LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1928, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The value of wool sold in Sydney for the season to the end of March was £25,838,627. It is expected that the May and June sales will bring the tv. .1 to equal to last year’s aggregate of £26,377,000. This is for about 93,000 bales less wool than was disposed of last season. “Cylists without lights are a danger to themselves as well as others,” remarked Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Waitara yesterday, in fining a defendant for cycling without lights. "I’ve taken care of myself for a good many years,” replied the defendant. Competitions at the St. Luke’s Guild sale of work at Bell Block resulted: Cushion (length of string 16ft. 4in.), C. Hoskin (Bell Block) 17ft. 2in.; tray cloth (No. 41), Mrs. W. Haskell; quilt (peas in bottle 317), Mrs. J. Walker (Ngaere), correct number. The total takings were £4B 10s. The unemployed will benefit to a ccnsiderable extent as the result of the Presbyterian gathering at Kawaroa on Thursday. The receipts from the collection and the sale of flowers and cake amounted to £9 7s OJd, but this will be increased to at least £lO by subscriptions from some who could not be present. The tender for Sole Bros.’ new premises at the corner of Devon and Currie Streets, New Plymouth, has been let to Boon Bros., Ltd. The building will be an extension of the present block in Currie Street erected some time ago, and will contain two stories and a basement. Provision is being made for two commodious shops. A resident of Timaru who has just completed a motor tour of South Canterbury, stated last week that he had never seen the country looking so well as it looked this autumn. The recent rains, falling on warm soil, had promoted very rapid growth, and there was feed now in the pastures sufficient to, last well into the winter. Stock everywhere was in good condition, and would start the winter well. "We are doing a very wise thing in voting a sum of money for the destruction of these birds,” eaid Mr. C. A. Whitney, retiring president of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, in referring to the slaughter of hawks. He mentioned the fact that approximately 68,000 of. the pests had been exterminated during the last three years. The sum of £l2OO had been expended in the purchase of the feet of the birds, and he urged all farmers and sportsmen to make war against them. Mr. Whitney also expressed the hope that the incoming diuncil of the society would take steps to exterminate stoats and ferrets, for these animals are increasing at a tremendous rate and doing considerable damage.

After years of delay, it looks as if the metalling of the ten or twelve-mile gap on the Parapara Road, connecting Wanganui with Raetihi, the Tongariro National Park, and Taupo, will at last be completed. At the meeting of the Waimarino County Council the Main Highways Board advised that, under the proposal to complete the metalling of the portion of the Wanganui-Horopito main highway (as the route is officially known), in the Waimarino County, it was the intention of the board to apply for power to do the work and recover the proportion of cost from each local body concerned. The cost of the work was estimated at £23,240, and the board would find one-half, the Wanganui City Council 25 per cent., and the Waiinarino County Council n 5 per cent. It was decided to accept the allocation as set forth. “It is interesting to hear that although the public did not support the issue, the first issue of bonds, £400,000, has been subscribed, and that some of the district boards are in active operation,” remarked Mr. C. M. Bowden in an address recently to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in reference to the Rural Credits system. “It is naturally too early yet to pronounce on the likely degree of success in establishment of local finance associations, also as to the degree to which the provisions of the Act and regulations can be availed of in conjunction with the stock and station agents or other recognised channels of short-term financing. It is stated that farmers who have equities can obtain assistance through existing institutions. No new scheme can be devised to assist those who have no equiti.3, not without running on philanthropic lines, which, of course, will not be the case-"

There were several natives before the Court at Waitara yesterday in connection with judgment summonses for debts, and solicitors for creditors had some difficulty in eliciting information regarding their earnings so as to show ability to pay. One native, asked why he did not get work, promptly asked: “How could I get it when thousands are out of work? The haymaking season, which counsel considered offered plenty of opportunities for securing work, he brushed aside by saying that there were too many neighbours now to do the haymaking. Another had done no work for four years, having been living on fish and potatoes, though later he admitted that he had earned “a few bob.” To another native imprisonment had no terrors. When asked how he was going to pay, he cheerfully remarked that he would “go in for twelve days.” Counsel, however, pointed out that that would not satisfy the debt, and that he would have to go to gaol again. To this the Maori replied nonchalantly: "Please .yourself. Take me any time you like.” He did not think he could pay £1 per month when an order was mada for that amount, as he did not know where to get the money.

Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Burgess invite all ex-service men and War Sisters to afternoon tea as usual on Anzac Day, and to note that it has been necessary to arrange the gathering in St. Mary’s Hall instead of the Victoria League Rooms. The New Plymouth Operatic Society have purchased the scenery and effects of “The Sunshine Girl” from the Masterton Operatic Society. The scores are arriving to night, and the first rehearsal will be held on Monday night next in the cabaret rooms, Hooker’s Buildings.

Mero words cannot adequately convey to you the reality of the wonderful savings to be made by purchasing from our store. Come in when passing and put us to the test to prove our assertions. The Hustlers, Devon Street, New Plymouth.