LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A letter has been received by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) from Captain Curtis, private secretary to the Governor-General, expressing the thanks of Viscount Jellicoe for the care and attention with which the programme of arrangements in connection with their Excellencies’ farewell visit to New Plymouth was made and carried our. making the visit a thoroughly enjoyable one to the whole party. Charles Gudgeon, aged 17, met with a painful accident at Inglewood yesterday, necessitating his removal to the New Plymouth hospital. Gudgeon, who is a blacksmith, was operating a drill, when his hand slipped and was caught in the drill. The fourth finger of the left hand was badly torn, necessitating amputation. The hospital reported last night that he was comfortable.

The Rev. Jasper Calder, of the Auckland City Mission, has been bequeathed a farm property of 1300 acres in Whangarei district, stocked with about 600 sheep, as well as cattle, which he proposes utilising in connection with the Mission, for the purpose of providing work for those who are seeking a fresh start in life. He has also a small farm property near Auckland, which will be used as a sort of halfway house in the same benevolent mission. “The past month,” said the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board “shows trade considerably in excess of that of the same month last year. There has been an increase all round. The total jf all the cargo handled is 139,648 tons this year, and for the same month last year it was 105,077 tons, an increase of 34,000 tons. With the exception of Government coal, which pays no charges, and in which we can afford a falling off, there is an increase all round. It is most satisfactory.”

It is estimated that over £l2 was obtained at the gift afternoon held at Bell Block on Wednesday in connection with St. Luke’s Church. In the evening, deI spite the rain, over £8 was taken at the social and dance, which proved to be a great success. During the evening musical items were given by Mrs. Benton, Miss H. Street, Mr. E. Lealand, Mr. F. Clealand and Mr. Stamp. The accompaniments were played by Misses Benton, Clealand, and Bishop. That the improvement of roads-in Taranaki by substituting bitumen surfaces for the former macadam ones has not benefited the North Egmont hostelry was an opinion expressed at the meeting of guarantors yesterday. The reason advanced was that whereas previously once visitors reached the hostel they stayed there for a considerable time, wet or fine, now-a-days they got into motor cars and drove somewhere else as soon as it began to rain, even if they had been at the hostel only a day. If a salesman were to visit the Hauraki Plains for the purpose of selling barometers he would probably do very little business, for (says the Auckland Star) a great many farmers have artesian bores, and these have in many cases been found to be very reliable weather forecasters. It is the variation in the weight of the atmosphere that actuates a barometer, and apparently this also affects artesian bores, for it has been found that the flow of water is greatest when rain is approaching, and vice versa. A serious accident befel Mr. W. Honeyfield, aged 54. a farmer at Tataraimaka, yesterday, while he was loading milk into a dray. Owing to the horse moving forward, Mr. Honeyfield was thrown backwards out of the vehicle on to the concrete floor, sustaining a fracture of the base of the skull, a wound on the left side of the head and injuries to his shoulder. The sufferer was removed to the New Plymouth hospital, and last night his condition was reported to be as well as could be expected.

A most enjoyable social afternoon was held at “The Manse,” the residence of Mrs. O. Blundell, on Wednesday afternoon. It was organised by members of the ladies’ guild to welcome newcomers to the church. About forty ladies attended and they were warmly welcomed. The afternoon was spent with competitions and music. The following ladies contributed items. Mesdames Hutton, Brodie and Thomson. Mrs. C. H. Morgan played the accompaniments as well as two beautiful selections on the piano. A dainty afternoon tea was served.

The prospects for a good fruit yield in the Hawke’s Bay district are stated to be particularly favourable, the blossom showing great promise. The frosts were sufficiently strong enough to keep the budding back, and unless there are many severe late frosts is every' likelihood of a very prolific season. A well-known grower, in discussing the outlook, stated that the only trees he knew of which were not doing well were those which were so badly affected by the disastrous hail storm last year, but, as he stated, another such storm would probably not be experienced in 30 years or more.

To reduce as far as possible the risk of damage by water to goods in burning buildings the New Plymouth Fire Board last night authorised the brigade superintendent (Mr. A. Boon) to procure six canvas salvage sheets, each measuring nine feet by nine feet.. Salvage sheets are fitted with eyelets around the edges and through these are threaded cords to draw the sheets over the goods to be -protected. The use of the sheets is mainly confined to floors below the seat of a fire, on which the stocks are often more seriously damaged by water than are the goods actually within reach of the flames. As a further means of lessening the damage caused by water, a supply of sawdust is to be kept by the brigade for spreading on the lower floors of burning buildings. The addition of these aids to fire fighting will still further bring the New Plymouth brigade into line with modern methods. T. I. Lamason inserts particulars of his mart sale for Saturday in this issue. Mr. A. Ware advertises his auction sale to-morrow (Saturday), at his mart, High Street, El th am. The Farmers’ Co-op. wish to remind dairymen of the sale next Tuesday, on account of Mr. Gordon Wills, Denbigh Road, Hawera. The disposal of this herd offers a good opportunity to anyone requiring real good caws. The breeding sows to be offered are tvell bred and good sorts. We recommend dairymen to attend this sale. Full particulars appear in another column of this paper. Newton King, Ltd., wish to draw attention to their Haymarket sale advertisement in this issue. Full entry of pigs, second hand timber, etc. The Melbourne, Ltd. are showing several more new designs in their famous genuine pure Fuji silk underwear. These are positively the nicest goods in the Dominion. The craze for Fuji silk underwear and nightdresses is greater than ever, consequently the Melbourne’s factory is working at full capacity on these goods. All embroidery is hand-worked. Prices exceptionally reasonable. Watch window display. Abram’s “Quick Photo Service” Pharmacy, New Plymouth. The fundamental success of your print is to send your film to us to develop. Country clients can have their negatives and prints returned by post (free) the next day.