LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1929, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

No fewer than 56,377 persons in the Dominion are in receipt of pensions—war, old age, widows’, miners’, epidemic, blind and families. During March 191 artisans and SSO labourers were employed on the Stratford Main. Trunk railway works, whilst, In the Stratford road district 404 men were employe on public woi’ks. The full force of an explosion in a benzine tank was received in his face by Mr. J. Keilar at an Eltbam garage on Thursday. His eyes escaped injury. Mr. Keilar had 'dried out the tank prior to making repairs, but the soldering iron caused an explosion. For the past year 1824 mortgages of the value of £1,919,130 were registered in Taranaki. For the previous year the figures were 1663 and £1,645,598 respectively. The .mortgages, discharged were £1,947,465 for the past year, and £1,403,416 for the previous ‘year. The sports fund of the West End School was augmented by over £2O yesterday as the result of -a second-hand clothes and produce sale at the Workers’ Hall. The response made to the appeal of the ladies’ committee which had charge of the matter was liberal, and business was brisk throughout the day. ■ Good progress is being made with the erection of additions to the New Plymouth municipal offices at the substation. The foundations have been excavated and yesterday afternoon a crane was employed in shifting the heavy concrete gate posts on the southern corner of the building in Liardet Street. A dusky debtor was examined at the Waitara Court yesterday, and his replies relevant to his financial position did not satisfy counsel. To the magistrate’s inquiry as to where he had spent his money from his milking cheques, he laconically remarked that his “motorcar took‘it all.” As an after-thought he added, “I paid £230 for it and I haven't paid it all yet.” An order was made against the Native. In connection with the visit of 150 Southland farmers to New Plymouth in June, the farmers’ sub-committee met yesterday afternoon and suggested that the programme for Tuesday, June 18, should 'begin at 8.30, with a visit to the Fertiliser Works, followed by inspections of various farms and subsequently a trip to the mountain. Present «.i the meeting ‘were Messrs S. Vickers (chairman), J. M. Smith, W. K. Morris, H. E. Blyde, G. Bell and W. Hall.

An unknown middle-aged man was knocked down by a tram in Egmont Street last night and sustained injuries to his head. He was removed to the New Plymouth Hospital and at a late hour last night was still in a semiconscious condition. The tram, which was driven by Motorman J. Houlihy, was proceeding from the town to the breakwater, and wflien opposite Hooker’s buildings the motorman noticed the man crossing the tram rails. The emergency brakes were applied, but the man was struck and fell beneath the tram. He was- found caught in the lifeguard. Dr. D. E. Brown was summoned r -d ordered his removal to the hospital. A notebook found in the injured man’s clothes had the names of F. Burgess, McLean Street, Fitzroy, and James Byrne written in it, but that w’as the only clue to his identity. A warm 'sun' beamed through the windows of the court at Waitara yesterday, and the heat from the open fireplace lent a lethargic atmosphere to the scene during the wearying erossexamination of a witness in a motor collision case. Scmeone was idly y a f' tling coins in his pocket, another periodically sniffed, the magistrate wrote down replies, but apart from the loquacious counsel and the witness, monotonously recited, “I don’t know, everyone drowsed. “What range of vision was there at this place t ’ the lawver inquired. Conforming with his previous replies the witness answered, “I don’t know,” but the man who rattled the coins, and the man who sniffed, stopped, and the magistrate looked up when he added, “If I measured it to-day and came back to-morrow I would forget It.” The despairing counsel then ordered the witness to stand Astounding bargains in ladies’ Winter coats are being' cold at the Melbourne s Great Sale now booming. These comprise plain tweeds with the new scarf effect, and many new velours and facecloths, practic aly all fur-trimmed. The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of holiday, excursion tickets and train arrangements in connection with the Wanganui Races on 16th and 18th May, 1929. Flying his Moth aeroplane, Mr. Douglas Mill will arrive at the. Bell Block aerodrome to-day. He advised Mr. G. M. Spence last night that he will remain m New Plymouth over the week-end to engage in passenger flights. On page one of this issue there is an advertisement requiring a practical man for grocery, ; erbekery and hardware business,-