LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In response to its application on behalf of the Vogeltown School the Taranaki Education Board ha-s been informed that a grant for additions cannot he made at the present time. Butter with registered brands is retailing in Wellington to-day at 1/10 and in some places at 1/9 per pound. Cheese is selling at from 1/2 to 1/6, and eggs at from 1/6 to 1/10 per doz. —Press Association.

“'Whenever we bring this man to Court he seems to develop some mysterious complaints, and stows himself away in the Hospital.” said counsel in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court recently, during the hearing of a maintenance case. “Well, I’m going to stow him away in the Terrace Gaol for six l months,” was the quick response of the Magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.). The proposal to raise the school age was referred to by a member at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Education Board, and he asked if there was any likelihood of it coming into force soon. “With lack of teachers, lack of schools and most of all, lack of money, I don’t see how it can come about at present,” said the senior inspector (Mr. J. A. Valintine).

The large number of motor vehicles in. use in the Dominion in relation to the size of the population was indicated in some figures quoted by Mr. M. H. Wynyatd, president of the Good Roads Association at Auckland. As far as could be estimated, he said, there were 30,000 motor vehicles, or about one car to every 40 persons. In the United States there -were about 8,000,000 cars, or about one to l3 inhabitants; in Canada, 1 to 23; Victoria, 1 to 90; England, 1 to 150; and in France, one car to every 200 inhabitants.

Ae an illustration of what an organising teacher sometimes encounters in the back districts, Mr. J. A. Valintine (senior inspector) told the Taranaki Education Board yesterday that in the course of his visit to a backblocks school one teacher canne across a boy of 14 years who had never been to school before. There were also others of school age in the family, and as the result of the organiser’s investigations the children were now going to school three times a week to get some education. The reads in the locality were rather rough to permit of the pupils going every day.

“It would be a very nice thing to sfee a boys’ fire brigade in action,” said the Mayor of Stratford (Mr. J. W. McMillan) at the annual dinner of the Stratford Fire Brigade on Tuesday night. He understood that there were a number of boys in the brigade, and he would like to see a brigade composed solely of boys. He suggested that they should commence by inaugurating a boys’ brigade, in connection with the boy scouts’ movement, or amongst the school boys. If the boys gave a street demonstration it would attract attention to the work of the brigade and add to its. popularity. Later in the evening the Mayor offered two gold medals for competition amongst members of a junior brigade, which he wanted to see inaugurated before long.

In the course of a brief reply in the House to the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. T. M. Wilford), who had asked about several items of the country’s finances with the object of learning how sums had been spent, the Prime Minister said that all the desired information would be given to the member in the financial statement, which ho did not expect would be quite ready for two or three weeks. He added that he wished to dispel an impression that the. country had had a surplus of £6,000,000 in cash. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton): Assets, not cash. Mr. Massey: “Tire member has just expressed it.” Mr. Massey added that part was in cash, but he would supply particulars later. It was stated in our report of the Expansion and Tourist League meeting that Mr. A. L. Humphries was secretary, This should have been Mr. E. L. Humphries.

New Zealand’s railway rolling stock will be increased by 2500 new 12-ton steel wagons within the next few months. A thousand of these will be allocated to Auckland.

“There is no machinery in existence at present to compel a returned soldier who takes up Crown land to pay rates on it unless he desires to do so,” was a remark vouchsafed by a delegate at the Counties’ Conference.

There Is quite a boom ih tree-planting in Canterbury, according to the departmental “Newsletter” of the Forest Service, and “it is estimated that in North Canterbury alone private enterprise will be responsible for the establishment this season of fully 1000 acres of exotic vegetations. The demand has been so great that the State, nurseries and a few firma who, as regards prices, are keeping in line with us, have been unable to cope with the business.” “I hope it Will not be long before we have ladies in Parliament,” said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart on Thursday, in the course of a speech at the luncheon given by the Wellington City Council to the delegates attending the Municipal Conference. He explained that when the House divided on the Bill to allow women to become members of Parliament. Dr. Poinare, who was voting against the measure, remarked to him: “If this goes through I will have an old Maori wahine elected, and she will sit alongside you all day eating dried shark.” Commenting on the business outlook, the chairman of the N.Z. Farmers’ Cooperative Association of Canterbury said that, unlike previous experiences of depressions, the one through which they were now passing was practically of world-wide significance, and, although its effects had been felt and were still pressing heavily upon many, especially the producers, their troubles were comparatively light as compared with those in many parts of the world. He was sanguine the worst was over, and providing every reasonable economy was practised, and everyone did his or her best toward production and work, they would soon get back to easier conditions. ‘

In the House Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) has given notice to ask the Minister Of Education whether, in view of the fact that in some cases district high schools are being disestablished and technical and technical high schools established in their stead, and as it appears to be a part of the Government’s policy to establish technical high schools, he will extend the department’s regulations to cover children attending these schools by making an allowance for board to the same extent as those attending district high schools, who through impracticability of conveyance have to live away from home in order to attend, provided that the regularity of the child’s attendance is not less than 85 per cent.? In a note, Mr Masters sayst Children at present attending district high schools under the above regulations have an allowance made to them for board, but upon the school being disestablished and a technical school established in its stead lose their allowance, although it is only a change in name of the school and scholars take the same subjects as previously. A preliminary announcement appeals in the auction columns of a clearing sale to be held at Tarata on Thursday next on account of Messrs. Gall and Sons. The vendors are going out of farming, consequently everything on the farm is for sale. Full particulars will be advertised later.

The sale of warehouseman’s stock, which has been running at Webster’s new mart since Monday, with good attendances. will be .continued to-day (Thursday) and on Friday. Particulars appear in auction columns. We are asked to mention that China tea sets, which were cleared yesterday, will again be available from fresh supplies arriving on Friday. Despite the unpropitious weather on Tuesday morning, there was a large crowd of shoppers waiting for the doors to open at the Melbourne, Ltd., the Occasion being the commencement of the firm’s gigantic sale of salvage goods from the recent fire. The sale will continue until the whole of the fire stock has been disposed of. “Fairy” Wonder” washing powder is a pure product, the result of the scientific effort in search of an active soluble detergent noli-injurious to fabrics of any kind. In addition the compound contains an ingredient which bleaches and another which prevents the hands from reddening or chapping. “Fairy” will also soften the hardest water. Try a packet.

In connection with the Citizens’ Ball to be 'held in honor of their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Jellicoe, the Victoria League, who are arranging the function, are being assisted by the Returned Soldiers’ Association, so that the general decorations should be well Worthy of the occasion, and of the great sailor whom the soldiers, for whom the navy kept the seas, are delighted to honor. The members of the Savage Club are also assisting in the preparation of the Coronation Hall, and are arranging for a special orchestra, so that the music will be a feature of what will undoubtedly be one of the finest ’ functions held in Taranaki. . The general arrangements, including supper, which will be in keeping with the other details, is in the hands of the president (Mrs. C. H. Burgess), and the ladies of the league, with other assistance, including the cooperation of the Mayor and .Mayoress. Mr. H. G. Staub, seedsman, of Hawera, is making a specialty of spring seedlings, of which he has a very wide variety on liand, all hardy and ready for •ransplanting. Already he has supplied kli-gc numbers of seedlings to residents of tile town and district, and is prepared to cope with any demand, as a visit to his premises in Regent Street, Hawera will convince.