LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVIII, Issue 5962, 13 July 1920, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Although ro official record is now taken cf influenza cases in Waihi, it is generi'ly understood that the number cf cases occurring during the past week shows no particular falling off as compared with earlier periods, Ihe Mayor informs us that an effort will be made to close the Starving Children Fund at an early date, but that before this is done the committee appointed at the public meeting will wait upon the local business people and professional men. Following on the decision of the Waihi Borough Council at its monthly meeting ion Thursday evening las*, when it v as decided to request the police to assist in abating the nuisance caused by straying horses and cat I le, the police hare instituted proceedings against the owner it one animal found at large. Other prosecutions will fol.pw if animals are not kept off ihe borough streets. The sale of Mr James Walters’ 3 0acre farm on the Waihi Plains at between £l2 and £l3 an acre, to Mr Hicks, of Te Aroha, has been effected through Mr C. B. Harper. Since Mr Walters purchased the property a dwelling and outhu'ldxngs have been erected on it, some forty to filly acres have been put down iu grass, ard close on sixty acres in turnips, besides other improvements,

‘•Daddy Long Legs" will bo screened at the Academy on Monday evening next. From the time the book came out it was a universally expressed opinion that here was a perfect part for Mary Pickford. Such has proved true, and Mary Piekford has justified herself. She has surpassed all her previous productions, and the popularity of the little star as Judy in “Daddy Long Legs" defies description. She has reached the zenith of her art, and “ Daddy Long Legs " will long be remembered on account of its association with Mary Pickford.

The Waihi Borough Council has under consideration the question of purchasing a motor lorry to replace the carts in use for metal carting, etc., and which (nay, if deemed desirable, ba also used in connection with the sanitary service. A lorry was offered to the Council at its last meeting, but no action was taken pending inquiries to bo made by the Town Clerk (Mr J. J. Ritchie) as to prices from other firms. The matter will be raised again at the next monthly meeting, and if it is felt that a saving on the present system of horse - drawn vehicles can be effected by such a change a motor lorry will probably be decided upon.

Hetheringtons, Limited, new advertisement on our first page should prove interesting reading to our subsenberss. The big drapery sale is continuing. In response to the representations made by the Waihi Borough Council relative to the shortage of househo'd coal in Waihi, the Town Clerk (Mr J. J. Kitchi..') has received the following telegram from tho Prime Minister, who was communicated with on the subject:— “ In reply to your telegram of the 9lh inst. with reference to the shortage cf household coat in Waihi, the Coal Control Department has wired to the secretary of tho Coal Trade Committee at Auckland to investigate tho position, and arrange for immediate relief. During the past few weeks there have been frequent stoppages of work in the Waikato mines, which probably account for the shortage referred to by you. Kindly keep in close touch with the secretary of the Auckland Coal Trades’ Committee.” At a recent meeting the Waihi Borough Council joined issue with other local authorities in u'ging the Government to reimpose an embargo on the export of hides in order to cheapen tho cost of footwear. .Replying in the first instance to tho representations made, the Prime Minister said that the matter would claim consideration, but in view of the recent fall in hide prices he has now written to the Town Clerk as follows: “ With further reference to your letter of the 11th ult. and mine of the 15>h idem, bn inquiring into the hide position I find.that hide values have fallen very consideiably, the latest sale reports showing a level of values approximately equal to the value established by the embargo, some lines even touching a lower level. In these circumstances the Government cannot see its way to consider the reimposition of control of hide prices." We regret to announce the death of Mr H. B. Sylvester Dargan, of Waihi, who died yesterday at the Pukeroa Sanatorium, at the comparatively early age of 43 years. Deceased went out to France with the Ist jVew Zealand Tunnelling Corps, and saw considerable service before being invalided home. Despite physical disabilities Mr Dargan resumed civilian duties, and until some little lime prior to going into the sanatorium acted as agent in the Waihi and adjoining districts for machineiy and wholesale seed and produce firms. Tho late Mr Dargan, who was a member of the Pride of Waihi Lodge of Druids, leaves a widow and young family. The Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Defence, in a telegram to Mr W. Rowe, of Waihi, says:—“l regftt to hear of Sapper Dargan's death, and shall bo glad if you will convey my sympathy to the relatives.”

Mr Gamble, draper of Bosemont Road, has a replace advertisement on our first page. The big sale commences at- nine o’clock on Monday morning. From Waihi grocers we gather that despite the arrangement made by the Government with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company relative to the control and supply of sugar there is little prospect of supplies to this town exceeding materially, if at all, the quantities received for some months past. Just at the present moment the shortage locally is unusually acute, one or two of the retailers being entirely without supplies, so that consumers may look to an immediate rise, as any sugar now on order wiJl be at the increased price. In the four chjef centres of Uie Dominion— Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin—the retail price has been fixed at fid per lb, but in country towns where additional freight and wharfage charges havo to be met the price per lb will be rather higher, and it is understood that the Waihi retail price will bo fi|d per lb, and that consumers will only be able to purshaso in smill quantities as heretofore, probably 4lbs to fibs at a lime, ’ The new wholesale price of the first quality sugar (la) is £47 10s per ton, as : compared wilh £23 I7s formerly. 1 Golden syrup and treacle may also be ’ expected to show a slight increase in tho I retail price. j