LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Press message from Wellington last night stated that Soldiers’ Day, for the support of the R.S.A. Club, will result in £l2OO being raised. A committee meeting of His Majesty’s Veterans (Taranaki branch) was held at the Soldiers’ Club on Saturday last. Mr. G. Adlam presided. It was decided to hold the annual gathering on the 28th inst. Details were to be arranged with a committee of the .‘business men of the town. The Dannevirke News states that late on Wednesday afternoon George William Clarke, a jockey, was arrested at Dannevirke on a warrant from Hawera, on a charge of alleged false pretences. The accused was subsequently brought before a Justice of the Peace, remanded to appear at Hawera on Tuesday next, and released on bail in two sureties of £5O and self £5O.

Replying to the Hawera County Council’s representations requesting an amendment of the Rating Act to enable local bodies to make a rebate of 5 per cent, to all persons paying their rates within 30 days of due date, the Minister’ of Internal Affairs writes that a remit to the same effect, passed by the Hawera County Council, was proposed at the recent counties’ conference. The remit was not passed, so it would therefore appear that county councils generally were not in favor of the proposal. A special meeting of directors of the Opunake Dairy Co. was held on Thursday to consider the question of installing cheese-making plant® at the Ihaia Road and main factories, and it was decided to instal these plants if satisfactory financial arrangements can be made. This is a move in the right direction, for it is safe to say that shareholders in this company have lost thousands of pound® during the past ten years through not having a dual plant. —Opunake Times. The competition between the railways and motor vehicles in heavy cartage is evidently becoming keen. A New Plymouth firm wrote to the Hawera County Council offering to transport benzine from New Plymouth to Hawera at a rate which the county clerk calculated would be cheaper than by rarl by 2£d per case. The chairman said apart from every other point of view the damage done to roads would more than counter-balance any profit that might accrue. There were a good number of visitors to “Brooklands” and “Maranui” yesterday afternoon, though weather conditions in New Plymouth were rather unfavorable. The grounds made a very pretty picture and bore a freshened appearance after the recent rains. The begonia house at “Brooklands” was a very fine sight. At both “Brooklands” and “Maranui” there were some splendid species of dahlias and asters. The present season has been a good one for these blooms and the specimens in these gardens are particularly fine. A group of sunspots of abnormal size —the largest seen for many years —is at present visible just to the west of the sun’s centre. This group was reported early in the week as an extensive area of small Jspots; but since then there have been great, and rapid changes. The group consists of . sev era] large spots and a number of small ones, and, according to an estimate made at Kelbuvn Observatory, is about 200,000 miles in length. It is easily seen by the unaided eye, protected by a dark or smoked glass. Another group lias just, appeared on t K e efi«te”i s.' le of the disc, and will be more easily observed in a few days. This is probably one of the two groups reported about the middle of last month. After considerable discussion the Hawera County Council on Saturday decided to extend the exemption from the 10 per rent, addition on unpaid rates from March 17 to March 22. so that factory cheques might he utilised for pavment. The chairman brought up the matter of the collection of rates on native land. He was satisfied that if the council went the right way about it they could get in much more rate money than they were getting at present. It was of no use obtaining a lien on native lands, as the liens only accumulated. There was a large number o.f whites occupying native land and these were liable to pay rates. The clerk said that many natives were owing 5 and 6 year®’ rates. It was resolved that the matter of collecting native rates be left in the hands of the chairman to make arrangements to have the ownership defined, so tht proceedings might be taken.

A visitor to Palmerston North says that a Tauranga syndicate has vainly endeavored to guard the secret of a successful industry which has great promise. It is the making of a hard, light, dry, and durable brick from pumice, without straw, water or burning. The pumice is simply moulded under pressure in a machine, which is now turning out 4000 per day. An order for a new moulder with a daily capacity of 14,000 bricks is nearing completion. Under great pressure moisture exudes from the driest of such material.

The secretary of the Mangatoki Dairy Co. wrote to the Hawera County Council on Saturday asking support to a resolution proposing the valuation of land in proportion to the prices being received by farmers for their produce. The secretary suggested that joint action should be taken by the Eltham, Stratford, Hawera, or more counties to obtain a percentage of reduction on the unimproved value of the petitioning counties. The chairman thought the defendant should give consideration to the matter. If representations were made in the proper quarter possibly a commission might be set up to go into the matter. It was decided to support the Mangatoki resolution.

At the conclusion of the welcome given to visiting teachers by the Taranaki teachers on Saturday afternoon in the Victoria League rooms, Mrs. Burgess (president of the league) took the opportunity of briefly placing before the teachers the alms and aspirations of the league. Mrs. Burges® especially touched on the work the league did in sending books to back-bloek® schools’ libraries, which was some recompense for the help the children of these schools gave the league during the war. Mrs. Burgess invited the aid of the teacher® of the back-block schools in supplying the addresses of school? that would like supplies of books, and also <of the teachers in the town schools to aid in securing supplies. The social and other activities of the league were also touched on.

Taranaki teacher's generally recognise the benefits to be derived from systematic tooth-brush drill, and at the meeting of the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Institute it was resolved to forward the following remit to th 6 annual conference: That in the interest of the health of the children, teachers throughout New Zealand be urged to introduce tooth-brush drill in their schools. Miss E. Andrew®, in moving the remit, pointed out that the scheme was in operation .in Taranaki and Wanganui and should be carried out throughout the whole Dominion. Mr. V. Sims (Frankley) recognised its value, but thought it should be seen to by the parent at home. It was putting on the teachers more of the work that parents should do. It would, lie added, soon be expected that the teachers should bath the children. Mr. Stratford (Central) agreed that the parents should, do it, but they did not, or rather 60 per cent, did and 40 per cent, did not. For the sake of that 40 per cent, the teacher® must see to it. He had all the dentists in the town on the subject and with one exception all favored tooth-brush Moreover, the crowded rooms were much more pleasant to be in since the advent of tooth-brush drill than was the case before.

“There is no magic to wipe out effects of the great war,” said Mr. Jas. S Alexander, president of the National Bank of Commerce, New York, at the annual meeting of shareholders. He added: “That can be done only by hard work, efficiency, and economy. These have been a great source of safety in the year just closed, and are requisite for success in the year that lies ahead.” While acknowledging that sufficient taxes must be raised to meet the nation’s heavy war obligations, Mr. Alexander said: “Business should assert its rights to unceasing economy in public expenditure, and to further adjustments of taxation to reduce to a minimum its hampering effect on productive effort. The interests of labor are absolutely identical with the interests of business and the public in that they will make for stability of employment and lower cost of living.” “Salaries in New York have fallen during the past twelve months 10 to 40 per cent., and people are working 10 to twelve hours a day including Saturday (writes a New Zealander). Thousands of stores and shops are never closed day and night. Railway fares and freight charges have again been reduced, also railway workers’ wages, and the 8 per cent, war tax taken off the railway tickets and the sleeper tickets. The fares, freight charges, and sleeper tickets are now practically back to 1914 rates. But the people are working ten to twelve hours a day. Many of the big hotels in the different cities have reduced their rates 10 to 30 per cent., commencing January 1. Vegetables today, sold on Gth, 7th, Sth and 9th Avenues, are far below New Zealand prices—potatoes two and three pounds for Id. cauliflowers 2d and 2%d each, celery- 3d a head, fine oranges 30 for Is, tomatoes 2|d a pound. Motor-cars are to be had at any price. Fords are being sold at 250 dollars. You pay 10 dollars down and two or three dollars a week. Petrol to-day in New York is IS cents (9d) a gallon.”

Among the many attraction® to be seen at the Taranaki A. and P. Society’s show on Wednesday and Thursday is one which should strongly appeal to those who care for something exciting. Thi® is the jumping motor car. This Overland car will jump a hurdle sft. 6in. high over a space of 20 feet. block reproduced from an actual photograph of the car making the jump at the Addington showgrounds appears in this issue. Exhibitions will be given at intervals throughout each afternoon of the show. St. Patrick’s annual ball is to be held at the Town Hall, Eltham, on Wednesday, March 15. Webster Bros, notify that they have a, direct shipment of basic slag arriving by the s.s. Makalla in May or June. The slag is the highest grade so far obtainable, and having only a very limited quantity now available, early application shouhl be made to them. Fresh bargains at the Melbourne’s Great Stock-taking Sale are: Ladies’ fine black cashmere hose 3/6 pair; black silk ankle hose, 4/6 pair; children’s striped flannelette combination sleeping suits, 5/H; men’s mercerised colored bordered handkerchiefs 3 for 2/-, 30in forfar, 1/11, 39in. tea towelling, 2/6 yard. “Fairy Wonder” washing powder cuts wash-day in half. Tired housewives should no longer slave and boil over the wash-tub while this latest scientific household help is availaJble for a few pence. When a large weekly wash looms up, don’t worry. Let “Fairy” do it. Sold in packets at all grocers. For making autumn blouses and children’s dresses, radianta is very suitable. Call and inspect the bargains in this popular material at Morey’s today. “Words fail when I try to express my thankfulness for your cure.” Booklet free to sufferers. Dominion Rheumatic Cure Hellaby’s Bldgs., Auckland. 1