LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1929, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“You can ask, but you will not get it,” replied Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., to a solicitor in the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland who requested that the name of a man who pleaderl guilty to being intoxicated vzhile in charge of a motor car bo suppressed. A New Plymouth motorist backing his car to turn on the main road from New Plymouth to Waitara a few days ago, outside the fertiliser works, suddenly felt his movement pulled up sharp, He He .jumped out to find the back mudguard of the car pressing hard against a railway sign which read: Compulsory Stop.

Water from the River Jordan was used on’Sunday for the baptism of the infant son of tho Rev. D. C. Herron, minister of St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Auckland. Mr. Herron attended the great missionary conference at Jerusalem last year, and he brought back with him a bottle which was filled at the spot where the river runs into the Sea of Galilee.

“It is refreshing to have evidence exactly as to what happened,” was the comment of Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., during the hearing of a claim for damages arising out of an accident in which a motor vehicle was concerned. The magistrate expressed the same opinion of evidence in motor cases as many another when he said he generally had the greatest difficulty in finding out in such cases what did happen.

Complaint that Taranaki men could not secure a scat on the Meat Board was made by Mr. H. G. Dickie (Patca) in the House of Representatives yesterday, telegraphs the News Parliamentary reporter. He said this was the result of “plumping” at the election. The method of election was unfair. Mr, W. J. Polson (Stratford) by way of interjection, supported Mr. Dickie, declaring that Taranaki was entirely disfranchised.

“Vice-presidents are a lot of rot,” stated the secretary during the election of officers at a meeting held near New Plymouth last evening. _ “I understand,” said the chairman, mildly, that vicepresidents give a guinea each to our funds.” The secretary referred to his balance-sheet. “Donations—nil,” he announced. Agreeing that six vice-presi-dents were unnecessary, the meeting elected only one for the coming season. He had given 10s 6d two years ago. A minor outbreak of fire occurred in the business premises of Messrs. McDonald and Son, bootmakers, Devon Street, New Plymouth, about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The brigade was quickly on the scene and with the help of the chemical extinguisher from the White Hart Hotel the blaze was quelled before much damage was done. Apparently some waste paper in the front portion of the shop became ignited and, on discovering the blaze a few seconds later, Mr. McDonald pulled the paper out from beneath the counter causing more paper to burn. The damage was confined to the fittings and a plate glass window and is covered by the Eagle Star and British Dominions Insurance- Company for fl 00, ■ :

On the recommendation of the legislative committee of the Taranaki Chamber of "Comme’-ce, the council resolved last night that it could not see its way to support the Timber Industrial Efficiency Bill. As showing the growth of the Farmers’ Union movement in North Taranaki during the past few years, Mr. C. J. Harris, vice-president of the North Taranaki provincial executive, stated at Tikorangi last night that whereas there were only .about three branches with less than 100 members, there were now 32 branches with over 900 inembers.

“We are always glad- to see-him: he comes to our farms with a smile and he leaves with a smile, but he always leaves us some useful information,” said a speaker at Tikorangi last night in eulogising the work of Mr. J. M. Smith, of the Agricultural Department, in the interests of farmers of North Taranaki. The remarks found general endorsement.

The serious ■ loss to New Zealand through fire was- discussed at a meeting of the council of thje Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last night, when it was icsolvcd to ask the chamber’s-delegate to the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce (Mr. C. H. Weston) to advocate the holding of strict inquiries whenever outbreaks of lire in buildings occurred.

It is understood that the extra primage duty imposed by Parliament this session will not be passed on to the rcailer or to the. customer as far as tobacco is concerned. As far as primage duty in general is concerned, the Taranaki Chambers of Commerce has asked its delegate to the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce to support the early lifting of the duty.

A plain and fancy dress dance was held at. the Welbourne hall on Wednesday evening. Miss G. Hedley. (Easter Lady) won first prize for best ladies’ fancy dress, Miss N. Palmer (Pierrette) being second while Mr. C. Frost (Hobby Horse) won the men’s prize. The judges were Mcsdames Avery and Palmer. Mr. I Sole was M.C. Supper was in charge of the ladies’ committee consisting of Mcsdames Washer, Palmer, Mclsaac, Avery and Furze. People who knew the Brooklands and Doralto roads, New Plymouth, in their old state, and have not visited these localities during the last month or two, will be surprised at the transformation that has recently taken place. Under the unemployment relief scheme a tremendous amount of earthwork has been done in the reconstruction of the roads, which by now have taken definite shape as wide highways with easy grades and no sharp bends. The reconstruction operations have necessitated a great deal of heavy cutting and filling. There have been occasions when capable farmers have placed great reliance on whiskey as a cure for weakness in lambs in the hard season following weaning. At a meeting of the Agricultural Association recently, the president, Mr. Donald Ross, referred to the experience of one Wanganui settler who tried the whiskey cure. He bought two gallons and handed it over to his man. A fortnight later he bought another two gallons. “How is the lamb cure getting on ?” he queried as it was handed over. “Fine,” he was told. Later it transpired that his henchman had made an apt description of results with the exception that the'man himself was being “cured,” not the lambs.

Replying to the toast of Local Bodies at Tikorangi last night, Mr. H. A. Foreman, chairman of the Clifton County Council, said the local bodies sometimes found the restrictions of tho Local Bodies Loan Board somewhat irksome, and at times arbitrary..• Particularly was this the case in its action in reducing the term for which loans were raised. This often meant that the necessary rate was so high that it was impossible for small rating districts to undertake the obligation. That was a serious matter, espetially in the backblocks, where good roads were essential to the well-being of the settler. The New Zealand News, published in London, gives prominence to what it justly describes as the Dominion’s proud record in having the lowest infant mortality rate in the world, as shown by the official statistics for the last recorded year. A table is given showing the superior position New Zealand holds in comparison with other countries. New Zealand comes first, with Norway second, the next in order being Australia, Sweden and Holland. It comes as a surprise to find that a country of such great material prosperity as the United States has an infant fortality of 73.83, or over twice as high as that of New Zealand. The preservation of infant life is supposed also to be vitally concerning the French Government, yet the rate for France is 99.55. Canada shows itself the most backward of the British Dominions with a rate of 96.80 (thrice that of New Zealand), while great civilisations like Germany and Italy have rates as high as 115.39 and 12u.23 respectively. Jamaica, Ceylon and Hungary come last on the list with infant deaths of between 169 and 181 per 1000 live bit ths. Tho difficulties that local bodies have at times to contend with in dealing with tho Highways Board were instanced last night by Mr. H. A. Foreman, chairman of tho Clifton County Council, when he stated .that last year the Clifton County Council, on tho strength of an authority received, had laid down three miles of a foundation course on the Main North Road.’ They could not now secure the authority for laying down the wearing course. As a result the .council would be put to the expenditure of about £3OO a mile for maintaining that section of road for traffic duiing the next 12 months. Despite, the fact that it was one of the most important highways in the Dominion and that a deputation from the council had waited on the Prime Minister in an endeavour to secure the authority this year, they had been unable to do so. He had hoped that when the £250,009 grant had been resuscitated, the Highways B.c/TTd. would have given authority, but it had not done so. Mr. Foreman considered that was perhaps a matter, in which the Farmers’ Union might assist them, and he was assured by members of the provincial executive present that they now had tho matter in hand. A wonderful special offering of ladies’ fabric gloves at 2/6 a pair is being made by the Melbourne, Ltd. AU have fancy gauntlets and are in an excellent quality of cotton euede. Usual price is 3/11 pair, but the special offering price is 2/6 pair. We have re-modelled our showroom and would ask an inspection of our new spring season’s goods. New season’s hats, ready-to-wear, at 12/0. These are in quite the newest styles. Pure silk bloomers, • made roomily, 8/6 pair; ladies’ black skirts, cretonne and cambric tops; bungalow aprons at 2/11; ladies’ overalls made of Britway, 9/6; ladles’ Fuji silk nightdresses, lacetrimmed and hem-stitched, 8/11; ladies’ cream cotton vests, 1/9 each. The Hust lers, Devon Street.*