LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A sign of the times from Hawke’s Bay. At Napier eight petitions in bankruptcy were filed during May, making a total of 35 for this year. The New Plymouth figures were two and ten respectively. The A.B. railway engine which has been on trial on the Wanganui-New Plymouth section has proved itself quite suitable for this line (says the Hawera Star). It left Hawera on Thursday afternoon with a goods train of 52 waggons, and arrived at Wanganui well up to time. Mr. E. Dixon, M.P., telegraphing from Wellington, stated: “I have interviewed the Minister and General Manager of Railways with reference to the heavy I rate of freight on Mannesman pipes. They have agreed to amend the schedule by adding another class, enabling pipes on the way and others to be carried at a lower rate for councils and town bdards.”

A very interesting reminder of the early racing days of Taranaki is treasured by Mt. F. Hoskin, of Matapu. It is a handsome silver cup, won by St Patrick, ridden by Mr. H. Hoskin, on April 3, 1866. ’ The event was the Taranaki Anniversary Handicap, run on the then Taranaki Club’s course, probably near Omata. Mr. Hoskin, when showing this to a Hawara Star representative, mentioned that the rider was his uncle, and said he wondered how many still alive were present at that meeting 56 years ago.

The sessions of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, ■which opened on May 16, were concluded yesterday. An application was made in respect to an appeal against the judgment of Mr. Justice Chapman in the case of Newton King v. the C. S. Holmes, for an extension of time in which to lodge the appeal. The application was granted and security for the appeal fixed at £lOO. Mr. C. 11. Weston appeared for the appellant owners of the ship, and Mr. R. H. Quilliam for the respondent. As this disposed of the remaining business the Court rose.

The monthly meeting of the North Taranaki head centre of the Royal LifeSaving Society was held at New Plymouth on Thursday night, there being present Messrs. A. R. Standish (chairman), A. -Stagpoole, W. Brown, R. Howell, F. J. Eggleton, and E. Coleman. A letter was received from the Wellington head centre asking support for a proposal to transfer the headquarters of the executive council from Christchurch to Wellington, but the proposal did not find favour, and it was resolved not to support it. A lectern is shortly to be unveiled in the Church of England at Inglewood as a memorial to the late Mr. Henry Brown, who was for very many years closely associated with the church there. The lectern is of brass and of somewhat similar design to the one at St Mary’s Church at New Plymouth. It was selected by Mrs. W. 11. Skinner, who is at present in England, at the request of the family of the late Mr. Henry Brown, and was landed direct at New Plymouth from the steamer Makalla.

In a communication to the Taranaki County Council, read at yesterday’s meeting, the county solicitors advised that they could find no legal authority for the making of a by-law requiring every motor lorry to have a mirror at : taehed; in fact there was what they considered distinct authority to the contrary. The letter was a reply to an enquiry from the council, who had contemplated some action in the direction mentioned.

The presence of two large overseas vessels at New Plymouth is now becoming of frequent occurrence, but as there is only one deep sea berth at the port only one big vessel can come alongside, and consequently any others that arrive oil the port have to await the vacating of this berth. The Port Victor (7280 tons) is at present loading produce for Home and will probably sail at noon to-day for the Wanganui roadstead. Meanwhile the Canadian Constructor (7177 tons), which arrived off the port at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon, has to stand off till the Port Victor sails. The Canadian Constructor has 17,500 cases of benzine and kerosene to discharge here, and it is expected she will' sail for Auckland, en route to New York, on Wednesday.

‘■New Zealand is the most prosperous place I know at the present time,” said a visitor from Ceylon to an Auckland Star representative,'’ “and I have travelled a good deal. You have a wonderful country, and I think that New Zealanders are the most generous-hearted people I have met. They are exactly like the higher class English. As far as 1 have been able to judge everybody seems to have enough money and more. There is no poverty in the country.” A fact that seemed to impress the visitor from Ceylon was that the average New Zealander owned his home. “ I

know of no other country like it,’’ he commented. “This country beats anything that I know of. Everyone seems so happy. My visit to New Zealand has certainly opened my eyes.” He also remarked that he much preferred the New Zealander to the Australian, as the former was so essentially English. “He

is never in too much of a hurry to show one round, or give one information, or extend his hospitality to a stranger,” he said. “I certainly was very busy all the time I was in Australia, but I never met the offers of hospitality that 1 have met with in this country.”

Mr. Rolls, late of India, preaches in the Gospel Hall, Stratford, on Sunday evening only, at 7 p.m. The committee of the New Plymouth Beautifying Society will hold a working bee on Baines Terrace this afternoon, commencing at 1.30 p.m. Those interested in the Church of England in the Toko and surrounding districts are notified by advertisement in this issue of an important meeting at Toko on Monday night. “AVON” Cycle I’yres are world famous for quality and endurance.

The Timaru Post reports that the grain season is keeping the railway staff busy. An enormous amount of grain is being handled in the course of transit to the mills and to the port. A large proportion of the wheat arriving by rail is being shipped to Auckland, several shiploads having gone north during the last few weeks.

The Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, returned to New Zealand from England a few months ago by the Wiltshire, in the fate of which he is naturally much interested. Speaking to a Wanganui Chronicle reporter Sir Robert said he had never travelled in a steadier ship. The Wiltshire was a fine example of the shipbuilder’s handiwork. She was splendidly fitted up in every department, and was in every way a superior class of vessel. Sir Robert -went Home in thb Athenic, whose day’s steaming record was exceeded by the Wiltshire. Accomodation for passengers was very fine, and was sufficient for between 200 and 300. Sir Robert spoke in high terms of Captain Hayward, a fine sailor and a very intelligent, studious man. The officers, engineers and crew all seemed to be a very superior set of men. Not ail the Bolsheviks are in Russia, according to z the Mayor of Christchurch (Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, M.P.). This contention was borne out by Dr. Thacker telling of an incident which actually occurred in Christchurch recently. A certain woman had been confined to her bed at the birth of her child. A sympathetic neighbor had sent over a few eggs, but the woman’s husband, who was out of work for about three months, took those eggs for himself. When remonstrated with, the man merely said, “She’s in bed. I need them more than she does.” That, contended Dr. Thacker, at the civic reception to Miss Thorp, the Russian relief worker, was as bad as the worst Bolshevik iu Russia. Christchurch had “animals” like that in its own midst.

A correspondent writing to the London Times says that the railway authorities in England consider that as the result of new methods the worst phase of pilfering has passed. Last year the loss by pilferage was £1,900,000. The new methods include the sealing of vans in conjunction with uniformed police patrols at the various depots, wire binding for boxes and packages, and the removal of consignors’ namfes and identification of contents. In the newest device, which has been satisfactorily tested, police dogs are employed, enabling pilferers to be caught red-handed. Reports in regard to the shooting season that have come to hand during the ■past week show that in some parts of the Auckland Acclimatisation district there is splendid shooting, and that some very good bags have been taken (states the New Zealand Herald). The largest bag that has been reported was one of 55 pheasants for three guns for three days, and within a radius of 15 miles near Helensville. Records of bags from five to nine birds per gun per day are very numerous, and a few reports have come to hand of spotsmen obtaining the limit number of twelve cock pheasants for a day. Sportsmen are advised that it is useless to attempt to get pheasants in localities in which pollard is used for poisoning rabbits. The acclimatisation societies are urging the Government to discontinue poisoning rabbits with pollard for the reason that the practice is detrimental to pheasants. Quail are numerous in some portions of the district, and are affording good sport. A retired sugar planter from Fiji, who has come to Auckland to live, says that he has been much struck by the prevalence of leaf curl amongst the peach trees. In Levuka it was a recognised cure for the disease to plant nasturtium right at the foot of the trees, and let it grow about a foot up the trunk. Very often the result was a good crop of fruit. He considers it would be worth trying in New Zealand, for nasturtium has some chemical properties connected with it, that it does not impoverish the soil, but, on the other hand, helps to nourish the plant life, at least of peach trees. An experiment in tobacco growing has just been carried out successfully by Mr. W. Muschamp, of St. Albans, who is on the permanent staff of the Christchurch Tramway Board (reports the Lyttelton Times). In a garden plot of 18ft by 20ft, Mr. Muschamp grew sufficient Virginia “weed.” to produce 251 b of plug tobacco, which he cured and moulded Tn accordance with instructions from a newspaper clipping. The plants, which grew to about 6ft, required looking after like tomato plants, with protection from cold and frost. A sample which Mr. Muschamp submitted for trial by a number of Pressmen proved to be very good, pure tobacco, but a trifle strong* although not rank.. This, however, was accounted for by lack of maturity, which comes with age.

Announcements of Messrs. John Hale’s and S. J. Sutton’s pedigree Jersey sales are made in the auction columns of this paper. Mr. Hale is holding his annual sale of heifers and bulls, and it should this year arouse considerable attention. The splendid records put up by the members of the herd are a clear indication of the merits of the cattle to be -sold. There are sons and daughters of all his champion producers. Mr. Sutton has recently sold his homestead and most of his farm, and this accounts for his sale. He has been a keen admirer of Jerseys for many years, and although the present herd is a comparatively young one, it has been built up on sound lines. The foundation stock were carefully selected, almost regardless of expense, and the result Mr. Sutton now has in his young stock. Mr. Sutton’s sale follows that of Mr. Hale’s, so admirers (and prospective buyers) of the popular breed will have many fine cattle to choose from. The N.Z. Meat Packing and Bacon Co. (Co-op.), Ltd., publish in our advertising columns the receiving dates for June. A service of a civic and patriotic character, and in keeping with the King’s Birthday, will be held in Whiteley Memorial Church on Sunday evening. As it is the monthly musical one, the service of praise will begin at 6.45. The Rev. W. J. Elliott will preach on “Our Watchers in the Race,” and will make special reference to the proposed cenotaph for the fallen soldiers. The choir and orchestra - will render the “Gloria” and “The Lost Chord,” and Mr. Baden Bellringer will fling “Land of Hope and Glory.” Everybody cordially invited.

A lecture on the work of the Sudan United Mission will be given by Mr. W. L. Mills in the Whiteley Hall to-night, at 8 p.in.

Particulars of a Jersey herd, to bo sold at next Stony River- sale, are advertised.

Die Rahotu Bowling Club is holding a ball in the Town Hall, Rahotu, on the 7th inst. For non-dancers, cards and other games will be provided, and a large attendance is hoped for.