LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A large English mail is due at New Plymouth to-night. There will be a delivery over the post office counter of letters from 8.15 p.m. to 9.45 p.m.

The annual conference of the Maori War Veterans’ Association is to Jbe held at Palmerston North on Tuesday next. Delegates will be present from New Plymouth. One case of anthrax, with fatal issue, was*reported in New Zealand last year, but as no bacteriological examination was made, the diagnosis remains in doubt.

A man named Archibald Loveridge, who was arrested in New Plymouth on Thursday on warrant from Auckland on a charge of being in arrears under a maintenance order for the support of his wife and children, was brought before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, .S.M., yesterday, and on the application of the police, a remand was granted until 10 o’clock this morning.

During his inspection of returned soldiers and veterans at t*he»civic welcome in New Plymouth yesterday, the Gov-ernor-General met an ex-naval man who had served on a warship with His Excellency, and they had a few minutes’ conversation, reviving memories of the occasion.

The excellent arrangements made in connection with the official reception to the Govern or-General and Lady Jellieoe at New Plymouth yesterday resulted in the functions passing off without a hitch. The general management and the control of traffic was capably carried out by the borough inspector (Mr. R. Day), whose preliminary organisation ensured the smooth working of affairs. He was also responsible for the direction of traffic in Powderham Street in connection with the official opening of the Clarke Memorial Hostel in the afternoon, and this was also handled very satisfactorily. Another of the series of euchre parties and dances was held in connection with the forthcoming school fete on Thursday evening in the Fitzroy school room, 28 tables being (occupied for euchre. Mrs. Woodham won the first prize and Miss R. Boulton the second. The men’s prize was won by Mr. F. Rogers, and Mr. Millman took, the second after playing off with Messrs. Bullott and Hunt. Dancing was carried on in the adjoining class-room, over 50 couples geing present. Miss R. Cameron presided at the piano, and Mr. G. F. Goldsworthy carried out the duties of M.C.

The Taranaki United Fire Brigades’ annual demonstration will be held at Hawera on Wednesday, February 15, 1922. At a meeting of the citizens’ committee on Wednesday night arrangements for the meeting were discussed, and it was decided that the Retailers’ Association be asked to declarthe Wednesday on which the demonstration is to be held a whole holiday, as the competitions are to commence at c a.m. It is intended to give cash prizes to a total value of £l3O, and expenses in connection with the demonstration will be about £9O, making the total amount required £220. Committees were set up to canvass Hawera for subscriptions. “This hostel stands as an instance of what co-operative effort can do,” said Miss Birch, organising secretary of the W.Y,C.A., when speaking at the official opening of the Clarke Memorial Hostel y?-;terday. The acquisition of the hostel, Miss Birch contended, showed what might be done for New Plymouth if all worked together for the establishment of an accommodation house where people could have the kind of residence that was so much needed in New Plymouth. “With the right organisation and’ the right leadership,” she continued, ‘I think you can very soon acquire the accommodation that is needed to make your town progress by leaps and bounds.”

Hearing was resumed in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday of the claim in which Bertie C. Wheeler claimed from A. L. Picard the sum of 16s (id,, being balance due for the erection of a dwelling. Plaintiff had contracted to build a house for defendant for £9BO, it was stated, on the understanding that any rise in the price of materials was paid for by defendant. Evidence was called the previous day to show that during the period November. 1919, to December, 1920, consideragle advances in prices had taken place. The contention for defendant, that the clause relating to increase in prices had been deleted, was not upheld by the Magistrate (Mr. A. M. Mowlem). Judgment was.given for plaintiff for the sum of £lO6 17s fid, costs to be adjusted by the parties.

The Scotch Fair conducted in New Plymouth in aid of the manse fund of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, was concluded last night. Very satisfactory patronage was recorded throughout yesterday, the receipts being £5O, which, with donations amounting to £3O, will bring t'he total to £225. The programme last night was contributed to by Misses Harper and Cocker, and Mrs. Avery, Mrs. Erskine, and Messrs. R. Murphy, A. Goldsworthy R. Cocker and J. Beard. Accompaniments were played by Mr. P. Fredric. In connection with the management of the fair the committee wish to acknowledge t'he courteous attention received from the hall custodian (Mr. Brabyn).

Members of the Employers’ Association are reminded of the special meeting which will be held in the Soldiers’ Club rooms on Monday night. The meeting is being specially called to deal with the formation of a retailers’ section of the association.

On November 5 the Fitzroy school committee will hold a great fete to provide funds for improving the grounds. The ladies’ committee have been arranging for stalls of various kinds, ami these will be stocked with choice and beautiful articles. Plain and fancy garments, babies’ outfits, dolls,, produce, sweets, cakes, and table delicacies of all kinds will be on sale. There will be displays of drill, and dancing by the scholars, and the band will provide music. Bran tubs and fishing ponds will be there for the children, and special arrangements are being made to afternoon tea and supper.

Two absentee owners of property at Bombay, in the Auckland district, were fined £3O and £2O respectively last week for failing to destroy the rabbits on their properties. The number of persons who attended out-patient clinics in New Zealand last year for venereal disease was 27,209. Of these, 25,186 were males and 2-023 females.

• A doctor’s motor-car was stolen at Auckland on Friday night, while the owner was attending a patient. This is the sixth car to be driven off in the last two or three weeks.

A witness at the Supreme Court at Wellington the other day had a little to say about his experience as commander of a “mystery ship,” the acting —Q ship Chamberlain, during the war. “I was told,” he said, “to go out when I liked, where I liked, to stay as long as I liked, to give the job a fair deal, and to look for trouble and look out for trouble.”

Several remits relative to the health of school children were passed by the School Committees’ Conference at Wellington on Wednesday. They are as follow: (a) “That as the body-building value of nutritious food is being stressed by the school medical officers, the Government be urged to compel the general gristing of wheatmeal for bread and the baking of same for the benefit of the health of the school children of the Dominion” (Wellington). (b) “That the State provide free and compulsory medical and dental treatment to all children attending State schools” (Manawatu). (c) “That pressure be brought upon the Government to give effect to the medical inspection of schools, and reports of such inspection be given effect to” (Manawatu). (d) “That qualified dentists should accompany medical inspection when visiting schools, especially in country districts” (Taranaki). “While taxes have drained almost dry the joint-stock company, the farmer, and the ordinary taxpayer, there still remain a class that are still having a good time,” declared the president (Mr. A. Leigh Hunt), at the annual meeting of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce. “I refer to those who, without family responsibilities and sheltered by the income tax exemption of £3OO, contribute little to the revenue or the country. It seems obvious to the observer that the Government might well turn its attention to making up their deficiencies by a further substantial impost on luxuries and amusements. Apart from the largely-increased revenue this would secure it would have a good steadying effect in quarters where the same is much needed. A tax of this kind cannot cause hardship, for it is of a voluntary nature, and the taxpayer himself elects to pay at his own option.”

While in London, Mr. W. B. Fowler, of Palmerston North, asked a butcher if he had any New Zealand meat. The butcher, looking up at the hooks, replied, “Yes, this is some of the best Canterbury.” The butcher removed it, however, before Mr. Fowler could get t» proper look at the brand (which was on the meat), and concealed it. Mr. Fowler was convinced, by the appearance of the meat, that it was not New Zealand stuff. Moreover, the action of the butcher, who, probably, had a suspicion as to who Mr. Fowler might be, increased the doubt. Mr., Fowler, while talking to an official of the High Commissioner’s Office, mentioned the incident. The official said that on many occasions they had taken action against the butchers for falsely ’representing certain meat as being from New Zealand, but each case had fallen through on some technicality. “The only thing for the New Zealand farmers to do,” said the official, “is to export their own meat, in their own ships, and sell from their own shops in England straight to the public. New Zealand farmers will then get a square deal. The same thing applies to butter and cheese. There are so many interests working against them that this is thd only means by which the position can be properly remedied.”

A French chemist has suggested an ingenious and somewhat humorous burglar alarm. He has submitted it to the laboratory of La Nature, where it did all that was claimed for it by its inventor, according to the Morning Post. It consists of powdered iodine and ammonia. The iodine is first dusted over the floor, very little being necessary. A sufficient quantity of ammonia to moisten the powder is then sprinkled over it. This evaporates very quickly, leaving a substance—iodine nitrate—which will explode or detonate at the slightest touch. Even a rat running across the floor will set up a series of tiny explosions. The unsuspecting burglar, though he tread as lightly as he can in the softest of felt slippers, will think he is walking over bunches of Chinese crackers, and will arouse the entire household.

A curious thing in connection with bubonic plague is that though rats may die in hundreds from its ravages, domestic animals appear to be practically immune (says a Sydney paper). A cat may kill an infected rat,’ yet it would not get the disease. Cats have caught plague, but the cases are very rare. There are only two known instances in New South Wales, and they occurred years ago at the time of the most serious plague visitation Sydney has known. Despite this apparent immunity, it is easy to infect a cat in the laboratory in the same manner as the guinea pig is infeetgd. Dogs appear to be even more unlikely to contract the disease, for there -is not a single case on record in Sydney, according to experts, where it has been established that a dog died from plague. Patrons of the Melbourne, Ltd., will be pleased to learn that' a large shipment of Manchester goods has arrived just in time to escape the impending new duties which are anticipated will come into force next week.

Farmers! let this fact soak into your minds: One rejection of your milk by the factory manager on account of impurity will cost you more than a year’s supply of “Sinus,” the champion milking machine cleanser. Why run the risk wnen “Sinus” will keep your machine’s tubing and utensils sweetly clean at a trifling cost. On Monday next the Caledonian Society are celebrating one of the old Scottish customs—viz., Halloween. The committee have been working hard, and all the arrangements are well in hand. Having decided to make this function again open to the public, and also the promise of the pipers and dancers to be present, a real good Scotch night is assured.

Attention is drawn to the annual rose show and guild sale, to be held in S*. Mary’s Hall, Vivian Street, on Friday and Saturday next, November 4 and 5. Lovers of the queen of flowers should not miss seeing the display. Entries in the competitive and decorative classes are solicited, and schedules may be obtained from the C.F. and F. Co,, or Xrom the secretary. (