LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The suspect, Edward McCarthy, who has eluded the New Plymouth police since Wednesday, has so far not been captured. As the result of speech night at the King’s Theatre, Stratford, last night, Dr. Gordon, by a very large majority, was accorded the verdict .of the “best speech” for the evening. The prize awarded (1500 Queen votes) goes to Miss Loi Kivell, of Midhirst. Building permits were granted by the New Plymouth Borough Council during the past month for the erection of 15 new houses, 5 shops, tine warehouse, a large oil store, and a small store, to the total value of £22,000. The warehouse is for Mr. A. E. Sykes and the oil store for the Vacuum Oil Company. The official recount of the poll for authority to raise the loan of £19,000 for tramway extensions to Westown, has reduced the number of informal votes to 4, and with an extra vote added to the total recorded, the figures now are 1024 for the proposal and 107 against. Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) has asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the fact that it costs, according to statistics taken in Taranaki. £1 17s 3d to provide a standard 6 pupil with books and stationery, £1 8s 2d for standard 5, £1 5s for standard 4,10 s 6d for standard 3, and 7s Id for standard 2, he will immediately bring about some relief to parents in this connection by inaugurating a system whereby school books and stationery will be provided at cost price.

A fire occurred at the farm residence of Mr. E. Dive, at Matemat eaonga, on Thursday, when the house and contents were completely destroyed. Mr. Dive is away on a holiday, and the house was occupied by Mr. Viekeridge. He i left at 7 o’clock on Thursday morning j in the course of his duties, and when he returned the fire had completed its work. The building, which four rooms, was insured for £175 in the Farmers’ Mutual office.—Argus. At a meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the Reform Party yesterday afternoon, the following resolution was passed: —“That this meeting, while not expressing any opinion on the merits of the Dairy Produce Control Bill, con- ' aiders that the fullest opportunity should be afforded all concerned in its operations to appear before a Parliamentary committee and give evidence, prior to any definite action being taken by Parliament; and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture.” The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., wish to draw clients’ attention to their Whangamomona sale, which they are holding on Wednesday, October 4, at 1 p.m. Full particulars on page 8. Also sale on account of C. R. Grant, Whangamomona, which the Loan and Mercantile are holding on the same date at Whangamomona saleyards. Only the best quality denims are stocked by the Melbourne, Ltd. These are the famous blue American denim, weighing nine ounces to the yard, at 7/6 per pair, and the well-known grey and striped 8-ounce denims specially priced at 7/6 pair. Lighter weight denims cannot be compared with either of the above. ' <

Provision merchants anticipate that the reciprocal tariff (between New Zealand and Australia will have the effect of increasing the cost of the Christmas ham (according to the Manawatu Times) Large orders for hams have already been received from Australia. The two principal athletic events of the year in conn notion with the New Plymouth Boys’ High School will take place next month. On October 12 the annual cross-country steeplechase will take place at the Waiwakaiho golf links, whilst on October 28 the annual athletic sports are to be held on the school grounds. The keener athletes are already settling down into training for these events now the football season is past. When the duty on loose cigarette tobacco advanced to 10s a pound there was a resultant upward movement in prices. Many smokers found such tobacco too expensive. Tobacconists report (states a southern exchange) that finely shredded pipe tobaccos, which are cheaper than cigarette tobaccos, because the duty is only 4s lOd a lb., are now attracting a great deal of attention from cigarette-smokers, who make up cigarettes from these pipe tobaccos. Indeed so great is the demand that one wellknown brand of fine pipe tobacco has become scarce, many tobacconists being out of stocks.

People who have lately come to this country from the Homeland say that this summer a great change has taken place in men’s head-gear. For many seasons past the soft-felt or velour hat was easily the most popular, but on account of the long continual use by the King, the bowler hat is being most extensively used, and after quite a long period of eclipse it is coming into its own again. The King, who Krings commonsense to bear on most questions, has also given many hints that the top-hat will, on many important occasions in the future, have to give place to the bowler hat, which from every point of view is one of the most serviceable hats ever worn, because of its hard brim and the easiness with which gallantry can be shown to the gentler sex. With the coming of the bowler hat, it is also expected that short pointed beards will again come into vogue, because the bearded face suits a bowler better than the clean shaved one which usually gives a racy touch to even the most staid of men when crowned by a bowler. A statement was made at the meeting at Fitzroy on Thursday night that the two class rooms the Education Department contemplated erecting as the nucleus of a new class-room would accommodate eighty children altogether. In conversation with the architect of the Taranaki Education Board (Mr. C.TI. Moore) yesterday, a Daily News reporter was informed that this was an underestimate. The plan for a new Fitzroy School provided for 10 class-rooms, whilst the two rooms it was intended to erect first were respectively 30ft by 24 ft and 26ft by 24ft, giving a total floor space of 1344 square feet, which at the regulation 10 square feet per child would accommodate 134 children or at 12 square feet, the former average allowed, would accommodate 112 children. Besides would be a cloak-room 24ft bv 13ft and a corridor 79ft by Bft. The education board realise the necessity for a new school, he added, but it is highly improbable that this would be granted by the department, so it would seem better for the Fitzroy people to press for a grant for three new rooms, instead of two, as the nucleus of the new school.

A band recital will be given in Pukekua Park to-morrow (Sunday), at 2.45 p.m. The collection will be in aid of the band funds. Details of a word-building competition organised by a committee of Beckenham householders will be found, advertised on page 1 of this issue. Mr. N. B. Howell advertises the arrival of a special line of men’s tweed trousers, splendidly cut and made frem good solid wearing tweeds in dark shades. These trousers are priced at 19/6 a pair, and represent a splendid opportunity to save money. They’re good. See them to-day at Howell’s, next McNeill’s, Devon Street East.

At Urenui sale on Monday next will ibe sold a line of high-grade yearling Jersey heifers on account of Mr. P. Wells. Mr. Wells has a splendid dairy, and through always rearing the very best bulls, has a tip-top line of yearlings to offer each year. The draft this year is for quality the best yet. See advt. The catalogues for the three sales of >edigree Jersey bulls, to be held at New Plymouth, Stratford and Kaponga, have been in circulation for several days now. Each catalogue presents a brilliant display of the richest of Jersey bloods and general high quality. Buyers of pedigree Jersey bulls will have a splendid opportunity of suiting their requirements at any one of these sales. See advt. in auction columns.

The New Plymouth Male Choir has decided to give a miscellaneous concert in the Workers’ Social Hall on Wednesday, October 4. This concert is in addition to the usual subscription concerts, and the public will have an opportunity at reasonable prices to hear the choir in the competition pieces which were so successfully rendered recently in Wellington. The society will have the assistance of Miss Mary Cooley, of Wellington, winner of the elocutionary championship, also Mr. A. B. Macdonald. Misses Mary and Elva Crawshaw, and Mr. W. L. Hay. The charming summer frocks in striped and checked zephyrs are claiming a good deal of attention at Morey’s just now. 'Select one of these for seasonable wear to-day.