LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 11, 14 January 1901, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

the Borough Council meets this evening. The Hon. J. McKenzie is making favourable progress under his present treatment. The Wellington Museum authorities are of opinion that the sea monster found on the Westralian coast may turn out to b+ a porpoise whale, of which there are some skeletons in their collection.

It [is suggested that the cause of the destruction of fish in Golden Bay may be sulphurous exhalations from the bottom of the sea, following upon seismic convulsion, A serious outbreak sf plague is reported at Maritsa, European Turkey. Bishop Creighton is sinking, The following trains will leave New Plymouth station for the breakwater to-day, connecting with steamers mentioned below, as follows; 6 a.m,, Ngapuhi (from North)j 9.30 p.m., Ngapuhi (for North)i -■The many friends M Mr. C. T: Fookes, solicitor, of Stratford, will be glad to learn tbat.be his returned, and that his health has greatly benefited by the rest and charge. His brother, Dr. Fookes, returned with Mm from Sydney, and is at present staying with ; his father, Mr. A. 0. Fookos, in New Plymouth.

The Hon. 0. H. Mills, Minister for Trade and Customs, has under consideration and is favourably disposed towards the establishment of a ferry service across Ooek Strait from Titahi Ferry Bay, hear Porirua, to Picton. The trip could, he estimates, be made in an hour n half less than the present passage from Picton to Wellington, and vessels could cross in all weathers in comparatively smooth water. Mr. Mills points out that with this service, and with the North and South Trunk Lines completed, it would be possible to travel from Auckland to the Bluff with only about three hours sea journey.

Eleven trains on the south western railway system of England are snow-bound. At a meeting of delegates of Master Plumbers, held last week at Ohristchurch, it was dscided to form a Federated Association of Master Plumbers of New Ze.land, an<l officers were elected. The executive is to bo ch sen from different centres each year, A special meeting of the Borough Council is to be held this evening to fix the statutory half-holiday.

I Bostocks, the well-knowfi Liverpool firm of sugar reflnets, are claiming heavy damages from Nicholson, m»' aging dirsctor of the Hunslet Chemical Works, foi supplying arsenicated sulphuric acid, thereby causing the recent beer poisoning. Mr. Wragge, the Queensland Meteorologist, who is visitiDg Europe; is greatly impressed with the Hyrian system of arerting hailstorms by means of cannon. He believes the adoption of the method would save Queensland many thousands a year. A party consisting of Messrs. MeKay (Government Geologist), W. McKay (Assis-tant-Geologist), and B. Yuill begin a prospecting survey of the Kaimangaroa Range early next week. The instructions of the Government are to make a thorough search of the district to be explored.

The "Commonwealth" penny p'st-card has nothing very startling iu its design, the address side being very plain indeed. The reverse, however, is very tastefully got up with a group of portraits of the well-known National flags. Small portraits of Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness the Duke of York, and the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, Lord Hopetoun, join a triangle round the arms of the various united oolonies, intertwined with the flags andloeal flora and fauna of Australia. At the summit is the vprd " Commonwealth," and beneath it the motto "One Peop'e, One Empire, One Destiny," a rather quiet but at the same time artistic make-up, Bays the fyanganui Herald : The Hon. W. T. Jennings, M.L.C., informed our representative that recently he went to Wellington to see the Acting-Premier on the following matters;—. To urge on the Government the importance of taking immediste steps to conserve the beautiful native bush that graces the banks ot the Mokau River. 2. To represent the importance of a visit being paid by the gentlemen comprising the present Coal Commission to the extensive workingl of the coal measures in the Mokau Valley. 3. To a*k what inducement the Government would give, in the way of providing unworked land, to a large party of Americans, say JOO families, who wUh to forma special settlement in New Zealand. The party would provide for their own passages. as well as bring a considerable amount of capital with thera. The above is the ortcome of correspondence with the editor of the Free Press, an Illinois paper, in which information was requested of the Hon. Mr. Jennings as to the land and labor laws of New Zealand. The information supplied was deemed so satisfactory that a general desire to live under the New Zealand laws has permeated a large number of American people, who are prepared to come, providing suitable terms as the the area, quality of land, eta., can be arranged. Messrs. Merey and Son announce th it owing to the immense amount of work in connection with their Farewell Sale, and in consequence of the extraordinary rush of customers and on Saturday, their premises will not be span until 10 a.m. this day.— Advt. The Gas Company has just received a shipment of Fletcher's gas stoves, pas fires, water heaters, grillers, and other appliances, which can be seen and purchased at the Works. Already the sales have been brisk, and intending purchasers would do well to make an early selection. —Advt. A verv fine ments RingH, Drcssi^u£^^flH^H^H|^^H|H^^B