NEWS OF THE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 153, 2 July 1904, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Garrison liand will play in the mwii-aii' this evening. Stratford takers have deckled to reduce the price of bread to 3Jd and <>Jd. Influenza and mumps still claim a large number of victims throughout lire district. For .the convenience of the deerepid inmates ot', the Old People's Home who apply for old age pensions, or renewals of them, Mr Hutchison, S.M., will arrange to visit the institution at a date to be fixed. Writing in the Masterton Times of hisi Australian experiences, "A.W.H." refers to the vineyards in New South Wules. The yield of wino is something enormous, he says, and at one plantation he was told that any iqiuantity of wino a year old was to bo had at a shilling a gallon from the vineyards. A correspondent of the Fe-ilding Star writes Luslt September 1 ordered a small sowing of Until ay's Northern Star potato, which arrivud in December, and were planiud on the last day of the year. They were 'dug on June II), with the following result Weight 0 f seed sown, 81T> ; weight of yield, 9301b. I have no doubt, the yield would have been even greater had they 'been plantcid a month or Nix weeks earlier. In •the Pensions' Court on Thursday the presiding magistrate, Mr Hutchison, after noting the was medals on the breast of one applicant for an old age pension,, said thut surely this was a case for the Veterans' Home. "But what about my children ?" queried the old gentleman. This side had not appealed to the Bench, who nuked, "llow many children Iravo you ?" "Seventeen,your Worship." The magistrate was startled, 'Why, you'd lill the Home altogether," he said, und granted the pension. Mr W. T. Stead denied the accuracy of the Cape Times'report of the inflammatory harangue delivered by him at Stellenlrasch prior to Ilia tlepartuio from South Africa. It was a misrepresentation, he affirmed. But he did not deny that he had advised the Afrikanders to speak of the "Orange River State," instead of the Orange Hiver Colony, or that ho told his audience that the Cape Colonists opposod the landing of British troops i'n 1899, or that he asked the students to fiingt the Volksliod. He also -bade them look hopefully to the advent of tilio liberals, who, he predicted, will have a majority of 100 or 150, mud then Lord Milnor would be removed.

A "Greater, . Ciifilborne" schemo cainu into effect yesterday. Tho population of the new municipal area is considerably over live thousand, Tim Government railway returns show an increase of 1-11,959 in Uio number of passengers carried during May as compared with the corresponding period of last' year. A special meeting of the borough council is to be held this evening. Mi' Me.s-tayer will lie present, and will be consulted oil the loan works for water and electric light supplies. The police are making inquiries into the street row of Tuesday evening, and as the Wjjinif the offenders are known have been found,TWH>roba)>le that j the two men will be called upon to give their explanations IlJefore the Magistrate's Court. • Mr Wilson told the magistrate in court yesterday that it wns quite possible to travel in comfort and keep dry on the main road from Omata t'. Oakura even when it was raining all round. This is a peculiar climatic condition that miiylrt Weill l)e considered by Mr Wragge, and certainly it should, if true, have 'been brought under his notice. Tho weather In New South Wales is very co.ld. The temperature registered on Thursday was 39.5. Over lifty stations reported readings 'below 22 dogroes. The Turatina, which arriv.od at Htteu't' yesterday, reported very cold weather at sea. She passed a number of icebergs, one a 'qtiarUsr of a mile in length and 20Uft. high. The Stratford electric ligilit supply Eailod on Thursday night (says the Post) ami the town lay In darkness except for a scanty gloam here and there. The post office lobby was lit by a candle cunr.itigly placed in an inverted insulator, and people went olbout hastily buying candles and other lighting appliances. One hotel had a stable lantern hung over its door. Tile Garrison Band Ball, to lie held on the 12th inst., is now the theme of conversation amor-libt a large section of the dancing community. An enengetic ladies' committee lias ■bee® formed to take change ol the commissariat department, good music has been secured, and as there is, even at this early date, a igood demand for tickets tho function should be well attended. The Roman Catholic body in StraitfoKl is nothing if uo<t progressive. On Thursday evening the members "rung on" one of their popular socials, and the hall was crowded out, dancers having to take it in relays. Some £3O, a correspondent writes, was taken at the doors alone. This does not account at all for tickets sold, so the aft'air must have been a fine monetary success. Feeling is very high in Stratford regarding the local hospital. One correspondent stigmatises the action of the chairman of a certain local body as on a par with that of Judas of old, who went out and hung himself, insofar as that this memIber promised to support, and supported, the separation for all ho was worth arvd then turned round and gave notice to I'esciiwl the motion carried by the Taranaki Hospital and Cluiritaible Aid Hoard. The hospital grounds are still undergoing conyidera'ble improvement. The main entrance from Dawson:!t:reet 'has t>ee.n widened, and Air Farar is now engaged in clearing that portion below the nurses' tennis lawn which has liifliorto been overgrown with shrubs and anything, but enticing -jinpoSiliiic'e. The "insignia along the carriagedrive will be fellwl, and when the newly cleared ground has been cleared, gmsswl, and planted with ornamental shrubs, this should make the place very attractive. Mr Cock, chairman of the board, is taking keen interest in tlw mutter. In this issue the New Plymouth Town Band advertise a concert for next Tuesday evening. If sufficient inducement offers similar concerts will be given frequently, when other entertainments aro not too numer- . ous. The 'band is attaining a high degree of efficiency under the directorship of Mr Georgo Garry, and owing to the number of reed instruments employed the effect in a room of the wi?je of the Theatre Royal is excellent. Tho violin solos by Mr Jack Ourry aro alone worth the very moderate price of admission. Miss Murphy has kindly consented to sing, and it is hoped a full audience will greet the band.

A meeting of tho Opunake Hack Club was held at O'Mear's hotel on Saturday evening to consider the protest against tho horse Spark that ran in the Cup at the lust meeting. After considering all the evidence it was found that Spark wap disqualified to run at thu meeting. Ping Pong was also disqualified for the cup on the following grounds : That the owners of Ping Pong and Whakarua agroed that Ping Pong should be allowed to win the District Welter, and that they divided the stakes ibotweon them, thore being a written agreement to that effect ; the Cup stakes were therefore awarded to Ilaut.ai. The club has a fair -balance in hand. It was fortunate for the visitors to tlvo municipal abattoirs on the opening day that the beast slaughtered was not of an inquisitive nature. A I wast with her bump of curiosity iui'gely dovelo|>ed thought fit the other diay to lest the strength of the ibais at the head of the pithing pen. A vulnerable point was found, and, to the astonishment of the staft, the lvoifer, instead of waiting quietly for the pithing operation, commenced a tour of inspection. The carcases of 'beef were examined, and their quality tested by licking, and then the telephone commanded attention. The animal was in no wiao infuriated, so tlio manager and his assistant returned to tile attack, first peering out from their hiding-places to make sure that it was snfe to venture. Eventually the beast was treated in the prescribed manner. The Opunake Times' football scribe says The nearer the time draws to the rep. matches, so does the inercuiy iii 'tlie foolfball barometer go up to interesting point. Tho first debatable point is, Will tho rep. team be equal to last season ? At present it does not seem so, as the P' n s elS that receive most conspicuous praise in the games played aro the old players who arc known to be past tho improving stage. However, thero is no reason why a tip-top representative team should not be selected. It depends solely on the selectors, the north and south selectors particularly so, as they select the thirty best players in the province—fi'nito sufficient material for tho rep. selector to get a good team from. The selectors have been watchful, and this is tho best) indication of all that Taranaki will make a good effort to keep up tho old reputation. When the Stratford Hospital Bill was under dissussion at tho conference of local bodies' representatives the other day, the Stratford delegates took exception to the fact that the northern members, representing districts averse to the separation, had held a conference that morning. Mr Llardet got warm on tho matter anid endeavoured to create a diversion by stigma/tiKiiug it as a "hole and corner" meeting. It is quite plain that thero was nothing underhand or even irregular a/iout it. Tho committee set up to consider the question comprised delegates from the Taranaki, Egmont, and Clifton counties, and New Plymouth and Inglewood boroughs. It was to meet this committee in conference that the Stratford County Council and Stratford Borough Council were asked to send representatives. A committee so constituted had tho right to meet as often as seemed advisable, and the attitude of tho Stratford members in taking such exception to the moetinig of the committee, and of imputing unfair motivos to its members, is much to be regretted.

A sneak thief ]>uiloineU i\ small hand-bag from the Masonic llall during the leathers' social last night. A rumour being current in Strnt[ford that the i.nbour Department was sending ii|> some unemployed for I thci HtnulaiTl-Whanjgnuioinomi rail, way, the Mayor (Mr N. J. King) promptly t'oinmiinii'tiU'il wilh the local agent informing him that there , I was abundance of surplus labour in ! the district at the presvnt time to carry on all necessary worts. Constable liya;n is the ttU'ntt'oih agent, to wlvotn all applications s'.ioukl lie made.

j Last night the teachers attending j the winter school spent a social | evening at the HrougJiain-sU'eet hall. A number of townspeople, including His Worship the Mayor and Mrs Cock, Mr and Mrs Allsworth, .Ml' and Mrs Spencer, Mr and Mrs Hallantyne, were invited. The arrangements made were good, and the M.C.'s, Messrs W. E. Spencer, 0. Johnson, and I). ]', Evans, soon had the whole ol' the assemblage, about lifty couples, at their ease und heartily enjoying themselves. Songs were sung by Miss Nixob, Mr Hockley (of tho Christohurch iJodertafel) and Mr A. Gray, each item being of great merit. Messrs McK. Bain and Tutchskft supplied capital music. During tliu evening Mr It. Cock, the Mayor, welcomed the teachers to the town, and extended to them nil invitation to visit "Overdale," his residence. The committee, of which Mrs Howling wns a callable secretary, desires to thank Mrs Copeland, Mrs Swinnerton, Miss Retford and Mr Heldt for assistance in lending articles for use. Whitele.v Memorial Church, Sunday April fird. Preachers : Morning, Mr R. F. Williams ; evening, Rev. J. W Buttle. Subject, "The Seventy Sent Forth."* NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Newton King—Entries for Waiwakaiho sale on Tuesday next. Town Band—Concert at Theatre Royal. Tuesday next. (•ravson and Cock—Special values to-day in £4OO worth of boots. Equitable Life Society—Agents required to canvass the district. Sash and Door Company—Transfer books closed till 18th inst. Star Football Clulj'i—Social on August 17th. C.F. and FX'.—Toi seod wanted. Victoria Collego Vacancy on Council. Carnival Committee—Tenders for buildings. J. A. Maisey—Tendei's for alterations to shops. Newton King—Thirty tons potato mamu'o just arrived. Situation wanted as lady help. Girl wanted for light duties.