LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 164, 15 July 1903, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Interesting reading matter will be found on page four of this issue. We would draw the attention of the public to Ambury Brothers special announcement of their annual discount sale in this issue, commencing to day. The solicitor for the Stratford Borough Oouncil yesterday forwarded to the Board of Education tho title deeds of 1 acre and 17 perches of land in the Borough of Stratford, as a free gift to the Board for the site of a Technical School, now being erected at Stratford. This is a pretty fair indication of the value Stratford people set on educational advantages. , The Dairy Company, also, which held a long lease of this land from the Borough [Council, voluntarily surrendered their lease, although worth a considerable sum as the land is right in the centre of the Borough From the Patea Press we learn that the Government has let the oontract for a bridge over the Patea river, on the Ballroad. This bridge gives access to a large area of eood country, which had formerly great difficulties to contend with, in the matter of ingress and egress. No less than seven candidates are standing for the vacancies on the Wanganui Education Board. Messrs R. A. Adlam, Gr. Bridge, and Wood the retiring membrrs,, and Messrs Haselden, late VI.H.R., W. Fitch. J. Fouth, and Job Vile, M.8.R., have also been nominated. The population of the Commonwealth is as follows: N.B.W. 1,401.168, Victoria 1,205 242, Queensland 491,676, South Australia 362,929, Western Australia 211,431, and Tasmania 177,072. The proprietor of the Ashburton railway refreshment rooms intends determining his lease at once, and applyi- g for restitution of six months rent (£350) just paid. Since his license was withdrawn, his receipts have fallen to a few shillings each day, whereas formerly they averaged about £4O a day. Tasmania is but a small place, and yet it manages to grow some f500,000 wor h of potatoes in a year. At least, that is the estimated value of the yield for the past year, and the average price would probably be about £3 per ton. The death is announced of Mr John Patterson, one of the oldest and most respected resideuts of Patea, Mr Paterson was a member of the County Council, and the last Licensing Committee, and took an active interest in publi* affairs. " There are men on the Magistrate's Court Bench to day who have to go off and who have to go off at once—l say this to give them a chance to go off before they are put off."—Mr T. E.Taylor. M.H.R., at a prohibition meeting last night in the Baptist Church. Mr E. G. Allen reminded the House last night that the Union Company supports ten thousand people, Tramps worked by coolie labour should not be al lowed to compote with the company's steamer in the New Zealand costal trade. " You can put on another 22J per cent., and still American boats will come here," says MrE. G. Alien. " America is able to export her surplus output even at a loss. The number of labourers employed on co operative works throughout the colony is 5163. Of these 2907 are controlled by the Public Works Department, and 2256 by the Department of Roads. Eleven hundred and sixty one are employed on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, 262 on the Midland Railway, 258 on the Otago Central Railway, and 220 on the Blenheim Waipara Railway, There are now 209 artizans engaged on co-operative works. Laet month the Labour Department found employment for 117 married, and 44 single men—a total of 161, on whom 174 persons are dependent for support. Seventy six of those who applied to the Department were sent to private employers, the other applicants (85) being provided with employment on Government works. The Hew Plymouth Tradesman's' /'aso - ciation hive decided not to observe Arbor Day Shops will thereforo be open as usual on Thursday morning.—Advt. 15 Mr Jas. Sanderson is invitiug tenders for the erection of a residence in Liardetstreet. The annual meeting of the Sash and Door Company will be held at the Company's office on Monday neit, at 2.30 p.m. A Consolidated Niokel Mines Company with a capital of i' 400,000 in £1 shares, has been formed in London, to acquire nickel properties in New Caledonia. The purchase price is i' 241,000. The company ts issuing 150,000 shares at par. At Christchurch on Tuesday, Feton, Middles to n, and Flett, the railway shunters who were convicted of stealing good at the Christchurch railway station, where each were sentenced to four months, probatioon being refused. The American ship Milly Reed, from Hobart, which put into Lyttolton in distress on Sunday is loaded with timber for South Africa. She is said to be in a leaky condition, and a considerable number of the crew are under arrest for having refused duty. There is also sickness on board. Dr Finch, District Health Officer, and Dr. Uphnm, Health Officer for Lytteltou, with the Customs and police authori- < ties, wunt to the ship ou Monday. As i she comes from wi infreM port, the ship] is to undergo (juarantine for eight days, I

The New Plymouth Parliamentary I ( Union had a very successful meeting ori I Tuesday evening. A motion by Mr I Skeates that tho Onion meat weekly was lost on the voices. The principsl matter for discussion was the second reading of i the State Fire Insurance Bill, introduced j :by the Premier ( Vlr Holloway). The ( ■ debate, which was at times very animated, i and right through very instructive, was | not Concluded when the House rose. ; W. H. Bryant, who stated he was a [ magnetic healer and clairvoyant, and has i baeu practising in Wellington for three i months, was fined at Wanganui £5 on ; each of two charges of palmistry and fortune telling. , The South Australian Government has decided to supply 800 000 gallons of water weekly for Broken Hill, at 103 a thousand. This will take 27 trains to convey. The cost will be borne by New 3outh Wales and South Australia equally. Mr W. J. Baillie, a relative of the Hon Baillie, M.L.0., wis found dead in bed at Picton. He was formerly a lieutenant in the 51st Regiment, and saw much active service in Burmali. We regret to learn that Mr A. Standish is confined to his house with a severe at- | tack of the prevailing epedimic. A general meeting of the New Plymouth Tradesman's Association is called for to-night at 8 p.m., in the ' Borough Council Chambers, all employers > and Tradesmen are invited. Business : I 'Co take into consideration the Shop i Hours Bill, now before the House of . Representatives.—Advt. 15 Tbe plumbing; classes established by tbe Education Board are working very smoothly at both New Plymouth and 3cratford and P very satisfactory progress is being rmde. V At the New Plymouth class last night 16 out - of the 17 enrolled were present. At Btratf ford, in addition to the men from the three local shops, the Elthim plumbers have joined and an application has been received from the plumbers at Ksiponga to be alio wad il to join. t Messrs. N. It MoDiarmid (chairman) and » D. Derry of the Hi.ih School Board of Y Governors, who have been ta Wellington on ' the Board's business, returned home hj the mail train oa Monday evening fairly salis n tied with their trip. it i i