LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1930, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Snow over two feet deep fell round the hostels on Mount Egmont during the last few days. The steps leading to the front verandah at North Egmont are buried in snow. Snow has fallen on the track and in the gorges, but the track is negotiable if ears are equipped with chains. In New Plymouth the thermometer on the grass touched 32 degrees.

Plucked from the roof of a house in New Plymouth by the wind, on Wednesday evening a slate was whirled through the air and lodged in the wall of a house a few doors away. The same evening about nine feet of the fence outside the Magistrate’s Court was snapped bodily off. Every slice of the 21st birthday cake eaten at the New Plymouth winter show since yesterday has resulted in a clear profit to the society. Thousands of slices have been sold. On the first day the cake earned more than the amount of the gate takings. Yesterday only seven or eight tiers of the original 21 were left.

There is sufficient water power available in New Zealand to develop over 750,000 h.p. in the North Island and over 4,000,000 h.p. in the South Island, according to an estimate given to the Canterbury College Engineering Society by Mr. R. H. Packwood, engineer in charge of the construction of the Waitaki hydro-electric power station. “Administrative costs in Christchurch are the lowest, comparatively, of all cities of its size in Australia and' New Zealand, with, perhaps, the exception of Perth, and the rates in Christchurch are lower than in any other city in the Dominion,” said Mr. D. G. f Sullivan, M.P., in an address the other night. “Only one or two boroughs have lower rates,” he added.

A youthful player who had incurred the referee’s displeasure in a Rugby match on Saturday, to the extent of being ordered off the field for striking another player, made no attempt, states the Wellington Post, to deny the charges brought against him when he appeared before the managing body, even though the referee was not present to testify aghinst him. He pleaded that he acted under provocation, however, and when asked what evidence he had to offer, pointed to a discoloured eye. “I’ve brought my evidence with me,” he said. “He gave me a black eye.”

Not much is heard now- about the wrecked steamer Manuka, and very little is being washed ashore from her, telegraphs the Dunedin correspondent of the Wellington Post. The bulk of her cargo was either of the kind that spoils by immersion in water or of heavy material, such as machinery. The latest finds on the beaches are a few casks of wine, a number of drums of oil, some motor tires, and odds and ends of no particular value. It is questionable whether this miscellaneous salvage has, by sales, covered the expense that the Receiver (the Collector of Customs) has had to incur. The Salvage Company still retains ite right in the hull, and is awaiting an offer. The Hamilton Operatic Society at its annual meeting this week decided to proceed with a production this year. “Although ‘Gipsy Love’ showed a financial loss, it was an artistic success, and the members enjoyed the work immensely,” stated Mr. A. E. Bouillon, president, in hia annual report. The cost of the production, he added, was £633, a large figure but lower than that of the previous productions. The total takings for' the season were £507, a decrease of £l9B on the 1928 season. The statement of assets and liabilities showed £215 9s on fixed deposit and no liabilities. The membership of the Auckland Automobile Association now stands at over 14,000, according to a statement made by the secretary, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, at a meeting of the council of the association on Wednesday evening. The secretary said that while certain resignations had been received, they were in nearly every case from motorists who had disposed of their cars, and who intended rejoining when they purchased new cars. The annual meeting of the New> Plymouth Beautifying Society will be held at Mr, Hughes’ office on Monday. It is hoped that citizens will show their sympathy by attending and thus encourage the public-spirited people who have engaged in thia important section of community work for so many years. The committee, it is understood, is facing this season’s operation not only without a penny but with some accounts owing. ,

’Gt » fair question, and I can give you b ready answer," eaid a witness in the Supremo Court at Auckland on Wednesday when he was asked why a iicrnaa had been tied to the ground with wires. "It was done more In answer w Conan Doyle thagi anything else,” be continued, laughing. “Conan Doyle sent a message round the world in 1928 that there was a great catastrophe coming., and 1 thought I would get ready for it” “I see,” said Mr. Justice Ostler, “You thought you would be prepared to prevent the world catastrophe.” The witness said it was more of a joke than anything else. The record number of eggs for a pheasant to lay in a season was requested by Mr. W. H. Christensen, Feilding, in a letter read at a meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society on Wednesday evening. He said that he had a hen shut up with a cock bird complete the season by laying 125 eggs. A book published by the United States Government stated that the record for one season was 104 eggs. No member of the society was able to give any information on the subject.

The chewing of gum or anything else is barred in the Auckland Police Court. During the hearing of a case a youth, immaculately attired in a navy suit of the latest cut, made his way to the witness ..—box, chewing vigorously. “What’s your name?” asked Chief Detective Hammond. The youth rolled his gum, or whatever it was, from one side of his mouth to the other, swallowed hard, and started to speak. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: “Have you got a handkerchief?” The youth: “Yes.” Mr. Hunt: “Well, take that stuff out of your mouth. I won’t have people chewing like that in Court.” When members of the clergy and representatives of the social services in Napier met members of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board on Monday, opinions differed as to whether or not there is more distress, but while some had found the position worse than 12 months ago, others considered, so far as their experience was concerned, that there was not the same distress. All admitted, however, that it was the itinerant person, the one who travelled from one district to another soliciting assistance and not caring for work, who was giving a good deal of trouble.

About 1 o’clock on Wednesday morning a motor-car owned by Mr. A. Larkin was completely destroyed by fire on the Main South Road near the Parihaka Road. While returning from a dance at Oaonui Mr. Larkin noticed smoke rising from the floor boards and as soon as he opened the door flames burst out and the car was soon a mass of fire. Mr. Larkin and his companion, Mr. George Grey, escaped without injury. The car was insured for £2OO, but Mr. Larkin estimates his loss at over £lOO. “This is the shortest session I have ever had,” said the magistrate, Mr. R. W. Tate, after hearing a few undefended debt cases at New Plymouth yesterday. The clerk announced that the Court would adjourn and everyone began to leave except one man, who sat patiently in the body of the Court. It was found that he was waiting to defend his case and had missed hearing his name called. The best solution was a second_session arid in a few minutes the clerk was calling for the second time in half an hour, “The Magistrate’s Court is now open!” As he returned to the bench the magistrate murmured something about counting unhatehed chickens.

The splendid behaviour of the Taranaki B team on its recent visit to Wanganui was commented upon by the proprietor of the hotel at which they stayed in the course of a letter to the Taranaki Rugby Union, They had set an example to other teams, by their gentlemanly conduct, he said, and added that the manager (Mr. R. C. Rutherford) was also to be commended for the example set.

The Kaponga stock sale conducted by Newton King, Ltd., will be held to-day. At the same time Mr. W. R. Saddler s choice dairy stock and implements will be auctioned. Included is a 3-cow milking machine with electric motor. A straight lease 100-acre dairy farm is advertised by W. H. and A. McGarry, Eltham.

The May issue of the Taranakian, the magazine of the New , Plymouth ® o y s Hi<rh School, fully upholds the standard set in previous years. The different sides of school life are described in interesting fashion, while the photographs of school teams will be of interest to old boys. A feature of the issue is an excellent panoramic view oT the “guHyi in its improved condition. Several pages of original verse bear testimony to the standard of literature prevailing, and last but not least is the old boys’ section. This grows larger every year. It contains news of old scholars in many centres, and interesting letters from old boys abroad.

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For economy and for quality ■ shop at The Hustlers. Ladies' Ribbed Vests, winter weight, at 1/11; Ladies’ Cream Ribbed Cotton Vests, bound silk braid, at 2/3; Ladies Cotton and Art Silk Bloomers, at 3/11; Ladies’ coloured Twill Flannelette Nights, 7/6; wrapround Corsets, all sizes, 5/11 pair. The Hustlers, Drapers.

The Melbourne Ltd. have opened out special lines in boys’ and youths’ lumber jackets, excellent quality, N.Z. manufacture, at 12/6 to 18/0, according to size. Also a special line of ladies’ “Texet” cardigans at 24/0 for women’s and 27/6 for outsizes. Both above are outstanding value.