LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1927, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The first consignment of butter from Westport is now in store at Castlecliff, the southern dairy company having selected Wanganui as its port for export. The Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday accepted with thanks the offer of Mr. F. H. Moore to instal a wireless set nt the Old People’s Home for a period of three months, which will inelude the Christinas holidays,

Methods of protecting the war memorial at Bell Block are to be investigated by a committee (Messrs J. S, Connett, A. Grover, 11. C. Sampson and J. F. Giddy) elected at a public meeting in the Bell Block hall on Monday. Ways and means of raising funds for the purpose were discussed.

Slight damage only was sustained by two ears which collided on the intersection of Devon and Currie Streets. New Plymouth, yesterday, shortly after 6 p.m. One, driven by Mr. A. F. Aldie, was proceeding along -Currie street towards the sea, and the other was being driven by Mr. J. Cross down the Devon Street hill. Neither driver was injured. There has been a splendid “strike” of

grass in the area recently levelled and sown down on the racecourse by die Taranak’. Jockey (,’lub, and as the result of the rains during the past few days

the grass has made good headway. The area had been used for many years for football and other sports, and in its improved and enlarged state, there will now be room for four full-sized football grounds and two rmaller playing fields.

The latest of the series of euchre parties organised by the Welbourn (New Plymouth) church committee on Saturday, proved most successful. The prizes were won by Mesdames C. Harvey and Furze, and Messrs J. Harvey and J. Roper. The second aggregate, which closed that evening, was won by Mrs. J. Faulkner (ladies’ section), and Mr. A. .Jordan. After supper the usual enjoyable dance was lieid.

A litter of stoats or weasels was found bv Mr. 11. Hoskin on Monday in a nest under the edge of a lucerne stack at Matapu (nays the Star). He saw the mother, but she got away, and on taking a tally found there were no less than II in the litter. The danger is stressed when one realises the menace they would have been later on when grown to full size, Mr. Hoskin says that farmers in the district have suffered very severe losses for several years from the ravages of the vermin, and they have just got away with a large number of chickens, despite the precautions taken. He said that, he has seen them in trees taking young birds from the nest and eating them. Despite the efforts of tlie fanners, they continue- to increase.

In view, of the success that has already attended the iauiiehiiig of a gymnastic class at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School under the auspices of the Old Boy» r As soeiation, it has been decided to extend the activities still further by obtaining as many middle-aged members as. possible. An impression lias been current, perhaps quite naturally, that the work done is rather too strenuous for. any but young men,, but this is not so. For the first half-hour all members combine in a physical drill class, under.Mr, F. J., Eggleton. For the next hour they are divided up into squads and put through the various stages of apparatus work, under qualified instructors. Then for a time, to finish the evening off, members are permitted to indulge.their particular inclination with the various facilities. An attendance of 70 was present at a recent “gym” evening, hut it is hoped that this number will be materially increased by the joining up of middle-aged men, for whom suitable- courses are provided. Al) dairymen wanting good herd bulls should attend the Stoney River hull fair to-morrow. A splendid lot will be offered.

A number of grazing farms in various parts of the district arc advertised for sale by the Lands Department in this issue. A deposit of 10 per cent, is required on purchase, the balance being secured by a long term mortgage at a low rate of interest. There is not a coat, frock or costume in Besley’s showroom that is not typical of the latest spring fashions. In every line, shade and finish the models are essentially correct at Besley's, Devon Street. Warm weather means trips to the' beaches, and beaches usually mean bathing, therefore be prepared by purchasing your bathing outfits early. Messrs. C. C. Ward, Ltd., the busy cash drapers, Devon Street, New Plymouth, have just opened up their new season’s goods, including fashion’s latest in bathing costumes, cape, capes, etc. Call and inspect. It is always a problem io know what to >.ear, but an event that will help you solve this problem’ ie McGruer’s, the progr isive drapers, Grand Opening Display, on their premises, ai -qiring and .Sunimet goodtf, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ef this week- ; ■ . •-

A “price-cutting war”, has broken out again among the grocers of Christchurch. The lines that are affected are sugar and flour. The retail price of sugar has been reduced from 3id to 3d per lb, and 701 b bags have been reduced from 17s 6d to 16s 6d, The ‘‘cut” in the price of flour is more drastic. The price of 251 b bags has been reduced from 5s 9d to 5s 3d, and corresponding cuts have been made in prices of larger bags. This pricecutting is not viewed with favour by many grocers, but when some start it. others have to follow suit, and the public reaps the benefit.

A Dunedin merchants told a Star reporter that business is still quiet, retailers only buying from hand to moutli, and chiefly in essentials rather than luxuries; but there arc signs of brightening, and he added: “It is, to my mind, wonderful that New Zealand can pick up and prosper, in view of the enormous siime she is annually paying to outsiders. Think for a moment of the outgo, in respect to motors. It is estimated that there arc in the Dominion 140,000 vehicles of various kinds. Put the upkeep at £lOO per year for petrol, tyres, repairs, etc., and we find the total 14 millions sterling, mostly going to America.”

The warm weather is having a salutary effect on tho whitebait indusXy (reports the Greymouth Evening .Star). Catchers in the Grey RiVcr report some satiefactory hauls. The other morning 22 tins of whitebait were railed from Hokitika to Christchurch.

Throughout the whole of the Melbourne Ltd.’s splendid collection of the very latest in Spring and Summer gowns, etc., prices will be found extremely moderate. There are dainty voile dresses in a charming variety of patterns from 17s 6d to 255, and smart linen frocks in a variety of pretty colours at 9s fid. Coms ■> ami look round. A visit to the Melbourne is always worth while. ' A splendid opportunity will be given to dairymen to fill up their reuirements from a herd which last year produced 3101bs. butter-fat, to be sold on account of Mr. R. S. Gernhoefer. Full particulars see auction column. Farmers’ Co-op.