LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Taranaki Daily News will not be published on Monday (Boxing Day), but will appear as usual on Tuesday. A telegram from Wellington says Mr. Roberts has been re-elected secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Federation.

Two arrests were made by the New Plymouth police last night, one for drunkenness and the other for alleged idle and disorderly conduct. The case* will probably come before the court this morning.

To-night the Regimental Band will parade on Devon Street and play Christmas carols. The band will also make a tour of the town on Christmas morning.

A parrot aroused the inmates of a burning house at Manaia a night or two ago and they had barely time to gather a few articles of clothing, but unfortunately the parrot had to be abandoned in the burning building. Speaking at the gathering of railway men to farewell Mr. Dan Bowie last night, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., expressed his pleasure that the function had commenced with the toast of “The King" and had finished with the National Anthem.

Large numbers of Maoris continue to pass through Wanganui en route to Ratana’s great Christmas camp at Katana. When the Wellington-New Plymouth express arrived on Thursday afternoon, the station platform was crowded with Maoris of all ages. The contest for the Mayoralty of Lower Hutt resulted in Mr. W. T. Strand (councillor) defeating by 337 votes Mr. E. R. Rishworth (Mayor), both of whom resigned their seats to contest the election. The point of difference between the candidates was that the Mayor supported the erection of gasworks, which the ratepayers by a poll sanctioned. Cr. Strand and the Ratepayers’ Association opposed it.

A novel custom will be introduced in Eltham this afternoon. The Eltham Progress League has received advice that Father Christmas is visiting the town at 2 p.m. and special arrangements have been made* to meet him. His sledge will be met by the Pipe Band and leading citizens and escorted to the Town Hall, where he will be given a public welcome, and. afterwards each child present will be presented to Father Christi mas and receive a gift. In all 1650 children from Eltham district have been invited.

Children of New Plymouth tramwaymen were entertained at a Christmas tree function held in the Fitzroy School gymnasium yesterday. A big Christmas tree, which had been prepared by the tramway employees, was loaded with toys and presents of many descriptions, and everv child received a ticket which carried with it a prize. After the prizes were distributed according to the number on the ticket received, the balance of the toys were allotted among the children. The young folk were also provided with sweets.

W. Faulkner, of Auckland, pleaded guilty before Mr. Kenrick, S.M., at the Rotorua Court yesterday, to four charges of false pretences and one of theft, involving the sum of £7O, obtained by valueless cheques issued in Rotorua, To Kuiti, and Hamilton, and stealing from the Taranaki Education Board. He was sentenced to two years' reformative treatment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent.

An alarm of fire was given in New Plymouth at about 9.15 a.m. yesterday., the outbreak being ifi the wash-house of a residence in upper Brougham street, owned by Mrs. Kerr. The Fire Brigade, as usual', was very prompt in responding to the hell and reaching the scene with the small engine. The Hames had already secured such an extensive hold on the wash-house that its practical destruction could not be prevented, but the efficiency of the brigade removed any danger of the fire spreading to the house close by. The insurance on the house did not cover the wash-house.

An annual publication that has filled a place in the home of the farmer and townsman alike, embracing as it does a fund of useful knowledge th information of a general nature, is the Hawera Star Almanack, the 1922 edition of which has just been issued by the publishers, W. A. Parkinson and Co.. Ltd., of Hawera. The Almanack combines diary with calendar and account book, tidetables for the year, and time of sunrise and sunset. A garden calendar for each month, compiled by one of the best horticulturists on the Coast, will be useful to farmer and dweller in town. For the farmer specially is a section dealing information relating to the farm.,, with dairy tables, wages’ and breeders’ table, weights and measures, and much other knowledge of use and interest. The statistics are revised, altered, and in every way, so far as was available at time of going to press, brought up to date.

An auction sale of a valuable beach dairying farm is advertised by the auctioneers, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co., Ltd., in conjunction with Newton King, Ltd., in this paper, lhe property is that at present occupied by Mr. Oliver Cross and is most con venientlv situated on the main road within a mile or two of the Opunake township. It is an excellent dairying proposition and is at present in splendid order. The buildings comprise a new modei’n bungalow with outbuildings, also an up-to-date cowshed, with concrete floor and yard. Electric light is installed in both the dwelling and cowshed. The sale will take place on rhe farm on Wednesday, January 25, at 1.50. In addition will be sold a. quantity of stock, etc., particulars of which will be advertised later.

In order to raise funds towards the expenses of the Wellington 4th Battalion Band, who are going to Wellington to take part in the Dominion hand contest. Mr. Jack Hoskin has consented to organise a grand children’s entertainment This will be held early in February. and with his usual thoroughness, Mr.’ Hoskin is already moving with the object of ensuring success. The programme has been practically arranged, and a commencement will he made with the practices immediately after the Now Year Prior to that date Mr. Hoskin would be pleased to hear from anyone who is willing to take a part in the fancy dancing. In this issue Mr. G. Gibson, of the Aard Taxi Service, announces that vhe uips to the Mokau River, which proved so enjoyable last year, will be resumed, commencing on Sunday, January 1. Housewives shopping to-day with '.he intention ct stocking the Christmas larder should not overlook the fine range of meat at Sole Bros., Devon Street. A large quantity of lamb, sucking pig, veale, etc., will be cleared at prices to suit purchasers before the begin.

AVliat is deemed to be fire blight has made its appearance in the Patea district, says the Press. Apple and pear trees have in some cases had large boughs completely burnt up. At first this was thought to be due to the salt spray, but it is now considered to be the much dreaded fire blight. The Agricultural Department has been communicated with, and their pronouncement will be received shortly. The majority of the dairy factories in the Manawatu district are paying out to suppliers for November on the basis of Is per lb. for butter-fat, but a -few cheese factories which disposed of the season’s output early inr the season are making higher payments. The New Zealand Dairy Union is paying Is 2d per lb. for butter-fat supplied to its factory at Palmerston North. The Levin Dairy Company is pay)ng its suppliers Is 3d per lb. for November, ability being afforded for paying the 3d additional to the ruling rate by the possession of a substantial reserve fund established during the years 01 nign prices for butter and cheese. ■ “Does a hen stop scratching becaufitf the worms are scarce?” forms the text of an article in this month’s “New Zealand’s Business and Industries,” by Mr. J. M. A. Hott, on “Should Money be Spent on Advertising when Business is Depressed?” The writer suggests that this little motto ought to be printed and placed on the desk of a good many business men to-day. Too many or them are sitting down talking about calamities, about troublous times, about short finance, while according to some, the last straw has been added by the publication of the tariff proposals. Surely this is not the right attitude for business men to-day ?

At the Waverley court the other day P. G. Law was charged with assaulting his father at Kohi. Joseph Law, the complainant, said that he leased his farm to defendant and his two brothers. They held the farm for twelve months, but as things did not go satisfactorily he had cancelled the lease and had returned to the farm himself. Defendant had caused him considerable annoyance by leaving the gates open and allowing his horse access to the hay paddock. On the date of the assault he had taken the horse with the intention of impounding it when his son came over and endeavored to get tbe horse away from Him. During the struggle defendant took him by the throat and threw him to the ground. His younger son then interfered. Witness produced a doctor’s certificate testifying to his injuries. The magistrate said that defendant was wrong in seizing the horse for the complainant had a right to impound it. It was regrettable that a son should be charged with assaulting his father. Defendant was ordered to pay £1 and ordered to come up for further sentence if called upon within six months.

Some interesting reminiscences of the railway were given by Mr. Dan Bowie, who was entertained at New Plymouth last night on his retirement from the service. He said that when he came to New Plymouth twenty years ago vne mail train comprised three passenger cars, a small van and another van, half of which was used as a postal department, and the balance was a seeondclasS car. It gradually grew until it comprised eight passenger cars, two vans, and a postal. He recollected one Christmas Eve when it comprised 17 cars, all crowded. After the Main Trunk line went through it dropped, but was now picking up again. Weasels and stoats are becoming a serious pest in New Plymouth’s environs. Several suburbanites have recently lost chicks and fowls, and no fewer than five (including a full sized drake) in one night. Another for a long time has been losing one or two members of his fowl yard every night. Tie has attempted various means of capturing the rodents, but without success. Can any of our readers suggest a plan by which the nocturnal visitors can be captured or killed?

The case of a railwayman who recently suffered severe injuries through an explosion was mentioned by Mr. S. G.‘ Smith, M.P., at a gathering of railway servants last evening. Mr. Smith informed those present that the accident to theii* former fellow employee “Bill” Mather had aroused the utmost sympathy of «every member of Parliament and from every side of the House. There was a likelihood that as a result of the petition from the A.S.R.S. Mather’s case would be re-considered, and that in addition to the £.lOOO he had already received, further help might be given in order that the family would be comfortably provided for.