LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Taranaki Daily News will not be published next Friday (Good Friday), but will appear as usual on Saturday and Easter Monday.

A local angler .caught a quinnat salmon at the mouth of the Rakaia river which weighed just on ,401 b. The representatives of the Canterbury trades unions appointed councillor H. T. Armstrong to present their objections to the proposed hour’s cut before the Arbitration Court. —Press Assn.

It is stated that a number of members of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association in Palmerston North have resigned from that body as a protest against the decision to affiliate with the Labor Alliance.

At a meeting on Saturday night of the su’b-eommittce which is arranging the programme for the brass band contest to be held at New Plymouth next year. it. was decided to have two quickstep competitions, one for A grade bands and one for B grade. The total money allocated in prizes at the contest is over £7OO.

The Department of Internal Affairs notified the Eltham County Council on Saturday that a commission, consisting of Messrs. H. J. Lowe (Commissioner of Crown Lands), Oswald Gardner (district valuer. Wanganui) and J. B. Richards (Stratford), had been set up to inquire into the proposed alterations of the boundaries of the counties of Eltham and Stratford. It was probable the commission would be held in the, first week in May.

The following donations are r ' ledged by the Now Plymouth .> * Life-savins’ Club':—Mrs. Barley „„ , Mr. L. Hoffmann ss, Mrs. A. W. i 3s. Mrs Downs 2s Cd, Misses G Lovogrove and K. Lister (trophies).

Before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M, in the New Plymouth Court on Saturday, Mrs. T. M. Winiki applied for a separation and maintenance order against her husband on the ground of per: latent cruelty. Counsel for defendant notified that an order for separation and the payment of £4 per week maintenance would be consented to. The order was therefore made in these terms.

The New Plymouth Regimental Band visited Waitara yesterday, and gave a recital on the Camp Reserve, when an exceptionally fine programme of music was submitted, under the conductorship of Mr. R. Lowe. The weather was fine and there was a good attendance, the collection, which was in aid of the band funds, amounting to £9. After the recital the members of the band were the guests of the Mayor of Waitara (Mr. Morgan) at Mrs. Sutherland’s tearooms, and the band wish to express appreciation of his hospitality.

A collision between a tram-car and motor lorry occurred at New Plymouth early on Saturday evening. The 6.58 p.m. car (No. 5) from town to the Breakwater was approaching the brow of the hill near the Cutfield Road loop when a motor lorry, owned by Mr. W. Oliver, and driven by a man named Fahey, appeared over the ’hill proceeding, it is stated, along the centre of the road. Motorman Florence sounded his gong and brought the tram to a standstill about forty yards on the town side of the loop. The lorry swerved to the side but, in doing so, struck the tram, damaging the front portion, smashing a window, and knocking the step of! the side. The tram, one of the large ones, has consequently had to be laid up for a couple of days for repairs.

A demonstration of the Magnavox, an astonishing electrical device for the amplification of sound, was given at Wellington on Friday night on behalf of the company known as “Magnavox Australasia,” which owns the Australasian rights of this American invention. The instrument is an intricate electrical device, which by actuating through a system of coil inductions on the sound vibrations increases the volume in proportion to the power applied. Some remarkable experiments were successfully carried out. Messrs. Lester Bros., of the Ngaere Gardens, have been in touch with Mr. Hugh Wilson, the manager of the company, with a view to securing a demonstration with the Magnavox at their gardens next Sunday if possible, and have secured the offer <> first refusal.

The Kap.onga Catholic school committee have arranged to open the new Convent school on Thursday, April 20. His Grace, Archbishop Redwood, will perform the opening ceremony. The new school is considered to be one of the most efficient of its kind in the Dominion. It is fitted with the latest improvements in school buildings, including electric light and heating system. The ventilating system is as perfect as can be obtained. The two large school rooms can easily accommodate 120 children. and the large assembly hall fronting the school rooms can be utilised for school purposes if necessary. The front elevation of the buildings is relieved by an elevated porch which gives it a finished appearance. Mr. Mannix, of New Plymouth, is the architect.— Argus.

A meeting of the New Plymouth District Repatriation Committee was held on Friday afternoon, there being present Messrs. C. H. Weston (in the chair), W. J. Chaney, T. Furlong, H. R. Cattley, F, L. Hartnell, and the secretary, Mr. A. S. Allen The secretary reported that three furniture loans amounting to £l3O had been repaid since last meeting. The executive’s action in recommending for approval three furniture loans of £5O and one of £25 was confirmed. An application for a loan of £5O for furniture was deferred for further investigation, and another applicant instructed to apply again at a later date. The committee considered several applications for indulgence. and it was unanimously decided to give every possible consideration to proved cases of hardship caused through the low prices now being received for butter-fat.

Mr. Oswald Hawken, M.P., interviewed the Minister for Public Works with regard to the Tongahoe Valley Road, and has now been informed that a start is being made with the tunnel at both ends. It now seems that the settlers, after a very long delay, are at last to have a very desirable work done. Another matter brought before the Minister by Mr. Hawken was the need for proceeding with another length of the Te Roti railway line, with the object of giving work' to the unemployed, of whom there were a fair number in the district. Mr. Coates has replied that he intends visiting the line and would forward particulars of his itinerary later. One of the most important matters brought before the Minister was in connection with the flood damage sustained by the Omona settlers. Mr. Hawken informed the Minister that the County Council had done all it coudd possibly do for the settlers, and that there were no further funds for works urgently necessary. The Minister was quite sympathetic and admitted that the damage was due to such extraordinary circumstances that some further assistance should be given by the Government. He intimated that he would let Mr. Hawken know what the Government would do after he had conferred with his officers.

The turnover for the Hawera Dairy Company’s factories for the month of February, with the figures for the corresponding month of last year in parentheses, was as follows: —Pounds of milk received 5.370,648 (4,183.108) ; pounds of butterfat 217,107 (172,655); pounds of cheese 536,318 (322,798). In February, 1921, the company manufactured, in addition to cheese. 52.970 lb of butter. About a week ago the company again started manufacturing butter. The total output for the season up to the present is not far behind. if not quite equal to, the whole of the output for last season, and it Is expected that the season’s output will be well above 2000 tons. On the pre-

sent prospects the increased output will set oil a substantial proportion of the loss due to the lower prices. The indications are that the milking season will be longer than usual, and a. prominent dairy farmer stated that there was a likelihood of it extending into .lune. Early frosts, however, would have an injurious effect. Dairy farmers generally are now’ taking a more cheerful view of the future, and one farmer stated that the pay-out for the season, which should be in the vicinity of Is sd, should be quite satisfactory to all who were not the victims of speculation.—Star. Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Second and Third Groups) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable today, Monday, April 10, at the Secrer .-> i’v’s Ollier', Currie Street, from 9 a.m. • 12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.—Advt.