NEWS OF THE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 252, 23 November 1903, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A letter from " Insurer 1 ' will appear in to-morrow's issue.

Entries for the Tnranakl Agricultural Society close on Saturday, 28th. .

Stratford Band wiH b\>\& a Ploral Fete in February to raise funds for new instrttin'ents.

Tho half-yearly report of tho Broken Hill Block Tin Mine disclosed a loss of £17,7)7 mainly clue to watrjr famine.

Tho new offices for tho Railway Department in Wellington, the. foundation stono of which was laid by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, will be opened by Lord Roftfurl-y this afternoon*

Mr Dix's Gaity Company, which will lie in New Plyiiiouth shortly, is doing &reat business on. the way. up. At Palmerston the Theatre Royal was packed to the doors and the show was greatly appreciated.

A telegram from Napier says that George Ro'lfcrts, an elderly man, was found in adyimg state at his home on Saturday at Tartidtilc and died shortly after his removal to the hospital. At tho iwfuest the Verdict was that death was due to the bursting of a blood vessel c&uSed by exces?ivo drinking,

We notice (says the Patea County Press), that some veracious wag has struck out the sign " Established 1817" o nthe local branch of the Bank of New South Wales building, and substituted " Painted 1817." Only 86 years ago. We should have thought it was longer-, judging by the advanced d<pcoy of the* building.

Quite recently an amphibious tribe oi! people was found in New Guinim. This strango race has iww liven almost exterminated- A report received on Saturday from the ActingAdministrator of New Guinea s«ny» they were attacked by a neighbouring tribe, who slew all the men except one. He rejoined the women and children.

Tho Wan.ga.ftul Wesleyan District Synotl commences its sessions at Feilding oh Tuesday morning, when representatives will bo present from all circuits Ijetween Palmerston North and New Plymouth. P'av. J. N. Buttle and M<c*srS J. Whitaker and K. W. NV?sil will represent the New Plymouth circuit.

Miss Rimmer's solos at the Whiteley Memorial Church on Sunday were a treat to listen to. In the morning she sang " Consider the Lilies," and in tho evening " I shall give you Kest " and " Nightfall." After tho owning service this popular young vocalist sang, r-y special request, a beautiful setting of " Son of My Soul." ]{ev. J, N. Buttle preached morning and evening, and there were very congregations.

Wo have authority for stating that a deputation of the West Ward burgesses waited on Mr Henry Gilbert askiiig him to allow himself to bo nominated for tho scat in the Borough Council rendered vacant ivy the resignation of Mr Alexander, and hu (Mr Gilbert) has decided to uccedo to their request. Mr (jilbert is Chairman of the West End School Committee, and his friends are of opinion that ho will make a iii'stclass, level-headed councillor.

In tho House on Saturday, Mr Scddon made a statement with regard to the J, J. Meikle case. He said it would require an Act of Parliament to erase his name from the prison records of the colon}', and, apart from that, it would be impracticable to remove his name from all the records. He was of opinion that printed slips, setting out the facts favourable to the man's innocence, including the judge's remarks, should be inserted in the records. There was no intention to pay him any further compensation.

The committee of the New Plymouth Horticultural Society met at Mr Cattley's shop last Friday night, and judging'from the attendance the show should not lack for want of energy. The early spring has also ■been favourable in bringing on the gardens, which are now a mass of bloom. Many entries have been received for the. different classes, but the secretary will receive any others till 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Competent judges and stewards' have been appointed for tho different sections. It only wants the support of the public to make the show a record 0116.

The old tub in the pond known as the Victoria Lake in the Victoria Tark in Stratford came near causing a drowning fatality on Thursday afternoon. The Post gives particulars which are that the boat leaked whilst two boys were paddling about in it. One lad jumped clear, 'but the other, named Sexton, drifted into tho middle of the pond. Ho could not swim, and when the beat sank he was l«ft helpless. After sinking twice he was rescued by Mr Evitt, who came quickly to the scene called and plunged straight in. Tho boy had a very narrow escape.

Mr F. R. Field, of Waitotara, writes as follows to' the Wawiganui Chronicle :—Sir,—ln connection with the recent wrecks on the Taranaki coast, I might remark that several years ago' I bad reason to doubt the correctness of the charts, so far as this coast-line is concerned. 1 went to the trouble of consulting some officers of coastal steamers, who agreed with me that some of this coast projects some three or four miles beyond where the charts then in use showed it. I am sorry that I did not make further mention of the matter at the time, when the particulars were fresh in my memory. If I am not mistaken, there was for a long time a dispute as to the position of the Farewell Spit, and it was not till serious casualties had resulted that errors in the charts were corrected.

During an interview with a Sydney Herald representative, Sir Henry M. Jackson, Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner of the Western l'acilic stated that tho native chiefs were prepared to lease their waste lands to the Government, so that they might be thrown open for settlement. Already a number of applications for these lands had been received, and it was hoped that much good would accrue to tho colony from this policy. The introduction of coolie hard labour had, in his opinion, proved of K reot Ixmelit to the colony, and the erection of new sugar mills had led to an incieuse in sugar-growing. Cotton, cocoa, coffee, manila, ginger, riiblier, and all kinds of tropical and subtropical fruits could be nroiitably grown, and he believed there would be largo areas placed under cultivation shortly. Asked, -'What about the federation of Fiji' with New Zealand ?" Sir Henry replied that he bad heard practically nothing about it since he had been appointed Governor of the colony, and he did not think anything more would be heard of it. He could not find that it ever extended over a small circle of individuals.

On Saturday Napier wired the weather was very cold, a heavy fall of snow bjeing repoviM tin the Petano Hills-.

Mr Harold Thomson, solicitor, of Inglewood, was married at Auckland on Wednesday to Miss A. K (Evle> Pargn.ville, dnughtfr of I lit' late Mr ,J. Ai. Diirguvilh*, of Auckland.

There was a phenomenal rainfall in Wanganui on Monday last if the following description thereof in the Chronicle of Tuesday is reliable : '['hi? elvish tttmofcpliero prevailing yesterday was considerably cleared by a very heavy shower which fell Parly iiv the afternoon, w'hWi the rain "caitrti down in buckets."—We have often heard of rain -'coming down in bucketfuls," but this is the first time "within the memory W mftn '' that rain litis ronm d'Ow'h actually in biii'l&tfc. Mo wonder the close atmosphere was less close after the downfall, as it would naturally have to be fairly "wide apart" to allow a free passage of a shower of buckets. Dairy farmers should score a win.—Tng'lewood Kecord,

In the course of an article on the late Lord Salisbury in the October World's Work-, the writer states that many Wt lite Foreign Office officials J Hi's Lordship did not know even by. sight, and adds :—"'On one occasion ho sent for th'e present writer to enquire concerning some personal aspects o'f a certain foreign complication, and asked, among Other things, how a prominent foreign statesman of tho time could possibly lvave mode such a mistake as appeared in one of tho despatches-. I replied that) I could only suppose it was due t« a complete momentary lapse of memory. 'But,' said Lordi Salisbury, 'has he no, JiriVat'e eecrfe-' tary who would put him right r I have several, ahy one of whom would take the greatest pleasure in correcting me upon such a point.' Meeting one of his secretaries at dinner a few nights later, I repeated this remark, 'That's all very well for the chief to sny,' was the reply ; 'but all I can say is that I am one of his secretaries, and I have hot set eyes on him for six months.' " That secretary must surely have an easy time.

The following advertisement for a nursegirl is taken from an American : paper :—"Wanted a small, girl as nurtrcgirl. A git'l 'will not suit, as the salary we oiler is not large enough. The children.' are pretty nice but if they do not give satisfaction, we are willing to turn them out when the weather takes tip a bit. The cook is very ladylike but if she is unsuitable t» the newcomer sMi shah go ttlso\ If we live too far from town we are willing to sell and come nearer. We will do our best to please ami, H we fail, we are willing to leform if our defects are pointed but to us. There are three children, but if the cmwikiate finds- that is 100 many she may take what steps vhe likes to reduce the number.' The hours are short, and if our meals do not agree with the successful candidate we are ready to change them. We only ask for the drawing room on the anniversary of our wedding.—Apply v., 170, Daily HeraldDemocrat.

at Nottingham by a boy hanging himself because he could not go to a match, is receiving the attention of Leeds teachers. The game is found to l>e demoralising school boys, and u Leeds headmaster states that many teachers in the city talk about nothing but football in their leisure hour's. "Think," says he, in a letter published recently, "of the pernicious influence of this advertising of a youth's prowess in football. JJ U becomes a little god amongst his: schoolmates, most of whom become miboied with the insane desire to excel ill this branch of sport. Move amongst them, and you will find that their sole topic of conversation is football. The clever and diligent student is but seldom noticed " The question mooted by this head teacher Iras been openly discussed at Leeds, and it is generally admitted among teachers that the rage for football in Yorkshire has a most pernicious effect on schoolboys, who will play in all weathers, at whatMv Newton King, agent for the McConnick harvest machines, has just received the following telegram from Messrs Morrow, Dassett and Co., the New Zealand representatives :—"McCormick for third year wins highest award for binders, Ohristchurch Show, silver medal."*

NEW ADVERTISEMENT*. Newton King—Has several desirable properties 1 for private sale on account of Mr W. F. Greenaway. Taranaki Guards—Parade on Tuesday evening. Suratura Tea—Replace advertisement. Captain Bellringer—Thanks of Fire Brigade to those who assisted in late Ball. A Kitchen Boy is wanted.