LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Clifton County Council some limo i\?o asked the forestry service to supply ammunition for the purpose of destroying wild pigs in the back country of the county. The service replied to yesterdayis meeting of the council stating that it did not undertake to supply ammunition to be used for the destruction of wild pigs. The seriousness of the trouble caused by the pest was fully appreciated, and the Department of Agriculture had been asked to take the earliest possible measures 1o eope with the evil in the way they deemed the most efficacious.

The mail train yesterday was about twenty-five minutes late leaving Hawera. the delay being due to the ngiee being unable to bring the train up the hill this side of Wanganui, and ' lie train had to be cut into two sections. There was further delay at Hawera, owing to a “hot box’ necessitating the first class smoker being taken oil' and replaced by another car. The bulk of the time was made up between Hawera and Now Plymouth, although the train had to shunt at Stratford to put off a horse box.

The Hon. J.- G. Coates, after visiting the Otira tunnel, announces that the tunnel will be ready for urgent goods traffic in March, anil regular traffic some time in April, but thatthe work, will not bo completed in tune for the Eaater traffic. The tunnel and equipment when complete will have cost £1.300.009 and the longer ir. 5 s delayed, the greater the capital cist would become.

Complaining that a number of culverts on the Urenui-Pukearuho Road were blocked, causing sheets of water to lodge in his paddock. W. G. Glassford wrote to yesterday’s meeting of the Clifton County Council. “I object strongly,'’ the letter continued, “to having sheets of water. chain 4 long, in my paddock simply because the culverts are blocked. What do 1 pay £B2 in rates for? 1 think it would be a good idea if you shut up shop for a year or two and gave Ihe ratepayers a opbll." The letter waa received.

“During 11)22 there has been a very pleasing reduction in the number of infectious cases notified of 52.63 per rent., the actual notifications having been Ji as compared with 1!) for the previous year,” stated the health inspector’s report to yesterday’s meeting of the Clifton County Council. The cases notified were 4.31 per cent, of the total cases in the hospital district, which is a reduction of - 3.34 per cent, over 1921, and, on a population basis, are at a rate of 3.93 cases per 1000, as against 8.9 for the previous year. During the last quarter there were no notifiable cases in the county.

The scenic and prison reserve which has been set aside by the Government at/Pukearuhe i»s gradually becoming covered with gorse and blackberry, and, if left unchecked, a delightful picnic spot will soon be lost. The sea in the vicinity abounds with fish, and there is excellent bathing to be had, and the reserve is likely to be in demand by campers during the next few years. The farmers in the neighbourhood state that they are willing to plant trees to Retp the* weeds, in check if the Government will supply them, but they have not the time to be continually grubbing the reserve to keep it open. “John Whiteley was not the first man to die for the Methodist Church in New Zealand,” stated the Reverend C. H. Laws (president of the Methodist conference) at the unveiling of the Whiteley memorial at Pukearuhe yesterday. “He was the first ordained minister, but years before four Maori hoys were killed at Hokianga under similar circumstances. “There was an old chief there, Mr Laws continued, who forbade the missionaries to come into this country, but these boys determined to go to preach the gospel among his followers. They went, but were met as they approached the chief’s territory, and were put to death, becoming the first Christian martyrs in New Zealand. How the Japanese devour English books may be guessed by a statement made to a Daily News’ representative yesterday by Mr Robert Roylc, head of an important London book firm, who is on a visit to New Zealand. He said it was no unusual thing for his firm to execute a monthly order for a single Japanese bookselling firm running into from £6OOO to £BOOO. The order contained technical and scientific books, and not one novel. English was a compulsory language i the Japanese schools, and they were keen on learning, hence the demand F or instructive English books. Mr Roylc said there was no “slimness” about the methods of the Japanese books* Hing firms with whom they had busint -s relations, though the same could not*be said of other classes of traders from the Laud of the Chrysanthemums.

Particulars re issue of holiday excursion tickets and train arrangements in connection with the Hawera races are advertised in this issue. Tenders are invited for lease of Pavilion on Ounake beach. The New Plymouth Lawn Tennis Club will hold a tournament dance at the East End pavilion to-night. Full particulars are advertised on j?age 1.