LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 191, 15 June 1903, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Interesting reading matter will be found on page four of this issue. Mails by the Ventura from Auckland on May fech, arrived in London on lO.h inst.

Sixl y.-thtee years ago sovereignty wa& ptoclaimed over the islands of New Zealand. The D.O. A. notifies a first dividend of 3s 21 in the £ is now payable in the estate of W. J. Roberts.

The Kin? and Queen have signified their intention of being present at Madame Melba's approaching London reappearance in the part of Mitni in the Grand Opera Laboherne. A reminder is given of the meeting at the Town Hall at 3 o'clook this afternoon to consider the question of a suitable farewell to Lord and Lady Ranfurly. Ladies are particularly invited to be present. On Friday next Mr Newton King will sell by auction, at his mart, a consignineal of single and double bedsteads, received from London ex e.s. Turakina. These are of superior manufacture, a number of them being very heavily brass-plated, and «ill be sold absolutely without reserve. A handsome drawing room suite and some toilet sets will also be sold at the same time.

News has been received in Auckland | that an ex-New Zealand trooper has beeii appointed a South African mining commissioner, with salary and allowance equal t") LIOOO a year. Pahiatua storekeepers are refusing to sell cigarettes or tobacco to children of immature years. This is due in a ereat measure to the representations made as to the evil by the local school committee. | The taniwha at Ust! A survey party at Maraetai; Opotiki, when hunting a wild pig a few days ago came across the skeleton of a huge crocodile and dragon It measured 40ft. long, and judging by the ribs must have been 10ft. in girth.

A witness at the Arbitration Court in Wellington the other day delivered himself thus, "1 don't consider the baking business a trade. I consider it a profession. Woman has yet mastered the art of fermentation."

A little Board School girl is said to have given the following as an essay on " The Human Body:—" The human body is divided into three parts, the head, the chest, and the tummick. The head contains the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and brains, if any. The chest contains the heart, longs, and pact of the liver The tummick is entirely devoted to the vowels, of which there are five, namely a e i o u, and sometimes y and z."

An effort is being made at Hawera to establish continuation classes in connection with the District High School. At a public meeting held the other evening it was resolved " That an endeavour be made to start manual and technical and continuation classes in joinery, bookkeeping, plumbing, type writing, art, shorthand, and cooking, and that a circu lar statin" probable fees, times of classes, etc., be issued by the School Committee, and applications be invited from those willing to join." It was further resolved, " That it is of great importance to the whole district that agricultural chemistry and dairying soience should be taught to the young men and women engaged in agricultural pursuits." As the Parliamentary session draws nigh the question of who shall be speaker is earnestly debated. At one time it looked like like a walk-over for Mr Guinness, but t-ir Wiliam Steward has many friends. Sir William has been a staunch Liberal for over a quarter of a century. Probably no man in the House has to so great an extent sacrificed his own personal interest for public affairs, and, therefore, his claim on the office of Speaker is not a light one. The result of the election is by no means a foregone conclusion and there is a probability of an interesting position of affairs. Of course, Mr Guinness likewise has friends, and having acted so frequently as Deputy Speaker improves his chance of election. Messrs Platman and O'Meara are spoken of as probable whips —but this is merely rumour. The classes for plumbers will be opened at Stratford this (Monday) evening, and at New Plymouth on Tuesday evening. Considerable interest is being taken in these clashes in bo h centres, and they will be officially opened at 7 o'clock. Messrs Boon Bros. are making gocd progress with the construction of the public baths. On Sunday hundreds of people paid a viut to the works. On Thursday next the foundation stones of a new Methodist Churoh on the Oarrington-road will be laid. Pour stones will be laid.' Messrs Okey, senr., Wells, Carter, and Whi taker will probably officiate.

The Kumara Times says Either Minorca fowls must be valuable or some men have more money than they know what to do with, for it is reported that a trio of theso black favourites were recently put np for sale by tender in Greymouth, and vvere secured by a local fancier for £25. Several other tenders were received, che lowest being £l2 10s.

Speaking at the Masterton Licensing Committee, Mr James, S.M., stated that a hotelkeeper was entitled to supply a traveller with only .one drink. A travel ler could not remain on the premises drinking all day. Shareholders of the Equitable Building Society will note the next pay day is today (Monday). Subscriptions will be payable at the Society's office, Egmontstreet, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., 1,30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.—Advt. A Taupo publican (T. H. Glass) in his statement in bankruptcy to the Da put} Official Assignee at Napier, attributed hip position partly to the falling off in the tourist traffic between Napier and Taupo " A few years ago," he stated, "special and other coaches were passing to and from Napier and Rotorua almost daily, but now a special is praotically unheard of, and the ordinary weekly service carries little more than the mails. Nearly all the tourist traffic goes from Rotorua to Sokaanu, and thence to Wanganui and Wellington, or round New Plymouth to j Auckland, thus avoidiug Napier." To show what oan be done with lucerne in this colony, a farmer living near Napier had seven cows to keep on 8| acres of lucerne, and from the faotory for his milk alone he received £l3 per cow for the twelve months, his cows only being dry about a fortnight. The lucerne gave three to four cuttings and was fed part as hay and part green. The green lucerne being mixed -with, the lucerne hay no doubt did much to keep up tlTe milk supply. A mooting of townspeople is to be held at 4 o'clock this afternoon, at the Council Chambers, relative to entertaining the delegates to the Farmers' Union Conference, which meets at New Plymouth this week.

In reply to a telegram Bent by the chairman of the Education Board on I uesday last, a letter was received on Friday ni<>ht stating that the grant for the Stratford Technical School was under consideration by the Cabinet, and a reply will shortly be S3nt giving the decision arrived at.