NEWS OF THE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 186, 11 August 1904, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Over a hundred deaths have resulted from the railway accident at Pueblo, U.S.A. Three torpedo-boats were destroyed i» tie fire at the Toulon arsenal ; and also several models of submarines and torpedo-boats. Tho Lilx'i'ais secured 207,101 votes, Labour 88,047, Ministerialists 70,401, Independent 19,160, in the New South Wales elections. Cabled that there is further excitement over an advance In wheat in Chicago, and more sensational reports regarding damage to the crop in the North-west. Owing to the unions' notices of various strikes, a general lock-out in the building trade has begun ii. the cities of the United States, affecting one hundred thousand men.

Twenty-one launches competed in a motor-boat rnce from Calais to Dover. The French boat Mercede.i IV. won easily in one hour seven seconds. The English ton I tfapior Minor was second. Professor Kodwurd, a German scientist, has discovered (hat the blue element of light, of sixteen candlepower, sufficiently soothes the nerves of a patient to permit of the pain less extraction of teeth, At tto Auckland Supreme Court, Charles Montgomery Clarke, who shot a playmate named Richard Mayes dead while playing with pea-rifles at Rotorua, was convicted of manslaughter, and ordered to como up for sentence when called upon. A single woman named Elizabeth Davidson (25), «, resident of 33 Willoughby Road, North Sydney, was killed by being run over by a train at St. Leonard's railway station on August Ist. She was found on the up line some distance from the station, with both legs amputated. It is surmised that the deceased was a passenger from Sydney, and while passing over the line in front erf the train was run over. A practical joke ended rather seriously at Dannevirke the other evening (says the. Press). Some young men inserted tin tacks under the saddle of a horse, whose owner was expected to shortly set out for home. The horse played up, and, maddened by the irritation of the tacks, bolted, and at th» Mangatera fridge the rider was thrown. Ho lay there until picked up by some people going home from a dance. A dead man was granted his discharge from 'bankruptcy by the court in Wellington last week. The deceased principal was Mr Gilbert Hamilton Umfreville, formerly of the firm of Umfreville and Dodd, art :ind colour merchants, Victoriastreet. That partnership was dissolved some years ago, and subsequently Mr Umfreville, when trading solus, failed. News has been received by t!.e official assignee that the discharged bankrupt had died some weeks ago at Middleburg, in South Africa. The Auckland Herald says that a motor cyclist had an unpleasant experience in Queen-street on Saturday morning. He was riding down near the wharf at about seven o'clock, when the spirit used for motor power began to leak, and immediately ignited. The cyclist rode on unconscious that he was carrying a trail of flame behind him. Presently, however, an explosion took placa whereupon he dismounted, the lire infolding his legs as he slowed down. He speedily got out of its- reach, and was not burnt seriously. Three members of the House of Reires">ij_«tives sprat their Sunday night in a round of the Chinese r| iarters of Wellington, with a view 0 f getting first hand information for the forthcoming debate on the earning r.nd 1 otteiies Act Amendment Bill. They were accompanied by a sergeant of police and n Chineso'mls-.-.ionary. .They saw somothiinyi of the inside of Chinese life, but the modesty of the Celestial, a'B well,as of the Isiirop an patrons of the fan lan' and Pak ah pu estalblis-hmenta naturally prevented them from seeing much of the ganfble. At a recent meeting of the Victorian Milk Producers' Association It was stated that it was a very common custom, in the s asons when milk assumes a Paler tint, to use dyes and colourings to make it look creamy. And, in order that if. might !.e clearly understood that such tactics were strongly condemned by the association it was decided unanimously that Dr. Gresswvll, President of tho Boiii'd of Health, be urged to take at the eailiest possible convenience steps to put a stop to colouring matters being added to milk, such ibeing prejudicial to the trade of honest ■dairymen. "The shareholders of the National Hank of New Zealand," remarks a London critic, "ought to bo exceedingly well satisfied with the report and balance-sheet for tho past year, which has just been placed in their hands. Not only will they receive their ususal dividend of 10 per curt., but the business has hern so good as to permit of tho payment of a bonus of 2 per cent., and this ufler £30,000 lias been added to tho reserve fund. . . . New Zealand has been passing through a very prosperous time, and the National llank has had an opportunity of joining in this prosperity in a marked degree."

The first shipment of butter trom Melbourne t.'iis season, consisting of 1009 boxes, left by the steamship Modic. Mr Crowe, daily export, in advising the Victorian Director of Agriculture, of the shipment, remarks —"lt appears that shippers are realising that steamers outside thoso of the mail companies are capable of currying butter to London satisfactorily, and tliot a weekly service is not absolutely essential." The inducement offerod by outside companies, namely, a reduction of Jd per lb, equalling Z2 6n Sd per ton, is regarded as clear profit, and exporters are recognising that this is a oig consideration well worth keeping. A couple of little boys were nearly the cause of the death of two men on Saturday (writes tho Wuihi coirespondent of tho New Zealand Herald). It appears that the boys were playing on the surface near the Jv'o. 3 shaft of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, which is at present unused, and one of the boys suggested that for fun they should drop a truck wheel down tho shaft. The suggestion was adopted, and down went the wheel. At the time two miners were passing along tho level towards tho shaft, and were only a couple of seconds' walk from the chamber when the wheel fell in front of them. Had tihey been a little further advanced a serious accident might have resulted. A letter published in the Manchester Despatch gives an appalling description of tho state of St. Louis since the opening of the exhibition. Like the World's Fair at Chicago, it has attracted all the clevorest and most unscrupulous' American crooks of both sexes. The, newspapers are full every day of stories of visitors who disappear unaccountably, and of others who have hold unpleasant experiences. There are splendidly organised bonds of robbers and murderers, who employ the usual devices ip get the plpnstirc-seekiiig strange; iutp their nets, and thp man who escapes from their clutches with his life may bear blip lose of his money with equanimity. It is useless, of course, to expect the American police to trouble themselves about such triiles. A shrug of the.lr shoulders is their only response to a complaint. Again, the changes at tho hotels are ruinously high. The buildings themselves «re flimsily constructed boxes, with rooms that resemble lockers. The meals provided are wretchedly Poor. The waiters servo in their shirt sleeves, smoking and (showing aMt spitting all t|iu whjle over the heads of the diners, though with such wonderful accuracy that accidents seldom occur. Tho correspondent adds that the only safe way for a stronger to boo tho town is to join the Salvation Army, B iA accompany thein in their poiw'jriUiUioiw,

Residents in the locality complain of stray horses iuHlne Street nt avght. A wrestling match between "THck " Carroll and a South Island champion for £25 a side will take place at Hawcra to-night. We have to express our appreciation of the courtesy extended to mem- , bers of the press yesterday by Mr Stevens, the postmaster at Hawera, who placed a messenger at their disposal for sending away results of the football match. The borough council seems uncertain of what land was purchased for. the septic tank site. An adjoining property owner IS 1 astonished to hear that cottages on his section aro the property of tho council, and will .■shortly be 'demolished. Somcono is I wrong, but who 1

The Eltham • Argus states that Messrs G. W. Taylor and A. T. Scrivener (late of Midhirst) have purchased the -well-known business of R. A. Ajdams in Eltham and 'branch establishment at Mangomingi. The new proprietors take possession on September Ist. The Britiish Board of Trade returns for July show that imports decreased by £4,696,719, and exports by £1,091,963. Imports of foodstuffs declined by £3,656,889, and wool by £669,053. Exports of iron and steel manufactures declined by £487,243, and new ships by £312,844. A London cable says :—Earl Percy (Under-Secretary -for Foreign Affairs) states that Germany, Austria, and Italy, besides agreeing to the Anglo-French treaty regarding Egypt have undertaken not to obstruct Great Britain's action in Egypt'by asking for a time-limit regarding Ilritish occupation, or in any other manner. The representative of the Langston Institute now at the White Hart Hotel, tears on all hands gratifying, results of the firm's treatment in cases of rupture and similar diseases. Consultations are allowed gratuitously, and treatment alone is charged for. It will probably be years before a specialist of such standing will visit this district, and sufferers should seize this opportunity. Yesterday Mr A. W, Scott, chairman of the Hawera Hospital Board, and Mr B, C, Rofabins, 4v member of the board, visited New Plymouth and met in conference Mr R. Cock, -hairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board, and Mr G, Cliff, also a member of the board, The subject discussed was that of charging for patients from the country either in tho hospital or tho Old Men's Home. It is understood 'that a satisfactory understanding was arrived at, and the result of the conference will in clue course be reported to the respective boards interested. After Mr Mills' speech at the opon- : in-.; of the Mangawhero bridge 011 I .Monday the gathering gradually lapsed into disorder, which reached its climax in an uproar caused by a hot dispute between Mr Major and Mr McGuire, arising out of opposing (.claims as to who was entitled to ti r jcred.t for having the Mangawhei'Q 'bridge erected. During, the progress' of the ' scene " the ladies who otcu-< plied' seats on the platform hurriedly left the room, and the voices of the speakers were .drowned in the shouts of tho audience. Mr McGuire characterised Mr Mills' speech as a purely party speech, nnd claimed tho right 0 disagree with it. When Mr Ro|b» 'lins rose to propose ai toast, and prefaced hisi remarks iby saying that Mi Major had made a tactical blunder, Mr Major again sprung to his feet; and a few lively moments ensued. When tho final toast was proposed, tluo audience was very thin, but the goit-leman making his reply addressed himself to the Minister, his remarks l/eing quite iuaudible to thoso Ije'ihind him,—Star. The latest work issued from the. press, of Messrs Whitcombc nnd6» Tombs, in one furnishing much valuable information on the "New Zealand Customs Tariff, with Commissioners' decisions corrected up to 6th July, 1904." This work is.so compiled as to be invaluable to importers and exporters doing business in the colony, and indispensable to correspondents and shippers abroad. A great deal of information, unobtainable from other sources, and compiled in this instance 'by an officer of H.M. Customs Department, is placed before the reader in liundy form, including the tariff and certificates relating to tho "New Zoaland Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903." This is the only work published in which this information is set forth, and as the regulations havo been mado so stringent no house trading with the colony can safely bo without the information contained, and on that account it is anticipated that New Zealand Importers will consider it necessary to post copies to all their agents abroad. Every- business man should obtain a copy of this valuable and inexpensive hook. The matter of connecting Opunoke by railway with the rest of Taranaki is again in the air. Stratford and Hawera chambers of commerce and the Eltham Tradesmen's Association have discussed the matter. Each of the three towns above-mentlonod has, in its own humblo opinion, unquestioned claims to the terminus or Junction, and a fight will probably be waged i!*!tween tho rival factions. " Pro Bono Publico," in tho Eltham Argus, writes:—"The public memory, Hko the public conscience, is often wonderfully short, but surely the people of Eltham havo not forgot ten the history of the once proposed Eltham to To Kuiti railway, and how it was 'diverted in the interests of Stratford. The same forces mo at work, and the same wires will be pulled if tho public men of Eltham don't take care. If thero be the least possible prospect of getting this railway carried into Stratford, the I latter will move heaven and earth—or their oqulvalent, the Scddon Government—to bring it about. It is to be hoped', therefore, that our public men will lose no time in moving in this matter I (-fore It is too Tate. Surely this is a matter that the newlyformed Tradesmen's ' Association might well deal with, and thus save if possible tho undoubted birthright of this town and district being appropriated by the unscrupulous aggrandisement of a courteous neighbour." B What Is stated to bo one of the soundest and most profitable avenues of investment offered in the colony is now presented j, n Wellington, in Ihe formation of an important company, the Empire, Bellevue, and Mansions Consolidation, Ltd., which will yield at least from the verv commencement 10 per cent, on the money invested. This company has for its object the acquisition and consolidation of throe highly valu-able-able properties, which are to be carried on under joint management and on the most up-to-clato linos. The principal property is> the Empire Hotel, Wellington, one of tho largest and best-appoinited hotels in Now Zealand, which is at the present timo returning a profit of over £IO,OOO per annum. The bo a utiful Bellevue Hardens, at the Lower Hutt. nre the most attractive of pleasure resorts, and under the new management there are immense possibilities before them, "The Mansions" is tho leading private hotel in Wellington, and although only recently established is yielding over 8 per cent, on tho capital invested. The object of the consolidation is to secure improved- and more economical management, and to carry out such necessary improvements a nd additions as will place these fine properties in the very front rank of I heir class. In the great expansion of business in Wellington, air.d its increasod importanco as a centre for the tourist traffic, the Empire, "Bellevue,'' and ''The Mansions' 1 must inevitably share, and the investment will undoubtedly prove a highly remunerative ono to shareholders. The ', abridged prospectus of the consolida- j tlon Is puMtehed otsowherofn this is- ' sue,

A man walked over the wharf at the port last night, and wbb rescued in an exhausted state. He Was brought to New Plymouth for treatment. An Auckland message states that "His Excellency the Governor," staged by Mr J. C. Williamson's Opera Company lost night, was re- , reived with extraordinary enthusi- 1 asm, and was a brilliant success. Tku Lyttelton Harbour Board decided yesterday to instruct its engineer to make & survey and obtain data in regard to the construction of tho canal between Sumner and Curistchurch, and shipping accommodation. The Friendly Societies' Picnic Committee will meet to-night to arrange for next year's picnic, which will probably be held on the King's Birthday. A full attendance of members is requested as the business is important. An inquest yesterday on a four days' old child which 'died near Sumner from starvation elicited the fact that the mother had not been attended except by an old man, who was penniless. The woman was found in bed naked, and covered only by an overcoat. In tho House yesterday Mr McNab's Absolute Majority Dill was taken in committee. In answer to Mr Massey the Premier said the mind of the' Govorumont on electoral matters would be disclosed in an electoralbill in a few days. He preferred second' ballot to Mr McNab's proposed system. \voods' Great Peppermint Cure, for Coughs and Colds never fails. Is 6d.» S