LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1929, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The meeting of citizens called last night by the Ngamotu Seaside Resort Company for the election of four citizens to the directorship, was attended by only a small number owing to the wet weather. The meeting was postponed until a later date. “There is only one thing the borough has to bring before you, and that comes rather in the nature of a complaint,’’ said the Mayor of New Plymouth, Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths, in welcoming the Hon. G. W. Forbes last night. “The United Party has now been in power some time but not yet has it lowered the price of bread.”

Charges of indecently assaulting a girl nine years of age and of being unlawfully on premises were preferred against John Stanford Ludwig at the New Plymouth Court yesterday. The

hearing was not completed, and was adjourned until Wednesday next, the accused being released on bail of £2OO on his own recognisance and one surety of £2OO.

Probably the feature of the grand parade at the Taranaki show yesterday that will linger longest in the memory of the young people was the tiny Shetland foal, whose proud owner had placed on its back a little red kewpie as a miniature jockey, holding light red reins. As the foal trotted along besides its small parent it was the cynosure of all

the juvenile eyes. A motor-lorry, owned by Mr. T. Fahey, Vogeltcwn, was badly burnt on the Batanui Hill on Carrington Boad yesterday afternoon. The driver apparently lost control of the vehicle while descending the slope and jumped out to avoid further injury, sustaining minor abrasions. The lorry caught fire at the

bottom of the hill and the driver suffered slight burns about the face and arms in extinguishing the flames. Ivan Radich, a New Plymouth restaurant keeper, was brought before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., yesterday for two breaches, of awards, namely, failing to keep a time and wages book and failing to keep a holiday book. The inspector of factories, Mr. W. J. Berryman, claimed a penalty of £lO, pointing out the matter of a. disnute over ivno-pq Wtrnrrn

xuuvLci vi a ui&puvc over wages Between Radich and hie employee, Sisarich, before Christmas. During his investigations the inspector had discovered the breaches on which he laid the present charges. Remarking that the matter had since been attended to and that Radich was new to business, the Magistrate imposed a fine of £l. -tear the radius line on the western

slopes of Mount Egmont the Public Works Department is forming the Wiremu Road and making a good job of providing access to farms on each side. An unfortunate position has, however, arisen in that other, roads running from the vicinity of Opunake up towards the Wiremu Road do not continue for enough to make a passable junction. Yesterday these facts were placed before the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands, by Mr. E. A. Collins, a member of the Egmont County Council. His request that unemployed labour at present working in the county be utilised

for completing, especially the Ihaia and Kawiora Roads, found strong support from a deputation of settlers, the chairman of the council, Mr. W. C. Green, an", other councillors. The Minister promised to lay the matter before his colleague the Minister of Public Works. | A request that the Government make a grant of £lOO to weed and clear the 100 acres already planted in the affores-

tation area controlled by the Egmont National Park Board, and that a further grant of £lOOO be made to enable the board to re-afforcst an additional area according to its afforestation scheme on the Pouakai ranges, was made by a deputation from the board,

headed by the chairman (Mr T. C. List), which waited on the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands, at New Plymouth last night’. In making th© application, which the Minister eaid would receive consideration, Mr. List drew attention to the suitability of afforestation work

for such members of the unemployed as were unable to undertake the heavier manual tasks usually associated with relief works. “The people of this province possibly do not realise what the conservation of the forest on the elopes of Mount Egmont means to Taranaki, but the board is doing its utmost io protect this valuable asset and to reclothe the denuded areas,’’ said the chairman.

The Melbourne’s Great Sale positively ends on Saturday next at New Plymouth as well as at Inglewood, Stratford, and Eltham. There are many sacrifice bargains beijig offered for the final day of gale in order to clean up stocks prior to the showing of new autumn and winter goods next week.

Among the many bargains to be had a the Palatine Sale are men’s holeproof working trousers, at 7/11; men’s cotton and wool socks, 3 pairs for 1/9; men’s dark grey suits, 37/6; boys’ jerseys in navy, brown and dark grey, sizes l’s to B’s, at 4/6; men’s English saddle-tweed trousers for 9/6; men’s all-wool one-piece bathing costumes, 6/11; men’s odd coate, 17/9; men’s odd vests, 7/9; men’s Merino finished singlets, 2/6; men’s all-wool sports coats, 21/9; boys’ brushed cotton singlets, all sizes, 1/3. The bargains to be obtained only at W. H. Broome’s, “The Palatine,” Taranaki’s Finest Price Store. Devon Street, New Plymouth. /.-■ ....

“If I had my way I would get' right down on the man owning even 300 acres of first-class land, and cut his holdings into sections of about 50 acres,” said Mr. D. J. Hughes when addressing the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands, at Normanby. yesterday. He went on to say that it was the good land that should be up for settlement. The second and third class land could be farmed only by men with adequate capital.

Hundreds of Ashburton people were thrilled by a large fire which. swept portions of the Ashburton riverbed on a recent evening. Fanned by the strong southerly wind, the flames roared high into the air as they licked through the dense gorse and broom which clusters in the river-bed. There was some anxiety regarding the safety of the houses toward which the fire was moving, but the outbreak died away before any real danger arose. At the height of the fire spectators were startled by a loud explosion, caused by the heat of the fire putting the Public Works Department electric supply feeder’ line out of action. Fortunately, the flames were swept along by the wind so rapidly that the poles were not damaged.

Willow trees planted many years ago to beautify the banks of the Waihou River, Te Aroha, are now, through lack of control, blocking it to such an extent that the drainage of a valuable farming area is seriously impeded. Following representations from settlei-s last year the Public Works Department undertook the poisoning and destruction of the willows. After completing a four miles stretch the work was discontinued.

Mr. K. F. Kenny, teller of the Taihape branch of the Bank of New Zealand, had a narrow escape from drowning in the Bangitikei River at Omatane. Mr. Kenny who was swimming alone, was overcome by a severe attack of cramp. His calls for help were heard by Mr. F. Kelly, who jumped into the river fully clothed and rescued the unfortunate man as he was going down for the third time.

While appearing as a deputation before the Minister of Lands last night’, Mr. J. S. Connett asked for information as to whether a Land Board had power to veto the sale of Crown lands to occupiers unable to carry on. The amendment of section 5 of the Act, he s id, did not make the position clear. In reply, the Minister said a prospective purchaser had certain rights and if he coud prove that he was eligible for the transfer he could demand it.

Two small boys travelled all the way from Napier to Gisborne to be introduced to the Prime Minister. They had missed seeing him in the former town and had prevailed on an indulgent parent to motor them through to Gisborne. The youngsters were duly introduced on Saturday night to Sir Joseph Ward, who gravely expressed his regret for his oversight, in “not looking them up” in Napier.

“There ie not one place from which we can gain access to the western elopes of Mount Egmont; a few years ago it was possible to drive a mile or two into the park, but now, owing to deterioration of the roads, it is impossible to reach within a mile of the radius

line,” said Mr. Magnus Hughson, chairman of the western committee of the Egmont National Park Board, yesterday, in asking the Minister of Lands to assist in securing a grant of £4OO to re-open the Kahui Road for the use of tourists. The Minister said he would be pleased to convey the request to the proper quarters. Mr. J. 8. Connett, chairman of the Taranaki County Council, told the Minister of Lands (the Hon. G 1 W. Forbes) last night that, despite the fact that the Local Bodies’ Loans Act of 1926 gave a council power to transfer moneys from its loan account to the general account, if replaced at the end of the year, the Governor-General, whose consent was necessary, had declined to sanction such an operation when desired by. the council. Mr. Forbes said he had but little knowledge of the position, but he could lay the complaint of the council before the Minister of Finance with a view to having the matter cleared up.

A few days ago a couple of young men were out in the Wellington harbour in a boat and, went to Ward Island where they landed. Meanwhile, a squall sprang up, and the risk of launching the boat in such a heavy sea was too big to face. They prepared to spend the night on the island, but at dusk, seeing a launch going by they lighted a flare which attracted the attention of those on the launch, which took them off, saving them an unpleasant night of exposure. The hailstorm in North Otago early in January resulted in damage on a large number of farms. When the Otago Land Board held a meeting at Oamaru to inquire into the losses of Crown tenants, it was supposed to have to face 71 such sufferers. Only 30, however, appeared. The board took statements as to the damage wrought, mostly in respect to wheat and 'oat crops, wheat in the majority of cases. It was announced that the statements would be considered on March 13.

A male witness at the Supreme Court in Wellington last week had been unable to recall the date of his marriage. When his wife entered the box in turn, counsel asked if she could remember the date better than her husband could. “It was on March 27,” she stated confidently, then stopped. “I forgot the year,” she added. “I thought that was ono of the things a woman never forgot,” remarked counsel, whereupon the Judge observed, “I always understood so, but apparently there is an exception to every rule.”

When in town for the show be sure and visit the greatest drapery sale of the season at Messrs. C. C. Ward, Ltd., fc..sy drapery store, Devon and Currie Street. Every department has a wonderful range of sale savings on display. Take the elevator to our special bargain' department on the top floor.

Botanists tell us that no two blades of grass are exactly alike. So it is with the human figure. It is this fact that marks the difference between a smart suit made exactly to your figure and \ Ready-to-wear suit that is somewhere near. There is no difference in the price at Besley’s, Ltd., where you can select your material and be correctly fitted.

•Sale specials at The Hustlers this week. Wearever white twill sheeting for single beds, at 1/3 yard; double bed at 1/11; pillow cases made from strong linen finish pillow cotton, at 10Id each; white Turkish towels, soft and absorbent, 1/9 each; large bath towels, 54 x 28, 3/3 each; girls’ black gym. stockings, 2/11. Where you buy with confidence. The Hustlers.

In accordance with our usual policy we are clearing all Seasonable Goods this week, and have decided that all goods in our windows on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are to be sold at Half Sale Price, along with other special lines inside. Bo «ihop at McGruer’s this week,