LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“Very few businesses have shown the same turnover this year that they had last year,” said a 'banker in giving evidence at the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Co-urt yesterday. A case of drowning in the Waiongona river, three miles north of Inglewood, was reported yesterday. The victim is Fred Kirk, of Pungarehu, who was a married man with five children, and he was found drowned in the river. An inquest will be held at Inglewood today. A sitting of the Taranaki Licensing Committee took place at the New’Ply--1 mouth Courthouse yesterday, there being present Messrs. A. M. Mowlem, S.M. (chairman), W. Ambury, J- S. Connett, and F. C. J. Bellringer, for the purpose of dealing with the question of the application for a license for the White Hart Hotel, which was adjourned at the annual meeting of the committee to give an opportunity of effecting certain im- , provements required. It was stated that the requirements had been complied with and the committee granted the license. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) gave notice in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, of a number of questions dealing with the subject of pensions, and urging the necessity for the introduction of amending legislation increasing pensions during the present session. Mr. W. E- Parry (Auckland Central) gave notice to ask whether it was the intention of the Min-ister-in-Charge to bring down a measure providing adequate pensions for the blind. 1 Discussion on the proposal to increase I the hospital fees at a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board elicited some frank remarks. Reference had been made by several speakers, which suggested that the farmers were in a much 1 better position than the townsmen, and that the country members of the board never work for wages. The chairman: “I married on one pound a week.” Another member: ‘‘l married on less”; while a third interjected: “We did well on it, too.” Mrs. Cornyns: “I am glad I was not married in those days, for I couldn’t live on it ” In the House Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) gave notice on Wednesday to ask the Minister for (Lands what he proposes to do to relieve the difficulty that returned soldier settlers are suffering from in consequence of the present high values of their holdings. Would it not be better, he queried, to face the question of revaluation at once and have done with it rather than temporise further on the matter ? Plenty of good wheat, stack-threshed and with the sweat out of it, is coming to the Otago mills from Canterbury and North Otago, and a proportion of the south-grown wheat is also of high quality. particularly the output of Central Otago. Prices of both wheat and flour are stable in Dunedin, and though it is said that some cutting as to flour has been going on by southern millers in regard to their trade with the North Island, the market as a whole is quite steady, the cutting having ceased before it grew to large proportions. The Rev. Oscar Blundell is giving a lecture on astronomy in the Empire Theatre next Tuesday and, in order that school children may have an opportunity of hearing it, will give a matinee this (Friday) afternoon at 3 o’clock- Parents and others will be admitted for one shilling, so far as space permits. Mr. Blundell has the art of giving really interesting lectures on astronomy and has some beautiful slides of the heavenly bodies. No one need fear that the address will be dull. The proceeds will be added to the funds of the Astronomical Society, which has just been to considerable expense in remounting the telescope in the observatory. Flock owners need not be disquieted because of the sharp fall in the English wool market. Tn the opinion of a Dunedin expert who certainly • is in close touch with the world’s markets, and is a recognised authority, the decline is only temporary (reports the Star). The comin®- to hand of the Northern. Hemisphere clips is doubtless the cause. The principal demand in England just now is from Continental buyers represeting the countries that were combatants in the war. The scheme has worked well. Ohly 1,300,000 bales of old wool remain, and the association is strong enough to hold this surplus for a considerable while yet, merely feeding the market for immediate requirements. America is not buying much at present. The following extract from a letter received by a Dunedin company from a client in Ireland gives an impressive idea of the conditions of life as they affect peaceful citizens:—“l am very glad you think the prospects, for. the future (New Zealand) are very much brighter. Here the prospect never was more gloomy. We never know what is going to happen one hour ahead; it’s awful when night time comes. England ran away and left us with no protection for life or property. Months ago ‘they’ came at night, took my bicycle, and rode it for weeks in my face, day after day; ten days ago ‘they’ smashed the locks on two gates and’the door where I had my motor, took it, and I never expect to see it again.'lf I had interfered with them or kicked up a row it would have meant a bullet. Thia is only a little of what we have gone through- My brother has left the country, as also .have several of my relatives. The revolver and bomb rule the country, and the rebels are carrying on a sort of theatrical fight amongst themselves, too; but the real sufferers are the loyal, peaceable people, hard-working farmers, who only want to go about their work in peace and quietness. The fighting element has nothing to lose, never had. nor never will have. Thank God, I have no property in Ireland. Where I am at present I rent from year to year.” At a service held on Wednesday evening at Upper Mangorei by the Rev. J. FMartin a retiring collection was taken for the Russian Famine Fund, the proceeds amounting to £7. The New Plymouth Beautifying Society Committee will hold a working bee on Baine’s Terrace to-morrow (Saturday). The Farmers’ Co-op. will hold a clear- | ing -sale to-morrow on account of Mr. Jas. Newey, Ford Road, Okaiawa. Panticulars are advertised on page 8- ( The Farmers’ Co-op. will hold a clear- 1 ing sale to-morrow on account of Mr. 1 G. H. Trundle, Auroa. For details see advertisement on page 8. It' is most important to the roan who does not shave himself that he has ac- 1 cess to a hairdressing saloon where I sanitation is the leading feature. This | can be depended upon at Preece’s 1 saloon, Devon Street Central, where there I are five chairs and skilled workmen in | attendance. Every razor, comb and i brush is sterilised before use at 1 >4 > {’e»ae’«. a 1

Nearly 250 shooting licensee have been issued in tbe Manawatu district thia year, and game is reported to be scarce. Hares are in fair number, and some good bags of this game have been recorded. Pheasants are not to be seen, and quail are reported only in a few parts- For duck, the season so far has been too dry, and little has been done in the way of duck-shooting. In dry weather ducks remain in obscurity, and it is only the coming of wet weather that will permit of any shooting on the more accessible lagoons. The ranger (Mr. Gerald Weir) informed a Times reporter, during the week-end, that he had made repeated trips to a small lagoon, usually a favored hhunt of the duck, but without success. The extension of the credit system in trade was the subject of an interesting discussion at the annual meeting of the Auckland Farmers’ Trading Company (states the Herald). Several shareholders deplored the fact that the company had gradually got away from the cash basis system, but others contended that credit was inevitable in the country. It was suggested that over £200,000 represented a serious sum for credits, but it was explained that the amount merely averaged £l5 per head of the shareholders. Only ten shareholders had outstanding credit exceeding £5OO. The acting chairman of directors mentioned that the board was considering the question of gradually restricting credits and returning to the cash purchase system at headquarters. The general manager explained that the csta'bJifihment of a cash basis system in connection with the company’s city store would mean a saving of €3OOO annually in wages and| from £250 to £3OO in stationery, and a considerable saving on interest charges. It was unanimously resolved: “That the directors take such action as may be neccswary to restrict credits so as to get back as near as possible to the cash basis system.” The Soldiers’ Wives and Widows’ Association of Sydney has entered an emphatic protest against the resumption of trade with Germany at the end of next month. Sentiments of the members were expressed .in the following resolutions: —“This meeting of returned soldiers, their wives, and widows and supporters of men who enlisted, views with abhorrence the resumption of trade with Germany, and the desire to enter into business relations with the unrepentant enemy, thereby placing greed of gold before sacrifices made by the men who enlisted, and it is urged that economic laws and money should not be regarded now as moie important than just remembrance and recognition of those who suffered, upholding freedom and justice.” Another resolution .read: —“As Australians who have borne their share of the sacrifices involved in the recent great war, we view with grave concern the official announcement that German goods may be admitted to the Commonwealth after August 1. In view of the possible effect on Australian industries, we urge the Commonwealth Government to take such steps as will ensure the protection necessary in the manufacture of Australian goods.” A social and dance will be held in the Westown Hall to-morrow (Saturday) evening, at 7.30, in aid of the Anglican Church Building Fund. In previous years the Fresh Food Co. has made it a practice to pay out their first bonus on August 20, but in view of the stringent times it has been decided to anticipate this date, and yesterday paid out approximately £lO,OOO as a first bonus to suppliers. Wonderful bargains are the outstanding features of the Melbourne’s Great Midwinter Sale, now proceeding. With a multiplicity of drapery sales it behoves buyers to look around for best values. These will foe invariably found at the Melbourne. Year in and year out Melbourne, Ltd., values are paramount. Some women find a day’s washing, particularly during cold weather, very trying on account of chilblains, chapping and roughening of the hands. All this can be avoided by using “Fairy Wonder” Dry Soap to do the washing with. This wonderful Aabor saver is highly emollient, and leaves the hands soft and smooth after the hardest day’s washing. Try it. A noted Australian will foe visiting New Plymouth, in the person of the Rev- R. S. B. Hammond, of Sydney. His Anglican mission among the deadbeats is a by-word, while he is leeading the forces who are working for a “dry Australia.” He will speak on prohibition at the Empire Theatre on Monday next, at 8.15, in the interests of the Dominion victory campaign. A clearing sale that should be of particular interest to dairymen is that on account of Mr. W. Douds, to be held at U.ruti on July 5. The cows are a real good lot, half grade Jerseys, and should give excellent results on being shifted to open country. See advt. Particulars of a clearing sale to be held at Lepper ton on Tuesday, July 4, on account of Mr. F. Keenan, are advertised. A herd of dairy cows, mostly Jersey and Jersey cross, together with a good lot of implements, are to be disposed of.