LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The gold rush fever is growing in Taumarunui, and rumors are current to the effect that a number of citizens besides visitors are prospecting in the back country in pursuit of the elusive ( metal. It is stated that prospecting 1 is being carried on at the back of On- I garuhe up to the Taringamotu Valley, I and in the Punga Punga. The prospectus of the “New Plymouth | Theatre Company, Ltd,” has been issued. The capital aimed at is £40,000, divided into 40,000 shares of £1 each, and the object of the company is to acquire a site in New Plymouth to erect a theatre on. The provisional directors are Messrs. J. H. Quilliam (chairman), Newton King, C. H. Burgess, W- J. Penn, P. ! J. H. White, A. E. Sykes, and R. W. D. Robertson The Hawera Star learns on good authority that the Kaupokonui Dairy Company have sold their output of butter up to the end of September at such a satisfactory price .that it is anticipated that the pay-out on the .price obtained • will warrant Is 6d per lb. during the first three months of the new season. As further proof of the favourable climatic and other conditions for dairy products during the present season the figures are available of the Kaupokonui Dairy Company- From July, 1921, to May, 1922, the butter-fat totalled 2,596,655.91b5., compared with 2.332,334.21b5. for the previous corresponding .period, an increase of 264,321.71b5., equal to approximately 11 per cent. When explaining the financial position of the Taranaki Hospital Botjad at yesterday’s meeting, the chairman l said that the levy of 2s 9d in the £lOO was not a heavy tax, and next year it would be imperative to add another sixpence. He anticipated that before the end of the year the board would be two or three thousand to the bad. while the utmost overdraft obtainable was £2OOO. This state of affairs made it necessary to closely watch every pound of expenditure. “If,” said the chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday, when commenting strongly on the withdrawal of certain Government subsidies that have been aiding the board's finances, ‘ the Dominion is in such dire distress that it is necessary to take the bread out of the mouths of unfortunate hospital patients, we must conclude that this country is on the brink of bankruptcy.” It appears no provision is made to record in the certificate of nurses who have passed their examinations, any special merit shown- At' yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board, the chairman (Mr. M. Fraser) mentioned this matte! - in connection with nurses who have passed “at the top of the tree,” and he suggested that the Department should phrase the certificates so as to -disclose any special merit in the examination passes. The Union Company's passenger steamer Maunganui, which has been laid up at Port Chalmers since she ceased to be engaged in transport work at the close of the war, is about to leave for Wellington to relieve the Marama in the San Francisco mail and. passenger service (states the Otago Daily Times). Nowhere else in the Dominion is the after-war slump in shipping so apparent as at Port Chalmers, where i an idle fleet indicates slackness of : ■ trade. This idle fleet, however, is being gradually withdrawn from the layup berth. The Maunganui is the most I notable withdrawal so far, and her departure, as she is the biggest idle vessel of the lay-ups. may be regarded as a distinct indication of the revival of ; trade. The proposed use of a kinematograph film for educational purposes was I a subject of discussion by the Otago Education Board last week (states the i Dunedin Star). The Education Depart- i ntent notified that one of its officers, | had viewed a certain travel film, and • that he considered it to be of an educational character, and one quite cap- j able of being used by teachers in les- ' sons on the geography of the Pacific i Islands. The chairman (Mr. J. Wai- ; lace) said that if the film was to be seen by the children during school i hours, the matter should be referred to I the headmasters. It was agreed that j the chairman be authorised to give I permission for the film to be seen dur- j ing school hours, provided the head- i masters and committees were agree- ; able. That the bottom has fallen out of i the slump is the opinion of Mr. H. J. ■ Mitchell, president of the Marlborough ■ Chamber of Commerce. He told an Ex- . press representative . that, as far as ; Blenheim was concerned, business generally had improved out of sight dur- I ing the last couple of months, and i there was now an air of quiet confi- 1 dence that better times were at hand. This improvement in the outlook was even more marked in the Nelson district, this perhaps being accounted for ■ by the supply of money which had been j pouring in there. Nelson peas had j fetched over 16s per peck, and early j potatoes and tomatoes had realised fancy prices, while the hop crop had averaged Is 8d per lb, which was equal to the best ever obtained. Fruit had also fetched big prices on the New Zealand market, even if the export trade had not been up to expectations. All this meant that there had been a steady flow of money into Nelson, with the result that business conditions there were excellent. In this issue are particulars of an important auction sale of new and modern house furniture, to be sold by Webster Bros, next week, on account of a lady leaving the district, who is giving up housekeeping. The long list comprises many articles of every-day use, and as the sale is being held absolutely without any reserve, the sale, which is being held 1 in the Workers’ Social Hall on the 27th . inst., should attract a record number of 1 1 buyers. A branch of the Commercial Bank of I Australia, Ltd., has been opened at New ii Plymouth, making the twelfth branch ' this bank ha*s opened in New Zealand since October 1, 1912, when they first ex- j tended their operations to the Dornin-1 ion. The bank Jias purchased freehold ! ' property in the four centres, and their j business is steadily growing. The last balance sheet, dated 30/6/21, shpwed paid up capital £2,118,066, deposits £l5,- ■ <103,79.3, advances £11,748,336, coin bill-j lion, etc., £6,918,580. The number of | branches and receiving offices in New j Zealand. Australia and London then tot- ( ailed 372, and has since been added to. L The anfiual meeting of the New Ply- j mouth Bowling Club will be held in; the club’s pavilion, Courtenav Street, j this eveaing, at 7.30 p.m. • I

In its annual report, the Wanganui Education Board says: “It is only necessary to compare the condition of the mouths of those children who do toothbrush drill with the mouths of those who do not, to be convinced of the value of toothbrush drill as an aid to good health.” The improved tone of the butter market is very gratifying to Waikato dairymen, and the feeling of pessimism which some time ago appeared to be spreading is being gradually dissipated. ; Mr. W. Goodfellow, managing director [ of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy , Co., says there are a number of offers for immediate shipments of butter at Is 6%d per lb. “I tell a good one that never fails to ■ get a laugh,” writes a resident of Seattle, California, to a (relative in Dunedin in a letter received last week (states the Otago Daily Times). “As the steamers approach New York from Liverpool, the steward enters the smok-ing-room and announces, ‘Gentlemen, it’s the larst chance (for refreshments; the Statue of Liberty is in sight.’ ” Dunedin, as the “Edinburgh of the South” must evidently sooni look to her laurels, because Auckland is making a strong bid in the Scotch direction. Last week the Auckland City Council received a letter from Dr. T. W. Leys stating that Mr. Moss Davis had purchased in London for presentation to the Auckland Public Library the manuscript of a very interesting and valuable letter by the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Mr. Moss Davis had had a suitable mahogany case made for the exhibition of this unique document, which it was anticipated was now on its way to New Zealand. A photograph of the letter and a sketch of the exhibition case were also forwarded. The Mayor said that this was a most valuable letter, and it showed that their former respected citizen had not forgotten his adopted city of earlier days. The next strawberry crop is likely to be seriously diminished in the districts around Auckland owing to the great shortage of young plants. Ten years I ago the new plants aggregated one | million for a season. Since then new plantings each year have steadily increased, upwards of' a quarter of a million more being averaged yearly, until last season the number totalled fully four millions. Growers of recent years have been discarding the poorer strains of plants, to the mutual advantage of themselves and consumers. This year, ! however, probably owing to the uuI usual wetness experienced, the propagation of the runners was considerably retarded (states the Auckland Star). Practically every voyager by the steamer Suva, which berthed at Sydney from Fiji last week, told of the great woes in the islands. Mr. Lord, a planter of ten years’ standing, blamed the sugar market for the depression. It cost £l6 to produce a ton of sugar, he explained, and it can be purchased in the world’s market at £lO. And sugar rules Fiji, he added. Overseers, so it was stated by another traveller, had asked the C.S.R. to take over the lands leased out to them by it. The overseers could not carry on. Wages of Indians had to be reduced as a result of the depression, and the Indians added to Fiji’s perplexities by downing tools. Travellers said they wondered where it would all end. and several stated that they were looking to New Zealand to intervene on behalf of the planters. New Zealand, it was explained, receives the big bulk of Fiji’s sugar. Mr. Court, representative of the Fresh Food Co., informs us that this company paid their suppliers 1/4 for May for but-ter-fat, and says the June payments will , be still better. “By Jove, it’s cold!” How often this remark is heard during these days of keen winds and frosty nights. To all those who complain of feeling cold Messrs. Howell and Howell’s advertisement in this issue will be more than ; welcome. This firm is 1 now offering heavy all wool underwear both in shirts and pants at prices which defy competition, while the quality is well up to the high standard set by this progressive firm. Go to Howell’s, and go early, ' for your winter supplies. i A rare opportunity for economical ' buying is now offering at Morey’s. . Their great mid-season sale is in full i swing, and all winter fashions are marked at the lowest prices. Call in when you come to town. The Farmers’ Co-op. are holding a clearing sale to-day on account of Mr. John Pine at his farm, Otakeho. The Farmers’ Co-op. will hold a clearing sale to-day on account of Mr. A. G. Edgecombe, Norfolk Road. The annual meeting of the East End j Reserve Committee will be held this evening in the pavilion. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., will preside. The Farmers’ Co-op. advertise in this issue details of a clearing sale on ; account of Mir. J. Chamberlain, Oeo Road, Auroa, which will be held tomorrow. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company advertise in this issue details of a clearing sale in the estate of Annie C’ane, Mangawhero Road, Mata, which will be held to-mor-row. A great deal is said about the cost of living and the cut in wages, but if you visit Dockrill’s you will get exceptional value for your money, as they have greatly reduced the prices of their high grade boots and shoes. The great mid-winter sale, commencing at the .Melbourne Ltd., on Friday, will materially assist in reducing the present living costs. A glance through the list o-f bargains will show drastic' reductions on standard and everyday wanted goods, amounting in many instances to 33A per cent. These reductions will only hold good while the sale lasts. “Fairy W order” washing powder soaked with the soiled clothes overnight thoroughly loosens and disintergrates all dirt without rubbing. All that is necessary in the morning is to lightly rinse or boil and the washing is done. What could be simpler? Give it a trial. On sale by all leading grocers and storekeepers. The Department of Agriculture dressed part of a swede crop with potash and nitrogen only producing a crop of IS tons per acre; while rows on either side dressed with phosphates only yielded 30 Lons per acre. It pays to use “Tui” phosphates, because phosphates are the •‘limiting factor” in most local soils, as was demonstrated in above trial." Tui” B Phosphate at £7 17s fid is only £6 17s 6d cash with order, with “Tui” A priced 20s higher. Popuhtr top-dressing with 2000 farmers. Hod* er and Tolley, Ltd., Hawera. The overwhelming experience of thou sands testifies to the val,ue of Nazo] as. an effective cure for Coughs, Colds, Sore Throats,' etc. SHOPKEEPERS! Fit. “AVON” Carrier Cycle Tyres for Parcel Delivery. Strongest made.