NEWS OF THE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 114, 18 May 1904, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Harbour Board meets on Friday. To-day is the anniversary of the relief of Mafekiug in 1900. The Chief Postmaster at i New Plymouth advises us that the Sonoma, with mails, arrived at San Francisco on the 16th inst. at noon. Several dairy factory companies are making arrangements to consign their produce through the Patea refrigerating works, in consequence of the Moturoa fire. Boring operations in connection with Mr G. Fair's new well at Moturoa were unavoidably postponed yesterday, but, a start is to be made with the work to-day. Captain Hood, harbourmaster, has just completed his survey of the bottom of the harbour, and finds an uniform depth throughout. The dredge is still working night and day, and removes a large quantity of sand and silt. The band music last evening was somewhat spoiled by the unsuitability of the spot chosen. One listener remarked that the melodies seemed first to strike hard against the Government Buildings, and then to "come smack in the people's) faces." There will be a busy time at the port to-day, the steamers Alexandra and Oreti being expected to discharge about MOO tons of coal each. With the wretchedly inadequate wharf accommodation it will be a good day's work to deal with this stuff in addition to ordinary cargo. Until quite recently surgical operations at the New Plymouth hospital were rare occurrences. Now the operating theatre is used on an average twice a week, and the clas? of surgvry has been considerably raised, until now some of the most delicate and difficult operations are performed by l)r. J/eatham and his assist-

unt, Dr. Bennett, with further assistance at times from the local medical gentlemen. Mr Odell, Governor of New York, received a remarkable let-tor recently from Frank Durness, a condemned murderer, bow confinvd in Sing Sing Prison, liurness, who was a sailor, was convicted of murdering a shiitmate, and sentenced to lie executed cm February Bth, but his counsel secured a respite to enable him to take the case before the Court of Appeal. in the letter liurness says he was justly convicted, and is deserving of death. ilis counsel had no authority to file an appeal in his case, and he declares that unless the Governor orders his immediate execution he Will take legal proceedings to compel him to do so. The prison officials say that Bfrncss is quite sano, but very emphatic in his determination to be executed without further delay. ;

The Borough Council advertises in this issue for a cadet for thy town clerk's office.

The Government is appointing grain graders at Lyttelton, Tiinaru, Oamuru, and the lllulT.

Bing, Harris and Company's Dunedin warehouse was burglariously entered on Monday and £BOOO worth of goods, chiefly jewellery, stolen.

A number of persons at Christchurch were lind £3 and costs for selling milk containing less than three per cent, butter fat. J. J; Parsons, previously convictel of a similar offence, was fined £lO and tosts.

The average depth of the harbour in 1896 was about 6ft 6in, and the berth on the western side of the wharf was practically useless, showing sand high and dry between that and the breakwater. Now there are three good berths, and an average low water depth of about 14ft Bin. The Garrison Band rendered an opeh-air programme in front of the Government buildings last night, and the music was listened to by a large number of people, despite the tnreatening appearance of the weather. This was the last concert of the series. Tho controlling body of the piece of road between the freezing works siding and the root of the breakwater could with advantage expend a few pounds on maintenance. The road is in a very bad state, more especially along the foot of the Clill's beyond the Breakwater Hotel. The Harbour Board's dredge was at work yesterday afternoon dredging for the new berth which will be provided on the eastern side of the wharf by the extension work to be commeiict'd shortly. A depth of 14 feet at low water spring tides is required.

Ladies as a rule are not the most careful of drivers, and are the terror of cyclists. Yesterday afternoon one of the fair sex. turning a corner very closely on the South itoad, forced a cyclist into the gutter, and a serious accident was narrowly avu'te-... The vehicle was on the wrong side of the road, too.

Four years ago to-day a Reuter message conveyed to London tho news of the raising of the siege of Mal'eking, which had, under tne direction of Colonel Baden-Powell, withstood the most determined assaults of the Boers during the long period from October 15th, 1899, to May 18th, 1900.

North-westward of Taihape is a place called Materoa (familiarly known as " God Help Me"). Some day the North Trunk railway will pass that way. In view of this possibility local speculators are on the alert, and at a sale of leases held recently quarter-acre sections went at £35 per annum per quarter-acre.— Manawatu Times.

To-morrow Mr Newton King will hold an unresorved sale in the Drill Hall of about 450 boxes of butter salvaged from the Freezing Works at Moturoa. A large proportion of the butter is in excellent condition, and is well worth the attention of bakers and others. Mutter dealers will find a good nibble at this sale.

Mr W. Revell, of Warea, has a curility just now in the shape of a line byssinian banana palm in flower, he palm has been growing in a slielTed nook near the house for about iventeen years, but this is the first me the blossom has appeared. The •ee is nearly thirty feet in height, ad the flower about the size of an "dinary bucket, quite a foot :ross, and about sixteen inches high.

Kauri gum has been discovered in largo quantities right on the Aotea beach, Ivawhia. Several Maoris are engaged in securing this valuable product, which cannot be got excepting at low water, it being submerged at any other time of the tide'. The gum is of fair quality, estimated to Im> worth nearly £IOO per ton, and is procured in large pieces. It is rumoured (says the local paper) that there is coal on the same site, and it is proposed to prospect for it after the gum has been all taken out.

Teachers of music and their pupils will be pleased to learn that MiGraham P. Moore is the examiner appointed by the Associated Board of the B.A.M. and R.C.M. to visit New Zealand this year. Mr Moore is a thoroughly' qualified judge of both vocal and instrumental music and as a teacher of the pianoforte lie is of the first rank. The time for receiving entries has been extended" until the middle of June by Mr F. W. Richmond, the local representative of the Board. There are two consumative patients now undergoing the open-air treatment at the New Plymouth hospital, and in both cases remarkable results are shown, although the only accommodation available is the hospital verandah. One of the pattients, who arrived in a very weak and emaciated state three weeks ago, has gained over 71b in weight, and the other increased 1 by sjlb in a fortnight. Dr. Leatham is well satisfied with the effect of the treatment. Ladies interested in the cure of the tubercular disease are invited to see for themselves.

An occasional correspondent at Okato complains of the mischievous pranks of some of the rising generation there. The Methodist Church has I>een the scene of operations recently, the hoodlums lifting the gate from its' hinges, taking the preacher's coat from his saddle and tying it across the doorway, and other idiotic tricks that suggest partial lunacy amongst the perpetrators. Our correspondent asks us to suggest a remedy. All that we can recommend is a vigilant watch for the mischievous youths, and on detection a very vigorous application of horse-whips or supple-jacks. That would be a cure and a prevention.

The new motor waggon imported by Mr McCullum for use in the carrying service between New Plymouth and- Hahotu made its 'initial run through the coast district yesterday. The trip may almost be described as a triumphal progress, the Maoris, at every village passed, hailing the stranger with loud cries of wonder and imagination. Fear certainly did not enter into their emotions, as it is stated that wherever possible as many as could get 'a footing or holding place clambered on to tho waggon to enjoy a free ride. Here and there a diversion was afforded for a lew minutes by the animated protests of ecpiine wayfarers, but no serious inconvenience ie reported. The Newall Road creamery of the Warea Co-operative Dairy Factory Compant will shortly close down for the winter months. The creamery has only been erected a short time, and for two years has been under the management of Mr V. Robinson. It is a picture of cleanliness and older, too. A rarity in creamery work 'is the black-leaded boiler, which is just one evidence of the manager's attention to detail, and the brass work about the place shines like the real thing. The separators are of the turbine Alpha-Laval pattern, and the skim-milk pump is worked on the same principle, disposing of necessity for driving belts. There are but iew turbine separators in this district, and it is said that the Newall Road creamery's turbine pump is the only one used in the dairying industry in the colony.

On Thursday morning Constable O'Urien was informed that the Kickapoo Chambers at Patea had been visited by burglars. A youth slept on the premises, and his account was that two men had entered tho premises on Wednesday night. He said they used " electric Hashes?,"and whilst, one ransacked the rooms the other stood on the stairs. An investigation showed that the 'dental instruments were thrown about the floor, but nothing was missing, although gold and other valuables were at hand, nor were there any marks on the door or windows to indicate that an entrance had been forced. Tho police are inclined to think that the burglary was the result of too much supper, causing an attack of nightmare, combined with a too liberal study of "detective literature." —Press.. (

Under the heading "A Counterblast to the Premier," "G.M.K." writes : "I am informed that the ladies of New Zealand are as able and willing to increase the population as their mothers and grurrdinolbers before them, if the Premier will on his part provide them with reasonable help in the shape of generals and nursegirlp At the present time it is quite impossible to get them where tTiere are children, even at a price that is prohibitory."—Evening Post.

•"The Sixth Contingent Magazine," a half-yearly production, whose object is to collect information of the whereabouts of members of the regiment and to keep them in touch with one another, has been issued from Wellington, the editor being Mr J<\ E. ISeamish, of Wellington, formerly a lieutenant in the "Sixth," The paper should prove very interesting to those who were members of this contingent, as it chronicles the doings and Whereabouts of many of the men. A good photograph of the late Captain P. i-jt Tudor, and an account of his brilliant though brief career, are especially interesting features.

For Chronic Chest Complaints, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Is 6d.» For reliable Boots, Shoes and Slippers at a low price go to Dockrill's, Devon-street Central, where you will lind the largest assortment in the district of Colonial, English, American, and Continental Manufactured Boots, Shoes and Slippers.* The New Zealand Express Co., Ltd., have to let a commodious office or shop on the ground floor of new brick building, BroughamStreet. 2 NEW ADVERTISEMENTS, Catchpoll! and Hammonds—Notice of dissolution of partnership. Friedenthal Recital at Theatre Royal to-morrow night. Skeates Cycle Co.—Special value in bicycles and accessories.

Borough Council—Requires the services of a cadet in the town clerk's office.

Newton King—Sale of 450 boxes of butter at the Drill Hall on Thursday next. Newton King—Sale of Mr Simons' farm at the Mart, May 21. Newton King—Entries for Rahotu sale to-morrow.

St. Mary's Schoolroom —Frogramne for Thursday's concert. W. 11. and A. McGarry—Properties for sale.

A four or five-roomed house Is wanted to rent.