NEWS OF THE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 265, 24 December 1903, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Waitara regatta is to be held on Thurdday, Matcn 24. Mr J. T. White, the "Good Value" grocer, forwards a tasteful pictorial wall calemldW. The mail train last night broMght up " very large iDumljer of paeseivgeis, many going nxHlb; by »he Kara wa.

Trains will leave town for the breakwater to-day, connecting with steamers as follows :—6.15 a.m., Takapuna from north • and for south ; 8 a.m., Rotoiti, from South, an«l 8.20 a.m. for north. A local commercial traveller put up a goofd performance on Friday. Hie drove to in the morning, obtained lias orders for the Cha-is*-maa trade, came back to town and pack«d ami despatched the goods by Uie 4.25 p.m. train fov Wadtara. At a well-attended meeting of boniaelholders in Midhirst on Tuesday evening it was decided to ask the school committee to resign. TVis was a protest against thedr action, in refusing to give to Mr Reakes, the 'headmaster, any information as to the nature of the conrplaiinits whioh caused the to give him three months' notice of dismissal. At the salt-water 'battel 1027 adults' amid over 600 children's tickets for single baths, and a large number of season ticketu have been issued for the three weeks since the 'baths were opened. 'llhese returns are most satisftUctury, and show that the Council's action in borrowing in oi'der to provide bathing facilities is thoroughly endorsed by the public.

Roalders are remi.njd-ad of the pyrotechnic display to be given in the Recreation Grounds on Saturday evening (Boxjing night) in aid of the funds for erection of a troupers' memorial, in New Plymouth. A procession, will be formed, headed by the Carni'S-om Band aiud Fire Brigade, marcihing off from t'ho centre of the town at 7.30 p.m. A special train, for tjhe convenience of country visitors, will leave for Waitara, Stratford, ankl intermediate stations tit 10 p.m.

A witness, a policeman, was called on Wednesday at the Police Court to give evidence regamding the previous cha'ractor of a woinain accused of o*taimi*»g money- by false prettwces. '!%<! witoiestf said accused' hail previously been lined for a similar offence, having professed to know of a cure for a man's ailment that would be snire to act. "Wrs tJiu man a native?" inquired Mr Stanford. " No, your Worship," replied the witness!

"ho Mjas a white man, a storekeeper', afflU a Justice of the Poaee ! 'a

Forty years ago to-day William Makepeace Thackeray died.

The Chief Postmaster advises that the Sierra, with the homeward mail, an-iived at S*n Framciaco on Dec.

Those interested in the forthcoming production of ''Uncle Tom's Cabin" are revested to abtemid at the llheatre Royal this oveniiaig at 7.30 sharp.

The New Plymouth Pftublic Library will be cloisud an Ohritstmas Day, Boxiingt Day, Monday, 28th December, aitid New Year's Day. For hours to-day awl on New Year's Eve sulbscribure are referred to olur advertising columlns.

Owing to the very large number of passengers booked last evening for the Northern Company's Rarawa, it was decided to nxafco a daylight trip, and her departure from ulie breakwater wias delayed till three o'clock this morning. During the progress of the fals« pretences case in the Police Court yesterday, m which a foreigner was implicated, the defendant's yon displayed considerable disapproval of the leoclen-footod progress of the proceedings. On one occasion he jumped up from his seat and marched out of the Cojurt in high dudgoon, muttering disgustedly about Hie '■'ihjummiig of de Maoiri." On subsatiuemtly returning to the room he kept up a l-untaimg fire of comment upon the evidence given, requiring occasional admonitions from the police.

A Wellington wire states that Mr Orton Stevens, New Zealand Resident Secretaey of the National Mutual Ul'e Assurance Assoc aUoti, hu» received the fol.owing vati'e from Melbourne :—The thirty-fourth annual meeting was held to-day, when the annual report and balance-sheet were uidoptad. The chairman congratulated blue members on the splendild business done during the year. Eight thousand one huinidrad aind se-venty-live policies were lssiued, assuring £.2,236,000, yielding aai *an'uHl i-evenue of £74,000. The amount of new policies shows an increase of over £500,000 om the previous .year. The income for the year was £030,000. The total fumjthjwow amctontod to £3,674,000. A higiMy gratifying feature is the rate of interest, which averages £4 16s 2d per cent, whilst the ratio of expenses tor Jiiairaakf.mient is tower thorn last year notwithstanding the increased volumo of new business.

Maria Nicoli, am aged Slav woman, was charged'before Mr Stanford, S/M.j on Wedmesdiay with having obtained £2 toy false pretences from David Shearer at Oiuiero on Nov. 20, in that she said she could cu,ro Mm of painalysis and blindness. Evidence was given by Maria, a Maori womarn, wife of Shearer (Constable Wood interpreting), Rarugi Peto, and Constable Melsop, for the prosecution, Sergeant Haddrell conducting the case. Mr Fitxherfoert appeared for the defence, and asked for tibe dismissal of the charge on the ground that there was no evidence of theft or deception, and drew attention to- the fact that the witnesses bad contradicted themselves as to wihat had actually occurred w,hen the alleged "cure " was effected. His Worship decided that he could not take this view of the case, and imposed a fine, of £5 and costs amounting to £3 19s, in •default three months' imprisonment. A week was allowed in wiiioh to pay the amount.

Now Plymouth will be the first town in the colony to ha.ve an opportunity of seeing «nd hearing Walter Soinford'S' Ataerioam players, who are to arrive in Auckland in a day or two. The troupe is under the management of Messrs Sanford and M. B. Curtis, and the latter was- in town on Werffnesd&y malting- arrangements for a season of six nights commencing on December 31st. Mr Curtis is a manager of gumt repute in America, and Mr Sanford is also looked on as one of the States' best managers, Mr Curtis previously directed the tows of Dainte the Great amid the Afro«Americara Minstrels through New Zealand, i lO he knows the popular tastes. These he is playing to now, and he informs us he is biiligii'iiig a combination tltait will do credit to his rotation as manager. The •company has been carefully selected, and earned with it separate sets of Splendid scenery tor each play; The tro,upe goes irom here to Wamgauiui, and from Womgawui returns to open the Auckland season am 16th.

Messrs Nolan, Tonks and Co., auctioneers, of Hawfcra, whose name has become a by-word in Taranaki for prompt and upright dealing, and who have been compelled on account ol expansion of business ana the great distance of the Opunake branch from the main oflice, to dispose of their connection in that district, were entertained by the settlers at Opunake the other evening. In proposing the toast of "Agriculture," Mr Nolan reminded his hearers that calTes that were now selling at 30s and 40s were at one time hard to qjuit at ss. He we ll remembered when milking was first established here and the 'factory system adopted. Owing to lack of funds however, most of the original coml panies had to go into liquidation. Ihey then fell into the hands of private people, and about the same tijrne a rise t'polc place in the prices and a good thing was made out of dairying. He regarded Taranaki as one of the finest dairying districts in the British Empire, yet lie must advise farmers to make provision against a rainy day, as prices must go down. Tho only way to do that was to use good bulls and provide winter feed. It grieved him to see the nondescript class of bulls that were benngi usefci, many »f thorn having no- trace of a. dtetinftt birced. If they used good sires, and culled out the 10/w-ftesting cows fanners would then be able to meet any fall in the market that might take place. The matter of manuring would need also to receive attention, for he believed the land would not stand being continually used unless something was put back for what was taken from it.

We have received from the pubfishers a copy of that handy littlo volume, the Star Almanac and West Coast Directly, which with -its present issue for the year 1904 attains its •majority, and runs into the record nuniber of pages, 47,2. As usual it will ble found toibo of intercut and value to all classes of the community. The Calendar and Diary are well arranged, showing the time of eblb and flow of the tides for every day in the year, times of rising and setting of the sun. phase* of the moon, etc. The feature introduced last year of ruled columns for receipts and expenditure proved so convenient to many settlers tha\ it has been repeated. There is a very full resume of tlic various Acts of Parliament, the land and income tax rates are quoted : valuations, times of settings of various local bodies, and statistics of crops, cuttle, etc., are printed ; and information concerning post 'and telegraph ollico, railways, etc., is also given. The Customs tariff and the schedules under the preferential tariff of last session are 'also printed. Breeders' table, census returns, business forms, wages table, sporting records, English mail reco'tds of electoral and local option polls, all go to swell the variety of the contents of the book, which has for many years found a welcome place on the office table of the business man and in the home of the; farmer.. The directory continues to grow, and the difficulty of the publisher, ns> the hist is added to by corrections year alter year, is to get it all into a reasonable space. The almanac still grows in popularity and usefulness, and is certainly a credit to the publishers and printer*.

There are five candidates from New Plymouth for National Scholarships. Monday next will be the anniversary of the founding of the colony of South Australia, first settled on Dec. 28th, 1830,

Christniiafi and New Year greetings reach us from the Stratfond Post anld t|he Opuuajke Times, the compliments of the season being coinjveyed in very tastefully printed cards.

Says the North Otogio Times :—lt is not evory man who has the courage of 'Ms opinions in face of a canigTOgatiian. Yet Micro was an instance last Sunday In ajn Oamarti church. When the minister asked for a show of hands for and against the Premier's Licensing Hill tho congregation held up their hands solid with one exception. WJien the "Fors" were asked to vote that solitary individual was in a hopeless minority.

The Police Provident Boartd met on Monday, says tibe Now Zc-aUand Times, a,i.id grain tod pensions ol £GO 4s Cld to Constable It. C. Hughis of Normon'by (twenty-two yea re' .service), and £49 2s 3d to Constable J. U. Brown, of Auckland (nineteen years service). The only other caso dealt Mvjth was that of the widow of the lata Constable Joyce, of Auckland, The board decided that she should receive a refund of con-ti-VmH'iqns mode to the fund/ by ,l|i r husband. In the two first-mention-ed oases the men are retiring on account of ill-health.

Attention is drawn to the sacred concert to be given in the Theatre Royal on Christina© night by Mie Cornwall Family, The programme which appears in this issue, shows that a really first-class musical treat is in store. Amongst the items will be several selectijolns from oratorios, "Messiah" and "Na/amaji," by Mr K. Cornwall, Miss Gladys Cornwall and Mr Ryaw. The instrumental items will be by Messrs H. J. and F. Cornwall. The Mandolin noi/d Oiuitar Bainfcl will play "The Lost Chord 'Palndflljaisciagjiti'is "I IMqrmjezzo" and other items of a first-class order. It is to be hoped that such a combination of talent will attract a large gathering on this occasion'

Amffngst- tho new business firms recently established here may be mentioned Messrs S. Clark and Co., general furnishers and cabinetmakers, etc., who have bought the business lately conducted by Messrs Tich'l>on and Sons. Tho premises have been enlarged by the .inclusion of an adjoining shop and an excellent stock of up-to-date furniture placed on view. Some very fine samples of wood-«arving are shown, and Mr Clark, having had a large and varied experience with Hoofl Home ajnld colonial (inns should be a guarantee of qjml'ity.

There was a largo attendance at the Erfcham Presbyterian Church on Friday aJtornoom,, when the induction of the Rev. Jos. Johnston to the charge of the parish took place. The Moderator, Hcv. White, of Waverley, preached an appealing .sermon from the text " They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." After the ceremony of induction, the Rev. I. Bertram ' addressed the newly-inducted minister pointing out the responsibilities and duties of a clergyman to hi,s congregation. In the evening, at the Athenaeum Hall, a social was held to welcome tihe Rev. Johnston to the district. Mr Bertram presided, and oddresoes were delivered by Revs. White, Phillip, Hutson and Johnston. During the evening Mr Boddio on beihalf of the roinig|rcg>ation presenldd Mrs Babin with a handsome silver cifaet in recognition of the services rendered by her as organist during the past five years. Addresses were also made by Mr McConnell (Anglican), Mr Fostou (Wesleyan), Mr Woolloxull (Primitive Methodist), and Ensign Armstrong, of tho Salvation Army. An excellent programme of songs and flecitlatkms made up, a evejii ing's enjoyment.—Hawera Star.

Catran and Co. beg to notify that they are removing their large stock of toys, etc., into premises lately occupied by Burke, Devon-street. Kvcrything new and cheap. Inspection invited.*

Oeo. C}. Houlton, having secured the solo rights of refreshment booths at the Taranaki Races, a first-class luncheon will be provided ; also all kinds of fruit, confectionery, drinks, tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, etc., at moderate prices. Have also on hire for picnic parties, cutlery, crockeryware, tables, etc.* For the con/vanience of customers, our premises will foe kept open until 9 p.m. from the 21st inst. Until Christinas E>ve. Our prices are fully 10 per cent, lower than those of t'he leading firms in the principal centres of the colony. Please note prices of a few of o.uj' leaJdinte) linos in advertisement.—J. H. Parker, Jeweller, etc., next railway crossing, Devtmstiwt Central, New Plymouth.* Handkerchiefs make specially acceptable Christmas gifts for man or woman. The "Melbourne"—the bargain comer—offers a full range of pure silk, fancy embroidered amid hem stitched handkerchiefs at Is lid 2s 6a to 4s 6d each.* '

Engagement Rings, Wedding Kings, and Keepers, certainly the finest stock on the West Coast of New Zealand. A good present with each wedding ring at J. H. Parker's, Jeweller, next Railway Crossing, Devonstreet, New Plymouth.—Advt. Do you readers know my name. Which has already gained much fame? £ am of only small dimensions,

But own to very great pretensions. As lots of friends will certify My marits a trial will justify. To cure all throat affections I lay claim, And please Bock's Balsam is mv name.

Thp " Melbourne '.'—the bargain corner—is a veritable temple of temptation. There are more bargains to the sqMare inch there than will be found to the square mile in most other places. And they are Christmas bargains.*

The best medicine known is Sandor & Sons' Eucalypti Extract, and its eminent powerful effects in coughs, colds, and influenza make relief instantaneous. For serious cases, and accidents of all kinds be they wounds, burns, scaldings! bruises, or sprains, it is the safest remedy—no swelling, no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diptheria, bronchitis inflammation of lungs, swelling, etc diarrhoea, dysentry, diseases of the kidneys, and urinary organs. Sander and Sons' Eucalypti Extract is in use at hospitals und ni.'.licnl clinics all over the globe; patronised by His Majesty the-King of Italy crowned with medals and diplomas at International Exhibition, Vns'ordam. Trust in this approved and reject all othersl—Advt.