LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. O. Hawken (Elmont) has been elected chairman of the Select Parliamentary Committee to consider the Dairy Export’Control Bill.

It may be of interest to many to •know that Gloaming, the New Zealandcwned horse, was bred in Australia, and Beauford, the Australian-owned horse, is New Zealand bred.

“You reside with your husband” asked counsel of a witness in the Supreme Court at Wellington, in the course of evamination. “Most certainly I do,” replied a very indignant lady, amidst laughter.

A return presented to the House of Representatives at the instance of Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo), showed that the total population of the Rohe Potea area is 2’4,300 —Maoris, 3,750; Europeans, 20,550.

A quantity of butter and cheese is to be shipped from New Plymouth during the ensuing fortnight for Homeward transhipment to the Paparoa at Wellington. On October 12 the Kahika ■ will take 5000 crates of cheese, whilst 20,000 boxes of butter will be shipped by the Corinna, which is due here on October 17.

Two Wanganui boys ran away from home, and got as far as Taihape, where their escapades caused some alarm. They annexed two shotguns, and when a horseman overtook them on the road, they imagined that he was following them to effect a capture, so they covered him with their empty guns. Soon he persuaded them to the contrary, and. giving them good advice, proceeded home. At one place they begged for some kind of employment, but as they would not give their names, were fed and sent off. It is said that the police eventually took them home. “No one can be really intellectual in New Zealand unless he was born in the Orkneys and educated at Otago University—or that appears to be the opinion of the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout,” said Mr. H. P. Richmond at the Rotary Club luncheon at Auckland. In the Chief Justice’s opinion, said the speaker, the intellectual centre of New Zealand was forever fixed south of the Rakaia river, and North Islanders especially were excluded from any claims to culture. Despite this opinion, M". Richmond said, he had no hesitation in saying that, of all New Zealand’s sons, no man had proved so valuable to the world as Dr Truby King, a native of Taranaki. •

Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) suggested to the Minister of Lands that the department should pay the stamp duty due upon the dissolution of soldier partnerships in land under the D.S.S. Act, and shoiild give the soldier remaining on the farm a long period in which to reimburse the department. He reminded the Minister that in the early stages of the operation of the Act, soldiers who could not pay their stamp duty had the amount capitalised, and were allowed to defer payment. The Minister (Mr. Guthrie) said that he was aware of the difficulties in which soldiers sometimes found themselves when partnerships were dissolved. The department must be careful, however, not to cver-capitalise the land. He was always anxious to assist returned soldiers when they had difficulty in paying stamp duty. If they applied to the Commissioner and explained their position provision would be made for capitalisation or for some other form of relief.

“A large number of people are under the impression they pay for a seat, and experience a sense of injustice if the thing they pay for is not given them,” stated Mr. F. Thompson, general manager of the Chrictchurch Tramways Board, in the course of a report to that body on the question of overcrowding (states the Press). .“All that tram concerns run with some regard to financial considerations can do. is to sell not seats, but rides; and I think it would be a good thing if .this fact was indicated on the tickets sold. No mortal could so guage traffic on every occasion with such prescient accuracy as to ensure that every passenger obtained a seat, while at the same time avoiding -nnning cars more than half empty at other times. So many disturbing factors have to be considered —a sudden rain squall, a more than usually successful drapery sale time, an unexpected big attendance at an athletic gathering, or at the filming of a new picture. The best that can be done is to aim at a reasonable average.” The N;Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to draw clients’ attention to their Stratford sale, which they are folding in their Stratford yards on Tuesday, 10th inst.. at 12.30 p.m. Full particulars of entries will be found on page 8 of this issu r '

There are 22 licensed billiard rooms, 9 bowling, club houses, 48 hotels, and 22 private hotels in Wellington. A peculiar accident happened on the Wanganui golf links! A photograph of a large group of players had just been taken, when one lady, in the act of rising, trod on another one’s hand and broke the latter’s thumb.

Sir John Luke (chairman) reported to the House of Representatives that the Labour Bills Committee had no recommendation to make on the petition signed by some 7'oo Marton, Masterton, and Hawera people praying for legislation amending the method of taking the poll on the weekly half-holiday question. A return presented to the Wellington Hospital Board last week showed a falling off Jin the number of cases of distress, due to unemployment. Mr. C. H. Chapman remarked that the present position was due in a very large measure to the City Council’s action in raising a loan of £ 12,000 to provide relief work. Other members commented on the satisfactory result of the City Council’s policy in dealing with unemployment. “There is a keen demand in Japan for New Zealand crutchings,” said an Ashburton resident who does considerable dealing with London buyers (reported the Guardian). He explained that the demand in London is also solid. The farmer who had a bale of crutchings could now be assured of anything up to £8 or more for it, while not so long ago he was lucky to get half that amount. The rise that had taken place would, he said, be a great help to the farmers. At a meeting of the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce on Thursday afternoon it -was decided to write- to Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., thanking him for the assistance given, to the Taranaki deputation which recently waited on the Premier and the Minister of Public Works in Wellington. A resolution, was also passed thanking the president and Mr. C. H. Burgess for their services in connection with this same matter.

Messrs. L. A. Nolan and Company report having sold Mr. Maitland Jennin’s choice little 60 acre farm, situated on the Waitara Road, to Mr. Dan Barop at a satisfactory figure. Dr. Mary Armour, who comes from America, and is lent by the American W.C.T.U. to the comrades in New Zealand for the victory prohibition campaign, will speak at the Empire Theatre, New Plymouth, on Tuesday nest, at 8 p.m. She has spoken to all kinds of national and civic councils, legislatures and committees. She is equally at home on religious, educational and social platforms, and was during the war a favorite at military gatherings. She will tell the New Plymouth people why so many leading authorities say that prohibition has come to stay in America. ‘ The Mayor will preside. A preliminary announcement of a clearing sale to be held at Kaimata on Friday next, on account of Messrs. Clifford Bros., appears in the auction columns.

Ladies will be keenly interested in the lovely figured silks now displayed at Morey s. The colorings and bold designs are extremely attractive, as a visit will bear out. Call in to-day.

A splendid line of ladies’ black silk ankle hose is being sold at the Melbourne, Ltd., at 3/11 pair. These goods have been imported direct from the makers in America, and, owing to reduced cpst and a much more favorable rate of exchange, can be sold at the extremely low price of 3/11 pair. That British motor-cycles are establishing records, not only of reliability and endurance, but for speed also, is obvious from the following cable received from the “Douglas” factory by Mr. P. J. Douglass, New Plymouth: “C. G. Pullin, riding ‘Douglas,’ breaks following International mean speed records for kilometer: 2f h.p. 93.21 miles per hour; 6 h.p. 101.67 miles per hour; 2| with side-car, 72.57 miles per hour, at International speed test, Paris.” A preliminary announcement appears in our amusements column of the Scotch Concert in aid of the funds of the local Caledonian Society, which recently equipped the band with bagpipes and drums. Thq programme is being arranged by Mr. D. H. Thomson, who has been fortunate in securing the services of Jean and Thelma McKenzie, of Wellington, champion dancers, who will appear in the Highland and fancy dancing, also the favorite local artists, full particulars of which will be announced later.