LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Waikato Times states that recent litigation over a calf worth 15s cost the contending parties fully £6O in legal expenses.

A young woman stole a pair of shoes from an Adelaide shop, and later cook them back to change, because they would not fit. She was recognised, and as a sequel was fined £lO in the Police Court.

The Taumarunui Borough Council on Monday night considered three tenders for construction of an intake and pipe line in the hydro-electric system. Tenders ranged from £14,897 to £32,880, and the engineer’s estimate was only £10,217. The council decided to carryout the work by day labour under the supervision of the engineer.

Rapid progress continues to be made by Mr. R. Semple and his party of cooperative workers with the driving of the water tunnel at Orongorongo, and about a quarter of the total distance, has already been pierced. At the Wainui end, the tunnel has been driven 2400 ft., and at the Orongorongo end the tunnellers are now in 400 ft.

At an “amalgamation” meeting held in Wanganui (reports the Chronicle), the Mayor, addressing the Gonville and Castlecliffe representatives, said that shortly Wanganui would be the cheapest place in New Zealand for gas, as the entire plant would be free from debt, and they would have only running expenses to charge up against the production. A sad case came before the Magistrate’s Court at Dunedin. A man who had rendered good service during the war pleaded guilty to theft. He had a wife and four children, and was unable to procure employment. His family were starving, and in order to buy food for them lie purloined articles to a value of £l, sold them to a secondhand dealer, and obtained bread. The defendant was convicted, and ordered to refund 10s, the amount he received from the second-hand dealer.

“I had a big sum of money when I came to New Zealand about eighteen months ago, but I lost more than half of it through passing it over to a man who promised me that he would get me a good return for it within a short -space of time, -but the whole lot went,” was what a man said who applied for relief at Auckland the other day. He was now in bad health, and was distressed that he had been taken in by a'’ person who made such favourable promises to him. He could get further money from Home, but in the meantime he was down and out.

An Italian soldier made deaf and dumb by shell-shock in the war has been claimed by two mothers and a wife after he had married another woman. Under the name of Fernaro he was cared for at a Turin hospital and was claimed by a wealthy widow of that name as her son. She took him from the hospital and shortly after, despite his infirmities, he married a girl named Stampori. A few days later another woman ran up to the deaf mute in the street and said, “My dear son, at last I have found you!” She is a Signora Romani of Santa Fierce. To support her claim to be the mother of the shell-shocked soldier she called on her daughter-in-law to identify her longmissing husband. So now he has two wives as well as two mothers, and he has asked in writing to be allowed to go back to the hospital until he recovers sufficiently to recall his identity.

In the course of the hearing of a petition for divorce at Dunedin, Mr. Justice llosking expressed strong disapproval of the methods adopted by a private detective in obtaining evidence (relates the Stat). The witness told how he had opened a window in the house in which the respondent was staying, and, with petitioner, entered. “Do you usually make entrance with out the consent of the owners?” asked the Judge. Witness replied that he had done so on other occasions. “Then all I can say is that it is a most impudent proceeding, and one not to be encourager.” Hos Honor advised the witness not to repeat the method described, which he considered was deserving of a certain amount of punishment. “It makes a wonderful difference to an. old person if there is something to dispose of in the way of estate after death. The difference in the attentions received from friends if there is something to be left is truly marvellous,” drily remarked His Honor, Mr. Justice Reed, in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North, during the hearing of a jyill case,

Owing to the number of civil cases for [hearing at the present session of the [Supreme Court at New Plymouth, His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman has postponed the commencement of the Gisborne session from Monday, the 28th inst., to Monday, September 11. A Taranaki contractor who owns a team of bullocks has accepted a contract to cart wool during the summer at Tokomaru Bay. The owner of the team left Taranaki with his wife and family three months ago. He has accomplished the journey of approximately 700 miles with his wagon and team in easy stages. In view of the anticipated reduction in the price of sugar on September 7, manufacturers will reduce the prices of jam and marmalade on October 25 (says a Wellington telegram). Full rebates, it is understood, will be allowed to their customers on all stocks held at that date. This should enable the advantage of the reduced prices yet to be adjusted to be passed on to the public. ivir. cocker, Government poultry instructor, is in New Plymouth, the object of his visit being to meet the competitors in the boys and girls’ poultry raising competition and to give them instructions in the setting and management of the broody hen and the rearing of chickens. Arrangements have been made for the competitors to meet Mr. Cocker at the Technical College at 2.30 this afternoon. Mr. R. W. Dalton, H.M. Trade Commissioner, has written to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce announcing that he has received instructions to leave for England, and intends departing about the middle of next month. “For the time being,” wrote Mr. Dalton, “Captain T. C. Fulton, M.C., my assistant, will act as officer in charge of His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner’s office, and will be glad - to be of any service he can to your Chamber of Commerce or to its members should, occasion require it.” “The Government has no present intention of taking the ladies’ car off the Auckland Main Trunk express,” was the answer given by the Minister for Railways in the House to Mr. F. N. Bartram (Grey Lynn), who had expressed some concern at the prospect of women and children being deprived of a very real comfort. The Minister said that far from withdrawing the ladies’ car from the main line the department was considering the advisability of putting similar cars on the New Plymouth and Napier lines. The war memorial which has been erected by the residents of Omata in honor of the men from this district who fell in the great war, will be unveiled on Sunday afternoon next by the Ven. Archdeacon Evans. The site lof the memorial is an historic spot in the early history of Taranaki and overlooks the battlefields of Waireka. The Wellington Regimental Band, veterans and returned soldiers will be present and it is expected there will be a large and representative assembly of the general public. At the conclusion of the service and unveiling ceremony a committee of ladies will provide afternoon tea.

Replving to a question put by M 1 * S. G. Smith (Taranaki) in the House of Representatives, the Minister for Education said it was not dbrrect to say that there was no money available for the purchase of school sites and the extension of sites. But the financial stringency had compelled him to say that he would buy land only when it was immediately required. Cases had been brought before him where the land certainly would be required in a few years and he had been urged to make the purchase! now. He had to reply that the limited amount of money at present available must be conserved for cases of immediate necessity. He was prepared to consider urgent requests. The hearing of another case of alleged misrepresentation in the sale of a farm was commenced at the Supreme Court, New Plymouth, yesterday. The claim was brought by George O. Hurrell and others against W. A. Officer, of Inglewood. and the sum of £3300 is asked for as damages for alleged misrepresentation by the defendant when the plaintiffs bought his farm at Mokoia. The hearing is likely to be a lengthy one, as there are twenty witnesses for the plaintiff, of whom thirteen were heard yesterday, the adjournment being taken when the fourteenth witness was in the box. The hearing will be resumed at 10 o’clock this morning, waiting jurors being excused until to-morrow morning. A lady resident of Riverlea, near Auckland, had a very distressing experience on a recent return from the city (relates the Star). The launch had left her on the Riverlea wharf to be met by her husband, who had to come two miles. In the darkness husband and wife failed to meet, and the former returned home in the belief that his wife had stayed overnight in the city. They are recent arrivals from overseas. The lady quickly lost herself, and took cover in some ti-tree to await the dawn in a wet night. Twelve hours elapsed when she espied smoke from a farm house near by. She called for directions and then hurried off loaded with her parcels; but assisted by Mr. Hill, sen. The plucky lady would not even stay for a cup of tea. Such is life within eleven miles of the Queen City.

So many creditors came to a bankrupt’s meetings, said a creditor at a bankruptcy meeting of creditors last week, and' glossed over the actions of people who become insolvent, that it was time something was done in the matter. He considered it should be made more difficult for traders to get out of their liabilities, and they should be led to understand that the matter was serious and often far-reaching in its effect on other 'businesses. He was not suggesting anything wrong as far as the particular estate they were interested in was concerned, but he was of the opinion that there should be a more careful scrutiny of the business dealings of such estates. The Official Assignee (Mr. S. Tansley) expressed the opinion that creditors were generally disinclined to spend the money necessary for a prosecution, which would frequently be wasted, and only in the more serious and palpable cases did they do so. It was certain that the Government would not undertake the cost; that must be borne by the creditors. Entries for the New Plymouth Jersey Cattle Club’s bull sale close to-morrow. See advt. Home-made bread, cakes and pickles will be a special feature of the Girls’ Friendly 'Society’s at home in St. Mary’s schoolroom on Saturday next. Come on, men! Don't miss these at the Melbourne’s Sensational Sale:— Men’s hard-wear trousers, reduced from 14/6 to 9/6; Boz. plain grey and striped denims, reduced from 10/6 to 7/6; wool socks reduced from 1/11 to 1/6; “Enzedar” (iN.'Z.R.) tweed trousers reduced from 29/6 to 24/6; dark cotton tweed fhirfafr, rediwedl

, Patea has formed a committee to deal with unemployment in that district. It is expected that the current from the Mangahao works (near Shannon) will be available by the end of next year. “Tn many of the native schools not a child misses a single day in the whole year/’ stated the Minister tor Education in the House of Representatives. The mail train was three-quarters of an hour late in reaching New Plymouth last night. The delay was due to a long stop at Marton awaiting the Auckland express, which was delayed owing to the slip on the Main Trunk line. “Probably it was named in the same way as Poverty, Bay,” remarked counsel at the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday morning, when Mr. Justice Chapman was enliring the origin of the title of “Poverty Flat,” in the Mokoia district. “I understand it has yielded a few law suits,” remarked His Honor. “And to that extent has been profitable to the lawyers,” added counsel amidst laughter. Mr. A. B. MacDonald, of New Plymouth, is among the competitors at the Wellington musical and dramatic competitions, and private advice was received yesterday that he had won the baritone and bass solos, own selection, competition, receiving the highest number of marks given in any class. The judges commented on Mr. MacDonald’s very fine voice and splendid dramatic performance. There were record entries.

A community “sing,” organised by the Sports Ground Committee, was held in the Workers’ Social Hall last night, there being a good attendance. Mr. A. L. Humphries presided, Mr. R. J. Deare was the conductor and Mr. Ken Ward was at the piano. An enjoyable programme was provided, the soloists being Miss 'Harper and Miss White, who were encored. The takings amounted to £7, which will be devoted towards improving the Sports ground. Another “sing” will be held next Wednesday night, when a new programme will be arranged.

A statement that “nearjy all the farmers in the district would give evidence” was tpade by counsel for the plaintiff in Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday, caused those whose business it is to attend the Court to foresee the possibility of a hearing lasting not days, but weeks. Counsel’s later reference to the subsoil and the general nature of the ground and his reference to its relation to an earlier geological period seemed to strengthen this possibility, ag wondering eyebrows were raised as to the distance he would go in tracing the history of the farm in dispute. However, as events proved, most of his i farmers were disposed of during the dS,y. At a meeting held at Carterton last week it was decided to form a Calf Club in the Waitarapa similar to the South Taranaki Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs. It was decided that the animals should be judged on condition and the cost of feeding. The rules and regulations of the Taranaki societies were adopted, and a supervisor was appointed in. each factory district. The prize money, exclusive of show prizes was fixed at £4, £3, £2, and £l, ana it was decided that no child should be allowed more than two entries. Competitors are to be» 16 years of age or under. It was decided to seek the co-operation of school teachers in the project. It is not generally known that the New Zealand Mounted Rifles have the honor of being the only white people who can claim to have lived in the Jordan Valley throughout the summer. This, however, is the case and, at the reunion social of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles at New Plymouth last night, the chairman (Major J. B. Davis) referred humorously to an incident during their sojourn there. While enduring the heat, dust, snakes, malaria and other discomforts characteristic of the valley, he said that a copy of the London Tinies reached them, and opening it, they read of a question being asked in the House of Commons as to whether there were any white troops in the valley. The answer was: “No; only Indians and colonials!”

Discussion in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday as to the value of a pinue insignus .plantation on a farm prompted a few remarks from Mr. Justice Chapman on the subject. A witness had stated that near a town the trees would be valuable for firewood, but for farm purposes they were practically useless, but His Honor stated that it depended on the district. Evidence in Hawke’s Bay led him to believe that high prices were being paid for this class of timber, while it was a remarkable thing, His Honor added, that in the Auckland district pinus insignus was being exported to Australia for butter boxes. This prompted an opinion from counsel that it was a wonder the butter did not become tainted, but no information on the point was forthcoming from the dairy farmers present.

“Fairy Wonder” dry soap powder is just as great a help in the kitchen as in the laundry. Used in the “washing up” water, it quickly dissolves grease and makes silverware shine like new. For scrubbing and cleaning it is invaluable, and a little “Fairy” in your, bath is a positive delight. Ask your grocer for it.

An important meeting of ratepayers of the Rahotu riding of the Egmont County will be held in the Rahotu Hall to-day, to discuss the question of merging into Taranaki County.