LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1928, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A haystack on the property of Mr. A. C. Rockett, Urenui, is reported to have been struck by lightning during the thunderstorm on Wednesday afternoon, and burnt to the ground.

A clump of gorse on Devon Line, near the rubbish dump, caught fire last night and was visited by the small brigade engine in charge of Custodian Doughty. It was unnecessary to take measures to subdue the outbreak, however,

The Pukearuhe Dairy Company has sold its cheese output for the remainder of the season for 9d per lb. It is expected the company will pay out for the season an average of Is 8d tor butter-fat. Heavy rain last week has improved production -considerably. "He ought to be issued a new number plate every year,” facetiously suggested Mr. R. W. D. Robertson, when the Taranaki Justices of the Peace Association was considering last night how to deal with justices and other persons who wore the association’s medallion though they were not members. A justices’ court was the room in which ho was and he might hold . a court anywhere, said Air. R. W. Tate, S.M., at the meeting of the Taranaki Justices of the Peace Association last night. He believed the definition arose from the faet that in the old days squires, as justices of the peace, held courts in a room in their own homes. Seeond-hand clothes sold at the Workers’ Hall yesterday brought in about £43 for the funds of Holy Trinity Church, Fitzroy. After the doors were opened the tables were soon depleted of a varied assortment, competition being very keen. The committee that organised the sale comprised Mesdames R. H. Quilliam, G. Beal, C. Waterston, Le May, Peach, K. Akers, Warnock, H. L. Simpson and R. Day. A telegram in yesterday’s issue referring to the case of infantile paralysis in and the quarantining of College House, the Church of England hostelry in connection with Canterbury University College, caused gome concern amongst the parents of the Taranaki boys in residence there. A wire from College House, however, to the effect that all the Taranaki boys were well and that no anxiety was felt, allayed anxiety. . Leaving home at 7 o’clock yesterday morning a team of nine Ohura school children arrived at New Plymouth at 3.30 in the afternoon. They came through the Tangarakau Gorge. To-day they will take part in the sports in Pukekura Park. There are four boys and two girls from the Mahirakau school, one boy each from Piopio West, Tokirima and Turoto schools. Mr. E C. Coleman, teacher at Mahirakau, is in charge of the party. The Justices of the Peace have power to suppress the names of persons charged with offences punishable by imprisonment, but not where the offences were punishable by fines, was the substance of an explanation by Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., at a meeting of the Taranaki Justices’ Association last night. This power was conferred by the Probation Act, 1920, and was part of the system of probation. It seemed that a person who had a dirty chimney must have his name in the paper, but a man who committed theft might have his name suppressed, was the comment by Mr. Tate.

Fire totally destroyed a shed and a two-ton lorry on Frankley Road between 3.30 and 7 o’clock yesterday morning. They were the property of Mr. E. Beale. The engine was started while a tin of benzine was being emptied into the tank, it is understood, and it is believed that a spark from the exhaust was the cause of the outbreak. The flames spread so quickly that those in the shed had to make a hasty retreat. The brigade was soon on the scene but it was too late to do anything. The lorry was insured for £l5O in the South British Office, the shed being uninsured. Maoris from all over Taranaki are expected to be present at Parihaka tomorrow. Apart from trying to revive an old Custom originated by Tohu and Te Whiti, the gathering is to be a demonstration of Maori hospitality. The general public is therefore cordially invited. Hospitality is the fundamental doctrine of Te Whiti’s religion. The religious aspect will be very much in evidence, and the Church of England will be represented by the Rev, K. Hadfield, Maori mission priest at Waitara. He will preach both in Maori and English, his subject being “Christian relationship between Maori and Pakeha. ’

Another list of wonderful sale savings is being advertised for to-day by Messrs. C. C. Ward Ltd, the busy -ash drapers, Devon Street, New Plymouth. A real opportunity to save money is offered to people who make this busy store their shopping centre for all drapery needs. Attention is drawn to an advertisement in another column, respecting the British and Foreign Bible Society, the annual meeting of which will be held on Monday evening next, in St. Andrew's Hall, when the past year’s work will be reviewed, and arrangements made for the coming year. The Ven. Archdeacon Evans v.ill deliver an address. A large attendance of the friends of this grand old Society is hoped for.

Athletes and others are reminded that nominations for the Auroa sports close with tjie secretary To-day (Saturday), 17th Mareh. A most remarkable event for the coming week is the amazing reduction in frocks during the final few days of Besley’s Bargain Salo. Useful plain and striped Fuji and Tricoline Frocks, the usual prices being 35/6 and 21/-; now reduced to 8/11. Also a line of pretty Ginghams with roll collars d short sleeves, at 7/11. Many other end of seaeon bargains, including a range of Felt and Straw Hats at 3/11. Watch the window display for special snips. Attention is drawn to an advertisement in our auction columns in this issue, wherein the Government are offering for lease by auction a sub-division of the former Moumahaki State Experimental and Demonstration Farm. It is seldom that propositions such as this are offered to the public on such easy terms. Readers may obtain plans and full particulars from the Lsu'ds Department at Wellington.

An improvement that will be welcomed by motorists is now under way on the Main North Road at the VVaiau stream. A start has been made with the construction of a bridge which will not only cut out a dangerous hair-pin bend, but will also have the effect jf considerably improving the grade.

The coastal country towards Awakino is looking remarkably well. Following the recent rains the pastures have mdae wonderful growth and the milk supply as a result is also showing improve* ment. The turnip and swede crept have also come away well and all anxiety as to shortage of winter feed ha« now been relieved. Travellers on the Main North Road t« Awakino yesterday met near Onaero a fine line of 1500 wethers which were being driven along the road en route to the Waitara freezing works. The sheep, which had come mostly from the Nukahakere station, were In splendid order, despite the fact that they had been nearly a fortnight on the road. The Waitonio County Council is anxiously awaiting the result of the conference which is being held between the natives and their members of Parliament with a view to coming to some arrangement in regard to the payment of rates on native land. The Waitomo County is probably as greatly affected ns any other local body in New Zealand.

The new Diesel engine has now been installed at the New Plymouth borough hydro works and is materially supplementing the supply of electricity, though Tariki current is still being drawn on. The supply of water for town consumption is still very low, as there has been no appreciable rise in the Waiwakaiho River for some time, but restrictions on the use of electricity are unlikely.

The Public Works officials and their employees have taken full advantage of the fine summer to push on with the work of laying the wearing course and sealing the Alain North Road. The work has been completed as far as thr Mohakatina station homestead and, given a continuation of reasonably fine weather, it is hoped to complete the work as far as the Mokau bridge before the season closes. The Pipe Band will give a recital at the Breakwater to-morrow afternoon. Carnival balls at Eltham on Monday night, at Kaponga on Tuesday and at Inglewood on Tuesday are being held in connection with the Stratford carnival. Webster Bros, advertise particulars of the most important articles for Bale on Thursday in the bankrupt estate of H. L. Martini. In addition there are numerous other smaller articles of value and interest to contractors and others. Pioneers of Stratford, that is, persons resident in the district from 1878 to 1888 and being then 21 years of age or over, will be admitted to all day functions in jubilee week by a badge. These may bo obtained from the secretary either by written or personal application.

An interesting visitor in New Plymouth over the week-end is the Rev. AL Paanga and his wife from Samoa. Air, Saanga has been a lecturer in the chief training college for native teachers in Samoa for the last 30 years. The college belongs to the great London Missionary Society, which has bceti labouring in the group for almost a hundred years. He and his wife are full-blooded Samoans and their view of the social and political situation in the island at the present time is a most interesting one.

An exursion from New Plymouth to Wellington has been arranged by the Railway Department. The train will leave New Plymouth at 9 p.m. on March 23, arriving at Wellington at 6.30 a.m. on the Saturday, leaving Wellington at 2.40 p.m. and returning to New Plymouth on Sunday night. Passengers so wishing may return on Alonday’s mail train. Main carriages will be used on the special. Attractions at Wellington on Saturday include the trotting meeting, the regatta during which the Olympic team will be selected, and an athletic sports meeting.

Something extra special in MatapU farms is advertised on the Auction pagO by W. H. and A. McGarry, sole agents, Eltham.

Savings for men and boys at the Melbourne, Ltd. Special Stocktaking Bargains.—Men’s pyjamas, made of a heavy hard-wearing pyjama cloth, nice assortment of stripes, 13/6; boys’ (all. sizes), 8/11; famous pin-head tweed shirts, hardest wearing shirt made, men’s 5/11, boys’ 4/11; boys all-wool school hose, coloured tops, 2/6 pair.