LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8034, 22 January 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The voltage of the New Plymouth electric lighting system is 2;ioi> volts. Tliis is rather lower (bun usual, ft is a "single-phase" system. The Mayor at Mangorci on Friday: '•The brush Company was so faraway that we couldn't get al them lo bully them; sometimes lliey wanted-brush", big up.'" There is no hick of aspirants for municipal honours at the election lo till a vacancy on the Stratford Council. Six gentlemen arc toeing Hie line for I he Borough Handicap. Probably the „|'. licial visit of the Governor lias something to do with it. In connection with the New Plymouth electric lighting installation. 710 poles have been erected for transmitting the current, (!5 miles of wire have been used, and 12S thirly-iwo candle-power and eight powerful arc street lamps installed. A swarm of bees invaded the Grey, mouth telephone exchange one dii'y last week, and in a short space of time found their way through (he cracks in the roof, where they have taken up their abode. It is anticipated some excitement will ensue when it is at: tempted to dislodge them. -

A Wairarapa paper recently recorded the "phenomenal" returns of a herd of 20 cow.-, avercging CI 7s Oil each for December milk. The Ellham "Argus" now mentions the case of two farmers in thai locality whose averages were CI !ls,sd and CI tils ,Sd per'cow, for much larger herds, too. The Mnu Dairy Factory at Inglehihml has infilled an electric motive power senice. Mr Itichardson, inauiiging director, and Mr Sowcrbv, dvuaino altendanl of the Klecl.ric liighl Coiii]iany, had a trial run the other day, and the 110-hot'se power motor drove all the factory machinery without a struggle, only ;!n h.|,. being rei|iiired. The "Moa" is evidently detcruiined to be up-to-date. At Cucklield Workhouse an old soldier named Edward Barker, being impatient to sec a doctor, smashed thirty-one panes of glass, and called it "tiring a salute of lliirly-onc guns." He was subsequently ordered two months' hard labor.

Tin' population nl' llir Commonwealth ill llii' I'lid nl' liisl year w,-is I.ih)2,NH;!. The population »l' New Soulh Wales was 1,-INS,:!".:', and that of Victoria was 1,211,1 IPS. A p u)scconliiiiiir,g i'ti has power lu purchase but .i'2 worth nl' goods. J-'or one iiiontli, however, Mr J. H. Parker, the notcl Jeweller and Optiuian, of Devon St., will soil any article from his choice and valuable stock for ?5 per cent, lus.s than the marked original price, so .£1 has really the purchasing power of £1 t\s, or lliscim secure .CI wortli of goods. The trade will be supplied on the same terms. Mimy articles are to go at less than cost Advi'ilisuincii'i gives further information The store is nest to the raihva v crossing, liig risks are run by cyclists who ride with no bell or lamp. The local authorities are watching for " hue breakers." Don't run any more risks, when you can get a good oulllt, or any separate; article | 0 complete your cycling kit. at ,1. Hnrlu's opposite the Post Office, and at prices low enough lo touch the ground. Repairs of all classes are a special delight here, and we arc only satisfied when our customers [are with our work.---Advt. MERIT KISWAKDKI) l;V COI'KT 0 ,H'iSTICK. The acknowledged good ipialilies am, success of Sandkii and Sons' Kiialyi'Ti .V'ritACT have brought out many imitations, and one case was just tried in the Supreme Court of Victoria, before his Honor Chief Justice Sir . I Madder. KG- ', JUL, etc. ' •

His honor, in giiing lodgment, said that whenever an article is c mc„.|.-,l t the public by i-c»,ouol' its good .pialilv, etc., it is not perniis>iici„ imitate auv of ils features, ltc-Iraining the imiialors perpetually from doing so, ho ordered them lo pav all cosh,. We publish this to afford the people an opportunity of protecting themselves, and of securing what, is proved beyond all doubt bv skilled witnesses at the Supreme Court, of Victoria, and by many authorities during the. last :j| years to lie' preparation of genuine merit,'viz.;..Tut; GiiMiNK Sandhi! .it Sons' I'l'llH YuI,AI'UK El f-AJAI'TI Jix'UIALT

The lliish of the fruit season will soon be past, and prices again on the up-grade. Advantage should therefore be taken of the auction sales, Bewley and Griffiths holding one at 2 o'clock this afternoon. A list of desirable properties in the hands of Mr W. I. .Husband, Laud Agent, Pahiatua, for disposal, is advertised in our columns to-day. Mr Husband issues a Land Guide, a copy of which should be in the hands of everyone looking for land. John Couper and Co., Napier, notify a coii)de of "nibbles" in farm properties just now on their lisl, Couper and Company's Gazettes contain particulars of hundreds of sheep runs, dairy farms and town properties for sale, and affords all necessary in format ion for prospective buyers. People in Poonah are Hocking to sec two Hindu girls who were born joined at the back, with their faces in opposite directions. Tliey have separate legs and feet, and when one goes forward the other is drugged behind.

Whilst a wedding was being solemnised at the Registrar's office at Tottinghain recently Mr J. W. Brilton, clerk to the Woodgreen District Council, suddenly sank down on the floor and expired. He had been clerk to the Council for fifteen years. The Marine Department has in structed (he Customs officer at Patea to hold an inquiry into the circumstances connected with the grounding of the steamer Kapiti at Patea on Sunday, December Hist, The date of the inquiry liiissiiot yet been fixed. A slight shock of earthquake was ■felt in New Plymouth about 9.30 on Sunday morning. The Tiiranaki County Council invite applications for County Engiiieersliip, and for a foreman for portion of Omnia Riding. Tenders for colled ion of Dog Tax, making of dog collars, and cleaning drains on Tariki Road are invited ny the Tarauaki County Council.

The Cape Eginont- Co-operative Dairy Company (Piingarehu) has received the following prices for their butter for the last live consignments: litis, litis, 118s, 118s, 119s. The potato crop in the Oaonui district is a disastrous failure owing to the ravages of blight. The natives of Oaonui and other districts will suffer keenly by the loss of their stcple vegetable food, unless some action is taken by Ihe authorities prior to the winicr months. The 'J'ongariro, which sailed from Wellington for Loudon on Thursday, look 5H725 boxes butter and 8l!(!8 cases cheese, which is the largest shipment sent Home this season. The quantities of butter shipped from the various ports wore:—Auckland, 10.592 boxes and kegs; New Plymouth, 12,529; Patea, 13,131;; Wellington. 11,021; Lytlelton, 3090; Diinediii, 2301; Ouniarii, 1050.

The Wellington "Evening Post" is making an endeavour to resuscitate its agitation of four years ago against " the child slavery on the dairy farms." The Post says the children "are still milking their four, live, six, seven and 'more cows in (lie hitter slush of early frozen mornings," We tliougnt the milking industry was practically at alstandslill in the winter season, in what Hie Post calls "the frozen mornings." Perhaps our contemporary has a notion that the farmers run an ice-creaui business in the winter.— " Elthani Argus," The Mayor caused some astonishment at Ihe meeting of the Pahncrslon North Borough Council last, week by announcing that the bnlifl's had been in possession of the Council Chandlers. The Mayor, explaining the reason of the Chambers and its historic archives falling within the clutches of the law, said that an order of the Court was made against the Council. During the Borough Solicitor's recent absence from Pahncrston a request was made to the Town Clerk for a cheque in payment of the order. The Mayor said lie had been led (o understand that in these matters it was the custom for a cheque to he paid through the solicitor for the local body. However, wrongly lie thought, the communication was made to Ihe Town Clerk. He nalurally desired to see the Borough Solicitor on the subject, but in the meantime the haliffs wore placed in possession. The Mayor thought the action taken was not justified, and he also considered the Borough Solicitor should he questioned in the matter and definite steps liken to prevent a recurrence.- " Standard."

Al Ilio S.M. Cowl, Tngtowood, o Thursday last,before A. Tiii'iilmll Ks<|. S.M.. .lolinniia Bilski claimed by interpleader a tr«i) which luul been* seized liy tlio linilitV umlop n distress warrant issued liy Charles Leech against her husband. Mr Spenco (.Stratford) appeared for Mrs liilski and Mr Thomson (Inglcwood) for Mr Leech. Mr Thomson prodiieed evidence to show that Hie husband had personally bought tlie trap, liad given bills ' for the purchase, money, had been sued lor ami confessed judgment for the pri-e and had recently given a bill of sale in his own name over the trap, but this bill of sale had since been paid off. Mr Spencc culled the claimant to prove she had money of her own and had paid for the trap out of this money and she prodired a receipt for the trap in her own name. Mr Spencc contendul that Mrs Bilski ought not to be prejudiced by her husband improperly giving a mortgage over her trap. His Worship said the whole business was peculiar hut as Mrs Bilski had found the money for the trap and got the receipt in her own name she was entitled In judgment for the return of the trap with counsels lee and cm.is CI 1 ts.

The nali.es have been pai'ticularlv , unfortunate both last season and llu's , with their potato crop, says Mr A. Boucher, (iovernmeut pomologist, in the Waikato. Last season heavy losses were sustained with the early crops, though the late planted crops", which more or less escaped the blight, were fairly good. This season early planted crops were again attacked by blight, and in some instances completely ruined, and to make matters still worse crops planted on low-lying lands along tin: Waikato River were destroyed by Hood. This unfortunate condition of things was reported to the Agricultural Department, and applications were made for seed from a number of the Maori settlements which had sull'erod severely, but, unfortunately, late in the season, when seed polatoes were liard to procure. However, every effort was made by the Department to supplement the' small supply of seed which the Maoris still had implanted, so that, with care and cultivation, there is every reason to anticipate thai many settlements will have a moderate supply of potatoes for eating, las well as a small stock of seed for licit season's planting. it almost seems as if the potato blight affecting the Maoris in their most vital interests will have tin- etl'ecl of inducing (hem to pay more attention to details, and educating them to more thoughtful care in cultivation of their crops.