LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An Australian youth named William Shannon was convicted and discharged ab the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday. on a charge regarding his failure to fulfil his military obligations. The spirit that animates the back-block settler was displayed yesterday in connection with the laying of the foundation stone of the new Anglican church at Uruti. One lady who attended the function had walked three miles in the heavy rain and through the mud, wheeling a baby in a perambulator. It appears there is some mistake about th e announcement made in England, and cabled out, that the New Zealand Government had ordered £400,000 worth of steel rails at Barrow. No such order, which represents ten times the amount of the latest order last year, hag been placed by New Zealand and if correct the announcement must refer to someone else. As the Hon. J. G. Coates says, somebody is giving the Dominion a nice free advertisement. Tlie butter and cheese factories that are joined up with the South Island Dairy Association commenced making tlid's season in Sept'me'ber, as usual, but a week or two later than is customary on account of the dry winter and early spring (states the Dunedin Star). Up to now the deliveries have not been quite so large -as in the corresponding period of last year, but the association has been able to fill all the -space allotments for shipping, and butter and cheese are now coming in abundantly, with every promise of a really good season. "With Wool at from Is 6d to 2s per lb fat lambs at I'l d per lb, and 601 b shorn wethers at 36s 6d each, it is hard to understand why good two-sheep-ito-the-acre country should still be offering for sale at, and even under, £lO per acre,” said an old farmer at the Marton ©ale. "I have never, seen sheep country selling so cheap in proportion to the price of wool, sheep and lambs as it is now; but I do not suppose it will last long if these prices continue,” he added. Many country settlers and others think he is about right, and look for a sharp rise in the near future.—Palmerston Standard.

A very important and valuable concession to importers of potatoes, onions, fruit, plants, etc., through the port of New Plymouth has been made by th e Department of Agriculture in response to representations by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. The department had previously granted New Plymouth the same facilities which obtained at main ports with regard to the importation and inspection of the goods mentioned, when the vessel bringing them made Nev/ Plymouth the first port of call. Now, in response to further representation, it. has extended the facilities to include goods shipped on through bills of lading, provided ample notice is given by the importer to enable the department to arrange for an inspector to be present, and provided also that in the notice the importer or importers concerned undertake to pay on demand the travelling expenses incurred by the department’s officer in attending to the work.

An interesting point arose at the Palmerston North Magiistrate’s Court during the hearing of an "after hours” case, when Mr. Louis Cohen (Wanganui), counsel for the defendants, asked t'he sergeant of police, giving evidence, why th; police had detained the defendants on a locked bar while they gathered from them an explanation for their presence there. Mr. Cohen contended that under the statute a policeman had nc right to ask .them for an explanation but only for their names and addresses. Mr. Stout, S.M., remarked that a conI stable could "ask” for an explanation, if not ‘demand” it. "Yes, and the people who give that explanation are fools,” said Mr. Cohen. In differing with the magistrate on a further point, Mi. Cohen held that it was more to a man’s advantage to refuse—and that rightfully— to gave an explanation than to acquiesce in such a request. “Some tentative proposals for the amalgamation of all freezing companies were outlined a short time ago/’ said Mt. J. W. Marshall, acting-chairman of the Wellington Meat Export Company, Ltd., at the annual meeting of the company. "The more such a scheme is considered the -more complex and difficult it to reconcile diverse and conflicting interests under one control; even if the finance could be arranged. That there are more Jreez-ing works in New Zealand than are needed for the output of meat is undoubted, but how to arbitrarily close down works without injustice to shareholders or mortgagees is a difficult question. If acquired by an existing company, the bogey of "ineat trust” is flamed in the Press. With our Jong coast line and various -ports of call, New Zealand will probably be forced to maintain more works than are theoretically necessary to deal with the -stock offering. Every port insists upon having its works. The nearer to the port the better it is placed. The inland works are heavily handicapped by ra.ila.ge for all classes of their output, as well as having to bear extra costs for the railage to the works of coals and all supplies.”

Buyers of household goods should take full advantage of the savings which can be effected at the Melbourne’s great rebuilding sale. Everything has been drastically reduced, and such lines as calicoes, sheetings, linens, towellings, tickings, blankets, rugs, flannels, flannelettes and shirtings are particularly good buying.

An address to members of the Taranaki .branch of the Federated Hon. Justices of the Peace will be given in the County Council Chambers to-night by Mr. Mowlem, S.M. See advertisement on page 11

Particular attention is” drawn to Messrs. Webster Bros. advertisement erf auction sales to be held to-morrow, Friday. Choice strawberries at 9 a.m. Fresh vegetables at 10 a.m. Mart sundries and several varieties early fruit at 1 p.m. Assorted goods on account of Shipping and Insurance Company at 1.30 p.m. Quantity of plate and window glass at 11.30 a.m. Webster Bros, notify a change in order of Friday sales during currency of fresh fruit Reason. 1 Particulars in this issue. See auction columns for entries for Haymarket sale to-morrow. Newton King, Ltd., wish to draw attention to their replace property guide advertisement in this issue.

Arrangements for inoculation of calves against bilack'lCg are advertised in this issue by the Department of Agriculture.’

Hayward’s Military” Pickles convert a humble meal into a luncheon fit for a king. All grocers sell them. Be sure they’re "Military ’’