LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Rarawa, which has been relieving the Manaia on the Whangarei-Auck'land run, was to go into dock at Auckland yesterday for cleaning and painting. On completion of this work the Rarawa will return to the New Plymouth-Onehunga service. Hospital matters were discussed by Dr. T. H. A. Valintine (Inspector-General of Hospitals) in conference with the chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board (Mr. M. Fraser) yesterday morning, and in the afternoon a visit was paid to the New Plymouth Hospital. Dr. Valintine leaves for Hastings this morning. A fatal case of what is thought to he sleoping sickness has been reported to the Wellington police. The death occurred at Lower Hutt on Saturday of a young man who had been ill -for a few dys. The doctor attending deceased was not satisfied as to the cause of death, there being a suspicion that it was due to sleeping sickness. The body was accordingly taken to the morgue, and an inquest will follow. The Education Department has informed the Canterbury Education Board that the increases to teachers' salaries Will be distributed probably next month, and will date back to April I. Instalments of the cost of living bonus that have been distributed are to he deducted from these increases. In view of this, the instalment of the edst of living bonus which would have been paid at the end of the present month will not lie paid, as to do so would involve unnecessary clerical work. There is evidently money in old houses. In the eourag of the hearing of a claim for possession at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court an instance was mentioned of an old box of a house which had been condemned by the authorities. On the day on which it was condemned the owner set to work to "turn it into a bungalow," as the city inspector put it, and it was sold shortly afterwards for £<lso, and was now let at 30s per week. "It's what you might term an up-to-date bungalow now," said Mr. Hardie, amidst laughter, \H biMk Jbe witaeswbus,

A sitting of the New Plynlonth Tramway Appeal Board will be held next month to consider the appeal of an exemployee in the service against his disrating and dismissal. The prospectus of the New Zealand Publishing Co., Ltd., has been circulated. The Company, with a capital of £300,000, is being formed for the purpose of establishing another daily newspaper in the city of Auckland. In reply to a circular from the schools dental officer (Colonel Hunter), the Taranaki Teachers' Institute lias expressed approval of the proposal to have tooth-brush drill once a week, but considers the Department should supply the necessary conveniences, ' Cement supplies for Taranaki are being augmented by small consignments coming to hand from Australia. It is understood tliat a New Plymouth firm has secured 200 tons to be landed this week by a direct ,<teamcr. According to recent advices imported cement is not subject to Board of Trade control. The question of controlling pedestrian traffic •in Devon Street was before the New Plymouth Borough Council last evening. Cr. V. Griffiths strongly urged that some system should be inaugurated, and this opinion was held by a number of other councillors. The Council ultimately adopted the suggestion of the general manager to solicit the aid of the police. Regarding the issue of permits for the erection of motor garages with temporary boundary walls in wood or iron, the New Plymouth Borough Council last night adopted a recommendation from the general manager that a bond of £25 be required from applicants as- a guarantee that the walls will be re-built in brick or concrete when materials are available.

Information regarding tiie formation of a separate association of teachers in Auckland was received with disfavor at a meeting of the Taranaki Teachers' Institute on Saturday. A resolution was passed condemning the action of the Auckland teachers, the step being considered inimical to the unity of the service, and the hope was expressed that the Minister would refuse to recognise the new body.

Speaking at the New Plymouth Borough Council's meeting last evening, Cr. It. Parkin urged' that an extra effort should be made to stop fast traffic of motor cars in Devon Street. Inspector Day said he thought the offences were confined to a reckless few. A confused idea existed in the minds of some people that a noisy car denoted a high rate of speed, whereas generally the motorist was travelling at a moderate pace but with the exhaust valve open. . This, of course, also constituted a breach of the bv-laws.

'•There is plenty of good building timber ready for use on the West Coast," declared' the deputy-Mayor of Christchurch to a reporter last week, "but the millers are unable to procure shipping space to transport it to Lyttelton. One local merchant informs me that he has no less than 200,000 feet of timber awaiting shipment from the Coast, and cannot get n. foot of it here on account of the shipping shortage."

Saturday was the 80th anniversary of ti««eremony of taking, possession, in the nataie of Great Britain, of the site of the city of Auckland. Captain Hobson, New Zealand's first Governor, decided shortly after his arrival at the Bay of Islands in January, 1340, that the then capital, Russell, was unsuitable as a permanent seat of government. Investigations in regard to a new- capital resulted in the selection of the present site of the northern city. A Government party, which arrived jn Waitemata harbor ou September 15, ISJ'O, in the barque Anna Watson, landed on September IS, when the British flapwas hoisted on the promontory afterwards crowned with Fort Britpmart. Salutes were fired from the, barques Anna Watson and Platina, and the health of the reigning sovereign, Queen Victoria, was drunk at the foot of the flagstaff. .The event, which marks the actual birthday of Auckland city, was further signalised at a luncheon on the Anna Watson, and the folding of the first regatta on the waters of the Waitemata.

He was a most easmtl individual in Auckland who, the other day, went bankrupt, and when asked what had become of, his money said he really didn't know! It was stated that the man had won £740 in a sweep, that he gave £IOO to his wife, and bought a motorcar for £325, which he used as a taxi. He lost his' licewve, engaged a man to drive for him, found this uuremunerative, sold the car for £3OO, spent the latter amount in living expenses, and then went bankrupt. At the meeting of creditors the bankrupt said he had not the least idea of where the money had gone to, except that it had gone, and he "couldn't really present a decent balance-sheet for the auditors." The Official Assignee said his mission was not to whitcvas-h delinquents. It was also stated that when bankrupt was informed that the creditor's would take proceedings,- he smiled and said that he "would put it right over them." "He certainly has put it over us," said one creditor, "and thatVi what hurts." Another creditor (to bankrupt): "Isn't it a fact, Mae, that you sliould tell the Official Assignee that you have thrown your money away, and haven't the least idea where it has gone?" The bankrupt: "That is about the strength of it." At this stage the creditors agreed that it was no use prolonging the meeting. Charges of being found drunk in Devon Street on Saturday and of committing a breach of his prohibition order were preferred against J. G. H. Blane in the Xew Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday. It was reported that seven convictions for breaking the prohibition order had been recorded against Blane since April 1, and two further informations were, pending. On the charge of drunkenness the defendant was fined 10s, and on the second charge was convicted and ordered to conic up for sentence on September 30 (when the other two informations are set down for hearing). The Magistrate (Mr. T. A. B. Bailey) intimated to Blane that ho would send him to Rotoroa for a short term if it were not for the fact that such an action might affect the position of defendant's wife and family. A foreign missionary meeting will be held at the South, Road Methodist Church to-morrow evening. The speakers will he the Revs. Milne and Martin. The address to be given by Rov. Milne will be on "What I Saw in Fiji." The following players will represent the Frankley Road Card Club in the match against the Fire Brigade on Wednesday evening: Messrs A. R. Davis, F. W. Sutton, Sims, C. Davis, Haskell, H. Young, W. Parr, R. Parr, Lee, West, Lehrke, Hamilton, A. P. Lister, King, Hall, Williams, Lord, Beal, Boswell, and , Guildfotd.

"Despite the high cost of living," says a country paper, "Mr, Prank Porter, a well-known resident, has taken unto himself a wife." Judgment for plaintiff by default was given at the New Plymouth Court yesterday in the case of A. N. Morey v. Nohomai Kangi Te Whiti, claim £lO 12s fld, costs £1 66. A former resident of Geelong, a German, who, after being interned, was sent to Germany at his request, has written to a Geelong friend describing conditions in Germany. He says that he earns £5 a day, but it takes £3 a day for himself and his wife to live. Boots cost £l2 a pair, and all clothing is very dear. Cows could not be secured under £4OO, and horses were practically unprocurable at £6OO. According to northern reports, if the embargo is lifted on the export of potatoes to Australia it will not affect the position much, as it is now too late in the season for heavy shipments to he made. Already potatoes sent to Auckland from the South Island require repicking, which adds to the landed cost, and the longer voyage to Australia would be more risky so late in the season. In reference to the education endowment at Patea which Victoria College, Wellington, is endeavoring to acquire from the Education Department, the New Plymouth High Schools Board last night decided to enter an emphatic protest against any. :. »mpt to transfer the reserve, or the accumulated funds, to Victoria College, as it-was considered that Taranaki had priority of claim, and in the near future would need the reserve and funds for scholarships and other educational benefits. Speaking at Hamilton last week Mr. Goodfellow stated that the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company's turnover for the past year amounted to £2,000,000, and next year, with the increased supply and prices, it would be at least £4,000,000. They would be manufacturing 11,000 tons of butter, more than one-third of the total manufactured in New Zealand, as well as 6000 tons of cheese and a large quantity of casein and milk powder. Mr. Goodfellow said, with regard to skim milk, powder samples had been distributed, and the company received excellent reports from leading bakers and confectioners. The speaker mentioned that sugar and sugar of milk was now being imported from California and there was no reason why New Zealand should not produce for itself. An accident which illustrates in a very vivid manner the pluck and resource of the young New Zealander, occurred one day last week at the foot of the Wheivuakura Hill, near the Patea brickworks (says the Press). Mrs. Crawford, of Whenuakura, together with her 17-year-old boy, and her daughter, were motoring into town when, as they turned the corner near the brickyard, they noticed a team of three runaway horses attached to a dray coming towards them at a gallop. Without any hesitation, and in less time than it takes to write it, the youngster, who was driving, at once drew the car to the side of the road and stopped it He and his sister then jumped out and ran towards the runaways, and calling out, succeeded in cheeking them, each seizing a horse as they came along, eventually bringing the three of them to a standstill. As there were two others cars following Mrs. Crawford's car, about to turn the corner of the hill, it is more than probable that there would have been a general smash-up but for the plucky action ot the young New. Zealanders,

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile wish to draw clients' attention to their Taratn sale which/they are holding in their Tarata yards on Friday, 24th inst, at 1 p.m. Full particulars of entrie3 will be found on page 8 of this issue. Mr. E. Mason, member of the American Veterincry Medical Association, who was so well known throughout North Taranaki, where he has been in practice for the past twelve years, has removed for health reasons to Hawera, where no doubt farmers will take full advantage of his services.