LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1929, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The article under "Sunday Reading” appearing elsewhere in this issue, is the 468th consecutive one contributed by the Rev. A. H. Collins. The articles have appeared in the News each Saturday for nine years without a break, which in its way is a record. Whilst extending congratulations to the veteran author of these stimulating, erudite articles, readers will, we feel sure, join with us in expressing the hope that he will long be spared to continue his interesting and valuable contributions. A warning that goods purchased from England are not always of British origin was contained in a letter received by the Hamilton Borough Council. The Municipal Association wrote suggesting that in future the country of origin should be definitely stated by tenderers supplying plant and materials. The communication was received without comment. At the present time, when attention is being paid to reafforestation, it is interesting to record that over 30 years ago the Chinese Government let strips of land on the Min River under arrangements which aimed at securing that more trees would be planted. Lumber men were leased a tract of land divided into 18 strips. The lessees were allowed to cut No. .1. strip, but before cutting any more trees were bound to replant as many as had been removed. By the time No. 18 had been cut and replanted, the trees on No. 1 were ready for felling, and thus a continuous supply was provided. Recently the proprietress of a Greymouth boarding-house became indisposed and it fell to the lot of a daughter to prepare the boarders’ meals (says the Grey Star). The homely porridge was an item on the breakfast menu, and on recovering from her illness the lady of the house was informed that the porridge had been left untouched by the boarders during her absence. This was unprecedented in hei' experience, and led to investigation, when it was discovered that the daughter, instead of using oatmeal had made the porridge daily with fine chick-wheat. As October of each year comes round thousands of Dunedin’s flower lovers look forward to their annual pilgrimage to the daffodil fields at Wetherstones, Lawrence, there to feast their eyes on the beautiful sight of a hillside, thickly carpeted with hundreds of thousands of blooms. Approximately 26 years ago, Mr. H. Hart, who was one of thp,leading daffodil growers in the Dominion, having a large surplus of bulbs, was struck with the happy idea of naturalising them in grass on his property at Wetherstones, says the Otago Daily Times. The result proved so satisfactory that .early additions were made, and to-day, as a result of Mr. Hart’s foresight, an area of about 12 acres, which was at one time unsightly hillside, is a paradise of colour and perfume, the result of nearly !1,’0'00,000 bulbs in bloom, the varieties comprising most of those known to horticulturists. For some time past only the fortunate owners of motor-cars have been able to visit Wetherstones and return in the one day, but last year the Railway Department, to enable the general public to visit the daffodil fields, inaugurated special cheap excursion trains during the bloom season. That the public were quick to appreciate the service was evident by the fact that on the first Sunday it was found necessary to run two special trains. It is understood that Mr. Hart considers the blooms will be at their best during the second week of October. “An important link in 1930 will be the connection of the Urewera Country with the Wairoa-Waikaremoana route,” states the report of the Auckland Automobile Association to be submitted at the annual meeting on Wednesday, October 9 (states the New Zealand Herald). “By this Christmas cars should be able to travel from Rotorua through the Urewera to the shores of Lake Waikaremoana, and by Easter, after several bridges have been constructed, it is anticipated that motor traffic will be able to proceed round the shores of the lake to the hostel and then on to Wairoa.” Showing how the cost of constructing and maintaining roads had increased since the introduction of the fast-mov-ing motor traffic, and incidentally how the burden had fallen on ratepayers, Mr. H. A. Foreman, chairman of the Clifton County Council, remarked at Tikorangl on Thursday night that a local body chairman, who had kept a careful record, stated that with his rates, license fees, and petrol tax combined he was paying 93 per cent, more per annum to the upkeep of the roads than he was paying five years a’go. Had any local body increased the rates by that amount in five years it would have been called upon to resign. Mr. Foreman added that with the increasing trend of traffic on the roads he did not see how it could be possible to reduce the amount, unless, he said, aeroplanes were to take a lot of traffic off the roads. It was safe to say that in 10. years’ time the road traffic would have increased by 50 per cent.

Among the many bargains to be had at Broome’s Corner are men’s holeproot working trousers at 7/11; men’s dark grey suits 37/6; boys’ jerseys in navy, brown and dark grey, sizes I’s to B’s, at 4/6; men’s English saddle tweed trousers at 9/6; men's odd coats 17/9; men’s odd vests 7/9; boys’ brushed cotton singlets 1/6 to be obtained only at W. H. Broome’s, Taranaki’s finest price store, Devon Street, New Plymouth. Attention is invited to the pedigree Jersey bull fair to be conducted by Newton King, Ltd., at the Waiwakaiho yards on Tuesday next, October 8. The offering constitutes a record for the fixture and is recommended by the auctioneers to prospective purchasers for their requirements. Owing to the large entry the sale will commence at 9.30 a.m. sharp. Full details appear in the stock advertising columns of this issue. The New Plymouth Old Girls’ Association is arranging a mart to be held on Saturday afternoon, November 9, in the Whiteley Hall, their object being to raise the balance of the money guaranteed to the boaixl of governors for the purchase of land at “Scotlands.” The amount outstanding is £l5O, and the old girls hope that well-stocked stalls and an entertaining musical programme by the present girls will result in the whole amount being raised at the mart. It is most unusual, but then you see it is not every day that we move into larger premises. Ag our present shop is full of new season’s goods and more arriving by every boat, thinking we would be in our new premises, we are forced to make room,' and are, therefore, running a removal sale of new goods. So save on your summeroutfit by buying at McGruer’s, New Plymouth.*