LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A carriage reserved for women and children will be attached to the New Ply-mouth-Wellington mail train in future, the innovation commencing this morning. The car will be placed immediately in front of the guard’s van. An event unique in the annals of Masonic history is claimed by Rangitikei Lodge, Bulls. Its meeting on Monday night last week was conducted by Te Awahou Lodge, Foxton, under W.M. Joe Marumaru. This is the first occasion on which a Maori Mason has raised a brother Maori Mason. The Minister for Finance (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) has informed the New Zealand Farmers’ Union that the Government has, in addition to the funds already raised for the Advances Department, made provision for the advancing of more money to farmers on rural lands. The additional funds now being supplied, the Prime Minister states, will enable the Advances Department, to give prompt replies to applicants for advances wherever possible. The 'hull of the Commonwealth and Dominion Line steamer Port Eliot, which was wrecked near the East Cape on January 12 last, is beginning to break up. When the Government steamer Tutanekai was at the East Cape recently an inspection of the wreck was made by Captain Bollons, who found that the heavy northerly seas had smashed a large hole in the stern under the counter, and that the after peak tank bulkhead had carried away. As the hole in the stern extends the heavy seas will have full play inside the shell of the wreck, and it is thought the final collapse of the hull is now only a matter of time.

Defence training methods were continued in the House on Friday night. Mr. A. L. Monteith, M.P., said that on one occasion he had stood and watched the boys drilling at the Garrison Hall, and for 20 minutes the officer-in-charge kept the boys trying to make them “bring their eyes round with a click.” The thing was a manifest impossibility, and yet he kept them at it for 20 minutes. He asked the Minister to give instructions that a little grain of commonsense should be exercised in the drilling of boys, and that they should not be required to do “such contortionist feats as bringing their eyes round with a click.” That was the sort of thing that parents in this country—he for one—had to pay 8d a night in tram fares op, drill nights for their boys to go and learn. Replying to a question in the House ps to the wheat position, the Prime Minister said:—“We have bought sufficient wheat to last till next harvest commences; and we were fortunate to buy it at a reason'r able price before the recent serious in\ crease took place.” Mr. J. Bitchener (Waitaki): You could sell at a good profit now? Mr. Massey: Yes, the increase"tsa fortunate one for the wheat-producer, but not for the consumer. The season had continued dry, he added, and the prospect for the next harvest was consequently not too good. But it was not too late yet; and he hoped that we would have sufficient rain shortly to send the harvest forward.

At the Wanganui Education Board meeting a number of letters were received in regard to the two teachers who were dismissed two months ago for attending a hockey tournament at Auckland without first having the permission of the board. The chairman, Mr. W. Collins, said that he did not propose to read these letters. The lady teachers referred to had been out of employment for two months, and personally he considered that they had been sufficiently punished and the desired effect had been obtained, and it had been a lesson to other teachers. He then moved that the teachers be reinstated and the motion was carried unanimously. An unusual appreciation of the good ; roads in the Stratford County came before ' the notice of the chairman of the County Council (Mr. E. Walter) recently. A ' party of touring motorists from the Te i Aroha district did not recognise the Waii puke toll gate and passed through without -topping. The toll gate keeper took their number and the tourists subsequently rei ceived a demand foi toll. In reply, the driver of the party expressed his regret, and forwarded double the amount saying he paid up with the greatest willingness as he had greatly enjoyed traversing the fine tarred roads. He referred in glowing terms to the highways of Taranaki and concluded with an invitation to members of th e Stratford County Council to visit his district when it would afford him pleasure to drive them over the alleged roads there free of cost.

The careful measures necessary to prevent the escape of injurious waves from the X-ray plant were explained by the uh airman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. W. Wallace, in describing the equipment of the new building on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone. He mentioned that there were three rooms for the application of X-rays, and it had been found necessary to completely encase these rooms with lead. It had at first been thought that the application of a special plaster would be sufficient to prevent the escape of the rays, but experiments had .shown that the rays not only penetrated 3jin. of this plaster, but also found their way through the brick walls. It had therefore been decided, in order to safeguard the staff and others in adjoining parts of the building, to line the walls, floors and ceilings of these special rooms with heavy lead at an extra cost of £l2OO.

To grow old in China must be a very much more pleasurable experience than it is in the Western world. Miss Martha Root, a visitor from America, informed members of the Auckland Lyceum Club that age was held in highest honour in the Celestial kingdom. “People do not have to- disguise their age,” she said. “Everyone, men and women alike, tell their ages with pride, and every year that is added brings them more respect and honour. A man who does‘not take good care of his aged mother or father is hunted down and put in prison. The old people are cherished and held in highest esteem in all classes of the community. That is one of the things that 5000 years of national life and culture have done for China.”

The dog as a custodian of motor-cars, while owners are absent, is rapidly proving his utility, and many cars are guarded by the family terrier when left, otherwise untenanted. In Napier the other day, however, a lady who had left her car, with the engine running idle, was surprised to hear a sudden roar as the throttle opened and the engine speeded up. She returned hastily to the car and found her spaniel looking very uneasy on the back seat. The dog had accidently opened the throttle to its fullest extent by resting its paws upon the steering wheel. Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Third and Fourth Group) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable to-day (Monday), Sept. 22, ar the Secretary’s Office, Currie Street, from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m Advt.

The New Plymouth Savings Bank will pay you 4A per cent, interest on your savings up to £2OO. Deposits made on the 7th of the month will earn interest for that month.—Advt.