LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 179, 9 July 1900, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On our fourth page will be lound a quantity of interesting reading matter. The Borough Council meets this evening. Mr. E. M. Smith, M.H.H., arrived in New Plymouth on Friday night.

Trains will leave for the lJreakwate'r today, connecting with fie «mer mentioned below, as follow:—G a.m., Gairloeh (lrom North); 9.30 p.m., Gairloeh (l'or North),

The funeral of the late Mrs. Johu Vealo 1 took place on Sunday, and was very largely attended. The coliiti was covered with many handsome wreaths.

I Mr. C. Rogers is now manager at Auckland for tiie Scottish Metropolitan Accident Insurance Co.

A slight outbreak ot anthrax on Mr* Oarrick's farm at Waitara is reported by Mr i uoui, iitock Inspector.

| A list lias been compiled of fires which in the cvlony in May and June, •from which it appears the loss to Insurance Companies has been £(10,1*0. 'ihere were ! no less than 55 lires la*t month, and 2G in May, the larger number being in the North Inland. Last month eight hotels were burned, and four in May were destroyed or damaged. Mr. J. D. Mitchell received a posbcard from Trooper J.vines Mitchell a lew days a'o, ftaling that the troop horse that he took with him to youth Africa, ifirst Contingent, has earned linn through the campaign really well, and is at present in rnro futile. The h-.-rse was chosen by Inspector Orbell arid bred by Mr. Bremer, of Waverley. Little children full of health

Do love to laugh and play, And many man would give his wealth To be as bright as they. Though ilmess may attend us all, As wo become mature,

Vet coughs and colds will surely fall

Mfore Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. li

s.s. Xak.iptma, "itli I'm; ualwai'dSau Francisco mail, arrived ... . .j breakwater early on Sunday morning, .i, after landing passengers, proceeded on to ..uckland, | A slight, but prolonged, shook of earthquake was felt at 10.50 last night.

Waterworks and electric light plants o£ Wapakoneta, 0., have paid 18 per cent, on the investment since the town took them four years ago. Besides the cost to users has been constantly decreasing.

Our readers will doubtless remember the curious correspondence between an American gentleman and Paul Kruger, consisting entirely of biblical quotations. Although no good resulted from this unique method of argument, it is one that is capable of being turned to good account, an instance in point having lately come to light. It was this way : A civil action was recently heard in which both plaintiff and defendant proved themselves anything but upright men, the evidence given by each being remarkable for its crookedness, and at one time a prosecution for perjury seemed looming ahead. So unsatisfactory was the original trial that a rehearing was granted; but prior to that event coming off the defendant's solicitor received the following note:—"Dear Sir,— —v. —. Matthew 5, v, 25.—Paul Kruger." This verse reads: "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge; and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison." No time was lost in turning up the reference, and a settlement of the action promptly ensued.

.It is now felt to be almost certain that either the Prince of Wales or the Duke of York (writes St. James' Gazette) will some time in the course of the present year undertake a trip to the colonies, beginning with Canada. Sir Wilfrid Laurier is expected to make an announcement with regard to the invitation alleged to have been sent, in addition to the verbal ones recently extended by Lord Strathcona and Mr. Tarte of the Canadian Ministry, in the course of a week or so.

The Bill "to provide for Fair Wages and Working Hours on Public Contracts" introduced by the Premier, provides th»t in all public contracts the length of the working day and the rate of wages are to bo those which are considered fair in the locality. The maximum length of the working day is not to exceed 8 hours, exclusive of overtimo. These provisions are to be considered to be incorporated in every public contract, and no worker can contraot ' hiiuself out of the benefit of the Act.

The measure long fought for by the late member l'or Lyttelton (Mr. Joyce), and! which eventually passed into law, providing | for the establishment of Inebriates' Homes, has boon a dead letter because the Government made a provision for the finances required to give efEect -to it. On Tuesday Major Steward asked the Premier if he would remedy this omission daring the present session. The Premier siid it would long live to the credit of Mr. Joyce that he bad placed upon the Statute Book legislation dealing with this question. From what bad occurred during the past four months and had led to remarks from Magistrates and the press, he was only sorry that the House did not last session make financial provision for these institutions. Such provision would be made this year, he hoped, for dealing with this most important question.

The Sportiiuj Times (London) tells the best snake story yet heard:—A West Indian woman had retired for the night, with her infant resting on her arm taking its natural nourishment. A snake, attracted by the odour of the milk, dropped softly from the thatched roof on to the bed; then gliding slowly and cautiously to the breast of the woman, insinuated its mouth in the place of the baby's, whereupon the little one became restless. The snake observing this, at once " rose to the occasion," and by a gentle muscular movement inserted the tip of its tail into the mouth of the baby for it to suck. Soon after the husband entered the room, and to his intense astonishment found all three soundly slumbering, with a smile of heavenly content upon their respective faces.

In his reply to the Address-in-Reply debate, Mr. Witheford dealt with the importance of the Pacific Island trade to New Zealand. He had been informed that the French trading vessel St. Louis has arrived in Auckland, and that it was'intended that she should make regular trips to the colony. It was understood that this was the first occasion on which a French trading vessel has done business in New Zealand.

Some time ago a Timaru lad jumped off a Jog, and thought no more about it. Four or five days afterwards he was admitted to the hospital suffering from lockjaW, caused by concussion to the spine. Once a lawyer politician of considerable standing was addressing a large audience, and in a great rhetorical effo;t he was scarifying his political opponents, showing up their delinquencies and backslidings, their abuse of the public funds and the public 1 confidence, etc. He had almost reached the end of his peroration, and he had a chain shot for the last. Finally he thundered," I ;charge them" (with an impressive pmse)—" Six and eightpence I" yelled a wit from the back. The uproar that followed compelled the discomfited orator to sit down. You can get Sykes' Cura Cough for eighteehpence. All Chemists and Storekeepers.—Adv. Wage's Worm Figs, the wonderful Worm Worriers, never fail for adults or children Price Is.—Advt

Mr. W. J. Freeth, district, representative of the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, is prepared to quote exceptionally low rates for Accident Insurance. Contractors .for bush felling for the next few months should asfe for quotations at the office New Zealand Express Co., Brougham-street.—Ad. You can depend on ridding your children of worms with Wade's Worm Figs, the wonderful Worm Worriers. Price Is.—Advt News from Ei\;oji on Debby Dat oot only causes a thrill of intense interest among sporting men, but it causes a flutter of excitement throughout England, as many people take an interest in it who, on other occasions, have no sympathy with racing events. So it is in cases of illness; when strangers are the victims, we feel no anxiety, but when a friend or relative is stricken down, we await the news of their progress with impatient suspense Many letters of thanks are written daily by grateful friends, or the suifeieis thems Ives, for the benefit receiver! through Holioway's marvellous medicine a. They have been a source of relief in almost, very known complaint. The Pills give tone to the stomach, increase the appetite, and aid Ihe digestion, whilst the Ointm-/nt, when absorbed into the pores, prevents disease fr m having a fatal iniluence upon the system.—Advt. VJade's Worm Figs are most effective and not unpleasant; children thrive after takisg Miem. Prio>! 1* ~Mrt