LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The railway service, which was interrupted by the accident at Ngaere on Wednesday, was resumed as usual yesterday. temporary repairs having been effected to the damaged line. The number of men employed on the Stratford-Main Trunk railway during July was 89,, the east end absorbing 78 and the west end 11. On the Opunake branch line 70 men were working. The total number of men on all railways was 2345. ,

It is understood (states the Star) that a certain well-known person who took a prominent part in the recent “no more war” demonstration in Dunedin has challenged the Labor Party to a contest of the Dunedin Central electorate with either Mr. Silverstone, Mr. Gilchrist, or Mr. Powell as the official Labor candidate. The person referred to offers to stand as an “Industrial Labor” candidate.

A meeting was held on Wednesday night of the Westown Progressive Association. Mr. Medley presided over a good attendance both from upper and lower Westown. A resolution was passed that the Mayor be asked to call a general meeting of ratepayers to consider the question of the tramway loan, to be held on September 28. The question of the extension of the trams to Westown was considered, and it was decided to further in every way the carrying of the loan. Mr. R. Masters. M.P., speaking at Feilding, said Mr. Cobbe (the Libera! candidate) was in a position comparable to that in which he (the speaker) found himself at the last General Elections.

“This is his first campaign, and 1919 was my first. He is opposing a Minister, and I opposed a Minister. I defeated the Minister, and he is going to defeat a Minister.” (Cheers.) “But,” added Mr. Masters, “I would advise him not to employ any jews’ harps or mouth organs in the campaign, or he may have to fight the election over again.” (Laughter.)

The Hon. E. P. Lee (Minister for Industries and Commerce) replied as under to a question given notice of by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford): “The gross profit of wholesale distributors on cut tobacco, plug tobacco, cigarettes, and cigarette tobacco represents, in the ease of all the leading lines, approximately 7} per cent, on the duty-paid cost. The gross profit of retailers in respect to such goods ranges in general from 17 to 27 per cent, on cost, or., as an average, approximately 20 per cent, on turnover. There ; s no evidence to show that a trust is operating in New Zealand in respect to tobacco, and distributors are free to handle without restriction all or any lines of tobacco and cigarettes.”

One nurse for two million people. Such a state of affairs seems incredible to us who live in civilised lands, but it is a condition that obtains to-day in the north-east corner of Belgian Congo, accordino- to Miss Constance Brandon, who delivered a missionary lecture at New Plymouth last night. Owing to the war no medical men were obtainable for this part of the dark Continent, so a lady. Nurse Arnold, volunteered for the work. The district was one which called for self-sacrificing labor on her part., for the natives were in the dreaded sleeping sickness area, whilst influenza epidemics often broke out among them. This nurse, on the average, had forty cases a day to deal with, nr over a thousand a month. It was hoped to provide a measure of relief this year by sending out from England two more nurses.

At last night’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. J. S. Connett, who is also a member of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, gave some interesting information concerning the stone ’'•h ; eh is being obtained from Paritutu for the harbor extension works. Rum-

• had been current that the stone was ”nt nrovin" suitable for the work, but <bev had the assurance of the enffineer 'hat the stone was Quite o-ood and satis/a.etorv for the work. There was a

'■prtain amount of shattered stone, but fi.nre was any amount of srpod stone. 'T'he president nf the Chamber (Mr. T. r ‘. List), said that the idea was prevalent ’n +he town that the wa« unsuitable, but he had seen Mr. Blair Mason, who said that the sea covered the stone with a film which prevented it from disintegrating, and the longer the stone was in the water the better it was. Then there were the two geologists’ renorts to the effect that the stone was ouite suitable for the purpose for which it was being used.

Nearly everv farmer realises the necessity of saving everv calfskin as well as cow hides, sheepskins, etc., with a view to obtaining everv possible penny from his farm, particular!v in these davs when it is so necessary to economise, but it is surprising how many there are who do not realise the importance of Having and curing the skin or hide eorreetlv. Tlrs is a very simple matter as is explained in a pamphlet issued bv Wilson and Lanham. Ltd.. the well-known buvers nf skins and hides, who are well established throughout New Zealand. Th's firm has brandies at Hawerp and Eltham. whence buvers operate all over Taranaki. As they buv direct for British tanners in Australia. England and Canada, farmers are assured of getting the highest prices. An mteresting advertisement appears in this issue.

Tn this issue the Whiteley flower show* committee announce that they are holding their annual show of spring flowers on Wednesday. Thursdav and Friday of next week, in the Whiteley Hall. This year thev are soliciting entries outside of those who have been regular exhibitors to the shows, and they hope to have a large response.

In the course of three months one firm at Home had cleared £lOO,OOO out of New Zealand produce. That would indicate what was going on in the Old Country,” said Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., at a luncheon given by the Co-operativo Dairy Producers’ Freezing Company, Ltd., Wellington. When dealing with directors’ fees and the chairman’s honorarium at the Whangarei Dairy Company’s annual meeting, one shareholder stated that he knew of a case in the Fielding district some years ago where a chairman of directors who had served faithfully and well for a lengthy period was voted, the munificent sum of £1 Is. The recipient had the cheque framed and hung up in his dining room. (Laughter). “It is bad advice to say we shou d value our vacant sections low in order to induce population,” said Mr. W. H. Winsor at a gathering at sSpreydon, Christchurch. “As a builder, it has been my experience that the higher-priced sections are the ones that sell quickest. Double the price and they go off like hot cakes,”

Some idea of land values near Auckland in the late ’fifties can be gained from the statement of Dr. J. Giles to the New Zealand Herald that he bought a farm of about 120 acres, with a water frontage on Manakau Harbour and near the Mauku Road, for £lOO. After harvesting the potatoes, maize and other garden crop thereon, he sold through Mr. Reader Wood at an advance of £4O, this being one of his few money-making transactions in 90 years. All the major planets that are visible to the naked eye may be seen in the western sky at one time for a fortnight hence. Four of these heavenly bodies are within a space of 20 degrees. The brightest and highest of the four is Venue, under which is Jupiter, the next in brilliancy. Twice the distance below is Saturn, which is much fainter, •Mercury, a rarely seen star, being a similar distance under Saturn. The planet Mars, which presented such a fine spectacle three months ago, is the brightest star overhead. Uranus is in opposition this week, rising when the sun sets.

The matter of the average return of butter-fat per cow in Taranaki was mentioned in the local Supreme Court last week. It was given as 180 lb. The Dairy Commissioner places it higher than that, viz., 188 lb., and the average for New Zealand at 160 lb. Southland is given at 180 lb. and Canterbury at 127 lb. The average for Australia is 120 lb. Taranaki therefore makes a good showing with the other districts mentioned, but it has a long way to go before it reaches the Danish level of 300 lb. Systematic and general herdtesting is the means by which Denmark raised its production from 150 lb. to 300 lb., and Taranaki should have no difficulty in following the example. A fair supporter of Southland, a hatpin, and an ex-Taranaki resident, provided some entertainment ior a section of the • spectators at a recent interprovincial match in Invercargill (states the Southland “Times”). The cx-Taranaki-ite had not transferred his affections with his change of residence, and signalised the trend cf the play in Tara nakl’s favour with boisterous expressions of appreciation. Southland’s fair supporter was likewise demonstrative in her feelings of joy at the home taem’s successes, and the two indulged in an opposition. “barrack” ot a vigorous kind. When Wilkinson tore along the line, and registered a try for the visitors, the Taranaki suppdrter’s joy culminated in a wild outburst of cheering. This was too much for the opposition, who found vocal utterance totally inadequate to express her disgust, so, with the adaptability to all circumstances characteristic of her sex, she extracted her hatpin and dug it viciously into her jubliant opponent, and quicKly changed his tune. In a country like New Zealand, so well provided (for the size) with woollen mills, it may appear strange that there should be an inquiry for spinningwheels for use by individuals. Mr. G. T. Booth, of Booth, Macdonald, Ltd., of Christchurch informed a reporter of the Christchuch “Press ’ that he had received such an inquiry, rhe spinning wheels being required for the use of North Island Maoris residing in the vicinity of Castlepoint, in the Wellington provincial district. It appears that the gentlemen who made the inquiry had fixed up a home-made spinning-wheel, with which the Natives had been able to spin yarn with which to knit articles of clothing. At? they were able tG produce knitting wool at a lesser cost than the ten shillings a pound it cost to buy, they desired to extend their operations with better made spinning wheels. Mr. Booth added that he knew a lady in the Hawke’s Bay district whose perquisite from her father’s flocks consisted of all the black fleeces. These she makes into knitting wool by hand, and makes articles of apparel for her friends.

“Yes, I would not mind living in New Zealand—in fact, I would rather like it—but I must have a Canadian house with Canadian heating.” For a Canadian born and bred to feel the cold in sunny Auckland seemed rather odd, but the fact remains that Mr. T. A. Brough, who made the above remark, is not the first person from the sister Dominion who has felt chilly (remarks the Auckland Star). He explains that it is not the outside cold that troubles bim- ic is when he gets indoors that he feels the rigors of our climate. He cannot understand our way of warming a house. In Canada the central heating system—hot air or water circulated from the basement—is the universal system. It coines much cheaper, and is altogether more convenient. Mr. Brough cannot relish life in some of the New Zealand hotels and boarding-houses, where the lounge may have a fire and the rest of the rooms felt stone-cold by comparison. Mr. Brough is assistant municipal inspector of schools in Vancouver, and he came to New Zealand a year ago under the system of exchanging teachers and inspectors entered into between the education authorities of the two Dominions, and is leaving by the Niagara next week on the return journey to Vancouver. The four most wonderful things he has seen are a kauri forest, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, and the Wanganui River. The Motor-cycle Club will hold their opening run to-morrow, leaving the post office at 2 o’clock for Burton’s Hill. Prizes will be given for the best performance, open to all motor cyclists. See the big bargains in linens at Morey’s to-day. Every housewife should re-stock her linen cupboard while the buying is on such a favorable basis —at Morey’s.

McGruer’s are making a special inside display of goods mentioned in their advt., and having 22 'branches in New Zealand, they have been able to secure a selection and variety of goods equal to anything in the Dominion. In consequence of good buying the goods are al) at very reasonable prices, _