LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

If is reported that Kaupokonui are consigning their new season's output through a London produce firm. There has been a great deal of sicknss round about Okaiawa' lately, and last Week, owing to 50 per cent "of the pupils being absent, it was decided to close the school for a week. The trouble generally appears "to be a return of the old-fashioned "flu."—Star.

At the Magistrate's Court, Eltham, yesterday Mary Boniface, who had caused similar trouble at Otaki and Mangatoki, was, lined £2 for using obscene language, the Magistrate remarking that it was a very difficult case to deal with. A man named Richard Wilson, alias William Jones, was arrested in Eltham on Thursday by Constable Townsend on a military warrant issued in 1918, on a charge of desertion. He was escorted to Hawera this morning by Constablo Townsend and handed over to the military authorities for trial'by courtmartial.—Argus. The ceremony of unveiling a memorial taiblet to the men of the Mangatoki district who fell during the war took place at the Mangatoki Union Church on Sunday and was largely attended, (States the Argus). The Bevs. Castles, Hosking and Grey officiated and the service was of an appropriate and extremely impressive nature. The collection amounted to £22 7s Bd.

An interesting case is before the Netive Land Court which opened yesterday in Hawera (States the Star). The case centres round an exchange of land on which the town of Stratford now stands, and which originally belonged to one of the Maori tribes. In 1876 this tribe were given by tho Lands Department other lands in exchange, and the tribe ark now seelqng to get compensation becftuse they aver that the land given them is not of equal value with that taken from them. At the New Plymouth Court yesterday morning a first offender for drunkenness was convicted and fined sa. The principle of military training was denounced by a speaker at Tuesday night's meeting of the Wellington Presbytery as tending further towards warfare, and being inimical to the moral uplifting of the youth of the country. A motion fully setting out the reasons for objecting to the Government's military proposals was discussed at some length. The discussion was then adjourned to the next meeting. Dairymen in search of good cows cannot go wrong in attending Mr. A. E, Loonejr's clearing sale on 18th hut.

A complaint about the high charge made 'by the Postal Department for the remission of' small sums of money to the 'United States was made in the House of Representatives by Mr. S. G. Smith (Tnranaki), telegraphs our Parliamentary reporter). A correspondent had written that lie had been required to pay 13s 4d in order to remit 28s, the charge being at the rate of 6s 8d for each pound or fraction of a pound. The Postmaster-General replied that he had received some information on the point, but he wished to make further inquiries. He would like the question placed on the order paper. Cr. McGregor gave notice of motion at tho meeting of the Patea County Council on Monday that steps be taken to frame a by-law prohibiting any person driving a motor car or any vehicle from entering a bridge' while stock were crossing. Or McGregor said that want of consideration by motorists had caused a great deal iff annoyance and trouble to drovers. A man may get a flock of jiheep half-way over a bridge and then have them all driven back and scattered by a motorist. This experience may be repeated several times before this sheep could be got ov#r. A by-law such as he suggested was in force in Hawke's Bay.—Star. The engineer for the Patea County Council placed some figures before the Council at its meeting yesterday showing the increased cost of tools and materials during tho past four years. Metal from the Lower Hutt had increased 3s per yard, and from Aramoho 3s 94 per yard over the 1916 prices. Other increases were: Iron-bark timber from 30s to 70s per 100 ft, rimu from 18s to 33s per 100 ft, totara from 3#s 6d to 46s per 100 ft, wire from 14s per cwt to 00s, jarrah timber from 29s to 75s per 100 ft, coal from 29s 6d to 48s per ton, chaif from £6 10s to £l3, shovels from 4s to 12s Od each, handles from Is 2d to 2s 8d each, pick handles from Is 2d to 2s Bd, and blasting "powder Jrom la to 2s. Drain pipes had risen about 50 per cent, all round, and wages had risen from 10s per day to 13s and lfls. It was evident, tho engineer concluded, that work must be reduced or the revenue increased.—Star.