LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The state in which New Zealand produce sometimes appears on the Home market was the subject of a question asked in the House on Tuesday by Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki). Mr. Smith drew the attention of the Minister of Agriculture to a statement that on «one shipment of cheese there had been a loss of fully £40,000 on account of the damaged state in which the cheese was put on the market. He asked whether the Minister would have inquiries macle, and the latter replied in the affirmative. “We should place qn record the indebtedness we owe to the publicspirited and far-seeing men of years ago who preserved for us and posterity some of the most beautiful and valuable scenic reserves in Taranaki, and particularly in New Plymouth,” said the chairman of the Tourist and Expansion League at last night’s annual meeting. Mr. List specially mentioned Mr. W. H. Skinner, whose work in this respect would be more appreciated as time went on. They had only to think of the mountain reserve of over 80,000 acres to realise what the forethought of these public benefactors had preserved for the province. In acknowledging the compliment, Mr. Skinner, who sought credit for others as well, said that there were other reserves which would be developed as the country was opened up, and future generations would reap the benefit of these. As an instance, he meptioned the Paranihinihi reserve, between Pukearuhe and Tongaporutu, a very beautiful reserve of bush, the value of which would be hard to calculate.

The New .Zealand Children’s Mission was continued last evening in the Whiteley Hall, New Plymouth. During the day the missioner, the Rev. Palgrave Davy, visdted the schools at Vogeltown, Fitzroy and West End. The hall was well-filled last night and the chidren were very attentive. From 6.30 to 7.10 children’s jokes and storyettes were told by Mr. Davy, who has a very original style and keeps his young audience laughing all the time. Then at 7.15 a talk on scenes in Bunyan’s PiljzrUu’s Progress was givan.

It is pointed out in an instructive review dealing with the prevention of plague and the economic loss caused by rats, appearing in -the November, 1920, issue of the International Journal of Public Health, that one pair-of rats, if unmolested and given favorable conditions of life, will within a year give rise to a progeny of 880 rate. Applications are to be called by the Taranaki Hospital, Board for the position of housekeeper at the hospital and nurses’ home. This was decided on yesterday as the result of a recommendation from the house and finance committee who were of opinion that such a position should be created in order that the domestic side of the administration might receive more attention.

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has adopted, the following resolution: “That in view of the financial stringency and the great need that will exist for money for urgent public works and national development for many -years to come, the Government be urged to suspend publication of Hansard, as the money can be more usefully employed in the direction indicated.”

“The freedom from diphtheria noted in the last report was short lived,” remarks the monthly report of the medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker), which was read at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board. “There are now seven cases under treatment and 13 of scarlet fever. One death from diphtheria has to be reported. It cannot be too strongly emphasised that all cases with suspicious throat symptoms should be reported to a medical man without delay. Early treatment in diphtheria goes far to minimise the danger of the disease.-”

“It is the worst period I have struck,” was . the opinion expressed by a prominent railway official at Auckland on Saturday, when referring to traffic on the railways at the present time. He attributes the decrease in volume to the influences of the money market. It was very noticeable because ordinarily New Zealanders were great travellers. “The wool carried on the railways was also down to a minimum, the growers preferring to store their clips in anticipation of better prices than send them forward to the sales.”

The timber trade on the west coast of the South Island is stated to be in a prosperous condition. It is stated by a Greymouth paper that the output this year will be quite as good as that of last year. Up to the present the railway traffic returns show that since the second quarter of this year the exports from the Coast have been greater than those during the corresponding period of last year to the extent of 3,000,000 ft. This is regarded remarkable in view of the fact that many of the smaller mills are idle.

Various classes of sickness have caused a busy time for tlie staff of the New Plymouth public hospital. At the end of September the number of patients remaining in hospital was 106, and the daily average for the month was 103. According to the report of the medical superintendent (Dr. Walker), which w».» read at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board. The farm manager’s report remarked that it was fortunate a good flush of milk 'being experienced, as the requirements of the hospital jumped from 30 to 40 gallons in a day. Several consignments of butter and cheese have been dispatched ftfom New Plymouth already this season, some direct and some via coastal boat to Wellington. The Producers’ Freezing Company has just been advised of two more allocations of space on vessels loading at Wellington next month, viz., Remuera, loading about November 3, all available butter, and 3500 crates of cheese; Tainui, loading about November 12, all available butter and 5000 crates of cheese. It will he noticed that these vessels will take all available butter, while the quantities of cheese named will also practically absorb all the cheese in store.

Arrangements for the opening of the nurses’ home , were discussed by the Taranaki Hospital Board at yesterday’s meeting, and it was decided to invite the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. C. J. -Parr) to officiate at the opening ceremony, to be held towards the end of November. An afternoon tea will be given by the matron and staff. The chairman of the board (Mr. M. Fraser) said thefe was still a good deal of work to be carried out before the contractors were finished, but they would he notified that operations must be finished by the third week in November. The actual date of the opening would depend on what arrangements the Minister could make. The monthly progress report received from the architect stated that three men and one boy had been employed on the building last month, and five men on the boiler house contract. /

• Eltham, always a busy business centre on a Saturday, should be much busier than usual on Saturday next, ae at the instance of the progress committee, a live body that has the interests of the town and district at heart, the business people have adopted a unique idea for further popularising the town as the marketing Wntre of the rich dairying distinct that surrounds it. Particulars of the scheme, which is a very attractive one, appear on page six of this issue, and should appeal to settlers not only in the immediate vicinity of Eltham but throughout Taranaki,- as it is certainly not every day that an opportunity ?s placed before them of obtaining everyday lines at less than cost price. ■Since the local Caledonian Society held their opening ingleside a few weeks ago, there have been many inquiries by members and non-members as to the date of the next Scotch night. The committee, in order to maintain the society in its present flourishing condition, has decided to keep up all, or as many as possible, of the old traditions of Scotland. To do this, Halloween, Hogmanay, St. Andrew’s night, and so on will be celebrated, as near as possible on their respective dates. In the near future it is hoped to revive the old Caledonian sports, always a favorite meeting in every part of New Zealand. Halloween is the flight that was keenly looked forward to when the older ones were boys and girls in the dear old land. Who does not recall the fun, fast and furious, and the “dookin” for apples. Caledonians should, therefore, note well that the society will hold Halloween at the Workers’ Hall on Monday, October 31.

In the realm of household economy the discovery of “Fairy Wonder” washing powder has come as a boon and a 'blessing to tired and overworked housewives. There is nothing to equal it for washing clothes snow-white without the aid of soap or washboard drudgery. Try it, of all grocers.

Come out to the Smart Road works and inspect the manufacture of “T.F.M.” Canned Meats:—lib sheep tongues- 3 lb. and 6 lb. ox tongues; li lbs. and 6 lbs. corned and beef. When you have inspected you will ask your D-rocer for nq tiAhflK brand "T.FAI.”