LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1929, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

On a charge of fraud, a young man was brought to New Plymouth under arrest yesterday. He will appear in court this morning. Charged with an attempt at suicide on Thursday, William Joseph Rennolds appeared in the Police Court in New Plymouth yesterday. On the application of Senior-Sergeant McCrorie, Mr. J. S. Connett, J.P., remanded him till Friday. Mist was dense between Egmont Village and Stratford yesterday afternoon and evening, making motoring difficult and trying.

According to a service driver there are more motoring campers on the road this Christmastide than ever. There is also more protruding camp gear, and more careless driving. A collision between a car driven by John Shepherd and a motor-cycle ridden by Thomas Parle occurred at the corner of Gover and Courtenay Streets early last evening. A girl riding on the pillion seat of the cycle was thrown off and received a blow on the head, but after attention by a doctor it was found her injuries were not serious. Boring for oil at Omata will commence on February 1, it is hoped. The arrival of extra casing is expected in the near future. The work will ’be undertaken by two colonial drillers and one foreign driller. A concrete reservoir capable of holding .250,000 gallons of oil has been constructed 30 yards from the derrick, but has still to be roofed. A New Zea-land-built locomotive boiler has.come to hand, and another is being built.

’ An Auckland returned soldier the other day drew attention to the recent death in of a man to whom many soldiers in the Great War owe their lives. This was Mr. Alfred Bates, who designed fhe headgear first issued to the troops in France in 1916, and later worn by the entire army. A member of the firm of Willis and Bates, watch stampers, of Halifax, and a director of many companies, Mr. Bates was found drowned near the pier at Bournemouth —a tragic fate for a man whose name will go down in history as a ‘valued contributor to the Empire in time of stress. He was 52 years of age, and is survived by his wife, son and two daughters. The Australian boxer, Tommy Crowle, and his father are so pleased with New Plymouth and its environs that they have decided to make the town their headquarters while in New Zealand. They spent Christmas Day in New Plymouth, leaving at 7 o’clock on Thursday for Palmerston North to fulfil Tommy’s engagement with Johnny Leckie, whom the young Australian boxer defeated. Almost immediately after the bout they left by motor for New Plymouth and were interested spectators at the races yesterday. Tommy Crowle was very pleased with the reception extended him at Palmerston North, and naturally was delighted with the result, though extremely modest over it. He showed no signs at the course yesterday of the strenuous 24 hours through which he had been.

Cars owned by two residents of Hawera and parked outside the Workers’ Social Hall, were overhauled, apparently by a gang of hooligans. One man had a new felt hat and overcoat stolen, while the car’s radiator cap was removed and could not be found. He was unable to get any response from the engine when he attempted to start it and subsequently discovered that a considerable quantity of sugar had been placed in the benzine tank. Eventually the car was persuaded to move, but the driver had an unenviable journey to Hawera, arriving at 1 p.m. yesterday. Even more damage was done to the other car, from which the owner lost his overcoat and a complete set of motoring tools. The bulbs from the headlights were removed and rhe glasses broken, and he found when he attempted to drive off that the four tyres were flat.

Discussing his experiences on his recent visit to the United States for the annual Rotary convention, Mr. C. J. Ronaldson, district governor of Rotary for New Zealand, remarked- to a pressman recently on the extraordinary degree of hospitality shown by the American clubs to visitors, particularly those from overseas (says the Poverty Bay Herald). If a visitor known to be a Rotarian is taken ill, his hotel room is filled with floral tokens of friendly interest, and he is visited by official representatives of the local Rotary centre. If he desires to see the city, he has cars placed at his disposal, and usually someone offers himself as a guide. At convention time especially, this hospitality becomes embarrassing, for it is nearly impossible to move privately, and the visiting Rotarian from a country such as New Zealand realises that his opportunities of making any return for the kindnesses showered upon him will be small. It is one of the manifestations of thd Rotary spirit, however, that no account is taken of kindness shown, to a visitor, nor is any receiver of hospitality placed under an obligation in any way.

"The menace of the presence of large numbers of plant-eating animals in our forests is a very serious one,” states the report of the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society. “The increase amongst some species is very rapid, and It behoves every person who has any interest in this country to heed the danger. Despite the personal statement of the Minister of Internal Affairs in Parliamen to the effect that he considered the protection should be removed from deer, preparations are being made to continue protection and limit the numbers allowed to be taken. In the meantime large sums are being spent on afforestation, in endeavouring to conserve our native forests and in attempting to attract tourists, while deer and the like are allowed to destroy the forests and the scenery. Surely this is a peculiar state of affairs and a fitting sequel to the lack of unity in the control of wild life matters in this country.”

The New Plymouth Rowing Club and Ngamotu beach committees have been working hard to make the big Gala Day and regatta which is to be held at Ngamotu on Wednesday, January 1, a huge success. As everyone is aware, this beach is quite safe for bathers and the children will be especially catered for, what with races, merry-go-round, chairoplane and the treasure hunt. All the best oarsmen will be competing at the regatta and the public are certain to witness some very close and exciting finishes. Hot water is provided free and the Taranaki Regimental Band should prove an additional attraction.

Life is full of pleasures if one knows where to find them. Enjoy yourself at McGruer’s fine new store, and at the sama time save on every purchase*