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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 3 June 1919, Page 2

The methods adopted for the settlement of soldiers on the land in Britain are not altogether suitable for adoption in this country, but one or two points in the scheme are worthy of note. The land for settlement is to be purchased by county councils and not by the Government and, as the process of acquiring land is, owing to legal difficulties, a slow one, it may, after a local public inquiry, ho taken over at once and the compensation agreed on later. “It is understood,” says The Times, “that holdings of anything from half an acre up to 50 acres aro contemplated. There will be a certain number of small-holdings of a considerable size, say, from 25 to 50 acres, on which a man and his family can live. It is anticipated, however, that the biggest demand will bo for a free cottage and a bit of land. This would mean that a man would do other work, but would have a bit of land of his own for the growing of vegetables and the rearing of poultry. It is possible also that a sort of common pasturage would be attached to several of these holdings. It is generally recognised that, on the score of expense, this is about the worst time that could have been chosen to set up small-holdings. Land costs more than it did, but an even more serious factor is the increased price of equipment. The cost of erecting houses and equipping small-holdings is estimated to bo practically double what it was before the war. It is proposed iu the Bill to meet the difficulty in this way. For the first seven years the deficit represented by the difference between the receipts and the cost (the interest on the loan) will bo recouped annually by the Board of Agriculture. At the end of seven years a valuation will he made of the then value of the holdings and of their cost. The difference will be estimated and the reduction in value at the end of seven years will be written off. The holdings will then be handed over to the county councils to bo run without further State aid. It follows from this that the small-holder wall pay a rent based not upon the cost of the holding, but upon its real value. It is hoped that this procedure will give him the best possible chance of earning a living.” lb is possible that the principle involved in this method of procedure might be adopted with advantage in ■this Dominion, Many properties very suitable for soldier settlement are turned down by the Lan& Purchase Board on the ground that the present valfie is so high that settlers could not make a living if prices fell. Let the rents for such properties he fixed annually at what the authorities think the land can produce and finally adjusted after seven years on the valuation then made. This might cost the State something or it might cost nothing, but the soldiers would be given a fair chance on good land.

The Migoma, with 180 officers, 450 men, and 150 women and children, has sailed from London for New Zealand, via Panama.

The New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday evening passed a resolution asking the Town Clerk to furnish a report on the matter of a scheme of superannuation for council employees. A Press telegram from Palmerston North states that a conference of local bodies set up a committee on Monday to report on the feasibility of arranging for shipping to Foxton, or, as an alternative, purchasing a steamer. The steamer Devon arrived in the stream at Lyttelton at 6 a.m. on Monday from Newcastle. The vessel has nineteen soldiers on board for the Dominion, including Major J. B. Hine, M.P. She lias been declared a mean ship, but will undergo 24 hours’ quarantine.

Reference was made at the New Plymouth Borough Council meeting on Monday night to the necessity _ for amendment to the motor regulations, notably with regard to dazzling headlights, and also making it compulsory for lorries to have side-mirrors attached. The whole question will be gone into at next meeting, when the Town Clerk will bring down a report. A little boy named Richard Way, aged 10, son of Mr. J. Way, of New Plymouth, met with an unfortunate accident to-day. It is stated that whilst he and some other boys were on an express near the Coronation Hall a dispute arose and that Way was knocked off the vehicle, with the result that he received a broken collarbone, and was removed to the hospital. At the Hamilton Police Court on Monday Bola Aldred was fined £SO for impersonating a soldier on active service at the recent licensing poll. Aldred voted himself in the morning, and, returning in the afternoon, asked for a voting paper in the name of John Duck, a soldier. He was challenged by the returning officer, but denied that he was the man who previously voted.

At Monday’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council the Mayor referred to the question of municipal milk supplies, and said that whilst in Wellington recently he had inspected the system there and had been/very much impressed with it. He thought the matter was one that this council should consider, and it was therefore resolved to refer the question to the committee which is also dealing with the housing question. At Monday’s meeting of the Taranaki County Council a new by-law was passed, subject to confirmation, which in effect amounts to a tax on all vehicular traffic on the county roads from boroughs and counties in Taranaki. The fees to be charged range from 10s per annum for a gig or spiky to £5 for a five-seated' motor-car and £ls for a motor-omnibus. Provision is made foxhalf fees for half-yearly licenses.

Reference was made at the General Purposes Committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday night to the necessity for providing public conveniences. During the discussion which ensued it was evident that the opinion of the council is divided on the question of sites, one section appearing to favour upper Brougham Street and the other lower Brougham Street near the railway yards. Eventually the matter was deferred until nest meeting. Two manned women, one with five children and one elderly with no children, residents of Woodville, were on Monday sentenced at Palmerston North to ono month’s imprisonment each on four charges of shop-lifting. The accused had worked on a systematic plan, visiting several shops. They pleaded guilty, anticipating probation, and there was a tragic scene when they were sentenced, the women making piteous appeals for mercy. One fainted, and the other was helped from the court.

A whale of the fin-back variety and about 50 feet in length, made its appearance in the. Wellington harbour on Saturday. The whale broke water close alongside the training ship Amokura on the landward side. It roftmed quietly along through the hulk moorings, breaking water several times, and occasionally showing its flukes, and finally disappearing near the Takapuna. It is seldom that any whales visit the inner harbour, tho last occasion being about eighteen months ago, when one was observed to spout about half a mile off Kaiwarra. The whale observed on Saturday, however, did not spout.

The success of Madame JohnstonTopliss is further evidenced by the fact that at a concert held in Wellington about a month ago, and at which she was one of the two principal singers, hundreds were unable to gain admission, and a repeat performance had to be arranged. Wellington people, however, are not yet satisfied, for Madame Topliss advises the secretary of the Male Choir that she has been recalled to Wellington for another performance. From there she will come to New Plj--month by to-morrow’s (Wednesday) mail to fulfil her engagement with the Male Choir Society for Thursday and Friday night’s concerts. The engine which suffered by its derailment in the late accident at Mataroa (Main Trunk line), has been raised and the undergear sufficiently repaired to allow of its running on its own wheels. Towed by another engine, it passed through Palmerston on Friday evening on route to the Potono workshops for repairs. The engine presented a most dilapidated appearance, and evidenced the force of the concussion when it struck tho bank in which it buried itself. The funnel, cab, and th© whole of the top gear were torn off, and nothing was left_ of the upper structure but a few bent iron stanchions. The boiler and under-oarriage, however, appear to have got off with very little damage. The railway station clock at New Ply-' mouth has long since retired from business and put up the shutters. At Palmerston North a similar state of affairs seems approaching. The Standard plaintively remarks: —About a fortnight ago it was mentioned l that the railway station clock had been absent for over two months. A day or two ago, however, it came back, and was again put in ’its case. Whether the climate of Palmerston does not suit it, or whether the works are worn out, is not discoverable, but the fact remains that it will not go and the face has again been covered! Surely there must be something wrong somewhere when a suitable timepiece cannot be procured. For the past three months some hundreds of the travelling public have been inconvenienced by tho absence of the correct time on the'platfonn, and it is time an effort was made to remedy matters. This evening at an illustrated lecture in the Good Templar Hall on “The Oasis, tho Desert, and the Sudan,” Mr. D. N. Mac Diarmid proposes to show a number of views of the Kharga Oasis, in which he spent over a year as a Y.M.C.A. secretary. A number of pictures showing tho. desert country in which our soldiers did such magnificent work will bo shown and the lecture promises to be of groat interest. His Worship the Mayor will preside.

On the motion of Mr. H. R. Billing (Weston and Billing) probate of the will of the late Mr. Thomas Furlong, sen., was granted l on the 27th ultimo by the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, to the executor under the will.

“I don’t believe in the higher education of women. If they are goodlooking, it is unnecessary. If they are not, it is inadequate.” This quotation from an English writer caused some amusement at the Educational Institute meeting in Wellington on Friday evening. “How have you been earning a living?” asked Mr. Frazer, S.M., at Wellington on Friday, of a defendant. “I have been working on'an island,” replied the man in the dock. “What island was that?” After some hesitation, the accused said it was on Roto Roa Island, wheiy he had been detained for 12 months.

' The qualities of Somes Island as a breeding place for pheasants were dealt with by many speakers at the annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society on Wednesday evening. It was mentioned that w]ien a start was made with breeding on the island some time ago considerable 1 success attended tlie venture, but when the Germans were placed on the island the birds were interfered with, and they subsequently died. “It is certain,” said one. speaker, “that Somes Island is an almost ideal place for pheasant breeding. Why, then, should we pay the Auckland Society £1 per head for the birds during the season? We should l approach the Gevernment and get permission to use the island as a breeding place.” Although the dairymen who were present at the meeting held in Christchurch on Monday night for the propose of considering the price of milk to the consumers were practically full unanimously of opinion that the price should, be 6d per quart, none of them showed any eagerness to move (says the Lyttelton limes) to that effect. After 'the meeting had drifted on to general subjects connected with the supply of milk, one dairyman said that he knew they all wanted to raise the price, but he would not move the motion, as his name would get into the papers, and he would lose all his customers. Another man then suggested that the question should he put to the meeting without a mover and seconder, and eventually this was done by the .chairman practically all of those present voting in favour of the increase in price.

Regarding the housing of the railway employees, a contribution to the Railway Officers’ Advocate from the Palmerston North branch is as follows; “This branch is also experiencing the difficulty of housing, and the only way to secure a home is to buy one. We are hoping that the department will see its way to erect homes for its servants, and in this connection we would mention that meat companies, milk companies, flaxmillers, etc., provide up-to-date concrete houses for their employees. The question naturally, arises: Why not the Railway Department? Wooden houses are out of date, and some good samples are seen now cf the concrete interlacing block system and concrete tiles, all New Zealand made. The investment for the department would be a good one, and tehd to security of tenure as well as satisfaction to employees (which.nowadays is the main item), together with a sure ’rental revenue.

The Alelbourne, Ltd., is showing a fine range of English Alarcella quilts at the following prices; Ten-quarter (i.e., three-quarter bed size), 24s 6d; elevenquarter size, in finer make, 31s 6d; twelve-quarter sizes, 35s and 38s 6d. These quilts are all extra wide, and in handsome registered designs.* Returned soldiers! Now is your opportunity to buy tan footwear at reasonable prices. The Regal Shoe Store have landed a new shipment of gents.’ tan boots in several different styles, at prices from 35s to 50s. By dealing at our store you save 2s in the £, so don’t hesitate.*