LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the request of the Minister of Public Works the highways conference to discuss the proposed Bill has been deferred, and will probably be held in a month’s time. The Mayor has given notice that he will move the following resolution at the next meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council : ■ “That a second passenger ’bus be procured.” Two men who were taken into custody by the New Plymouth police yesterday afternoon will appear before the Court this morning on charges of drunkenness. The arrests were made in Devon Street, Fitzroy, and Kawau Street.

It is understood that the necessary authority for the formation of an electric power board, for the Eltham Borough, and the Eltham, Stratford and Inglewood Counties, will be gazetted either to-day or next week (says the Argus).

The late George Henry Fair, of Waitara, died on May 4, 1920, leaving a fairly large estate to his brother in Ireland. The next of kin in New Zealand contested the will. His Honor, Mr. Justice Stringer, on Tuesday considered the matter, and having heard legal argument, ordered that the matter should be dealt with under the Probate Act.

In consequence of the numerous representations made to him by sportsmen, who said that it would be impossible to convert their firearms before May 1, Sir Heaton Rhodes decided not to enforce the new regulation prohibiting the shooting of game with automatic or auto-loading guns. The automatic weapons have been described as “slaughter guns.” hut it must be understood that the limitation of the bag to 25 birds will be strictly enforced.

It was stated at the Farmers’ Union meeting at Eketahuna last week that in the past where dairy companies had obtained overdrafts for the purpose of additions to factories or plant the rate of deduction for repayment had been a halfpenny for each pound of butter-fat, but the Associated Banks were noiv requiring Id. A remit on this matter with the object of securing a return to the old terms will be before the Provincial Conference.

If Sir Ernest Shackleton had lived io complete his last expedition according to his original plan, his ship the Quest would have been due in New Zealand waters this month. The great explorer had intended to examine the coast-line of the Antarctic Continent from Ender-' by Land westward during the summer that has passed and then to come eastward to New Zealand, exploring certain islands en route. The plan was modified after his death, and it appears now that the Quest probably will put into Cape Town. Some news of the little ship ought to be received in the near future, since the season for navigation in the Antarctic regions has closed.

The value of the telephone to farmers was emphasised by Mr. E. Hawken, M.P., in speaking at Kaponga yesterday. He said the telephone system in Taranaki was not so up-to-date as it should be, and a very large majority of the farms were not connected. He said that the Postal Department was spending large sums annually in installing telephones, etc., but could not possibly provide all that were required. La-st session, however, a Bill had. been put through Parliament that would enable local bodies to raise loans and erect telephone lines in the district. He hoped that advantage would be taken of this and that in a very few years every house in the district would have its telephone. * - We have been through very hard times, but from what I have been told by ’business men and others in a position to know, we have now turned the corner,” said Mr. O. Hawken, M.P., at Kaponga yesterday. He said times would be better and the finances of the country were getting into a more stable condition, and though a great many might find it difficult to carry on he hoped jn a few months tilings would be better. New Zealand was a wonderful country and was going to be a-s prosperous as it had been in the past, though he did not say they would have the boom times again; in fact, he did not wish it. Tn a short time things would be alright if the people were energetic and worked hard.

There was a record gathering of Freemasons at Hawera last night, the occasion being the constitution, consecration and dedication of Lodge Taranaki and the installing of officers. Tne ceremony, which took place in the Winter Show building, was attended by about 300, every lodge in Taranaki being fully represented, while visitors were present from all parts of New Zealand. The consecration of the new lodge was performed by Most Wor. Bro. Thomas Ross, G.M. -for New Zealand, assisted by Rt. Wor. Bros. W. N. Ewing, Prov. Grand Master of Taranaki, T. C. .Fookes, R. W. Sargent, past P.G.lty.’s. Wor. Bro. E. E. Wilson was director of ceremonies. The installation of Wor. Bro. E. C. Hayton, P.M., was performed by Rt. Wor. Bro. W. N. Ewing.

The value of having some fixed place where the records of the early settlement of New Zealand may be kept in safety for the benefit of future generations, was a point emphasised by Mr. R. <D. D. McLean, of Hawke’s Bay, when speaking at a meeting of the Early Settlers’ Association in Wellington. “I have my -doubts as to whether in the schools in New Zealand we do quite enough as regards teaching the rising generation about what those who came before us did in the days of Auld Lang Syne,” said Mr. McLean. “There is nothing better to inspire the youth of the country than to let them know what was done in those old days. Those who live in the present age—those of middle age-can form no idea of what was done in those early 'pioneering days.” Mr. McLean considered it an excellent idea that such a body as. the Early Settlers’ Association had been brought into existence.

Mrs. F. Boyle advertises in this issue that she is prepared to (take pupils in singing and voice production in her rooms at Mrs. Beedie’s, corner of Hobson and Buller Streets. Mrs. Boyle wishes it to be known that she has had very considerable opportunities of acquiring sound knowledge and experience at the hands of one of the leading professors in London, as she .studied singing for several years under Mons d’Albert at the Guildhall • School of Music. Mrs. Boyle will be in attendance at Messrs. Collier’s, Devon Street, on Thursday afternoon, from 2 to 4, where an interview may be had; letters sent her at Mrs. Beedie’s, Hobson Street, or telephone No. 603. will be promptly attended to. Mrs. Boyle will make Iter first appearance in New Plymouth at the Victoria League rooms toimfirxQjj afternoon.

Quite a number of thrifty housewives in Palmerston are considering the matter of using a goat on a tether in the garden, as a means of meeting the milk bill.

A bright schoolboy was . asked to define a caricature, and this was his answer:—“A caricature is the picture (generally insulting) of what a person is really like, not what he thinks he is like. Because it shows his character as well as his features, it is more like him than he is himself.

Another explanation of the discovery of the Tuatara lizard at Plimmerton is given the Manawatu Times. In 1881 Mr. James Hugh, well-known in Palmerston and Feilding, had a small colony of them. From time to time one or* another escaped, and were not recaptured. One he named Dr. Tanner, after the fasting doctor of those days, because it refused all nourishment for eight months. Mr. Hugh was a jeweller, and was pestered by Maoris, whom he did not understand or trust. The Maori has a superstitious horror of all creeping things, and this knowledge prompted the naturalist to establish the small zoo in his shop. It was effective.

A good story was told by Colonel R. Young, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, regarding an old man whom he came across one day in the trenches in the year of our Lord, 1918. “What arc you doing here?” he asked, “and bow old are you?” “Oh, I’m a grandfather!” was the reply. “It was like this, yer see. My little gal got married to a cove wot got called up, and she made such a fuss about it that I said that I would and kep an eye on him for her.” “Well,” said the colonel, “I hope he has come through all right.’ “Well, I don’t know,” replied the old man, rumina-tive-ly. “He got into the band at Trentbam, and that was the last I seed of him!”

A visitor was walking along a street in Oamaru the other day, when his ai - tention was attracted by a wedding party (states the Otago Daily Times). The * bride was beautifully dressed in georgette —the material was so described to the mere male visitor—and she looked a very becoming bride. There was one thing about her, nevertheless, which puzzled the onlooker. Her feet appeared to be malformed m s-ime strange manner. When, however, rhe bride had entered the comfortable taxicab, and shortly after a pair of grocer's paper bags were thrown out ou to the pavement, the mystery was solved. There was a grass path from the house to the waiting taxd-eah, and in order that the bridal shoes should not be soiled the bride hit on the ingenious idek of using the bags as goloshes.

Exquisite materials that are ideal in every way for evening wear are a feature of present stocks at Morey’s. Call and make your selection while prices are so very reasonable.

The Melbourne’s Gigantic Sale, now running, offers special inducements to men. Splendid dark woollen suits, only 69/6; solid saddle trousers, 24/6; hardwear trousers, 12/6; Petone flannels, 5/11; pyjama suits, TD/6; boys’ and youths’ pyjamas. 7/11; grand dark cotton tweed shirts, 8/6; black ribbed knitted socks, 1/11.

Here is why “Fairy Wonder” Dry Soap is such a phenomenal success. It does away with practically all rubbing and boiling. It does not rot the clothes. It makes no nasty scum. It obviates undue rinsing. It 'is delicately perfumed, and it leaves the hands beautifully soft and as smooth as silk. It cuts wash-day in half. Ask your grocer for it. Owing to being heavily stocked, Dockrill’s have decided to give the people of New Plymouth and surrounding districts an opportunity of buying high-grade boots and shoes at reduced prices. This firm’s footwear is well known for its style, comfort and long-lasting quali-