LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1931, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Two big picnics are to be held in New Plymouth this week, arriving by special 'trains. One is the Sti'atforc) School and district picnic at East End /beach to-morrow, and the other the Toko branch line schools’ picnic at Ngamtitu on Friday.

Mr. W. Summers, Ross Road, Tariki, had the misfortune to lose his car by fire yesterday afternoon. He was proceeding along Tariki Road on his way home when the engine backfired and burst into flames. The car was a total loss.

When a defaulting husband at the Wanganui Court had tendered his evidence he remarked: “The wife has a few cups and gold medals that I Won. I would like to get hold of them.” “I wonder she has not sold them,” replied the magistl-ate. “She has nothing to live on.” About 150 pheasants are being liberated by the Tai'anaki Acclimatisation Society throughout the society’s district. Some have already been liberated this week and the balance will be' freed within, the iiexi week or two. The birds are young and well-grown and should be Well able to fend for themselves.

The recently-appointed ground engineer to the Western Federated (N. 1. Flying Club, Mr. Allan Salter, arrived at New Plymouth from Wellington yesterday. Mr. Sijter is an expert in rig<riiig and engine work and will commence work immediately upon the plane at' present laid lib in the Now Plymouth hangar with a damaged undercarriage.

Provided the tides are suitable aild that reasonable drrangenients can be made, thie Kew Plymouth Amateur 'Swimming Club mteiid& to hold the annual open water distance race for the Flannagan Cup on March 15. The course will be over a distance of two aild aJialf to two. and three-quarter nliles ■from the municipal baths to tlie Eagt End beach.

A strange visitor to the “learh to swim” week classes at the New Plymouth municipal baths yesterday morning was a small grey penguin, which was brought in by a dog. The bird Was not injured and immediately made for the baths. Chase was given by a boy but the penguin was not so quiet and fluffy as it appeared and when it was cornered it ftwam' around its adversary and fastened & tenacious beak into Hie boy’s back. The workmen employed at thp MacDonald mine, Waikato, about 45 in number, have ceased, work pending a decision from the unionist workers employed at the Glen Afton collieries. It is alleged by the miners’ union that the Glen Aftoh collieries’ have union members on ’ their books awaiting employment, but that they have bgen superseded. by non-union men.

Some objection was made to the term “refugees” being applied to the stricken people from the earthquake area when relief matters were being considered at the central executive meeting last week. They were not to be compared with the war refugees evacuated Belgium, said one member, although that impression was being C).'6a,ted. Tfiey should, he suggested, bb called “visitors from earthquake area.” The whereabouts of Mr. Michael H. Baker, an English visitor, is causing considerable anxiety to his agents, Messrs. Thomas Cook and. Son, who have explored all available resources in vain attempts to trace him. Mr. paker s itinerary 'provided for —ljis arrival at Napier on February 2, aiid lie was to stay at the Masonic Hotel for a few days, after which he was to make hi's own way back to Auckland to sqil by the Aorahgi on February 10. The master of tfie Aorangi has advised that Mr. Baker is not <Jn board and he has not called for letters awaiting hint at Auckland. Mr. Baker’s relatives reside in Bristol, England. An ex-lnvercargjll girl, whose honie has been in Napier during the past few years, gives an, example in a'letter, savs tile Southland News, of an effect of" last week’s terrible upheaval, apart from' deaths and loss of properties. Her hair, previously brown in colour, has turned quite white, a change which has probably been experienced by many other inhabitants of the unfortunate district.

“Builders should ensure uniformity of material in construction,” said Mr. H. F, Skey, director of the Magnetic Observatory at Christchurch, when emphasising to a reporter the need'for guarding against earthquake risks iii building. “Uniformity in the foundation. Is also imperative. Sand under ohd side of the buildhig and clay under the other may mean disaster.”'

A peculiar exhibit was produced at a nieetjng of the Sb'utlilahd Accljiiiat|satioh Society last week in the form of a trout about three years old with a ring of colliiloid around its body behind the 'gills. The ring, which appeared be part of a diist case for a watch, had evidently been on the fish for some time and had cut deeply into its flesh. The fish was cifUght in the Mataura on tfie fly- . .

The earthquake was responsible for the restoration of a good supply of fresh water in a Creek which runs through the properties of Messrs. J. D. Grant and J. E. Haisinan at Hexton, says the Poverty Bay Herald. Before the disturbance occurred the stream was practically dry, but after the earthquake it Was discovered that the crjsek held' a quantity of clear, running water, which was a foot deep in places. ' It is believed that the disturbance opened up small springs in the bed of the stream, and the underground source has since provided a good supply of water for stock and irrigation purposes. “Most children are born with two great disadvantages —a father and a mother and many schools have been ruined by just those two said Professor J. Shelley, at a gathering in Christchurch last Week. “There are cases in Christchurch of young men—some over 20 years fof age-—Who have been absolutely ruined by their parents.” Professor Shelley made these remarks wlfen emphasising the need for a certain amount of separation of child from parent so that it could develop its own individuality under expert guidance.

“I should like to see a scheme established by which as : cures iii Polynesia become vacant clergymen would be sent from New Zealand, to fill them ■ for periods of three years,” said the Rev. F. B. Redgrave, at a sitting of the Anglican General Synod in Christchurch Fast week, when a motion was moved that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel be asked,to act as the collecting agent in England for Polynesia. He mentioned that since the present mission had been enthroned the number of workers in Polynesia had more than quadrupled* Bishop Kern pt ho me said that the society had supported the work in Polynesia for the past 50 years. Now that Polynesia was associated with the province of New Zealand it was desirous to have the official backing of synod for any further application from the society.

The tender of £4125 of Julian and Son for the building of a new laundry and boiler-house at the New Plymouth Hospital was accepted at a meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board in New Plymouth yesterday. The acceptance of the tender is subject to the consent of the Health Department.

Contributions to the earthquake relief funds continue to come in from New Plymouth and the country districts. The township of Inglewood has contributed £328 to the fund and Urenui over £lOO. The total amount of the funds in New Plymouth and the country districts is now well over £6OOO, The Chinese commqpity in the town has come forward ana donated through Young Joe the sum of £lO 9s.

The following is a copy of a memorandum from the Public Service Commissioner circulated among the members of tjie Dairy Division: “I am directed to advise that, in view of the present financial stringency it has been decided that for the present year annual leave can bo granted only in those cases where the staff concerned ig able to provide the necessary relief. Where it is not possible to grant leave of absence without relief such leave .must be deferred for the current year.” “We have been living in such glorious times in New Zealand that we didnot need to be farmers,” sttid Mr. P. J. Small, primary producers’ representative on the Unemployment Board, to a Wanganui meeting. “All we had to do was to imagine we were. Prices went up and we were all prosperous. Everything that could be'given to a country was given to this one. I don’t say that it wasn't right. I think we had a right to have it, but we have had our fun now and we must face the other side a bit. W? must face the? mqsic, and wo will db it, too. The people have British pluck.”

Of the twemty-flve prisoners who appeared before Mr. Justice MacGregor in the Supreme Court at Wellington last week eight, several of whom ,ate quite young, were for sentence bn hjiarges of breaking and entering and theft, or breaking and entering With intent to commit a crime. li|s Honour remarked that it appeared that the pffopc.o of breaking into places wps becoming altogether too common. Some meh, lie said, seemed to think that when they got hard up thpy could go and help themselves from their neighbours’ places..

Tile erection of the George Tabor ward at the New Plymouth _ Hospital should be completed well within the contract time, reported the architects (Messrs. Messenger and. Taylor) to the Taranaki Hospital ooard yesterday. The tile roof had been completed and plasterers, plumbers and painters were well forward with tlieir rbspeptiie trades. Carpenters hdd been for two wepks, but wore to start; together with drain-layers, tins week. The Tarahaki Hospital Board decided yesterday that it would not bo justified in making a grant to the earthquake relief fund. Mr. R. J. Deare suggested that the bbard make a donation of £lOO to the fiind, but board members felt that as the Board’s money 'wap def rived froth local bodies which h|id already contributed the bqafd would not bp justified in makihg a donation. It was pointed out that the board would probably help by taking sufferers in the hospital and in the old people’s home.

The criminal business of the Supi'eme Court in NeW Plymouth was completed yesterday after t\yo days’ hearing. Three nien concerned in tw.o of the four indictmehts pleaded, gqilty and were sentenced, in the morning.. Juries rqtlirned two verdicts of not guilty, the first concqrniilg an allegation of theft against a Te K;rl fanner, and the second chargee of carnal knowledge and indecent assault against a man who was re-tried yesterday after the jury had disagreed, tile previous day. Tfiis morning a defended diVbrce case will be heard before a jury.

. The depredations of blackbirde againstah unlikely and unsuspected product of his. garden have aroused tfie wrath of a New Plymouth resident. Though he kept a strict watch for marauders he felt no concern for a bed of cucumbers u'htfl a casual inspection showed that a hole had been peeked in the side of 1 evdry cdcumber of any &ize, and the Whole df the interior eaten away, leaving only a thin crust. The largo leaves, of the plant had acted as a <?cver for the birds and screened them from watching eyes. Forty-two members of tffe Taranaki Alpiiie Club reached the top of Mt. Egmoiit during last tyeck-end and, frdfii t-hfe time thyy left the North Egmdnt houses, 41 of the party .periodically succumbed to laughter at tbt spectacle of the remaining man absorbed in winning a good-natured wager. There was little sun. to ‘speak of and certainly no. ;-ain,. yet a tattered umbrella, fully open, was carried, to the summit and the bet won. Other members the •party state that the sight of the man and tfie Open umbrella parsing oyer the Lizard Was one which will never be forgotten.

With reference tfi th? stocking of the Alanga-ftittbob Lake with troiit a Ne'y Pjjmioluth a»gl<jf’ expressed the hope yesterday that no nshi|jg should, b? permitted in tlie lake .for at'least tivo years. Yearlings, after put into tlie lake, should, he said, grow to about ten inches during thpir the third' year the fish Would be L? or 16 inched in length, aitid from 2 to in weight—perhaps heavier if the feeding wei'e plentiful. At that stage tfiey would make good feeding) and tlie female fish Would be given & chaiice to sturdy yopng fish under good conditions.

Unptinqtuality is abhorrent ip the administration of jiisticp. It is alniqst' a crime itself. Tillis"oflicialdqiq was.’discomfited yesterday whefi one jurdt was absent upon the rs-asbcmbling qf the Supreme Court in New Plyinouth at 2.15 p.m. The iffissing man been seen in an huctiptieCf’s mart during the luncheon adjournment. That Was (he last known Of him.’ The minutes ticked on. The judge was waiting ip hi's room. The position began to grow distinctly delicate. At last, at 2.24 p.m., the juror arrived. “Sir,” said hp as the judge tobfi Ills seat, “I nipst apologise Ipv beihg late. The town clojcfi is wrong dh one aide.” And so It whs, for at that moment the Street face was still recording the time as 1.3-7, though the chimes had refused to ■believe it.

At Messrs Newton King, Ltd.’s, sale at Kapoiiga on Friday, a particularly fine line of 35 forward and store edws is being offered. BtilL, weaner Jersey heifers and lanibs are included in ar. attractive catalogue.

Mr. D. D. Ince is lecturing at the Y.W.U.A. Hall, New. Flj'mouth, on Thursday night on “The Resumption of War.” Mr. Ince, who is a prominent member of the British Israel Federation; ffias spent 28 years of fiis life in the East and. cap apeak with first-hand know? ledge of his subject. Tlie proceeds of the lecture will be given to the earth-, quake fund. The Mayor (Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths) Will take the chair at 8 p.im

Men! You can’t afford tto miss these bargains at the Melbourne, Ltd.’s _ great summer sale now on. Men’s athletic singlets now 1/- each; famous Aertex underwear, all now less 20 per cent.; men’s wiretwist shirts now 3/6; pin point working shirts, now 5/6; fancy cotton sdeks, now 6fl pair; Bruce all-wool knitted socks, now 2 pairs for 1/9; men s,'lo/6 felt hats, now 8/6; men’s 14/6 pyjamas, bow 10/6.*