police, acting on information they have received, have been busily investigating the reports for some days. The culminating point was reached on Monday, when a warrant was issued for the arrest of the suspected settler. It is alleged that the person responsible for these little escapades has been systematically converting a considerable nv2nl‘ pr "»i -hie neighbor’s cattle to his own ■- and is disposing of them to a well-kno W n firm of land agents and dealers in the Taranaki district.”

Their Excellencies Lora and Lady Jellicoe are patrons of the Victoria League, the New Plymouth branch of which is arranging for the citizens’ ball, which will be held on Friday evening, the 28th inst., in the Coronation Hall. The A'layor gladly accepted the league’s offer to arrange the ball, to which all the citizens are invited to attend. Particulars re prices of tickets and other arrangements will be advertised later.

Your soiled or faded suits, costumes, and dresses can be successfully drycleaned » r dyed and made equal to new at the cost of a few shillings, by J. K. Hawkins and Co., dyers and dry cleaners, Dev 1 Street. New Plymouth. We also renovate felt hats, Panama hats, furs, etc. Now, it does not matter where you live; just post your goods to us, and they will be returned in a few days looking like new. Do it now. You want*to be sure of cleanliness and sanitation when you visit a hairdressing saloon. These important points are fully studied at Preece's Hairdressing Saloon, Devon Street Central. Every razor, shaving brush, comb and hair brush is sterilised each> time they are used. You get a clean, safe, shave. Five chairs, and all skilled workmen.