South Taranaki News

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1928, Page 5

South Taranaki News

DAILY NEWS OFFICE.

Morrisssy’» Buildings, Union Street.

r.O Box No. 133.

Telephone No. 2766.

NCENDIARISM FEARrID

FIRES IN A HAWERA HOTEL. BRIGADE SAVES IX EARLY STAGES Incendiarism is strongly suspected as the result of three outbreaks of fire which occurred in the Prince’s private hotel, a large wooden, two-storeyed structure at the corner of Princes and Napier Streets, Hawera, at about eight o’clock last night. Fortunately the flames were soon noticed and the fire brigade was quickly on the spot and was able to cope with the outbreaks before much damage was done. The fires were all within the vicinity of the kitchen, which is situated towards the rear of the premises. Oiie was located in a narrow space between a dresser and a cupboard, the latter being at the side of a large range, but in which no fire was lighted at the time. A second outbreak was in a small scullery on the opposite side of the range and amongst a collection of pots and pans. The third was in some rubbish in a recess under the main stairway of the house, and could only be reached by a passage that led from the kitchen to the dining-room. This had evidently caught afire last, and it was-fortunate that the flames did not get a strong hold, for had the stairs been enveloped the first floor would have been converted into a veritable deathtrap.

Mr. Air. Rae, the manager of the hotel, told a News reporter that he had not been out of the room more than twenty minutes when the alarm was given by Mr. “Snow” Randell. Mr. Rae, his wife and children, had previously gone to the commercial room in the front of the house. When they left the kitchen, and for half an hour before that, all kitchen fires were out. Mr. Randell, whose room was at the back of the hotel, had seen the blaze in the scullery through the window and immediately notified Mr, Rae. The latter then discovered the fire outside the cupboard, and directly ran for the brigade, the ’phone being unapproachable on account of smoke. It waJ not until after the brigade arrived that Fireman B. Henry discovered the blaze beseath the stairs. Messrs Bennett and Sutton were the Owners of the building, Mrs. S. E. Curreen being the lessee. At the time Mrs. Curreen was away and the place Was being managed by her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. A. Rae. The insurance on the building was hot available last night, but the contents are covered in the Phoenix Office for £550. ACCLIMATISATION FUSION. That the Hawera Acclimatisation Society be dissolved and that a committee comprising the present members of the council be set up and empowered to join with the New Plymouth and Stratford societies in forming a Taranaki acclimatisation society, such committee to have power to realise or hand over to the proposed new society all the assets of the Hawera society, was the resolution passed at a general meeting of the Hawera society last night, called to finalise matters prior to the amalgamation. Mr. W. A. Spragg presided over a good attendance. Messrs B, C. Bennett, \V. A. Spragg, T. J. Salmon and C. Davies were elected to act on the provisional council. It was resolved that it be a recommendation to the new society to cater more for shcotists. A suggestion was made that some Hungarian partridges should be procured. MR. HAWKEN AT OKAIAWA. The Hon. 0. J. Hawkcn addressed a meeting of electors at Okaiawa last night, Mr. E. J. Betts presiding over an attendance of about 50. Mr. Hawken spoke on the lines of his previous address. He considered the dairy farmers’ interests should be championed by a representative of a dairy district. At the conclusion of the address, Mr. ■E. A. Washer moved a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate, and said he considered Mr. Hawken would be the best man to represent the district. The motion was carried unanimously. Subsequently Mr. Hawken’s committee met to organise his campaign. NOMANBY CRICKET CLUB. A meeting on Tuesday night revived the Normanby Cricket Club. Mr. F. Atkins presided over a good attendance. The names of 14 players were handed in. It was decided to enter a team in the Wednesday competition. The election of officers resulted; — President. Mr. C. J. Preston; vice-pre-sidents, Messrs W. Attwood. H. Muiholland, W. T. Hair. A. 11. Hills, J. Howe, Giles and G. Galloway; committee, Messrs I’’. Atkins, L. C. Jurd, J. Cockerill, F. Mills, J. Edwards, S. Thacker and A. Galloway; club captain, Mr. J. Edwards; secretary and .treasurer, Mr. If. Hughes. The election of a field captain was left until the opening match. ‘■THE LATEST FROM PARIS." In “The Latest From Paris,” Metrogoldwyn Mayer’s new picture, which will be screened at the Opera House to-night. Norma Shearer shows how the modern woman makes her sex an asset, instead of a handicap, in the business world. As the “live-wire” travelling saleswoman of a wholesale fashion house, she pits her wits against the representative of a rival firm, and besides stealing his customers, finally purloins his heart. “The Latest from Paris” is one of the most entertaining and laughable comedies in which the 6tar of “Rts Secretary,” “The Waning Sex” and “Upstage” has ever played. Ralph Forbes plays the leading male role, and George Sidney, Tenen Holtz, William Bakewell, Margaret Holtz, WilSiam Bakewell, Margaret Landis and Bert Roach are included in the supporting cast. Other interesting films in Support will be M.G.M. News, New Zealand scenie and comedy, “Never the Dames Shall Meet.”

OPENING OF BOWLING SEASON. RAIN SPOILS PARK CLUB’S PLAY. As it was their intention to hold a number of friendly games on the opening day of the season last Wednesday, members of the Park Bowling Club and a number of visitors from all parts of Taranaki were keenly disappointed when the weather conditions proved such that bowling would have been impossible. However, in the presence of some 25 to 30 hardy followers of the game, the president, Mr. F. Quin, officially opened the season. After welcoming the visitors, Mr. Quin deplored the bad weather which must have been a keen disappointment to all pjresent. However, “opening day” was not t’-e only day in the season, and he hoped that intending visitors, who had wisely declined to face the elements that day, would give the Park players a chance to welcome them on a future occasion. He hoped for a successful season, not only for the Park club, but for all clubs in the Taranaki centre, and more especially for the oldest established club of the town, the Hawera club. Bowlers generally would appreciate the extra half-hour granted them by the Summer-time Act, and it would greatly help clubs in getting through their various competitions. Mrs. Quin then threw the first jack of the season, and the green was declared officially opened. Mr. Geo. A. Burgess, president of the Hawera club, in thanking the club for the invitation to be present, was very sorry that the weather conditions had caused a number of the Hawera players to stay away, evidently under the impression that the opening would be postponed. The green looked perfect and it was a great disappointment that they were unable to test whether or not it was as good as it looked. There would, however, be visits from the Hawera club in shield competitions and also for tl r Cann and Renwick Cups later in the season. Afternoon tea was dispensed by the ladies’ committee under the direction of Mrs. Quin and the rest of the afternoon was spent in good bowling fellowship. MANAIA SCHOOL AFFAIRS. The monthly meeting of the Manaia school committee was held on Wednesday evening. There were present Messrs. A. Gamlin (chairman), T. A. Bridge, G. H. Edwards, W. Vincent, J. T. Clague, the Rev. R. Miller and Jlrs, A. Gamlin (secretary). The report of the headmaster, Mr. J. Nairn, stated the primary roll was 269, tire average attendance for the September quarter being 223. The secondary roli was 23, and the average attendance 22.6. Miss McEwen had been absent on account of illness since September 28 and on Friday Miss M. G. Fleming took up her duties as relieving teacher. Miss McEwen was expected back on Monday. Summer sports were being organised. The- sum of £2 8s remained after paying for the lorries for conveying the children to Hawera to see the Tasman fliers and the teachers considered that would make a good addition to the sports fund. Some summer eports material had been obtained, and with the aid of the “Quality Street” performances, almost paid for. In view of that it was not intended to ask for any monetary assistance towards this object. The proposed rooms would make it easier to organise the school during the coming year though there was not yet a room for each class. A letter was received from Mrs. Waddell, treasurer of the fund collected for school shelter sheds, stating that she had forwarded to Mr. A. G. Bennett a cheque for £99 12s Id, being £B3 principal and £l6 12s Id interest. The Hon. O. J. Hawken advised that the Minister of Education had approved a grant for the provision of an additional room, together with heating and furniture. School expenditure was discussed, members considering there was a need for strict economy in this respect, otherwise their funds would be exhausted. ,T he question of school hours during the operation of modified daylight saving was considered and it was decided to commence school at 9.30 instead of 9 o’clock. Accounts amounting to £2B were passed for payment. SIR WILLIAM FLEMING RESIGNS. After over 40 years’ residence in the Waimate West County Sir William le Fleming is taking vp residence at New Plymouth early next month. He formally tendered his resignation as a member of the Waimate West County Council yesterday. “I, for one, have no intention of accepting Sir William’s resignation,” said the chairman, Mr. E. Long. “Although lie will live at New Plymouth all his interests are in this district and he can servo the county just as well living at New Plymouth as he can living here. He will often he in the district. I move that the resignation be not accepted.” Cr. Gamlin, in seconding the motion, said those sentiments were the sentiments of every member of the council. He hoped Sir William would be with them for a long time yet. Cr. Leslie endorsed the remarks ot the previous speakers, as did Hie clerk and the engineer. Sir William said he appreciated the kind remarks. It would be one of the most serious wrenches he had ever experienced to retire from the council, of which he had been a member for the past 14 or 15 years. He had also been a member of the old Waimate Road Board for many years in its early days. He said he would be too far away to continue in office for any length of time, and ho would not stand for election again next May. As it was the unanimous wish of the council, however, he would carry on till then and endeavour to attend the meetings while doing business in the district

DANGEROUS DRIVING CHARGE. HAWERA CARRIER CONVICTED. The dangerous driving of Charles Stone, though at a very low rate of speed, on the High-Princes Streets intersection on September 22, resulted in his motor-lorry’s left-hand front wheel being knocked off after contact with the left-hand rear wheel of Adolph L. Bremner’s car. Bremner was proceeding across Stone’s direction and approaching from the right. Other results of the accident were charges of dangerous driving and of not giving way to right-hand traffic. A conviction followed on the first charge, while the second charge was withdrawn with the leave of the Court. To secure shelter from the cold wind defendant had fastened a side curtain on his right-hand side, and that had hindered his vision, he said. A fine of £2 (costs 10s) was imposed. WANDERING HORSE OFFENCE. CONCERN OF BOROUGH COUNCIL. The wandering horses of Lancelot Goodger in Nolantown streets close to the railway were referred to before Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., in Court yesterday. George H. Blackwell found three wandering horses unattended. A fine of £2 10s, with £1 Ils costs, was inflicted. Serious complaints had been received by the borough practice and the practice had caused anxiety to children, pedestrians and motorists, said Mr. J. Houston in prosecuting. Danger at the railway and an addition to the difficulties of the life of railwaymen resulted. One case that had rather distressed the council referred to the wandering of a horse in a garden of an old man who, when turning out the horse, suffered violence. A warning to horse-owners was desired. YOUTH CUTS A CORNER. “THE WORST CLASS OF OFFENCE.” Brian Sargeson, a young motor-cyclist of Hawera, was charged with cutting the Regent Street-South Road corner and causing a collision with Somerville’s car, and with not giving way to traffic approaching on his right. For the latter offence a £1 fine was inflicted, and for cutting the corner conviction and discharge was entered. The boy’s cycle had been extensively damaged and the ear had escaped damage, althougn allegedly going at a high rate of speed I and having mounted the footpath on I tiie other side of the road. “Had you made a bad cut I would have cancelled your license,” said Mr. Barton, who characterised cutting corners as the worst and most common class of offence. PLUNKET SOCIETY ACTIVITIES. The Hawera Plur.ket Society held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Mrs. Winks presiding over the following: Mesdames J. I). Tait, C. Haggett, A. Rae, J. G. Bayley, J. Carter, L. A. Bone, J. Renwick, Frey berg and Crompton. Apologies for absence were received from Mesdames Jobson, A. Bayley, D. L. Tonks, A. Corrigan and Sunderland. Tiie shop day held on September 29 had been a great success, it was reported, and resulted in £23 Is 6d being added to the funds. Nurse Dix reported as follows: Visits to the rooms, Hawera, 796; out-stations, 229; visits to homes, Hawera 221, outstations 77; hygiene and mothercraft, 28. The following subscriptions were received: Mesdames J. Renwick 10, Leydon 10s, Hooper ss, Tidswell os, W. A. Muir 5, G. Mooresman 5, Adams 5, L. A. Nelson ss. F. Quin ss, Hills ss, and Palmer 2s (id. MOTOR-CYCLIST CONVICTED. “PUNISHMENT FROM INJURIES.” “They were punished far more severely than this Court can ever punish them and I do not propose to add to the lesson they should have learned from the occurrence impressed so deeply on their minds.” That was how Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., spoke after hearing the defended charge against Horace J. Young, a young motor-cyclist,- of failing to keep to the left of the road, his action having resulted in a serious collision with a car on the Normanby-Okaiawa Road early last football season. Both Young and the pillion rider were seriously injured. Defendant was convicted and discharged without other penalty. CAUGHT RECEIVING BEER. AIDING AFTERHOUR TRADING. Caught by Sergeant Henry in the act of accepting a bottle of beer proffered to him in the alleyway of the Dominion Hotel on September 8, Percy Eastbury, el Hawera, a drover, forwarded a letter pleading guilty to procuring the commission of an offence to Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M. A fine of £5 (costs 13s) was inflicted, the licensee having been fined £lO the previous Court day. “I am caught this time; I did it all right; I gave it to him,” had been the statement of the licensee when Sergeant Henry approached up the alleyway at an inauspicious moment for the licensee and drover. When fining the licensee last Court day Mr. Barton suggested the police charge Eastbury also. WAIMATE EXPERIMENTAL FARM. The monthly meeting of the Waimate West Experimental Farm Committee was held yesterday, Mr. J. W. Deem presiding. An inspection of the farm was made. The pastures were looking very well. There were 49 cows in milk, the returns for yesterday being 14681 b of milk. This season’s returns were showing very favourably in comparison with previous years, the butter-fat to September 30 being 16001 b. compared with 12261 b in 1927 and 14521 b in 1926. It was decided to instal an electric water-heater in the cowshed. Although he had not had official advice, the chairman understood that a subsidy for the farm or £lOO a year for two years had been placed on the Estimates. It was decided to have a field day at

an early date and invite farmers to make an inspection of the work, especially the grass mixture experiments.

The chairman drew attention to the difference between the plots sown in Hawke’s Bay ryegrass and those sown in Canterbury ryegrass from two-year-old pastures. The former plots were showing well with a thick body of grass, whereas the latter were thin and had almost run out. Similar results had been obtained at Marton where a plot had been sown with tiie same classes of seeds. “OFFENCE DOES NOT EXIST.” STRANGE SITUATION IN COURT. A complaint seeking punishment of an offence which does not exist in the Defence Act was dismissed by Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., at Hawera yesterday, when Sergeant-Major A. E. Stevens appeared to prosecute a charge against F. E. Guise, a territorial, concerning the return of certain equipment. The equipment had been returned, but after return there was no offence disclosed, held Mr. Barton. “I have obtained convictions and you have done it before, Your Worship,” said the officer. “They must have gone through undetected then,” said Mr: Barton, “I’ll take your word that I have done it before, but I do not think such a section exists enabling me.” A further charge tinder the Defence Act was also withdrawn by leave of the Court. “ALICE IN WONDERLAND.” IN HOTEL AFTER HOURS. % MAGISTRATE DISMISSES CASE. i “A touch of Alice in Wonderland” in I a ease concerning Kenneth Clout, who was found on the premises of the Commercial Hotel after hours, but not illegally, was remarked upon by Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., yesterday, when a charge of being unlawfully in the hotel was dismissed. Many people were in the picture, and the apparently unconnected doings of the characters and the reasons for their behaviour led to much confusion and many questions. Sergeant Henry and Constable Thomason, looking into the main entrance from the street, had been attracted into the hotel by the bearing of trays to and from the bar and the sitting room. Groups of men suddenly disappeared and the defendant, amongst others, was present opposite a glass of shandy on a tray. He had come to Hawera for cow medicine and was using the telephone and waiting in the hotel for the chemist to dispense the medicine where there licensee had invited him to have a drink. Surprise that defendant was a drinking man was expressed by Sergeant Henry, who said defendant, was of good character. “He is like the boy at school,” said Mr. Barton, referring tc defendant, whom he believed to be honest, “but he would have been better off had the licensee not tried to help, him. He was found there in the hotel with a drink and there is not a coherent or intelligible reason about the whole of the movements of the persons in the hotel. I will give defendant the benefit of the doubt.” That defendant went on the premises for a legal purpose, and legitimately stayed there, and even was in order throughout if the licensee invited him to drink with him as a guest, were the contentions of Mr. G. H. Ryan upheld by the magistrate. Sergeant Henry: But is he a bona fide guest of the licensee? Mr. Ryan: Yes, certainly, if he is invited to drink. 1 Although he was doing what he i thought he was not quite entitled to do, the magistrate dismissed the case I because of the good character borne by i defendant. He had “got into the toils I of the licensee.” GENERAL AND PERSONAL ITEMS. A vote of condolence with Mr. J. F. Stevenson in the loss of his mother was passed at the meeting of the Waimate West Experimental Farm committee yesterday. Being unlawfully on the licensed premises of the Commercial Hotel on September 15 cost Timothy Patrick Harris £2 and costs IDs in the Hawera Court yesterday. A motion of sympathy with Mr. N. C. Innes in his illness was passed by the Waimate West County Council at its meeting yesterday. The latest report states that Mr. Innes’ condition is unchanged. He was removed to hospital in Hawera yesterday. Inclement weather had little effect on the attendance at the Presbyterian Church hall on Wednesday night, when Mr. John Priestley gave a lecture on the Sudan United Mission. The lecture was illustrated by many excellent lantern slides depicting scenes throughout the upper Nile Valley and the Sudan. “No recollection of the last 100 yards before the accident is held by defendant,” said counsel in a collision case yesterday. That was the experience of counsel, who said that when people suffered hard knocks in. accident cases recollection of the incidents of tiie actual accident fled from the minds of witnesses. The defendant in the present case had had a severe shaking and had been lucky to survive. The last recollection of defendant was that 100 yards from the scene of the accident lie had been on his correct side of the road. Two light, trucks collided at the intersection in the Octagon at Manaia yesterday shortly after mid-day. One vehicle, driven by G. H. Edwards, was proceeding along the main street and the other, driven by M. Walker, was crossing at ri»ht angles when the impact took place. The former vehicle had a front mudguard and headlight smashed, while the door of the cab and footboard of the latter vehicle were bent inwards. H. E. Lowe, who was sitting next to the driver, had a narrow escape from injury. The observation of Taranaki’s anniversary as a public holiday was discussed by the Waimate West County Council yesterday. Tiie chairman said he was not in favour of it, but if the executive considered there was any other day which could be submitted he was agreeable to leave it to the executive. He asked what grounds there were for fixing March 31 as the date of the anniversary. Was it the date of the first landing or other incident? The council resolved that it was not prepared to grant a further holiday but was prepared to leave the matter of another day in the executive a bands.

Many of the most notable and useful discoveries have been made by accident, and it is suggested that the discovery of the value of tar for surfacing roads was made by accident. A story was related by a member of the Waimate West County Council yesterday regarding the first use of tar in the Taranaki district, A settler was taking home a barrel of tar in his waggon, but the settler met some friends and became too convivial. His waggon capsized and the fluid was spilled over the roadway. Not long afterwards it was found that this portion was the best piece of the whole road, and local authorities thereupon set to work to follow up the idea with the result now well known. Mr. Frank Hardwick, of Wellington, is at present visiting the South Taranaki district. Mr. and Mrs. Winny, of Christchurch, have been visiting Hawera. Mr. Alan Good, who has been with the All Blacks in South Africa, returned by service ear to Hawera yesterday. Mr. E. M. Hunt, of Wellington, is staying in Hawera. Mr. G. Murray Page, who will take up the position of manager of the local branch of W. D. and H. 0. Wills, Ltd., vice Mr. K. Tyree, transferred to Invercargill, has arrived in Hawera. Mr. Page was manager of the Invercargill branch. | Mrs. F. G. Westenra, of Christchurch, [the widow of the late Dr. Westenra, who practised in Hawera for fifteen years, returned south yesterday morning after a week’s stay. This was Mrs. Wcstenra’s first visit to Hawera since she left here twenty years ago. There is no foundation to the rumour that Mr. F. A. Gillanders will contest the Patea seat this election, according to information received yesterday. The Normanby branch of the W.C.T.U. held their annual meeting at Mrs. W. Gane’s residence on Wednesday afternoon. There was a good attendance. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mrs. W. Bevan; vicepresidents, Mesdames Fletcher, Clements and Irvine; secretary, Mrs. W. Gane; treasurer, Mrs. J. Meuli; cradle roll secretary, Mrs. Frei; “Whitq Ribbon” agent, Miss Dixon. The report disclosed that good work had been done during the year and that the financial position was satisfactory. Afternoon tea was provided by the hostess. Rihuri Hcke, the one-legged eyelist who is cycling arcund the North Island, and who arrived in Hawera on Tuesday evening, left for the south yesterday afternoon. Having no tail light on his car cost Donald Shepherd, who pleaded guilty, a fine of 12s Cd, costs 3s, yesterday before Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M. George Harold Gilbert pleaded guilty to charges of driving a motor-car in Union Street without a tail light and without having his number plate illuminated on September 19 last. In respect of the first charge lie was convicted and fined 12s 6d (costs 10s), and in the second ease ordered to pay costs (10s). Taranaki should be proud of the fact that it sent the first two missionaries from New Zealand, said Mr. John Priestley when speaking on the Sudan United Mission on Wednesday night.