LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1929, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It was stated in a paragraph concerning the transport Marquette that Nurse Sinclair, of New Zealand, was drowned when tho steamer was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean in October, 1915. Nurse Sinclair, however, survived the ordeal. She is now married and has a family and is living in tho King Country. It is stated that during several hours in the water awaiting rescue she comported herself with great fortitude and helped to keep up the spirits of those around her. Subsequently she became jll as a result of long exposure in tho cold water.

There is something very comforting in the possession of a well-filled waistcoat, but at times it has its inconveniences. At a meeting of the Western Park Board last night Mr. J. S. S. Medley said that some time ago a meeting was to be held in the West End school. But when the members of the committee arrived it was found that the only means of entering the room was through a narrow •window. With one exception they equeezed through the opening and the meeting started. The other man remained outside as he found it physically impossible to crawl inside. But although he took an active part in the discussion the question was raised whether or not he had attended. It was decided that he was only half there. “It is absurd to put a tag on it,” said Mr. E. Maxwell when the New Plymouth Harbour Board-received from the Audit Department the balance-sheet for the year ended September 30, 1927. The item tagged related to accident insurance. Mr. C E. Bellringer explained that in June, 1927, when Mr. Newton King was alive, the Queensland Insurance Company obtained the accident business of the board as a result of a ballot. At the time Mr. C. H. Burgess was not a member of the board, but was appointed in September, 1928, on the death of Mr. King. The premium to the company ho represented had been paid long before, so that any objection to his appointment could be purely technical only. Mr. Burgess attended one meeting" only. Mr. Bellringer said he had pointed out to the Audit Department that some years before, under somewhat similar circumstances, Mr. King had signed a declaration that ho would not benefit from any profits from the policy. This solution of the difficulty, was agreed to and on Mr. Burgess signing the required certificate he was reappointed in December, 1928. “I am therefore rather surprised at this tag,’ continued Mr. Bellringer, “for the. department fully understood the position 1 nt the time.”

The case reported from Sydney in which a baby was attacked by a rat is by no means an isolated instance. An Auckland resident recalled an alarming experience which befel his household at Palmerston North a few years ago (says the Star). His baby boy was sleeping in a cot on the verandah dose to his mother’s bed, and shortly’ before midnight the mother was awakened by the infant’s cries. Its hand had been bitten, evidently by’ a rat, and one finger was bleeding profusely. “Wo attended to the little one’s injuries,” said the householder, “and I went back to my work (I was on night duty at the time). An amazing experience befel my wife an hour or two* later. She awoke, more by the feeling that something was wrong than by anything tangible, and there, on her own pillow, sat a large rat. Sleep was out of the question for the rest of the night, and I can assure you we determined to get rid of the brute. Me had set traps on several previous occasions without success, but, luckily enough, wo had our reward next day. Whilst we were sitting at our evening meal we heard the trap in the next room go off, and sure enough the rat was caught. It measured '2oin from nose to tail.” The householder added that only one rat had been seen, and that he had been disinclined to believe his wife’s statement as to its size. It was evidently a solitary specimen, for no more were seen afterwards.

The Melbourne’s great sale ends Saturday. Those who have not already taken full advantage of the half-price and other offerings should do so without delay. Lastminute shoppers will be able to pick up many useful bargains as the firm is determined not to carry over any winter goods.

As much as £40.500 has been subscribed already towards the loan of £50,000 being raised by the New Plymouth Harbour Board at per cent. “There is no doubt that the whole amount will be raised,” said the chairman (Mr. C. E. Bellringer) yesterday. The New Plymouth borough unemployment relief workers are now concentrating on Brooklands Road, the work on the Carrington Road between Smith Street and Tarahura Road having been completed, and good progress has already been made with the cutting .back of the high banks at the lower end of the road. The spoil from the Carrington Road levelling has been used on Brooklands and Avenue Roads, and the spoil being obtained on Brooklands Road is being used to widen the corner at the upper gate of Pukekura Park, the fence of which is to be put back at the corner and at other points. Two small tins of detonators were stolen from the Harbour Board magazine at Moturoa recently. At the meeting of the board yesterday members suggested the indications were -that the thief had paid two visits. “Could the thief sell them?” asked Mr. W. T. Wells. “What could have been the object in taking them?” Mr. Taylor: “Oh, they could be used to blow up a few safes.” (Laughter). Mr. Wells said he had wondered whether the detonatois could be used for fishing. It looked as though the thief had had a knowledge of the locality.

How many motorists kn o w the numbers of their own cars? The question was raised in a New Plymouth garage yesterday, when a salesman started to drive what he thought was his car out of the garage and waxed wroth when asked what he was doing and where he intended going with the car. He swore the car belonged to his firm, but he did not know the number of the car ho wanted and was only, convinced he was not in his own machine when shown a distinguishing mark which the keen eyes of the garage attendant had noticed. The garage assistant said later that the same thing had happened not once but several times.

New Plymouth was the subject of a lecture by a representative of the Tourist Department from 2YA on Thursday night. The lecturer gave a most graphic and life-like description of the oeauty spots of the home of 2YB. The only fly in the ointment seemed to be the Nganiotu Beach cottages which, the lecturer suggested, should he the first consideiation of the town planning committee.

Work on Baine’s Terrace by the New Plymouth Beautifying Society will be resumed on Saturday, when it is hoped more lovers of tjie scenic beauties .of the town will give practical expression of their sympathy by attending. The percentage of men wearing factorymade clothing is very much smaller in the men we call successful than in the men who are not. It may be argued that it is quite natural seeing that they have more money'to buy dearer clothing. But we must remember first that a good appearance is half the battle, and secondly that Besley’s measured clothing costs no more.

Wintry weather is likely to continue for some time yet, but the problem of how to meet this weather will be solved if you buy now at MeGruer’s Winter

Big savings for you at The Hustlers’ Drapery Store in New Plymouth, and you know from experience the worth of an announcement like this coming from 'The Home of Good Values.”