LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A batch of 240 assisted immigrant? are due to arrive in New Zealand by the Remuera, which is expected to reach Auckland to-day. The party includes 23 men, 32 women, and 33 children, who have been nominated for passages by friends in the Dominion, while the remainder are being sent out under the Overseas Settlement Scheme. Six of the new arrivals are for New Plymouth. The Eft-ham Co-operative Dairy Factory Company received the following supplies during the month of February: 6,335,940 lbs. of milk and 6,976 lbs. ci earn, producing 253,456 lbs. butter-fat. This is an increase of 47,774 lbs. but-ter-fat on that supplied during the corresponding period of last year. The increase for the eight months ending February *2B, as compared with the corresponding period of last year, is 391,060 lbs. butter-fat.

The Attorney-General (Sir Francis Bell) is to represent New Zealand at the Genoa Conference if he reaches Europe in time for the meeting; but he may foe too late, and the Prime Minister, therefore, has cabled to the Imperial authorities stating that New Zealand may ask to be represented by the British delegation to the conference. Sir Francis Bell has arranged to leave the Dominion before the end of the month.

According to the Katipo, the official organ of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, the members’ ballot as to whether the association will link up with the Alliance of Labor is to be held not later than the end of the month. The secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department (Mr. R. B. Morris) has issued a memorandum to all members of the association requesting them to be particular in recording their votes either one way or the other, as it is only by so doing that the real feeling of the association can be recorded.

The two men Stanley R. Montgomerie and Harry Hampton, who were arrested at New Plymouth on Tuesday on a charge of the theft of a motor car at Epsom (Auckland), appeared before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, Messrs. H. R. Cattley and T. Furlong, J.P.’s, presiding. On the application of Detect! ve-Sergt. Cooney accused were remanded till to-day, when the case will be further adjourned to be heard at Hamilton on the 21st inst. They will also be called on to answer the charge of stealing apparel valued at £6l from the premises of L. Henderson, draper, Te Awamutu.

In the New Plymouth Court yesterday a man named Frederick Garlick was charged with committing an indecent act in Powderham Street oil Tuesday afternoon. The offence was stated to have occurred at 1.35 p.m. nearly opposite the Y.W.C.A. Hostel. De-tective-Sergt. Cooney, who prosecuted, stated that fortunately there were no ladies about at the time of the offence. Accused apparently had had a little drink in him. Messrs. H. R. Cattley and T. Furlong, J.P.’s, imposed a fine of £3, in default 14 days’ imprisonment, accused being allowed till the end of the week to meet the fine.

A meeting of the representatives of the different labor organisations in New Plymouth was held in the Soldiers’ Club last evening to consider the question of continuing the work of the New Plymouth branch of the Workers’ Educational Association during the coming winter. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., was voted to the chair. It was decided to carry on the work and to ask Mr. Bottrill to fill the position of lecturer, the subject selected being economics. Mr. 0. Johnson was re-appointed secretary. Messrs. Smith and Russell and the secretary were appointed a finance committee, and Messrs. Clarke, Weir, Scott, Courtney and Dolby were appointed a general committee. From the support promised the classes should have a very successful season.

At the trpeeting of the Egmont County Council on Tuesday, Cr. Ferguson referred to the iniquitous fee imposed on motor lorries by the levying of licenses by the seven counties in Taranaki, each charging £6 per annum. On his motion, seconded by Cr. O’Brien, the council resolved to emphasise the absurdity of the enforcement of the Taranaki counties’ joint by-law relating to the licensing of motor vehicles plying from one county or borough to another, the by-law placing an unfair burden on ratepayers in certain counties affected. The motion recommended that some equitable arrangement be made whereby a motor vehicle owner who takes out a license in his home county or borough would have the right to travel all over the province on that license.

A boy of eight years, named Roy Hogue, whose parents reside in Courtenay Street, was admitted to the New Plymouth public hospital on Tuesday evening suffering from severe injuries as the result of being run over by a motor car. Hogue was in company with tw-j other children at the intersection of Devon and Gover Streets, and as the car approached. from the direction of town the boys scattered. Hogue ran in the opposite direction to his playmates and then turned back, with the result that he was struck by the mudguard of the car. A front wheel passed over hid head and the rear wheel over his abdomen. After receiving attention by Dr. Brewster the boy was taken to the hospital. On inquiry last evening the boy was reported to be slightly better. The action of one of the county employees, who, it was alleged, had refused to work on a Saturday afternoon, formed the subject of some strong comment by Cr. Ferguson at the meeting of the Egmont County Council on Tuesday. He stated that there had been three wet days that week and the other employees were willing to work so that the plant could be shifted. That man, though paid for the three wet days, had, he understood, refused to work and lie thought the overseer should be asked to enquire into the matter and if true dispense with the man’s services. The men, he held, were receiving good wages and should be expected to work when required. Cr. O’Brien pointed out that the practice of the Saturday’ half-holiday had been recognised by the council, so the man was perhaps within his rights. However, he thought the council should insist on the men working eight hours each day. Cr. Toe land thought the wages should be reduced, as men could be obtained for general work considerably cheaper. Finally it was resolved that when contracts are being carried out the men must work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days per week.

Snelling and Andrews, of the Tourist Garage, Brougham Street, notify that their cars will be leaving from the garage at 9 o’clock to-morrow morning for *'»c Hpunake races.

It is recorded that one day this week there were 400 applicants for the right to rent a five-roomed house which was advertised in Wellington. A Palmerston North resident who erected a house two years ago at a cost of £l6OO, sold it recently for £l3OO.

It is not generally known as it should be that, as mentioned by the S.M. in a recent Wellington case, under section 99 of the Post and Telegraph Act every person who “fraudulently states that he posted a postal packet containing money or other valuable enclosure, whereas in fact he did not so post it,” is liable to imprisonment for two years or to a fine of £5O, or to- both. A Whangarei resident wending his way to bed mistook his place of abode; so much so, in fact, that strange surroundings had no effect on him (relates the Advocate). His slumbers were disturbed in rather a forceful manner by a young lady, who found him occupying her bed. The sequel was heard at the Magistrate’s Court, when the wanderer was fined 5s for insobriety. Four bandits entered the Pearl River (N.J.) Bank the other day, and shot and killed two of the officials. They then drove off in a motor without having secured any booty, and made good their escape. As they drove wildly through the town they also fired at and wounded a man in the street. A trail of blood left by the retreating brigands appears to indicate that at least one of the band was wounded. The day after was pay day at a neighboring factory, and the robbers doubtless expected to get the large amount in cash usually provided by the bank for this purpose.

The old boys of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School propose to organise a gala day with the object of raising funds for a gymnasium at the school, and a meeting of ladies interested in this project is called for at the Soldiers’ Club at 3 p.m. next Wednesday. Full particulars of a clearing sale to be held at Frankley Road on Tuesday next on behalf of the estate of the late Mr. A. Vowless, are advertised. The Melbourne’s sale offering constitutes a record in bargain-giving. For instance: —Men’s pure fur velour hats, 15/6; men’s Shirley police braces, 3/6; Shirley President braces, 3/11; pure wool cashmere socks, two pairs for 5/6; men’s white cotton singlets, 2/11; men’s wide end silk ties, 1/6; boys’ cotton tubular ties, 6d each.