LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The commercial agent of the New Zealand Railways (Mr Mason) is visiting New Plymouth. This afternoon he will meet the members of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce st Victoria League rooms at 3.45, when questions concerning the commercial side of the railways will be discussed. The New Plymouth Fire Brigade’s art union was drawn on Saturday night in the presence of a large number of spectators, and Senior-Sergeant MeCrorie supervised the operations. The winning numbers were: 6726 (Mr E. O. Murray), Ist prize; 4008 (Mr A. S. Hasel 1), 2nd; and 4483 (Mr Wallace), 3rd. The proceeds from the gala day, organised by the New Plymouth High School Old Boys’ Association, resulted in a nett profit of about £3OO, which will go towards the gymnasium fund. This was announced at the Old Boys’ Association annual meeting on Saturday, when it was stated this sum would carry £ for £ subsidy from .the Government. We have received from Mr Thos. Rowe, of Bell Block, a sample of the everbearing American wonder lemon. It is 16 inches in circumference, taken from a small tree about two feet in height, and only three years old. The tree, we are informed, is laden with the large fruit. It was recently reported that the carcase of a cow had been found near the intake of the Eltham w/iter supply. The Borough Council discussed the matter on Friday night, when it was mentioned that the Health Department would probably take action. The Council decided to have periodical inspections made of the surroundings. The private gardens, “Brooklands” and “Maranui,” were opened to the public yesterday afternoon. The fine weather made the occasion an opportune one to see these beautiful grounds under the best conditions, and a large crowd passed through during the afternoon. The gardens were looking particularly well. Beds of spring flowers set amidst the green lawns were a blaze of color, while the flowering shrubs made pictures of rare beauty. The excellent conduct of the boys high school sports was the subject of very favorable comments at the reunion of old boys on Saturday night. One speaker said a visitor from Auckland who had had considerable experience in athletic gatherings both in the Dominion and in Australia, had remarked upon the fact that during the whole day only on two occasions was there “breaking” at the mark, and one of those was in connection with the boys’ race in which some of the competitors provided considerable amusement by their endeavors to beat the pistol. When it is remembered that the starting-gun was used well over a hundred times during the course of the day it can be realised that such a tribute speaks well for the way in which the sports were managed.

A case, the information in which was laid under the Weights and Measures Act, was heard in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, .before Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., when Alfred Woioller, baker and confectioner, was charged with being in possession of some unstamped weights and unjust) scales. Mr R. H. Quilliam stated on behalf of the defendant that the weights were not used in any dealings with the public, but oniy in connection with the weighing out of materials proportionately in connection with the bakehouse work, and the public therefore suffered no loss. Tn connection with the brass weights which were unstamped and the scales, it was stated these were used only by Mrs Woolier in the shop as her eyesight was not sufficiently good to enable her to read the new scales which had been installed. With these she weighed out goods, and when the scales went down she knew the right amount was supplied, thus in this connection also there was no possibility of loss to the customer. The Magistrate entered convictions on all the three charges and imposed fines of £1 and costs on those relating to the iron weights and unjust scales, and merely ordered the payment of costs on the charge relating to the use of the brass weights. The weights and scales are automatically forfeited.

Three keas were observed flying about the Riverlands- district in Mariborough tho other day (states the Express). One of them, killed by a shotgun, was well grown, in good condition, and possessed of thick and striking plumage. A peculiarity was that the wing and fail tips were very ragged and short, bearing the appearance of having been severely scorched by fire. What brought the keas so far from their natural haunts it is difficult to conjecture. Possibly they had had a narrow escape from a bush fire, or the recent heavy falls of enow, and the subsequent shortage of food may (have driven them down on to the plain. The fact that there are large numbers of dead lambs lying about may attract more keas. One of the settlers, Mr. Fisher, who has had considerable experience with keqe on such back country runs as the -Moles worth stated that he has seen the birds feasting in great jpiunbers on dead sheep, but has never noticed them attack a live animal. He. no doubt that they are carnivorous, jas he once kept a tame kea when out mustering, which he used to feed on sheep's kidneys. On one occasion he shot a couple of stags fin kea. country, and on returning for one of the heads which he had been compelled to leave, (found that the carcases had been stripiped clean of flesh by an immense flock of keas.

I “We do not want to keep boys out of unskilled employment altogether, but we do want to restrict them,” remarked .Mr. Justice Frazer in the Arbitration Court in Wellington. They heard a good deal about the shortage of apprentices, and the could not ignore that aspect. “It is the big money that atracts the boys to unskilled labour,” remarked Mr. W. A. Grenfell. All loyal Scots and their friends are expected to attend at the Worker.-;’ Social Hall to-night. when the anniversary of Hallowe’en will be celebrated bv the New Plymouth Caledonian Society in true Scottish manner. The entertainment will take the form of a social enlivened by Scottish music, cony, and story, followed by a dance. Opportunity will be taken during the evening to insta] Mr R. W. D. Robertson as chief of the Society for the ensuing year.

On Wednesday next Messrs Cook and Lister will take over the business conducted for so many years by Mr A. S. Hasell. It is in the intention of the purchasers to go in extensively for sporting goods, and they have secured a nice range of cricket, tennis, croquet, and fishing goods. These stocks have been specially selected for Taranaki and should meet with keen enquiry.