LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 777, 21 March 1905, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A poll was taken in 'the Heathcote Road district, Canterbury, upon ilie principal of rating' upon unimproved land values, and tire proposition was lost by 403 votes to 2f>B.

Spraying, says Mr Kirk, must henceforth lrc a regular item in the cultivation of potatoes in New Zealand, as it is- in a great part of lieland ami in parts of America. The Journal of the Department of Ijaboili' reports that some of the flaxmills near I'ulmcraton -North are closi" • .I'.iwn owing to excessive royaltj i\: r..es.

An Age paragraph slates that a Wairarapa settler who recently sold his lambs on the weight pronviple is Kaiil to have netted Mis 8d per head, a truly phenomenal price.

Kuss'ian papers state that the Chinese Court astronomer predicts that the present war will last thirtythree years, and that four years hence Great IJritain will be involved. A southern farmer who pave up dairying and grain-growing to start sheep-breeding found himself bafll t .d by the high prices demhiwled for the sheep. Lund he could get easil.e, he told a Timaru Herald sepresentatiie, but lho prices for ewes at present were too high. "Can you aive mo uny reason for the thefts of which your son is accused V asked a solicitor of a witness at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court. " Willing." was the reply, "except South Africa." The witness explained that his son had served as a trooper in South Africa, liuil suffered from enteric utvrr, and had bud no life in him since. Mr John Doyle, who has been appointed to the position of mathematical master at the Wellington Technical School, is at present first assist-ant-master at the Stratford District High School. Me has had a very successful Tiiiversi'ty career. 1I« gained Education Board, Auckland' Grammar School, and Auckland I'niversity scholarships. He graduated It.A. in 1892, winning a scholarship for chemistry, and secured his M.A. degree with honours the follofW'iing year. Mr lloyle has had ten years' experience in teaching, his certilicate A2, being amongst the highest for his length of service. Ho is thirtythree years of age. His testimonials placed before the Board were \ery W?\ ~..■ ..--.■ „)-;-.;..■-■■- I

The Sierra left San Francisco on the 19th inst., at 3 a.m. Timber and iron for an additional room that, is to be built at the Mountain House are being placed on the ground.

Japanese horse buyers have purchased 100 splendid horses from the Gloucester stallion, New South Wales, at un average price of £lB each. Plans have been completed for the biiilding of «n cledtric railway on the Zugspitze, in the Bavarian Al|>s. The terminus will be 9600 ft above the rea.

During the month af February the Elthain Dairy Coiiijmny manufactured 80 tons of butter, for which they will pay out £5,880 for butter fat. The output this season is 55 tons greater than at the corresponding period of lust season.

Rex, a Wilkesbarre, U.S. dog, whom his master had trained to search the streets for lost coins, and who brought in an unnuul revenue oi £SO, picked up a dollar-piece the other day. When a spectator gave chase, he swallowed the coin, which caused his death.

The 'members of New Zealand's 3rd Contingent that served in the South African campaign are to be the guests of Mr U. G. Stead in Christchurch during the coming Easter holidays. Mr Stead was a member of the committee that equipped th* Hough Riders. A gentleman from Australia, who attended the recent stock sule at Culverden, Christchurch. said Unit he was astonished at the prices realised and he had no doubt that, if they were maintained, Canterbury dealers would soon be going to Australia for ewes.

Says the Free Lance :—Mr Stan ford, S.M., Is a celebrity. He is the only magistrate in Now Zealand who holds that the "bona fide" traveller is not dead—killed by the Licensing Axe-Hbeg pardon, Act. Now, if there is any man who might become the recipient of a purse of sovereigns, surely Mr Stanford is that man. Some of our suburban publicans, who at present picket on the corner of the j street on Sunday,, would cordially subscribe.

The New York municipal authorities have just assessed the taxable valuo of the six principal hotels in the city ore as follows :—Waldorf-As-toria, £1,837,000 ; Hotel St. Regis £460,000 ; Holland House, £320,000 ; Hotel Belmont. £500,000; Imperial and Annex, £587,000 ; Hotel

Astor, £440,000. Mr Schwab's residence has been valued at £260,000,

and Mr W. A. Clark's Fifth avenue mansion at £420,000.

At yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board the chairman reported with a degree of satisfaction on the establishment of the new morgue. "The Hoard now possesses," he remarked, "one of the most up-to-date morgues, with every convenience, and equipped with the necessary utensils, enabling doctors to conduct post mortem examinations in a clchii and thorough manner." Alter the Hoard meeting the members paid a visit of inspection, and were, very pleased with this latest improvement.

.Speaking at a public meeting in Christchurch, Mr George Fowlds, M.H.R., said :"Thore is no doubt in my mind that .a great amount of the drinking habits of the young colonial took its rise from the departure of Hie contingents and the ' sprees ' over the incidents of the war. It is no longer true to s-a.v that the young colonial does not drink."

The phonograph appeared as witness' in a case tried before 'the Berlin Second Civil Court. Uerr Jakobsen claimed a debt from Heir Gerson on the strength of a verbal agreement, which was denied on oath by-the defendant. Thereupon Heir jakobsen produced a phonograph, and, placing it on a table, set it in motion. It repealed; the conversation in question, the voices of both parties being clear and recognisable. Judgment was immediately given for llerr Jakobsen. While cutting wheat a Canterbury settler had a rather uncommon experience—at least a hare did. A hare in the crop was caught by the knife of the machine which cut off its front cits and ear-marked it, the animal being then carried right through the machine, taken along by the canvasses and passed out with the sheal. It was lively enough to try and escape, but was easily caught and killed. Nearly every bone in its body had been broken in its passage through the binder.

The small boy must not always be blamed for stealing fruit. The other evening says a Nelson paper, several persons witnessed a strange theft by a rat. The rodent was seen to climb a peach tree, crawl along a slender branch, and take a peach in its teeth and descend to the ground. Tho owner of the "tree had noticed his peaches were disappearing gradually, and until he witnessed the theft ho was a't a loss to understand thu cause.

It will be seen- by our advertising columns that the Toylor-Carrington Company, in order to avoid coinkl'i'ng' with Wirtli Bros.' big circus-. have iiostponed their presentment of 'Only a Vagabond" here until after ..he termination of their Wellingtoi. season, which commences' on April 8. Local playgoers will be glad to heat that the company's season in Auckland was a very great success, both press and public being warm in their praises of the Taylor-Carring'ton productions. It is said that if music is played under a tree infested with caterpillars it causes them to fall stupefied to the ground. The great majority of insects dislike music. Several years ago a very well-known French naturalist found that by playing on a loud brass instrument, for a few nights he could rid a house of all crickets and black beetles. It is astonishing what sense some insects are credited with.

Some years ago an enterprising American entomologist had sent to him for examination a few s[>ecimens if the gipsy moth, and he accidentally allowed some half-dozen to escape. These increased and multiplied in such an alarming fashion that the moths spread over a certain locality, in which they wrought considerable damage. It has cost the Stale of Mussachussetts jcrnite £IOO,000 in the attempt to suppress them and it 'is estimated that it will take another £35,0*10 to keep them from travelling outside "the area which they at present devastate.

An application for an old ago pension came before Mr Hutchison, S.M., at the Police Court on Monday. The applicant was an old Maori settler, Piripi Koncki, residing with hi.s wife, Ani lliikn, in a whare on Kgmont lioud. The wife is already in receipt of a pension, but a previous application by Piripi was thrown out until he could bring proof of his age, which he declared was 82. The witness who was to have given testimony in this direction did not appear and the case was therefore adjourned till to-day, evidently much io the old native's disgust as he stood down from the witness box with audible expressions' of disapproval at the law's strict methods.

A Westlund paper Uvls how a Kumara storekeeper, passing. .1 miner's hut near a dredge, was attracted by a large stone I; iiy. nuai the hat, which he -believed' to be greenstone. On chipping a tVw pieces off the boulder he found it to be pure greenstone, and on being 1 weighed it turned the scale at three, tons and as .the commodity is worth fid to lis per pound, according to quality, the find was u valuable one. It was afterwards split in two, and found to be in very good quality. For some time past the dredge had one of her mooring-linos fastened to this stone, yet those on the dredge and others passing flic stone day by day never suspected Dial the bnrren-looking boulder was of anv value.

Storage In dry orlck store, low insurance rate, minim urn Tire risk, low rates for storage.—The Nee- Zealand ftxpmm Compar-v, Ltd. 2

It is worth remeniDcring that foi excellence of style and quality combined with large range of variety and cheapness oi" engagement ringi and nil kinds of jewellery you must go to J. 11. Talker's, Jeweller, next Tail way crossing, Devon Street Central. New Plymouth.*

Do you dread washing day ? Then buy a tin of Woshine and cheer up. Bee a list of storekeepers who stock it. A fid tin sufficient for a week's washing:.*

MORE PRAtSE FOR RIIEITMO. Mr John Stevens, Hulls, writes : "Sonio months since 1 had a severe attack of rheumatism, and was advised to try the efficacy of Ithetimo'. I did so, with most satisfactory results. After taking two bottles it has practically cured me. I have no hesitation in saying that your remedy is the best I have used." Sold by all chemists and storekeepers, 2s fid and 4« Gd. Wholesale Agents, Kemi't|prne, PrpfiSer jjsS Co.* 1

The goldiields at Coolgtu-die were discovered 21 years ago to-day.

The annual meeting of the Star Football Club will be h-jld to-mor-row,.

The Exhibition Committee wi.l meet the guarantors at the general meeting to be held at the Town Hall this evening at 7.30.

The uiuuial examination in the elements of music, harmony and counterpoint, under the K0.m.1 Academy of Music, will be held on J ui.e 3. The practical examination in vocal and instrumental music takes place lute.'. Intending competitor)-, are reminded that entries close on May 1.

Lovers of music do not need reminding of the excellent treat in store at St. Mla'ry's- Church this 'evening, for M!r Arthur Towsey, of Wanganui, is well known throughout the colony. A g\ance at the programme advertised in this hsuc will show that it has been arranged with- a special view of displa> ing the capabilities of the fine orgurt.

The T u Awainutu correspondent of | he New Zealand rierald states that Mrs -Bench, wife of a settler in th« back blocks of the King Country,had a sad experience while travelling in I th* train from Taumaranu to Te Awamutu on Satm-fay last. It appears that her young family were all laid up with influenza, and on Friday the youngest child, aged four months, became so ill that it was decided to seek medical aid at To Awamutu, a distance ol some sixtyfive miles. Mrs Deiich, whose husband was absent from home, had to walk over five miles of rough bush country, earring the child, in order to catch the train at l'oro-o-tarao tunnol. On the journey down to Te Awamutu in the train the child died in her mother's arms.

Reports the Gisbomc Times :—Sergeant McKenzio this morning raised the. question at the Folice Court as the advisability of first offenders for drunkenness being let off with a caution. Me said the offence was beconr ing too frequent of late. He recognised there should tie a distinction between a first and second offence, but he considered a first orfendei should lie punished with a small fine He did not think it was right that a man should be locked up, given his tea, bed and breakfast, and bf discharged with a caution. The Jiench remarked that it was a cheap way of getting accommodation. The Sergeant added that advantage was often taken of the leniency of the punishment. Tho Bench considered that in future a fine should be infliqted, but as the Magistrate had always previously allowed first offenders to go with a caution, the accused before thorn would be discharged this time. The Harvest Festival in connection with the Whiteley Memorial Church was continued on Monday jvening, when a fruit social was held in Wbiteley Hall. There was a fair attendance in view of the counter attractions, and the chair was taken '>y the Hev. J. N. Buttle (President of the Methodist Conference). The building was suitably decorated, ana the splendid exhibit of produce don\ted was on view. Mr Turner's orchestra was in attendance, and gave i number of pleasing selections, and the musical programme was contributed to by Misses Bull, linhy Okey, and other helpers. The Hev. H. F. Williams gave an excellent address on the significance of the hurvewt festival. Refreshments were served and a sociable time was spent. The sale of ihe produce went off well, with Mr Whitaker as salesman, and' the oriees realised were* very satisfactory. During the Evening Air Carter, >n behalf of the "church officials, moved a hearty vole of thanks to \ll who had contributed in various ways to the pleasing; success of the iervices and social,

A MOST HONOURABLE DISTINCN TION. The Western Medical Review,

medical publication of the higher itanding, says. In a recent issue :- 'Th«u.sands of physicians <n this < aid jther countries have at teste that Sander and Sons' Eucalypti Ex r.ract U not only reliable, but tha t has a pronounced and indisput&bl ••uperiority over all other prepura tions of Eucalyptus." Youi- health •5 too preciojs to be tampered with ■ herefore reject all products foisted ipon you by unscrupulous mcrcenares, and insist upon getting San\n and Son?' Eucalyifti Extract, "*he only preparation recommended by sour physician and the medical iresi. In coughs, colds, fevers, dial* .-hoen, kidney diseases, the relief is nstantaneous. Wouncts, ulcers, burns, sprains, etc., it heals without nflammation. Ab mouthwash (3 trops to r glass of water) It prm vents decay of teeth, and destroy« ill disease germs.*