LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A grant of £966 for additions to the Okaiawa school has been approved by the Minister for Education. The Hutt Valley Ratepayers’ Association is urging immediate steps for the amalgamation of the boroughs of Lower Hutt and Petone. Owing to lack of entries, it has been decided to abandon the B grade band contest at Masterton. The contest was to open on October 31 and the 4th Battalion (Wellington Regiment) Band had entered for several of the programme items. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P. for Taranaki, recently asked the Minister of Finance that, in cases where soldiers who had acquired land dissolved partnership, and one of them was carrying on the farm, the payment of stamp duty on the second transaction should be remitted. The Minister has replied that the law does not permit of the remission of stamp duty in such cases. “These days one can never forecast the butter market, even a day ahead.” remarked tfie secretary of a group of factories to a Manawatu Standard reporter on Wednesday. “On Friday last, for instance, 1 sold the output of one of my factories to the end of August, for Is SAd per lb. which price is exactly one penny per pound higher than the best offer obtainable to-day.” Notice lias been given in the House by Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) to ask the Minister of Railways whether, in view, of the Government’s oft-repeated statement that there has been a marked reduction in the wages of members of the railway service, it is proposed to reduce the present high charges imposed at railway dining and refreshment rooms ? Under the will of the late Mrs. Jane Tutton, of Papanni. the Presbyterian Orphanage and St. Saviour’s (Anglican) Orphanage in Christchurch, became the residuary legatees of her estate. The governing bodies of the Orphanages are informed that the residue of the estate will be approximately £ll,BOO, which will be divided, by the residuary legatees. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Mells Dairy Company on Friday, the chairman (Mr. C. J. Hawken) said that throughout the country there were too many old cows, as well as too many underfed ones. Tie advocated buyers of cattle examining the animals’ teeth before they thought of buying. It was the same with cows as it was with sheep. On good land six young sheep to the acre or three old ones. An old cow would easily fall off 50 per cent, in her milking condition where a younger cow would up an even production. At a special meeting of the New Plymouth Fire Board on Friday night permission was granted the fire brigade to lay out a howling green on the section adjoining the station. It is understood. that four rinks will be laid down for the use of the members of the brigade until such times as the land is required for building purposes. The board will find the necessary material for fencing. It was also decided to approach the Borough Council to contribute towards the cost of extending the concrete footpath. Some interesting figures which throw into strong relief the growth of the dairying industry in Taranaki were supplied by Mr. J. H. Smith at the annual meeting of the Waitara-Taranaki Dairy Co. at Waitara Road on Saturday. Speaking of their own factory, Mr. I Smith said that in 1909 they had made ! only 71 tons of butter, but their output ! had increased by about 25 tons per an- j num until 1916. when 233 tons had been ' made. There the total had rested ui’til 1920. when 235 tons were produced During 1921 the output had gone up to 256 tons, while last year they had reached the total of 347 tons 14 cwt 1 , qr 4 lb, an increase of over 91 tons on the previous season. On Wednesday evening at the Frankley Road Settlers’ Association, Mr. Rumball, who is about to leave the district. was presented with a suitably inscribed silver-mounted umbrella as a token of appreciation of services rendered. not only to the association bun to the district as a whole. Mr. Rumball, though a resident of only two years’ standing, lias so unsparingly devoted his time and energy to the welfare of the community that his presence will be sadly missed, and the members expressed the hope that ere long they would welcome him back among them. The meeting concluded with the singing of “For he’s a jolly good fellow.” Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Third Group) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable today. Monday. July 31, at the Secretary's Office, Currie Street from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.—Advt. The Farmers’ Co-op. will hold a clearing sale to-morrow, at their Hawera yards on account of Mr. J. H. R. Free. Full particulars are advertised on i page 8, ’

While engaged in excavation work at the foot of Bayly Road, leading on to the Ngamotu beach, Mr. Tom Duffin ha* unearthed at a depth of something like 20 feet, a printer’s electro block bearing the portraits of an elderly couple, evidently man and wife, possibly taken on the occasion of their jubilee wedding anniversary. In the block the lady might be taken for Queen Victoria, was in fact so taken by two or three person* who have seen it, but in a “pull” of the block the features of both persons are very distinct and they would ;be easily recognisable by anyone who knew them. The block is in an excellent state of preservation though the wood mount was almost rotted away. Where it came from or how it got there we cannot tell. Possibly it was buried when the railway line to the breakwater was constructed some 30 years ago.

At a civic reception given at Wanganui on Wednesday to Miss Rosina Buckman, her husband, Mr. Maurice D’Oisley, related a little story that appealed greatly to the audience. . He said that one evening during a performance in the Old Country, a gentleman came behind the scenes and stated that he desired to see Miss Rosina Buckman. Mr. D’Oisley came out, and the visitor promptly remarked: "T don’t want to see you—l want to -see your wife. I am a New Zealander.” The meeting was then arranged, and they had a long chat together. The next day there was a great gathering, at which Mr. Lloyd George made an important speeidi. There was a general rush to shake hands with Britain’s Prime Minister, and first on the platform was the same New Zealander. “That gentleman,” added Mr. D’Oisley, “was Mr. ‘Bricky’ Jones, of Wanganui.” The superior quality of New Zealand Grown Seeds is being continually ■demonstrated. The high quality is probably due to the fact that New Zealand has one of the finest climates in the world. We have a very equable I rainfall which keeps the crops in a ! healthy state of vigorous growth right I through the growing period, when the plants become pinched and shrivelled and such plants cannot produce fine, plump, bold seed of high germinating quality. In other countries, there is frequently an excessive rainfall or damp weather for some weeks, which is just as injurious in the opposite direction. In this season’s trials, made by the Fordell School, Cooper’s N.Z. Grown and selected Mangel Seed gave very fine results in all varieties. Cooper’s Giant Half Sugar Mangel cropped 52 tons 9 cwt per acre. In view of the fact that the ground has been worked for years and that it was not practicable to give it a dressing of farmyard manure, which it needed, the results were very satisfactory. Suchotrials serie a very fine educational purpose and are most helpful to the boys in acquiring knowledge of cultivation, varieties and results.

An authority well versed in the coal mining industry of the north says that whereas the miners a few years ago were earning £6 to £7 a week, their earnings have been whittled down to £3 or £3 10s per week, as it is not possible for the companies to keep them going full time. “At the present time,” he said, “the Government railways were consuming very little New Zealand coal compared with' what they consumed two or three years ago, owing to having overseas contracts and the big stocks in hand throughout the Dominion. Sooner or later these contracts would run out, but that would not help as much a« it would under ordinary circumstances, as the consumption of New Zealand coal—especially of small coal—was going to be affected by the big Government hy-dro-electric schemes, which were now ; being pushed ahead with. If, as reported, there were going to give the industries, city and rural, cheap power, they would not need the coal they now consumed, whilst the bunkering of steamer* was also likely to be seriously affected by the increasing number of oilburning steamers, elaborate preparations for which had already been made at Miramar by the erection of huge storage tanks.

A look in at Morey’s “Better Times” Campaign will repay every lad}' who is desirous of effecting substantial savings in the cost of her personal wear or in household drapery lines. See the “Better Times” prices at Morey’s to-day.

In washing woollens use “Fairy Wonder” Dry Soap and so avoid any risk of shrinking the garments. “Fairy” removes grease and dirt from the clothes like magic without rubbing or boiling or the use of extra soap. It is, therefore, the cheapest and best washing powder ,on the market. Stocked by all grocers.

Parents in search of good wearing knickers for their boys can now fill their requirements satisfactorily at the Melbourne, Ltd., where stocks have just been replenished. The two principal lines offering are: Fox’s famous serge “shorts” and Oamaru dark grey saddle tweed shorts. Prices of the serge are: Sizes 2 to 16, 7/9 to 13/9; saddle tweed, 9/3 to 16/3.

This (Monday) morning, at 10 o’clock, at the Farmers’ Co-op. Building, New Plymouth. L. A. Nolan and Co. will sell a Hupmobile motor car.

On Tuesday, August 15, a function that is sun* to find favor will be given at the Empire Theatre, when the New Plymouth Ladies’ *Life Saving Club’s physical culture class will make its first public appearance. A great deal of work is being put into the training of those participating. In addition there will be quaint and original dancing by Miss M. Fili* and pupils. The New Plymouth Savage Club orchestra will supply the

The annual winter sale at “The New Zealand Clothing Factory” is now in full swing. The “H. 8. brand of clothing, mercery and boots is so well and favorably known by the public that a sale organised by this firm is fully taken advantage of. Parents can make solid savings on all purchases of clothing, mercery and boots, for both man and boy, during the sale period.