LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1932, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sometimes things might be better said. A well-known New Plymouth resident, wishing to compliment a number of young lady, delegates who were present at a meeting, remarked that, judging by their faces, they were “quite capable of controlling the male members of the audience.”

Pleading guilty, William James McDermott was fined Ifts. yesterday, when he appeared at New Plymouth before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., on a charge of stealing a bicycle valued at £5 belonging to Ivan Peters. He was ordered to repay ss. to; a second-hand dealer to whom he had- sold the machine. The practice adopted by certain motorists of passing slower-moving traffic in the face of approaching traffic is, in the opinion of at least one Hawera motorist, becoming too frequent. On two occasions yesterday the motorist while travelling southwards had almost to pull up to avoid colliding with these speed fiends. In each case there was extreme danger of involving the occupants of two, or perhaps three, vehicles in a serious accident. As the result of experience, Mr. W. T. Wells, Manaia, a member of the Harbour Board, is an optimist. He asserts that this depression will not last, as this is the fourth he has experienced. In the previous slump nine bales of his wool sold at Wanganui realised £4O, and three years later at the same place one bale had realised £45. How much, therefore,- did people know three years before what was going to happen? The Bell Block hall was erected nearly 40 years ago by Messrs. Boon Bros, for £132. The puriri piles were given by Mr. S. Richards, and, in order to keep down the cost, the material was carted from the station by the settlers. The contract price did not include the lining of the building or the erection of the dressing rooms, supper rooms and porch; this work was carried, out later on. Despite the age of the hall the timber is remarkably well preserved. The work done by members of the Taranaki Alpine Club in clearing the Mangorei track had. been much appreciated by the North Egmont' committee, said Mr. W. M. Groombridge at the council’s annual meeting last night. The track to Bell’s Falls had fallen into bad condition and the club proposed to form a working bee at an early date to put' it in good, order.

“Egnlont provides an.element of danger and it is not tolerant of the careless or the ignorant,” said Mr. Gordon Fraser, president of the Taranaki Alpine Club, last 4 night. “If young people are to climb they should serve an apprenticeship in the alpine club- It may be irksome to some older climbers to have to come under the discipline of tfie club. There are always people who will take risks—and it would be a poor thing if there were none—but there is a difference between taking risks and being foolhardy and bringing the club into disfavour.”

Viewing through the Harbour Board room window the overseas liner Middlesex steaming majestically from the Newton King wharf, Mr. W. T. Wells’ thoughts turned back to the time many years ago when he first journeyed from New Plymouth to Auckland by a cattle boat. He was helped into the boat, he said, but he . quickly hastened to reassure members that it was not because of a youthful lapse by stating that the assistance cam£ in the shape of a huge wave which came over the breakwater to which the boat was moored and unceremoniously bundled his friend and himself on board.

With the arrival and departure of ten ships at New Plymouth since April 1 the railway goods-shed has been particularly busy and, incidentally, casual labourers have been provided with more work. Inward cargo totalling 5000 tons, included 1750 tons of slag and other fertilisers, 950 tons of sulphur and 850 tons of coal. The remainder of the cargo was “general.” The outward loading comprised 209 trucks of meat, 350 trucks of butter and cheese and 40 trucks of general cargo. Meat and dairy produce were loaded on the Port Wellington, Cornwall and Middlesex. The only other overseas ship was tho Japanese vessel Kurohime Maru, which brought a cargo of sulphur.

Matters of detail in connection with the collection of the harbour rate by local bodies were discussed by the New Plymouth Harbour Board yesterday, as the result of a letter from the Inglewood County Council. The chairman, Mr. C. E. Bellringer, stated that he had particulars of the procedure adopted by the Wanganui Harbour Board, which had collected its rates in that way for some years. He also undertook to secure particulars from (other boards and submit a report at the next meeting. It was made clear that the fact that the Harbour Board's year closed on September 30, whereas the county and borough councils’ year closed on March 3'l, made no difference with regard to the collection of the harbour rate, as local bodies would send out the demand for the harbour rate on the same card with their .PAU rate,, thus saving expense.

Owing to a misunderstanding, there was only a small attendance at the first rehearsal of the New Plymouth Orchestral Society on Wednesday evening, but it is hoped the attendances will improve considerably at ensuing rehearsals and that the society will enjoy a successful season.

Though there seemed to be an increasing desire to go on the land, there was a lack of capital to carry out the desire, said a New Plymouth land agent yesterday. He received many inquiries for farms, but the applicants could put down only £lOO or so of capital, which was insufficient. On the whole, the price of farms had been reduced very little.

Claimed to be one of the largest bullocks in New Zealand, Goliath, a Can-terbury-bred beast is to be taken to the United States of America next month to compete at shows there against cattle from all parts of the world. The animal is 19 hands high, weighs 37001 b at his best, is 13 feet around the barrel, and is 12 feet from head to tail. “I notice that the police report is unfavourable,” said the Mayor (Mr. W-. F. Stillwell) when a matter was before the Mount Albert Borough Council on Tuesday evening. “I am not one of those who hold against a man a sin of eight and a half years ago. It may have been only a minor matter, and I suggest we defer making a decision until further inquiries are made.” • The suggestion was accepted. “Many young people have seen nothing of the riches of nature except through a windscreen,” said the president of the Taranaki Alpine Club (Mr. Gordon Fraser) at the annual meeting of the club last night in congratulating the club on its excursions to the bush. “An economic position has now arisen that may make the pleasures of many young people expensive luxuries, but all an alpinist needs is a good pair of legs and a good pair of boots.” “Clubs such as this will ultimately be in control of the mountain,” said Mr. Gordon Fraser, in describing the number of climbs by Taranaki Alpine Club parties during the past year. The mountain required more activity in climbing than it had seen in the past. Already the club had been given representation on the North Egmont Committee, and he believed the time would come when all the area of Egmont above the bush, line would be under the control of the club.

The Taranaki outboard Motor-boat Club notifies by advertisement in this issue its intention of conducting a race programme at Ngamotu beach tomorrow (Saturday). (Should the club be favoured with fine weather these popular races will attract a large crowd. Cue of the main features of the afternoon will be an aqua-plane race, for which three competitors have already nominated. The one who first completes the course without being dislodged behind an outboard motor ’travelling at about 30 miles an hour wins the race. The launch on which the members, of the Waimakariri River Trust cd the works in the lower reaches of the river on Tuesday, says the Christchurch Press, is reputed to be the very one on which Count von Luckner made his escape from Motuihi Island during the Great War. It is a large and powerful boat, still in good repair, and is used cmefiy to draw to the mount of the river barges laden with shingle for the manufacture of the concrete blocks which are being sunk into the sand.

“General advice from chambers on the subject of machinery inspection fees is that there is little or no complaint about the fees charged in respect of electric lifts, these being considered commensurate with the value of the service give;:,”

the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce was advised by the Internal Affairs Department in reply to recent representations. “It .is admitted by lift owners that a lift rope may be good

for six months, but not for twelve months, and the inspections of the department, therefore, act as an insurance. The complaint is really against the charges made for the inspection of electric motors.”

“Fertile eggs were imported from Canada with excellent results. This is the first time in my knowledge that eggs have hatched after crossing the Equator,” states Mr. J. H. Kissling (poultry manager) in the Massey College annual report. “These results were considered of sufficient importance for Professor Lloyd, of the University of British Columbia, to report them to the Empire Marketing Board on the ground that it offers a cheap and easy way of exporting valuable strains, avoiding the disadvantages of climatic influence on the stock.”

A Dannevirke motorist, Mr. D. McKenzie, had an exciting experience with a two-year-old Polled Angus bullock near Tokokino. He was driving a small car when he noticed the bullock stand' ing in the middle of the roadway. He sounded his horn, but this apparently infuriated the bullock, who lowered his head and charged for the car. To avoid a head-on crash, the driver edged the car on to the grass, and the animal’s head. crashed into the middle of the right-hand side door. The car almost capsized. When the driver proceeded some distance he looked back and saw the bullock hurrying off in tho opposite direction.

. A Waitekauri farmer sent two bales of seedy lambs’ wool to the last wool sales at Auckland. He received approximately a penny a pound for his produce—which amounted to nearly 700 lb—and he netted a profit of £l, after all expenses had been paid, says the Waihi Telegraph. From this, however, were he to deduct the cost of his labour for shearing, etc., he would be well out of pocket, he says. The sahno farmer states that he has sent about 30001 b of wool to the sales this season, and has received £25 profit (less labour). Ho states that he can buy good quality wool for domestic purposes such as darning, sock making, etc., for 13s 3d a pound. “.So that,” he added, “I can buy nearly 381 b of prepared wood for the price I received for 30001 b, which only goes to show the manner in which wool shrinks in the process of manufacture.”

The dedication and official opening of the new St. Andrew’s church, New Plymouth, will take place to-morrow afternoon at 2.15. The church will be dedicated by the Rev. Professor W. Hewitson, Dunedin. During the service a special thanks offering will be taken in aid of the building fund. The services on Sunday, both morning and evening, will be conducted by Professor He witson, and there will also be a special children’s service in the afternoon. A feature of the Sunday services will be special singing by the choir and soloists. Next Wednesday evening the anniversary banquet will take place at 6 p.m., to be followed by a concert at 7.45 p.m. Bert Sturm, auctioneer for The City Market, Ltd., New Plymouth, has received instructions from the proprietors of the Grand Central Hotel, w r ho have decided to go out of business, to sell by auction, without reserve the contents of this popular house. The sale will be conducted on the premises on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, April 20, 21 and 22, particulars of which will be found on page 7 of this issue. The bargain wise shopper will readily recognise the splendid values that The Hustlers are offering, in every department. Come early and secure your sharp of bargains. Our lay-by system will help you these hard times if immediate payment is not convenient. A small deposit and monthly instalments will secure ‘the goods until paid for. The Hustlers, Devon Street.*

What is stated to be a freak fish was captured by Mr. R. Whiley, of Kokatalff Road, Hokitika, while cutting a drain through the swamp on his section. It is a creamy white coloured, eel about 18 inches in length, and is almost transparent. The fish, which is being kept alive in water by Mr. Whiley, is in all respects except colour, like an eel. Inquiry is being made as to whether the fish is a freak in colour only, or if it belongs to some established species of fish, hitherto not met with in Hokitika. “In Christchurch and the surrounding districts there were 1058 marriages last year, and only 178 houses were built,” said Mr. R. C. Jamieson at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Builders’ Association on Tuesday evening. “Where are they living? I think it must be a case of living with the parents, whichever are more wealthy. After all, every young couple’s idea is to have a home of their own.” “They must be living two or three in a house, or else in the garage,” added Mr. W. G. Glue. An instance of the hardships frequently encountered by missionaries was given by the Rev. A. H. Cropp, a missionary from the Solomon Islands, who is visiting Auckland. The medical service on the island of Bougainville, where he was stationed, is limited, and before he left on his furlough he wanted to have several teeth removed. There was no dentist available, but he had a set of dental instruments. Seating himself in front of a mirror and giviug himself an injection of cocaine, he extracted the teeth himself. There are always two sides to direct action, and the experience of a certain group of unemployed at St. Kilda seems to illustrate the point, writes a Dunedin correspondent. A man said to be a representative of the unemployed workers’ movement on Tuesday visited this group, where there were some twenty men engaged. He asked for the? delegate, and when the delegate intimated his presence the visitor made a wild rush at him with fists flying. Only one course was open to the defender, and he stood back and gave it to the attacker with both hands. The latter fell hard, but picked himself up hastily and made off, in the meantime muttering inprecations at the man who had retaliated so effectively.

In order to afford relief to the unemployed, and incidentally to relieve the pressure on taxation for that purpose, a number of citizens, says the Wellington Post, proposed .the institution of a series of lotteries to be drawn once a month for the next four months. Representations were made to the Government on the proposal and its permission sought to hold the so-called art union or lottery, but the-Post is informed that permission was declined. Efforts to give effect to the proposal, however, have not been dropped. If the proposal were agreed to, it would necessitate art unions for other purposes being held in abeyance for the period above mentioned.

“While I • realise that it is desirable to get work done as cheaply as possible, I think it is also time local bodies stopped working under the No. 5 scheme, as I feel that it is going to switch back on us,” remarked the chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board, Mr. C. O.: Morse, during a discussion this week. “It is time that local bodies paid an adequate wage to the worker for his time. If we do that we will get out of troubles more quickly than by paying these low wages. You might say that I am not consistent, as the removal of spoil at the Napier Hospital was done under No. 5 scheme. That was a cgse of making special work for men, however.” “Those are the most hopeful words that I have heard at a meeting of this board for many a long day,” said Mr. H. Hill.

An unusual incident occurred at a meeting in Dunedin of the Otago Yacht and Motor-Boat Association, when a yachtsman appealed against an unfavourable decision in a recent race. While giving his evidence before the meeting

he took a Bible from his pocket, announced that he was prepared to swear to his statements on oath and challenged the witnesses for the opposition to do the same. The chairman, Mr. W. O. Martin, explained that it was not the practice of the association to use such strict measures, but that did not prevent the witnesses from declaring that he had sworn to his evidence on oath.

“If I had had my way,” said the Director of Education, Mr. T. B. Strong, at the inaugural meeting of the New Zealand branch of the British Music Society in Wellington, “Mr. Douglas Tayler would have been the very last officer with whom I would willingly have parted. He faced the task of improving musical knowledge and appreciation among the school children of New Zealand lone-handed, an impossible task, but, ,even so, he did a great deal to raise the standard of musical appreciation in this country. lam indeed sorry that in this period of depression we had to let him go to another • country.” Still, said Mr. Strong, teachers were being taught in an efficient manner in musical matters in the training colleges, and gradually the standard of music in the schools would be improved.

“Amazing” bejst expresses the bargains at the Melbourne’s Closing Down Sale. Ladies’ smart tweed coats, also O.S. and Extra O.S. sizes, usually 59/6, now 35/-. Ladies’ tweed frocks, usually 35/-, now 15/-. Children’s all-wool cardigans, 7/6, this is halfprice. Ladies’ smart costumes, usually 65/.-, now 39/6. These are only a few of the baigains. It will pay you to visit the showroom. Don’t leave it till too late.* Sprains and bruises are most painful if not treated immediately. The delightful warmth and stimulating properties with which Wawn’s Wonder Wool is impregnated quickly dispel pain and produce a feeling of restful comfort. Wawn’s Wonder Wool is also of wonderful benefit in cases of Rheumatism, Back-Ache, Neuritis, Sciatica, and Lumbago. Wawn’s is obtainable at 2/6 and 4/6 a packet from all chemists.