NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 125, 31 May 1904, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Town Baud will give an openair concert this evening, at the Government Huildings. The price „f bread in Sydney has been reduced from 3d to 21d the 21b loaf. An Auckland-San Francisco mail despatch of April 29th arrived 'in London on the 28th inst. The New Plymouth borough abattoir is to be otlicially opened bv his Worship the .Mayor on ThursdayJuno 9th, at 2.30 p.m. ' As a result of the recent flood there has been a subsidence of the W r anganui river breastwork between the cattle wharf and the town wharf.

A number of officers in the Stamp and Land Transfer Departments stationed in various parts of the colony are about to retire from the public service.

It is understood that arrangements are being made for Mr G. Laurenson, M.11.R. for Lyttctton, to give an address in New Plymouth nt an early date on the land question. During the season Just concluded the Hawke's Bay Fruit Growers' Company despatched 32,812 packages of fruit, principally peaches, valued at: £6BOO, compared with 18,913 packages last year. The inspector of licensed houses in his report to the Nelson Licensing Committee expresses the opinion that, hotels should be closed at 10 o'clock, and declares that an extension to 11 o'clock is not for the benefit of the public. Ho therefore asks that licensees be called upon to show cause why they dosiro an eitension. A start was made ln« night with the decoration of the Drill Hall for the annual ball of tlie Taranaki Hi'ties, to be held on Friday next (Prince of Wales' Birthday).' The ladies' committee met yesterday, and now have everything in order.' Tickets for the function are selling well, anil the management expect, from present indications, to make this "the ball of the season." "Woodpecker." in tlie Klthuiii Argus, states that at the Auroa sports last weuk (.'. Volzke won I l,e handicap chop from scratch, severing the 18in block in linin 56scr. which is one Moral over Berg's New /..'aland record. Had the ground been drv a fresh record would tmdoiihl.-dly h"av« been established, as owing to the slippery state of the ground Volzke could not gel a linn foothold. That chopping is increasing in popularity as a sport in the North Island is shown by the fact that the number of clubs a/liliated to (ho NewZealand Axemen's Association increased from live in 1901-2 to ninebeen in 1903-4. Prize money grew in the. same period from £76 to £470, and while in tho season first mentioned there were only 55 liteiistd axemen registered, there were 165 in the season just closed. On Saturday there was a livelv football mutch at Nguire. Two players seemed to "set" one another early in the game, and were unable to obtain any genuine satisfaction bv the time the final whistle went. So they continued tlie conte-st on their own for half-iin-hour, the spectators being n-ealeri lo n good exposition of pugilistic science. The fight ended in a, draw, and the usuul handshake. An Inquest will lie held this morning in the New Plymouth Courthouse on the body of Roy Giddy, a thir-teen-year-old son of Mr Thomas Giddy, who was killed yesterday morning on his lather's farm, King Road, near Hell Block, in a remarkable manner. The lad had just finished milking a cow, and was stooping behind her, when she viciously kicked at him. and striking him 'on the back of the head felled him to the ground. 11. is understood that death was instantaneous. The sudden fatality is all tho more painful a,s the victim is an only son. The Eltlnim Argus stales that I here is some probability of Mr V. E. Hardy resigning his position as secretary to the New Zealand Axemen's .Wr.-miion at the annual meeting, as lie finds that (he work takes up too much of his time. This is much to be regretted. Mr Hardy look . haige o; ihe association from its inc.-ptinn, and was the only man, pot-Imp.-, who foresaw to what, extent its affairs would grow. He has been energetic and most consistent in his work, and by keeping his comir.h livr. veil up to their work has made the (he succesffui body and the rarni\al the popular function thai they are to-day.

At Wellington yesterday James Burr was committed for trial on a charge of murdering Charles Robertson. Mr Gray, of Messrs Laidlnw and Gray, dentists, visits Stony River (not Rahotu as stated yesterday) on [Thursday next, Mr Newton King's snlo day. An unconsciously candid comment on local amateur vocalists, heard at a ooncert not a hundred miles from New Plymouth. "The programme has been subjected to considerable alteration, so I shall have to announce the items," said the chairman, "i/i order -that you may know who the singers are and what they are singing about !" The shipping will be served to-day by trains leaying the town station as follows :—At 6.15 a.m., connecting with the Takapuna from north, and at 9 a.m. for the Rotoiti from south. The Takapuna leaves for south on the in-rival of the 11.20 a.m. train, and tho Rotoiti for north on the arrival of tho 8.20 p.m. train from New Plymouth. Tho Marie Antoinette necklace, belonging to Princess Alice do Bourbon —which recently disappeared—has been found in a Paris pawnshop, and a Belgian engineer, Desuar, wiio had obtained possession of it on alleged false pretences, has been arrested. Tho necklace has an intrinsic value of £6400, and the engineer had received an advance of £I3OO on it, and in a few days had spent half of that sum in Loudon. Owing to the dreadful state of the Tututawa road, which was completely blocked by slips last week, the body of the man Brown who was kill- ■ ed by a landslip, had to be conveyed to the main road on a pack- ■ horse, some timber being used as compensating weight on the other ■ side of the pack-saddle. The roads ! in that district are In a shocking ; state, and arc almost impassable for : vehicles.

The indiscriminate use of the aspirate is often productive of much amusement. A case occurred in Stratford the other day. A witness in a bankruptcy matter was being examined als to some money that had been borrowed. "And what did you give this gentleman for the money he advanced ?" asked the inquisitive creditor. "I gave him a P-Ilen," promptly came the reply, and all smiled, but this newly-found dealer in game. A copy of tho- Hill to be presented to Parliament, providing for the separation of the Stratford hospital district, was lodged yesterday in the Magistrate's Court, New Plymouth, by Mr T. C. Fookes, Stratford. The Bill defines tho new district, which will consist of the Stratford county and the boroughs contained therein, and provides that two hospital reserves" in Stratford, containing an area of a-bout live acres, should be vested in the new Board. Provision is made for an adjustment of accounts between the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and the controlling body of (he new district, such to be made by mutuiil agreement between the two Hoards by March 31st, 1905, or failing such agreement, ti> be determined by the Controller and Auditor-General. The railway line from Stratford to Douglas Road, some miles beyond Toko, has been formed, and the laying of rails and further formation work is to bo put in hand at once. The vagaries of engineering are clearly manifest in that district. The line is on an easy grade, through almost level country, though with a natural fall eastwards. Tho East Road, which carries the trade of Toko, Strathmoro, Whangamoniona, and other outlying settlements to Stratford is noted for its several big cuttings and steep hills, notably " the big hill" about midway between the Kahouri Bridgo and Toko. Settlers are urging a deviation of the rood, but tlvis would mean an enormous expenditure.

There are some peculiar people at Gisborne. Some time ago a special invitation was extended to the Governor to visit Poverty Bay prior to his departure from tho colony. His Excellency accepted, and lixed June 4th as the date. Now the Holiday Committee have d-eclined to declare n public holiday for the occasion, on the ground that it would interfere with the Saturday business. But possibly tho Governor will not feel aggrieved ; tho gift of an albp.ni of views and a railway trip should be regarded by even His Excellency as sulliciently demonstrating the intense loyalty of the people in that part of the world.

The concert and dance arranged by the ladies of Warea in order ro raise funds for Mr Carrington and family, who were recently burned out on the Newall Road, and postponed last week on account of the. unpropitious weather, is advertised to take place on Thursday evening next, June 2nd. The committee is in the unfortunate position of having to provido supper do novo, but its members are determined to make all the arrangements as in the first instance. With fmo weather a good house is confidently expected. Should Thursday bo wet, the function will eventuate on Friday, 3rd pro.x., without fail. The latest craze in Stratford, it is stated on gxiod authority, is for the law. Forsaking their ordinary employment, men are leaving behind their knowledge of various businesses acquired in years of training, and seeking honours and lucre in the legal oilices. Besides this, two or three gentlemen whoso duties bring them into close contact with the court officials are "swatting" deeply into the various interpretations of tlie laws of equity and morality, and will shortly blossom forth, it is said, fully clothed in the knowledge which is usually confined to the legal fraternity. Stratford, if this is correct, should be a good place to keep out of.

Hegurding the non-appointment of a butter-grader ut Gisborne, as promised somo twelve months ago, the Hon. Mr Duncan said to a representative of the Poverty liny Herald : "You have so little butter to lie graded hern, and no direct shipping-." The Minister was frank, and proceeded to say that the expenditure involved in the establishing of a grader was too great for the amount, of butter produced. "A man is to be sent to Gisborne when required. We don't, want to put one there who won't earn his money." Regarding the shipping arrangements, the Minister said t>hc fault lay with the Gisbornc people for not making shipping arrangements. It was no use grading butter at Gisbornc if it had to be carted from place to place in steamers without freezing chambers. It might bo iirsi-class at Gisborne, but by the tinio it got to Auckland or Wellington it might bo third-rale. The amount of butter sent out from Gisborne was under ten tons a week. The Tnrauaki Guards are notified of a special parade to-night (June.. Ist), which will also count for capitation.* All. ladies interested in the Town Hand annual ball are requested to meet at the Town Hall at 3 o'clock to-morrow (Wednesday) afternoon.* After 32 years in (ho drapery business, \V. Storey, of the firm "of W. Morey and Son, has definitely decided to retire. Right on till July Mst all stock will be sacrificed. See advertisement.* Shareholders of the Equitable Building Society will note that subscriptions will be payable at the Society's oflice, Currie-sfreet, to-day, Monday, between the hours of !) a.m. and 12.;i0 p.m., 1.1-10 p.m. and 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. and 'J p.m.* important to young ladles and gentlemen. J. H. Parker's stock of engagement rings, wedding rings, ■vatches, chains and all kinds of ewellery is the finest on (he West 'oast of New Zealand, and prices fl per cent, lower than in the larger •entres. Carefully note the address •J. IT. Pnrker, Jeweller, etc., next ullwny crossing, Devon-streot Central, New Hyinouth,*