LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1928, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The violent storms" experienced during the month caused considerable interruption to the Opunake power supply, according to the report submitted to the board by the engineer yesterday. Lightning storms had been very severe and had made their presence felt particularly in the outer area. Insulators and cross-arms had been shattered and a transformer had also been destroyed. The staff had therefore had a busy time maintaining a reasonable service.

Ten head of pedigree Jersey cattle, five bulls and five cows, bought from a private breeder in Toronto by Mr. E. Griffiths, of New Plymouth, arrived at Auckland on Thursday morning by the motor-ship Hauraki. They are fine animals, purchased for a sum in the vicinity of £BOOO. They were accommodated in stalls in the after-part of the ship during the voyage, and were under the care of a special attendant. The Hauraki enjoyed fine weather for the greater part of the trip and the buffeting she received from strong winds and heavy seas when nearing the New Zealand coast on Wednesday had no ill-effects on the pedigree stock.

The late Mr. William H. Coats, cotton magnate, who died on August 21, left an estate worth £1,305,000, on which the duty amounts to £409,000. Flight members of the Coats family died millionaires, prior to the death of Mr. William Hodge Coals, their estates aggregating over £19,000,000. The rise in March in the price of the ordinary shares of J. and P. Coats added many millions to their value. The holdings of members of the Coats family, including those held in trust, had then an aggregate market valuation of £5,163,440, and the capital appreciation, due to the rise in Stock Exchange prices, since the beginning of the year amounted to £402,045. On the large ordinary shareholding of Major A, Coats alone the market appreciation in the last few months amounted to £11,426. The mother of Lord Wateran, A.D.C. to the Governor General, was a Miss Coats.

In connection with Holy Trinity Church Sale of Work, a cooking competition will be held, including the following classes: Sponge sandwich and filling, fruit .ake, seed cake, puff pastry, short pastry, shortbread, nut bread, scones, home-made bread. There will be no entrance fee. A prize of 2/6 will be given to the best in each class. Entries should be at the church schoolroom not. later than 10 a.ro. os Tuesday, October 16,

' The Weekly Press, of Christchurch, which has long set a high standard of illustrated .journalism, is to cease publication after October 24.

At. the meeting of the North Taranaki executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, Mr. Benoni White gave notice of motion that: “Recognising the national importance of tho State reading policy in relation to transport and land settlement, it is considered all highways and secondary highways in rural districts should be dealt with by local bodies as ‘county’ bn 'headquarters’ subjects, thus lifting such matter above the parochial limitations of ridings arid Infusing a desirable national spirit.” Lord Lovat has experienced some stirring welcomes since he left his native heath,. but. he confessed last night that he never had such a whole-hearted welcome as he received at the hands (or the pipes) of the Highland pipers at New Plymouth last. evening. As the train drew in the pipers set up a Highland welcome, and later the chieftain shook each piper heartily by the hand and expressed his pleasure at meeting his fellow countrymen in exile. The pipers preceded the visitor’s to the hotel, on the balcony of which theyeontinued their welcome. It was a clannish gesture which impressod itself very much upon Lord Lovat. A most persistent interrupter at Mrs. C. E; Maguire’s political meeting at Auckland on Wednesday evening was an elderly lady with heavy dark glasses who occupied a front seat and discoursed frequently and loudly on the familiar theme, “Woman’s place is the home.” “Brought up six and never troubled a doctor!” was her crushing and reiterated retort when some of those about her requested silence. At length the patient chairman beckoned for a constable, to whom the lady immediately promised exemplary behaviour, much to the amusement of the audience. For ten minutes after that Mrs. Maguire’s was the only voice heard in the hall. The interrupter. had another outburst at question time, but a second hint from the man in blue caused her prompt subsidence once more.

In reply to requests for the stricter enforcement of regulations regarding the introduction of foot and mouth disease to the Dominion, the ’Minister of Agriculture wrote to the North Taranaki provinical executive of tho Farmers’ Union yesterday saying that the regulations requiring the destruction of hay or straw packing from abroad had been revoked some time ago. In their place a regulation had been agreed to absolutely prohibiting hay, straw or chaff as packing from the Continent. Those materials might be used for importations from Britain only aftqp effective sterilisation. Tho regulations were being strictly enforced, and in a number of cases goods had been refused admission because the regulations had not been complied with. The position was being closely watched and the Government would not fail to impose further regulations if necessary. “They are most annoying,” eaid Mr. H. Jones at the meeting of the North Taranaki executive of the Famers’ Union yesterday when referring to the regulations regarding use of explosives on farms. On a farmer going to a merchant he was asked if he had an order from the police and he could not get the explosives unless he had one. He contended farmers should be able io obtain what they wanted without having to go to the police station. “It is all a. question of public welfare and safety,” said Mr. Benoni White. “A man generally knows a little while beforehaiiid thit he is going to stump. and I can’t see that the hardship . not more imaginary than real.” Mr. Jones: “It is jolly annoying to me.” Mr. M. Jones said it was a war-time restriction that should be removed. Recently a tree blew down on his place and he lost half a day in securing a permit from the police in order to blast the stump. It was decided to ask the Government to remove the restrictions on blasting explosives for use on farms. Lepperton is making a special effort on October 25 to reduce the present debt for recent improvements at the local hall. The effort by the hall committee is a .praiseworthy one because, ss well as reducing the present liability, it will enable the committee still further to cater for the comfort and convenience of patrons in the future. No stone has been left unturned to make the fair a tfuecess.

The Young People’s Social Club will hold a wind-up dance in the St. Mary's Hall the first week in November. The Rev. A. 6. Whitelaw, LL.B., travelling secretary of the Presbyterian Young Men’s Bible Class Union, arrives in New Plymouth to-day, and will speak at a Bible Class rally in St. Andrew’s Church to-morrow afternoon. A service dedicated to the work of hospitals, with special reference to the late Mr. Murdoch Fraser, is to be held in the Fitzroy Methodist Church to-morrow evening, at 7 o’clock. The service will be conducted by the Rev. R. B. Gosnell, who has been associated Very closely -with the late Mr. Fraser in hospital and social welfare work. A solo will be rendered by Miss Doris Loveridge, A.T.C.L., and the jhoir will render the anthem, “What are These?” Public men and early settlers are especially invited to attend. To catch the echoing tones of the bagpipes among the blue mountains of its native country, to sit on the heather banks beside the stilly loch and ancient dun, listening to the notes sweetly mellowed by distance swelling on the breeze, hearing melody wafted o’er the silent lake, or breaking through the roaring of the mountain streams and rushing of the fitful wind —this is to hear the bagpipes as it ought to be heard. Pukekura Park furnishes an ideal location as set out above, with its stilly loch and sweeping tree ferns, and there should be a large attendance to-morrow afternoon when the New Plymouth Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band gives a recital. There have been very large congregations at the Spiritualists’ Church in Courtenay Street, New Plymouth, this week. The speaker at the meetings, Mrs. Hope, of Wellington, is not a stranger io New Plymouth, and is recognised to be an exceptionally fluent and impressive orator. At the conclusion of each address she gave spirit messages to members of the congregation. To-morrow evening the title of Mrs. Hope’s address, the last during the present visit, will be 'The Little White Gate.’’ During the last two weeks in November and again early in December, Mrs. Hope will return to New Plymouth, when she will again occupy the platform at the Spiritualists’ Church. les! The town and country are talking as they are good judges of value. The fact must be true, but one should judge for oneself. So call when next in town and see the exceptional values McGruer's are offering in new season’s goods. Tfie oest of values are io be found at The Hustlers. Low prices convey nothing, but when quality is specified the Real Value is conveyed in low price. All the newest dress fabrics in smartly distinctive colours and designs are now being shown at prices that will command a speedy clearance. The Hustlers, Devon Street.