LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1929, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A boy named Arnold Ronald Mervyn Wallace fell from his pony on Saturday and was later admitted to the New Plymouth Hospital. It was found he had sustained a fractured and dislocated arm. He is making satisfactory progress toward recovery.

Twenty-eight wild pigs were accounted for on Mr. J. Murray’s farm at Moki on Sunday by Mr. A. C. Burkett, an employee of Mr. Murray. The News’ Uruti correspondent reports that wild pigs are numerous in the backblocks of the district. The same is the case at the back of Awakino, some good bags having recently been taken there.

An evidence of the approach of the New Plymouth Winter Show is seen _ by the number of caravaners encamped in a side street near the Coronation Hall. The encampment presented a busy scene yesterday when lines were stretched from a fence to the caravans and all hands were busily engaged in the mundane task of washing clothes.

Honour certificates are being awarded by the New Zealand Football Association to referees who have been appointed by that body to control important international and inter-provincial fixtures. One of these certificates has been forwarded to Mr. J. G. Williamson, formerly a member of the Taranaki Referees’ Association, who refereed the Taranaki-Canada match at New Plymouth in 1927.

The first round of the New Plymouth Ladies’ Life-Saving Club’s m .thly pingpong tournament took place on Saturday at Stradholme, the following scores being recorded.—Miss R. Evans 30 v. Miss Dowling 26; T. Avery 30 v. Mrs. Gable 16; Mrs. Gable 30 v. Jean Gable 18; Miss R. Evans 30 v. T. Avery 17. Final: Miss Evans 30 v. Mrs. Gable 11. A short musical programme was given and was followed by supper.

Newton King, Ltd., have advertised an exceptionally cheap mixed farm a; a going concern.

The information that the Australian magpie, a bird so common in the country districts of the Dominion, is a bird which is absolutely protected, will corneas a surprise to many people who have magpies as pets. Even Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., of Auckland, expressed his surprise when he was informed that magpies are so looked after by the Government. The Waiwakaiho, Te Henui and Ilualoki rivers were in high Hood on Friday. The Te Henui reached a point that had not been attained for over 15 years, a great rata log, that had been brought down by an “old man” flood many years ago, being swept away by the waters. The rivers fell almost as rapidly as they arose. The warm rains melted the soft snow on the mountain and, together with the volume of the rainfall, accounted for the floods. ’The quarterly sessions of the Supreme Court in New Plymouth were concluded on Saturday afternoon. They were opened on May 28, but as last Monday was a public holiday there were actually only nine sitting days. Last week was devoted to civil business, and long sessions were necessary in order to dispose of the cases. The court was opened at 9.45 each morning and rarely rose before 6 p.m. On two occasions the judge sat for several hours in the evening. “Which is the best district —Otago or Taranaki?” was a question put to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle) at Dunedin by a party of the visiting Taranaki and Otago farmers. “That,” replied the Minister with a smile, “is a very awkward question to ask a Minister of the Crown, but I’m going- to say that both districts have their advantages, and seeing that I've just come from the Taranaki district, I feel that all are working for the common good.”

The coincidence of a dark object falling from Captain MacGregor’s plane at Bell Block yesterday afternoon and the passing of the New Plymouth Hospital ambulance along the road a few minutes later brought divers speculations to the minds of those who had noticed the falling object, which in the deceptive clarity of the atmosphere appeared to be of fairly large proportions. Second thoughts, however, showed that the ambulance was moving at too leisurely a pace for there to be any connection with the other incident, and the minds of those who thought the passenger might have been spilled were set at rest. The object that aroused the attention was thought to have been a woman’s hat. An illustration of how flying is capable of annihilating distance was afforded last night when Captain MacGregor, of Hamilton Airways, Ltd., was asked whether he could take a New Plymouth lady to Auckland early this morning owing to the grave illness of a relative in the northern city. The pilot at once made arrangements to leave the Bell Block aerodrome at daybreak, be in Auckland before 9 a.m. with his lady passenger, return via Hamilton, picking up another passenger at the latter place, and be back in New Plymouth again at 11 a.m. Extra petrol wr.j taken on board and the machine fitted out for the journey last night, but the lady’ subsequently felt she was unable to undertake the journey, and the trip was cancelled. The price of wheat, the Taranaki touring farmers discovered, is the burning question in the South. Growers contend that it costs them from £6 to £9 per acre to produce the grain. They receive 5s 9d a bushel, and if they are fortunate their crop will average 30 bushels an acre over a period of years. This, they claim, allows very little margin for profit, so last year they formed a wheat pool in an endeavour to keep the price at a payable level. This assurance- of market stability, they contend, is inducing the growers to plant a larger area of grain this season. The growers were surprised to hear that wheat prices in Taranaki much in advance of Canterbury figures, and they thought there should be a smaller margin. Comment upon the remarkable development’ of the dairying industry in New Zealahd is obtained in the March issue of The Dairy, a London publication. It remarks that in forty years the annual export of butter from the Dominion has increased from 1500 tons to 78,900 tons, while cheese exports have grown from 1894 tons to 78,222 tons. “Bub it is not merely because of the growth of the country that dairying has improved so much,” states the journal. “Greater scientific knowledge and skill ' are continually being brought to bear on farming operations in New Zealand. Some years ago the average production of butter-fat per cow there was 1701 b, and this is now increased to over 1901 b. When will British farmers take to heart the lesson which such figures as these put before them? It is true that they have much more to contend with than the New Zealand farmer, but they also have the market at their doors, and yet it is open to farmers in every part of the world to send their products into this country, and get a better price than the home products.”

The lovely frocks, coats, furs, etc., worn by the Mannequins during the New Plymouth performance of “Diane Developes” are to be sold by the Melbourne, Ltd. at a discount of 25 per cent. Early application is advisable.

Oh! How cold it is to-day! Cold why I feel lovely and warm. You should go to McGruer’s and get your winter requirements there. They have a wonderful selection, and eo rcasonbly priced. We are having one week of sensational celling of attractive coats and frocks at ‘lie low price of 39/6 each. Do not fail to call and inspect these two lines. They will surely interest you. The Hustlers, Devon Street.

The costume is now the most popular attire for street wear. To look smart it must be well cut and fitted to your figure. Begley’s cutter has had London experience in ladies' tailoring and will interpret the English and French fashion plates to suit you. This firm has a large range of the latest cloths to select from and the prices are reasonable.

At Stony River saleyards on Thursday next Newton King, Ltd., are conducting Mr. E. Wills’ annual sale of high-grade Jersey springing heifers. There are ninetyhead to be sold, all of which are of excellent quality. This salo offers a splendid opportunity to dairy farmers of buying what heifers they require for the coming season, for the cattle "will be sold singly or in lots as required.—See advertisement. Such is the popularity of the tug-of-war down the coast that there should be no need to issue a reminder of the tug-of-war tournament which opens at Oaonui tomorrow evening. The Oaonui Tug-of-war Club has already made a reputation by the successful tournaments it has already run. This one promises to excel all the others, judging by the keen interest displayed in it. There is only one division this time, a middleweight, 57 stone (with seven pounds overweight allowed), and though a considerable number of entries have been received, further entries will be taken up to 8 p.m. to-morrow . An additional attraction in the prize list this time is the Oaonui Tug-of-war Club’s handsome Challenge Shield, which has just been presented for competition. The tournament will be continued on Wednesday and Friday evenings, winding, up with a grand dance on the last night.