LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 August 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Taranaki men’s hockey team, which is to play Wellington at Wellington to-morrow, proceeded south by the express train this morning.

The Minister of Marine (Hon. E. J. Anderson) has informed Mr 0. E. Bellringer (Taranaki) that his department was considering the replacement of the fixed white light at Cape Egmont lighthouse with a view to deciding on the most suitable type of light to restore its efficiency from a navigation point of view.

A private maternity hospital in Christchurch has been closed for a week under the order of the medical officer of health on account of a case of pueiperal septicaemia having occurred in the home. It is denied that any deaths have occurred in connection with the home, states a Press Association message.

The weekly caucus of the Reform Party was held at Wellington yesterday morning, when some important measures .shortly to be brought before the House were submitted to the criticism and review of the party, but the Prime Minister declined to make any statement or comment on the result.

The practice of stealing petrol from motor cars is growing in Christchurch (states the “Sun”). Several motorists complain that their tanks have been emptied, preference beiug shown for cars with the vacuum feed. The tank at the rear is more accessible. Tackling the tank of the gravity fed engine means lifting tho bonnet. Has the time arrived when some form of lock must be provided for tank-caps? It is reported from Greymout'h that tho West Coast bush is rapidly losing its native birds through their wholesale destruction by weasels, and unless the imported pests are exterminated there is a grave possibility of the bush being soon robbed of one of its chief attractions. Up to less than a decade ago, tho bush, even near main centres of population, resounded with the song of native birds, but nowadays one has to get well off the beaten track before the liquid notes of the tui are heard. Native parakeets, bob robins and bell birds have been completely wiped out, and even the tom tits and fantails are becoming very 1 scarce.

At yesterday’s meeting of. the Hospital Board at Wellington, some of the .rents charged to people who were being assisted by the social welfare committee were referred to as a scandal. It was generally considered the committee was being exploited by the landlords. The amount paid in relief during July was about. £4OO above anything paid in relief in the hospital’s history*. It was noted that a large number of those in receipt of relief were able-bodied single men, and some of them mere lads.—Press Assn.

Shortly after putting a shovelful of coal on the fire at her husband’s residence yesterday, Mrs C. Rowlands, of New Plymouth, was startled by a loud explosion and found that the front of the stove had been blown off, while some 20 bricks had been dislodged from the chimney and had been hurled into the room. "The register was also badly damaged. It is understood that the explosion was caused by the presence of a detonator in the coal. The agents, from whom the fuel was purchased can give no information as to the reason for the explosive in the coal.

Further burglaries have been reported from Christchurch. The office of the National Mortgage and Agency Company, Addington, was broken into and £2 18s stolen. At the office of the Metropolitan Service Station, at the corner of Madras and Tuani Streets, thieves stole £ll and also the keys of the petrol pumps. Entrance was gained by breaking a door panel and manipulating the lock. At the office of H. J. Otlcv, timber merchant, 96 Tuam ■Street, a panel in the floor and a window were smashed. No money was found, but office requisites were stolen. An attempt was made to force an entrance into the office of B. L. Hart and Co., 285 Durham Street, but tho visitors were evidently disturbed. Some heavy' instrument was used on the door as the lock was so damaged that it was necessary to break the window to open up the office yesterday. A Christchurch timber merchant, on examining a shipment of Oregon doors imported from America, and landed recently, found the cases riddled with borer. An inspection of the eases revealed the unmistakable work of this dangerous pest. Every case was riddled "with borer holes about the size of a threepenny bit. Although the doors were untouched, the, manager stated that it would only be a matter of time .before the soft Oregon timber would be affected. “A most disquieting feature is the danger of this borer getting into the standing forests in New Zealand, and I think it only right that the public should awaken to the danger of using this imported timber, and that action be taken to have it excluded from New Zealand,” stated the importer of the timber.

The property known as “The Camp” and also as Larnaeh’s Castle, consisting of about 35 acres, was offered for sale by the Public Works Department last week (says .the “Otago Daily Times”). The reserve was £2912 10s. Although there was a fair attendance, no bid was made and the property ■was passed in. Larnach’s Castle was the historic residence of the late Mr W. J. M. Larnich. It is a massive structure, built of stone, and surrounded by plantations and bush on the Otago Peninsula. Some years ago the property was acquired by the Government as an institution for mental patients, but it has not been used for that purpose for some years, and has been occupied only by a caretaker.

In aid of the funds of the Hawera Tennis and Croquet Club, the committee of the Croquet Club will hold a shop-day on Saturday next at the Grand Theatre and contributions are invited in cakes and scones flowers and produce and all kinds to help the effort. The committee of ladies will he glad to receive assistance from anyone interested.

"McCall Patterns Have revolutionised home sewing. ’ ’ Such is the opinion of thousands of New Zealand home dressmakers who appreciate the simplicity, accuracy and exclusive design of the McCall Pattern. Sole agents for South Taranaki: Hnrrops Ltd.. Hawera.— f flvt Every great invention is first of all a thought—and idea. Why should not yours lead to something big and revolutionary—something that may mean a fortune to you if protected in time? Delays are dangerous. Get experienced and sincere advice from Henry Hughes, Ltd. (Directors W. E. Hughes and J. T. Hunter, registered Patent Attorneys) 157 Featherston Street, Wellington. — Advt. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure for children’s hacking cough.—Advt.

' The school residence at Waikanae, together with its contents, was totally destroyed by fire last night. Nothing was saved. 'The origin of the fire is a mystery, states a Press Association message from Otaki to-day. At the 'Wellington Kennel Club’s show, opened yesterday, the Taranaki Hunt Club’s harrier dog Lance Wood took first prize for maiden and open classes and a special, while the same club’s Cupid won in the novice and open bitch class. A handsome silver cup has been donated through. .Mr Leo. Marter .by Messrs Armstrong Oydes, Ltd., Birmingham, for a trophy' for cycle racing in Hawerai. It is now on view at Mr Marter’s Shop and it should help much to stimulate and foster a fine sport.

An outstanding feature of the Marlborough hydro-electric installation is the fact that there is not a wooden pole to be found in any part of tho 185 miles of transmission and reticulation lines so far erected. The main transmission line from the headworks at Benopai to Blenheim —a distance of some 28 miles—is erected on steel towers, and the whole of the reticulated lines, at present about 112 miles in length, are strung on concrete poles, specially' designed for the purpose. It is understood that though concrete poles have been used experimentally in other parts of the world, the Marlborough Power Board has the distinction of being the first supply authority to adopt them in their entirety, though the honour is closely shared by the Waitomo Board, which decided at about the same time as the ' Marlborough Board ,to adopt concrete construction. The Waitomo scheme, however, is a comparatively small one.

Mr. P. \Y. Lamb returned to Hiuveun last- evening after a. short holiday visit to Australia. Speaking of the trip, Mr. Lamb said that it was very interesting. Everything was on a big scale, but lie came back more than ever convinced that New Zealanders had a country of which they had good reason to be proud, and scenic attractions unsurpassed by anything lie saw in Australia. He found the Tourist Bureau of New South Wales more than willing to do everything possible for visitors, and anxious to help them in every way. He found that over there not half was known of this country, its pioduetion. and its attractions. He considers that more publicity might with advantage be given in Australia to Mt. Egmont and its beauties, because there were hundreds of people of leisure able to come over here on holiday bent if they knew more of the country. He travelled up to Queensland and down to Victoria, and in the hinterland was much impressed with the resources of the country and' the productivity of the most fertile districts. He travelled through such wellknown parts as the Darling Downs and Gippsland. and realised the great results achieved by farmers there. “New Zealand,” he says, “should be still better known, and there is much scope for a furtherance of information on this country throughout the States of the Commonwealth.”