LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

One of the New Plymouth tramway conductors has won the second prize in Tattersall’s Sweeps, of the nominal value of £lBOO.

The results of the guessing competitions at Kawsroa Park on Easter Monday were as f o-llows: —Cake donated by the Hygienic Bakery, won by Mrs. C. Jeffries, correct weight 51b. 40z.; cake on Mrs. Corne.y’s stall (May’s cake), won by Miss N. Beal, correct . weight 51b.

The telephone line between Opunake and New Plymouth is being reconstructed in ■conjunction with the building of the Rahotu telephone exchange. When the work is completed, improved facilities will be obtained with New Plymouth and the toll stations in the district. The telephone exchange at Rahotu will give telephone ‘facilities to about 70 settlers. An exchange is also being built at Pihama, which will give telephone communication with about 40 settlers.

Some idea of the extent of the recent cloud-burst and flood in the back country behind E Ith am and Patea may be gained by visiting the beach between Patea and Wanganui. For miles and miles, i'ndeed as far as the eye can see, may be witnessed deposits of wood, big trees, and debris. One Taranaki man who spent Easter in the neighborhood States that there is sufficient on the beach to keep the settlers of the district in firewood for the next fifty years. Many of the settlers, lie says, are cutting up the most likely logs for fencing posts.

In this issue Webster Bros, advertise a sale of furniture on account of a gentleman leaving New Plymouth, to be conducted at their mart on Friday, at 1 I p.m., absolutely without reserve.

“If the financial position were caeier T would be in favor of striking a higher rate for the purpose of establishing a maternity home in connection with the hospital,” said Mr. M. Fraser (chairman) at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board. Mr. Fraser said that the rate struck in the Taranaki Board’s district was only 2/9 in £lOO, whilst he had heard of one instance where the rate was 12/6 in £lOO.

“Poppy Day” will be observed in New Plymouth to-morrow. The ladies’ committee who are arranging for Poppy Day are asked to meet at the Victoria League this afternoon at 2 o’clock instead of this evening. Poppies and boxes will be available for collections this afternoon and to-morrow morning at 8.30. Gifts of flowers will be gratefully received at the Victoria League, A.M.P. buildings, on Monday, 24th inst., for making wreaths to place on soldiers’ graves on Anzac morning.

The nurses’ old home has been disposed of at a satisfactory figure, Mr. E. Holden (general manager) informed the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday. It had been purchased by a syndicate, and he understood that the building would be removed in the course of about six weeks. It was decided by the board that the. furniture from the home be sold by auction at a date to be arranged. The home was sold for £5OO.

“There are seventeen returned men in this town who are out of work,” said Mr. G. E. Roper, secretary of the New Plymouth R.S.A. in mentioning the Poppy Day appeal at a meeting held last night in connection with the proposals for a war memorial in New Plymouth. He stated that portion of the money realised under the Poppy Day scheme was to be devoted to the relief of returned men who were out of work. The chairman of the meeting (Mr. C. H. Burgess) remarked that though ther2 was a minimum price fixed for the poppies citizens could contribute any further sum if they so deeired, and, of course all sueh donations would be welcomed.

The Waimana, which is due to reach Wellington next Sunday from Southampton, is bringing a very large party of immigrants. There are on board, all told, 934 passengers, who include 757 nominated passengers and 167 ex-Im-perial soldiers. The latter are coming out under the Overseas Settlement Scheme. There are 337 men, 234 women, and 353 children. The nominated passengers have been guaranteed employment by friends, and the exImperial soldiers also have positions awaiting them. The immigrants are representative of nearly every branch of industry, and include riveters, mechanics, electrical engineers, farm laborers, miners, printers, fitters, sawyers, and weavers. Nominated immigrants booked for New Plymouth are 6 men, 5 women and 6 children. One of the matters brought before the Minister of Public Works by the Manaia Town Board yesterday gives an interesting sidelight on the anomalies of the raihlay administration. It was stated that* the railway freight on the pipes for the Manaia Town Board’s water supply from Wellington to Hawera. would be £9OO. These pipes cost £6OOO in England. They had accordingly cabled for the pipes to be sent by boat direct to New Plymouth, and had received a reply that the steamer freight would be £lOO more to New Plymouth than to Wellington. It was expected they would have to pay pro rata railway freight from New Plymouth to Hawera according to the distance. and as this would involve a very large - amoiunt they asked the Minister to endeavor to obtain somo reduction. It was pointed out that the Hawera Borough Council had received a couple of trucks of pipes from Wellington, the freight being £lOO. The Minister expressed surprise at. the freight and promiseil to bring the matter before his colleague, the Minister of Railways.

“That, the North Canterbury Hospital Board invitejs the hospital boards in New Zealand to urge the Government to appoint a commission to enquire into the prevalence of venereal disease in New Zealand and to suggest the best means of combating this disease,” was the text of a resolution forwarded to yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Beard. The chairman (Mr. M. Fraser), in proposing that the resolution be heartily endorsed, said it was time this question was taken in hand and properly dealt with. In seconding, Mr. >E. Gilmour stated that the Government’s own journal showed that there were 12,900 eases of venereal disease in New Zealand. The matter was a very serious one. and he thought it scandalous that it had not been taken in hand before. The resolution of endorsement was carried unanimously.

Speaking to a deputation at Normanby yesterday the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. J. G. Coates) remarked that last year the expenditure in the postal department had exceeded the revenue by £lOOO. There were many, he said, who held the view that it did not mat ter whether the' post office paid or not; it was a community service and the community should pay. He was not onp who held tliat view; but Jie considered that it should pay, and it would pay. This year it would be £lOO,OOO on the right side and next year the position would be better. If it were a private concern they would not erect ornate buildings, but would first put their house in order. When the business got into a position where it could not possibly be carried on in the present buildings they would then erect buildings so as to cope with the business several years ahead.

The following nominations have been received for the New Plymouth school committees’ elections, which take place at the annual meeting of householders on Monday evening next:—West End (9 members required): Messrs. J. Brokenshire, W. H. Broome, Jas.' Lobb, Jas. Garcia, J. E. B. Hoskin, A. J. Coad, O. G. E. Erickson, J. A. Hawker, and C. Anderson. Fitzroy (9 members): Messrs. V. W. Arden, V. George, A. L. Roberts, R. J. Bartley, R. L. Parkin, A. Cunningham, A. C. W. Bellringer, F. J. Goldsworthy, H. Hall, H. Oharteris, and I',. Harvey. Vogeltown (7 members): Mesons. H. Boswell, N. Allen, R. Tippins, G. Wigley, V. Griffiths, A. C. Evans, and W. Healy- No elections will be necessary at West End and Vogeltown, as only the requisite number have been nominated and no nominations, other than those received in writing seven days previous to the householders’ meetings, are admissible in the cases of these schools.

To-morrow (Friday), at the mart, L. A. Nolan and Co. Iwill sell a quantity of practically new furniture. Particulars are advertised.

The annual meeting of the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society will be held at the Soldiers’ Chib this (Thursday) evening. It is hoped that there will be a good attendance of shootists and angJers present, as matters of importance Will be diMeWwedj -*-’v

The Taranaki Acclimatisation Society has been informed by the Department of Internal Affairs that native pigeon, pukeko and paradise have now been placed on the list of protected birds. The society is determined to prosecute anyone shooting any of these birds, which are becoming increasingly rare.

A return showing the amounts expended on railways under construction in New Zealand -was asked for during last session of Parliament, and Mr. 8. G. Smith, M.P., has now received a copy. Eighteen railways are dealt with and the amount expended to date is £4,619,515, the amount stil’ required being £11,177,261. Details regarding the Stratford-Main Trunk line are: Okahukura to Matiere (10 miles), £311,000 expended and £77,000 required; Matiere to Tahora (33 miles) nothing spent and £940,000 required; Kohuratahi to Tahora (6 miles) £232,000 expended and £17,000 required. The total cost (Okahukura to Tahora)’ is set down at £1,577,000. On the Opunake line (23 miles) £110,615 has been spent and £330,000 is required.

At the last meeting of the council of the Taranaki Acclimatisation Soci’ety it was decided to order eyed trout ova, for rearing at the society’s hatcheries in Pukekura Park during the winter and spring months. The order includes 200,000 brown trout ova from the Hakataramea hatcheries, Christchurch, and 50,000 Rainbow ova from the Rotorua hatcheries. The latter will be liberated. in the Stony river and the Okaihu (Rahotu), and the brown in other streams. The plant at the local hatcheries is to be re-painted, and added to during the next few weeks. The work will be under the direction of Mr. W. J. Bell, who di<l good service last year in the propagation and liberation of trout in the various streams in Northern Taranaki.

Returns of business at the trate’s Court, New Plymouth, during the last quarter show that forty sittings were held, twenty-nine being presided over by the Magistrate, who heard 112 cases. The aggregate amount sued for in civil actions was £3650 12s, of which £1961 9s fid was recovered. Thirteen distress warrants were issued and the number of warrants executed by the bailiff was 12. Fifteen judgment summonses were heard, orders being made in thirteen cases. Six warrants of committal were issued. On the criminal side thirty-two arrests were made, all males, and forty-five persons, including three females, appeared on summons. Fifteen widows’ and two oldage pensions were granted., and applications pending are 19 and 7 respectively Five old-age and. two widow’s’ pensions were refused.

A good many outside motorists visited Taranaki during the holidays, and all speak highly of the roads all round the mountain. The one blot they found near Inglewood. The County Council is now engaged in repairing the main road in this district, and making a good job of it, but on Thursday the workmen left a bad piece at the bottom of a depression, and on Friday motorists had a djflScult task) •in getting through the mud. Had fine weather prevailed there would have been no trorble, but the experience of the past few months proves that no reliance can be placed on the weather for even four hours ahead. The road from Hawera to Wanganui is in good order. The

“Devil’s elbow,” the bug-bear of motorists, has been eliminated, whilst long stretches of the road have been tarsealed. Thp Opunake-New Plymouth road was never in better condition. The Taranaki County Council is constantly improving it and extending the tarsealing. The Egmont County Council realises that it is impossible to maintain the main roads unless they are first put down and tar-sealed out of loan money, and is proposing to go to ratepayers'for authority for a loan for the purpose. It is safe to say that at the present rate of progress nearly the whole of the main roads of Taranaki will be tar-sealed within the next two years.

The council of t‘he Taranaki Acclimatisation Society have decided to request the Department of Internal Affairs for an open season for opossum trapping and shooting during the coming year. Last season was open for one month only, hut this year it is proposed to ask for a three months’ season (June, July and August). The council has also decided to request the department that the issue of licenses be left in the hands of the society similarly as in the case of fishing and shooting licenses. Reports from the coastal districts between Oakura and Rahotu indicate that opossums are fairly numerous and it is expected the comhig season will yield a considerable nutaber of skins.

During the luncheon adjournment at Monday’s bowling tourney, the bowlers who were engaged on the Wanganui Club’s green were interested spectators of the tennis tourney in progress on the adjoining courts. When one closely contested doubles match concluded the opposing members of the sterner sex were observed to advance to the net and shake hands. “I notice the ladies didn’t shake,” said one of the onlooking bowlers. “They never do,” grunted an elderly cynic, “they are sworn enemies, before, through, and after the game.”

The Stratford sales of the N.Z. L. and M. and the F.C.O.S. will not be held next week owing to Anzac Day. Call in at Morey’s to-day. You will be delighted, with the splendid, range of furs, coats and raincoats on view at this popular fashion centre. Chrysanthemum growers are fortunate in having such enthusiasts as Mr. and Mrs. Barthorpe, who presented, a very handsome silver bowl as a points prize trophy. This is to be won three times, and last year occasioned a keen competition. The bowl is on view in Mr. Besley’s window, Devon Street, and growers are urged to put in all the entries ’.hey can. The closing date is Mondav next, April 24. On Friday, April 21, at 2 p.m., Newton King, Ltd., will sell by auction at the Mart, Devon Street, a property of three acres with 6-roomed house and other outbuildings, situated at Record Street, Fitzroy. As it is being offered to wind up a deceased estate, the property should command keen attention, as it can no doubt be acquired at a reasonable figure. Particulars are advertised elsewhere in this paper. A gigantic sale of men a clothing, drapery and mercery will commence at the Meibjourne, Ltd., on Friday morning next. Many reasonable money-saving bargains will be offered, and buyers are asked to watch the daily newspapers for particulars.

“Fairy Wonder” washing powder cuts wash-day in half. Tired housewives should no longer slave and boil over the wash-tub while this latest scientific household help is available for a few a large wash looms up, don’£ worry; let “Fairy” do it. Sold in pafraa all grooexfi.'