LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The annual steeplechase in connection with the New Plymouth Boys’ High School will take place at the golf links next Thursday afternoon. The annual sports will be held at the school grounds on Saturday, November 1.

Suburban shop keepers at Westown received a surprise last night, when, on switching on their verandah lights as is their custom each Friday night, there was no illuminating response. Investigation showed that some sneak thief had removed all the globes.

Considerable laughter was evoked at the meeting of the Primary Schools Committee’s Association at Auckland during the discussion of equal pay for men and women teachers. One delegate naively remarked that when the Creator placed man in the Garden of Eden He made the woman subject to man, and it had been so ever since. But, interjected another delegate, the cost ■of clothing then was equal—far different from what it is now.

A lecture on the production, packing and marketing of honey was delivered at New Plymouth yesterday afternoon by Mr. J. Rentoul, managing director of the New Zealand Co-operative Honey Producers' Association. Mr. Rentoul dealt in a very interesting manner with the methods employed by his association in placing a uniform high grade article before the consumers, and in creating markets not only in New Zealand but in England, America, Denmark aijd Seandanavia.

The matter of unemployment among girls in the clothing trade was brought to the attention of the Board of Directors of the Auckland Y.W.C.A. at its last meeting. One cause of the present depression was stated to be the preference given to imported goods, and as a result of the discussion a resolution was passed, that in view of the present condition of unemployment among girls in the trade, women’s societies be urged to give publicity to the matter, and to support local industry, urging their members to give preference, wherever possible, to locally-made clothing.

A remit to be considered at the conference of justices of the peace societies, to be held in Wellington on September 30, is that submitted by the Blenheim subsociety relating to juries. At present jurors are selected from male residents over 21 years of age resident within a radius of 10 miles from the courthouse where the trial is to take place. The Blenheim remit argues that now the means oi transit have been improved so greatly that the limit might be extended to 20 miles. This would make for a wider selection, and would obviate the necessity of calling upon the same people to serve as often as at present.

A party of motorists from Palmerston North who visited Mangahao the other day had a narrow escape from being hurled to death over a cliff. While attempting to negotiate the ‘‘hairpin”bend, which has been the scene of several accidents, the brakes of the car failed to act, with the result that the vehicle swung outwards to the edge of the cliff. Some time ago a fence was erected at this spot, but it has since broken away and all that remains la one post, and it was this which saved the party. The two front wheels of the ear went over the edge and one of them struck the post which, although almost uprooted, fortunately cheeked the progress o! the macKne.

The only remaining large colony of wekas in the South Island is said to bo at Open Bay Island, off the Westland Coast, near Okura. On the mainland these birds are still to be found, but their numbers are fast diminishing owing in great measure, it is believed, to the attacks of large grftund vermin. The weka itself is the sworn enemy of the rat, and where there are many wekas the rats are few. Thus the weka contributes much to the protection of smaller birds. But the weka itself is unable to stand up to the larger vermin. On Open Bay Island the birds originally placed there by seamen of a coastal steamer, have thriven wonderfully; so much so that there is now insufficient food for them. The Native Birds Protection Society is endeavouring to arrange that the birds shall be fed so that the colony may be preserved. A grand variety entertainment and dance will be held in the Bell Block Hall on Thursday evening, at 8 n.m. ■ Songs, dances, monologues and character sketches, etc. So be sure and not miss it. Fun for young and old. For particulars see advertisement. On account of Dr. Biown’s absence from New Plymouth there will be no first aid lecture until Thursday, October 9. For jewellery and optica! goods of every description you will find it to your advantage to buy from 0. W. Macdonald and Co., the expert Watchmakers and Jewellers and Opticians, opposite Purser’s, New Plymouth. Nothing is attracting more attention in New Plymouth just now than Besley’s display of specially imported Parisian fashions in laides’ wear. Keep October 11 free and come to Westown Hall and buy your meats and vegetables for Sunday dinner; also delicious home-made cakes for tea-