LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The election of mayors and councillors throughout New Zealand, is to take place on Thursday, April 2(1, owing tc the impossibility of holding the elections on the previous day, Anzac Day. Notification to this effect was received by the New Plymouth Borough Council last night from the Department of Internal Affairs.

The Inglewood County Council has received legal advice that when the 10 per eent. penalty on 1 unpaid rates la imposed by the council, it becomes .part of the rate and, consequently, if a ratepayer fails to pay the 10 pev cent, penalty, it ■ must ibe considered tlfat part of his rates, are unpaid. This means that a defaulting ratepayer will not be eligible to vote it any poll taken by’ the county council.

Agreement: to undertake the .inspection of fire-plugs in the borough, of New Plymouth was notified in a letter from the Fire Board, received at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, the conditions to be as laid down by the council after consultation with the Fire Board.

The practice of the New Plymouth gas company in boring under tarred roads instead of destroying the surface and making repairs with similar materials to those used by the Borough Council, was mentioned at a recent council meeting. The gas company have replied stating that the manager had been directed to comply with the council's requirements as to the opening of roads.

“A number of our employees, who are members of unions, have asked us to enter into separate agreements with them,” said the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) at the meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Cohncil last night. “While the law is at it is,” he added, “I do not think it desirable that wo shosld do so. These men, the drivers and laborers, are members of one body and we, as employers, are members of another, and we should not act in the manner suggested.” Councillors agreed with the Mayor, and it was decided to inform the workers concerned accordingly-

For the quarter ending-December 31 six cases of infectious diseases were notified within the Inglewood county, being 15.70 per cent, of the total cases in the Taranaki hospital district. Of these eases five were diptheria and one pneumonic influenza, four being removed to hospital for treatment. The cases notified wore 8.25 per cent, of the total cases in the hospital district and on a population basis were at the rate of 4.05 per 1000 of population. During 1022 there had been an increase in the number of notifications by eight over the previous year.

At the meeting of the Inglewood county yesterday, a letter was received from a settler in the Purahgi district stating ‘‘that they would not pay one penny rates to the county, because rates is too hard and road that bad that man can’t ride horse with safety.

... If you want rates to be paid you have to re-inform that road to 12ft. wide, or shut your shop up and give the ratepayers a spell. What do we want to pay rates for?” Cr. Grieve said that the settlers would do the work referred to if the grader was sent out and would keep the road in order if allowed one day per month. The matter was accordingly left in Cr. Grieve’s hands to arrange for urgent repairs to the road.

A large number of cows in the Katikati district have been under test for some months. The official tester states that a cow, a cross between a Shorthorn and ' Friesian, in one herd, which has been under test for four months, has given approximately 300 lb of but-ter-fat during x that period. For the month of December this cow averaged 65 lb of milk a day, or 2015 lb for the month, with a test pf 4.7. This works out at 94.71 b of butter-fat for the month.. The cow did not receive any special attention, being one of the cows in a large herd.

An erstwhile resident of Palmerston North, writing from London, says: “There is no (loubt everybody buys New Zealand meat, and that hotels and restaurants stock it, but they charge English meat prices. Many shops sell ‘imported only.’ I saw in Smithfield market to-day (December fltli), hanging up, many hundreds of sides of beef with the marks on and the looks of our meat. It seems to me.it is‘the same with butter. They say ‘colonial butter’ — which covers all decent butter they sell —Danish best, etc., as well as ours. One never sees ‘New Zealand’ butter as such, and that is a. shame. We always have ‘best Colonial’ at home, and I know it is New Zealand butter.”

The Inspector of Health (Mr. F. Sirin’ dells) advised the Taranaki County Council yesterday that, Tor the quarter ended December 31 last, five cases of infectious diseases were notified in the county, the number being 10.52 per cent, of the total cases in the hospital district during the period. Of the eases reported, one was scarlet fever and three diphtheria, all being removed to the hospital for treatment. The number of cases, taken on a population basis, was at the rate of 0.74 per 1000 of population. “It is pleasing to lie able to record,”, the letter added, “that, for the year just past, there was a reduction of notifiable infectious diseases of 24 per cent, over 1921, the total number of notifications being 19, a reduction of (I over 1921. The cases notifl <1 were 10.06 per cent, of the total in the hospital district, and at the rate of 3.55 per 1000 of population, which was the lowest rate for tire' whole district, and exceedingly satisfactory for the county.’

Entries for Uruti sheep fair and cattle sale are advertised in our auction columns. Mr. Bert Bolton was in New Plymouth yesterday arranging for a season of “The Famous Diggers.”

There will lie a dance at Fitzroy Hall to-morrow (Wednesday) night. Particulars are advertised on page 1.

A Wanganui lady who was in Palmerston North the other day states tha* at a friend’s house the drain became blocked, and investigation showed that a piece of Bulgarian Bug had some time or other got into the pipe, and had flourished and grown on the refuse from the

•'ls this thing so prevalent as it used to be?” asked Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court, Christchurch, when a case of alleged bicycle stealing was being taken. Senior-Detective T. (libison replied that it was not ui’> bad as it used to be. “I think there is a flight doerease,” he said. “There used to be a good many a while ago,” said the magistrate. “There were thirty-one reported missing last December,” said Detective Gibson. “That is a considerable decrease,” said the magistrate. “I was told that in one year 1,70’0 bicycles were reported missing. It used to be 80 a month and now it is down to about 30.”

When the last “gusher” was tapped at Helensvillc Hot Springs about twelve months ago, and it was pouring out 173,000 gallons a day, it seemed likely that the springs previously in use at the public baths and Hinemoa House would be affected. It was therefore decided to test them by turning the whole of the gushers on at the same time. It is stated that the supply from the older springs was in no way affected, and 'it was concluded that the source of supply must be unlimited. A ..remarkable increase in the motor traffic about Rotorua this season is reported by a recent traveller (states the Auckland Star). He stated that at* the little eating house at Rotoma a staff of not less than ton is employed, it being necessary to provide luncheon to 60 or 70 motor travellers every day, besides refreshments at other hours, to considerable numbers. He believes that if the main roads did not have their treacherous “gaps” motoring to Roto rua would develop marvellously.

With a view to gaining first-hand knowledge regarding the proposed scheme to harness the Waimakariri for hydro-electr.city purposes, the Electricity Committee and other members of the Christchurch City Council an Friday, visited Otarama, where Mr H. V. Schrieber, the Washington engineer who was spec - ally engaged by the Council to submit a report and est mate on the suggested scheme, is conducting the operations necessary 'for the preparation of the report. In responding to the Mayoral toast Dr. Thacker stated that Mr Schrieber had said that he thought “ju’ce” could be supplied to the city by the scheme well •within two years, and Christchurch could easily find use for all the “juice” that could be supplied, particularly if the Government showed foresight and electrified the railways, and if the great industry, that must come to New Zealand, of wood pulp, wore developed. Dr Thacker added that the city had been offered the previous day, a sum from England of £300,000 at 5A per cent., for the development of hydroelectricity.

Our readers are reminded that the Melbourne’s Groat Sale ends Saturday next. Owing to the upward tendency of all lines of drapery and clothing it is obvious that goods now being offered at reduced sale prices must be extraordinarily good buying. In fact many wir,o choppers are ‘buying largely anticipating their future needs.

Parents fitting their boys out for the now school term will be able to take advantage of special discounts during the few remaining days of the “H.B.’' Summer Sale. Ten per cent, discount is being allowed on all school outfits dur ing this week only. The sale concludes on Saturday next:—New Zealand Clothing Factory, New Plymouth. On Tuesday next L. A. Nolan and Co. will submit to auction at Workers’ Social Hall superior furniture and effects on account of Mr. E. Dingle, who is leaving for -England. '