LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A cable from London says the Post-master-General announces arrangements for telegraph greetings to Australia and New Zealand on Christmas morning and New Year’s Day at quarter rates if the messages are handed in not later than December 21 and December 28.

The retail price of butter will be reduced by id per. lb in New Plymouth this morning. This is the second reduction during the last fortnight, the new prices now being 1/10 per lb for pats ad 1/9 for bulk butter. The body of Albert S. Boardman, who was drowned while bathing near the mouth of the Waiwakaiho river on Sunday last, was found by a native on the beach at Bell Block yesterday. An inquest will be held this morning at 10 o’clock, and the funeral will probably take place this afternoon. From the list of old boys of New Plymouth High School who have been successful in keeping terms at Victoria ‘for 1921, the name of C. White was inadvertently omitted. This student was successful in keeping terms at Victoria College.

In his annual report, the headmaster of the West End School stated: “During the year Dr. Gunn paid two visits to the school. She expressed herself as very pleased with the great improvement in the condition of the children's mouths, which she rightly attributes to tooth-brush drill, taken now by all pupils in the school. Very few septic mouths were discovered.”

Thirty applications under the Discharged Soldiers’ Acts were dealt with us follows at this week’s meeting of the Taranaki Land Board:—Twelve applications for stock were recommended, 1 deferred and 9 refused; 2 applications to transfer were recommended. 3 deferred and 2 refused; 1- application for an additional building grant was deferred.

The New Plymouth Beautifying Society continued their good work on Huatoki Terrace last Saturday in cleaning up ru' bish and making paths and general improvements. It is the society’s intention to-morrow to finish ( off the work for the year by cleaning up Baine’s Terrace. ’ Then 'the work will be suspended till after the holidays. Thanks are due to Mrs. Billing, Mrs. Ben. Sutherland, and Miss Sutherland for supplying afternoon tea to the workers last Saturday.

A meeting of delegates from the local troops of scouts was held last night in St. Mary’s Hall, New Plymouth, to form a local association of management. Messrs. G. Goldsworthy, Stace, Wulman, Gray, Milne, Hawkins and the commissioner were present as representatives. An apology was received from Mr. Roy Deare. The commissioner took the chair, and explained what was required to comply with the new regrhv tions. Mr. G. Goldsworthy was elected chairman, Mr. Gray secretary, and Mr. Stace treasurer. After some routine business had been settled, the commissioner announced that he had nominated Mr. Milne as deputy commissioner during his absence in Canterbury. The meeting adjourned till Monday evening.

A conviction for a breach of the Stock ‘Act was recorded against Alexander Alexander in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday, and he was fined £5 and costs 7s for having removed a line of stock under 18 months from Taranaki to the area south of the Patea River without complying with the regulations which required inoculation against black-leg within 21 days before removal. Defendant admitted having committed the offence through ignorance. The inspector (Mr. F. W. Sutton) said the department regarded the breach as a rather serious one, as it might have resulted in the spreading to a free area of black-leg, which had been confined to Taranaki for many years. The cattle had been kept under observation, and fortunately no harm appeared to have done. The magistrate remarked that the minimum fine was £2, and the maximum £2OO, but he thought this case would be met witbout a heavy fine. The directors’ report of the Hawera Winter Show Company referred to the success of the 1921 exhibition, which included splendid exhibits in the school section worth going a long way to see. The profit from the show ( £695), stated the report, was a record in the history of the society. Of the profit for the year the directors recommended writing "off £360 9s 8d and transferring the balance to reserve. In regard to future space, the directors were keeping in mind the need for further buildings, a question that required careful consideration. During the year the purchase was made of a property in Albion Street, adjoining the buildings, and this would prove very useful. Tn regard to rents, the permanent annual amounts were £566, while during the year £357 was received from other sources. These, added to show revenue, gave a grand total of £l6lB, so that the prospects for the coming year were bright. The attention of the people of South Taranaki was drawn to the importance of the show to the district.

Nominations for the monster sports carnival, to be held at Eltham on Boxing Day. close with the secretary at Eltham to-morrow (Saturday).

Some remarkably beautiful designs in shadow tissue are now being displayed at Morey’s. Your early visit to inspect is recommended in view of the low price ruling.

Merit tells. Without it no commercial commotlity can hope to retain a position in the forefront of the public favor, no matter how much it may be advertised. “Fairy Wonder” Washing Powder is a shining example of how a new household help poorly advertised has ousted all the older but much boomed washing compounds from the market through sheer mwrlt

It is reported that seven deaths have occurred amongst the Maoris at Maungatautari (near Cambridge) during the past fortnight.

A pathetic case was heard at the Children’s Court in Auckland on Saturday. when a disabled returned soldier with inadequate means opposed the committal of his three children to the State. He had divorced his wife, whom he found with a six weeks’ old infant on his return from the Front. Speaking at Eketahuna last week, Dr. Truby King stated that alongside every school there should be a swimming pond. No other exercise conduces so much to health and fitness. In the North Island bathing could continue the year round; in the South Island for six or eight months of the year.

There was a pitiful scene in the Auckland Police Court on Friday, when a very young, frail-looking woman, attired in black, faced the Magistrate on a charge of having attempted suicide. It was a sad story, listening to the telling of which the unfortunate woman collapsed and fell heavily to the floor, whilst her little child screamed in terror and her women relatives burst into weeping. She was hurriedly lifted up, and removed into the open air, and the Magistrate immediately declared the woman to be “convicted and discharged.” lier story was that the accused ,and her husband both contracted influenza. The man died, and though the wife recovered, she was terribly depressed by her loss and took poison.

The Wanganui Chronicle says: When the inter-colonial steamer Joan Craig, sails from Castlecliff for Melbourne she will take from this port the largest shipment of timber taken from here in one consignment. The shipment consists of 750.000. sup. feet of white pine. It is interesting to know that the steamer discharged a cargo at Wellington, and it was found cheaper to bring the vessel on to Wanganui rather than load her at Wellington. This was in the main accounted for by the shorter railage distance, the timber coming from the Main Trunk mills, and also through the port charges being smaller at Wanganui than at the capital city.

A little story, demonstrating the late Bishop Nevill’s keen sense of humor was told by Dr. Fulton at a meeting of the Otago Institute (says the Otago Daily Times). The story, said Dr. Fulton, had been related to him by Bishop Nevill on two or three occasions—the last time about twelve months ago Many years ago Dr. Hector had visited Dunedin, and had discussed scientific •subjects with the Bishop. The conversation turned on kauri trees, and Dr. Hector had given it as his opinion that they did not grow below a certain latitude—that their growth was practically confined to the North Auckland district. 'The Bishop was rather sceptical about this statement, and managed to secure a small tree from Auckland. This he planted at Bishopsgrove. About fifteen years inter Dr. Hector again visited Dunedin, and called on Bishop Nevill. Bishop Nevill told him that his plantation was growing nicely, but that there was one tree he could not name. Walking to the tree, the Bishop casually tapped it with his stick, said he did not know what it was, and strolled on leisurely. Dr. Hector’s curiosity was at once fully excited. He stopped, and critically examined the tree. “Good gracious me!” said he; “its a kauri, and the Bishop smiled his appreciation of his own little joke. Dr. Fulton went on to say that this tree was now some 40ft. to 50ft. high, and that it wa% probably the largest kauri in the South Island.

Can a magistrate dissolve a marriage that isn’t a marriage? Amy Matheson (Mr. Sullivan) asked the Magistrate’s Court for a separation order against H. L. Matheson (Mr. Waddingham). According to the story of the complainant, she had been married only five months, and at the end of that time discovered, that the man with whom she had gone through the ceremony of marriage was already married, and that his wife was living.'The Court was asked for an order granting separation and maintenance. The evidence was heard some days ago, and Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., reserved judgment, which he delivered subsequently. The S.-M. held that the second mar■riage was null and void, and the Destitute Persons Act did not enable the Court to separate people who had not been properly married. . The complainant was not defendant’s wife, and no order could be made. The complaint was therefore dismissed.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of Allen Stewart Blackie, who is awaiting sentence on two charges of failing to account for moneys - , was held at Hamilton. Bankrupt’s statement showed unsecured creditors £714, thq only assets being an equity of £279 in certain sections. Mr. Northcroft, who ap'peared for Blackie, said bankrupt had done extremely fine war service, but he had been bombed and gassed, and this appeared to have affected his mental balance, and since his return he hd made such grotesque transactions that they could only conclude he was not normal. Bankrupt stated that when he entered the motor business he knew nothing of it, and when it failed to pay he commenced to drink and behave recklessly. He started with £l2 cash and owing a local man £l3O. Mr. Sanson, deputy official assignee, said that Blackie had kept no books. The general feeling was that the case was hopeless, and the meeting adjourned sine die.

“Now that retrenchment is so prominently before us, it is not likely that there will be any forward move in the direction of increasing the staffing and accommodation of schools, and yet the huge classes in some of our town schools are a great menace to the health of both teacher and scholar,” stated the headmaster of the Central school (Mr H. A. Stratford) in his annual report at the breaking-up ceremony yesterday. “Every school, too, of the size of the Central should, I think, be enabled to make separate provision for “retardates,” who, under a qualified teacher, would have special treatment. The present unwieldy classes render it impossible to give proper attention to these particular cases. Until these pupils are given more opportunity to develop, can our education system be considered thoroughly satisfied?” Preparations are now well in hand for the picnic and sports to be held at the Frankleigh Domain to-morrow. Motor-* lorries will leave town from the Daily News corner from 11 a.m. onwards. The committee have spareci no pains to make to-morrow's function enjoyable for young and old alike, and, given fine weather, a successful day’s sport is assured.

The Melbourne.. Limited’s, new voile blouses have arrived. These have been somewhat delayed in transit owing to trouble in Belfast, where they are made. Ladies will be delighted with the new, dainty styles, as stock just to hand represents the highest perfection of the famous hand embroidery art. Prices range from 15/6 to 45/-, maiyr 4nclud«d«