LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7943, 5 October 1905, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Viennese naturalist ■dalairs thai nearly all reptiles thai' die from nai uriil causes close I heir, lives hetnjvn nightfall and mnliiight, only a lew bet wwn midnight and morning, aur 1 . f.-wer still in da.vlig-.ht. Most reptiles seem a warn of their approaching death, wi-king out particular places, and there -awaiting the end, while thus,- whose lives are spent uird.r-gi-ouml come t„ t|„, surface -before death.

The ManaWalu Times lep.irls •—A uiiupie spectacle of two townsmen making a wild rush' to the Jl,,rough ollices oiti Ssiflurihivj iusl'ou closing time, in order that 1 hey might pay their rates. s, n -e.l somewhat of the hum,,l.tons. Cerlainli it !s the first time on ceroid in the ItoriiMgh lhal i.ilepayers ha\e -actually run to the cilleci.ji-s ollice in order lhal th.-v 1i...i get rid „f the tt-iiubleso pelf -eel.erillly thenilllliim is II tile Otll■•r direction.

The Premier informed, a Christ-chiin-h Press r.-pres-eiilalive on Friday that the session would close on Oct'ober 'ill. ••Monitors," he declared, "jre gelling the home fever. The elect ion campaign lias alivad.\ started, and there is a visible de,ire t,i get home. The House should see ll ml of its labours by the third Friday in October." "And the

elections?''' •■Well," answered the led HUH the e|eel'ion h will be belli before it he L'nd liocemlvr : how close lo thai date I cannot say."

According to the report of the l>cpartiueni id I'ublic Health. I here were -.>ll cases ~( iwin births fist'.' children), and Iriph-ls were regisler. id in one iit.-.t.iuee. in I'.MII, The number i f children horii was '22.7n.~t ; the nuniber of mot hers was 2'2.'>2"i, thus, en an average, one mother in everv '■>'■' igine birth lo t\i Ins.ag-ainsi. <>7 in I'm:!, and !>:i in I'.MIL'. The births of Hr_".l children were illegitimate : thus, ir, in every lonti children born were born out of wedlock, against Hi in I'.HIU.

The ()|uinake Times reports -The fishing M'HjiOii o|inictl under fair weather c.ndilion;, for good lishiiiK, the cold wind lii'itit; Hit' diawbuck. No big, catches were rruorU'd, a dozen being the largest number we, heard -"as landed on the opening .day 'by a single aiigli-r. Kisli arc reported to be .scinr. Messrs rrilmoiii and Fat tie have-a replace adi.-ilisemeni it: this issue of some 1,-ry choice farms.

Messrs Ciliuour and I'nltie r..porl the sal.- of a farm u( 11'*' acre;-: in the Nv'suu district

The annual report of the Dairying .Division; of, the Department of Agrieultme lias -fofcon issued, an.l should be instructive reacting to dairy lairWeYs ami all others interested in the produce traio. Sir .1. A. Kinulla, the Chief Dairy Commissioner, h-as treat- I wl the important sulj-ierl in a most capable manner, dealing at lengtb I with the wiork of the past srason.aml ! making suggestions where he. considers improvements are needed. The report covers fifty-e gilt pagx-s. and is pi-inUri in •« most readable form. It J contains several illuslraticns relating to the industry. Those dairymen who believe in kee|ring abreast of the limes should not fail to procure a copy of the report.

The cheapness of human life in the l'nited States is one of the conditions which strike the British visi tor with painful surprise. Thus, an American contemporary remarks :

American railroads have six employees for every mile of truck, and the Ilritish roads have twenty-eight. TMs ] may be. one reason for the almost utter absence of fatal accident. 1 ! of. llritiNh roads as compared with the frightful slaughter that has for years been evident on our American roads."

The following extract from the report of the N.S. Wales Railway Commissioners for year ended .June 30. 11105, is gratifying :—"We are pleased to be able to stale that, by the continued introduction of safety appliances, and the exercise of care on the ijart of the stall, 35,158,150 passengers were carried during the year without any train accident resulting in loss of life."

A peculiarity of the Land Act affecting married women was mentioned at the last meeting of the Wellington Land Board. A lady possessing a husband was the subject of an application for transfer of 200 acres of second-class land, she being alrea-> dy the owner of 2(10 acres first-class laird. The Commissioner (Mr J. Strauchon)|>ointed out that under Ihu Act a married woman could hold either 320 acres of first-class, or 1000 acres of second-class, land. Mr T.H. Robinson.said he had always been under the'impression ihat she could hold both the 320 and the 1000 acres. Mr Rtrauchoir said that was not so )' she might hold either one area or the other. Mr Robinson assumed that in that case a married woman, though she might only hold 100 acres of first-class land, could not hold any second-class. The Commissioner said, that was so—that was the peculiarity of the married woman's declaration. A single woman, en the. otlu) hand..could hold up to 1000 acres. In the case theyt were dealing with the applicant already had 200 acres of. .firHt-cFa:V land,. 1 and. according to I lie reading of the: Ad. she was imt eligible to take up the 200 acres: I of second-class land she wanted.

The other day Constable Richards, in endeavouring' to execute a warrant in Black Kugbi AIK-y. oil UmsdaU-stn-i't, .Melbourne. 'Oiv a man charged with inciting a prisoner to resist, \ias linil at by (lie man with a revolver at a distance of ten yards,the bullet passing at very close qinarters. On anvst. tlie offender pave a false nam,' and description, bill was soon identified as a notorious Sydney ciiminal named Herbert, alias 't'hcip-M-y" Hayes. As soon as 'be was iclogniscd, the prisoner rcniarkvd. "It's all up ; that's the emil of nv 1 Hayes, who is only nineteen years of «ue. has already established a reputation as a m-iisoixhl itnil dangerous criminal. After-having Jircii convicted six limes in Sydney for loreowy from the perscii, he shot « constalii?, who was endeavouring to oxecule n warrant for his arrest. Jle wounded the const-able, but was arrested, and charged with shooting .with intent to do grevious bodly barm. He was allowed out on bail, and absconded.

An aiionynioiis £riU-r in Ibe National Itcview makes an attack on Scotland, which, he says, now lives entirely in the past, «nd is cniplnvtiralIv the country of anniversaries and c.-ntenarics. Since the death of Hums -he savs—Scotland has produced onIv two poets, and these secondroUrs —John Hogg and Alexander Smith. The fashionable church Is now the lhe Scottish Episcopal ('hurch : the others are •■run" for their pew rents, and consequently"""' austere and plcasiin-hntiiig zeal of the evangelicalism which dominated Scotland iit the early decades of the Inst century has given place to an energetic <'i't decorous i'ovHnl-'ilv which liixurla'Hes in tencak'es -and' strawberries and •hideoiisiiess and ennui' identified by cream a, r. plica of the Mat then Arnold wiih Knglish Dissenl."

In a recent cable message to Genetal Booth, Mi Deakin, the Federal Premier, informed him that the question of settling pcopl.- on the land was solely in the hands of the States Governments. He, however, wished the General success in his scheme of introducing a good class to settle in Australia.

The residents of the West End are signing a petition to,-the Postmaster, urging the creation of a receiving pillar box at the coiner af Motley and Devon Streets,

A Ueutcr's, message to the Rami Mail, Johannesburg, reports : A most determined suicide look place at I lie Orahamstown gaol on Aug. 28. lions, an old offender, hanged himself from the bars of the cell windows 'by his convict's leather l.V'lt. When discovered Holts was dead. He was under sentence for burglary, and a few days ago was sentenced to an extra three months: hard labour with eighteen lashes for stealing two cakes) of tobacco from the office.'of the Inspector of Police. He' was again brought., before the Magistrate for various i nsuHonlinatiouale nets in gaol, and sentenced to receive an additional ten. lashes.

Work at ]hr petroleum bore has been progressing satisfactorily, and next week should witness lliolirst results of the pumping. Mr Hayes, the Oovcrnmcnt Engineer, is cxpicttd up in tlie course of a lew days, in order 10 inspect the bole, after which the promised Gowrnmcnl subsidy will probably paid over to the company. 'I he Capetown correspondent of the Kami Mail writes on Aug. lit) :—1 luvr on the best authority that Dr. Jameson's condition is serious, and his colleagues here air all alarmed. 11 is Imped, howruT, that the operation will restore him. Dr. Jameson's real complaint is a stomach one. and the report thai it is cancer is unfounded. The eccentric conduct of a young man, named Arthur Woyds, al Talaraimaka, of late, culminated in bis arrest on Tuesday by Constable Woods, and on Drs. Lcatham and Walker certifying thai the. man was insane, the S..M. made an order on Wednesday for his admission to the I'oiirua Asylum. It is thought the trouble was Wrought aßaul by an injury to the head caused by a fall from a horse about six months ago, since when Hie behaviour of the sulfeiei has been a source of anxiety to his relatives and to all the n>sidi nls in the neighbourhood. At lames his mental weakness was indicated by vainglorious boasting or vainglorious moods of exaltation, wlii'e again his dement alia look a more dangerous turn, lie startled a nuiu'ier ol the peaceful inhabitanis by waking them up al some unearthly hour of the night, and flourishing a gun in their faces, and matters finally became so serious Ilia I ii was deemed advisable lo have him placed under restraint. On a recent dale he sallied forth in Hie wee siua' hi-urs wilh a lantern and was discover! d picking flowers in the graveyard. (nc ol hjs vanities was to deck himself oul in a rnr coal, and demand I hat all and sundry/ should address him as "Lord KobeHs." The case is, rather a sad one, and 11 is hoped thai with proper treatment he will recover his menial balance.

j -Mi Ooi'.ne Aidridgc will deliver an I address in the Primitive Methodist Sunday-school on Friday nji,lit. Stihjeet : "TJic (ileal Time Prophecy," bv iJtait. No tullu'ljuj'.*

TrentTiam Hull, 'the beautiful Staffordshire scat ui the Duke of Sutherland, winch lies on the bowlers of the Potteries, is to be closed, «t least for a time, lot a letter I to tlio Earl of Dartmouth, Chairman of the Staffordshire County Council, the Duke states that owing to 'the pollution of sewage cf the Trent he is forced to the conclusion that Trcntham is » ruined residence, and that he has no choice hut to close the hall where his family has resided fcr so long a period. The Stoke-on-Trent Corporation having taken no, steps t<: check the discharge or the sewagu of the borough into the Trent his Grace's solicitors have been instructed to take legal proceedings against the corporation. The news of the proposal to close Trcnllmm Hall has been received with deep r« K rel thmrgboirt: North where the Puke «"d Duchess have a great ,l,al of splendid, philanfhropic work. The great park and charming woods at 'lrentlmm have always been open'to tho public as pleasure «wl recreation grounds. The usual social in St. Josephs schoolroom will he held to-night-There will be good music and an excellent supper. The audience at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday evening waa in no way commensurate with the merit of tih. concluding performance given by Mr George Stephenson's company. The Trinity Choir boys gave several excellent numbers, and Miss Elsie Peerless and Miss Klsa Dwycr were heard in pleasing vocal numbers. "Alma, the Court Magician, enhanced his reputation as an illusionist and slcight-of-liand artist. The Pierrots won heattj; applause for their refined musical 'comedy sketches and other "turns," introducing a number of now and cleverly handled items. Professor Andrews gave another demoni 6trationwith his "Magic Kettle," aW delivered a most interesting lecturetteon liquid air, tracing scientific investigation on the subject since 1823 until the success recently achieved. Other items made up a really creditable programme. The company will conclude their New Zealand season a t Auckland,

Enthusiastic believers in the efficacy of the morning dip in the briny have, despite the cold weather, I'jccn frequenting the baths lor some time past. As parly a s 6 a.m., wlt.'ii th? majority of folk are warm abed, these hardy individuals arc taking a pluncc, and profess to be greatly benefited 'by the natatory exercises. The temperature at the baths is about sfi degree*. Mr Krancis A. Trcgellis, 0.K., announces in this issue that on Friday next, Oct. in, he will deliver an address in the Theatre Royal on the aims of the LiHeral Party,; and also on the Biblc-in-.Schools question. Mr Tregellis is a.elever speaker, and his address should'be worth hearing. On Tuesday eveuiuj there was a combine- d meeting of the young men's and young ladiis' Literary Societies at the Baptist' Church, Mr Williams presiding. An interesting debate on various topics and controversial subjects took place, after which the assemblage partook of a social nature and light refreshments were provided by the ladies, whfc were accorded a hearty vole of thanks on the motion of Mr Coad. The next syllabus itew for the Young Men's Society will w a discussion 0 n "Civilization."

Everyone is on the lookout, for bargains and bargains, 1 of the tat fcj,,,] in clocks, watches, jewellery, solid silver and electroplated- goods of high quality, by best makers, niav be secured at J. H. Parker's, next railway crossing,, Devon Street, New p| Vr mouth. Xote carefully-Only a few cases left of very line American 8-Uay striking clocks at 12s. (W each.

NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Now Plymouth Harbour BoardTenders for supplies, cU;. Clilmour and Pattie-Real bargains in farm prope;ties. Lost handbag. Mother's help wanted, Mr Francis Tregellis-Announceiunit of an address in Theatre Itoyal, Social in St. Joseph's Schoolroom.