LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

There was a big run on the Christmas Number of the Daily News on Friday and Saturday. A big issue was printed, and copies required for posting away, etc., may be obtained from our agents in every part of the province, or direct from the publishing office.

A small fire broke out a few minutes after 9 o'clock last night in some straw in a room at the rear of Morgan’s Pharmacy, ih Devon Street. The fire brigade turned out and extinguished the outbreak with chemicals.

Smart work was accomplished at the port of New Plymouth last evening in the berthing of the Suffolk, a big Home liner. The Suffolk, which is 477 feet in length and 8838 tons in burden, anchored three miles out just before dusk, but Captain Waller (the harbormaster) decided to berth her. He boarded the liner at 7.20 p.m., and taking advantage of the last few minutes of daylight, had her quickly alongside, the vessel being safely moored at 7.45 p.m., which must be a record for the port for such a large steamer. The Suffolk also made a smart passage up the coast from Lyttelton. which port she left at 4.30 on Saturday afternoon. She was drawing 13 feet fl inches forward and 18 feet « inches aft when berthed.

Cries for help disturbed the neighborhood of Belt Road and Kitchener Street on Friday night, and their repetition led to investigations by residents in the vicinity. Approaching the scene, they discerned a man and a woman strug ling on the side of the road, but the ruffian, hearing their approach, quickly made off and was swallowed up m the darkness, efforts to find him proving unavailing. The young lady attacked had just alighted from a tram, and it is presumed that her purse, which contained several pounds in money, and which she had opened in the trNm, the object of the assault, as an attempt was made to seize it. During the struggle a hand was placed over her mouth to stifle her cries, and she dropped the purse and a parcel, but these were subsequently recovered near the scene of the assault. The young lady s face was considerably swollen as the result of the violence of her aggressor, and she was naturally very much distressed, but otherwise unhurt. The police were communicated with, and thev made a minute search in ease the assailant might be in hiding, Out were unable to discover any traces of his whereabouts. Investigations are being continued. , A private letter received in Eltham from a gentleman in Wellington who takes a lively interest in politics says that he has reason to believe that Mr. Massey favors holding another general election. He has not distinctly said so, but there are indications that he would favor such a course rather than temporise with the Opposition.—Argus. Webster Bros, wish to’ notify that this morning at 11.30 o’clock they are Selling 400 cases of Fiji bananas, ripe, green and colored. The sale was originally fixed for 2 o’clock, but as Monday is the general half-holiday this week it lias been decided to sell at 11.30 a.m. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd. draw attention to their Stratford sale on Tuesday next, 19th inst. Full particulars of entries on pige 8. A further lot of men's high-grade ready-to-wear suits has arrived at the Melbourne, Ltd. These comprise Roslyn tweeds at 79s 6d; Kaiapoi tweeds at 85s; Mosgiel and Oamaru and Timaru tweeds at 90s; Bannockburn tweeds at 130 s; highest grade Petone and English worsteds and Indigo serge suits at £7 10s and £7 19s 6d. All these suits come in light, medium and dark shades, and are the finest range of tailored suits ever shown.