LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The value of the opossum skin industry in the Dominion for this year, is estimated at over £30,000. For being found drunk in the railway station at New Plymouth on Friday, Anthony Kelly was fined 10s, in default 48 hours, by Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M.', at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning.

“Beer ie bad for people who have had a nervous breakdown, or so I am informed,” said counsel to a witness at the Auckland Supreme Court last week. “Others say it is good,” interposed Mr. Justice Herdman, to which counsel demurred: “But they are unduly optimistic.”

* It is suggested in some quarters, says a Christchurch paper, that the next Maori election will be largely influenced by Katana, not that he will select candidates himself, but that only supporters of Ratana will have a chance of election. It is said that Ratana was j«oi favorable to his son’s candidature for the Western Maori seat against Sir Maui Pomare, ibut his followers insisted that his son should stand.

Ice skating has been all the vogue at Queenstown during the past six weeks, states a visitor to Dunedin from Queenstown. He said that the winter had been a very fine, although the frosts had been severe. The ponds and dams had been frozen, and skating was being freely indulged in. In addition, there had been football and hockey matches on the ice.

A Government valuer, giving evidence in the Magistrate’s Court in Palmerston North, said that his method of calculating the depreciation on the average wooden (building was on ten four-year periods, beginning at the apparent age of the house on the following graduated scale: First period of four years, 4 per cent.; second, 5 per cent.; third, 6 per cent.; fourth, 7 x per cent.; fifth, 8 per cent.; sixth, 10 per cent.; seventh, 12 per cent.; eighth. 14 per cent.; ninth. 16 per cent.; tenth, 18 per cent.; thus providing for the complete replacement of the average building in 40 years.

Lord Northcliffe, travelling incognito in Germany as Mr. Leonard Brown, said to some former German acquaintances who remarked that he was thinner than formerly: —“Well gentlemen, I don’t think many Germans would go through the regime I have been through at doctor’s orders. From the time or leaving England on a world tour in July of last year to my return in March this year L deprived myself of all liquid at meals —a horrible experience in the tropics — of all starchy foods, such as bananas and bread, of all sugar and sweet fruits, and of everything that makes life worth living in the tropics.” At a meeting of Hawera citizens on Friday an “Advancement League” was formed to advertise and generally further the interests of the town. Mr. Gilbert, who presided, said that advertising was a wonderful factor in creating new and better business. Hawera was at the parting of the ways, and the next year or so would probably decide whether it was to grow and develop into an important trading centre, or get into a rut and stay there, or even go back. It was their privilege to do something now to decide the destiny of the town, and he knew of no better way than a vigorous publicity campaign, backed up by a determination to deserve by sustained and faithful service and up-to-date methods the prosperity that such a campaign would 'be sure to bring. The days of the fraud advertisement were over, and if they wanted to get any permanent good from their advertising they would have to be careful to tell the truth, and nothing but the absolute truth. It was recognised more and more than even from the sordid point of view of pounds, shillings and pence, honesty was the best policy. He wanted to emphasis’e that what they said in their advertisements must be made good. When they told prospective customers that it would pay them to shop in Hawera they would have to be prepared to prove it right up to the hilt. They must deliver the goods. A publicity campaign would incolve an examination of their (business methods, and it meant that they would have to put their own businesses under the acid test.

A good story comes from one of the suburbs (says the Auckland Star). A man bought a corner section having a frontage to two streets and a right of way leading to another section running along the whole width of the back of the property. Wishing to have a little privacy at some part of his newlyacquired purchase, he decided to put up a 6ft corrugated iron fence along the boundary of the right of way and his place, so, as he thought, that no one could look over into his 'back-yard; but, what was his surprise, after the fence had been securely erected, to find out that the section whose entrance was by the right of way had been bought by a man who was 6ft 6in in height, who could look over the new fence every time he passed by with the greatest ease.

The interest being manifested in the address to be delivered, at New Plymouth to-night by Mr. James Wylie surely is evidence* of the public desire for better business and better times generally. The same feeling was much in evidence in Hawera last Thursday evening, when Mr. Wylie was greeted by an audience of nearly 500 people. As a. full house is anticipated, the public arc requested to go early to obtain a good seat. The chair will be taken by Mr. T. C. List at 8 p.m. The Farmers’ Co-op. will hold a sale on behalf of Mr. H. A. Jacobsen at their Stratford yards to-morrow. Details are advertised on page 8.

Messrs. Webster Bros, make a preliminary announcement of a sale of new and modern house furniture and effects in the Workers’ Social Hall on Wednesday week, August 23. Particulars will appear in a later issue. “Fairy Wonder” washing powder is the only satisfactory compound on the market for dissolving dirt in soiled clothes without rubbing. The detergent quality of this wonderful powder is the result of scientific research, and is guaranteed not to injure the finest fabrics, whether of wool, cotton, silk lined or fibre. For efficiency plus economy nothing compares with “Fairy.” Sold everywhere.

Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Third Group) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable today Monday, August 14, 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. Lovers of dancing will welcome the reappearance of Miss Mamie Ellia and ‘pupils at the (Empire Theatre to-morrow night. The New Plymouth Ladies’ Life-saving Club is fortunate in obtaining their assistance, which should help in drawing a good audience to their entertainment in aid of the funds of the rAub.