LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

According to a Sydney cable last night there is no change in the position as to the New South Wales election resuite.

The Eltham Co-operative Dairy Company has disposed of the remainder of the reason's make of butter, a,t 1/4 per lb. Midhirst has sold for 1/5 for unsalted and 1/44 for salted.

Amongst a number of articles which have come into the possession of the New Plymouth police is a part of a telescope* for which an owner is being sought.

A witness at the Supreme Court at Masterton caused a smile by declaring that the best way to eradicate blackberry was to grub it—the more it was cut the hardier it grew. The point of. the evidence, however, was in his postscript, which was that "by continual grubbing a blackberry bush would die out in about 25 or 30 years!” "We read in the papers that Sir Ernest Rutherford (a New Zealand boy grown up) has been nominated for president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science; a very great honor. There is one tall tree from our little garden; why not others?” —Mr. D. McLaren, in a lecture to Senior Cadets in Wellington.

The prediction that the day was coming when iron would he used for the construction of houses was made by Mr. Scott Leggatt, a principal of an English firm of iron founders, who was the guest of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce at New Plymouth yesterday.

A collision between two tram cars— No. 6. a wooden car of, the double type, and No. 8, a Birney car—occurred between Gover and Eliot Streets on Wednesday afternoon. Both cars were travelling in the same direction, and the 'big car, which was leading, stopped in order to take on some track men. The car following, which was close up, collided with the one in front and sustained damage to the buffer and undergear.

A penknife with a blade made from Taranaki steel was an interesting souvenir displayed by Mr. Percy Scott Leggatt at a luncheon tendered him at New Plymouth yesterday by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Leggatt i s a principal of the firm of Summerson and Son, Ltd., of Darlington, where tests were made last year concerning the adaptability of Taranaki ironsand for iron and steel manufacture. Mr. Leggatt told the gathering yesterday that after the test he decided to have the blades forged as a memento.

A motor cyclist, named John Earpe, had a fortunate escape from injury in Devon Street, near Hookham’s corner yesterday. Earpe was riding a motor bike, proceeding from Brougham Street north idto Devon Street, and endeavored to pass a tram car, but failed to notice a motor ’car that was following. The tram was immediately pulled up, but the motor- car struck the motor cycle and hurled it with its rider up against the tram. The rider escaped injury, and very little damage was done to the cycle.

A man named George Rees, stated to be engaged as a travelling -representative of the New Zealand Book Company, was arrested at Waitara on Wednesday by Constable Lapouple on a charge of failing to account for certain moneys received on behalf of hie employers. He was brought before Justices of the Peace, and on the application of' the police he was remanded to appear at Auckland, whence he was taken under escort yesterday.

At the Etlham Chamber of Commerce meeting on Monday night the followingresolutions wore passed: (1) That this chamber considers that the earlier closing hour at the 'banks is most inconvenient for farmers and country people generally, and supports the protest of the Hawera Chamber; (2) that a letter be sent to the local banks protesting against the Saturday early closing, and also to the Central Chamber of Commereju

The sheep guessing competition at the Mid-hirst sports was won by J. N. Morey, Croydon Road, who guessed the exact weight (GSJlbs), as did also G. S. Strack, Beaconsfield Road, in the case of the pig (87 lbs). A meeting of the Avenue Road Card Club was held at the Soldiers’ Club, New Plymouth, last night when Mr. E. Sole presided over about twenty members. The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr. F. Richards; president, Mr. E. Sole; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. Jordan, W. C. Weston, A. J. Millman, W. J. Penn and T. C. List; club captain, Mr. A. J. Norman-, vice-captain, Mr. F. McKay; secretary, Mr. J. Clift’; club delegates to the New Plymouth Card Association, Messrs. Norman and Cliff.

In speaking at a presentation social given by the settlers of Tangitu on. Saturday last, Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., stated he had gone from Okahukura to Maturi, up to the 14-mile peg, by the Public Works train. Tn that distance there wore 50 curves, five tunnels, and five bridges. He contrasted that expensive work with a line he had last year, been over, that was the transAustralian line from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie. a distance of 1054 miles. On one portion of this line, a distance of 352 miles, there was not a curve, culvert, bridge, or tunnel.

Mr. E. Dixon, M.P., has received from the district engineer at Stratford a letter in reply to recent correspondence and Mr. Dixon’s interview with the Minister concerning the employment of six applicants for work. The engineer states that he had been unable to place them immediately, as all the works in hand were fully manned, but ho had just received authority to proceed with work in. the Tongahoe Valley, and ds soon as the necessary tools, tents, etc., have been provided he will be able to give the men a start. The engineer asks Mr. Dixon to advise the men to report themselves to Overseer Waters at Eltham within the next five davs.

At the meeting of t'he Hawera Chamber of Commerce, it was stated that there were a large number of unemployed, in the town, and many did not have sufficient moTjey to take a job on the Public Works, not being able to provide tents or pay for food. The president (Mr. J. B. Burdoch) suggested that the Public Works Department be requested to provide tents and galley arrangements. This was agreed to, and a committee was set up with a view to the establishment of a central bureau where unemployed could register.

A man who was charged in the New Plymouth Court yesterday with failing to provide maintenance for his wife proved to be a recent arrival from 'England. He spent a couple of days in Auckland and then proceeded to New Plymouth, where he alleged he put in a fortnight seeking employment. He deserted his wife and set out for Wellington by road. He told Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., that he was a week in getting to Wellington, occasionally getting a lift along. The defendant was arrested on the Wellington wharf on the information of his wife.

Webster Bros, advertise particulars of a. furniture sale to be held on Wednesday next, when the whole furniture and in Raimi private hotel will be submitted to auction.

Messrs. Howell and Howell report tliat business in their new up-to-date premises in Devon Street East (next MoNeill's, grocer), is brisk—a fact which they attribute to the extraordinary values which they arc now able to offer. Dozens of well-satisfied customers are telling their friends of the savings to be effected by shopping with this firm, who are rapidly gaining a reputation for the good, honest values they, offer. Yon can be satisfied, too, if you shop at How-