LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the Supreme Court action at Palmerston, the Gane Milking Machine Proprietary was mulcted in £2OO damages for faulty erection of a milking plant, the plaintiff being K. M. Hickson.

“Do you want to increase the rates in your riding?” inquired the chairman at a meeting of the Waipa County Council of a member of one of the ridings. “Do you think I’m tired of life already ?” was the reply.

A member of the local Labour Representation Committee informed a Manawatu Tinies representative on Tuesday that a special effort is to be made to capture the Palmerston North seat foi“ Labour at the coining election.

It is stated that dairy farming in Poverty Bay is rapidly assuming large proportions, and the demand for good quality dairy cows and heifers is increasing beyond the ability of local breeders to supply the demand. The reluctance of young people in New Zealand to get married is a matter of some moment to the Registrar-Gener-al. The revenue of his department declined from £19,569' in 1920-21 to £17,244 in 1921-22, the difference being accounted for by the decrease in the number of marriages. The revenue for 192021 whs a record.

A remarkable fatality occurred in Adelong, a little town of New South Wales, recently. Two dogs were fighting, and Mr. Burleigh McLean, a well-known resident there, put in the butt of his gun between the animals. The weapen exploded and Mr. McLean was shot through the ribs. He was removed to the hospital, where he died soon after admission.

The slump does not seem to be troubling Hamilton. A £20,000 theatre, the most up-to-date in New Zealand, is being built. The erection of a large private hotel, to be known as the Hotel Cecil, will be proceeded with in about two months’ time. The building, which will be of five storeys, will be thoroughly up-to-date in every respect. Accommodation will be provided for 100 guests. Mr. L. A. Rutherford, president of the Canterbury Sheepowners’ Union, heartily condemned the Arbitration Court the other evening (reports the Lyttelton Times). He said: “The Court, as far as it affects the farming industry, I look upon as a curse. It kills ambition, and ruins efficiency. The law we should aim to work under is that safe old law of supply and demand, with as little interference as possible.’ As two young men were cycling down the river bank at Wanganui one day this week (says the Chronicle) the first one, a tramway employee, was seen to get off his cycle and hurry down to the river. By the time the second man had arrived on the scene the tramway employee had rescued a man who had fallen into the water. Without any more fuss the tramwayman hurried off to catch his car.

Mr. M. W. Watt, inspector of stock, informed a Bay of Plenty Times representative that ticks are now reappearing on stock. The regulations must be observed and any persons removing stock from areas “A” and “B.” without first obtaining a. permit, will be* prosecuted. Mr. Watt says he has knowledge that ticks are already reappearing on stock in various coastal districts and says the pest is very early this season.

A letter was recently sent to the director general of health by the mayor of New Plymouth, (Mr. F. E. Wilson) requesting the health department to submit the names of leading drainage engineers who it would be prepared to recommend to report upon a scheme for the whole of New Plymouth. The department was also requested to advise whether any other borough contemplating large drainage extensions would be prepared to bear a portion of the cost of engaging an expert from overseas to advise upon the general schemes. The borough manager reported at Monday’s council meeting that so far no reply had been received, but it was hoped that, with the department’s assistance, the council would soon be in a position to consider the appointment of an expert to undertake the preparation of the preliminary report and estimates.

Kaimata residents are reminded of the social and dance to be held in the Kaimata Hall to-night.

The Riverdale Dairy Company paid out Is 3Ad for fthe past season. The following additional subscriptions towards the New Plymouth unemployment fund have been received: J.E.M. (Rowan) £2, hydro-electric works employees £1 15s.

A man who had owed the Hawera Hospital Board an account, and had been regularly bombarded by the secretary with reminders, eventually made payment, adding 2s to the amount due, which he informed the secretary he might keep to recoup him for expenditure on stamps in his efforts to collect the amount. “There are still some decent people about,” was the comment of one member of the board.—-Star.

The Wellington musical competitions are expected to open this week, continuing for a fortnight or more. Taranaki is likely to be represented in solos, quartettes and the male choir contest. The New Plymouth Male Choir will make a final decision at their practice to-night as to whether the number of singers available warrants the choir making the trip. The choir and quartette sections take place on September 5.

After a lapse of two weeks owing to local counter-attractions the committee controlling the community singing have again arranged the continuance of thia popular and cheap form of entertainment and enjoyment. In response to the appeal at the last sing for the inclusion of new songs on the programme several fresh and popular songs have been included. To-morrow evening’s sing will be conducted by Mr. R. J. Deare.

A peculiar accident happened to a young lady one evening recently at Wanganui. She was putting the finishing touches to her (oilette before leaving her home for a dance, and placed a small hatpin about 2in. long in her mouth. In a moment the pin went down her throat, and its position has since been located in the lower portion of the throat by means of X-rays. Hopes are entertained that an operation will be unnecessary to remove it. A direct English cargo amounting to 1553 tons was brought to New Plymouth by the New Zealand Shipping Co.’s liner Kaikoura (8659 tons), which arrived in port yesterday. The vessel left Liverpool on June 2, New Plymouth being one of the last ports of call in New Zealand. After discharge of her inward cargo the Kaikoura will load 23,000 freight carcases of frozen meat (15,000 drawn from the Smart Road works and 8000 from the Waitara works), besides a small quantity of general cargo. It is anticipated she will be in port for the greater part of a week.

At the Chamber of Commerce meeting at Eltham on Monday it was resolved that letters from the Taranaki and Stratford Chambers in regard to the speeding up of the mail train service be received, and it was recommended that a Taranaki conference be held at an early date to consider the matter. It was also resolved that the chairman’s action in interviewing Mr. O. J- Hawken, M.P., in connection with obtaining a direct telephone service with New Plymouth •be endorsed. It was resolved to request the P. and T. Department tq place a direct telephone line at the disposal of Eltham. —Own Correspondent. The War Memorial Committee held a meeting at the Borough Council chambers on Monday afternoon for the purpose of discussing with the Mayor the question of site. It will be remembered that the Harbor Board and Borough Council were unable to agree about a transfer of the sections at the corner of Queen and St. Aubyn Streets, where it was proposed to erect the memorial. As a result of Monday’s meeting it was 1 decided that a deputation wait upon the Harbor Board at its meeting to-morrow with a view to reopening negotiations for the required transfer. The question upon which the two bodies have failed to agree is one of valuations, and it is hoped that a compromise may be arrived at if further negotiations take place.

Finality was reached yesterday at the Supreme Court, New Plymouth, in the hearing of the claim Crofts v. Johnston for damages arising out of a motor collision on the Urenui Road, a majority verdict for the defendant being reached by the jury after a retirement of over three hours. While the jury were inspecting the scene of the collision and were considering their finding, Mr. Justice Chapman heard the appeal of Frederick Locke v. Hugh McCrorie, an important case involving the right of a lodger in a hotel to treat guests during closed hours. After hearing the arguments of counsel, His. Honor intimated that he would consider his decision. On the application of counsel the claim, Besley v. Rea for £5OB 4s, balance of an account stated, was adjourned until the November sessions. This morning the Court will resume at 10 o’clock, when the hearing will be commenced of the claim George Albert Hurrell and others v. William Andrew Officer, for £3300, damages for alleged misrepresentation on the sale of a farm.

A suggestion that library books shall be fumigated was made in the monthly report of the New Plymouth borough manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) presented at Monday’s council meeting. He stated:—“ln connection with the circulating branch of the Carnegie Institute it seems to me that were should be some means of effectively disinfecting every book returned before it is reissued. This •is particularly necessary where the book, as frequently happens, has been taken out for the use of a person in ill health. It should be possible to instal at small cost an apparatus capable of fumigating and properly disinfecting each book as soon as it is returned. I would therefore recommend that the sanitary inspector be instructed to submit suggestions together with estimates of cost, which could then be placed before the Institute committee for consideration.”

A preliminary notice regarding the Kaimata settlers’ ball on September 5 appears in this issue. At the inaugural meeting of the Southern Cross Assurance Company’s directors, held at the company’s offices, Mandel’s Buildings, Willis Street, Wellington, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward was appointed chairman of directors, and Mr. Thomas Wilson deputy chairman. For washing fine fabrics such as ninons, georgettes, crepe de chines, and silks, “Fairy Wonder” Dry Soap is excellent. A tablespoonful in a bowl of warm water is sufficient. Soak the garments for a few minutes, then gently rinse, and all traces of perspiration will be removed. Men are scoring freely at the Melbourne’s Sensational Sale, just started. For instance: “Enzedar” trousers 24/6, hard wear Palmer Papp working trousers 9/6, Boz. American grey denim 7/6, splendid Canterbury and Bruce socks 1/6 pair, Petone flannel and undershirts 6/6, silk bows Is each, smart neglige shirts 6/11, famous Fuji silk shirts 23/6, dark cotton tweed shirts now only 8/6.

The origin of the term, “Portland” cement, was referred to by Mr. F. E. Powell at the meeting of the Auckland Institute. He said the name arose from the fact that the finished substance was supposed to resemble the Portland stone found in England. However, it did not do so.

The buyer for an Auckland firm in London has tKe following paragraph in a letter just received dated June 26: “The Russian Government has bought a building in Moorgate Street, late Finsbury Pavement. They paid £1,250,600 and £250,000, both in cash, for the building and furnishing. They call the place Soviet House. ’

Evidently j the day of big families is not entirely past, says the Auckland Star. A case came before the Court there in which the plaintiff admitted he had nine children. Later, when the defendent was giving evidence, she mentioned casually that she was the mother of 17 chilcbren, of whom she had reared nine.

“Price-cutting has broken out again worse than ever,” remarked a Christchurch retailer to the “Lyttelton Times.” “We had hoped that we would be able to settle oiir differences and allow ourselves to but there are always some who want to. squeeze the other fellow out, anfl. of course, they punish themselves at the same time. The public naturally get the benefit, because m order to keep our customers we’ve all got to fall into line. Giving evidence in the Supreme Court at Palmerston a stock agent of twelve years’ experience stated that there had been a falling off of* 2 5 per cent, in the attendance of the public at stock sales. It seemed to him that the public took more interest in a football match in a country centre thafi was manifested in a sale. Formerly, when the country enjoyed more financial prosperity than was the case to-day, a sale would have attracted a larger crowd than a football match.

When a woman in a Christchurch Court averred that she could not tolerate kissing she was asked if the statement were true. “Can you imagine me kissing a mouth like that?” she exclaimed, pointing at her brother, who was sitting in Court. Counsel pressed the question. “I’m not so fond of kissing men.” said the lady in tones of disgust, “I couldn’t go near a beard. It’s horrid!” “There may be reasonable reasons for refusing, even from a hygienic point of view,” dryly remarked Mr. Justice Adams, and counsel passed on to another point. The Lord Mayor of Sydney, as chairman of the Armenian relief fund appeal for sending a relief ship to Armenia, says it is hoped to send a cargo of 4000 tons of foodstuffs and clothing, of which New Zealand has promised to contribute 1000 tons, which will be sent to Sydney at the cost of the New Zealand Government.

The State Forestry Service has had two cinema films prepared to be released shortly for general exhibition throughout the Dominion—one dealing with nursery and tree-planting work in all its stages, and the other outlining the work in connection with the kauri forest. A third film is in course of preparation descriptive of forest fire-fighting.

“It was the liveliest sale I was ever at,” said a farmer to a King Country Chronicle reporter the other day when referring to a clearing sate that he ecently attended in that district. “I saw fully half-a-dozen fights. Neighbours who had real or imaginary grievances against one another met, after having a ‘spot’ or two, and the next thing one would see would be one of them staggering back from a violent punch on the nose. This set others koing, and soon things were very lively. I was ready, for if any of them had tried to stir up an argument with me I should have got in the first blow. That was the only thing to do as far as I could see.” The farmer was about 15 stone, and he looked well able to deliver a very convincing blow. ■Entries for the New Plymouth Jersey Cattle Club’s cull sale close on, Friday next. See advertisement.