LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual camp of the Seventh Day Adventists, which is being, held in New Plymouth, will commence to break up today. The Eltham County Council decided on Saturday that the weekly half-holiday for the Eltham County should be on Thursday. The price of butter has been reduced in Auckland from Is 4d to Is 2d wholesale and Is 7d to Is 4d retail for first grade.— Press Association. A programme was rendered by the 4th Battalion Band at Kawaroa Park yesterday afternoon, when there were many visitors to the seafront. A collection in aid of the band funds realised £ll.

The exports of the Dominion during the tw’elve months ended November 30th last were valued at £44,194,726. The value of the exports for the twelve months ended on the previous November 30th was £45,065,475.

At a meeting of the Eltham County Council on Saturday, Councillor McGuinness protested emphatically against the manner in which council workmen were proceeding with their duties, and declared that there should be a “speeding up.” Other councillors spoke in support of Councillor McGuinness, but no 'action was taken.

The Minister of Defence (Sir Heaton Rhodes) was on Friday able to supply some details regarding the approaching visit of H.M.A.S. Melbourne to New Zealand. The Australian naval authorites are sending the ship here for the purpose of a training cruise, and also with the idea of further cementing the good feeling existing between the Australian fleet and the New Zealand Division of the British Navy. The Melbourne may be expected in Auckland on. January 22 or 23, at Wellington on January 28 or 29, at Lyttelton on February 2, and at Dunedin on February 8. She will remain at Dunedin till February

Yesterday morning, in the lake in Pukekura Park, the Seventh Day Adventists performed the solemn and sacred rite of baptism by immersion in placid waters, when seventeen candidates went forward, nine brethren and eight sisters. The ceremony was performed by Pastor W l . Gillis in the presence of about 400, comprising campers and visitors from the town. The weather proved propitious, and the beautify.! surroundings presented a striking scene as’ candidate after candidate was buried after the example of their Master in the watery grave. Adventists believe that the scriptural method of baptism is immersion, representing spiritual death, burial, and resurrection to a new life.

A practical joker upset the anticipations of some of the Seventh Day Adventists in camp in New Plymouth. Somebody circulated a message amongst them that a prominent citizen was going to entertain them yesterday, and that he had made arrangements to motor parties to the mountain. It spread glad tidings in the camp, but the passing of yesterday and the absence of the prominent citizen and his motor cars revealed the hoax. Unfortunately the practical joker, probably aiming at the prominent citizen, had missed his mark, and the joke was against the visitors.

The open air concert held at Pukekura Park on Saturday night drew an attendance of about 1800 people, and the financial result should be in the vicinity of £6O. Proceeds are to be devoted to the sports ground improvements funds. Pleasapt weather conditions prevailed and the programme of vocal and instrumental items was much enjoyed by the large numbers who gathered in the beautiful surroundings of the park. The programme comprised items by the battalion band under Conductor Lowe, songs by Mrs. F. C. Ferry, Messrs. F. Baird, P. Frederic, quartette by the Melody Four (Messrs. Hooker, Macdonald, North, and Okey), euphonium solo, Mr. J. Lowe, and trombone trio by Messrs. H. Kay, E. Feek, and A. Handley. Accompaniments were played by Mrs. P. Frederic.

According to reports received by the police some person or persons are engaged in night prowling in the residential quarters in New Plymouth. Householders should guard against leaving doors open or allowing money or valuables to lie loose about the house. The residence of Mr. E. G. McDougall, of Smart Road, was entered either late on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday morning, and the intruder secured £l5 in notes from a wallet left in a suit in the kitchen, and a wristlet watch. The burglar left, the wallet behind and also missed a £1 note. A residence in Fitzroy was visited about 2.30 on Saturday morning. The lady of the house heard the intruder and after calling her sons went to investigate, when she noticed a man hiding in a neighbor’s property. When the male occupants got on to the verandah of the house the man was seen disappearing round the Post Office corner.

Since the cessation of advances to soldiers for the building of houses under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, those men desiring to build had been advised to make application under the Advances to Settlers Act, said Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranak) in the House on Friday. Many of them found, however, that the maximum amount which they could obtain by this means was not sufficient for their purposes. When they came to make up the difference from other sources some of them found that they were being asked to pay exorbitant rates of interest for the money required. He asked the Prime Minister as Minister for Finance if he would consider raising the maximum to be obtained in this way so that all soldiers might be on the same footing in the matter of loans. Mr. Massey said that he was sorry that he could not promise to increase the maximum to be obtainable this way, but he hoped that, when things came back to normal (as he believed they soon would) the advances would be more easily available to these men.

The Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to draw clients’ attention to their Stratford sale to be held to-morrow (Tuesday), January 17, at 12.30 p.m. Owing to the breakdown of the railway service, 150 boxes of assorted fruits were not receivel here until late Saturday afternoon. These are being disposed of this morning at Webster Bros, mart at 11 o’clock. Hot weather frequently causes imperfect digestion, producing sick headache and flatulence. For adults half a wineglassful of Sharland’s Magnesia several times a day wMI readily correct the stomach .trouble,

The Seventh Day Adventists’ Choir Orchestra rendered a programme of music at the New Plymouth hospital last Thursday afternoon, it being greatly appreciated by the patients and staff. A petition is being largely signed in Masterton, praying that Parliament will bring down legislation to provide that the fixing of the weekly half-holiday shall be left entirely to the retailers themselves. The price fo milk was reduced from 8d to 7d per quart in Wellington as from January 1. Owing to the flush season the price per quart (delivered) in Palmerston North, Masterton, and some other country towns is 4d per quart. The matron of the New Plymouth hospital wishes to thank the following for Christmas gifts: The Misses Hunt, Messrs. May and Arrowsmith, cake; Messrs. Burgess Fraser and Co., case of apples; City Meat Store, lamb; Mr. Swindle, vegetables; Mrs. Ellerm, Mrs. Wallach, and Messrs. Little, Tod and Strong, flowers.

Rats not hungry! This (writes the Health Department) is the reason why many fail to trap rats or to entice them with poisoned food. All possible avenues of usual food supply must be closed to the rat. Plague precautions demand a careful gathering of all scraps and the use of bins with close-fitting lids. Remember that a piece of candle or a greasy rag smells good to a rat, and is part of its usual food. Uoison or trap, but kill the rat!

Referring to the wash-out on the railway line at Whenuakura a southern paper states: “The discovery was made by the driver of the fast goods train northward bound to Patea, who managed to pull up just in time to avoid disaster.” Probably this will be the first intimation, as far as Taranaki residents are concerned that they have a “fast” goods train service from Wanganui.

A holiday-maker at Kawhia states that on the ocean beach holes may be dug in the sand that quickly fill with mineral water. It is possible, he says, to get baths of various temperatures, and that it is delightful, after having soaked well in one of these improvised baths, to rush down and plunge into the breakers. He says that this is most invigorating, and is a very popular practice with those who know of it.—Te Kuiti Chronicle.

The responsibility of taxi-drivers in the matter of accounting for goods left in their cars by passengers was made clear in a case heard at the Auckland Police Court (states (he Herald). A taxi-driver, having found a purse containing Ils 10£d in cash and a gold watch in his car, held the articles, expecting the owner to return for them, but after a lapse of some days he handed them over to the police. It transpired that he was not aware that the city by-laws required that such articles should be handed over to the city traffic inspector within twenty-four hours of their discovery. The police stated that there was no suggestion of dishonesty on the part of the taxi-driver, and the Magistrate merely entered a conviction.