LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1926, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest addition to the Old Colonists’ room is the cutlass of the late John Watson, chief officer of the Amelia Thompson, given by Mrs. Fred Watson on behalf of the Watson and Webster family.

The favourable consideration of the Government has been recommended by the Railways Committee of the House in the petition of Henry McCabe, of Whangamomona, who sought extra compensation for injuries ’ (received in a railway accident while on duty, wires our Parliamentary reporter.

The tender of Messrs. Jones and Sandford for £2437 has been accepted for the additions to Mr. D. Barry’s buildings in Devon Street for premises for] the newly-formed Ladies’ Club. There were six other tenderers. Still another amendment to the Licensing Bill, if it reaches the committee stage, has been given notice of by Mr. J. McCombs ((Lyttelton). The amendment proposes that the voting on the issues shall be on a system of preference. —'Parliamentary reporter. The following conversation took place in a public hospital not one hundred miles from Blenheim, says the Express.

"The new patient in Ward One is very good-looking,” remarked the nurse who had just eome on duty. “Yes,” asserted the matron, “but dont’ wash his face. He’s had that done by four nurses already this morning.” . Formal application had been made to the authorities for the establishment of a post office at East End, reported Mr. J. McNeill to the meeting of the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Coimnerce last night. A resident had agreed to take charge if the request was granted. A reply had not yet been received from Wellington, however. Mr. B. E. S. Brodie, chief postmaster, said, he had forwarded plans of the locality showing distances, etc. He pointed out that one effect of the establishment of an office at East End might be that the revenue of the main office would be redu'ced and this possibly would mean a postponement of the election of a new chief office.

'■'Something of a wizard in finance,” a judgment debtor was described as by counsel in the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth yesterday. Defendant Was a Native residing at . Normanby, and was being examined as to his financial position., .He was certain that his wages amounted to £1 5s a week, but was equally certain that every week he paid out .£1 Ids for groceries, 10s for meat, JOs for clothes and 5s to his wife. When this apparent anomaly was pointed out to him, he said he was frightened of the Court, as it was the first time he had been in it. Under further pressure from examining counsel, defendant admitted that he received £9 10s a half year from the Public Trustee as rent, and though he was not sure he thought he woud get his next instalment of rent about the middle of October. He promised to pay his debt then, and the magistrate adjourned the case until the end of October to give him an opportunity of doing this.

Mr. S. Vickers, president of the North Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union was welcomed as the country representative on the council ot the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce at its meeting last night. Mr. J. McNeill said he had been impressed by the variety of the business dealt with at a meeting of the union he had attended. He expressed appreciation of the work of Mr. A. S. Hicks, the previous farmers’ representative on the council. 11l reply, Mr. Viekers referred to a remark of Mr. McNeill tjiat in his capacity as a member of the council he wag a link between the town and the country. Mr. Viekers said no link should be necessary, for the two were interdependent and should work as one.

The Beautifying Society will make another attempt to-morrow to continue its work on Baine’s Terrace.

Webster Bros, advertise a sale of 350 Sacks good Table Potatoes due to arrive on Monday next,

Messrs. Sturm, Phillips and Co., Auctioneers, Stratford, will conduct their usual weekly sale at the Central Mart, to-mor-row, commencing at 12.30 p.m. Particulars will be found on page t welve of this issue.

The Jumper Suit will be popular with the ladies this spring, and a very fine range is showing at Besley’s. They are in Silk and Wool and All-wool Stockingette, in the latest shade. The prices range from 29/6 to 72/6, the 29/6 line being very special. There Is a fine display in- their showroom and windows. For Chjklrw’e Heehing CcurfS, Wooda’ Great Peppermint Cura

While people 'of Wanganui were showing great interest in the rise in the flood waters at the Town Bridge last month, says the Chronicle, the men at. the quarry camp nt Kai Whaiki were anxiously looking after the Harbour Board’s gear at the river side. At this point the Wanganui rose the best part of 30 feet and covered the crane housing and fool shed. The crane housing was washed away and the machinery was silted up, as was the tool house. “Wiry are these schemes always started in America'!” asKed n member at the meeting of the council of the Taranaki' Chamber of Commerce last night when a letter was read suggesting the establishment of a chain of modern hotels. Another member said they sliould not condemn anything emanating from America merely because it Was from America. Rotary came from the United States and the value of that movement, even in New Plymouth, was well known. Every proposition aliould be treated on its merits, whatever its origin. -

Argument on a non suit, point. raised by counsel for the defendant (Mr. C. H. Choker) in the. case.Hughßons,’ Ltd., v. Stackhouse, which had been heard at Opunake, occupied, the attention of Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., the whole of yesterday afternoon in the Magistrate’s Coui;t at New Plymouth. The point of the argument was whether the incorporation of the plaintiff company had been proved. After hearing Mr. Croker and counsel, for the plaintiff (Mr. A. A. Bennett) the magistrate reserved his decision.

"Wellington merchants have no chance of competing with New Plymouth firms these days,” remarked a member of the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last evening. This was all due to direct shipments. Wellington could not expect to do business with Taranaki and pay eoastal freights. And Wallington naturally felt sore that about 20,000 to 30,000 tons of goods that used to go via- Wellington was now shipped direct to New Plymouth. The saving in freight, of course, went to the consumers.

A Dunedin ironmaster ot lengthy experience said last week that in all his career he had never known the “black trade” to be so distinguishedly slack as it iu this year. Asked as to the causes (states the Star), he mentioned several important factors, laying emphasis on the statement that public bodies and the Government as well were too easily persuaded to import what they want rather than-have it made here.

A communication was read at lasi night’s meeting of the Taranaki Ch*mher of Commerce from an American firm interested in the erection of hotels submitting proposals for the building of a string of hotels in New Zealand. Their idea was to provide the organisation, and raise the money locally, their commission for which was 5 per cent, on the shares sold. The firm, the head of which was associated with organisations owning the largest number of hotels hi the world, was prepared to send a representative to New Plymouth if the Chamber of Commerce, the Tourist League and the Rotary Club desired them to do so and felt that more hotel accommodation was required in the town and the people were prepared to invest in such an enterprise. It was decided to defer consideration of the proposal meantime.

The multiplication, of local bodies in New Zealand was alluded to by the Hon. J. A. Hanan in the Legislative Council on Thursday (the Post reports). Decentralisation, he said, bad been carried to excess, and to day there were far too many local bodies in the Dominion. To eome extent the sense of responsibility of local government had been lost. There was too great a tendency to look to the Government to do things that should be done by local authorities themselves. It was because of these excessive demands upon the public purse that expenditure in recent years had been going up by leaps and bounds. There was no reason why an enlarged form of local government should not be established— something in the nature of district councils, which would make for greater economy in administration and result in de'eentraliention. A tightening up process was needed to put an end to rash borrowing. Mr. Hanan said hie criticism was directed against not only the amount of public expenditure but also the standard of efficiency. The Local Government Loans Board BiH should indicate. to the people the need for curtailing expenditure. The spirit of the times might be summed up in the words, “On with the dance,” and it was time this wild era of borrowing came io an end.

The disposal of the open piece of borough land opposite the New Plymouth railway station was discussed at last night’s meeting of the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. It was mentioned that the Mayor had intimated that if there were a sufficient body of public opinion in favour of converting it into a park the council would probably reconsider its decision to submit the leases to tender. The president said the land was not in the shopping area, and therefore the revenue derivable from the leases would not be very considerable. He felt sure that 99 out of a 100 ratepayers favoured bearttifying the spot. Mr. W. J. Penn said it would be far better business for the council, if it desired revenue, to postpone cutting it up for building purposes for ten years, when the land would h< more valuable from a leasing point of view. Mr. P. E. Stainton instanced the ease of Mt. Eden, which was beautifying every spare corner in the borough. New Plymouth would always regret the day it parted with the reserve. Mr. A. F. Sandford said the land should either lie beautified dr built upon; in its present state it was a disgrace to. the town and gave visitors a bad first impression. Several other speakers also opposed the leasing of the land, and'it was decided to bring the matter up for consideration- at the next quarterly meeting of the chamber. ” le attention of cricketers down the Coast is drawn to a meeting to be held in the Hemptoa Hall, Okato, on Saturday night with the object of raising a team, possibly to take part in the Cricket Association’s fixtures. In days gone by, a fair eleven could be mustered in the district, and there should now be no difficulty in resuscitating the club. Much of the playing material, it is understood, is alrealy in hand, so that it remains now for the players to get together. Men who have ambitious and small means realise the value of a good appearance. A presentable hat is of first importance. The Melbourne, Ltd., has just landed a leading British hat-tnaker’s stock purchased by the firm’s London buying agent at a big eash discount, and, as usual, pass on the saving. Every hat is marked to sell at 25/- each, and represents a considerable price concession. Ail popular shapes and colours. Come early.