LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1929, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The value of building permits issued by the Auckland City Council for the first eight months of 1929 comfortably exceeds £1,000,000 and is larger by £152,471 than the value of permits issued in the corresponding period of 1928. The south side of Barrett Street (near the New Plymouth Hospital), from its junction with Mt. Edgecombe Street to its intersection with Morley Street, has been authorised by the Borough Council as a parking place for motors, subject to the usual conditions.

The glare of badly focussed headlights on motor-cars was a complaint brought before the meeting of the Taranaki County Council yesterday. It was decided to draw the attention of thb county inspector to this breach of the regulations.

“At one time we used to dread the effort on Poppy Day,” said’ a speaker at the R.S.A. meeting in Inglewood last night. “Each year has seen the work become easier and last year we had sold upwards of 600 poppies by 1 p.m.”

Tenders for alterations to the tailrace at the New Plymouth hydro-electric works, and for the extensions to the power station at Mangorei, are to be called for at once, in consequence of a resolution of the Borough Council last night. The alterations are necessary to make provision for discharging an increased quantity of water, and the extensions to the power house are required to house additional plant and switch gear which is now on order. *•

Interesting light on hotel profits was thrown in the Auckland Supreme Court during the hearing of a claim for £2200 over the sale of the lease of the Wynyard Arms Hotel, Evidence was g.ven that it was customary in the trade to estimate the value of a hotel business at a certain percentage on the cost prue of liquor. The highest percentage of profit was made on draught beer and the lowest on spirits. The ‘ profit percentage in the case of the Wynyard .Arms was estimated at 75 per cent, ti SO per cent., and an expert witness admitted that in certain hotels it might rise as high as 120 per cent., according to the size of the glass of beer used. The same witness said that if the per centage of profits fell below 66 2-3 per cent, a publican would immediately want to know what was wrong. The tak’ngs at the Wynyard Arms were sta’ed to be at least £2OO a week, and the value of the empty bottles £5 a week, representing one hundred dozen bottles.

The wretched state of the main north road between -Mahoenui and Te Kuiti was the subject of a communication received by the New Plymouth Borough Council last night from the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. The protest of the chamber at the condition of the road met with a hearty endorsement by members of the council, and it was resolved that the council join in . the urgent representations made by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce to the Minister of Public Works, the chairman f the Main Highways Board and the chairman of the Waitomo County Council with the object of having repairs effected to the Mahoenui —Te Kuiti section of the New Plymouth—Te KTti main highway, and that copies of tne resolution be forwarded to each of the persons mentioned. Crs. P. E. Staintcn and R. J. Pentecost said there was no question that the road was In a disgraceful condition, and it was absolutely necessary that something should bo done at once. “Next winter you won’t be able to get through at all,” commented the acting-Mayor (Cr. J. Brown)

Discussing the accidental electrocution of a child, at Grey town, Mr. Hitchcock, (manager' of the .Municipal Electricity Department in Christchurch), said that the accident was a most extraordinary one, as the child must have actually had one hand on the element and ’UtI the other for turning on the switch of of the electric range. The position in Christchurch was that all electric ranges installed were required to have a main switch in a position alongside the range, which was accessible to adults, but out of the reach of small children. The object was that this switch should be opened, thus cutting off the power whenever it was necessary to give any attention to the range or to the contents of the oven. This involved no difficulty to the person cooking. When the ma’ji switch was opened every possible danger was removed. Users of electric ranges were constantly being advised to open the main switch when the range was not in use. The tray just above the heating element could not be lifted, but would slide out, the object being to enable it to be cleaned when necessary. It was hardly likely that, a child of four would be able to slide out the tray. To screw it in would mean that it could not be cleaned so thoroughly.

Witli reference to the financing of hospital boards, and in reply to a communication from the New Plymouth Borough Council concerning the question of determining a more equitable basis for hospital rating, th© Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) stated in a letter received by the council last night that he thought the only conference which might be of any use in the matter was one between the Counties’ Association and the Municipal Association, and if - these two associations could come to -an agreement on the matter, then it could be legalised by legislation. He had already promised the New Zealand Farmers’ Union that when the session- was over he would give consideration to the matter of endeavouring to arrange such a conference, but he might say that as far as his department was concerned it had no further proposals to make concerning hospital rating, as, whilst it was not., claimed that °the present system was a perfect one, it was considered that under the circumstances it was the best and most equitable that could be suggested. If the representatives of the contributory local bodies could put forward proposals which would improve the present scheme, said the Minister, they would certainly be given every consideration with a view to having them adopted. At Mr G. J. Knauf’s, homestead, Upper Mangorei, on Tuesday, the 10th September, Messrs. Newton King, Limited, are holding a complete dispersal sale of the whole of his live and dead stock. The offering consists of 30 grade Jersey cows, of good quality, together with a full range of farm implements, which arc in good order, and the sale can be recommended to dairy farmers for their requirements. Full details of the advertisement appears in our stock auctioneering advertising columns of this issue. Early displays of Spring goods such as ladies’ lumber jackets and suits, tweed and silk coats, light weight costumes and new Spring and Summer fabrics, at the Melbourne, Ltd., have stimulated business. The Spring-like weather conditions of the past few days have been a contributing factor

A report and estimate of the cost of widening Te Henui bridge in Devon Street (Fitzroy) is to be submitted by the borough engineer at his earliest convenience, as a result of a resolution of the New Plymouth Borough Council last night. The shortage of positions for young teachers in Auckland is, in the opinion of Mr. H. G. Cousins, M.A., due chiefly to the fact that teachers of high grading from the south are applying for appointments in that part of New-Zea-land (says the Star). When he was being farewelled by students of the Teachers’ Training College, Mr. Cousins said that many of these teachers were gaining positions to the exclusion of students in Auckland with lower gradings.

From all accounts the opossum season that ended on Saturday was not a very profitable one so far as the trappers in Tajanaki are concerned. Constant cold and wet weather made conditions very unpleasant, and a number of trappers on the Egmont Park and adjoining reserves are stated to have given up in despair. Trapping was carried on this year over a wider area than usualThe figures for the season are not yet available, but it is anticipated that though the individual returns will probably show a decline, the total will probably be not far below the average, if it is not higher.

“It is very important for these small traders, to 'keep books, even where they are running cash business,” said the deputy official assignee (Mr. J. S. S. Medley), at- a meeting of a confecti mer’s creditors in New Plymouth. His experience lately had been that these people had no idea of what their takings were. Money would be placed in the till and other sums taken out for payments without any record being kipt of the transactions, and the only way the man knew whether he was mi.

a profit was through his bank balance going up. It was important for these people to rem'em'ber that it was a bankruptcy offence not to keep books.

In the larger cities, states the Post-master-General in his annual report, a certain amount of time is spent by postmen in travelling to and fro between the post office and the starting and finishing points of their walks in distant~Buburbs. As an experiment it has been decided to bring into operation at Wellington a decentralisation scheme under which 24 postmen will be transferred from the Chief. Post Office, twelve to Kilbirnie Post Office and twelve to Wellington South Post Office It is expected that the change will result in a substantial saving in salaries and tram fares. If the'scheme proves a success it will be extended both in Wellington and to other centres.

Contrary to the expectations of many people in New Plymouth on Sunday who gazed rather gloomily at the heavy pall of clouds enshrouding Mount Egmont, conditions at the North Egmont hostel were nothing less than glorious. A number of visitors from New Plymouth made the trip to the hostel in spite of the dismal outlook, and were well rewarded.. After passing through the radius line gateway they discovered that the bank of clouds was but a light curtain between the town of New Plymouts and a perfect spring afternoon on the mountain. Many people ascended to the valley below Humphries’ Castle, where the snow- lay thick and glissading could be had in plenty. A magnificent sunset gave a memorable ending to a most enjoyable day.

Already the Government taxation proposals have had a depressing and demoralising effect on sheepowners. The Standard is informed by a well-known firm in Palmerston North that when recently their representative was canvassing for forward orders for fertiliser, he was told by no less than seven clients (who had been in the habit of invariably living him their order) that in view of the taxation proposals they did not know how they stood and were closing down all improvements on their farms. They felt sure that with the suggested taxation they would not be in a position to afford their usual annual topdressing, etc. If this, as is likely, is general throughout New Zealand, it spells disaster for the producing power of the Dominion.

“I have visited many of the world’s markets and I am glad to see that New Zealand is prominent in many of them,” observed Mr. J. D .Smith, of St. Helliei s Bay, Auckland, who returned by the Maheno from an extensive tour abroad. “One pleasing feature was to see New Zealand produce well advertised in London. Our butter and cheese now appear on many restaurant tables,” added Mr. Smith, who visited the Continent and the Great War battlefields. “There is one point in connection with my sojourn that I feel it is a duty to express. It is that the present High Commissioner justifies his position in England if only for the benefit of touring New I am most' grateful, like many others, for the courtesy and help received from New Zealand House. Sir Janies Parr is doing splendid work.

Although in most instances excuses "iven by defendants in by-law cases have been tried before,' now and again a novel one is tendered. There was an example in the Magistrate s Couit in Wellington last week, when a defendant was charged, in addition to having no horn on his motor-cycle, ..with having over-loaded the machine. ‘‘l ve misunderstood this third-party agreement, Your Worship,” he said. “I. thought I was allowed to carry two persons on the machine besides myself.” “Apparently he has been under the impression that the third party insurance risk enables him to carry two people other than himself on the motor-cycle,” said prosecuting counsel. “It is certainly a novel explanation.” “How do you get this idea of yours?” the magistrate asked the defendant. “I understood that was what I insured for, but I see my mistake now,” replied defendant. He was ordered to pay 10s costs. Ladies’ Rain Coats, smartly cut, all. sizes, at 12/6. A staggering offer of Ladies’ smart frocks, in flannel, repp, assorted styles and colours, from 16/6. Balance of Ladies’ and Children’s Felt Hats to clear, 4/11. Take advantage while sale lasts, to renew your window and wardrobe curtains. Good quality Cretonne, at 1/- yard. The Hustlers, Devon Street.

In response to a request from the Waitara Croquet Club, the New Plymouth Caledonian Society have accepted an invitation to hold an ingletside at Waitara on Saturday, September 7. These gatherings have been very popular in the country as well as in the town, functions having been held this year at Mangorei, Hillsborough, Lepperton, Tataraimaka, Inglewood, Huirangi and Westown. The function at Waitara will be the last of these gatherings. Reasonable prices have been fixed for admission, while New Plymouth artists will contribute the vocal items. Mrs. Martin’s orchestra will provide tins music for the old-time and modern dances.