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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16595, 18 November 1919, Page 2

The Pukekura Park Board desire gratefully to acknowledge tho receipt ui £l,. from Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Newman.

The exccutivo»of the Federated Town Planning Association of New Zealand is asking each candidate whether ho is in favour of a Town-Planning Act being passed next session making provision for modern methods of town-planning being applied to all lands and works throughout the Dominion, including Grown lands.—Press Association.

While throe cx-Mayors of New Plymouth on Monday morning claimed more or less of tho credit for obtaining the ixawaroa Park Reserve lor the borough, not one of them seemed to remember that the late Mr. Oxey, ns member for tho district the time, was entitled to a share of the credit on account of his strong advocacy of the borough’s request. Messrs. Wilson and Horton, proprietors of the New Zealand _ Herald, forward us a booklet of political cartoons, a selection of the best of those which have appeared in tho Auckland Weekly News. The cartoonist is Mr. Trevor Lloyd, whoso work is distinctly clover hoth’in conception and execution. It is scarcely necessary to add that the work of tho artist has not suffered at the hands of the printer.

Tho Department of Tourist anu Health Resorts has turned at largo six sambuv deer (five hinds and cue stag; in the Rotorua acclimatisation district. The property in the deer and their offspring, and* in every animal of a like species at large in that acclimatisation district, is deemed to be vested in the Minister for the time being'in charge of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, for a period of three years from November 7.

Manv of our readers will recollect Miss May Gibbs’ delightful little books, “Wattle Babies,” Gum-Nut Babies,” and “Gum-Blossom Babies,” which have given delight to thousands of children. For this coining Christmas Miss Gibbs has produced another booklet entitled “Boronia Babies,” which has all tho charm of its predecessors. It contains two coloured and 12 other full-page pictures. It is published at Is fid by Angus and Robertson, Ltd., Sydney. A few weeks ago it was announced that at a meeting of old boys of the Waitaki High School it had been decided to raise £IO,OOO as a war memorial fund. The amount seemed an ambitious one, but owing to the enthusiasm shown in tho Oamaru district and to tho practical sympathy of parents of boys and of friends.. donations to a very substantial amount have been received. Some subscribers have given as much as £SOO, others £IOO, and the total amount in sight at present amounts to between £3OOO and £4,000. Two old boys have volunteered their services for tho purpose of laying before parents and old boys the fullest information in regard to the scheme. Last Sunday was tho record) day of the season for whitebait fishermen (says the Grey River Argus). With the rise of the tide in tho morning splendid shoals of fish came up the river, tho banks of which were'lined by between 70 and 100 wielders of drag nets, and there were very extensive catches. One buyer for tho factories laid out £SO in purchasing tins of fish for £1 apiece, running out of cash without being able to cope with the supply. Starting at 1b fid a pint, tho retail price span became Is a pint. The day’s take proved easily better than tho best last year. It isa satisfactory feature of the season to find that, though late in coming up, the whitebait supply is not lessening on tlie whole, as seemed tho case earlier in the .season.

Paris is feeling the effects of the immensely heavy motor lorries that, during hostilities, traversed her boulevards and streets. There was nothing to bo said about it while the war lasted, and no one complained; but now the matter will have to be given quite serious consideration, if Parisians are not to have Paris tumbling about their ears. At present the roads are in ruts and holes, reduced to such condition not only by unavoidable neglect, but by those heavy army lorries which go by at great speed at every hour of the day or nioht. Besides the roads the houses are affected. Paris was mostly built before motors were thought of, and there are evident signs that Paris houses, as well as her palaces and monuments, cannot endure such strenuous conditions indefinitely. Already the statuary which ornaments the river facade of the Louvre has been shattered by the vibration of traffic on the quays.

The Borough Council on Monday right adopted the proposal of Councillor Griffiths of placing children using tho ’bus service for tho purpose of going to school on the same footing as those using tho trams, and it was decided to issue student tickets for that purpose.

British coal operators are introducing electrical and compressed air coal cutting machinery following the statement inado by the trade authorities that the pre-eminence of the United States in the coal trade is clue to the excellence of its mining machinery. “You have shown that you are ready to die for your country,” said Briga-dier-General Richardson to the returned soldiers present at the Wellington Y.M.C.A. armistice function; “but perhaps it is more difficult to live rightly for your country.” He urged every man to take his full share in the work of reconstruction.

A very annoying practical joke was perpetrated on Tuesday by someone who inserted an advertisement in a Wellington paper stating that a house was to bo let, “apply 29 Donald MacLean Street, Newtown.” The result was a flood of applications for a, house which was not to be lot at all.

It has been ascertained by the Government Bacteriologist at Wellington that, contrary to popular belief, coins do not offer a suitable nidus for the propagation of bacteria., and can be regarded as a negligible factor in tho spr&id of infectious diseases. Here, then, is another reason why the inflated paper currency should bo retired in favour of gold. Australian holders of' rights for gold sluicing claims on Rimu Flat are stated to have succeeded in forming a syndicate iu tho United States with a capital of £300,000, and: work is expected to start early next year. The latest typo of American dredge is to be installed, and it is understood mining will bo carried out on an extensive scale. Already extensive prospecting has been done on tho ground on behalf of tho company, before the option to purchase was exercised.

“Everywhere we went,” said Mr. J. H. Stewart, who has just recently returned to Dunedin from America, “it was astonishing to hear the adverse criticism of President Wilson. _ The people have apparently lost faith in him. In San Francisco ho had a great reception, but when we talked to the people everyone we met seemed to have something critical to say. They reckoned ho had no right to go to Franco. I saw him driving through the streets, bowing to everybody he could seo, and I have never seen anyone looking so haggard.” Tho water supply at Takapuna has been a cause of anxiety for years owing to the fact that hake Pupuka has shown signs of gradual exhaustion. It has now been discovered that the reticulation system is very defective and that of six and a-half million gallons pumped by tho Northcoto station, and paid for by tho Takapuna Borough Council at a rate of lOd per 1000 gallons, only four million gallons was being paid for by tho consumers, tho other two and a-half million gallons being lost through leakage. Investigation of tho reticulation showed that two-inch pipes ran into three-inch and back to one-inch, and so on.

A remarkable uso has been found for a Brighton church (England). It is the Church of the Resurrection, m Russell Street, a chapel of ease to St. Paul’s. Tho local authorities would not. allow the Church of the Resurrection to be built at any groat height above the street level, because of tho narrowness of Russoll Street. bo the greater part of the church was built underground, a long flight of stops leading down to the nave. In course of time, the attendance began to drop oil', and the church was closed. It has now been taken over by the Sussex Cold Storage and Markets Company, and most of tho frozen moat coming into Brighton Is stored there. The great depth of the buildings underground makes it an ideal place for cold storage.

Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., told a- Labour audience on Sunday that the New Zealand workers wore all “slaves.’’ “All of us who live by wages can live only by selling ourselves as industrial slaves,” he said. “We may leave one taskmaster, but wo cannot get away from the class of taskmasters who own the land, the factories, and the workshops of this country. . . . li} New Zealand wo are just in the same position as far as the mass of the workers are concerned as the people of England were in 100 years ago.” A few jrcople applauded, but the mass of the audience probably was trying to reconcile this fanciful picture with tho actual facts of industrial conditions in New Zealand. They were endeavouring, perhaps, to picture the coalminers and the waterside workers, for example, ns the downtrodden “slaves!’ of the “master-class.”

At the meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council op Monday evening, Councillor Brooker referred to an application which had been forwarded to the council for an extension of the water mains along Waiwaka Terrace. Building was going on there, ho pointed out, but there was no provision for water for the residences. The Mayor pointed out that there were many applications for the water in places where the extension was necessary, and if they were all granted it would mean a big expenditure. This one application'alouc would involve an expenditure of probably £3.00. He proposed going into them with the engineer winCa view to bringing the. whole position before the council. The manager said it would probably bo necessary to go in for a loan for water extension, and pointed out that there was no reason why the council should not do so, because the revenue would pay for tho loan. In a lecture at Christchurch on his experiences on his recent trip to Britain, the Hon. W. H. Triggs said New Zealand was exceptionally well represented at the peace conference. Sir Joseph Ward, who bad had a good deal of experience, was as popular as ever in official circles, but on this occasion the bulk of tho work fell on Mr. Massey’s shoulders. ‘Tt is putting the case very mildly,” Mr. Triggs added, “to state that he did splendid work, and created a most favourable impression. Two members of the British War Cabi•net spoke to me in the highest terms or his work, especialy on the Crimes Committee. They also .told me Mr. Massey was a hard ‘battler’ for New Zealand. I have a very good reason for saying that if he had chosen to stay in England he had temptations to do so which would have proved irresistible to a man not so absolutely devoted to New Zealand and his New Zealand friends as Mr. Massey has proved himself to be.”

“No Rubbing” Laundry Help is free from all caustics or other injurious chemicals, hence the popularity of “No Rubbing.” One shilling packet sufficient for seven weekly washings.—J. M'Neill.* Don’t neglect your cold. Invest Is 6d in a bottle of Sykes’s Cura Cough; it soothes and heals the inflamed parts and cuts the phlegm away. Sold everywhere, h6l

The Plunket Committee would be very pleased to call for produce it anyone has difficulty in bringing it to town. There is always a ready sale for vegetables—one or two cabbages from many people make a. stall.—Bing up. 122.

The Prisons Board will sit at Kew Plymouth in about a week’s time. Tire Hudi Schools Board intend to approach them to ask for the employment of prison labour to carry out improvement work in the gully at tho Boys’ High School.

Tho Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association is requesting the Government to fix the date of the elections at December 10 if possible, it being considered that if tho elections were hold later there would bo a great dislocation of tho holiday business.— Pi ■ess Association.

In proposing the toast of “The Press at the gathering on Monday in connection with tho Mayoral installation, the Mayor (Air. Jas. Clarke) said that the New Plymouth papers could claim a very high standard, while the New Zealand press as a whole was the.strongest organ in moving the country" forward.

Considering counter attractions a most successful social was held in the East End Pavilion on Monday night on behalf of the piano fund for the new Soldiers’ Hostelry. The large hall, which was beautifully decorated with flags and evergreens, was packed with dancers. Tho supper was excellent. Songs were rendered by Mrs. Yates, Miss° B. Gardiner, and Mr. Lambert. Fifteen returned soldiers from the hostelry were present during the evening and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Great praise is due to. Mrs. Gardiner, assisted by tho blisses George, Cummins, and D. Gardiner, for the arrangements. The M.C.’s were Messrs. C. Woodham and Hooper, who carried out their duties most efficiently. The dance committee wishes to thank the many friends who assisted to make this dance such _ a success by donations of dishes, fruit, etc., and also the East End Committee for,assistance. After paying expenses the committee hopes to hand over a substantial amount towards the funds.

A correspondent of the' Post writes': Mr. Croskery, Labour candidate, stated that household coal could bo purchased at 17s per ton, f.0.b., Greymouth.. I am prepared to buy from Mr. Croskery 10,000 tons of State screened coal at 17s per ton, f.o.b. Greymouth, and give Mr. Croskery 5s per ton, or £2500, when the coal is delivered. Mr. Semple stated at Brooklyn that coal left Westport at 15s per ton but when it reached Wellington was sold to tho public at £3 10s per ton. lam prepared to buy from Mr. Semple 60,000 tons of either Westport or Westport-Stockton coal, tho coal to be screened, household, and tho price to be 15s per ton, f.o.b. Westport. I am prepared to pay Mr. Semple a commission of B,s per ton on every ton shipped to me. This will give him a fortune of £24,000. If neither of the gentlemen is prepared to accept the commission, because it may he called profiteering, ho can give the money to charity. With regard to Mr. Semple’s statement that the price the people paid for Westport is £3 10s per ton: I wish to inform him that within city delivery they can buy Westport coal, at any rate at one pldco, at 55s per ton. “For the last 10 weeks I have had two houses doored and lined and I cannot get the windows or doors to put in either of them,” said Mr. G. \V. Browne at the Mayoral gathering on Monday. The sash and door factories were working up to the limit and could not fill orders. Even if one turned to and made the window frames, one could not get the glass to put into them. Six. weeks ago the speaker had given an order for a 14 feet ladder, and he was told ho could not have it for three months. No relief could be obtained from other towns. Mr. Browne said he was mentioning these building difficulties because “you (the Mayor and councillors) may have deputations waiting on you and asking you to push on with building schemes, tho cost of which would be more than those occupying the houses would be able to pay.” The town manager (Mr. Bellringer) remarked that tho housing question had been taken up by the Borough Council some months ago and they wore going into it, at any rate as regards their, own staff. The Government had offered to lend up to £IO,OOO to any local*body. Tho New Plymouth Council had asked for the limit and, the speaker was pleased to say, had received a favourable reply that week.

New South Wales’ wheat acreage has this year dwindled to 2,91)6,000 acres, as compared with the maximum of 5,122,000 acres four years ago. These figures (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph), make a staggering contrast, and one that no producing country can look upoiV with equanimity. A worse feature is that there is no compensating increase of production in any other direction. An even more disconcerting comparison is the decrease in the number of wheat growers. In 1915 there were 22,453; this year there are 16,277. The question is, Why have over 6000 of our farmers gone out of wheat-growing in the past four years r The obvious answer is because; they could not afford to go on producing at a Joss. Adverse seasons and inadequate prices have driven them off the land or into other lines of production. The present disastrous season is going to make it impossible for many others, who have this year ploughed and sown in vain, to go further, even though the Government has come forward with the helping hand and more liberal advances. It is fairly safe to assume, however, that, with a favourable planting season next year, the slump in acreage will bo arrested. The market outlook offers inducements td that end Nevertheless, the replacement of those 6000 lost wheat-growers must in any case, be a matter of years, and it occupies a foremost place in the problems of increasing production that has to be faced by the country and the Government. In this issue the Stratford Racing Club invite written tenders for publicans’ booths at their meeting on January 1 and 2, 1920. An addition has been made to the pure-bred poultry stock of the district. !\lr J. Urlick. of Hawera. has just landed a breeding trio of White Plymonth Rocks, and also a breeding trio of White Wyandottes from the wellknown Owen farms of America. Considering their long voyage the birds arrived in good condition and arc splendid specimens of their breed.

Footwear values which are acknowledged by hundreds of satisfied customers to be absolutely the best in town. Smart nobby shapes, good solid wearing quality, and reasonable prices are the inducements we offer you. Ladies’ glace kid ankle bar shoes from 18s 6d; ladies’ patent leather court shoes, 27s 6d, 30s, 32s 6d. —Regal Shoe Store, next Everybody’s Picture Palace!*

The annual footwear fair commences at the New Zealand Clothing Factory to-day, and will continue during the week. AVe have been fortunate this season in securing full stocks in all the leading makes, both in ladies’, gents.’ and children’s footwear, and our prices will be found reasonable when quality is taken into consideration. —N.Z. Clothing Factory, New Plymouth.*- '

In the Magistrate’s Court this morning judgment for plaintiff by default was given in an undefended civil action (Ernest Knight v. Wm. Howson) for the sum of £3 and costs (10s). The Pacific Cable Board notify there is heavy delay on traffic from the United Kingdom on the Anglo and Commercial Atlantic cables.

Messrs. M'Ewen Bros, have kindly given a mystery prize for the Xmas stockings on Baby Day, value 10s. There will be stockings of all sizes and prices, full of things undreamt of; also lolly stockings at Is. It is very difficult to buy ordinary Xmas stockings, so come and buy a Plunket mystery one—and keep your eye on the ticket—stocking buyers all have a chance. Every fifth doctor of those who have just completed their training is a woman. Next year the proportion will probably be larger, for the number of women students has increased steadily throughout the war. In May, 1918, according to the British Medical Journal, there were 2250 in' the kingdom—a figure 23 per Cent, greater than the total for January, 1917, and several times larger than in 1914. There is an unusually heavy demand for commercial gold in New York now, and it is estimated that sales to the trade run from 6,000,000 to 6,000,000 dollars monthly. . Towards the close of the war there was a marked shortage" of manufactured jewellery, and me broad demand for gold metal by the trade is attributed to activities of jewellery manufacturers to replenish depleted stocks. It is also pointed out that during the > war period many wealthy people disposed of gold, jewellery, and other trinkets of silver, and that there is now an aggressive demand for jewellery by those who then gave up their treasures. The Wellington wharf labourers asked ten shillings an hour for discharging the cargo of the steamer City of Winchester, which returned to that port theother day with, her bunkers on fire. The owners refused to pay such an unheard-of rate, and, greatly to the surprise of the workers, sent the ship on to Australia for discharge and survey. Some wharf labourers; it is said, are making £l3 a week on the Wellington wharves,. Men from other trades are now getting work on the wharves, as they can make big money working only three or four days _ a week. A tailor’s cutter and his tailor in a ladies’ department recently left their ordinary avocations to take up work on the waterside. Carpenters, gardeners, and others are getting very high wage?, and there is still a , great scarcity of skilled tradesmen here.

An expedition has started from ParaBrazil, sometimes called Jh© “Gateway of the Amazon,” to investigate the commercial possibilities that may lie urn* developed along the course of the largest river in the world. The mineral, forest, agricultural and other products along the great river and its tributary streams will be examined, with results, it is hoped, which will restore the docks and warehouses of Para to more than the commercial activity that they had when Para rubber was an important article of export and oriental rubber had not yet come to drive it from tho market. Otherwise Para has had little commerce: now and then samples of products that promised great commercial value, vegetable oils, mineral oils, coal, fibres, cabinet woods , and minerals, have come down the river, but no serious effort has been made to determine the real importance of these samples as an indication of future wealth. The expedition that has now vanished upstream, is equipped for proper investigation and is sent out by an industrial department of the “Port of Para.” Nor is it impossible that what it finds may Jead to a commercial development of Para that will need new docks and warehouses.