LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The mail train yesterday morning was crowded with passengers, several extra carriages being required. The reason was the Manawatu Show, which opens at Palmerston North to-day, and al which the annual conference of the National Dairy Association is held, as well as the annual meeting of various breeders’ associations.

The revenue from the New Plymouth electric 'bus' during May shewed an increase of £4 13s lOd, and 786 additional passengers were carried, as compared with May, 1921. The mileage run by the vehicle during the month was 2332, the passengers carried 11,512, and the total fares £ll5 7s sd.

Stock slaughtered at the New Plymouth abattoirs for local consumption last month comprised: Cattle, 217: calves, 22; sheep, 981; lambs, 43; pigs, 231; while 211 tripes were cleaned. -Compared with May last year, they show an increase of 17 cattle, 124 sheep, 2G lambs, 79 pigs and 23 tripes, and a decrease of 38 cattle. Four cattle were condemned. Fees totalled £194 5s lid, an increase of £l3 12s 9d.

Business acumen is not lacking in New Plymouth, as was evidenced by a letter from a New Plymouth coachbuilder, read at the Borough Council meeting last night, informing the council that the body for a new ’bus could be made locally. The council replied that if the writer cared to put in offers for designs and estimates the application would be considered equally with the others that have been made-

Answering a question in connection with the decrease in tramways revenue in New Plymouth last month, the electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) said, at the Borough Council meeting last night, that it was not the ordinary revenue that had decreased, with the exception of the freezing works traffic, but the pleasure traffic was much less —a result which was due to the weather.

Work at the New Plymouth hydro-elec-tric works is reported to be progressing very satisfactorily. “Excepting the new forebay, all work is now well on the way towards completion,” said the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wlilson), at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council. The council decided to visit the works on Thursday afternoon. A reduction in freight on New Zealand produce is expected as a result of the new contract for the mail services to Vancouver and San Francisco (says the Dominion). The negotiations have been completed, but the cpntract has not yet been signed, and official information is not available.

The question of installing a public weigh-bridge was raised again.. at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council. It was reported that Messrs. Bendall and Co. had a weigh-bridge which they were quite willing that the public should use without charge. The Mayor suggested that the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, who put the project before the council, should be informed that in view of this the expense of the installation of a public weighing-bridge was not justified, t was decided to defer the question for a week for the consideration of a fuller attendance of councillors. ,

“My term of residence in the borough, and the fact that I was amongst the first in the town to instal electricity, and, I believe, the first to import an electric stove into the town, will surely entitle me to a little more consideration than is usual,” wrote an applicant for electrical power for a new house, in a letter to the New Plymouth Borough Council, which was read at last night’s meeting. The applicant said that since being in her new house all culinary operations had to be performed over the open fireplace. “The shortage of power is well known,” commented the Mayor, and a resolution expressing regret that the council was unable# to accede to the request ’at present was passed.

The borough section opposite the New Plymouth railway station has been before the public on several occasions recently. It came into the limelight again at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, when a letter was received frohi Messrs. Dwan, Bros., Wellington, who intimated that they had a client who was desirous of securing a section in New Plymouth, and he asked*if the council would be prepared to sell or lease the section on the corner opposite the railway station. Their client would probably built a theatre and offices suitable for the council or the Harbor Board, if they so desired. The lease would need to be for 25 years, with right of renewal, or the owners to get compensation for the buildings. The council, on the i suggestion of the Mayor, decided to reply that it is not their present intention to offer the section, in question for sale. Forty-six applications for electricity were made in New Plymouth during May, 53 connections were made, and 18 additions were made to existing installations. Reporting to the Borough Council on the work of the department, the engineer states: “The loading on the station has been very heavy, especially during the cold weather, with the heating demand, so much so that the lighting pressure has been reduced over these heavy-loaded periods, a procedure which was reported on by me some months ago. Despite these heavy-loading conditions, I have no plant failures or irregularities to report, except that the supply was off for approximately 15 minutes on the morning of May 27, due to the gale damaging a section of C transmission line. This has been repaired and the design slightly altered to prevent a similar occurrence. The excavation for the new turbine has been completed, and it is anticipated that we will be able to commence with the concrete during this week.” The recent statement of the Government that it cannot afford to give further help to the starving peasants of Russia makes it more than ever imperative that an urgent appeal should be made to the humanity of private individuals. In a region larger than the whole of France there is no food left; and pestilence has followed on the heels of famine. Death is taking its daily toll of the children; daily the rubbishcarts go round to collect their little bodies. Unless timely succor is sent, many millions must perish of starvation.—Punch.

An Auckland gentleman writes: “We may not all agree about the politics of Russia, but we can all agree that the plaintive cry of hundreds of thousands of starving children must be answered by all. When a little mite cries for food, it is humanity’s business to listen.”

The “Little Wonder” property on the South Road is advertised in this issue for sale by auction at Webster Bros.’ Mart on Friday week, June 30. This is a handy little property, with a useful store frontage and dwelling. The Melbourne Clothing Co. are .pre* paring for their great annual mid-winter sale, which will commence on Friday next, 23rd inst. The forthcoming eale will prove absorbingly interesting to all buyers of drapery and clothing. Our readers are asked to be on the look-out for the sale advertisement.

Popular opinion is a matter that cannot be trifled with. The public once having been convinced that an article is a good one, will not be put off by accepting any “just as good” substitute. Thus it is with “Fairy Wonder” Dry Soap, the ■well-known popular household help. Housewives will not accept substitutesAt the Spiritualists’ room, St. Aubyrt Street, on Sunday, June 11, Mr. H. Howard gave u i address on “As we Sow, so we Reap.” There was a large attendance, and M •. Howard was listened to appreciatively. The address was followed by clairvoyance and spirit messages. Mr. Horace Leaf, English medium, with lantern slides showing some psychic photographs, who was sent out by -Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, has just arrived in Auckland and Australia, where lie has been lecturing to crowded audiences in ail the large centres, will lecture in New Plymouth at a date shortly to be announced. A number of valuable building sites at Vogeltown will be offered for sale by public auction by L. A. Nolan and Co. on June 30. The property is that of the late Henry Putt, which is ’being sold on behalf of the Public Trustee. The sections are mostly level, conveniently situated. and face the sun. Particulars will be found in our auction column.

It is most important to the man who does not shave himself that he has access to a hairdressing saloon where sanitation is the leading feature. This can fie depended upon at Preece’s saloon, Devon Street Central, where there are five chairs and skilled workmen in attendance. Every razor, comb and brush is sterilised before use at Preece’s.