LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 11 November 1927, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

To day, November 11, is the ninth anniversary of the end of the Great War. The signing of the Armistice will be celebrated as usual by the observance of two minutes' silence at 11 a.m.

Frankley Dignity, an 18 months’ old fox terrier bitch, belonging to Mr. S. Rawson, of Frankley Road, won the classes for open, limit, New Zealand bred and colonial bred, at the Mamwatu Kennel Club’s show. She is by Maidstone Dunboline from Mentone Meteor.

The Waikato Presbytery has passed a resolution to the effect that, in view of the stand ths Presbyterian Church has taken on the prohibition question, the assembly direct the committee concerned to refrain from applying for any further grants from the Macarthy Trust, states the New Zealand Herald. Vibrations of different kinds are the cause of many phenomena in these days, but it remains a mystery whether it was the clanging and echoing of the gong at the High School boxing championships last night that was responsible for the sudden and alarming darkness which resulted at 8.40 p.m. The gong had sounded and the seconds were out when the current failed. The lights were out for about ten minutes when the fuse which had “blown” was replaced and the gong went again and the refefee ordered “box on.”

For being, drunk in St. Aubyn Street and using obscene language, Leonard White Gordon McKenna, who pleaded guilty, was convicted without, penalty on the first charge in the New Plymouth Court yesterday and ordered to come up for sentence within six months, if called upon. He was ordered to take out a prohibition order. He had a number of previous convictions, said Senior-Sergeant McCrorie, but there was no doubt drink was the cause of his trouble. McKenna asked for a chance anti seemed pleased at the light sentence imposed. A prominent New Plymouth commercial man who has just returned from a holiday visit to Hawke’s Bay, says that he has never seen the eastern province look better. The spring has been an ideal one for the pastures. Regarding fruit prospects, he says that reports indicate another good year for apples, but that the pear crop will be lighter than for several years. The main crop of peaches, providing there is no setback with late hail, .frost or cold winds, will be quite up to the average yield, but present indications point to a decided shortage of the early variety. A bread exhibition was held in Auckland during the convention of New Zealand and Australian master bakers. The Australian visitors acted as judges and in the provincial classes, New Plymouth and Wanganui districts, Mr. J. Somerton ( New Plymouth) took first prize for double up-right-tin loaf, unbroken, and also first prize for single wheatmeal loaf and six fruit buns (white). Mr. E. Leach (Stratford) was second in both cases, but won the class for double upright-tin brown bread, while Mr. T. W. Smith (Stratford) won in double sandwich-tin loaf, unbroken. The New Plymouth. high School Old Boys’ "made hay while, the sun shone” last night during the boxing championships at the school gymnasium. Mr. A. J. Papps, during an interval, announced that the school needed another £4OO in order to complete the work in the gully for sportsgrounds. The Old Boys’ Association had undertaken to raise the. funds and in view of the worthy object and the popularity of the exhibition that night, with Mr. Moyes permission, decided to take up a collection after the boxing. Loud applause greeted the announcement. The sum of £ll 13s was collected.

After travelling extensively in South America, Japan, China, Canada, Australia and Europe one of a party of English tourists has written to Mr. T. H. Horton, superintendent of Pukekura Park, declaring that it is the most beautiful spot seen in her travels. The party was shown over the park last March by Mr. Horton and the personal letter to him shows that the statement was not made impulsively. The writer, who incidentally, is a s':-ter of the late Nurse Cavell, requested Mr. Horton to supply her with an assortment of native shrubs and flowens likely to succeed under English climatic conditions.

Colonel C. G. Powles, C.M.G., D. 5.0., Commander of the Central Military Command, was to have reached New Plymouth last night, but his visit has been postponed until November 25. He will present the Jellicoe Bowl won by the old 89th. Company attached to the Technical College for the highest score in New Zealand in the Imperial Challenge Shield shooting competition, and the Weekly Press trophy to the Boys’ High School. For the second time Mr. G. H. Gorringe will receive a medal for coaching the team that won the Jellicoe Bowl. He has expressed a desire that Captain A. L. Moore should accept it as a memento of his old company.

For best selection and utmost values in ladies’ hosiery, gloves, handbags, etc., visit Messrs. C. C. Ward, Ltd., busy drapery store, Devon Street, New Plymouth. New stocks of these wanted goods arriving on every direct boat. Millinery for "Spring. Ladies’ Handkerchiefs from Ireland, silk stockings of reliable wear, frocks suitable for every occasion, modewtely priced. Don’t- fail to visit the hones* value drapers, The Hustlers, Devon Street) New Plymouth,

Forward sales of lambs at prices very satisfactory to the vendors have been made in the Wanganui district, says the Chronicle. Farmers have secured 20/- to 23/-, and in one case 25/- was refused for a special line.

So completely has the horse passed out. of the life of the average citizen that even the ordinary terms of horseeraft are fast being forgotten, says the Southland Times. Recently a youth of 20 was describing an incident that had come under his observation : “He was riding one horse and ‘towing’ the other,” he said. “The average motor-cycle rider is between the ages of 17 and 25, and at that period of his life he likes to kick up a noise and dust.” So remarked Mr. A. M. Oliver, borough inspector, when questioned by the Napier magistrate in «• ease of a by-law breach by a motorcyclist.

A diamond valued at £lOO was found at Cambridge the other day. The precious stone was lost in a paddoek as the result of dropping out of a ring. It was missed almost immediately, but over a small area three men had to search for hours before their quest was successful.

Some reason why the tyre lax is considered insufficient as a revenue producer by the Government was given at the meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Automobile Association in Napier on Friday by Mr. J. E. Peach, of Napier, who pointed out that when the tyre tax was introduced tyres were much dearer than they are to day, and so, with the fall in price, the Governt lent got less tax. Samples of a wool bale material made from New Zealand flax were submitted for the approval of the executive of the Canterbury Sheepowners’ Union, last week. It was unanimously agreed that if wool bales of this quality could be produced at a price to compete with the jute pack, there would be less risk, and from £BO,OOO to £100,090 per annum could be paid to New Zealand labour, instead of this sum going to Calcutta for jute packs.

An assurance that, he was not losing i- ght of the unemployment position was given in the House of Representatives by lhe Minister of Public Works (the Hon. K. S. Williams). One of the difficulties he had to face, said Mr. Williams, was the fact that when work was advertised adjacent to any particular icwn there was immediately a concentration on that particular town. Although he did not often make anything public, he was not losing sight of the position.

A Wanganui business man who attended a conference at Christchurch recently was nearly lynched, it is reported, for slanderous remarks anent the River Avon. He was not sure of his way back to the hotel where he was staying, and he stopped a passerby to ascertain the route. “If I follow’ this street will I come to the creek?” he asked. The local man’s face froze and with extreme hauteur he replied: “If you follow this street you will come to the Avon.”—Chronicle.

To be the bookkeeper touring the Far East with a theatrical company, one has not only to be a mathematician, but one has also to be able to make calculations in a wide variety of currencies. An indication of this was given to an Auckland Star reported by Mr. Edgar Warwick, who has been associated with theatricals in the East for 20 years, and is at present visiting New Zealand. He states that from lhe time he takes a company on tour from London till the time he completes the itinerary he handles eleven different coinages. “It makes bookkeeping a little difficult,” he added, with a smile, pointing out that in India one dealt in rupees and annas, in the Straits Settlements with dollars and cents, in the Philippines with piaso, in Japan with sen and yen, and so on.

“Barney Duffy’s Tree,” the great, hollow Norfolk Island pine, which for seven weary years was the refuge of an escaped convict, is tottering to its fall, limbless and rotting says the Norfolk Island correspondent of the New Zealand Herald. The writer and a visiting architect recently inspected the interior and concluded that, standing closely together, about thirty persons could be crowded into it. A small hole some feet above the exit allowed a good view of the surrounding bush. Near the tree is a never-failing stream of water. At the foot of the adjacent cliffs the ocean supplies abundance of fish, while the rocks are encrusted with shellfish. Rumour says that on occasion the convict were, at night, raided by Barney for vegetables, but that was the only loss aver suffered.

October is the month for the arrival at Norfolk Island of the "ghost birds,” so named from the unearthly cries they shriek at night. They arrive in enormous numbers and settle on the ocean, waiting for nightfall. After dark there is a mad rush for the land, and every bird goes directly for the burrow in the cliff he occupied the previous year and commences to clean it out. Sometimes an intruder gets there first. With a piercing scream the rightful owner seizes him by the tail and drags him out backwards. Then the fight is on in deadly earnest. With their sharp, curved beaks they can inflict painful wounds, and once they get a grip they are most tenacious of their hold. The noise is deafening, but a newly-arrived colony of “ghost birds” is a sight worth seeing.

Dairymen in Australia are not having too good a time at present, said a Taranaki man, who now. spends most of his time in Melbourne. Climatically the season has been unfavourable, the rains being few and light. Added to this is the fact that the dairyman -has to pay high prices for al) his commodities and services, owing to the protection policy of the country. Under the Patterson plan he. gets some relief, but finds the 3d per lb loading on local sales insufficient, and he is striving for another 3d, but this extra charge will meet with strong opposition from consumers. The dairy farmer has bien neglected by the Government, and, as a result, he is quite fifteen years behind the New Zealand dairy farmer in methods, breeding, etc. It is not surprising, therefore, that after a few good seasons he leaves dairying and engages in some more congenial class of farming.

Divine services will be conducted at Mohakatino, Okau and Ahititi on Sunday by the Rev. R. B. Gosnell.

Chaplain Captain T. R. Richards will represent the Whiteley Memorial Methodist Church at the unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice in the New Plymouth Cemeterj’ on Sunday.

It is always a problem to know nhat to wear, but an event that will help you solve this problem is McGruer’s, the progressive drapers, Grand Opening Display, on their premises, of Spring and Summer goods, on Thursday, Friday, - and Saturday of this week.

A striking example of good value is to be found in the frocks at Besley’s, Ltd. These include coloured Repps in all sizes and attractive designs. Also a smart rjjjge in Crepe-de-chene and Silk Popliu, in useful styles with collars apd long sleeves, specially selected for the O.S. figure. Special values in ladies’ millinery, frocks, gloves and hosiery and umbrellas for the Show, at R. D. Lowers, fit-ratford.