LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The past vear was a particularly healthy one for the people of New Zealand, the deauh-rate being the lowest recorded.

4 Marton message states that Mr. Maeeev has given his assurance that tnree representatives of the Farmers Union will sit on the taxation committee which will be convened shortly. It was announced in the Auckland Police Court yesterday that the hearing of the charge against Bishop Piston would proceed before Mr. Poynton, on Monday next.

An enjoyable programme was given by the Fourth Battalion Band at a recital at the Breakwater last night. The concert was well patronised, and a variety of items met with general favor.

Mr. T. Alexander, a business man of Taradale, was violently assaulted the other evening when closing his shop. He had the presence of mind to throw a bag containing a sum of money into the shop and the miscreant, finding his efforts frustrated, decamped. Hundreds of acres on the high lands round Mount Ruapehu are at present a sea of pink—the heather in bloom. The spread of this plant is regarded with concern in the drstrict (says an exchange), as ft is killing the small vegetation with its prolific .growth.

While proceeding to the Kaponga sports Mr. Fred. Brisco came in contact with a motor car driven by Mr. Allan, of the Hunter Road, and received a broken leg and arm and other injuries (writes our Eltham correspond•ent). Dr. Cooper was soon on the scene of the' accident and after rendering first aid removed Mr. Brisco to a private hospital. Brisco is a keen footballer and he will be seriously missed from the ranks of the Eltham Football Club this season.

The question of keeping the New Plymouth library open on Saturday nights was before the annuel meeting of subscribers last night. In the course of the discussion the chairman (Mr. W. H. Skinner) said it was admitted such a practice would be a convenience, but the question was one of staff. Information had been obtained as to the practice in towns of similar size, which showed that in Invercargill, Timaru, and Hamilton the library observed the Saturday half-holiday, wjiile in Wanganui and Napier the libraries were kept open. A motion recommending the incoming committee to consider the question of keeping the library open from 7 till 8 on Saturday nights was lost. Another motion on the question of hours was also before the meeting} namely, that the committee be recommended to keep the lending library open till 5.30 p.m. daily. It was urged by a number of speakers that the alteration was a very necessary one and the motion found genera]/ favor, being subsequently carried.

An effort is being made to impose a duty on British manufactured bottles in the interests of an Australian firm who are opening a branch of their works in New Zealand. During the war many of the bottles used in New Zealand came from Australia and Japan, but since then the English manufacturers have improved their plants and catered more fully for the colonial trade. Users of the bottles prefer the English bottles, and are opposed to the imposition of a duty, regarding the freight and chargee on the British article, representing some 50 per cent, of the f.o.b. value, as sufficient protection (for any one wishing to manufacture locally. The matter came before the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce yesterday, when a motion was passed stating it was undesirable to place any duty on imported bottles. Quite a number of Palmerston North housewives were the victims of a despicable trick perpetrated by a woman the other day. The female in question is reported to have visited several stree+s, going from door to door selling poppies (of her own make) for “Poppy Day.” The fact that they were being offered at a cheaper rate than the advertised priees aroused the suspicions of one lady, who informed the officials of the R.S.A. A stormy interview followed, and the dame, who, it is stated, worked t’he same dodge in Auckland and Wanganui recently, hastily consulted the railway time-table. The annual re-union of the Hawera branch of the South African War Veterans’ Association held on Wednesday night was an unqualified success. Mr. Easton'(president) was in the chaii, and the success of the evening was largely due to the efforts of the secretary, Sergeant-Major Mahoney. Visitons from the Stratford and New Plymouth branches were present, and the company also included representatives of the R.S.A. and the Maori War Veterans’ Association. Great as are inventions like electricity and the telephone, it is doubtful if either of these have proved such a boon and a blessing to the busy housewife as “Fairy ‘Wonder” Dry Soap, the magic cleanser. Clothes become snow-white where • Fairy” waves her wand. At all stores. By advertisement in this issue it is notified that the annual meeting of the New Plymouth Returned Soldiers’ Association has been postponed until Friday, May 5. The Hawera Acclimatisation Society advertise in this issue a list of person’s from whom shooting licenses may be obtained. Special attention is drawn to the notice regarding the absolute protection of pukeko, paradise duck and native P'getoU. ' L '

The supplies being received by the Eltham Dairy Factory Company continue very high, and the figures for the past month again exceed previous records. They were as follow: 5,6961'b5. cream; 5.743,5431b5. milk; making 242,8861'b5. butter-fat. This is an increase over the corresponding period of last year, of sl,ooolibs. butter-fat. The increase in the quantity of butter-fat received for the nine months ending March 31 last, as compared with the same period last year, was 442,6941bs. — Argus.

The opening lecture of the Workers’ Educational Association’s session in New Plymouth this year was given last night, when there was a good attendance. The speaker, Mr. C. G. B'ottrill, M.A., dealt with “Origins of Systems,” giving an interesting .review on this subject and the various phases under which it- could be studied.

The Stratford Chamber of Commerce is endeavoring to have the whole of the incomparable scenery in the Tangarakau Gorge preserved as a scenic reserve, and is making representations thereanent to the Government. At a meeting of the council of the Taranaki Chamber yesterday it was decided to strongly support " the Stratford representations, which, were regarded as being in the national interests.

Genuine bargains are to be had at the Old Girls’ Mart in the Whiteley Hall to-morrow afternoon. Two cockerels, ready dressed, will be found on the •half-crown stall, and each of the other stalls will have special articles of value. Dainties not often offered for sale, such as artichokes, will be found, the only uneatable things being flowers and such additions ta the garden as lavender plants. Those who have promised food of any kind are reminded that it wi’l be called for to-morrow morning.

A Chrysanthemum .Show is being hell in the Parish Hall, Inglewood, on May 4, in aid of the rescue ork carried out by St. Mary’s Homes. The Lepperton Church of England Committee are holding a mart sale at Lepperton to-morrow (Saturday). Particulars are advertised in this issue.

Winter is on us, .and ladies are requiring warm vests. C. C. Ward is holding the largest and most varied stock of ladies’ vests in Taranaki at the most reasonable priees. Large warm cotton, vests, 1/11, 2/9, 2/11, 3/6: special value, large wool and cotton chemise vests, 4/11, 5/11; all wool ribbed wool vests, 6/11, 7/6 to 9/11; comfy cut vests, large size only, 2/3. The Stratford railway ball committee are endeavoring to make their second annual ball on. May 4 an event to be remembered. The first ball was a great success, and it is hoped that this year’s function will be even more enjoyable.

.Shareholders of the New Zealand Iron Ore Smelting and Manufacturing Company, Limited, are reminded of the meeting‘to be held at 2 p.m. to-day, in the Soldiers’ Club, for the purpose of confirming the resolution increasing the capital of the company.

Bargains! Bargains'. And more bargains! That is the slogan at the Melbourne’s Gigantic Sale, now .proceeding. As a consequence business is brisk, and the turnover was never greater, which, after all. i«s the main consideration, ; ven if profits have been pared down to a vanishing point.