LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1931, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The condition of Harry Bercy, who was injured if) a Mokoia timber mill accident on Monday, though still very serious showed slight improvement yesterday.

The kindness and generosity of the poor are proverbial. The wife of a poor settler in the New Plymouth district recently wrote to the local earthquake relief committee offering to take and hospitise a family from the afflicted area, though she and her family were hard up against it. Travellers between Awakino and Mahoenui cannot help being struck with the spread of ragwort on some of the abandoned farms in the Mahoenui district. Just now the noxious weed is in full bloom, and in a week or two the winds will be distributing the seed over the neighbouring, countryside. Dischargee from bankruptcy were granted by Mr. Justice Adatns to the following applicants in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday:—Charles Henry Fox, New Plymouth,/ music dealer; William John Sandford, AurOa, farmer; Augustus Oga Talau Chamberlin, Stratford, manufacturers’ agent; Arthur Stanley Rogers, Hawera, florist; William Tuffil Purchas.

"There are not a great many houses of good standard on the market for tenants just now,” said a Christchurch land agent to a Times reporter on Saturday, “but there x are a good number of dwellings of poor class available. All prospective tenants are looking for all modern conveniences at low rental, ar 1 at times it is haixl to suit them. When the wages cut comes into operation, I think there will be more good class homes to let.” ' . Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P., who is visiting Hokitika after his return from the earthquake area, writes to a _ local journal stating that the report in an Auckland paper that he directed operations and swung a 141 b hammer almost incessantly is quite contrary to fact. All that he did was to render general assistance and advice where he could to the working parties, with whom he -was associated while staying in Napier.

While there has been some controversy, especially since the Primo Minister’s economy proposals have been announced, whether there has been any appreciable fall in the cost of. living, there is no doubt there has been a drop in prices for some household commodities, says the Otago Daily Times. One well-known firm of soap manufacturers, for instance, has announced, for the third time within 12 months, a substantial reduction in prices, and other soap manufacturers throughout Now Zealand have been compelled to follow suit. As a result of this policy soap is now being sold at practically pre-war prices.

To-day is the last day for payment of Taranaki County rates before the imposition of the 10 per cent, penalty, and as usual the last week is proving a. very busy one for the county treasurer. Despite the prevailing economic conditions ’ the rates are being paid freely, over £7OOO having been received since Friday. Some rate-, payers who are finding it difficult to meet the full amount of rates are making a payment on account, and thus reducing the amount that will be liable to the penalty. Of the general rates £2975 Is lid has been received during the last two days, £1846 18s 6d on Tuesday, and £ll2B 3s 5d on Monday. Of a/total of £16,016 7s 7d general rates levied for the year, there were outstanding last night £3890 18s 6d.

That serious consideration should be given to the question of whether the number of members of Parliament should or should not be reduced was the opinion expressed by a farmer in conversation with an Otago Daily Times reporter last week. It was questionable, he added, whether it was necessary to have four members representing a city. Three, in his opinion, would be sufficient. The reduction of country members in some of the provinces also warranted consideration. In view of the cost to the taxpayers no further appointments should be made to the Legislative Council. The last appointments had not been justified either on the grounds of necessity in the public interests or the merits of the appointees, and they had only added to the burden of the taxpayers.

It is anticipated that repairs to the Union Company’s motor vessel Hauraki will be completed at New' Plymouth today and that the vessel will sail this afternoon for Auckland, where she will go into dock for permanent repairs. A special patch of wood and canvas has been prepared, and this will be placed over the hole. Yesterday morning a preliminary inquiry, purely of a formal nature, was held in New Plymouth before Mr. T. M. O’Reilly, Collector of Customs. The inquiry was held in camera and the evidence of the harbour-master-pilot, the master of the Hauraki and officers on deck at the time of the mishap, was heard. This will be forwarded to the Secretary of Marine, who will decide whether further action shall be taken.

A very rough passage down the coast from Onehunga to New Plymouth was experienced by the Northern Company’s motor vessel Hauturu on Monday evening and yesterday morning. The vessel crossed the Manukau ■ bar. in comparatively good weather and proceeded down the coast with a strong westerly wind blowing. About 7 o’clock on Monday evening, when the Hauturu was about 27 miles south of the Manukau Heads, the wind veered to southwest, and increased to gale force. Heavy cross-seas struck the vessel’s, bow and caused her to roll violently. Water was being shipped throughout the whole night, and the decks were awash. Despite the heavy seas a speed of between five and six knots was made, and though the ship was tossed about considerably ’rntil she \arrived at New Plymouth at 8.15 a.m. yesterday she was never in danger and no damage was sustained.

The annual autumn flower show to be held in the Rahotu Hall to-day and tomorrow promises to be a great success. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., will officially open the show at 2 p.m. this afternoon. A considerable number of entries have come forward and the show promises to maintain its usual high standard. The ladies, upon whom the success of the show practically depends, are working assiduously towards making it a huge success. The management of the Westward Ho Midget' Golf Courses, realising that times are not quite what it would like them to be, have decided to reduce the cost of the baby golf game. During the day the prices are now sixpence a round for adults and threepence for children. At night the charge is ninepence a round, or two rounds for a shilling. This puts the game well within the reach of everyone. Another innovation is the providing of morning and afternoon tea on all the courses. Placers maj' now have a round of golf and morning or afternoon tea on any of the courses for the sum of one shilling.