LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A London cable states that the associated banks in London announce that the selling rate of cable transfers on Australia and New Zealand will be par as from April 7.

At a meeting of the Justices of the Peace in the New Plymouth district yesterday, the jury roll for the year 1922-23 was adopted, after two names had been struck out.

Two long-sentence prisoners. Allan Anderson, aged 28, and John Andrew M'Williams, aged 22, both received ten days’ bread and water for attempting to escape from the Mount Eden Gaol by a window.

As the result of an alleged brutal assault on a woman, a police summons has been served on a well-known resident of Wellington, and in all probability he will shortly appear in the Magistrate’s Court to answer a charge in connection with the incident.

“It is the curse of New Zealand that too many sons work on farms for nothing,” remarked Mr. O. T. J. Alpers, of Christchurch, in the Court of Appeal the other day. “It is unfortunate that too many sons work for father without getting wages.”

An English mail ex Niagara will arrive here to-day and to enable those desirous of doing so to reply by mail, closing at 6.15 a.m. Monday, 10th ,inst., per Tahiti, an over-counter delivery of correspondence will be made between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

A studio for the manufacture of moving pictures is likely to be established in Nelson. Air. James Sullivan, the well-known producer of moving pictures, who hae been on a visit to Nelson, recently informed an Evening Mail representative that the encouragement he had received there would do much towards making Nelson the base of operations when Miss Kellerman’s new picture, is produced in New Zealand.

On Thursday night Mr. T. Lawson, president of the Taranaki Associated Clubs, together with Mr. S. Ward, the secretary, and several members of the Egmont Club, visited the New .Plymouth Club, and pesented the club with the billiard shield won by the club in the seasons of 1920 and 1921. Mr. A. K. Smart returned thanks on behalf of the New Plymouth Club. Subsequently the visitors were the guests of the club at an informal gathering, when a pleasant hour or two was spent. The Fourth Battalion Band will give a recital at the Camp Reserve, Waitara, to-morrow afternoon.

A /tradesmen’s association has been formed at Manaia, Mr. J. J. Meklon being president and Mr. P. E. Hammonds secretary.

Permission to hold a sacred concert on the evening of Anzac Day was granted to the Choral Society by the New Plymouth Borough Council at last night’s meeting. The society’s letter of application stated that the proceeds of the concert would be devoted to the R.S.A.

The appointment of a librarian to the Carnegie Institute, New Plymouth, is still in abeyance. The committee’s second choice, Mr. A. J. Mayne, of Wanganui, has also declined the offer, and at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council the matter was referred back for the consideration of the Carnegie Institute Committee.

The New Plymouth Borough Council decided last evening to hold over the tramways estimates with a view to making provision for the purchase of another eectric ’bus, if arrangements can be made.

Tn the course of his farewell address at Manaia on Monday last, the Rr<-. H. •J. Odell, speaking of the overlapping of ministerial work, said that in the Whole district where he had been laboring there were no less than six ministers working and speaking among the same people. Joll’s dairy factory, like most of the South Taranaki factories, has turned over to butter. The chairman of Joll’s stated in answer to inquiries yesterday morning, that the season was proving a real good one, and that the increase in production compared with the increases recorded by other factories, says the Star.

Some time ago it was rumored that a movement was on foot in Taranaki to form a dairy produce pool. On inquiry from Mr. .1. B. Murdoch yesterday it was learned by the • Star that nothing definite had yet been accomplished. .Information obtained from various sources goes to show that the suggestion that a pool be formed is viewed with favor.

A reception no less enthusiastic than that of the first night was accorded the party of entertainers, organised by Mr. J. Hoskin, who gave their final performance at the Empire Theatre, New Plymouth, last night.' As the result of the entertainments it is expected the scout funds will benefit considerably.

Portions of the counties of Patea and Waitotara have been made subject to fireblight-prevention regulations. No plant or any portion of a plant of apple, pear, quince, or hawthorn, nor any bees, may be taken from the area to any other part of New Zealand, and any trees or shrubs sent from the area must be accompanied by a certificate that the package does not include any of the forbidden plants.

The committee who carried, the recent retailers’ drive at Stratford, in aid of the fund for improving the Stratford High School grounds, were entertained last night by Air. R. Masters, M.P., and congratulated on. the result. During the evening Mr. Rawles handed to the chairman of the Taranaki Education Board a cheque for £BO7, which had been raised by the drive. Air Masters expressing confidence in obtaining a £ for £ subsidy from the Government.

“That the attention of the inspectors be drawn to the increasing laxity shown in the observance of the by-laws relating to motor vehicles.” The foregoing resolution was carried by the New Plymouth Borough Council last night. Cr. V. Griffiths introduced the subject by referring to the “excessive speed of motor cycles,” and thought that since the last speed trials on the racecourse the speed adopted by motor cycles had about doubled. He thought that an example should be made of offenders, and that a heavy penalty should be pressed for on the first conviction. Other councillors endorsed these remarks, and the Mayor (Air. F. E. Wilson) said that not only was the speed a danger, but also th? “cut-out” practice was becoming a positive nuisance. He had also noticed a number of unlighted bicycles being ridden about the streets.

“That this meeting of Uruti ratepayers pass a motion of no confidence in the Clifton County engineer,” was a resolution .forwarded to yesterday’s .meeting of the Clifton County Council by the chairman of the Uruti Ratepayers’ Association. The resolution, it was claimed, was passed at a largely attended meeting of ratepayers held in the Uruti hall on March *22. The council went into committee to consider the matter, and on resuming reported that the following resolution had been carried: “That the Uruti Ratepayers’ Association be informed that its resolution is tantamount to a want of confidence in the council, and that the ratepayers have a remedy at the next general election of council*

The question of the Lower Awakino Valley Road has been under review by the Minister of Public Works and the member for Waitomo. The unusually inclement weather for March impeded operations, the men being only able to work half the time, and in addition heavy slips have destroyed the previous good formation. At present 53 men are employed and 11 more, are starting immediately. The complaint of the men about the high price paid for gelignite, will be inquired into, as well as to the price paid for removing pug earth. The steam digger has not been a success as the class of. country on which it was worked is not suitable. [The shovel is of an obsolete type; the work to be done on the road is peculiarly suitable for a mechanical shovel.]

In several instances we have learned that well-furnished six-roomed houses in Paljneraton North, which have hitherto commanded a rental of £3, have been let for a term at £2 5s per week (says the Alanawatu Times). In some of these cases mortgagors who had sold farms at £lOO per acre, were obliged to resume possession, not altogether on account of market conditions, but mainly because the persons were lacking the skill, and, still more, the energy, which are so essentially the factors of success in adverse conditions. The pioneer farmer of Manawatu had his own school of agriculture, and the school fees were long hours and pride in his job.

For the quarter ending Alarch 31, five cases of infectious diseases were notified within the Clifton County, being 15 per cent, of the total eases within the health district. The cases were 1 of scarlet fever. 2 of diphtheria, and 2 of influenzal pneumonia. Three cases had been removed to hospital. Taken on a pupulation basis the rate was 2.34 pel 1000.

Train arrangements for the Easter holidays are advertised in this issue. Holiday excursion tickets will be issued to anv station and extra express and mail trains will be run. A restricted train service will be run on Good Friday. Specie! trains will run to Hawera races on Easter Monday and in connection with picnics at Ngaere and New I lyxnouth.