LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Rarawa landed about 2.10 tons of cargo from the north yesterday, included in which was a, consignment of (10 tons of sugar for Taranaki. A chemist, named Edward Stohr, was fined £lO in the Magistrate's Court at Masterton yesterday for selling adulterated iodine (says -a Press Association telegram). Notice of appeal was given.

The fund started in. Manaia for the establishment of a Women's Rest, which Is estimated to cost £550, is now £4OO The Town Board has given a section on which to build, the Rest. A demand for substantial increases in pay was made by the Wanganui V. and T. Association last night. The resolution was on similar lines to those passed elsewhere.

The quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce called for last night lapsed for want of a quorum, and it was agreed not to meet until the annual meeting in June next. A record speed was attained by the British destroyer Tyrian in December. This new oil-burning vessel averaged, 40 knots, or over 45 miles an hour, on a four-hours' trial in deep water. She is 1000 tons displacement. There were lively scenes at a circus at Auckland owing 'to overcrowding. The manager was hooted every time he appeared in the ring, and several free fights occurred, during which clods of earth were hurled about between the people sitting and those standing. IJiPl'tTnza made its presence seriously felt ; « Opunakc on Friday last, wlieii Mr. funga Bishop's daughter, Kohina, aged 12 years, and his little son, Matenga, aged 10 .months, died with the malady (says the Opunako Times). Kohina was one of the brightest pupils of the local public school, and general regret is felt at her earlv demise

Conservative estimates place the production of automobile motor trucks m America this year at 3,500.00n. That mentis that 14,000,000 covers and tubes must be made for initial equipment alone. On top, of that there ere something like 7,000.000 cars and truck, already on the American roads, calbn" for 45,000,001) tyres a year. The United Male* requirements for motor tvres for 1020 are placed at 72.000.000' a stupendous output.

A meeting of residents of Westown was held in the West End Bowling Clubs pavilion last night, when the question of the tramway extension to the district was diseased. It was unanimously resolved that a deputation of residents of the district shonM wait nll the Through Council on Monday eveninrand urge that (he extension of the trams to the district should at orre be pushed forward-

Negotiations are still proceeding for the erection of over a hundred honw in Xew Plymouth. Christchurch Timaru and Palmerston Xorth under the I,abor department's scheme. The formal office work in connection with those building operations should he completed in a couple of weeks

Prices of galvanised iron are not likely to decline for some time, to come, nccording to the bulletin of the British Department of Overseas ■ Trade. The main works in the United Kingdom are sold ahead for some months \o come, and in spite of the high prices at present ruling makers are declining to cornmi t_ themselves further. Buyers at the beginning of this year were experiencing great trouble in covering their require" ments.

For the month ending 20th February, the takings on the New Plymouth tramways were JC1312, or an increase of £3OO over the same periorl of last year. The electric bus took £S(). The applications for electricity for the month were 45, and additions to existing connections 17. The load on the station is increasing rapidly, reports the engineer, and must continue to do so with the winter coming on. The engineer states that the shingle collection at trie intake of late hits necessitated constant work to keep it free,

The formation of a British company which intends to undertake the manufacture of standardised motor-cars on a large scale was announced somo months ago. The capital of the company is £15,000,000. The bulletin of the Department of Overseas Trade states that this company had an output of fifty cars per week in January, and expected to be producing GOO cars per week in December of this year. An output of 2000 cars per week was expected to be attained by- the middle of the year 1923 Three types of cars are to be' manufactured.

[ An aeroplane which can he run singlehanded and housed in an ordinary motor garage is on the, market, states the bulletin of the British Department of Overseas Trade. The machine is the Austin whippet, which is 19 feet long S feet wide, with folded wings, and 580 pounds in weight. Its 45 horse-power motor gives a flying speed of 90 miles per hour, and the machine can make a two hours' flight with its pilot and 60 pounds of luggage. A self-starting device makes it unnecessary for the pilot to have assistance in starting his motorThe '-whippet" has undergone trials successfully. Can any Britisher ever forgive the Germans? Lieutenant Max Juriss, of Wellington, who was for twciitv-fivc months a prisoner of war in Germany, relates horrors that it will take a generation to forget. At Clausthal, where lliere were 250 British officers, it was the German Army practice every week or two to count out so many prisoners sad send them away. Some eight or nine months afterwards thev would lie returned to Clausthal. The inevitable question was: "where have you i>ccn?" In reply the men would invariably say, "Spandau!'' At Spandau the custom was to put (hem in prison clothes, herd them with the vilest German criminals, and treat them like dog-;. Lieutenant Juriss saw many «. bright young officer return from a spell at, Spandau. a whiteheaded, bent, old man—broken on the wheel of German cruelty for no reason whatever. At Echwniisted. after the war, Lieut. Juriss discovered the grave of Captain Jforitt, wiio was shot a:-, he emerged from a tunnel through which lie. was trying to escape.

Buyers of while and colored towels are advised to "get in early" for the lines advertised by the Molbourne, Ltd, as the next shipment will he 50 per cent, dearer for similar goods. Prices are as follows: White towels 5/9 and 11/6 pair; brown towels 5/11 pair. The New Plymouth Citizens' Band will give a concert at the East TCnd Reserve to-morrow. A collection will he taken up in aid of the East End Committee's funds-

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile draw attention to their Stratford pale to be held on Tuesday, Kith March, at 12 noon. Particulars on page 8.

Mr. Vcrbrugghen, conductor of the New South Wales State Orchestra, has been offered, so the Sydney Daily Telegraph reports, the appointment of conductnrship to an important orchestra in America. The, contract, if accepted, would lie for live years, and the salary 20,0110 dollars for a seven months' season each year.

A favorite topic of conversation i" Ashburton among farmers is that of the recent land valuations. Apparently all the Government valuations for the county have not yet been announced, but, judging from the tone of farmers, those of which farmers are aware are exceptionally high, with not sufficient allowance on the buildings and other improvements. Several farmers informed a Guardian reporter that they will gladly sell out to the Government at its own valuation.

The New Zealand Welfare League in its latest circular says: If the reports appearing in the Press are to be relied on, then the master bakers of Wellington seem to us to bo acting rather wildly in talking strike right away on receipt of the information that their increase of Id per 21b loaf was countermanded by -Mr. Massey. ■We do not know whose estimates are right, but we take the earliest opportunity of protesting very emphatically against the master bakers' strike talk. Where on earth is all this sort of thing going to end if on every occasion when parties are dissatisfied with terms offered they are going to threaten to hit the public? Here is a body of employers who arc indulging in the same kind of talk tnat they condemn the labor unions for adopting at times. It is surely most reprehensive that this should" occur. What sense of responsibility have the Wellington master bakers, to shout strike in the ears of the public before even the delegates from various districts have got together and conferred? The question of Sabbath observance in connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales to New Zealand has been raised by the Dunedin Presbytery. The following reply has been received by the Presbytery from the Prime Minister:—"No functions of any kind have been arranged for the Sundays during which His Royal Highness will be in New Zealand, nor is travel arranged for any Sunday except that, if deerstalking on Saturday, May 1. prevents it being safe for His Royal Hialiness to travel to Wellington on that evening, he may come by motor on the following day (Sunday). The departure of the steamer to arrive at Picton on the morning of Monday, May .'i, will not be before midnight. The Dominion Drapers' Conference in Auckland, representing the retail soft goods trade, passed a motion expressing strong aversion to dealing in fterman goods, and requesting the Government to state its attitude regarding the resumption of trade with Austria' and Germany. It was urged that if such goods are admitted definite words denoting the country of origin be decided upon, and rigid steps be taken to prevent the admission of German or Austrian goods through other countries; and that a much heavier penalising import duty be imposed than that now enforced under the British preference eluuse.

Swimming sports will lie ln»l,l at the New Plymouth municipal baths on Thursday night. . An interesting programme has been drawn up, for which entries close on Wednesday.

| The services in South Rond Methodist Church to-morrow will be conducted by the Rev. John Nixin, Morning at li. Evening at 7. All seats free.