LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 32, 6 February 1903, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

(Jeeeral news and other Interesting reading matter will be found on page four of this issue. l'ha porta o£ the United Kingdom have been re-opanei to stock from the Argentine and Uruguay. Eighteen thousand cases ef influenza are reported from Basle. Britain has declined Siberia's offer of a coaling station, aed the offer has been transferred to the United States. Lord Methaen has deolined the offer of the Governorship of Malta. As a result of a survey conducted by Captain Davidson, the barque Gladja will be towed to Auckland. Her agents are negotiating for the services of a tug. Mr Chamberlain racomaaeaded Johannesburg to municipalise the drink traffic. He advocates that the profits should be applied to the improvement of the city, and tae reduc.in of the municipal debt. Mr David Tamook, at present officer in charge ef the Agricaltural School at Domi-ni-a, West Indie?, has been appointed | sup >rintendent of the Dunedin Botanic] Gardens and city reserves oat of 95 apnli- 1 cations from all part! of tho world. The salary is £2OO a year and a free tmse. In this issue Messrs Bew'ey and Griffiths announce that they will sell by auction without reserve to-morrow (Saturday) a Hsefnl seleetion of hoots and shoes, The sizes being useful ones, and the quality good, householders should pay atttnti n to this sale, he second instalment of the harbour rate is i ayabla at the Boards office on Monday, Fe'iruiry Kith, and r:itepa en ;ire notified tturt 10 percent additions will bj charged en all arrears at fhe ena of Febru try. An aecident, fcrtueately aot followed by serious damage, happened to M-s 0. Roberts, of the Kent-road on Thnrsd.iy moroiog. Whilst being drivm i >ko t>wn, and owing to the hprse Airo Roberts and the baby she was holding were thrown out of the trap, but both esoaped with a severe shaking.

The wet weather on Thursday proved vary detrimental to outdoor events. It was a great disappointment to many who were looking forward to attending the garden pirty at Ball Block, and although some braved the steady steamy, drizzle, naturally the attendance was thin, and the proceedings were shorn of their intended snncuss. The Kev K. A. B '.nn*t\ Vnviy Jenided to repeat the party aud coicsrt to-day, and should the weather be favourable, it is hoped that a good master of visitors will be present. At auction on Thursday the Wellington Harbour Board's Dock e . Ijivraeot, known as Srainger-street block, was sold on building leases in 27 sections, the total annual rental secured beiiag £-2074, representing a capital value of £52,000. The blook is at reir of To Aro Railway Station. Owing to the thick weather on the Taranaki coast, the captam oi the Rotoiti deemed it advisable not to travel through the sea fog, and anchored off Pungarehu. taking the precaution to keep the fog hora blowing at short intervals, lhe tr*in will leave the town station to convey passengers to the breakwater at 6 a.m. to-day, and if the Kotoiti is in port by that time, she will proceed north as soon thereafter as possible. At the Police Oourt on Thursday Alfred William Dennis alias Bill Jones was sentenced to three months' imprisonment as an incorrigible vagrant. Constable Moßae stated there was a suspicion that aceused rifled to yd safes. Ia response to a requisition from these interested, the Napier Borough Council has agreed to exempt the hairdressers end butchers from the Saturday half-holiday. The Bask of Australasia is opening a branch at Kapenga. 0| The Waimate County Council have resolved to levy a special rate of one-sixteenth of a pinny over the whele County for the destruction of small birds.

In connection with the sale of several of the Union Steamship Company's vessel* lepsrted from Dunedin, the local office of the Company states that the Upolu, which is amongst the boats that are ti be parted with, will be replaced in the Breakwater trade by the Oerinna, which wi'l brmg up oirjo from the south. Tha butter, which will commence to fall ofE is quantity by the end of this month, will be taken to Wellington by the Rotsiti on her nasal trips. Thursday's Gazette contains a forirul announcement of the dismisal of Angus John ivlcOurdy, telegraphist, fron the public service. McOurdy was recently brought te book for acting as Secretary of a branch of the Farmers' (7aien. The ChrisSchurch Gas Company has declared a dividend of five per cent, making ten par cent for the year, and carried forward a balance of £2120. THB COLONIAL PIANO IMPORTING COMPANY. A WORD TO THE MUSICAL PUBLIC. Mr D. McKinnon Bain, manager of the above firm, begs to notify that during his absence in England, the managerial duties of the firm will be undertaken by Mr Bert. Roantree, wheso musical abilities are so well known to the musical public of the Taranaki district While Mr Bain is at Home, hi intends visiting tha principle pianoforte and musical houses, and arranging for the latest novelties in the musical line to be forwarded regularly, and ia sh iet music only the very latest to be sent. Owing to the increase »f our tuning and repairing branches of the business, the company have engaged the services of Mr W. P. Doeg, from tha celebrated firm of Messrs J. and J. Hopkins™, pianoforte repairing branch will be under the supervised of one of oar principals, Mr W. Oolter,—Advt. 5 There is no doubt about ic that J. H is "The Leading Watchmaking and eweilery Business" on the west coast of New Zealand, and is notably pre-eminent for quality, novelty, variety and cheapness of goods. All the consignments of 'Xmas and New Year novelties, selected personally by Mr Parker in England, are now opened up. Kindly call and inspect the stock at the shop, next the railway crushing Devonstreet Now PlyMOsth.—Advt. jai