LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1926, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The tender of Mr. A. Boon (£19401 for the erection of a gymnasium at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School was accepted at a special meeting of the High Schools Board of Governors yesterday. The dimensions of the building will be 114 feet by 50 feet. Fire totally destroyed a farm house owned by Mr. Thomas Carrington, of Egmont Road, at about two o’clock yesterday morning. The building was insured in the State Office for £550 and the contents for £250, including a policy for £lOO on the piano, in the United Office. Applicants for work at the New Plymouth office of the Labour Department last week totalled 34. They included nineteen labourers, four farm-hands, two engine-drivers, three motor-drivers, one storeman and packer, two grocers, one fitter, one carpenter, one cabinetmaker. On Sunday afternoon and evening were held the anniversary services in connection with the Vogeltown Methodist School, when good congregations attended. The Rev. W. E. Moore preached in the afternoon and Mr. E. Chatterton in the evening, and special hymns were Bung by the children under Mi. V, 'lhe collections were on behalf of the school funds. “If I had not been born in Scotland I should have liked fo have been born in Taranaki,” eaid Commissioner Hay, of the Salvation Army when epeaking at the reception accorded him in New Plymouth last night. His remark was greeted with laughter, but he was serious when he lauded the beauties of the district lie had seen that day, and the delightful prospect of hills and dales that he had passed on his way from Wanganui.

American tourists who return to the States with an awe-inspiring array of foreign labels on their luggage may not have been at all the places indicated by the stickers. This fact was revealed in London recently by the discovery of men selling a wide variety of hotel labels. Label vendors operate near establishments handling the forwarding baggage and lie in wait for travellers seeking to magnify their trips into globe-trottings. Stickers are carried in a bulging portfolio which contains finely coloured labels hearing the names of all the principal hotels in the tourist centres of the world. The vendors are versatile linguists and unerring judges of human nature, and rarely try to tempt the wrong persons. The prices are not high, but mean clear profit, inasmuch as the labels are probably furnished gratis by hotels for the sake of advertising. Gathering speed as it went, a heavy service bus commenced a driverless career down the Devon Street hill from the White Hart hotel about 12.30 p.m. yesterday. Two lady passengers -rlid not realise the position, and, for that matter, neither did the onlookers. The first indication of the danger was the appearance of the driver, Mr. James Fowler, who made a hurried dash after the departing vehicle. He reached it and opened the door and applied the brakes just as the bus touched the back of a stationary motor car. The only damage suffered by the bus was a dented mulguard, while the spare wheel bracket on the car was bent.

An epie of olden times was related by Major Clifton in an entertaining speech at the Napier Fire Brigade jubilee celebration of October 6. The Major was one of the early members of the brigade, and has been revisiting Napier after a lengthy absence. By way of introduction he said it was an eye-opener to him to come back and see the new fire station and equipment. “All they have to do now,” he went on, “is to ride in motor ears, .connect the hydrant—” (A voice: And put it out) (Laughter.) “Honestly they don’t know what work is,” retorted the Major. “We used to haul the manual engine np the hills, and pump like blazes, with the crowd jeering and laughing at us for being such fools. We got wet through, had our clothes destroyed, and if we made any remarks, they said, ‘More d— fool you.’ ” A Scottish lad was weary after a tramp through the country looking for work, related Commissioner Hay, of the Salvation Army, at his reception in New Plymouth last night. So he stopped at a farmhouse to ask for a drink of water. The housewife herself came from the Highlands, however, and when she found that the visitor was a countryman of hers, and that he had been to the war she expressed a wish that he should have milk rather than water. But when she had filled a bowl with milk her heart .was filled with a desire to be more generous, so—very wrongly of course—she emptied a glass of whisky into the bowl. The Scotsman took the drink with evident relish. "My, What a coo!” said he as he handed back the dish. After- one meeting at which I told that story a man came up to the platform and asked for me,” continued the Commissioner. “When I was free he asked me for that woman’s address.” When money’s tight and clouds seem black, plug up the bowl of your old pipe with Richmond Best tobacco—light up—and watch the sun crash through the clouds with every perfect puff. Why, man, you’re in clover when you pick R.B. for a pal. The cheap price of the Ready-to-Wear Suit has made it popular, because the tailors’ prices were too high for the average pocket. In another column Besleys, Ltd., announce their greatly reduced prices which will appeal to all men who appreciate qualify clothes at a medium price. Among the Parisian linen washing frocks purchased at Home by Mrs. Scanlan for the Melbourne, Ltd., are three dozen for children to fit ages 4 to 8 years. They are just as pretty and smart as mother’s, and only 12/9 each, for all sizes. The colours are also very delightful. Don't delay, as quantity is limited. The real thing in paint has just come to New Plymouth. It is Samson Paint, and made in New Zealand from the best English White Lead and Linseed Oil, Zinc, and Driers, and mixed by the latest machinery. Painters have already realised how good this paint is, and are using it exclusively for their own work, which is a big thing, as they used to use only white lead and oil and mix it themselves. This paint is guaranteed not to crack, chalk, or flake, and we are here to back up the guarantee. If you are going to paint your own house we have a booklet called “Points About Paint,” which puts you right for a first-class job, and it’s free to clients who buy their paint from us. Harwoods, Ltd., Grand Sale Agents, 262 Devon Street.* Six motor ears are io be sold by auction at the Haymarket, New Plymouth, on Friday next, five being without reserve. This sale is sure to offer some bargains, so persons wauling a cheap ear shouhFattend the sale. Fee auction columns for full particulare.