LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1931, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Greymouth Borough Council last week received a letter from the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, requesting the council to grant facilities to its engineer to allow him to attend the annual meeting to be held in Wellington on February 23 next. The Mayor said that the council was not incurring any such expense at present. The Addington workshops closed on Saturday for three weeks. It is usual, says the Christchurch Times, for the shops to put off their men for a fortnight without pay, and in busy times in the past the break has been as low aa ten days. A number of employees, 48 altogether, w-ere put off permanently on Saturday. Most of them are carpenters. Two of the walnut trees in Woolston Park h'ave not had their bark cut about in any way and, says the Christchurch Sun, they are .bearing excellent crops. The tree which is regarded as the visitors’ book, and. has had. its bark cut to pieces by persons carving their initi'als in it, has hardly any nuts on . it. A fresh coat of red plaint, faced with white, has been bestowed on the 28 fire alarm boxes in New Plymouth, and the boxes were recently tested. With the recently-installed new switchboard and other equipment at the station the fire alarm system in the borough is now in excellent order.

A replica of the world’s first reaper, invented by C. H. McCormick, has been presented to the Canterbury Museum by the International Harvester Company. With the reaper there is a set of photographs showing the methods used in reaping crops from the days of the sickle and scythe to the present time. ■ /'

In one of the primer classes at Marsden School, Wellington, are triplets, two girls and a boy. The girls tied for first prize in their class and were given an ovation at the prize-giving when they went up to the platform to receive their prizes and a congratulatory handshake from Bishop Sprott.

The library scheme at the New (Plymouth Public Hospital conducted under the auspices of the New Plymouth group of Toe H has been in existence for a month and has been much appreciated. The public appeal for books resulted in 600 being collected, and a selection of these is taken round the hospital by hand trolleys on Mondays and Thursdays of each week, each patient being given an opportunity to make a choice. That the clergy do not stand apart as making up the Church, but that all have a part in it, some with different functions from others, was stressed by Dean Julius, preaching at the Anglican Cathedral at Christchurch on Sunday morning. He stated that he had recently heard it remarked of a young man that he was "going into the Church.” "You have all been in it many years,” Dean Julius told the congregation. “Everyone of you is a priest in God’s Church.” A story is being told by a Suva tobacconist and bookseller of an incident during the visit of the Malolo, with American tourists. An American entered the shop and inquired about postcards. After a long examination he decided to take one, and tendered a dime (ten cents) to pay for the threepenny card. As he h’anded it over, he said, “I’ll take this one, and —er —there is the matter of exchange.”

A tennis racquet donated to the Taranaki provincial tennis championship committee for presentation to the winner of the championship singles was destroyed by fire in transit from Wellington. The racquet was being conveyed by la motor-lorry which caught fire on the road. The secretary of the committee received a telegram containing a message to this effect yesterday and promising another racquet.

Apropos of the agitation to curtail administration expenses of local bdies, the chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board (Mr. J. K. Hornblow) intimated at Monday’s meeting of the board that it would be to the advantage of the board to take over the control of the Otaki sanatorium from the Health Department. It would pay the board and would be to the welfare of the patients and satisfaction of the department. He added that he would bring the matter before the board at a future meeting. The last of the concerts arranged by the New Plymouth Rotary club and held at H.M. Reformatory this year was given last night, when a large party of Rotarians visited the institution. The concert was given by Rotarians and assisting artists and was of a high order. It was opened by community singing Jed by Mr. P. E. Stainton and the Rev. R. B. Gosnell, and the items by visitors were interspersed with numbers by the inmates. The evening concluded with a fine display of physical drill given by a squad of 20 of the inmates.

At least half a dozen homes now being built in the Remuera, Orakei and St. Helier’s districts show an adaptation to colonial conditions of the old English type of house, with its steep roof and casement windows, says the Auckland Star. Commanding sites have been dhosen, and there is evidence of compactness in the design. These ’houses range in cost from £l5OO to £3OOO. All of them show that architects are paying much more attention now to the planning of kitchens, and the service quarters generally. This, of course, is in accordance with the present demand for economy in the area to be cleaned, as well as in the initial cost.

Kanaka trees in New ‘Plymouth have ■been attacked by an insect and the result has been that the trees have been shedding a gummy substance which covers the ground beneath the tree. Leaves of an affected plant were submitted to Mr. W. W. Smith, who has supplied the following information: “The plant which you sent is the karaka (Corynoc&rpus laevigatas). The large green scale insect is ‘Ctinochiton viridis.’ The latter attacks a number of species of native trees, causing the leaves to crumple or curl inwards. It attacks both large and small leaved trees and shrubs. It has been observed forming clusters on nineteen species of native plants and is the largest of native scale insects.”

Satisfactory results attended the testing of the radio set recently installed behind the chief post office in New Plymouth. The set is a short-wave transmitting one, of standard type, like others installed at chief post offices for use in emergency. The lesson learned in the February earthquake, when Napier and Hastings were cut off through the destruction of the telegraph lines, is being put to practical purpose. The set will also be invaluable in locating faults on lines, such as occur in storms. Housed at the top of the linesmen’s shed, the set is as safe from injury as it can be. It is attended by a Telegraph Department employee (Mr. L. E. Birch). An arranged schedule is maintained with other emergency stations, and the set thus kept in working order. Ladies White Cotton Vests, fine ribbed, no sleeves, at IOJd each. Wonderful values in Children’.a Socks for summer wear, at 1/6. Lace and White Cotton Children’s Sox at 6d pair. Pure Linen Tea Towelling, closely woven, and very absorbent, at 104 d yard. Selwyn Silk Hose, mock fashioned, a beautiful stocking, at 2/U- The Hustlers, Devon St.*

Railway goods traffic to and from New Plymouth has been very busy during the past few days, and the goods shed accommodation has been severely taxed. Passenger traffic is showing signs of an improvement, and there is every prospec of a. good Christmas season. Kingfishers appear to be increasing in numbers in the Whangamomona district. There is a nest containing seven young ones on a stump under a railway bridge in the township. Three young men wio were looking at the nest received a shock when a kingfisher suddenly swooped down viciously from a nearby tree, narrowly missing with its sharp beak the face of one of them.

"As far as can be seen at present the Christmas mail is doing equally well, or better than last year,” said the chiei postmaster at New Plymouth (Mr. F. E. Beamish) yesterday. The outward mail at the post office on Monday was considered almost a record for that period ol the year. The parcel mails have been heavy with small packages predominating. The inward mails have also been heavy and have required quick handling by an augmented staff. On'the grounds that the cost would be too great, two representatives from the Wanganui Hospital Board will no attend next year’s conference boards of New Zealand to be held at Timaru. The chairman, at last week s meeting, said that the trip for the two would cost £32. The meeting decided to forward a remit to the conference that the conference should be held in a more central part of the Dominion. One memher said that the only place for the conference was Wellington. , An interesting souvenir of the Aa-? 3 when watermen used to ply between the shore and the sailing ships which visited Wellington is now in the possession of the Wellington Harbour Board. It is a telescope in excellent condition and ot very creditable workmanship, made, according to the inscription, by T. H. Marriott, of Wellington, in 1844. The telescope was presented to Mr. A. G. Barnett, secretary of the board, by Mr. J. Thompson, aged 86, who is the last surviving member of the company oi watermen who were such an interesting feature of Wellington’s early life. Not even butter at 98s seems to have had much effect on the quantity .of motor traffic that has been thronging the New Plymouth streets during the past day or two, and there have been a number of narrow escapes from minor collisions, while in. some cases collisions have actually occurred. On one occasion a car turning in the road between Lover and Liardet Streets was struck by another coming along the road, with the usual bent mudguards and running board resulting. Later there was another accident near Egmont Street, ana a car and motor-cycle came to grief early in the evening at the intersection of Devon and Gover Streets. Birds nest in all sorts of queer places. A Whangamomona sparrow struck an original note by hatching its brood in. the strongroom at the county office. Ths strongroom is a solid concrete structure built on to the side of the office. Near the roof it has a ventilation hole, which has been used by an enterprising sparrow as a means of ingress and egress, and the bird has built its nest in the top pigeon hole. The. strongroom is frequently visited by the clerk during office hours and is also closed for long periods during which the only light is that which filters in through the hole, hut neither fact appears to incommode the bird, which is happily rearing its family. The relaying gang consisting of a ganger and twelve casual hands, who for over two years have been engaged on the iStratford-Tangarakau section ~of railway in replacing the light 521 b rails with heavy 701 b rails and sleepers to cope with the weightier engines that will traverse the line when through connection is made, ceased work for the year yesterday. They have also been notified that tho work will not be resumed until after the-end of the financial year qMarch 31). Of the 60 miles there now remain only about 7J miles to com-plete—-3J miles, near Douglas and four miles past Whangamomona. It is estimated that will take six months, so that the cessation of tho work for three months will not affect the progress of the work aa a whole, for the relaying will be completed by the time the line is open for through traffic.

In order to ensure that the families of their confreres who have fallen on evil davs should not want at Christmas time, the executive of the New, Plymouth Returned Soldiers’ Association provided for the distribution to 40 returned soldiers parcels containing flour, butter, sugai, tinned fruits and sweets and bags containing fruit, as well as an order each for meat, the executive having procured six sheep which are being cut up for distribution. The parcels were distributed yesterday by members of the executive, including Messrs. F. L. Hartnell (president), J. R. Sceats, W. F. Southam, H. N. Johnson, H. J- Moverley, D. L. McKay, A. L. Lowe and E. J. Carr (secretary). Usually the executive distributes toys for the children at Christmas, time, but in view of the prevailing conditions it was decided to give something more utilitarian, and the expressions of appreciation by the men showed that the parcels were welcome. Just prior to closing the service at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Palmerston North, on Sunday night, Rev. J. E. Parsons suggested that that was just the night for many in the congregation to show the Christmas spirit. Rain was falling heavily. Many in the congregation were doubtless wondering how they were to reach home without getting very wet. “But many of you who are present have your cars at the churcli door,” he said. You won tgo home with an empty seat in yojir car, will you, even if it means going a few minutes out of your way to give the lift that is in your power?” The suggestion did not fall on deaf ears, and the many cars that had assembled albout the church were well filled, some of them making return journeys to pick up any who might have waited in the hope that the rain womd stop.

Despite tho fact that the proficiency examination has been stiffened up this year the Whangamomona school secured 100 per cent, of passes, a performance of which both the children and the headmaster (Mr. J. McAllister, jnr.) have every reason to be proud. It is certain that the six fortunate youngsters who secured their certificates will remember the occasion all their lives for the headmaster as a reward for their diligence and zeal made Saturday both an education and a delight to them. Leaving Whangamomona in his car with the three girls and two boys he entertained them to morning tea at Stratford and then proceeded on to Waitara, where he picked up the sixth pupil, a girl who had removed there since the examination. Then New Plymouth was visited and after viewing Pukekura Park and other beauty spots, as well as having luncheon, the party motored via Opunake to Hawera and thence via Eltham to Stratford, being entertained to afternoon tea en route. They were then motored to the plateau on Mt. Egmont, returning to Stratford just in time to place the Waitara girl on the mail train. Tea, a visit to the talkies, finishing off with a “fish and chip” supper before leaving for home, which was reached about 1 a.m., brought to a close a long day but one full of new and wonderful delights to the children of tho ibackblocks school, some of whom were visiting towns other than Stratford for the first time.