LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

After dropping 100' feet over a bank at Te Kawau, near Tongaporutu, a car that had been travelling north at the week-end was almost a total wreck. The passengers, however, had a miraculous escape from injury. The driver was Mr. O’Dea, junior, Hawera.

When relief work was resumed at New Plymouth yesterday a new gang of men was sent to the aerodrome. The men who refused to work on Monday week as a, protest at the standing-down of a fellow-worker were placed on relief work in the borough. When T. G. Fowler, Waitara, won the 100 yards and the 220 yards races at the sports at New Plymouth on Tuesday evening he was responsible for a strange coincidence. Exactly 50 years ago Fowler’s grandfather, Mr. Thomas Taylor, who was then 18 years old and was a well-known athlete, won the 100 yards and 220 yards at a meeting held on the New Plymouth racecourse. Mention was made in the Daily News on Monday of the clever performance of a dog at the racecourse on Saturday, but who has ever heard of a clever cow? Such a one is possessed by Mr. R. L. Stenlake, Otakeho. The cow bails itself up at each milking, and the process is a source of interest to everyone in the countryside, and frequently attracts an audience. The cow is 12 years of age, and at present is giving over 501 b of milk daily.

A long and plentiful season far whitebait started in North Taranaki in July and is not yet over, for it is said the fish will run up the rivers for about three weeks yet. Generally the weather has been favourable for catches throughput the season, with the result that retailers at New Plymouth have been able to secure supplies fairly regularly and in quantity. At times whitebait has been obtainable as cheaply as 9d a cup, the lowest rate one retailer could remember. .

Bearing little sign of wear, and With the details on each face still sharply defined, a third of a farthing coined in 1885 was found in the rear upholstery of a 1917 model motor-car during wrecking operations by a New Plymouth firm on Tuesday. One side shows the head of Queen Victoria. . Made of bronze or copper, the coin is only a fraction smaller than a three-penny piece. A reporter was informed that it was about one-five-thousandth part of an inch smaller. .

Gore residents who were looking forward to having new potatoes much earlier this year than usual suffered a setback during the week-end as a fairly severe frost was experienced on Monday morning. In many casefi, says the Times, potato shoots which were well through the ground were blackened and their growth checked. Up till then conditions for gardening had been ideal and vegetable gardens were further advanced than for many years past. In the Woodlands district the birds are busy building just now, but one cannot help but notice that year by year the number of small native birds such as the fantail, the ring-eye and the tom tit is sadly diminishing, writes the correspondent of the Southland Times. This is said to bo due to the activities of that comparatively recent importation, the German brown owl, so to all lovers of native birds the appearance of this pest should be as nauseating as the sight of a weasel and steps should be taken to encourage its destruction.

On Saturday evening a car travelling from Kihikihi to Te Kuiti was involved in a most unusual accident near Te Kumi. The wire of a private telephone line crosses the road at this point, says the Chronicle, and the wire had either broken or sagged right down almost, io the road level. The car struck the wire, and for a few minutes the occupants wondered just what had happened. The wire caught under tile car and became, mixed up with the differential and the brake drums. The car, firmly caught by the wire, slithered to a standstill almost at right angles to the road. Its speed and weight had, in the meantime, pulled out the telegraph post —not so drastic as it sounds, for it was only a small manuka pole. Also, the back tyres of the car were ripped to pieces. An hour or so' was spent in dis-entangling the wire from the various parts under the

The legality of the Masterton Borough Council’s practice of granting the use of the municipal halls rent free to worthy local organisations and societies was questioned recently by the audit inspector, and, as a result, a ruling solicited from the Auditor-General came before a meeting of the council a few days ago. The Auditor-General statem that the council was under a legal obligation to I collect the whole of its revenue, and it could not remit any portion of those revenues except by way of unauthorised expenditure. A request was made for an assurance- from the council that all remissions of rent granted by the council in the future in respect of the use of the halls for objects other than those on which the council is by law authorised to expend its funds, would be charged against unauthorised expenditure. An assurance was given that in future effect would be given to the ruli ing of tile Auditor-General. Some lovely new tennis frocks have opened out at Scanlan’s, Ltd., and have been included in the alteration sale offerings. These frocks are made of excellent quality spun silks and Kanebo silks, in natural and bleached, and are beautifully cut and designed. The fit is faultless. Prices, 24/6 and 27/6.*

Now that stocktaking is about to com mence we are prepared to sacrifice all oddments in our departments sooner than keep them in stock. Now is your opportunity to secure a real bargain in any line of drapery you might need, at Ths Hustlers.

A young farmer, Mr. H. Hughes, of Bunnythorpe, had a narrow escape from death on Monday evening when he was savagely attacked by a bull, which attempted to gore him, and finally tossed him over a fence. Mr. Hughes, who was extensively bruised, apparently would have been killed but for the fact that the bull’s horns passed beneath him and the animal, lifting him up, threw him over a fence' into an adjoining paddock.

The directors of the Mataura dairy factory have disposed of the first two months’ output of cheese, amounting to approximately 150 tons, at the price of 6 1-Sd. per lb., the buyers being Messrs. Weddel and Co., Ltd., London, states the Southland Times. It is also understood that several district factories have been able to record sales at satisfactory figures during the last day or so.

A landlord, whose last three tenants of a house at Northcote, Auckland, had each promised to pay 10s. a week, but had paid practically nothing, was granted remission of half the rates for the past year at a meeting of the Northcote Borough Council. The house had not been occupied for a year, it was stated. During one tenant’s occupancy windows had been broken and the kitchen range damaged.

“We must get rid of the idea that the only type of education is academic education,” said Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education, speaking to members of the Addington school committee. “I do hope,” he added, “that we have got past the stage when we are satisfied with examination results. Our system should move in the direction of testing the. children for their future needs in various walks of life. Our system at present is far too narrow.”

“The cinema orchestra is enjoying general popularity in Sydney and Melbourne,” said Mr. T. A. Omrien, who returned to Auckland on Tuesday from a visit to Australia. “There are several very fine orchestras in the theatres in the large cities and stage presentations are the order of the day, leading artists being engaged for the purpose. What are called ‘fifty-fifty’ shows are being tried, the programme consisting of half vaudeville and half pictures. This form of entertainment, however, cannot be called a success, owing, I think, to the films being unnecessarily weak.” Claims that faith healing had been successful in curing a cow of paralysis were made by Mr. A. H. Dallimore, who has been conducting in Auckland a campaign for the removal by faith of all sorts of maladies. “Three Sunda'ys ago I asked you if you would pray for a cow,” said Mr. Dallimore, when reading testimonies during one of his meetings. “The following Thursday Dolly stood on her feet, and on the following morning was out in the paddock. It was the power of faith that healed her —all glory to the wonderful name of Jesus,” He also announced that a sick cockerel had been restored to health. A ' mild sensation was created in the Auckland Town Hall on Monday evening amongst the fair listeners in the front row,, by a large rat which, says the Star, ran along the floor in front of the platform while M. Szigeti was in the middle of playing the “Kreutzer” sonata. Thus another thrill was added to an already thrilling performance. One could hardly blame the rat for wanting to hear the great violinist, but it would seem that, despite the fact that the tendency now is to reduce hands, another employee might as well be added to the strength of the town hall staff, and that is a competent cat. A warning against permitting a schoolboy to regard himself as a failure was uttered by Mr. T. B. Strong, Director Of Education, at Christchurch. To do that, he said, was to make the boy start with a handicap when he went, to work. He had it settled in his mind that he was more or less a “dud.” It was the duty of those who had to do with the education system to make the children happy. How could anyone be happy when he had to carry through the early part of life the burden of feeling that he was a failure? All should look forward to the time when it was possible to remove this disability.

A Te Kuiti farmer who arrived at Auckland on Sunday, speaking of 25 years’ experience in the King Country, says that he has never seen such phenomenal growth as that which it taking place now. Where only a few weeks ago the cows were looking thin and the paddocks were looking bare, the greatest change he has ever seen has taken place and everything points to one of the best seasons "they have ever known. The value of fertilisers is seen every day of the week. Those who are devoting their energies to intensive cultivation on small areas are even surprising themselves at' the results they are getting.

Many motorists hurrying to the Gore races on Saturday were held up at a township between Invercargill and Gore so that an official might inspect their licenses. One party, with quite a large sum to invest on the first race, says the Tinies, obeyed the outstretched hand, albeit reluctantly. “Show me your license,” demanded the official. The driver, unwise man, had left his at home. Quick as a flash thq woman seated beside him handed him hers, and this he passed to the traffic inspector. Considering that the license was made out for a name distinctly feminine with her married status included, and with domestic duties as her occupation, the driver thought the chances of the “bluff” working very small. But luck was with him, for “carry on” said the official; and carry on he did, reaching the machine in time to invest the money—on the wrong horse.

There is one back-country farmer who never again will oblige a “'swagger” with a ride in his motor-car, states the Christchurch Times. It happened quite recently that he picked up one of the fraternity on the Main North Road and brought him on to Christchurch. On the way the “bagman’s” request for tobacco Was complied with, and at two country hostelries the driver invited his fare to drink his health, an invitation that no urging. Arriving in the city, the passenger decided to alight at Riecarton, and the car was stopped. No sooner was he out of the car than he stooped down, picked a large stone off the road and demanded half a crown from the driver, on penalty of having the stone thrown through the windscreen. ' The farmer left the spot hastily without replying, not waiting to see if the threat would be put into effect.

In the examinations at Victoria College R. H. Sinclair, Inglewood, was successful in keeping terms in history, education and economics, stage I. in each case.

Owing to the fire the premises of J. and J. Auld, central Devon Street, will be closed to-day during insurance assessments.

The New Plymouth Relief Association reports the receipt of a parcel of groceries, etc. (per Sister Gill) from the Uruti branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union.

Why buy new clothes when the old ones can be renovated equal to new at the cost of a few shillings? We have been dyeing and cleaning garments for over 20 years. Let us have your soiled or faded suits, costumes, dresses, etc., to renovate and you will be surprised at the result. We also renovate and re-block felt hats. Why not have yours done at J. K. Hawkins and Co., corner Devon and Liardet Streets, New Plymouth. ’Phone 685. Mrs. Rudkin (Everybody’s) is our Stratford agent.