LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14728, 5 August 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The examination of the accounts of the Thames Harbour Board has been completed.

Some residents of Thames state, with all confidence, that there was a very noticeable earthquake about 6 o’clock this morning.

A man who called at a farmhouse near Palmerston North and asked for food, stated that he had walked all the way from Auckland in search of work.

A brief interruption of the electric light service last night was caused by the main breaker at the powerhouse coming out owing to a shortage on the mains. It was put into position at once.

At a sitting of the Police Court this morning, before Mr. P. H. ClaxVton, J.P., Henry Kelly, an old offender was convicted and discharged .on a charge of drunkenness, on condition that he left the town.

A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that Matthews, the Timaru murderer who was committed to the Seacliffe Mental Hospital, escaped early this morning. No particulars are yet available. A start has already been made with the erection of poles for the Borough Council’s main transmission line which will carry the HoraHora power from a station near the Kauaeranga railway bridge to the borough power house. The members of the Thames County Council paid a visit of inspection to the Coast Road on Wednesday. They inspected , certain streams - at Waikawau and Wiaom "j, with respect to which water licenses were lodged.

A property in Queen Street, Masterton, which was purchased about 25 years ago for £I2OO, was sold recently at a figure approaching £7OOO (says the Wairarapa Daily News). A few hundred pounds had been spent upon improvements, between the two sales.

In the report of the discussion of the Thames County Council, published yesterday, a reference by the chairman to the views of Mr. Miller, was made to read as though Mr. Lowe was referring to the Mayor of Thames. The reference of the county chairman was, really, to the chairman of the Hauraki Plains County,/Mr. J. C. Miller. . A. New Plymouth, telegram states that phenomenally heavy seas and high spring tides have caused considerable damage along the foreshore there. A reclaiming wall in

front of the railway station suffered and the trains, leaving this morning, had to proceed carefully. Much erosion has occurred at the East Eud bathing reserve where the pavilion is endangered. A little damage was done at the breakwater where the Waitomo and Kennedy lay quite snug, but the Corinna will be unable to berth until the weather moderates. A peculiar loss befell the Nightcaps bootmaker. On opening his shop last Monday morning, a dog bounded out, and disappeared. The contents of the shop were scattered about, and a number of pairs of boots chewed up beyond repair. Evidently, the animal had been sleeping in a corner when the

shop Avas closed on the Saturday.

night, and, to appease h.'.s hunger, had turned its attention to the boots. The bootmaker estimates his loss at about £lO.

The traffic, inspector in a tOAvn not very far from Gisborne, in the course of his duties, noticed a motor-car Avithout a number-plate in front. He approached the driver of the car —a young lady. “Is this your car?” he asked. “Yes, it is my car,” Avas the reply. “Well,” she was informed, “there is no numbe?-plate in front.” “It is not necessary to have one,” replied the young lady, in dignified tones. After further argument, the inspector took her name and address, and started to walk away. The young lady, however, called him, back. “There’s not going to be any trouble over this, is there?” .she- asked. “Yes,” was the prompt rejoinder, “lots.” “Well, then, you had better book it up to father. It is his car, really, you know.” The traffic inspector is still smiling. “Father always has to pay,” he says.