LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1930, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Inglewood County’s-ranger, Mr. G. Barrack, reported to the council yesterday that he had been on the roads on several nights but had not found any unlighted vehicles. The Commissioner of Transport is to be requested by the Wellington City Council to frame a regulation requiring all motor-car owners and drivers to notify any change of address within seven days. The only case of infectious disease in the Inglewood County in the quarter that ended on March 31 was one of scarlet fever, reported the sanitary officer, Mr. F. Swindells, to the council yesterday. During road formation work in the Ara-whata-Road district Public Works employees struck a warm mineral spring. The water, which -has a temperature of about 75 degrees, is said to be of somewhat similar taste to Paeroa water. It is understood that a sample has been sent away to be analysed. "I believe that after this there will be no further extension of tram lines in New Plymouth,” said the Mayor (Mr H. V. S. Griffiths) at the meeting of Fitzroy ratepayers last night. “But we must face it to avoid the losses which are inevitable with the service at Westown as it is at present.” A solicitor staggered the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch with a fine piece of alliteration during his cross-examination of a police witness in a dangerous driving charge. “I suppose,” he said, "that you' were all wending your way home after wielding the willow?”

People complained of the high prices of tram fares, said Cr. P. E. Stainton at a meeting of Fitzroy ratepayers last night. It was, however, a fact that with concession tickets prices for three or four-section riders were lower to-day than they were In 1921. The Wellington City Council has decided to curtail the tramways service on Sundays. The tramways manager reported that during recent years there had been a marked diminution in the number of Sunday passengers, which could safely be attributed to the large increase in the number of private motor-care.

"If the general manager of railways does his job properly he should give Tommy Donovan a month’s holiday and a free pass on the railways in recognition of the extra business his prowess has brought the department,” remarked Mr. 8. G. Smith, M.P., at Waitara last night. The Postal Department, he added, should also frank his correspondence and telegrams. "Will the owner of car 62670 please remove it- off the fireplug,” announced the master of ceremonies to the dense crowd that thronged the Clifton Hall last night on the occasion of the welcome accorded Tommy -Donovan. Appropriately the name of the master of ceremonies was Mr. Waters. -

They welcomed fair criticism, said Cr. P. E. Stainton at a meeting of Fitzroy ratepayers last night when discussing the tramway extension proposals, but there was some criticism which was unfair. At the Workers’ Social Hall one man had said he had gone for a ride in a tram to see the need for the extra loops on the main route. He had found one other man in the tram. They had waited at the Belt Road loop for the other tram to pass. It had two people in it. The man said he had come home and thought, "Good heavens, we must duplicate the lines and speed up nil this heavy traffic.” This was unfair, said Mr. Stainton. If one went into a draper's shop at lunch-time one would see perhaps 15 assistants practically idle. Yet no one would then immediately say the employer should dismiss those assistants.

"You say your wife won’t cook for you, - ’ asked counsel, of defendant in a maintenance case at the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington. "Yes,” replied defendant. "Don’t you know that because of her eyesight she cannot cook without burning herself?” continued counsel. Opposing counsel : "She won’t have to cook for him any more, so it is not necessary to bring that up.”

Counsel to defendant in a maintenance case' in the Magistrate’s Court at Welling-' ton: "Were you carrying on a little betting business?” Defendant: "Yes, I was, but not now.” Counsel: "How long ago was it?” Defendant: "Three weeks or a month.” Counsel: "Why did you give it up? Were you given the tip?” Defendant: “Yes, I was given the tip.” Illustrating his statement that he was not enamored of any particular government, Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., told the story during an address at Camaru of a drover who stayed at a country hotel and ordered an early breakfast. He asked for two boiled eggs and the maid brought him a plate full. When he asked why, the maid said he might find two good The same applied to governments, said Mr. Polson. In five years his rates had risen from £6 to £l4, said a ratepayer at Fitzroy last night. He had had no improvements, no water and no sewerage. Where had the money gone? The increases in the rates, replied the Mayor, had been to cover the following items: Loss on the trams £7858, drainage loan £2908, interest on water loans £2712, additional hospital levy £1260, additional subsidies £1709, renewal of office equipment £2OO, Waiwakaiho bridge £6'so, unemployment £lOOO. On page three of this issue the Fanners’ Co-operative Organisation Society of N.Z., Ltd., gives notice that the society’s annual general meeting will be held on Friday,. June 2Q. ,