LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A first-offending inebriate, who was arrested in New Plymouth on Thursday evening, was fined 10s by Mr. H. R. Cattley, J.P., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. The sum of £3498 17s lOd was collected by the Government by way ot taxation on the Taranaki Jockey Club’s Christmas meeting. The amount was made up as follows: Totalisator tax, £3189 2s 3d; tax on stakes, £267 lOs; tax on gates, £42 5s 7d.

To Scotchmen, the coming of the New Lear is one of the great national festivals, even to those whose lot iis cast far from Caledonia’s shores. The Scots in New Plymouth are determined not to let this event pass by unheeded, and tomorrow night (Sunday) the Caledonian Pipe Band, in full Highland regalia, will parade the town, visiting the chiefs of the society, from ten o’clock onwards, and will, play the old year out and the new year in as the post office clock chimes midnight.

In response to representations made by Mr. R. Masters, M.P., the Post-master-General has written to the member stating that the Department cannot see its way clear to inaugurate a mail service between Taranaki and the Ohura, via Tatu and Tahora. The Post-master-General stated that the revenue that would be derived from the service would be iso small that the necessary expenditure would not be warranted. An inquest was held at Matau yesterday concern.’ng the death of Mrs. Elsie Chapman, who was- found dead in a creek on Thursday morning. Mr. K. Neilson, J.P., conducted the inquiry, Constable Penson. of Whangamomona being present on behalf of the police. A verdict was returned of “Found drowned, no evidence being shown as to how deceased got .into the water.”

Tn this issue McGruers are making a special offer on their bargain days. It will be to your advantage to call and see the values they are offering. 'Some splendid new lines of black silk ankle hose have opened out at the Melbourne, Ltd., including r.wo lines of fashionable mock rib. 5/6, and also a line of fancy drop stitch at a s'milar price. A grand line of plain 19in. silk leg hose is offered at 4/11 pair. All these goods are of best English make.

The Government has approved of a grant of £350 in response to the Taranaki Education Board’s request' for assistance in acquiring an additional playing area for the Vogeltown School.

A small school of kingfish ran into one of the temporary enclosures on the waterfront at Tauranga last Sunday. A local resident waded into three feet of water, and, with a shovel, killed eight fish. The largest kingfish was estimated to be over 801 b. in weight. The motor service recently inaugurated between Te Kuiti and New Plymouth lias been well patronised during the holidays (says the Te Kuiti Chronicle). Last week fifty passengers were .carried, and all were very much impressed by the magnificent scenery through which the new road winds. Mr. Magon states that he , has never failed to get through, and on only one occasion had he to put on the chains. On an average, six privately-owned cars went through each day during the last week. Although there has been heavy rain the roads dry up very quickly.

Speaking in reply to the toast of his health at a valedictory gathering in Patea on Thursday evening, Mr. F. W. Grainger, who is leaving for England to purchase another steamer for his company, said that when he first took over the management of the West Coast Refrigerating Company the total dairy produce put through the works was 1300 tons. Last year it was 18,000 tons, which included 220,000 crates of cheese and 80,000 boxes of butter. Mr. Grainger also paid a tribute to the work accomplished by the Patea Harbour Board. The work recently carried out by the Board had done more than had been expected, he said. The confidence the Shipping Company had in the port was shown by the fact that they were sending him Home to get a new boat for them. As showing the value of the port to Southern Taranaki, he ascertained that the factories shipping through Patea were saving £13,000 annually, which would pay the interest on the £86,000 loan four times over.

If favored with fine weather thousands of town and country people and their families will, mo doijbt, spend New Year’s Day at the popular seaside resort, the East End beach, one of the safest and best in the Dominion. The beautiful pohutakawa. trees are looking at their best and afford shelter from the sun. The beach is also in splendid order, and the Te Henui has been once more bagged across, so that the children can have their swims in safety. Large crowds have occupied the grounds during the few fine days, and there can be no doubt that the East End is becoming one of the most popular beaches in the cduntry.

Visitors to town will appreciate and commend the up-to-date and enterprise of the proprietors of the New Zealand Sporting and Dramatic Review in bringing out in an incredibly short time a pictorial issue that gives a definite idea of the Auckland Racing Club’s events on Boxing Day, and enables those interested to make a forecast for the concluding day’s events. Striking photographs appear of Scion, the Cup winner after his notable victory, while one gets a kinematographic view of the progress of the race in its various exciting stages. The Railway Handicap is also depicted in a series of snapshots iiidi eating the progress of the placed contestants. The Waipa Racing Club and the Rotorua Racing Club’s meetings are represented in an excellent page. Another feature is the Wanganui Motor Cycle Club’s Race Meeting showing the competitors in important positions. The overseas section is particularly attractive with its selection of hunting snapshots in England, the centre pages being devoted to this branch of sport. The miscellaneous portion is more than usually animated, while stage and screen occupy one of the most popular pictorial departments. The result of the £lOO Skill Competition also appears in this issue. The paper is on sa’e now at all newsagents and booksellers.