LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The constant rains appear to be causing great inconvenience on the roads between Tongaporutu and Awakino, and it is stated that it is almost impossible to get pack horses through in some places, there being no mail from the latter place for the past two days, writes our Urenui correspondent. The sitting of Parliament yesterday was brief. The House assembled at 2.30 p.m., and after formal business and motions of condolence with the relatives of ex-members who had died, the proceedings concluded at 4.12 p.m., when the House rose till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. For a long time past applications for new telephones in New Plymouth have had to be held over. Now the Department has received supplies of material for the outside work, and this is to be proceeded with at once. Other material for the exchange is expected shortly, and when it arrives the connections will be made. This will be regarded as good news by those who have for a long time past been waiting for telephones. A warning to young men to pay more attention to study and less to pleasure was issued by the Chief Justice (Sir Robt. Stout) at the Supreme Sourt at Wellington. “The way in which .young people are going about wasting their means in the pursuit of pleasure is perfectly shocking,” said His Honor. “They are not studying, they are not reading, and they are not looking at any book worth looking at. They are wasting their time.” Members of the Council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce inspected the Technical School at work yesterday afternoon, and were much impressed with the practical nature and variety of the work being undertaken. In the machinery room several fine pieces of work were exhibited as being completely done by the scholars, including a gas engine, and another engine, designed by an ex-instructor, is now being constructed for commercial purposes by one of the Dominion’s large engineering establishments.

In an action in Christchurch, in which one Lazarous Balkind, moneylender sued a tramway employee for recovery of a debt, it was stated in argument that a. registered accountant had calculated that defendant borrowed from Ealkind in three advances .£72, repaid £6l by instalments, and at the end of nineteen months still owed £72 15s 4d. The interest for the first twelve months on a straight advance was 56 per cent, per annum. For the second six months on the same basis it was 54 per cent. According to the accountant the investment returned Balkind 156 per cent, per annum over the whole term.

In a certain township not very far from Napier, lived an’agent for “Tatts,” whose many customers fondly honed some day, to land the winner. As none of them received receipts from Australia for their 6/4 they surmised the postal authorities had confiscated the money under the gaming laws of the country (says an exchange). But the. agent suddenly disappeared, and their suspicions rested upon him as having appropriated their funds. However, they are in the unfortunate position of being unable to take legal steps to claim the money, as they are liable themselves under the Gaming Act. Verily the way of transgressors against New Zealand laws is hard.

The usual weekly practice of St. Joseph’s "Church choir was held at the Morant School of Music on .Wednesday evening last. After the, practice, the choir were entertained to supper by the choirmaster (Mr. P. Clarke). The remainder of the evening was spent in music, songs and dancing. Ina Wills and Frank Chandler very generously placed their dancing studio at the disposal of Mr. Clarke’s guests. In proposing Mr. Clarke’s health, Mr. E. Whittle spoke of the great improvement Mr. Clarke had made in the choir, and the general wish was expressed that he (Mr. Clarke) might long retain the position. A very enjoyable evening was brought to a close at midnight by the singing at “Auld Lang Syne” and “God Save tho King.” Referring to the value of a knowledge of the Babcock tester and its application in the ascertaining of the productiveness of the units of a herd, the chairman of the New Plymouth Technical College, during the visit of the Chamber of Commerce representatives yesterday, told of two scholars, who had received training in the use of the tester, who had been of such help to their lathers, who were dairy farmers, as to make them the most successful in their own districts. They had shown their parents by the use of the test what animals were worth keeping and what (should be discarded. The instructor pointed to a lad in the room who tested his father’s herd. “I suppose his father has had some surprises?” quieted one of the visitors. The boy replied in the negative. “But I should explain,” interpolated the instructor, “that his father has always recognised the value of the test, and that is one reason why he has pi oved so successful.”

At Korito on Monday next Newton King, Ltd. are conducting two clearing sales, particulars of which are advertised in auction columns. Both herds have been farmed on high country, so the sales should be of particular interest to persons who are desirous of purchasing cows to farm on warmer and heavier pastures.

The Farmers’ Co-op. will hold a sale on account of Mr. H. Thrush on his farm at Lowgarth on Monday, 18th inst. Full particulars will be found in our auction advertisements.

In this issue L. A. Nolan and Co. advertise for sale by auction a particularly well situated h’ouse in Hobson Street. Anyone requiring a comfortable home on very good terms should make further enquiries, and arrange for an inspection. Settlers on the Frankley, Carrington and Upper Mangorei Roads are reminded of the Anglican service to be held on Sunday afternoon at 2.45, in the new hall on the Carrington Road. Mr. W. T. Guild, who is leaving Pungarehu, has instructed Messrs. L. A. Nolan and Co. to offer the whole of his furniture and effects by auction on Wednesday at the residence, Pungarehu. The catalogue includes an English piano, an English car, and some specially well-bred poultry.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to draw clients’ attention to their Stratford sale, which they are holding in their Stratford yards on Tuesday, 19th June, at 1 pm. Full particulars of entries will be found on page 8 of this issue.