Local and General.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 84, 14 August 1923, Page 4

Local and General.

It is anticipated that the New Plymouth tramway service will be extended to Westown before Christmas. The Hospital Board passed a motion of thanks this morning to Messrs Newton King Ltd. for a donation of manure. After being closed for nearly a week on account of the prevelance of influenza and colds amongst the pupils, the New Plymouth Boys' High School and the Westown School resumed yesterday.

The appointment of a new Judge of the Supreme Court has not yet been announced, but it is understood that the selection for the position is Mr W. C. MacGregor, who at present is Solicitor-General.

"It is an extraordinary fact," said Mr S. Solomon, KC, in a lecture recently, "that in the history of New Zealand only one bookmaker has ever been found guilty by a jury of bookmaking. And a still more extraordinary feature is that I was defending him," he added.

A motor collision occurred on the Tangahoc Hill south of Hawera, on Saturday night between two cars driven by Mr G. Scoon and Mr L. V. Rowe, of Hawera. None of the passengers were seriously hurt hut both cars suffered considerable damage.

Smart Bros, for electric light advertising flashing Solar Lamps. For Electric wiring, repairs, etc. ring up N'o. 30 and at night No 156. Sanderson and JunM for plumbing drain-laying electric work. etc. All kinds of electric fittings storked Good work, prompt attention. Telephone 222. X

Jazz music is dying out, says the London "Daily Mail." There are no mourners. It is baing replaced by the "Blues," the haunting melodies from the Southern States. Instead of the blare and din of the jazz band, the dancers now move to the glide and shuffle of soft muffled melodies.

An Italian who kept a fruit, stand was much annoyed by possible customers who made a practice of handling the fruit and pinching it, thereby leaving it softened and often spoiled. Exasperated beyond endurance he finally put up a sign which read: "If you must pincha da fruit —pincha da cocoanut."

A Press Association telegram from Wellington to-day states: In common with other districts, the persistent cola of this winter has shown its effsct on the death roll. The interments in July numbered 117, as against 93 last year. So far this month, the rate is still higher, but there are signs of warm weather now setting in.

Two small boys called at the office of the "Post" this morning and one of them volunteered the following statement: "Yesterday while we were selling tickets for the Lavender Fair we found a thrush's ne=t in some lawyer with three eggs and a young bird in it." The fact about the "early bird" is interesting; but it would be more interesting to. know who the boys expected to find living in the "lawyer" desirous of buying a ticket for the Lavender Fair.

It was suggested at " annual meeting of the Pate;. Firo Brigade on Thursday eveni:; f - (repurts tha meeting of the Pa'/ T're Brigade Press) that an effori be mado to hold the next of th*J Taranaki Uniied Fir.. L-rigaiea Association in Patta, as the Elthaifl Brigade had found the finance! considerations too much for them. The meeting welcomed the suggestion and expressed a desire to secu o a guarantee of the money required (about £100). The secretary was instructed to place the position before the executive of the association at the next meeting.

An amusing satire on medical men was disclosed on Bell Vue Hotel, Brisbane. When doctors attending the annual dinner of the British Medical Association entered the banquetting-room, o n each guest's plate was a "thyroid gland tablet," and in the centre of the table were two stuffed monkeys In an attitude of hurriedly climbing a tree. Attached to them was a tag, "Let's go, they're after our glands." The joke was much appreciated by the medicos.

The following reference to the Moumahaki State Farm is included in the agricultural report, which has l-een presented to Parliament:—At Moumahaki a great improvement from a financial standpoint has been brought about, and the place, moreover, has continued to be well farmed. As compared with the previous year the expenditure has been reduced by £IOO9, while' the credits have increased by £2176. I n addition the value of the live stock on the farm on March 31, 1923, was £707 in excess of that at the same date last year, the standards of valuation being the same in both years. This is an excellent showing for the present management. It is desirable that the future of this farm Bhould be settled, and recommendations regarding this have been submitted

The strange influence that the great Maori chief Te Whiti held over his tribe before the death which he defied overtook him still /remains with a few of bis faithful followers, known as Te Whiti-ites (states an exchange). Te Whiti commanded his intimate followers, among other things, that they must not accept rents from the native lands nor pay any rates or taxes in respect thereof, because he believed the lan d would one day come back to the Maoris. This command has been more or less faithfully obeyed by the old warrior's disciples, , : nd to this day a few of them absolutely refuse to accept the proffered rents which have been accumulating for years in the hands or the Native Trustee. Just as resolutely they refused to pay rates to the local bodies, and this latter fact has led one or two Te Whiti-ites into trouble with the Hawera County Council, which is now endeavoring to obtain payment of rates from the accumulated rents held by the Native Trustee.

"I don't knoiv how you sell ft at die price" is what they all say who Have inspected and tried the beautl fully finished new model 1923 Chevrolet car. £290 complete. Inspection invited and demonstrations arranged.—Stevenson, Blackstock & Co. International Harvester Co., Regan Street.

Mr Clutha has been instrumental in raising £33,000 for the Pearson Memorial fund for the blind in New Zealand. Weather forecast. —The indications are for easterly winds, mod.rate to strong, and backing by east to north and freshening. There is a prospect of fair to cloudy weather, with increasing haze, and cloudiness for a change. The barometer has a falling tendency.—Bates, Wellington. There are a good many enquiries from all parts of Taranaki in connection with the forthcoming Methodist Bulb Show and keen interest is being shown in the event. In the narcissus section, Mr (Jonas Masters has presented a valuable silver cup for most points. The show is likely to attract a large number of entrants, and every endeavor is being made to make the show a success.

Dr. Steven, medical superintendent of the. Stratford Hospital, spent a good deal of time at the meeting of the Hospital Board this* morning, discussing a number of questions with members. Before leaving the meeting Dr. Steven expressed the thanks of himself and the Mitron for the interest taken in the institution by the chairman, who spent a great deal of time at the hospital and took much trouble in consulting with himself and the Matron on matters affecting the institution.