LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 April 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An Auckland 1 message stated that 11 obel t Dickson Warden, a daring habitual criminal, escaped from Waikune Prison earlv yesterday morning. Search parties are out.

The postmaster at Hawera (Mr. J. P. O'Goi'inan) advises that the rates on full-rate and deferred cable messages for the United States of America, via 'Eastern, are reduced to the same rate as messages. via Pacific.

The Government’s index figure for -he three food groups shows the co.sv of living at the middle of February to have been 45.89 per cent higher than that of July, 1914. The number of marriages celebrated in New Zealand last year. was. 10,320. and of the marriage rate was 7.95 per ’GO of the population, being-a sn'gnt improvement on'that for 1923, but .3 per thousand less than .the average of the preceding five years. ,As a compliment to the composer, the Newcastle Band played at their concert a short march, written by Mr I. Higliam, of Hawera. The audience showed their appreciation by gdnerous applause.

The overseas trade returns for the first two months of 1925 show that the value of New Zealand’s exports Increased from £13,726,828 to £15,03_2,322; and the imports from £8,179,543 to £8,846.266, compared with the corresponding period of 1924. The balance of trade in favour of exports for the iirst two months of 1925 are £6.186,056. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union Convention has concluded, says a Dunedin Press Association message. It was decided to support a pro, posnl to establish a superannuation scheme for nurses. It was resolved to advocate that in every instance where a woman dies within a fortnight of childbirth a magisterial inquiry should be held. The next convention will he held in Christchurch.

The recent conference having rejected the proposal to take over the Radio Institute of Christchurch, the AVellihg. ton society has deckled to invite o'.her bodies to form a central association, which it is estimated, can be done for £25, says a Wellington Press. Association message. A meeting of dairy farmers at Pukekohe yesterday was addressed bv Mr W. Grounds (chairman of the Dairy Produce Control Board), and the following resolution was passed; ‘‘This meeting of dairy farmers rd Lower Waikato expresses hearty support to the introduction of absolute control in view of the mandate decisively given by the vote of the producers of the Dominion. ”

The keen interest taken in the progress of the Al[ Blacks’ tour of Logland was instanced by Mr. Fearon at the dinner to the Taranaki representatives of the team at Stratford on Tuesday night. He quoted the case where a back-blocks settler rode 30 miles regularly to the nearest post office to obtain news of- the results of the matches. v For ten days the inhabitants of a family residence at Mt. Eden have been alarmed by showers of coal outside and inside the building, which has also been entered by a mischievous individual, the contents disturbed and offensive notes left on the table, states an Auckland Press Association message. Neighbours assisted in watching night and day, and police assistance wns obtained to'keep the pla.ee under observation. Though there is no clue to the disturbers of the peace, the police believe they are children. Meantime the kvhole neighhourhod is in a state of excitement.

lfc will bo of interest to people of South Taranaki to note that Dawson Falls will lie the headquarters of members of the Mas ter ton Tramping Club during the Easter holidays. This will serve to spread still more widely the fame of the Falls as a tourist resort, and in a district where there are many wealthy settlers who would prYioably come across did they know more of the beauties of the falls. It has been a handicap to Dawson Falls that, outside of Taranaki, the knowledge that the south side of Mt. Egmont has such attractions is not nearly enough known, and that Dawson Falls can be reached easily by car Irom Hawera or from Eltham.

The following notice, published in last week’s Gazette, i s of immediate interest to motor-lorry owners. The notice observes that the owner .of every motor-lorry shall enter or cause to be entered up daily and furnished to the Licensing authority at such intervals as the licensing authority shall think fit, full particulars as to the use of any such motor-lorry, including approximate distances traversed and the names of the controlling authorities in the area or areas in which such motor-lorry operates. Such particulars shall he furnished generally in accordance with Form D in the schedule hereto. Every person who shall do or cause to procure; to be done anything contrary to or otherwise than provided bv these regulations, or any of these regulations or part of a regulation, or who shall omit to do anything therein required to be done by' him, shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable to a fine not' exceeding £2O for each such offence. These regulations shall apply generally throughout New Zealand, and came into force yesterday.