LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 May 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association has resolved to take immediate action for the erection of a permanent cenotaph in Wellington, and lias appointed a committee to go into the question of design and site and the raising of funds.

Mr. Boyd, of Onehunga Zoo fame, intends to petition Parliament for £lO,OOO compensation. The loss was incurred through interference with his collection by the Gnebunga Borough Courril. and was backed by legislation. If unsuccessful he intends to start legislation and take the matter to the Privy Council if need be.

The sports ground at Pukekura Park, which has 'been closed for the past few months, in connection with the comprehensive improvement scheme undertaken by the sports ground committee, will be re-opened to-morrow, when the TukapaClifton match will be decided there. The ground has been levelled, drained, and regrassed, and it is stated by those in a position to know that there is no better playing arena in the Dominion.

Two men who were arrested in New Plymouth on Wednesday afternoon, for drunkenness, came before, the court yesterday. One, a first offender, was convicted and discharged. The other, who had been convicted on April 17, was convicted again and fined 5s (cost of cab hire 3s), in default 24 hours’ imprisonment.

Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following cases by Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M.. at New Plymouth, yesterday: —R. J. Dearc v. William • . Hogue, £3 16s 4d (costs £1 Crown Lands Commissioner v. c. JWestern and E. H. Western, £25 (costs £3 16s) ; F. N. Whitcombe v. A. J’. Anderson, £l2 1.9 s (costs £2 16»); same v. J. Clotworth, £5 5s (costs £1 5s 6d).

At a meeting o£ the Westown Prooressive Association, on Wednesday night, Mr. 3. 8. S. Medley presiding, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the riemhers of the Borough Council for their last visit to Westown. Mr. Haddreil brought up the question of the .Westown Sr,hoi site, and it was decided to write to the Education Board on the matter. Mr. Bennett, in discussing the proposed Westown Hall, ruoved that Mr. Andrews be asked to prepare a plan for the next meeting. Mr. Anurews agreed to do this. Mr. Smith thought that a good site could he obtained near Mr. Alien's store, and it was decided that the question of site be brought up at the next annual, meeting.

The annual meeting of the Whiteley Club, New Plymouth, was held in the Whiteley Hall on Wednesday night, the Rev. W. J. Elliott presiding over a fair attendance. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Rev. W. J. ERrntt; vice-pre-sidents, Miss C. Douglas, Messrs. A. M. Mowlem, 8.M., C. G. Bottrill, M.A., and L. M. Moss, 8.A., LL.B.; secretary, Mr. O. Dunford; assistant secretary, Miss Z. Kivell; treasurer, Miss M. Arnold; editors of the Journal, Miss M. Bottrill and Mr. E. Coleman: look-out committee Mrs. W. J. Elliott, Miss Roughton, and Mr. J. Pascoe: social and musical committee, Mieses Pearee, Cooper, and Rosevear; pianist, Miss I. Scott. It was decided to hold the meetings on the same night (Monday) as formerly, aid that the opening meeting be held Monday, June 5.

The opening day of the-' Beautifying Society was a great success A heavy shower fell before one o’clock, and although the afternoon ■ was fine, the rain apparently had a demoralising effect only two workers and the president turning "up. They were engaged m clearing and weeding at the \ Street entrance to Baines’ Terrace. Mr. Robert Mace during the afternoon brought along and planted a fine chestnut tree upon the lawn. Mrs. Somerville and Miss B. Bayly kindly provided afternoon tea. The next working bee will be held to-morrow.

Flannelette is ideal for night garments, especially if Horrockses’ famous cloths are used. The Melbourne’s gigantic sale now on offers special bargains in these fabrics:—2Bi n. Horrockses’ flannelette, 1/4- 3(iin., 1/D; Horrockses’ striped pyjama flannelette. 1/9 to 2/11. Buy now while prices are reduced.

“Fairy Wonder” Dry Soap does the washing without rubbing or boiling. Just consider how the elimination of the wash-board lengthens the life of the clothes. There is a big saving here hard to estimate apart from the savings in fuel and time. It is beyond al! doubt that “Fairy” is the finest washing powder ever offered the public. All grocers stock it.

Additional electric power from Lake 'Coleridge is being made available for consumers at Christchurch, and the restrictions recently imposed will be removed at an early date.

Dr. Truby King says the birth rate all over New Zealand is going steadily down. It dropped from 24 per thousand in 1917 to 21 per thousand in 1921. It was 35 per thousand in 1885, and should now be 30 per thousand.

Speaking at the dairy representatives’ meeting in Hamilton, Mr. W. Goodfellow said that from what he had been able to learn it seemed unlikely that New Zealand butter would again have to com; pete against Siberia for the next ten or fifteen years, owing to the deplorable condition into which the latter country had fallen.

• New Zealand is the most beautiful country I ever saw, not excepting Japan,” said Lord Northcliffe to a representative of the Sunday Pictorial on his return to London from his recent tour.

“I believe the opportunities in New Zealand for the right kind of person are the best in the world to-day, but preferably for those with capital and patience,” he concluded.

Deer are said to be remarkably plentiful in the Woirarapa, but the heads are very scarce. A Masterton sportsman who has just returned from a stalking expedition in the Martinborough district said that one day his party counted 75 stags, but none were worth bringing down. The party secured 14 heads of fair quality, one of them being the progeny of an imported stag. The animal "resembled a hind in color and the head was lighter and finer than those of deer of the old stock.

According to the latest available statistics the fox fanning industry of Prince Edward Island last year produced a revenue of 1,240,000 dollars, or nearly as much as the Island’s fish and dairy production combined. About 5000, pairs of breeding foxes are held in the various ranches of the provineb, and last year the increase was 7500 young foxes. The ranchers sold 400 pairs of breeding foxes at an average price of £l2O a pair, and also disposed of 5000 pelts at an average price of £4O eacn.

After a summer that was nearly all rain, the Hawke’s Bay district has experienced an autumn which has been almost summer, fine warm days predominating. In the Mangateretere district peach trees are breaking into ’ bloom, a most rare happening for the late autumn. On Farndon Park a crop of hay' of fair quality is being gathered, a sure indication of the excellent weather that has been experienced in the district of late.

A shipment of 5000 cases of apples goes to England from Central , Otago by the Cornwall. The growers were guaranteed a minimum of one penny per pound for export apples, this being done by [the Government to encourage the industry. These apples camo from Ettrick, Roxburgh, Alexandra and Clyde. The varieties exported were Cleopatra, •Scarlet Nonpareil, Stunner Pippin, Delicious ana Newtown Pippin. Extensive planting of apples will be made this season in Cromwell district and further up.

“Is it not a fact,” asked Mr. W. T. Strand, Mayor of Lower Hutt, at the Anzac memorial ceremony, “that while our boys were away we forced up the price of land, placing an enormous burden upon them on their return ? We complain of the shortage of money, yet the lender extracts from the borrower the highest rate of interest in his power. The world is crying out for production, and men are content to do as little as they can instead of as much. If on’y the’ spirit of Anzac, o-f brotherhood, an I sacrifice, were abroad, these things would not be.”

A new director in a prominent butter factory took his seat at the Board’s table for the first time, and heard the usual monthly statement read out by the secretary, including a 20 per cent, overrun. Next month’s meeting heard the usual statement read out again, this time including a 17 per cent, over-run. The director rose up and said: “I wish to congratulate the manager on reducing the over-run a little this month, but I want to say right here, gentlemen, that a 17 per cent, over-run is still too d much to be going down the drain.” An interesting wild-cat story comes from x'atutahi district (says the Poverty Bay Herald). A settler had been missing turkeys in a mysterious way, and many had disappeared. Occasionally the shrill cry of a turkey was heard in the night, but was not taken to indicate much out of the ordinary. One night, however, a shepherd, hearing the noise, was able to swiftly investigate. He saw a turkey falling from a tree, and as it-reached the ground it was in the grip of a big black cat. The oat was a wild one, and evidently climbed the trees and pounced on the turkeys one by one. Out of a flock of over 200 there were only half a dozen left. An exciting cat-hunt followed, the hunters being armed with shotguns.

“Deflation is complete as far as farm products are concerned,’ said Mr. W. D. Hunt, giving evidence at the Arbitration Court at Wellington. “Farmers have done their share to reduce the cost of living. In the meantime they are meeting the position that has been forced upon them as far as they can by reducing their standard of living and by harder work. It is now up to the rest of the community to follow the example of the farmers and do more work for less pay. While this may render necessary a temporary reduction in the standard of living, it will in the end be balanced by a reduction in the cost of living. This course will enable reductions to be made in charges to farmers which will increase the purchasing power of their products and enable them to employ more labor, increase production, and thus bring prosperity all round.”

Mr. V. E. Donald, of Lansdowne, Masterton, one of the best known deer stalkers jn the Wairarapa, has returned from his annual visit to Southland. Mr. I Donald and his young daughter, Miss Margaret Donald, aged 14, got between them six heads, including one of 17 points, two of 14, two of 13, one of 10. Of these, the two 13’s and the 10 fell to the rifle of Miss Donald, who was stalking for the first time this season. Mr. Murrell, of the Manapouri accommodation. house, who was a member of the party, secured one of the finest heads yet taken in Otago, or even in I New Zealand. Though of only 14 | points,‘it weighed 211 b., and its dimensions were: Length 45iin., spread 37in., Ibiu-r 10%in., beam Sin. The record for I the Wairarapa is 201 b., and that was for a head of 20 tines. I The annual general meeting of the New Plymouth Returned Soldiers’ Association will be held at the Soldiers’ Club to-night, at 7.30 o’clock. The York Road sports will be held tomorrow, commencing at 10.30 a.m., and ..will be followed by a dance at night.