LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1930, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The metalling of the Huatoki Road will be proceeded with shortly. Word has been received by the Taranaki County Council that the work has been authorised, and it..will be undertaken by the Public Works Department. The local paper reports, that the Opunake Harbour Board’s application for a Government grant of £2OO for the purpose of clearing the berth at the wharf was unsuccessful. ■

The temperature at the New Plymouth municipal baths yesterday afternoon was 04 degrees F. Throughout the season the temperatures have been very even and have averaged 61 degrees. The highest record was 08 degrees and the lowest 47 degrees. A Hamilton firm writes as follows: ‘•Wo might mention that we arc more than pleased with the results obtained from otir advertisement in the News. No less than 20 replies have been received to date. This speaks well for the publicity for advertisers by‘your publication.'- ’

Since the advent of fine weather the borough staff in New Plymouth has commenced the recoating of tar-sealed streets. Work is now going on in Tukapa. Street. When that is finished the apparatus will be transferred to Devon Street east and other roads requiring attention.

It is understood a Wellington eyndicate intends to build on a property in Devon Street central purchased from the Shuttleworth estate through Mr. J. S. S. Medley. The section, which is now occupied by shops, has a frontage of 20 feet 6 inches, and runs right through to King Street. The price paid is said to be substantial.

Thelma McCara, not yet three years old, was lost in the bush near Topbouse, Nelson, all night, but was found next morning crying bitterly in a little clearing about a mile off the road. She was quite well, and apparently suffered no ill effects from her ordeal. The little girl strolled off into the bush at midday while at a family picnic. The first wedding broadcast in New Zealand was heard clearly in New 'Plymouth yesterday., The wedding was that of Aunt Gwen, of 2YA, Wellington, who was . married to Mr. Bruce O. Stennett, Sydney, in St. Paul's Cathedral. The bride received presents from listeners all over New Zealand.' Every word of the marriage ceremony, and later the. speeches at the reception at the home of the bride's parents, were heard distinctly.

No definite decision whether the New P\ jouth Operatic Society will produce a musical comedy this year has yet been made. The- loss on the performance last year and the competition from talking pictures and other entertainments are things to be considered. Some members are of the opinion that after its continuous run for four years the society might well hold off for another year. The matter will be decided towards the end of February. The little lass is only two years old, says the Auckland Star. Her mother took her to the pictures. One of the actors appearing in the play was black. 'The little girl was highly interested as he walked into the picture, for she called out so that the house could hear, “No bottles to-day!” At her home in Auckland Hindus sometimes call for those glass vessels. With a view to sustaining interest in Wanganui, says the Chronicle, it is intended to run a special excursion for swimmers and supporters to New Plymouth on February 22, the return trip being made the following night. ' It is expected that upwards of 100 "swimmers will make the trip; in addition to a lifesaving team from the surf section, while quite a number of the general public will doubtless avail themselves of the opportunity to visit the 'Taranaki capital. z

A 'fairly steady inquiry .was being made for farm lands, stated a New Plymouth land agent to a News reporter yesterday, but people were in a very calculating mood and had. to see a clear profit before they would ,buy. . In the' house property line there was a bigger demand for houses to rent than could be supplied, but few hoiises were sold. People were not in the humour for purchasing. Prices for house sections were in favour of the buyer. Practically nothing was selling at the price placed on it for the market. Deals were made through the buyer making an offer. There was not much inquiry from people wishing to start in business, he said, chiefly because the rents asked were too high. A temporary addition is being made to the ladies’ dressing shed on the Fitzroy beach! It will be a roofless corrugated iron building, and it is intended for the use of the younger ladies, leaving the use of the main shed for the'older ones. The shelter is . expected to be built by voluntary labour during the week-end. A scheme for the lighting of the Pukekura Park sportsground is being prepared by Mr. W. Huggett, electrical engineer, at New Plymouth. During the week-end he visited Wanganui with Dr. G. If. .Thomson, anil Messrs. F. S. Varnham and G. H. Weir, to inspect the lighting system .installed .there at a. cost of °£soo. .Following .an. evening sports meeting on Saturday evening a demonstration was given for the visitors. In addition to •track lights Wanganui has lights suspended frohi cables across the field, and five flood-l.ights. Information concerning the schemes in operation rt Auckland and UhristdnnTli has - been forwarded Mr. Huggett, whose report will be considered next week by the special committee appointed to decide the disposal of the £450 raised by the recent popular man competition. Our readers are further reminded that the Melbourne's Great Summer Sale commences on Friday morning at New Plymouth, and on Saturday morning at Inglewood, Stratford, and Eltham. The Sale advertisement already published conveys the wonderful scope of. bargains in every section of the store. All Summer goods are being literally '©laughtered.

Mr. J. R. Lorimer, who has been lessee of the North Egmont hostelry for the past three years, has signified his intention of retiring at the end of February. Land aggregating 232 acres in the Waverley district sold for £4O an acre at a sale of the estate of the late Mr? J. P. Wybourne last Friday. Another • section of the same property, 136 acres, failed to reach the reserve.

Arrangements have been made to start the clearing of the young forest trees on the Kaitake' ranges forthwith. Unemployed married men are being, engaged for the work by the Labour Office and the chairman of the Unemployment Committee (Mr. P. E. Stainton). The work itself will be under the direction of the Mr. Egmont National Park Board, and Mr. V. C. Davies, honorary ranger to the board.

A black cat that careered at full speed the full length of the Paritut.u green during the progress of the bowling tournament yesterday caused no little excitement. Certainly thereafter the luck of a number of rinks changed. One skip who was nine down prior to the diversion ran out a winner. However, • while the luck of some of the rinkg changed for- the good, that of an equal number turned the opposite way, so that no definite data could- be adduced to prove whether or not a black cat is lucky. The number of swimmers attending the New Plymouth municipal baths has not shown a decrease on last year despite the late summer.-. The October, takings showed an increase of £lO, November’s were £2' less, and in December there was an increase of £4. Even in January the decrease has not been noticeable. “Considering the wet weather the baths have been patronised very well,'’ said the custodian, Mr. Meuli; All the carnivals have been 'well attended and the takings at the combined clubs’ carnival constituted a record.

Efforts are being made in Auckland to rediscover the real musk plant, for which a prize of £l.OOO has been offered by the Daily Mail, London. The musk plant plays an important part in the manufacture of perfumes, but the species containing the required scent has apparently become extinct. . As the result of a circular from the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, about 40 plants have been received from all parts of the province, and they are being grown. It is too early to decide whether any of the plants is genuine musk, although all are flourishing.

Two minor motor accidents occurred in New Plymouth yesterday. A car proceeding along Devon Street from the town, and a car driven up Dawson Street from the seaward end collided at the intersection. The left-hand front mudguard of one was damaged considerably in the impact by the right-hand mudguard of the other. Swerving to avoid an approaching motor-lorry, a heavy service car southward bound yesterday morning narrowly averted a collision with a motor-lorry which, was being driven along Lemon Street in a westward direction. _ The service car met the lorry , at the Eliot Street intersection and, mounting the footpath, was making for the corner shop when it was brought to a standstill. The only, damage was a jarred front axle and a punctured tyre. •‘Apparently he throws artificial fite,” said Senior-Sergeant Shanahan in prosecuting a first offender for drunkenness in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch. “On Saturday afternoon betook one of these supposed fits and was taken to hospital. He was discharged almost immediately, as there was apparently nothing wrong with him. We had to pay ajnbulance fee. ' About a week ago he took another of these fits, and again, incurred an ambulance fee and a guinea for a doctor. As he is a destitute person we will have to submit the amount to the hospital board. I understand that he did the same tiling in Timaru.”

A young man went to a" tourist booking offee to reserve a seat, and when he arrived home he found he had lost a £5 note (states the Wanganui, Herald). He returned immediately to the office ami asked the clerk in charge if the money had been found. Replying in the negative, the clerk gave him the names and addresses of the people who had reserved seats that morning - , and the young man set off to interview them all, if necessary. He went to an hotel and inquired if a Mr, So-and-so was staying there, and the clerk said 'that he had just that minute got into a service car that was about to leave town. The young man dashed out as the car was about to. depart, and asked the passenger if he had found a £5 note. The passenger put his hand in his pocket, produced the note, and refused to take, a reward. Some people- certainly have luck.

The transmission line erected by the Public Works Department between Egmont Village and Midhirst is now in commission, with the result' that the New Plymouth electric authority is able to draw direct from the Taranaki Power Board's system at 33,000' volts. The first use of the new line '■ was made diir.inj the two dr three dry days of this week at the times of peak loads, between 10 a.m. and noon, and in the evenings.- The' new installation is giving every satisfaction, according to the electrical engineer, Mr.. W. H. Huggett. It is now possible to control the supply from the New Plymouth power station instead.of from Inglewood,-as under the old system drawing'6ooo volts. • Another great advantage to the borough is .that over the new high-voltage line, the full power available is being drawn, whereas on the old line losses in the power were experienced because it was not of stiff!-' cient capacity to transmit’ail the. cur-, rent sent from' Tai'iki. , ’ ■' "

The ultra-conservatism of some English manufacturers was strikingly illustrated at the Beekeepers’. Field Day (says Jhe Southland Daily-News). The Honey Producers’ Association approached an English firm with a prospective order for glass containers for honey. The manufacturers said that they made the containers in only a certain shape, and would not conform to the requirements of the H.P.A. The latter then approached a Belgian firm, and though they had not the necessary plant to manufacture the desired design, .they installed a new machine—and wli.it is more, delivered the bottles in London .at a cost considerably below (he quotation of their English rivals fof a very slightly dissimilar article! And in addition the manufacturers agreed to replace all breakages,'. A condition not granted by their competitors across the Channel.

Displayed in the stock auction adver; tisement columns of this issue are details of Messrs. Newton King, Ltd.,'s forthcoming series of sheep fairs. The opening fair being Uruti which is to be held on Saturday next. An entry of approximately 4000 sheep of all classes has been received for this fixture and the sale can be recommended to prospective sheep buyers. The following fairs should also be looked forward to .by'thteetlnterested in sheep as some.'of (he best" station lines in North Taranaki