GENERAL NEWS

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3539, 22 February 1927, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS

The Borough Council last evening instructed the engineer to take proceedings against several persons who had erected buildings and made alterations without permission. It is understood the Labour Party in Palmerston North will not put forward a candidate for the Mayoralty and will confine its activities to the Council, Power Board and Hospital Board elections. “The footpaths in town are generally very bad,” remarked Cr. M. A. Eliott at last night’s meeting of the Council. "The new Council will have to pay particular attention to them and soon,” he added. An epidemic of whooping cough is at present raging in Raetihi. The main school opened only for a day or two after the summer holidays, and then closed again on account of the prevalence of the malady. One would imagine that China is at present a good country to keep away from .Apparently everybody does not think so, because 28 Chinese left Auckland by the Manuka last week for Sydney, and all but one had booked passages to China, “Gone' to the races!” was the notice chalked in bold letters across the dpor of a Chinese laundry in Princess street, ■ Hawera, 1 recently.' Some wag, however, evidently possessing a keen sense of humour, scored out “races” and wrote above "war.” The abattoir stock returns for January presented to the Council meeting last night was as follows; — stock slaughtered, cowg 256. heifers 38, bullocks 86, calves 66, sheep 1423, lambs 483, pigs 1383. - Stock condemned: Cows 19, heifers 2, sheep 21, pigs 45. Fees received: £285 12s 4d. George Cotterell, charged at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday 1 with failing to attend drill, did not appear. After hearing the evidence of the Defence Department a fine of £5 and costs 13/- was imposed. It was stated that Cotterell had been previously fined for four similar offences. A month was given in which to pay the fine.

Beneficial and welcome rains, winch commenced on Sunday evening, fell throughout the district yesterday to freshen pastures and relievo anxiety somewhat in respect to the water supply in Palmerston North and at Mangahao. ■ ■ The Manawatu riv er, which 1 was at a particularly low ebb as a result of the prolonged dry spell, has risen slightly, thus testifying to the fact that other parohcd ciuarters arc also reaping benefit from the change in the elements. An English scientist, Professor Low, realising “that modern - life is based on invention,’’ ha's been working for some years and with the prospect of almost immediate success at the production of a motor car to cost £IOO and be as comfortable and lasting as a super-six. He also hopes to produce a super wireless set which will enable every wageearner, no matter how limited his income, to have music in hite home. Recently a Wanganui business man had occasion- to order £BOO worth of plant. He inquired the cost of British arid American articles and found that they were the same, and he ordered the • American articles. A friend twitted him later about not , supporting British industry and he replied; “I take the parochial view - and want to help New Zealand. The Customs only gets 5 per cent out of the British article, but it gets 26 out of the American.” The Medical Officer of Health wrote to the Borough Council last evening with reference to influenza, stating that was advisable that all concerned should be familiar with the necessary organisation'in case of infection gaining access to the country. He advised that local authorities hold a clean up day as soon as possible, unless, of course, conditions were such as to render same unnecessary. Cr. McLeavey reported that every precaution was being taken by the Borough Health committee. i “In my opinion,', good dairying land in the Manawatu district will always hold its own, although it is difficult ,to get rid of second-class properties .of this description.’’ This remark was made by a well-known Palmerston North estate agent yesterday, when in conversation with a “Times” representative. He qualified his observation by stating that only the other day,' a property had changed hands at £92 10s an acre, despite the fact that it was not the richest of land. Properties varying in size from fifty to one hundred acres wore most sought after, ho added. While the labour market in Palmerston North showed a decided improvement just prior to the New Tear ■ —possibly as the result of harvesting and freezing operations—the position is gradually becoming acute again with the approach of the winter months. According to the Labour Department’s books, there were : 39 men, with fifty-two -dependents, seeking employment last week, as compared with this week’s figures of 51 and 85 respectively. Although there is little slackening off-of trade in Palmerston North, all classes of skilled labour appear to bo affected.The favourable weather of the past few weeks has been conducive to building, operations, and, amongst other new premises being erected in the business quarter of Palmerston North, satisfactory progress is being made with the extensions being effected to the Post Office. One Is now able to gain an impression of the imposing nature of the new structure by reason of the definite proportions that the front and exterior generally has assumed. It is anticipated that the now quarters will be ready for occupation in June next, when greater efficiency will result from all departments being centralised and housed under the one roof. Three panoramic view's of Wellington harbour taken in 1840, 1870, and 1926 were received at the Borough Council meeting last evening from Mr M. Cohen who also wrote as follows: —“I have been one of the representatives of the Manawatu District, of which Palmerston North is the chief centre, on the Wellington Harbour Board continuously since 1907 and have been chairman since 1925. I, therefore, feel that I cannot signalise my gratitude for the continued confidence of the electors over so long a period, than by asking you to accept this small gift.” The Photographs, which will be of great historic value in years to come, were accepted with thanks.

During- January 25 head of stock were impounded, the fees received amounting to £4 5s 6d. There has been no need for restricting the supply of water available to consumers at Hamilton this summer. The demand has been abnormal owing to the absence of rain, necessitating the more frequent use of the garden hose. During the past few weeks the consumption has averaged 70,000 gallons an hour. As a consequence or the heavy fall of rain experienccd_ since Sunday evening, Mangahao, 'the sourc e of the Manawatu-Qroua district’s electrical supply—resumed carrying its big load at 6 o'clock yesterday morning. The anxiety of officials concerning the shortage of water has thus been relieved. It is anticipated that a steady supply will be assured by next year ,as by then the dams at Mangahao will have been properly installed. , “I can assure the Council that there are no men of means employed by th 0 borough," stated the Mayor (Mr ,F. J; at the Council table last evening when replying to a rumour that there were. “We found a case recently,” Mr Nathan added, “and that man’s services were immediately dispensed with. Furthermore there is only one single man entire staff and he la an expert in his particular work. The instructions are that ratepayers are also to have first consideration before outsiders and non-ratepayers.” ■lt was mentioned at the Te Awamutu Dower Board meeting -on Friday last that the average charge for electric installations In New Zealand homes costing, say, tl2po, was only £lB, Compared with plumbing and painting, or water supply, this average cost is very low, especially whoa It is remembered that a home is hardly habitable unless equipped with a good and reliable lighting and heating service. In America the average h OUBe equipment provides from four to five times as many points as the average New Zealand homes.

‘‘Some farmers don’t want to learn anything, and won't be told anything, but I am willing to taKe any suggestions, even from a ten-year-old boy,” said Mr K W. Gorringe,.instructor in swine, hubsandry, at the conclusion of an address at MorrinsvlUe on Friday evening, when appealing for helpful criticism from the farmers present. Earlier in the evening Mr Gorringe was demonstrating models of portable pig houses, and l*e stated that what he considered the Ideal one was not his own idea, but that of a ten*year-old boy, with whose father, in the boy's presence, Mr Gorringe was recently discussing various types of piggeries. ' The danger, .of kite-flying near electric power lines was referred to at the meeting of the Hawse’s Bay Electric Power Board last week, by Mr Maurice Chambers, who pointed out that on ajwet day, if kite lines became entangled in a. high tension line, the child on 1 the other., end of the strffig would', receive a severe shock, and bo in grave danger of electrocution. He had noticed, In coming along the Marine Parade, that three kites were entagled. in electric light wires In a distance of 100 yards. It was a grave danger and something should be done to suppress It. It was agreed, that the board should take the matter up with the schools in the country districts, and leave the borough councils to attend to It in the towns.