LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is understood that a petition is in circulation praying the Te Awamutu Borough Council to revert to the Wednesday half-holiday.

In his report, to be presented to the New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday night, the engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) states that all plant, etc., is in readiness to commence tar work which will be in hand in a few days. In December 921 water services were inspected in New Plymouth and 59 notices regarding defective fittings were served. The engineer’s report states that the notices are being complied with satisfactorily. Twenty-two new services were laid.

It is estimated that 3025 visits were made by people to the New Plymouth baths during ln his usual report to the council Inspector Day states tnat the baths had a successful month, the revenue being £4O 9s, of which £7 5s was for 122 hot baths.

Reporting to the New Plymouth Borough Council the engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) states that large numbers of persons visited the cemetery during the holidays, one of whom was so pleased with the grounds that he suggested a box should be placed in view for voluntary subscriptions towards its upkeep.

Good- progress is now being made, it is stated, with the construction of the Lower Awskino Valley Road, between Awakino nad Mahoenui. A number of additional men are said to have been put on the work and labor-saving machinery is being employed. A few lucerne crops may be seen along the line between Wanganui and Paten. The first cutting has been made and stacked, and the second growth gives promise of another good yield of fodder. Turnip and rape crops are also looking well after thp recent heavy rains. Stock slaughtered for local consumption at the New Plymouth abattoir in December was: 170 cattle, 24 calves, 798 sheen, 630 lambs, 127 pigs, and 14 sucking pigs. Compared with the corresponding month of last year they show an increase of 68 sheep, 51 limbs, 4 pigs, and one stfcjcing pig, and a decrease of 20 cattle ami 15 calves. One bullock and 3 pigs - ondemned.

A man named Robert McKenzie, of Waitara, was admitted to the New Plymouth hospital yesterday morning suffering from an injured leg, caused by an accident. It was thought at first that the limb had been fractured, but an examination revealed that this was not the case, but that the knee had been fractured. No details of the accident are available.

“A very large encampment is being held on the racecourse by the Seventh Day Adventists,” states Inspector Day in reporting to the New Plymouth Borough Council. “I have paid regular visits to oversee the sanitary arrangements, and those in charge are to be complimented upon the excellent arrangements made and the general cleanliness of the camp.” Forty-four applications were received during December by the New Plymouth Borough Council for the supply of electricity. Five additions have been made to existing consumers’ installations, and 13 • connections have been made. The system ■ was changed over on December 18 and the I three phase current is now in operation on I most of the circuits. Changing over existing motors is now being pushed on as quickly as possible. A Paris cable reports that a train which | left Hanover had 23,000 swarms of bees on board. The German Government, through the Central Co-operative Society of Agriculture, is sending the bees into Entente territory by virtue of a clause in the Peace Treaty. Unlike horses, cows, and pigs, bees do not figure by name in the treaty, but by article 4 of the reparations clause, paragraph 3, it is provided that a list of articles to be restored to the Allies shall be listed 60 days after the coining into force of the treaty. The bees were ineluded in the list. The programme to be presented by the New Plymouth Sports Committee at Puke--kura Park at 8 o’clock to-night should make the performance a popular success. An open air concert, aided by the talent produced, in such beautiful surroundings abauld be au event to be reui«nber«L

A meeting of the North Taranaki branch of the Royal Life Saving Society was held last night to make arrangements for the visit of Mr. Knox, one of the chief organisers of the society, who is to arrive by the boat from Onehunga on Tuesday. Examinations for bronze medallions will be held on Tuesday afternoon and evening, Mr. Knox and Mr. N. A. Christiansen acting as examiners. In the evening four swimming events will also be held. Messrs. P. A. Mathieson and F. J. Eggleton were apponited to make final arrangements in connection with the visit. The swift current of the Ashburton River near fhat town was responsible for carrying a child, aged six years, off its feet into deep water a day or two ago (reports a southern paper). The mother attempted to rescue the child, but was socui in difficulties herself. Prompt assiAanee was lent by a bystander, Mr. A. Jackman, and both mother and child were quickly brought to land, none the worse for their adventure.

A whole mountain of soap 'has been found in the northern part of Arkansas by a mining engineer, Elmer Bird, who thinks the discovery will add greatly to the mineral wealth of the State. Mr. Bird, who has charge of the laboratory of the Engineering Exploration Company, with offices at Little Rock, says the mineral is saponite, a natural soap, and that such a vast bed has been discovered that it is believed to contain several hundreds of thousands of tons. A Wanganui resident has just received a letter from a merchant in Glasgow, in which interesting references are made to and other conditions in that city. He quotes prices then current for meat:—Mutton, 2s 4d lb; beef, Is 8d to 2s 2d; lamb, 3s 4d; fresh eggs, 5s per dozen; butter. 3s lb; bread. Is per 41b loaf. “1* feel very sorry for the working people, many of whom are receiving only four to six days’ work in a fortnight.” The writer added that they would like to get cattle at the prices quoted in New Zealand.

The present season was described the other day by a King Country farmer as being one of the best he could remember as far as the growth of pasture was concerned. Stock of all descriptions were doing remarkably well, and the growth of feed was also reflected in the increased supplies to the dairy factories. Unfortunately the drop in prices of primary products had led to stagnation in the market for store cattle and sheep, but a large percentage of fats should be got away this season. There were still some properties changing hands in the district, he added, notwithstanding the slump, but the prices were moderate compared with the standard of values of even twelve months ago. x

An instructive insight into the valuable work carried out at the New Plymouth Technical College is contained in “The Egmontonian,” the j’ournal of the college, the December number of which has recently been issued. It is only the second volume of this publication, and the fund of interesting reading and the collection of striking pictures characteristic of the school enable it to be compared favorably wth older established school magazines. The photos are a particularly good feature, comprising views of classes at work, glimpses of the mechanical workshops, and photos embracing outdoor recreations of the pupils. The aims of the school, and a lot of information for intending pupils, fill the first few pa£eß, anfi this is followed by interesting paragraphs of school news. Interesting notes concerning the movements of former pupils is another feature of a well arranged and interesting- school magazine.

A unique athletic performance was made by Mr. F. Findlay, of New Plymouth, at the sports gathering in connection with the annual conference. of Presbyterian Bible Classes, which concluded at Nelson last week. Mr. Findlay winning seven events and coming second in the hurdles. There was keen competition for the men’s banner and it was soon evident that the issue lay between New Plymouth, Nelson, and Wellington. The Nelson boys were conspicuous in endeavoring to obtain and keep the lead, but the outstanding and sporting performance of Findlay, the sole representative of New Plymouth, and the holder of a Scottish championship, made it impossible to obtain a decisive lead. For the first time in the 21 years’ history of the movement two centres tied for the Dominion banner, the final result being New Plymouth and Nelson first with 23 points each. The banner will thus be held by each centre for six months, Mr. Findlay immediately consenting to Nelson holding it for the first six months.

These at the Melbourne, Ltd.:— L lvy mending wool in foz. balls, 1/-; Baldwin’s 3-ply wool in iblack, white and grey one-ounce skeins, 1/-; ladies’ cotton singlets, 2/fi; hlocked’lndia tape, 2d; Newey’a famous hairpins, 2d packet; Nowey’s best quality dress snap fasteners, 3d card: Clark’s sewing cotton, 2 ree*ra for 9<l. Other haberdashery lines in fail supply. “Sinus,” the famous milking machine cleanser, is meeting with an extraordinary sale this season, due no doubt to the criticism at dairy factory meetings in regard to the supplying of impure milk. Absolute cleanliness is one of the first laws in handling milk, and it is gratifying to find our dairy farmers awakening to a realisation of that fact.

Messrs. Emeny and Co., brick makers, Douglas Road, Stratford, notify that they are prepared to supply bricks in any quantity. The firm have a very long experience as brickmakers and know all the requirements of the trade. Samples and prices may be seen at Russell and Sons’ yards, St. Aubyn Street, New Plymouth.

Weather permitting, the 4th Battalion (Taranaki Rifles) Band will give a recital at Kawaroa Park to-morrow (Sunday), at 2.4’5 pan. The Matron of the hospital wishes to thank Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Burgess for a case of oranges for the children in the hospital. Messrs. Harkness Vosseler and Young have taken over the new iron foundry on South Road, lately occupied by R. S. Wooldridge, Ltd. Clients may rely upon prompt and efficient service.