LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At a postponed special sitting of the Egmont Licensing Committee yesterday the adjourned application for a renewal of a license ‘ for .the Waimate Hotel, Manaia, was granted.

The present slack conditions of trade have so far not affected the electricity department, reports Mr. R. H. Bartley in his monthly report, which was submitted to the Plymouth Borough Council last night. The demand is as great, if riot greater, than ever. The applications received during the month number 47; the new connections made to the mains are 52; and additions to existing installations 13. The plant, although subjected to heavy loading, is operating satisfactorily and the repairs and maintenance are quite normal. At last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council a requisition was received from the Board of Health requiring the council to carry out alterations to the outlet of the septic tank in the Huatoki stream. Within 30 days from the date of the requisition, viz., July 8, the council is required to carry the effluent pipe of the septic tank to the mouth of the Huatoki stream, and, if this is not satisfactory, to carry the pipe down below low water mark. Ihi a report on the matter, the general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) estimated that the first mentioned work would cost £1306, while if the alternative proposal was necessary a further £1197 would be required. Of this amount. £1306 was provided for in this year’s estimates. The Health Act gave any local authority power, when so requisitioned. to raise a loan to construct, alter, or extend any sanitary works by special order without, taking a poll. The Mayor stated that the council was already considering this matter and. on his motion, it was decided to hold over discussion on the requisition for a week.

A first offending inebriate, who was arrested in New Plymouth on Saturday evening, was brought before Mr, T. Furlong, J.P., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning and was convicted and discharged.

A dwelling-house at Puniho Road, occupied by Mr. Carlin Gill, and owned by Mr. Harding, was totally destroyed by fire on Sunday night. The insurances were £5OO in the Victoria Insurance Co. and £3OO in the Phoenix Insurance Co., whilst the furniture was insured for £l5O with the latter company.

At last week’s show at Wanganui. New Plymouth poultry exhibitors obtained the following number of prizes: W. Scott, 1 first, 2 seconds, 2 thirds; A. Lister, 4 firsts, 2 seconds; W. Bellringer. 2 firsts, 1 second; Bette Bros., 4 firsts; J. K. Hawkins, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third; and J. V. Eva, 1 first, 3 seconds. 3 thirds.

The following returns in connection with the working of the New Plymouth municipal electric bus for June were submitted to the Borough Council last night: Mileage run 2279, passengers carried 11,068, fares £lOB 16s 4d. These returns show a decrease of £2 0s 4d when compared with the corresponding month of last year, whilst the passengers carried have increased by 377. The passengers carried are made up as follows: Westown 6259, Frankley Road 695, Vogeltown 4114, a total of 11,068.

Building permits issued in New Plymouth during the month of June were Valued at £15,000,' fees collected amounting to £59 10s, reported Inspector Day at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. In addition £59 has been collected for ordinary fees and £1 14s Gd for pound fees. Two new butcher shops are about to be licensed in the suburbs. These, with one opened some months ago, are quite up to date, a*nd all of the new shops are to be compared with any of their size anywhere.

An accident occurred on the Mangaone Hill on Saturday afternoon, as a result of which Miss L. Laurent, of Bell Block, was admitted, to /the hospital suffering from a dislocated knee and a broken collarbone. Miss Laurent, who is a relieving teacher at Fitzroy, was cycling towards Bell Block about 1.30. There was a lot of traffic on the road at the time and in trying to avoid a trap at the foot of the hill Miss Laurent failed .to observe an approaching car and a collision was unavoidable. On enquiry last night her condition was reported to be satisfactory. “During the month there has been more than the usual traffic in the streets, especially during the Winter Show and the football season,” reported Inspector Day to the New Plymouth Borough Council last night. “The large crowds assembling at the park on Saturdays makes it more evident every day that Liardet Street must be closed to motor traffic after the matches, for eves a few minutes. The narrow escape! every week from serious accident point to the certainty of a mishap sooner or later. The filling of the Gilbert Street gully will ease the position, but there is an ever-increasing risk in having 5000 people and 60/ to 70 motor cars in the same street at once.”

Very forcible opinions were expressed at the meeting of the Unemployment Relief -Committee at New Plymouth yesterday afternoon at the resolution passed by the Trades Council on Saturday night anent the rate of pay being given to men at present employed on relief works. Various speakers stressed the fact that in their opinion, and in the opinions of other people whom they had met, the Trades Council had taken up a very hostile attitude towards the committee and had considerably increasetl the difficulty of raising further subscriptions. The Mayor stated that he had heard a considerable amount of comment, but he did not think that the resolution clearly expressed the intention of the council. He would be only too pleased if the funds would permit of paying award rates and he was glad to see that the council was taking steps to assist in relieving the distress. Mr. Brabyn, secretary of the Trades Council, was looked to for an expression of opinion, but stated that he was there on the committee as a private citizen. He added that his council was not in any way hostile to the committee and was merely taking up the attitude of trying to keep the pay for all works up td the award rates.

An ascent of Mt. Egmont was made on Sunday by two young men, who left the old mountain house at 6.30 a.m., reaching the summit at 12.30 p.m. after a laborious climb. A strong south wind, accompanied by a driving mist, did not add to the pleasure of the climb, but the young men pushed on, snow becoming general when the foot of the Lizard was reached and steps having to be cut in the ice at the 7000 feet level. After two hours’ solid work, hacking and cutting hard ice, the summit was reached. The surrounding country could not be seen, but the climbers were rewarded by a wonderful view of the fantastic ice formation in the crater crevices. Bright sunshine was experienced and, by the aid of a “Swiss cooker,” a hot lunch, consisting of soup and hard-boiled eggs, was enjoyed. The climbers, roped together for -safety in negotiating the slippery snow, then commenced the descent. After passing the rocky portion, about 1500 feet of the homeward journey was. covered by a standing glissade down a gully. The rest of the journey was made in good time, the Old House being reached again at 4.30 p.m. The boarding fees at the New Plymouth High Schools are tq be reduced as from next term. The matter was brought forward by Mr. F. W. Atkinson, in Accordance Avith notice of motion, at last night's meeting of the High Schools Board. Mr. A. E. Washer seconded the motion. After a discussion, in which members approved of the motion, it was decided to reduce all (boarding fees at both the boys’ and girls’ schools, with the exception of weekly girl boarders, by 10s a term. It was stated by the chairman (Mr. J. S. Fox) that, although the reduction was small it was felt it was only fair that some reduction should be made when the board was in a position to do so. , A comparison of the scale of fees shows the following charges: —Boys: Term, boarders, £l9 10s (reducible to £l7 10s if paid within a prescribed period), now £l9 and £l7 respectively; weekly boarders, £l7 (reducible to £l5 10s), now £l6 10s and £l5. Girls: Term boarders, £l7 Is (reducible to £l5 la), now £l6 Ils and £l4 Ils; weekly hoarders, £l5 10s (reducible to £l4), no change. '

Inglewood residents are reminded that Mr. R. T. Bickerton, eyesight specialist, of Wellington, will be in attendance at the Inglewood Hotel to-day (Tuesday), and may be consulted on all eyesight troubles. Eltham will be visited on Wednesday (to-morrow), the address being the Central Hotel.