NEWS OF THE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 160, 11 July 1904, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Inglewcod Borough Council the, S'titaltSohi Hospital Hill.

The working of the Government Valuation of l.unrl Department cost £ll,(ii>2 above receipts, which were £19.2M0, ugainst expenditure J1129,- ".- J t:. Salaries ran into £11,744, eh-rical assistance 119311, and travelling e.\pui.,es £4399.

Land tenure of an unusual kind was mentioned at the last meeting of the Tiiiiaru Laud Hoard by Mr T. Ih'inphi'ios, Commissioner of Crown Lands, who insianwd a lease without li.ved lerin given by the NelM.ui Provincial Council. "it was," said Mr Humphries, "a kind of lease ' extending through nil eternity, and beating the 999 years' lease hollow. The first of the ten locomotives that are being constructed for the Railway Department by Messrs Price 11r0.5., at the Thames, is to be delivered next month. Satisfaction has been expressed at the manner in which the work ■'.:! Ibeing can-in I out. Some of the engines are to be worked on the Wellington section of t'.,r Government lines when ready. Twelve Chinese—eleven men and one wonutu —arrived from the Flowery Land by the Moeraki on Wednesday. As they are all strangers to the colony, the Treasury will be enrkhed to the extent of £I2OO. The foreign lady made her entrance into the city in a silk costume of ornate design. She is the second Chinese female to arrive in Wellington during the past three months.

Official returns show that during the term from July Ist, 1902, to June 30th, X 903, the number of cases of drunkenness dealt with in th» Ashburton Court were 90. For the uo-license period, for the year ending June 10th, 1904, the number was 19. For all offences during the year • nding June, 1903, the number was 143, and for the no-license year end- ■ ngJune, 1904, the total offences of all kinds were 72.

Mr H. Eyre Kenny, S.M., of Nelson, will, it isi stated, hoar at Blenheim a case in which an information has been laid charging Hie recentlyformed Blenheim Club with selling liquor without a license. The procedure of the institution was mentioned at the annual meeting of the Wairau Licensing CommitUie, and was l the subject of press correspondence. The cltrb itself invited proceedings, and the case,is in the nature of a test case.

When the authorities in Wellington decided that whistling of steamers in the harbour was to he disallowed un effort was made to get permis-

sion to ring bells as a substitute, but the superintendent of the tire brigade objected on the ground that the ringing of a bell might be mis taken for a fire alarm. The objection, it is now stated, was justified en Saturday, when the ringing oi the bell on the Corinthic created a false impression that a fire haul broken out.

There is a story of a wealthy New Zealander to whom all joy was but as dust and aslics by reason of rheumatism (writes "Viola," in the Melbourne Age). He went to F.ngh n.l in search of health, and Eng..uid sent him to the Continent, after specialist "sat on h;m" there, till on'j. h-114 of his past life, said ifitS iw solemnity: "There is only one thing that I can guarantee will cure vou —the mud baths of New Zealand." 'flu.' man of means went solemnly back to the spot he had started from, and found comfort according-

At the final sitting of the Farmers' I nii'-n conference on Friday resolutions were i>ussid declaring that the onstructiun of public works by inoperative loilyotir ■ was against ' the oest Interests of the colony, and ihat construction by small contracts was desirable. ; that all plantations ■ie exempt from general and local taxation until such time us they become reproductive ; that any legislation on the exportation of ewe'lumbß bo opposed. Mr McCurdy was appointed colonial organiser, ami thanked for his past services. The Wellington executive was reelected the colonial executive on the understanding that if any members were unable to attend the conference to be held ut Chriiitchuich during ,:how week they should resign their seats and make way for South Island members. The conference then closed its session.

At a very successful meeting of membeers of the Taranflki Caledonian Pipe Band, held in Stratford, aome useful business affecting the working of the band was gone throutgh. Mr. Rae, Tariki, wasi voted to the chair. A telegram of apology from Mr McTavifjli, Kltham, and a letter ;'rom Mr W. McLeod, Rahotu, for non-attendance were read. The following were elected as> oUice-bear-era :—Drum major, Mr A. Rae, Tariki ; pipe major, Mr A. McLeod, Inglewood ; sergeant, Mr R. McTavish, lOltham ; corporal, Mr J. Wnde, Stratford ; drummers, Messrs E. Hue, J, Davidson and A. Peacock : haul, Mr D. Todd, Ingluwood. It was decided, out of compliment to tho president of the band, 11. J. M'intosh, Es»j., to adopt the M'lntosh elan tartan and crest for uniforms, which will be ordered from Scotland forthwith. It was arranged that Mr J. Mucdouakl, of JngJowood, be as-socitt-tajd Willi the ollicers and hou. secretary in ordering the uniforms.

| There is no more faithful labourer m the religious held than the noise, and on Tuesday night members of the Anglican Diocesan Synod in Wellington put in a word for him. ,ine \en. Aschdoacon Towgood and others pointed out that country vic'arages on a half-acre site were not sufficient; a horse required lour to six acres. They instanced Presbyorian and IVesleyan clergymen who were adequately provided lor in this respect, and gave it lls lbeir united experience that a Church of i.ngland horsu cannot do with nnv less feed than a Wesleyan horse Finally, the Synod recommended the Diocesan Trustees not to acquire by Purchase or by gift a vicarage si { e "i <he country that was not a-d----e<iliatel.v provided with land. The discussion was full of "horsey" details and when Mr C. P. Powles rose to contend that certain grave ami reverend seigneurs had in their remarks "run off tho course," tho pressmen began to feel for their lield-glasses.—Post.

Colonel Cradock's book on "Snort m New Zealand." was issued „. oni lira London press last month, n i K :sajs a London v.tti-n in a very eafsi - tiona! style. "Few com. < •■ tlle author thinks, •'have such natural faciHies for irfordirjg Epo rt as Kew A'ulnnd, if unfortunate, though wcllmi'ant leJsM-ion Ims not crippled it for ever but he fears that it has done so In many inatanlces, and inoro especially has it set its seal on unv increase of gamo birds, lor, "<ib'v sanctioning that malicious courso of importing pests to destroy pests it has established a hoard (sic) of vermin in the country that only long years of persistent persecution can possilbJy eradicate.'' '''This detestablo vermin-stoats, weasels and fer-rets-have, Instead of wiping t , ne un . lortunate enemy off the face of the earth, iirst turned their attention to killing off all the curious and rare wingless n i>d flightless birds that are indigenous to New PJerdand, ami then to becoming tl, o most determined henroost robbers ever known, to say nothing ol killing off every nesting partriWige, phenskint or «|uuil that has Iwvn fortunate, enough to esca|M3 the various poisons that law, u»ain stepping In, has ordered to be laid everywhere for ra»jf>its." The Colonel returns thanks, however, that "Ibis miscMcviHiK legislation has | luckily not affected either deer-stalk-ir,g or trout-fishing, and for these two brunches of sport New Zealand can challenge comparison with any other country in the world. It stands unrivalled for .both, and nowhere is sport set in more picturesque surrounding, or in more beautiful >Vj4 divei'Bifiod scenery." / " ' / .

The Hawera and West Coast) Fanciers' Associations show will bo held on August 10th and 11 ih. Programmes are now issued. The Wellington Amateur Athletic I Association has decided to subscribe Hie £7O required as its contribution towards the expenses of an American team of athletes that is being invited to tour New Zealand. In the House of Representatives on Friday night, after the Telegraph Oltice closed, the second reading of the Shops and Offices Hill was ugre.il to <,n the voices. The Fire Hiigades Bill (Carroll) was read a second time pro forma, and referred to u Select Committee. At the Farmers' Union Conference a remit from Tnranaki, "That an effort be made to secure the proceeds from Hue bind tax as country revenue," was thrown out on the voices. Turanaki's motion, "That auctioneers' license fees be divided .between Borough Cooncils and County Councils" was carried. The milliliter of births in the Polony during the ten years ended Mvmlf.-r 31st, 1903, was 99,863 nudes and 91,871 females, giving n total o! 194,734, with a proportion per cent. ot 51.28 males and 48.72 females, the deaths of children under live years of age during the same period was 11,219 males and 9,268 females ; total, 20,487, giving a proportion per cent, ol 54.70 males and 15.24 females. According to the Dunedin Star, lobby talk is responsible for the report that a Southern member had the misfortune to " fall among thieves" on his arrival at Wellington last week, and found himself next morning relieved of a sum of money approximating his month's "screw" for services rendered to the colony. This same legislator a few sessions ago was fished out of the harbour in Wellington minus his timepiece, lie is a sensational campaigner, and "bobs up" serenely after disaster. A pathetic piece of evidence Was given at the inquest last week concerning the death of the child Mona Rossiter, of Muuriceville, who died from injuries received from her clothes catching fire. Some days before the accident her futiher hod cautioned the little one to keep the gates on the farm shut so as to prevent the Block from straying. When the child was running back to the house enveloped iu flames she had to open two gates en route, and, In spite of the intense pain which she mustj have been stiffening, she deliberately turned and securely fastened each gate before going cm.—N.Z. Times.

S peaking at the meeting of delegates to the Farmers' Union Conference and the Employers' Federation ut Wellington Mr. Cable, the wellknown, ironmaster, in a discussion i n the wages question, said tlutt good service dsserved good pay. Hut the trouble with workers to-day was that they wanted good (lay for 'indifferent service. Subsequently the president of the Farmers' Union (Mr J. G. Wilson) said that farmers desired to sit their labourers prosper with them, ae had occurred during recent years, but they looked for consideration from their men when times went against the farmer.

Two privates of the Grenadier Guards, in charge of a corporal, went to Huckiugtiom Palace recently, wearing samples of the proposed new greatcoat, in order that the King might see them. The coat is exactly like that worn by ofllccrs of he (luaids for some time past. It is of F.-encli grey, and is very smart in appearance. One of the men has been giving hia impressions of the interview. "The King," said the private, "said he'was greatly pleasid with it, examined it very carefully,; and sent for his own coat to compare with it. He asked us how we liked it. Of course we said Very much.' He seemed a regular ■.ice, chatty fellow. He took as iMich interest In the coat as if it hud been his own."

The St. Louis exhibition is remarkable for the number of iqluaint «xhi'l).U which their owners have got up for advertising purposes. California Bonds a horso niado entirely of hops, and a life-like black bear, roared upon his haunches, made of primes. In Utah's exhibits thero is a statue of a 'beautiful woman made -.■ntirely of wax. Louisiana furnishes a cotton negro, the only white negra on rocopd,.. In tho Palace of Mines and Metallurgy Is an iron man, a statuo of Vulcan, 50ft tall, cast in Birmingham (Ala.). Ho is mounted upon a l>edestal| of coal and coke, and Is the Goliath of tho exposition. A statue of the famous Indian girl, Pocahontas, made of leaf tobacco, represents Virginia in both history and agriculture. Kansas has contributed a largo ox made entirely of corn. Residents of Fitzroy are now entitled to a growl at tho laxity of tho Borough Council authorities In regard to the provision of adequate lighting at To Henui bridge and cutting. At present the cutting on the eastern approach to the bridge la t» a very bad state consequent on the lowering of the roadway, and the bridgo is wry muddy and slippery. That of course is unavoidable, but tho provision of a decent incandescent gas lamp at the bridge would be a great help to traffic. Thore is at present a number of lanterns, whoso glow-worm-like glistening is sufficient to serve in the place of leading lights to one who has been there before; but the unfortunate stranger who llnds himself in the narrow pass of the temporary bridge with traffic audibly approaching on either side will probably apostrophise the borough council and all connected with it with some degree of, warmth. Foot passiengcrs, at any rate, should bo given some better means of crossing.

Like Mark 'Twain on a similar occasion, the Hon. W. D. H. Bailie considers that the report of -his death, appearing in a southern paper last month, is "grossly exaggerated." Making -a personal explanation in the Legislative Council he said he was not sure whether ho was present in the bodily or spiritual state as he had read an obituary notice on himself, "it i„ find of them," he said, "to give mo a passport to a region where I can have a korcro with my ancestors. But I have many 1 .lends m the North ami South, and they will say . 'Well, poor oW '„„„. ■os gone at last,' " he added In tones of unutterable sad«c«ti. -But I wish the press of the colony to take note that I « m Mn alivo/ . undertaker to wrest him from the shades of the tomb and restore him HnnV; 0 ' 1 °' the "vl-B once again, tt may bo only a coincidence that the paper which slew Mr Haillie is one of those journals which tho Pre- »'«• last sessi™ to be "pilitical undertakers."

oi T, !h„ r| , , ; ir , a " l aki / !uiu ' ds ar ° n °»»«i "J. ,a a<iu *°-'norrow night at ".DO sharp.* b l Rt Hmld ng Society will nolo that subZT°™ m" b ° Wobto at tht Society a office, Currie-street, to-day Monday, between the hours of fl a.m. and 12.30 p.m., l.ao p.m. and 5 p.m„ and 7 p. m . and „ {,.„> " na Woods' Great Peppermint Curo, for Coughs and Colds novel' f«ll„. ]a