LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is reported that heavy retrenchment is to be made in the staff of the Land and Income Tax Department, and in several other departments of State to which the pruning knife has not yet been applied.

A start has been made with plate-laying operations on the Te Roti-—Manaia branch railway. Already the rails have been laid across the Waingongoro bridge, and it should not be long before the sound of the ballast engine whistle is heard in the Kapuni district. Owing to the inclement weather conditions ir was not possible to hold the club night in the Municipal Baths yesterday. The second heat for the Dalgleish gold medal, which it was proposed to swim last night, will be decided at the baths tomorrow at 5.30 p.m., whilst the junior events have been postponed indefinitely.

According to a London paper, cheaper books are in prospect. The first reduction in price on a large scale was recently announced by a well-known publishing firm. This house has informed retailers that its large series of reprints of popular novels, selling recently at 2s each, will in future be priced at Is only. Before the war books of this class were sold at 7d, but the present binding is better and stouter.

The visit of the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, to the New Plymoutn golf links during bis North Taranaki tour last year was recalled at last night’s meeting of the Golf Club. A member (Mr. F. S. Johns) said that when on a visit to Auckland he had met Captain Curtis (His Excellency’s private secretary), and Captain Mundy (A.D.C.), who haff asked him to convey* to the club their appreciation of tne splendid time enjoyed on the occasion of the visit .to the links.

The morbid curiosity of a crowd was illustrated at the scene of an accident in Devon Street, New Plymouth, yesterday. A man. had sustained somewhat severe injuries through a fall from a building, and some of the throng of bystanders, which quickly collected, thoughtlessly crowded round the scene, and even closed in on the ambulance when the injured man was being removed. A couple of policemen on duty had to get busy in an endeavor to keep the curious ones from hindering the work of removing the injured man to the hospital. A gathering of more than ordinary interest will take place in Whiteley Hall this evening, when the centenary of the Methodist Church in New Zealand will be celebrated. The programme will include reports of the recent Auckland Centenary Conference, and brief reminiscent speeches by several prominent citizens. Methodist hymns will be sung during the evening, and an offering, received for the centenary fund. In addition to the members of churches a general invitation is extended' to everybody to be present.

A new motor-car was wrecked near Wellington last Monday. When returning from a visit 'to the Hutt, Mr. S. George Nathan stopped at an oil store at Kaiwarra, on his way to town, and parked his car as close as possible to the. deep side-channel. He had not been inside the store more than a few minutes when he heard a loud crash outside. On burying outside, he discovered his machine to be practically a complete ruin. It seemed that everything that could be broken hart been smashed, even to essential engine parts, axles, sideboards, wind-screen, and tyres. A fiveton lorry going to town had, it is stated, crashed right into the standing car. Curiously enough, the lorry was towing into Wellington a motor lorry that was concerned in an accident on the Hutt Road on the previous day.

“An example of the pluck and promptness that become a second nature in the outlying parts of the British Commonwealth comes from Australia,” saiys the Children’s Newspaper. “A 15-year-old boy, Leslie Parker, was clearing ground on his father’s land when he was bitten by a large brown snake, which clung to his hand for some seconds before it was shaken off. Then the boy found that he had been bitten on the index finger of his right hand. Taking his ax*e in his left hand, he placed the finger on a stump, and cut it off above the bite. Then, mounting a horse, he rode five miles to a doctor, who further amputated the finger. This swift and brave treatment was effective, and the lad has felt no ill-effects from the bite.”

The manner* in which a man may get tied up financially in bad times was illustrated at the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland on Wednesday. A witness was asked, “How much money have you now’ ” and replied, “About ono shilling.” Yet in t)ie course of examination by counsel it was shown that the debtor had mortgages on land from which he was getting practically no return. In one case, the best offer he had received for a mortgage of £2OOO was only £5OO. The property had been thrown on His hands. As there was a sub-mortgage for £5OO, the offer simply meant he would lose all his money, but at present he was getting £2O a year for grazing rights. No order was made.

Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, says: In my opinion there is a great future before West Australia. That State is opening up a considerable trade with Java, Celebes, and what may be termed the Southern East Indies. I remember that when the Ministry of which I was Premier in 1884-87 pointed out that there was a great outlook for New Zealand trade in the Arafura Sea, the statement only caused amusement to many members of the House of Representatives. They would not listen to it. The suggestion was laughed at. Now see what has happened. The trade with the Arafura Sea, of which we might have had a share, has greatly developed. For example, the value of the exports from Australia to the Straits Settlements in 1019-20 came to about six and a quarter millions, to India about two and a half millions, to Japan about seven and a quarter millions. to Java two and a half millions, to the Philippine Islands a little over a million.

One of the incidents arising out of the flood in the Thames Valley seems to prove that love may laugh, not merely at locksmiths, but also at turbulent waters and stern boatmen. A party was leaving Te Aroha in order to be present at a wedding in Paeroa, and as railway traffic was suspended a motor-boat was engaged. The party had boarded the boat when the man in charge discovered that the number of passengers was one in excess of the legal limit. The last passenger on board was he who was to fill the somewhat important role of bridegroom at the wedding. He was asked to leave the boat, and he reluctantly complied with the “captain’s order,” declining to accept offers from other members of the party to go ashore in his stead. He hired a swift steed, and, the ordinary road being impassable, he bravely faced a long, rough ride over the ranges to Paeroa, where Afae ceremony was duly performed.

A meeting of shareholders of the Southland Farmers’ Co-operative Association resolved to increase the capital of the association to £325,000 by the issue of 15,000 £5 deposit preference shares, to be available only to persons having deposits or credits with the association.—Press Association.

At a meeting of Reform supporters, Mr. John Christopher Roileston was chosen to contest the seat in the interests of the Reform Party for the Waitomo seat at the general election (says the Wellington Times). Mr. Roileston has been a farmer at Rangitoto, in the backblocks, for the last 14 years. He is a son of the late Hon. W. Roileston, a member of Sir Harry Atkinson’s Government. Mr. W. T. .Jennings is the sitting member.

Things were busy for a time at the Inglewood mart, Newton King, Ltd/a, on Saturday. As usual pigs claimed the first attentioh. They were in good number —43 were sold. Small weaners made 3s to ss, slips Bs, young stores made 21s to 265, well-grown forward pigs from 29s to 335. In poultry cocks and hens sold at from Is 6d to 3s 3d, and cockerel chicks 7d each. A very considerable quantity of fruit was offered, and from 3s 6d to 4s 6d per case was given for local apples, 4s 6d to 5s fid for Hawke’s Bay half cases, Ss full-sized, 5s for pears, for 51b. lots of tomatoes Ts 3d. General sundries, vegetables, etc., also sold readily. A special meeting of members of the Egmont A. and P. Association is to be held in the Hawera Borough Council chambers on Saturday next at 2 p.m. to consider the advisability of reverting to a spring show and to arrange show dates.

The field day in connection with the Kaponga branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union will be held to-day. The member for the district, Mr. O: J. Hawken, has intimated that he will be present. The ladies’ committee has charge of the afternoon tea, apd all arrangements are complete for a successful and profitable function. There will be no charge for admission. The Melbourne. Ltd., are showing the finest lot of men’s reedy to wear suits since before the Great War. Prices are extremely moderate, and show a drop of at least 50 per cent, on those ruling for similar goods six months ago. Suit buyers are now sure of obtaining genuine value for their money.

Residents of Wharehuia are reminded of the Ladies’ Return Ball, to be helff on Friday next, in aid of the hall funds. “I never feel the least sign of Rheumatics —it is a most wonderful cure?’ Booklet free to sufferers. Dominion Rheumatic Cure Pty., Hellaby’s Buildings, Auckland. 8

Special lines at C. C Ward's three stores:—Extra quality all wool cashmere hose, 3/6 pair; all wool broad ribbed hose, in all new shades, 4/11 pair; iadies’ cotton vests, 1/11, 2/6 each; extra large size, 2/11 each; 30in. white flannelette, 1/- yard, 36in. 1/6 yard; good quality pure calico, 36in., 1/3 yard.