LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The retail price of butter has been reduced by Id per lb. Pats are now Is lOd and block Is 9d.

It is understood that the Waipuku quarry on Mt. Egmont is to be re-opened immediately with a view to obtaining ballast for the Tahora section of the Strat-ford-Main Trunk railway. "Quite a number of overseas visitors have visited the park recently and without exception they have expressed their ad-1 ipiration of its beauty and attractiveness," stated Mr. Tl Horton, curator of Pukekur.t Park, in his report to the park board last night. A lecture on the indiscriniinate use of patent medicines, was given by Dr. G. H. Thomson at New Plymouth last night. The, lecture was the last of a series which have been given by medical men under the auspices of the . Red Cross Society. All the lectures have been very interesting and helpful, and last night’s was no exception. Mr. A. B. Gibson, president of the society, presided over : a good attendance. The lecturer’s remarks were followed with keen interest and at the close a vote of thanks was accorded Dr. Thomson by acclamation. ‘ An official of one of our homes for old people said (states the Auckland Star) that a good deal of fuss was made in regard to young women smoking, as though it were quite a new thing. Some of the old women whom he knew, and were quite hale and hearty at nearly four-score years of age, had tobacco served out regularly to them, and it seemed the greatest consolation they had. One very old lady always had her pipe at the bedside, and when she could not sleep she sat up in bed and lit up and was so soothed that wljeu she lay . down again she dropped off to sleep at once and dreamed of the days of her happy youth. The investigation of suburban railway sections, with a view to possible electrification; is proceeding, Mr. E. P. Grove, chief electrical engineer of the firm of Merz and McLellan, having already spent several weeks on the railways for the purppse of preparing the firm’s report. They have been asked to state the cost of electrifying the four suburban railway systems of the Dominion, and generally to indicate the running conditions and costs . under electrification.

A high tribute to the work of the Tourist Department was paid by Mr. H. L. Russell, Dean of the Wisconsin College of Agriculture, who with Professor Macklin is studying 00-operative ■ enterprises and New Zealand dairying generally. He had been very surprised to find that the Tourist Department mapped out tours and issued tickets, and. said that in America they had no such service. Railway companies gave such assistance to tourists, but only for their own roads. “ I know of no other country in the world which has a State department that performs such excellent service for travellers,” he added. If it was known in America that such assistance was available you would set many more visitors.”

Further consideration has been given by Cabinet to the question of granting Government financial support to the- proposed flight from Australia to New Zealand by tl)ree Dominion airmen; As a result, a telegram to the following effect la as been deceived by the organiser, Mr. H. J. Wilson, of Auckland, front Sir R. Heafcm Rhodes, Minister for Defence: At the last sitting of Cabinet, the Government decided ‘to recognise and approve the transTasman flight- by three New Zealanders, Messrs. G. Bolt (pilot), H. A. Bvo-kett (navigator), and H. J. Wilson (assistantnavigator and observer). ):t was decided to ’grant a subsidy' of £3OO, but there was to be no liability or obligation by the Government tq buy the machine after the flight. The' ‘approval and subsidy are subject to an indemnity signed by ’the crsw to protect the Government in case of accident. Entries for the Stratford show close tomorrow evening and intending exhibitors should make their entry without delav. Members of the association are visiting Ha.wera show and will be pleased to interview owners of stock. . .

Webster Bros, advertise/for private sale t)ie balance of 15 new and second hand rhotor cycles offered by auction on Friday last. The cycles are of various wellknown makes and will be sold at an exceptionally lew figure. This opportunity remains good for this week only.