NEWS OF THE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 243, 12 November 1903, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

We would esteem it a favour if secretaries of all local Institutions would kindly forward to us dates, places, and times fixed for meetings,' in order that a report of the proceedings hiay appear in this journal. This afternoon the New Plymouth Wanderers will play a match against tho Inglewood Cricket Club at. Inglewood, and the Waitara team will meet the ilbvers Oil thij New Plymouth ground;

We are asked by Messrs Boon Bros., the contractors, to mention that the swimming baths will be Open to the public this afternoon on the same conditions as on Sunday last.

There was a very successful practice last evening of the oratorio " Judas Macabeaus," to bo rendered by the -Whit-cloy Memorial Church Choir, with tho assistance of several other vocalists and instrumentalists on Tuesday evening next.

The Eltham Argus urges the- local library committee t'o make improvements and equip a good reading room. Why; the support of the Eltham public is only sufficient to pav rent for a small room a.t the rear of a fruit shop.

lhe local Golf Club will close their season on Saturday next, when the triends of members will be entertaiii<*l on the links. Ladies' and gentlemen s competitions have been arranged in driving, putting, and approaching skill. There will also be a mixed Foursomes Handicap; nine holes, players choosing their own partners. An entrance fee of Is fy,j will be charged, whether members com i" UJ '» one or more events.

Acting under instruetions from the holders of the bill of sale, Messrs Vickers and Stevens will sell by public auction on Saturday, at their marl, a quantity of coaching plant lately 111 the possession of M, J \V leal of Tarata. Particulars will be found elsewhere.

The press representative of Wirth 111 os. bag circus and menaiivrie writes that big business struck 1,, New SollHl WtU *" Sydney Daily Telegraph stated that the opening programme was " hj,, biggest circuß entertainment that has been seen in Sydney !m - son.. years," and the Town and Country Journal said that " a better slkhv ot its class has seldom, if „ VOl . b ,' , seen in Sydney." The circus win,.," visit New Zealand shortly, wii , h „ or ,. Pa.gcl, V lO Genimn Ho'fuk* as thi principal attraction.

At Man-am on Friday morning Mrs Michael Power was found dead „ her house, having fallen on her face the doctor's evidence wus to the of' oc that death was duo to heai't failure, and at the inquest the CI returned n verdict accordingly.

The Tarata race meeting will be hold on New Year's Day. The Waimate Witness state* that the Aurora Australis was visible from Manaia on Saturday evening. The following inscription meets the eye on upprouching the steps of the Coronation memorial band rotunda in the Maslerton Oval :—" This is public property ; protect your own," And the people take heed.

Wo learn from Eltham an interesting breach of promise case will shortly emanate from that rising centre. There are some interesting details, which will be sought after by the sensation hunters. Several things must happen before a town can be recognised as important, and a breach of promise case is one of these.

A Taranaki settlor who has just returned from a visit to Wellington informs the Waimate Witness that the opinion prevails in financial quarters there that Taranaki has reached the zenith of her prosperity ; that, in fact, she is commencing the slide on the downward track. These croakers were in existence years ago, and still we continue to prosper.

At the beginning of October last there was a "Black Week" in London financial circles. A leading city banker informed the New Zealqnd Herald's Home correspondent that there was not much chance of New Zealand raising a loan at present. He said ' "! So not think there is the slightest chance for a colonial loan until at least February. The great idea in the city is to prevent a further rise in the bank rate,and the recent purchase by the Bank of England of several hundred thousand in go'ld may hare a steadying effect an the market. But 1 do not see a bright spot for the colonies until, as I say, February."

From a Home correspondent's notes "A New Zealand Farmer " writes at considerable length to the Bristol Mercury on the subject of "Preferential Trade Within the Empire." In the course of his letter he says :—"Most colonials will not ask for a bargain. At the same time it must be ■ understood that even a very slight preference on certain articles would be hailed with satisfaction. We notice that some of the. would-be wise ones at Home are saying thut any change in the direction indicated will tend toward weakening our allegiance to the Empire, inasmuch as it would introduce a financial, or, as they put it, 'sordid' element where pure sentiment now governs. Bo they take us for simpletons ?"

There are how attending the evening classes at the Hawera District High School 15 pupils who take lessons in sharthand, 12 book-keeping, 2o art classes, 10 gymnastics, and six typewriting. A Whangamomona correspondent writes :—On Friday evening last the bachelors held their annual ball. There was a good turn out, and about 40 couples led off in the grand march. Mr Bowntree presided at the piano, and Mr Stockwell acted as M.C. in a very effiaient manner. During the evening .Mr Fred Brooking gave some selections from his phonograph, which were very amusing and highly appreciated. After the first part of the programme had been gone through the company retired to Mr Joseph McUlugg-age's boarding-house where they partook of a bountiful and well-spread repast. Keturning to the hall, they continued the programme, and kept up dancing till the small hours of the morning. Mr Taunt also played some extras on the piano very nicely.

According to the Saturday Reviewj "It was to be expected that among colonial messages to Mr Chamberlain Mr Seddon's should surpass the rest in vehemence and bulk ; nor is it unexpected to hear this breeziest of Premiers begging Mr Chamberlain not to be discouraged. The l words of commendation, which suggest the accompaniment of a slap on the back, sound like the advice of an uncle to a nephew ; but we must admire the thoroughness of Mr Seddon's nepotism. He is persuaded, and we believe on patriotic grounds, that commercial union is

necessary to the Empire ; and when he brings forward in the New Zealand Parliament the scheme of preference that he promises, wo expect public opinion in New Zealand to be with him. Perhaps no other colony is so whole-hearted."

Tho question of saving scenery from disfigurement, which in this colony has been long agitated for by the Scenery Preservation Societies, is effectively /dealt with by some European countries. C!ly authorities in Belgium and France, acting in conjunction with individuals and societies have already brought about many important reforms, and more recently Prussia has enacted a stringent and sweeping law directed to the same end. It authorises the police authorities—meaning local elective bodies, similar to those of the County and I load Boards in this colony—to prohibit outside of towns such advertising boards and notices or pictorial devices as disfigure tho landscape. It thus gives a remedy where there is a grievance, without interfering with advertising generally. The example set by Prussia has been followed by the Hessian Legislature, which has included similar in. ( t statute for the. protection of public inonumelits.

A rare fish was taken in a net at the New I'tiver Heads. Southland, the other dny; It contains no points of marked similarity to any other fish, but bears on the skin peculiar marking resembling ancient hieroglyphics. It is about a foot in length, and weighs about one pound.

A Wellington (inn has entered into an agreement with the settlers of KaurOa, near Raglan, to find the capital to establish a dairy factory there, and it lias also agreed to purchase the output for live years.

The Sydney Morning Heraicl of Nov. 3 states-:—" Among thb passengers by the B.M.s; Orontes. which reached Adelaide yesterday, was the Kight Rev. Bishop Welldon, formerly Bishop of Calcutta uind Metropolitan of India, who is travelling round the world for his health. Thr Bight Rev. Dr. Hurmer, Bishop of Adelaide, an old personal friend, mut him at the anchorage, and accompanied him to Bishop's Courtm where ho will be a guest until next week. In Melbourne ho will be the guest, of Lord Tennyson, with whom he was at Cambridge, and at the special request of the GovcrnorCeneral, Dr. Welldon has decided to prolong his stay in Australia and New Zealand a fortnight, in oedi-r that he might return to England in thb same boat by which His Excellency has bboked his passage, namely, the B.M.s Omruh, sailing about the middle of January."

In sentencing John Fredk. Nnies to a month's imprisonment for making a wilfully false statement to obtain an old-age pension certificate, Mr I McCarthy, S.M. at Invereargill, said he -would take into account the fact that defendant was imablo to vo-ivd or write, but in his case very great care was taken by the Deputy-Regis-trar, Mr i'etrie, in explaining the effect of what .he was 'doing. The Question was several times put to him whether he had money in the bank, an>d be said he bad not. He bad also come to the Court and told the same untruth. He had only tokl the truth when he found that the Court was in possession of certain information. Me, the Magistrate, would not tolerate such a state of things. It was one of the worst cases that had come before him. There had been a wilful ami deliberate attempt to deceive tire Court, and it was not a case for Jenl«ncy« .

On Monday and Tuesday 2.7 inches of, rain fell in Hawera.

The Premier has been invited to attend the Axemen's Carnival in Eltham next month.

There was a huge crowd oi friends at the breakwater last night to see Mr K. Webster off. He received three hearty cheers as the steamer moved oil.

Sport in Taranaki could do with a few more enthusiasts like Mr C. E. Brewer, Of Stratford. He has promised a cheque of £2O to the Stratford Football Club in the event of their winning the senior cup next season. In any case he would give them £o.

Pets always receive great attention on bourd ship; and; according to the Ilawera Star, there was an example of this when the Northern Monarch was wrecked the other day hear Opuhake. The paper says : The pets aboard whip were not neglected in the crew's hurry to escape from their perilous position. The dog and a couple of birds were got into the life-boat, and as the captain was about to step into the boat he remembered his cat. Amidst the creating of the cordage, and despite the threatening masts that appealed almost at breaking point, he returned to his cabin and rescued the pet that was coiled up cosily on the berth.

A funny story is being told of a' couple of young men who journeyed to Auckland the other evening. They boarded the Rarawa " with an independent air," hand-bags and various travelling incidentals in hand, and, taking a sweeping view of the deck, made a frontal attack on a <loor which they assumed would lead them to the steerage quarters. They had got to the foot of the stairway when suddenly it struck them that they had come to the wrong place, as the fittings seemed too elaborate altogether, and much beyond their expectations. Of course, each would do anything rather than acknowledge that he was in the position of the man who '* dunno where 'e are," and stood hesitating. Their confusion was hardly lessened by the appearance of the stewai<dess, and then it dawned on them that they were in the wrong box. They were certainly in the steerage, but had missed their way and struck the ladies' apartments. They retired.

At the local Police Court yesterday morning, before Messrs H. Weston and H. F. Russell, Justices, an adjourned case against a 'bus driver (or breach of the borough by-laws wis further adjourned till this morning in order that Mr Stanford, S.M., may hear it. A man named Andrews was fined for having imbibed too freely, an\l the hearing of a second charge against him of refusing to leave licensed premises was adjourned till Friday. Whare Tarawhiti, a young Maori, was fined Si and costs and cab hire on a charge of drunkenness,

The commander of the ill-fated vessel the Northern Monarch is by no means a stranger to the coast upon which the wreck occurred, but he Was not on deck at the time of the accident. He had been In charge of the Northern Monarch for nearly thirteen years, having joined her at Cardiff on March 23rd, 1891. Having been on the boat for so long it goes Without saying that he had a valuable accumulation of instruments, personal effects, curios; etc., the loss of which he estimates at over £2OO.

Writing in the Hawcra Star, Mr F. W. Wilkie, of Kaponga, advocates the establishment of an agricultural college in Tnranaki. He says, in concluding his letter : Taranaki is now admitted to be the leading province in some of the most important branches of agriculture, and it should toe the aim anil endeavour of every individual in the province to further the establishment of a firstclass agricultural college within our borders. Then, instead of sending to Denmark for our dairy experts, and the world over for veterinary surgeons, we would produce them from the lads of bur own community. And time has repeatedly pi'dved that if you give a colonial lad a fair chance he can hold his own against the world*

"I cannot imagine," said Chief Guide A. Wartirick (of the Tourist Department) to an interviewer,

"how the curious story originated of the impending overflow o? Lake Ratomahana, and the terrible consequences predicted if this happened-. There is absolutely no ground for fear, no cause for alarm. As a matter of fact, the lake is falling. It has gone, down .2ft; and this by evaporation. I know this, thai the foolish reports about the lake have created unnecessary alarm ami have done the -district a lot of harm ; of that I feel sure. Those who talk about the danger of Kotomahaiva cannot know what they are taluing About ; they cannot know the place,"

The comr.i!,tee of the Fiorai Fete, inaugurated for the purpose of raising funds ffcjr biir beautiful Recreation Grounds, met yesterday; , arid decided that in the face of the threatening' aspect of the weather the fete should be held in the Drill Hall. Later, the sky clearing considerably, it was arranged to hold the function in the HecreatiOU Grounds if the day is fine, b'iit if riot tit the.Drill Hall. Of course, p6's>tp6nchi?rH has necessitated a .slight modification of iiie piogramme, but its interest has not been at all impaired. During the afternoon, froiii 2 o'clock; .the Waihi goldmine will be at work, and the floral displays promise to bS very pretty. For the evening very full arrangements have been made. Should the weather be suitable the goldmine will continue operations in the evening near the luke in the grounds, and the Garrison Band will contribute a programme of music. The Band must be congratulated on having volunteered their services in aid of so deserving an object: Besides these attractions, we understand there will be a fireworks display, and stalls for refreshments will be ready for business. Those who know and appreciate the groundg are urged to make a point of being present, in order to enhance the value of one of New Plymouth's best assets from a scenic point of view.

A press wire from Christchurch states that C. Bannernian, the Christ's College coach, has received a cablegram from Mr P. I<\ Warner captain of the English team touring Australia, inviting him to umpire in the test matches, and hinting at an engagement for the whole tour Banner man has replied asking for further particulars,