LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 8 May 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Killing is again proceeding at the Patea meat works, which had to close down for a time owing to. a shortage of coal due to the railway strike.

The seat of the elective member on the Taranaki Land Board will become vacant by effluxion of time on July 28, and nominations for the position close on May 28 at the Crown Lands Office, New Plymouth.

Returning on Tuesday night from a visit to Wharehuia, Dr. Cooper met with an accident to his car (says the Argus). He was on the other side of Stratford when he met a mob of cattle that were being driven along the road. One of the animals made a mad rush right into the car. As a result the tender of the car was "bent, a mudguard crumpled up, and the steeringrod bent. The car was disabled for the time being and the doctor had to come home in a taxi.

Dr Elizabeth Gunn visited the Hawera Public School yesterday and made a thorough inspection of the children s throats, taking a number of swabs with a view to discovering whether any of the children were diphtheria carriers

The Waverley Defence Rifle Club brought the season to a conclusion on Saturday, when the last round of the shield competition was fired. Messrs. W. A. Soland and L. Irvine tied witli *96 each, Mr. Soland winning in the shoot-off.

A deputation from the New Plymouth Harbour Board is to intervieAV the heads of the Raihvay Department in Wellington this week regarding the harbour improvement plan so far as it is affected by the railway. The chairman (Mr. C. E. Beliringer) and Mr E Maxwell left for Wellington yesterdaY morning, and the other members of the deputation (Messrs. 3. Connett and J 11. Cruickshank) left to-day. The pro posals which are to be made to the Kailway Department were explained at a meeting in committee of the council ot the Taranaki Chamber of Cbmmerce on Tuesday evening.—Herald

Several parties of Eltham sportsmen Avsiil shooting last week. As might have been expected, the weather conditions hardly fitted in with game shooting. One" party secured a good bag of pheasants, and another about ten brace of wild duck.—Argus.

Announcement has just been made that the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company will build a 3,000,000d0l plant in Honolulu, for the repairing and handling of vessels of all types. Hawaii has long been termed the crossroads of the Pacific, and due to its central location m a great ocean, maif steamship lines converge there, and crippled A^essels often put into or are towed to Honolulu for repairs.

The question of how to finance the erection of the new .Nurses' Home at Patea has been settled—the Patea County and Borough Councils having decided to levy a rate for this purpose, lt is anticipated that the rate Avill only have to be struck for two years, and it is to be hoped that that will be all, for the rates in the borough are now over 5s in the £.—Press.

A custom of great antiquity i s that of making a joke at the expense of the daily newspaper. Two or three times, at a recent meeting of the South Canterbury executive of the Farmers' Union, a little pleasantry of this nature Avas indulged in, and each time the farmers showed their ability to laugh, in spite of droughts and strikes and low prices; but the heartiest laugh of the meeting was occasioned when the president (Mr. J. Bitchener. M.P.), apparently unconscious of the joke he was perpetrating against himself, said: "After all, you cannot take a great deal of notice of what a member of Parliament says."

"When you hear anyone say that the farmers (and Avhen I say farmers I mean real farmers, the people who till their farms) have made money recently," said Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., at Bluff (reports the Southland Times), you can disabuse your minds upon the subject. I have been among farmers for several months, and I know they have made no money. The land speculator got away with the swag, and the farmer got the mortgage."

The recent oold snap resulted in a fall of snow on Mount Egmont, which has picturesquely coated the cone and slopes of the mountain. Mount Egmont's snoAvy mantle has this year been unusually late in making its appearance. A well-known resident of the district stated, in conversation with a Star reporter, that in a period of over 20 years he could not recall a season m which the mountain had remained free of snow so far into the failing autumn.

Residents in that portion of Waimate West contiguous to the Kaponga electric district haA'e been looking forward to an early supply from that system. At a special meeting of the Kaponga Town Board, held on Tuesday the engineer asked authority to make a start with erection of lines. Owing to the uncertainty that exists as to what would be done with the lines at the expiration of the five years' license it was decided to defer action until the Public Works Department can give some assurance in this direction

Two young girls, with brothers as escorts, recently rode ten miles to a dance at Wairoa, having earlier sent their evening frocks to a friend's house so that they could change on arrival. Ihe night was dark, and one of the girl® bluudered on her horse into the dead branch of a tree by the roadside. A little later she felt a tickling sensation on her neck. It persisted, and her brother struck a match to find the cause, but nothing was visible. So without any tribulation of spirit, B he rode the remaining eight miles to ZZlffi f<?lu 8 ■ jusfc an occasional h^ri fJ^i mtationW longing ~v her mends house, §he discovered the causa when something dropped from her blouse to the floor; Tt was a tour-inch centipede.—Napier Telegraph. "A Woman" writes to the Dominion as follows: "I went to Trentham by the 10.15 a.m. train on Saturday and 1 am just writing to say it was indeed a pleasure to travel by the train for once. There was no such thing as opening and banging door s and yelling out 'All tickets.' The door was opened and closed quietly*and the officer asked civilly (no demand about it) for lickets please,' and he got through the carnage in half the time taken by the boys that usually demand the tickets. At the gate it was the same thing, politeness,' and I heard no end of passengers remarking on the difference travelling that day and on the days when the strikers were in charge Ihe only thing I am sorry for is that more people did not know about the time-table, so that they, too, could have gone to Trentham for once in comfort It is only right that the Railway Department should be civen credit for the way they managed things to-day "

Ihe attraction of New Zealand as a land for young settlers haA'e received widespread publicity in recent years, but one would not have expected residents of Morocco to be looking on Taranaki as a place to make their homes. Ho-never, a Aew Plymouth resident has received the folloAvino- letter from a young Frenchman, dated Casablanca, Morocco, March 2: "What employment would can find tAvo young Frenchmen who are willing to leave Morocco for anothejr country. My colleague, 24 years old. is a mecanician (mechanician), is employed at the moment as conductor of tractors on a farm * He knows Arabian and Snanish, but not the English language. Personally, I am 23 years, and am inspector on a farm. I know perfectly 'German and English and speak fluently Arabian I am very well acquainted with bookkeeping."

'*- Innumerable are the aids-to perfect health, and those in search of it should vveloome two recipes gfren by a distinguished London authority, Sir James Can tlie. Lecturing recently at the Institute of Hygiene on '"'The Health of Professional Men," he made two original suggestions. They are intended primarily for a damn climate, fruitful in rheumatism and gout, and as there are not a feAv damp days and rheumatic sufferers in New Zealand, Dr. Cantlie's advice should prove interesting According to Sir James, to escape rheumatism you need dryness as Avell as warmth. Bed clothing, as he proved by experiment, absorbs moisture all day, other articles of clothing all night. Two generations ago warming pans were largely used, and virtually the dootor's_advice is to ue s them every night, keep dry, and never be rheumatic or gouty. Sir James is positive that damn pillows is the main cause of deafness. He theerfore suggests the ues of nightcaps in damp climates, and claims that the nightcaps as well a s the ay arm ing pan have preserved him so that he can "dance as Avell at the «ge of 73, and is as supole as in youth." " i

Don't throw away an Idea because it seems very "simple." Fortunes were made from the safety pin, pen knife, boot protector, etc. If you have an idea for an invention, come and discuss its protection and development with us noAV. —Henry Hughes Ltd. (Directors: W. E. Hughes and J. T. Hunter), Regd. Patent Attorneys, 157 Featherston St., Wellington. —4

j Horse OAvners and trainers are re- ) minded that entries for the Auckland ( Racing Club's winter meeting close at 5 o'clock to-morrow. \ During ploughing operations in a paddock near Christchurch two skeletons were found. One was very much broken up by the plough, but the other was unearthed in a very fair condition. It was in a sitting position, with knees bent up towards the chin, the usual method of Maori burial. Other skeletons haA-e from time to time been brought to light in the vicinity. Tradition tells of a great battle between Maori tribes having been fought in the neighbourhood, the native village of Manuka being destroyed by the invaders. Oats are in the peculiar position of not being Avanted, and yet being firm (states the Press). This paradoxical position is due to sellers having to find the oats and name the port of delivery, Avhilst the buyer does not knoAv Avhere i s he going to place them. The actual position is that business is of a paper character. Later information confirms the earlier reports that Southi land areas are about the smallest since j the oats were an important part of the I farming system. The yields are exceptionally good, but they fall far short of compensating for the reduced areas-.' From Waipawa comes the news that the Ngatikahungunui tribe, in conforming to its traditions, is desirious of making a gift to the squadron on the occasion of its forthcoming visit to Napier, says the Daily Telegraph. The gift will be the offering to the fleet of the services of ' one of the tribe, Peter Panapa, jun. As the tribe i s slightly hazy as to the methods it must adopt for the acceptance of the young man's services as a recruit, the Napier branch of the Navy League will be asked to secure him a rating on the Hood. Panapa is an intelligent youth, and is at present attending the High School. "During the dry spell a few months back, it looked as though the market would be flooded with stock," remarked a Wanganui farmer to a Chronicle reporter yesterday. "However, now that the crops have improved, those who were anxious to sell are buying." There AA ras an abundance of feed in the surrounding district of Wanganui, it was pointed out, and the price being charged to have turnips eaten off by sheep was £5 per acre.' The noise of motorists approaching the churches where worshippers are at service, particularly at main thoroughfares, was referred to in a letter received from a city congregation at a recent meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club. The communication drew attention to the "unnecessary and prolonged tooting of horns." They were quite aware that a warning note was necessary at intersections, and safety had to be considered, but suggested that influence should be brought to bear to prevent this form continuing "to be the great distraction it is at present to worshippers." It was described as becoming a s erious annoyance. The club decided to draw attention to the matter in its next circular to members. The local club might follow ; suit. "Is there plenty of Avork going on in New Zea'nnd?" a seaman "on the Rimutaka asked Avhen that steamer ar- . rived at Port Ch aimers from London ' direct. When informed that a railway strike was on, the seafaring man did not seem to attach much importance to ' it. He stated that Avhen the Rimutaka left London last month the industrial depression was very marked. Large numbers of people weie out of work. But for the "dole" this state of affairs would be disastrous. Every male adult out of employment got 15s a week. If he were a married man, in addition to ' the 15s he got 5s a week for his wife and ls for each of his children. It enabled them to exist, and that was all, j he added. ! A somewhat unique history attaches to a piano which is now in the hands of a well-known Wellington firm, preparatory to its being thoroughly overhauled. The instrument, which arrived on H.M.S. Hood, was originally the property of the celebrated H.M.S. Lion, the capital ship j in the historical Battle of Jutland, j from which engagement it successfully j emerged, although its floating domicile was towed into port in a battered and I sinking condition. Still in its original condition, this naval mascot continued its peregrinations aboard H.M.S. Hood, and now it has found a haven in Wellington, after having been pounded and thumped by officers and midshipmen in practically every quarter of the globe. The proposal of the Government to set up a commission to go into railway matters generally was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union. Mr. D. McGregor, who raised the question, was of the opinion that the Inquiry Board, when established, should consist of men independent of the railways. Mr. Howie remarked that Mr. Massey, as well as everybody else, recognised that the railways were not being run satisfactorily, and he thought that the matter should be left to him to secure the best men available. Mr. Allan Robinson considered that overstaffing was the trouble with the railways, and he instanced specific cases in this connection in support of his argument. It was eventually resolved that the following resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Railways: "That in the opinion of this executive it is desirable that when the Government is choosing members of the board to investigate matters in dispute between the Government and the employees of the railways, or other Stato D<*partments. the members chosen should not include members or ex-members of the railways or of the State department concerned.'' —Chronicle. Motonsts whose business has taken them alone the main road from New Plymouth to Opunake during the last week or ten days haA re had an unenviable ex^rienoe in negotiating the Pitove Hill, this side of Okato (says the Taranaki Herald). Regradins operations haA'e been in progress there for some time nast. and the recent very wet weather found the metalline uncomnleted. consequently the A rery heavy traffic which this road has to carry has churned the «oft clay filling into a morass, full of bumps and deep holes, and there have been numerous "holdups," in som« cases entailing damage to cars. Many drivers who have struggled through this "slough of <^spond," rather than face it again on the homeward journey, have returned Ito New Plymouth via Opunake and ' Stratford. The metalling of the hill . does not seem to be proceeding as ex- { neditiouslv as mi^ht be expected on so < imno'-tnnt a highway, but it is te be honed that tho County Council will see j th-rt thic work is now pushed on with «!! possible sneed and so remove this I !• blot on an otherwise good road. j MADAME D'ALVAREZ IN AMERICA. Mr Horace Hunt, Mus.Bac, of Wellington, has had a letter from 39 West 67th Street, New York, asking him to TVc;t a suoply of Fluenzol for Madame's m=e. She learned the value of Fluenzol for the throat during her Australasian tour, and wrote: "It is a great joy to recommend this magic ' Fluenzol." 5 <