LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

As th* result of a collision yesterday between a motor car and a lorry at the intersection of Courtenay and Eliot Streets, the bonnet of the ear was considerably smashed, but no one was hurt. The New Zealand mails, which were despatched by the Royal Mail steamer Tahiti on her last northern voyage, reached London in the fast time of 28 days. The steamer sailed from Wellington for San Francisco on August 19 and the mails reached London on Tuesday. Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) gave notice in the House yesterday of his intention to ask the Minister for Railways if he will give instructions to have electric light installed at the Lepperton railway junction and yards. Mr. Smith said the present lighting of this important junction is very unsatisfactory and should be improved in view of the fact that cheap current is now available in this locality.—Parliamentary Reporter. The annual gathering of the Municipal Conference this year is to be held at Auckland, opening on October 23. It is not usual to hold the conference so late in the year, but the date selected has been arranged to suit the convenience of local body representatives from the South Island. It is anticipated that the conference will be fully representative, as there are many important questions now receiving the attention of the administrative bodies of the Dominion. The total births registered for the urban areas of New Zealand during August amounted to 1017 as against 1091 in July, a decrease of 74. The deaths in August were 549, a decrease of 14, as compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths males contributed 288 and females 261. Seventy-one of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 12.93 per cent, of the whole number. Fifty-five of these were under one year of age. There were eight deaths of persons over 90 years of age. Charged with unlawfully taking opossums at Oakura and with being illegally in possession of twelve opossum skins, Thomas Stanley Humphrey appeared on remand before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court nt New Plymouth yesterday, and pleaded guilty to both charges. Accused was fined £2 on the first - charge and £5 on the second, costs being 7s in each case. The accused was also .charged with securing a sum of £6 15s from W. R. Ormandy at Oakleigh, on November 18, 1923, on terms requiring him to account for the same to Dargie and Co., of Auckland, and failing to do so. On this charge he was remanded to appear at Auckland on Monday next.

Work on Baines’ Terrace will be continued this afternoon by the New Plymouth Beautifying Society, commencing at one o’clock. The committee would be glad if some of the young men of the town would come along and help.