LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Taranaki County Council at yesterday’s meeting decided to institute proceedings against a property owner who had failed to comply with the terms of a notice served some months ago asking him to cut furze on his road frontage. A resolution was carried at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki'County Council authorising the forwarding of a letter to the inspector of noxious weeds drawing attention to the spread of ragwort in various parts of the county. The Minister of Agriculture stated in the House of Representatives that his department was taking every precaution to prevent foot-and-mouth disease reaching New Zealand from Britain, where a serious outbreak had occurred. The quarantine regulations were being enforced.

Referring to roa,d maintenance at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki County Council, the chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett) reported that this season eight miles of tarring had been completed, and it was intended to do about another nine miles if weather conditions permitted. He was pleased to say that the work was progressing much more satisfactorily than had previously been the case.

Large consignments of benzine were transported south from the New Plymouth wharf by motor lorries yesterday, importers evidently finding that it is much cheaper to transport their own supplies than to rail them. Importers of benzine from Hawera, Eltham and Stratford had their lorries on the roads as early as four o’clock yesterday morning and expected to be working until late at night.

A move is being made in New Plymouth to appoint a paid secretary for the various sporting societies, instead of a multiplicity of honorary secretaries. The idea is to have a central sports bureau whence the various sporting interests can be focussed and managed. A meeting is to be held on March 1 to discuss the proposal, the merits of which should commend themselves to the various sporting concerns.

A little girl aged 21 months fell from the Waiwakaiho bridge into the river recently ami was pluckily rescued from drowning by her nine-year-old .brother. It appears that the child was playing on the bridge with her brother and fell through the railing of the sidewalk, a distance of about 15 feet. The water was sufficiently deep to break the force of the fall, but the child suffered some injury to the bones of the thigh, which was revealed by an X-ray examination. The young brother climbed down the bank of the river and brought the child ashore.

A dainty dish of Cold Meat, Fish or Fowl, is all the daintier and more appetising with a clash of Shaxland’s Tomato Sauce. Have you tried it? #

Three young lady school teachers from Canada arrived .at Auckland by the Niagara, on Thursday (reports the Auckland Star). They are Mrs. Silcock and Miss M. McGougan, from Winnipeg, and Miss L. Lewis, from Saskatchewan. The visitors have come to New Zealand under the National Education League’s scheme foi‘ the interchange of teachers within the British Dominions. They are due to stay in New Zealand for twelve months, but do not yet know where they will be attached. They expressed themselves as much struck by the beauty of New Zealand and hopeful of a happy year’s cstay in this country.

“If Americans know about the beauty of New Zealand there would be a great flock of visitors here,” said Mr. H. MacQuarrie, an Aucklander, who arrived by the Niagara, to an Auckland Herald reporter. He added that once when he was engaged to give a series of lectures in the United States he thought it would be a good opportunity to advertise the Dominion. “I had my own moving pictures of Tahiti, and wanted some pictures of my own cO£’» j - v . which naturally I love. After u Ve .nonths’ correspondence with the High Commissioner’s office in London I received a small box of lantern slides, half of which were broken—and a bill.”

“I regret to notify you that I have no idea where the money to pay my rates is coming from, and I am sure it Would he to our mutual advantage if you would allow me to work out same on the roads.” Thus ran a letter read at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki County Council. One councillor was of opinion that probably the council would receive many similar applications. Another speaker thought it might be advantageous to the council if the overseer could arrange to accept labor in such cases. The council agreed that in this and other instances the chairman and engineer could arrange to give employment if the opportunity offered.

A request for an extension of the ’bus service was received by the New Plymouth Borough Council last night from the Frankley Road Settlers’ Association. The hon. secretary (Mr. N. Allen) wrote stating that it was desired that the ’bus should run the full length of the tar-sealed road. There were thirty houses at Frankleigh Park ■which should be considered, and it was pointed out that some time ago the association was promised the extension. The tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley) wrote stating that he was quite in sympathy with the request, but reminded the council that the ’bus was working under a very heavy burden. He suggested that should the council consider granting the request the date of commencement should be delayed for, say, two months, as certain of the batteries were being overhauled. Decision was deferred till next Monday’s meeting. Tn moving to this effect, the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) said he understood a Westown delegation was to wait on the council asking for another ’bus. If a further vehicle was procured this would solve the difficulty.

It‘was anticipated that there would ho little revenue collected from spirits for some months, as it. was alleged that jheavy clearance had been made in anticipation of the 100 per cent, increase in the duty. Of course, this Was a reasonable conjecture because all business people clear as large quantities of goods as possible if a higher duty is anticipated; but the revenue under the new tariff is already substantial. The new duty on spirits became operative on November 4, 1921. and from November 1 to December 31, 1921, the total spirit duty collected for the whole of New Zealand was £61,701 10s lid. of which £19.963 9s 2d was collected at the rate of 36s per gallon. When nearly £20,000 was collected under the new increased tariff before the end of the year the anticipation that no revenue under this head would be collected for eighteen months or two years was groundless. It seems now to be pretty accurate that not more ihan six weeks’ or two months’ supply of spirits was, or is, at any time under bond, and that is borne out by the Customs returns so far.

“Very satisfactory” was the comment passed at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki County Council when it was reported that the amount of rates collected for the financial year amounted so far to approximately £13.000, out of the total demands of £15.000. The chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett) thought that under the trying conditions now existing the council had very little to complain of in the payment of rates. The statement presented to the meeting by the county clerk (Mr. R. Ellis) showed that the percentage of rates outstanding at January 31 was 21.44, compared with 12.63 last year, the amount in cash being £3706 12s lOd, compared with £2184 14s lOd in 1921. In the amounts collected up to that date, however, there was not so much difference. The receipts to January 31 this year were £13,573 Ils lid, and in 1921 they were £15,095 9s Id. The following shows the amounts received on behalf of the various ridings, the amount outstanding being given -in parentheses: Mangorei £2227 13s 5d ( £739 lls 2d); Waitara £5913 3s 9d (£ll6l 3s lOd); Omata £1956 7s ( £593 0s Id) ; Okato £3476 7s 9d (£1212 16s Hd).

Undoubtedly one of the prettiest motor drives in Taranaki is that over the Tarata saddle. The run is over good roads, and all kinds of glorious bush, river, gorge and other scenery can be viewed while taking an easy ride in a well-found car. On Sunday next Mr. G. Gibson, of the Central Taxi Garage, New Plymouth, intends making this trip if the weather is propitious and sufficient inducement offers. With a reliable and comfortable fleet of cars the trip should be well worth taking, as there are many places along the proposed route delightfully suitable for luncheon and rests. Further particulars are advertised.

Tn order to give the residents of New Plymouth and district every opportunity of viewing and inspecting the many valuable works and the handsome collection of solid silver ware brought here by Mr. Schapiro, and the Rarawa being a* day late arriving here, the time for inspection was thought too short to sell on Wednesday. The articles will now be on view for a full week, and the sale will take place on Wednesday next, 15th inst.

It’s wonderful how some people stick to old ideas, clothes washing for instance, though “Fairy Wonder Dry Soap will save half the time and do better work at less cost of money, as well as prevent wash-wear of clothes. Boiling water is done away with, with all discomfit and labor. Once use “Fairy” and you’ll never go back to old methods again. The habit of taking Sharland’s Magnesia daily should be encouraged, because it means better health, more perfect digestion, and a clearer skin—especially for ladies and children.