LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sporting features will be found on the following pages in to-day’s issue: All Blacks’ defeat of United Services on page 8; weights for Taranaki and •Stratford races on page 5; inter-pro-vincial tennis between Wellington and Taranaki on page 4; Saturday's cricket matches cn page 4.

“We would need 2000 or 3000 coolies on the farms at Omona to deal with the weeds,’’ declared Cr. O. McWilliams at Saturday's meeting o f the El'tham County -Council, when discussing the subject of noxious weeds.

Stoats appear to be fairly plentiful in New Plymouth at .present. One was killed during a sale of timber in Egmont Street-di Friday and shortly afterwards one was seen on th.? Carrington Road close to Vivian Street.

The Main North Road between New Plymouth and Te Awahuitn is in splendid order at present, reports a New Plymouth motorist who made the journey on Friday and returned yesterday. The party left Te Awamutu at 5.45 yesterday morning and reached New Plymouth at 12.45 p.m.

A municipal band recital was -given at Kawaroa Pirk yesterday afternoon by the New. Plymouth Citizens’ Band. The pleasant weather drew a large number of visitors to the park, and a collection taken u,p in aid of the park funds realised the satisfactory sum of £lO 10s.

The swamping of a launch a few chains from the shore at Ngamotu beach yesterday afternoon resulted in the members of the craft being provided with an unpremeditated swim. Fortunately other launches were anchored in the vicinity, and to one of these the excursionists swam, there to await the arrival of a relief boat from the beach.

A collision between two motor-cars occurred at the intersection of Watson Street and Waiwaka Terrae?, New Plymouth, yesterday morning. One of the cars was damaged but no one was injured. One car was driven by Mr. F. H. Washburne, and the other; by Mr. Bernard Martin. As a result of the collision the front wheel of Mr Wash'burne’s car was smashed completely an.l -he mudguard was crumpled. “There seems to be a false idea current amongst the public that a magistrate may tell the Press not to report cases. That is net so at all. The Legislature provides that where a person is liable for imprisonment or conviction a magistrate may prohibit publication of that person’s name,” said Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court (reports the Christchurch Press). The Mercantile Gazette lecords the registration of the following new company c 1 —Pickering and Co., Ltd. Registered as a private company, November 24, 1924. Office: Devon Road, Fitzroy, New Plymouth. Capital: £2OOO into 2000 shares of £1 each. ‘Subscribers: New Plymouth: Adam Pickering 1000; Tikorangi: Augustus' 8. Hicks 1000. Objects: To carry oh business as soap manufacturers.

The freehold of the land and buildings situated on the corner of Page Street and Broadway, Stratford, and comprising the Commercial Hotel, was sold by auction by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., on Saturday. The sale was held by order of the second mortgagee, and subject to a first mortgage of £2650. The purchaser was a New Plymouth solicitor on behalf of a client, and the price was £6150.

There are 148 war widows and 215 children whose fathers were killed at the war, residing in Christchurch. In addition to these, there are 200 returned soldiers with dependents in the various hospitals and sanatoria in and around Christchurch. The Returned -SoldieMr Association has *' decided to hold a Christmas party for these children and their parents. “Although we have, in my opinion, as fine a city as any south of the line, yet our .schools and playgrounds are an utter disgrace by comparison with other public buildings,” sai.l the Rev. A. Thornhill at the meeting of the Primary Schools’ Committees’ Association at Auckland. “We have our splendid domains and other breathing spaces, but the schools and grounds attached are certainly not worthy of a community like Auckland.”

The irreverence of some schoolboys was referred to by the chairman of the Wanganui Education Board at a recent meeting. He pointed out (says, the Herald) that he had noticed when funerals passed along the street that some of the "boys Lad neglected to pay their respect by standing and removing their hats. Hhe considered that the : matter should be brought up in tile schools. “That spirit is typical of the age,” remarked another member. It; 1 was resolved to refer the matter to the Teachers’ Association. ' . i

In to-day’s issue the Melbourne Ltd. advertise special lines and prices for Christmas. The advertisement is.' comprehensive and covers most of the’lines required by holiday shoppers. Those in need of boys’ and men's suits and other goods suitable for presents should not fail to carefully peruse the advertisement.

The attention, of farmers is drawn to the New Zealand Racon Company’s advertisement re alteration of pig dates. No pigs will be received till after the Christmas holidays.