LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Daily News will be published as usual on Monday (Labor Day).

The Eltham Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday passed a resolution supporting the suggestion re speeding up the New Plymouth-Wellington mail train, •by cutting out such stops as Bell Block, Midhirst, Normanby and Ball Road. . <

Upper Mangorei, near New Plymouth, is credited with the heaviest rainfall in the North, Island during August last, the fall'being over 11$ inches in sixteen days. Pio Pio, near Te Kuiti. came next with a little over 10 inches, and Mangahao third with 10 inches. The lowest recorded fall was at Rissington, near Napier, the measurement being half an inch.

We are in receipt of several letters complaining of the way in which five men from the hydro works have been treated by the Borough Council. Three of them were recently fined for a breach of the borough by-laws in connection with “Pussyfoot” Johnston’s address, and the council, so it is alleged, hae “fired” them, as well as two others who, on the occasion of a recent visit to the works by Inspector Day, are said to have been guilty of threatening behaviour towards him. The letters are couched in such unrestrained language as to preclude our printing them, but if the men have been dismissed after they had already been punished for a breach of the by-laws*, as alleged, then the council has a case to answer.

Since May, 886 books and 421 magazines, besides many illustrated papers, have been sent by the book committee of the New Plymouth branch of the Victoria League to school libraries in the backblocks of Taranaki, while 36 cases of books, magazines, etc., have been sent an far as Pungarehu, Matau, and up the Mokau River. The cases contained 1098 magazines and 699 books, besides many illustrated papers. A request has also been received from Wangamomona for parcels to be sent up the Wanganui River. That the committee.-’ efforts are appreciated' is evidenced by the many letters of thanks and donations which have been received from teachers, while Mr. T. C. List mentioned at the annual meeting of the branch last night that he knew from his recent tour that the people in the hackblocks greatly appreciated the kindness of the town'‘members of the league.

An appeal by the Salvation Army always meets with a good response from the public, and the street collection conducted in New Plymouth yesterday resulted in £32 being subscribed. Yesterday’s effort was part of the. wider self-denial appeal, the proceeds this year being in aid of a branch of children s work recently undertaken by the Army, whereby children orphaned by the war are being brought out to New Zealand under the care and guidance of the Salvation Army. Business people have already been approached and have liberally‘responded, the appeal yesterday being more to provide an opportunity to those who had not done so to contribute. The total amount of the whole effort is not known at present, but after the in-gathering at Wanganui next week detailed figures in connection with the Dominion appeal will be announced.

Writing to the Hawera Star in support of the Dairy Control Bill, Mr. J. R. Corrigan, chairman of the Hawera Dairy Company, says: “I think this is one of the best and most important steps ever taken by the dairy producers of this country. We have never had a man return from the Old Country who has been interested in dairy production who 'has not advocated some sort of control. I myself realised it when in England in 1912. Now, personally, my financial existence depends on dairy farming. I supplied 85,0061 b. of butterfat to the Hawera Dairy Company last year, and hope to reach 100,000 pounds this year. Does any sane person think that I am going to advocate and support a. scheme which I think will 'be against my own personal interests? The idea is preposterous. Now dairy farmers of this Dominion, bind yourselves together to help yourselves and force the Government to put legislation on the statute book this session, and don’t be cutting your own throats by opposing it —there are plenty out to do that for you without you doing it for yourselves.”

The final korero of the New Plymouth Savage Club will take place on Saturday, November 4, and not October 21.

The Salvation Army Silver Band of Wanganui, under Bandmaster J. Wilson, will arrive in New Plymouth by motor car to-day, and after holding an openair concert in Brougham Street, will give a select programme of musical, vocal, elocutionary and novelty items in the Workers’ Hall at 8 p.m. The band will serenade at Fitzroy on Sunday morning, and hold a meeting at 11 a.m. in the Brougham Street Hall. At 3 p.m. the Band will give a programme in Pukekura Park, and at 8 p.m. will give the thrilling service of song “The Wreck of the Wairarapa,” in Everybody’s Theatre. Adjutant McKenzie, the Wanganui corps officer, will accompany the band and conduct the meetings.