LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1930, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In eight years the production of the Warea Dairy Company has increased from 266 tons to 460 tons, the increase having been steadily maintained each year. "Nothing delights a Fijian constable more than to have occasion to ‘run in’ a whit© person,” said the Rev. R. B. Gosnell at Fitzroy last night. -‘He literally swells with pride as he marches the victim along.” . “This is the eleventh annual meeting of the society,” said Dr. George Home in opening the meeting of the New Plymouth Astronomical Society last evening. “As usual there is plenty of space, we are not exactly crowded—” “But all the stars are here,”, said one member. The Chocolate aeroplane left New Plymouth yesterday for Wellington, piloted by Captain AL C. AlcGregor with Lieut J. AL Buckeridge as passenger. Captain N. E. Chandler expects to leave for Blenheim this morning but his departure depends upon the business of his passenger, Alajor Hewlett.

The price of first grade petrol was still 2s a gallon at some petrol stations in New Plymouth yesterday, but it had been raised to 2s 3d at others. Stations that Avere selling at 2s yesterday stated that the price would be in some cases 2s 3d and in others 2s 4d from to-day on. Second grade spirit would continue to be a penny less all round.

The Hustlers opened a branch shop at Inglewood on Wednesday, July 15, with an opening sale ehowing tremendous bargains. Prices are cut very drastically at both their shops. An inspection cordially invited. You will be well satisfied if you do your shopping at The Hustlers', Drapers.

The promptitude of Customs officials, it was stated yesterday, gained 10,000 threepence.? for the Government. One company had 10,000 gallons of petrol in store, it is understood, but before the petrol could be sent to the garages the quantity was assessed and brought under the new regulations. It is said that officials were waiting at 5 o’clock on the manager’s doorstep. Listed with four others as caught riding his bicycle without a light, a young man who could not appear at the New Plymouth Police Court yesterday sent a letter to the Court. The letter said the light and pump from his bicycle had been stolen and he jumped on his bicycle to catch the constable and tell him about it. The constable, however, said the young man had not mentioned the matter, so the usual fine was inflicted.

The hope that the study of astronomy would be taken up by the schools was expressed by Dr. George Home, president of the New Plymouth Astronomical. Society, at the annual meeting of the society last night. An association called Students of th© Starry-Skies, by means of which it was hoped to establish a central observatory, had recently been formed in New Zealand. He understood the-movement was being taken into the schools, which was one of the things the society aimed at. The Finance Committee reported to the Invercargill City Council last week that it had received a letter from a married woman stating that she was in receipt of the council’s advice that it denied liability in connection with her claim for-12s lid. in respect of a pair of stockings stated to have been torn in the Civic Theatre on June 9, renewing her application and advising that if the claim were not recognised she would take legal action for the recovery of the amount. No recommendation was made. .

At one stage during a rodeo at Te Hapara, near Gisborne, last week, no doctor could be found on the ground, despite th? evident necessity for a medical man to be in constant attendance. The injured men were fortunate that Dr. Murray, a member of the British Rugby team, was present, and attendedto their injuries, despite the fact that he himself was suffering from, a dislocated shoulder and was able to use only one arm. Dr. Murray received an ovation from the spectators. Referring to the new tariff schedule a speaker at a meeting of the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Cbramerc© last night said he understood it was the opinion of the wholesale merchants that the retail price of some of the cheaper brands of cigarettes would be raised to a stock price of 9d and all brands would be sold at that price. It was expected that manufacturers and wholesale firms would compensate for the imposition of the additional penny a packet in tariff by reducing their advertising and disposing of the coupon system of encouraging consumption of any particular brand of cigarettes. One of the difficulties faced by missionaries in Fiji'was that of the everincreasing Indian, said th© Rev. R. B. Gosnell during a lecture at Fitzroy last night. It was possible to induce Fijians to become Christians, and from the time of the first missionary larger numbers had beeji converted each year. The Indian population had increased until it was 70,000 at the present time. The Fijian population was steady, and had practically ceased to increase. Hence, in a comparatively short time the Indians would outnumber the Fijians—and it was almost impossible to convert them. “That growing Indian population is but three days’ steaming from New Zealand—and sometimes one is almost inclined to question the true loyalty of the Indian to the British throne,” concluded Mr, Gosnell.

“Though it is not generally known,” said the Rev. R. B. Gosnell during a lecture at Fitzroy last night, “the coconuts we get in New Zealand are old ones and would not be eaten in Fiji.” He explained how the natives climbed the palms and knocked the nuts off. A huge land crab also scaled the trees and cut the stem of Hie nuts which in falling were broken, providing a meal for the crab after it had descended the trunk. “The natives have a way of getting over that and beating the crab, ho said. “They form a net of leaves and place it round the trunk of the palm several feet from the ground. When th© crab feels the leaves he steps off the trunk, thinking he is on the ground, and falls through space to be forming a meal for the natives in the morning.” • * Some amusement was created at the Power Boards’ Conference at Wellington recently by a suggestion /he conference should consider the advisability of recommending an amendment to the Eleqtric Power Boards Act, 1925, to make it possible for power boards to purchase gas works. Mr. H. F. Toogood said that the position was not such a ridiculous thing as it appeared on the surface. In other parts of the world there were hundreds- of bodies supplying both electricity and gas. Air. E. Hitchcock aroused fresh laughter by suggesting that if the supply authorities did their job as they ought, they might be offered many gas works. He considered it would he preferable to make it legal for supply authorities to refuse to buy gas works. The remit was carried.

The New Plymouth branch of the Lalxnir Party conducted a very satisfactory euchre party at the Agricultural Hall last night. The aggregate prize, an open order for £2 10s, was won by Air. J. George, Airs. Bolton won the ladies’ first prize, a dinner waggon donated by Air. Beard. Mesdamcs Young and Courtney shared th© second prize. The men’s first prize, a seagrass chair donated by Alessrs.. Per-rcau and Wilson, a vs won by Air. G. Walker and th© second by Air. 8. Jackson. Airs. Sutherland won the lucky prize.

Emphasising the value to New Plymouth and Taranaki of busy times at th© port the chairman of the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce (Air. J. AlcLeod) stated at a meeting of the council last night that with the increased activity at the port and railway yards duping the past week or two unemployment had for th© time being practically disappeared from New Plymouth, It just showed, he said, how valuable it would be to establish better communication by road and rail with hinterlands such as the Ohura, and thus bring increased traffic through the port. If the Main Highways Board would only us© some of the new petrol tax in opening up good roads to the outlying districts the extra tax' might be a blessing in disguise to the people of the piovince.

Messrs. Newton King, Ltd., wish to draw the attention of intending investors to a very desirable business sito that they are offering at auction on the 15th of August on behalf of the Estate of the late Richard Langman Benr»