LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. H. Johnson, Kahouri Bridge, entrained at Stratford yesterday eleven Holstein cows and nine calves, on order to an Australian breeder.

It is stated that (between £25,000 and £30,000 changed hands during the Cambridge horse sales last week.

Three more lectures of business interest are to be given (shortly under the auspices of the New Plymouth Commerce Students’ Society, viz., one on

‘ Banking,” by Mr. W. H. Robertshaw, on “Municipal Accounts and .Sinking Funds,” by Mr. G. V. Matthews, and on “Principles of Business,” by Mr. T. C. List.

Further inquiries for accommodation by bands that anticipated taking-part in the contest which is to be held in New Plymouth in February next continue to come to hand. In addition to the Auckland Artillery and the Woolston (Christchurch) Bands, the Wellington Garrison have also asked for particulars of the accommodation available.

A Wanganui land agent states that at the present time there it a healthy inquiry for broad acres in that district, and 'a reasonable amount of business has been transacted of late. However, it is what the land agents term the lean period of the year when the dairying season has only commenced and sheep farmers have some time to wait before their wool cheques come in.

New Plymouth, says the Patea Press, which has shown remarkable progress of late with regard to the increase in the number of dwelling houses that have been erected, is now making wonderful strides in connection with the erection of business premises, several large blocks of buildings are already in course of construction, whilst others will be erected as soon as the plans are ready. New Plymouth is without dou'bt the soundest and most progressive town in the Dominion at the present time and will oe a big town before many years are past. “It is a matter of congratulation that the high tide of the cost of living has at last turned,” states the annual report of the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association, “and for the sake of all workers and employers alike we trust it will continue to fall for some time to come yet.” Owing to the fall in the cost of living and slackness of trade, the employers in many cases were taking the initative in seeking to obtain new awards. This was only a natural consequence of the unions forcing high wages and restrictive conditions when labour was scarce.

“One man. would make a fortune off a farm where another man would starve,” remarked Sir Robert Stout in the Supreme Court at Masterton last week. “Farming is really an art; perhaps a man who would not make a good farmer would not make a good lawyer.” Mr. T. Page: “Yes, your Honour, and perhaps some lawyers would make better farmers.” (Laughter.)

“Let the Hon. Mr. Parr have his flutter; if the scheme is good it will stand and if it is no good it will tall,” was the opinion expressed by Mr. J. .Shorland at a meeting of the Wellington School Com mittees’ Association this week (says the Post), in the course of a discussion on the proposals to establish junior high schools. The new school in Auckland, he understood, would be in operation in

October, and that institution was situated right in the Minister’s own electorate. “We will soon learn if the scheme is practicable,” concluded Mr. Shorland.

“It is very dangerous thing for councillors to draw up a by-law without legal advice, especially one dealing with heavy traffic,’’said the clerk at a meeting of the Eketahuna County Council. He mentioned that years ago the council had lost hundreds of pounds in court eases concerning by-laws similarly framed.

At a recent annual meeting of shareholders in a certain Manawatu dairy company (states the Levin Chronicle) four of the original directors were rejected and new men put in their places. The defeated directors evidently considered that if they were not good enough to remain on the board, the company would have no need of their financial “backing. They therefore withdrew their joint and several guarantees at the bank, with the result that when the twentieth of the month came the suppliers did not get their milk cheques. It is stated that the signatures of all the shareholders are now required to the guarantee before the needful finance will be available. Every good Mussulman thinks it his duty to make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city of the Mahometans, and having made it, said a lecturer at Gisborne recently, he believes in advertising the fact. On the front of the house of the True Believer who has made the pilgrimage is generally to be seen a pictorial representation of his journey showing trains, ships, camels, etc., and what other means of conveyance he has employed, together with a few of the scenes witnessed on the way. Although the making of the pilgrimage is supposed to confer much sanctity, and is an almost sure passport to Heaven, it does not seem to add to the reputation of the pilgrim for honesty and integrity. In fact, a common saying amongst the Mahometans was: “If a man has been to Mecca once, beware of him; if he has been twice, don’t believe a word he says: if he has been three times, don’t live in the same street with him.”

“In reply to your question as to whether Friday afternoon may be substituted for Saturday afternoon for visiting days at the hospital, I fully appreciate the advisability for this change as a convenience to country visitors,” said

a letter from Dr. E. A. Walker, medical superintendent of the New Plymouth Hospital to the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday. “Unfortunately, however,” the letter continued, “Friday is the second operating day each week, and as the time of operating frequently continuous until afternon and extra attention is required in the wards for those patients operated on, I fear the presence of visitors is inadvisable. It might be suggested that Monday and Thursday might be fixed for operating purposes, but Tuesday is the more suitable first day, as it allows patients to use the ordinary means of conveyance to get to hospital on the Monday. We have found Thursday too near bo Tuesday as a second operating day to allow of a fair distribution of the work. I regret, therefore, that 1 have to recommend that the visiting day remain on Saturday as at present.” The board agreed with the recommendation. At Newton King, Ltd.’s Inglewood sale yesterday springing heifers sold well, those showing good quality realising to .£l6.