The Daily News TUESDAY. JANUARY 30.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8040, 30 January 1906, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY. JANUARY 30.

THE DRAINAGE WORKS. There is not the slightest doubt that the general feeling of the ratepayers of Now Plymouth with regard to the question of borough drainage is not one of satisfaction and confidence. There is an unaccountable air of ftpprehension permeating the ratepayers, of which the protest entered by Mr J). Berry last week is but a mild effervescence. While undoubtedly there is much regarding the system that the public would be glad to be enlightened upon, it seems that the greatest apprehension is felt regarding the question of cost-the price oF connections. Unquesti niably, this is a very serious matter, and one the Borough Council must face seriously. It is nil very well for the Council to construct a sewer, and then, backed up by Act of Parliament, issue, indiscriminately, summary notices to property-owners to connect. # # # #

It seems to us that if the Council intend to extend the drainage system, a different procedure altogether will have to be adopted, if the interests of the ratepayers—which should be the Council's first consideration—are to be conserved. There is no disguising the fact that sanitary connections are very costly, and, generally speaking, a much heavier item than jthe average working-man—who may under present circumstances bo unfortunate enough to own his house - can afford. On the other hand, however, no one would seek to gainsay the wisdom of the Council -in. '„eidni" upon an ur> '';-ilate drainage system fur liie town, for it is n fact that in sanitary matters New Plymouth is leagues behind almost evory other borough in Taranaki. And equally as it is behind such places as Hawera, Elthaui, Stratford, and luglewood in providing municipal drainage works, is the town behind them in adopting measures to popularise the system with householders and ratepayers. Until some such methods are put into operation here, the drainage system will never be popular, or be other than a heavy burden on pro] ertyowneitt.

It has been computed that the average cost of connecting detached iesidenees with the .sewers will probably be about £25, and as the plumbers will have to bo paid, the money will need to be found by house-owners by some means. It is by rendering assistance in this direction that the Council has the opportunity of exhibiting its business acumen, and genuine consideration for the ratepayers. The process is so simple that it seems strange that it has not so far been ferionsly entertained by the Council. List year trio Eltiiam Borough Council had an Empowering Act passed through the House, conferring upon the Council power to borrow money for the purpose of providing the cost of executing drainage connections, and the property owners of that borough are now taking full advantage of the privilege. The Council is authorised to borrow, for loaning to property owners for drainage works, up to .£5900, at interest not exceeding 5 per cent., the interest to borrowers i.ot to exceed 0 per cent. The Council may, at, the request of owners, also carry out the work on their behalf, charging 5 per cent, on the cost of the work for supervision. Repayment of the amount borrowed from the Council to cover the cost may be divided into equal annual instalments extending over a period of ten years, provision being made, however, for the paying off of the amount owing at any time on three months' notice being given. * # * #

Why should not similar facilities be obtained for the property owners of New Plymouth ? Were they relieved from anxiety respecting the monetary difficulty, we are certain it would be but a very short time before the Council would have to prosecute the municipal sewers with greater vigor than is at present being evidenced, to meet tho demands [for drainage facilities made upon it. We hope the Council will at an early date make some definite pronouncement of its policy regarding the whole of the drainage wink in general, and regarding the latter aspect of the question in particular.

Since (ho present company commcuccd operations at the Moturoa petroleum bore, one hundred and thirty 40 gallon barrels of oil have boon secured, The oil finds a ready market; indeed the demand far exceeds the capacity of the bore at present;"*-- _ Monthly variety concerts arc to bo given in New Plymouth duriug. (lie coming winter. A couple of wellknown local musicians have the arrangements in hand, and good programmes will be submitted. The training of several performers commences at once.

The official returns of the takings on the occasion of the meeting of Wales and New Zealand show that a sum of £2550 «as taken. This beats all records for a Itugbv international in Wales by £10(1. ' The total sum includes receipts from all sources. The New Zealanders' share is said to be £1235. They had a guarantee of £SOO from the Welsh Union.

"The English language does not contain words enough to express my heartfelt thanks to you," fervently declared a grey-headed old man, bent up with rheumatism, as the Gisborne Magistrate grunted a renewal of his old age pension. Another pensioner, an old Moari veteran, whose iatooed head would, have been considered a great prize a few years back, frankly admitted he owned no laud, cattle, sheep, horses or pigs. "All that I own is myself," he solemnly announced. During the past few months upwards of 1(30 men have been sent from the Oainaru district to co-oporativc works in various parts of the colony, mainly to the North Island (says the Oamaru Mail). Of these in the" North several have taken advantage of opportunities to acquire small blocks of cheap bush land in the vicinity of their work, and on these holdings they spend all their spare time in improving, doing the work assigned to them during (he day and working for themselves during the evening.

Said Mr Eliliu Boot, American Secretary for Foreign Affairs; to his office boy one day, ".Who carried off my paper b".slcei,r" "It was Mr liilcy," said the boy. "Who is Mr liilcy?" asked Mr Knot. "The janitor, sir." An hour later Mr Boot asked. "Jimmie, who opened that window?" "Mr Lanlz, sir." "And who is Mr Lantz?" " The w indow-i'lcancr, sir." Mr Boot wheeled about and looked at the boy. " Sec here, James," he said, " we call them by their First names here. We don't' mister' Lhem in this olliec. Do you understand ?" "Yes, sir." In lit minutes the door opendd, and a small, shrill voice said, "There's a man here as wants lo see you, IClihu."

licports are current in town of several tradespeople having lil'lmi victimised during the past few days by an individual at pre.ient uukuovvu. At lets! two instances are quoted ill which this person has wailed upon business men in the town anil presented accounts of residents of the town and cheques, purporting to be drawn by the person owing the money, presented for payment of the account. In each instance, it i; stated, the cheque* were, made out for amounts in excess of the bills. IVe required change was given by the Iradosinm, and now cheques andpiyineiit are repudiated by the person* on whose accounts the former were drawn. It is uiulerstooil the police have the matter in hand, but so far no arrests have been made.—Manawatu Standard. Mr .Tabes'. Balfour, who in 181)5 was sentenced to fourteen years' penal servitude for the Liberator frauds, is about to obtain his release. Lloyd's News has been ollicially informed that the date of the release cannot yet lie slated exactly, as it depends on the number of marks earned by the prisoner for remission under the prison rules, but it will probably bo ahont the end of May next. It is stated that Balfour has earned every good mark that it is possible for a prisoner to earn. He was first of all employed in milking mail bags for the (ioverninenl, at which lie proved himself im expert, and is now acting as assistant in the prison library. Balfour is at present engaged writing a history of his life, and has, through his friends, heeu negotiating for its publication as soon as be is released,"

While at Blackball, Mr Seddor. referred in a speech to statements ihnt an Opposition was necessary for the welfare of the country. This, he held, was a totally erroneous idea. In the past the Opposition had blocked many bencftcicnl measures, and might do so in the future. Would not the best plan be to abolish them altogether ? That was the logical conclusion, Though they were at one time inclined to look upon him as a "Socialist devil," he thought in time to come he would he looked upon as their chief saint, who had done something for the good of New Zealanders. Referring to the accusation that the Liberal legislation had tended to drive foreign capital out of the country, he said this was absolutely false, as there was more English capital offering for investment in the colony now than had ever been the case in the historv of New Zealand.

At a meeting of the committee of the Cash Purchase Association to consider the tenders submitted by the various tradesmen, it was found that a misunderstanding existed between some of the tradesmen and the Association as to the constitution of the Association. The efforts of the Association are to incorporate the whole of the cash buyers in the district, and not to limit it to any section of the community. They

expect to start with. 50!) members who are prepared to do business on a cash basis, and every effort will be made to increase that number, eventually organising tlie whole of the cash trade. Tickets of membership will be issued to anyone doing business on a cash basis, and Ihe Association fully expect to secure an all round 10 per cent, benefit for its members, Large linns from the principal cities are induiring as to their prospects of opening a branch in New Plymouth to secure this business, but the Committee prefer if possible to do business locally if satisfactory terms can be arranged.— Communicated. We would like to draw the attention of the ladies of Xcw Plymouth and surrounding districts to the beautiful display of art needlework exhibited by the Singer Sewing Machine Co. al their shop in Devon street. The most striking among their exhibits are beautiful Limerick lace, Apliiptc work, study of pictures, as well as drawn thread work. It is surprising how simple this work is done on the Singer machines The Company have now a lady expert, Miss Morris, giving free lessons to all who have Singer machines. Xo lady ought: to miss the opportunity of getting free instructions in this class of work. Mr F. McCarthy, Inspector

fur the Coy., is visiting the district in charge of the exhibit, and lias a large stall of men with him who will lie

pleased to show prospective buyers bow easily the machines arc manipulated. Mr J. Vt'augh is well known as the local agent, and during his lengthy connection with the linn, lias never yet failed to make suitable terms to plea..' his prospective cuslomers. The Singer holds ii-5 per cent, of the world's sewing machine trade. A record such as this is liascd on pure merit alone. I An open invitation is given to ladies of Taranaki who sew. to inspect the exhibit, and participate in the classes. On no oilier machine can this oautiful work be done.—Advt

MERIT ItEWAHDEI) JJV COURT OK JUSTICE. The acknowledged 'good qualities anp success of Sander and Sons' Eucalypti xthact have brought out many imitations, and one ease was just tried in the Supreme Court of Victoria, before bis Honor Chief Justice Sir J, Madden, K.C. M.U., etc. His lienor, in giving judgment, said that whenever an article is commended t> the public by reason of its good ijuality, etc., it is not permissive to imitate any of its features, ltestraining the imitators perpetually from doing so, he ordered them to pay all costs. We publish this to afford the people an opportunity of protecting themselves, and of securing what is proved beyond all doubt by skilled witnesses al the Supreme Court of Victoria, and by many authorities during thclast l-il years to be preparation of genuine merit, viz. : Tin; Geniunh Sandbk & Sons' I'uflE Volatile Eucalypti Estiuct,

Messrs Bewlcy and Grillilbs beg t j report the sale of Mr Bearuh's farm of 73(i acres at Motukawa, Tarata, to Mr Jas. Biutoul, of Baglan. As giving an idea of the lisbing trade near Nelson, it may be mentioned that on the :!lst December last no lever than 50 lisbing boils were licensed at the local Customs olliec.

While farm labour is reported to be very scarce in Hie North Island, it is slated thai workmen of this claw arc unable lo obtain cork in Oiago. lei.-t week one man walked from I nvercargill In Oainaru in seirch of work.

liy the 'l'Yise.i mail inl'o'iiiiliou has been received in I'ate.i lln! several leading (inns of produce buyers have been " caught short " and in consequence have been forced to buy in on the London market at from 10s lo 12s per hundredweight more than I hey sold at. Some of them are paying down IDs to 12s per cwl. in hard cash to their buyers in lieu of tendering butler. The following Taranaki scholars passed the examination held In December, U)o>, for Senior Free Place on Secondary Schools and District High Schools : —Alice W r . Bollinger, JohnN. Bullard, Bex D. Coker, Douglas L. Collis, Philip Grey, Ernestine M. Howell, Catherine M. Mclsaac, Guy N. Morey, Annie C. Noble, Florence O'Brien, and James R. Sinclair (New .Plymouth High School) and Isabella A. Bunyan, Edward Dewlnrst, Frank Dewhirst, John W. Dowling, Thomas W. Drake, Jan P. Grant, Blanche Morison, Francis W. Prideaux, and Norman G. Sutherland (Stratford D.H. School.)

In response to frequent, requests for payment of an outstanding account, and a final threat to sue for the amount due, says IheTimaru " Post," a Thnarii business firm received the following remarkable epistle from the brother of the debtor : " Sir,—l now write to tell you that Charlie has been dead for three years, so he cannot pay your bill. I have wrote to you before, and I suppose you don't take notice, but you can send your blue paper and white paper, too, but you can't get it. He is dead, so his debts is paid. Ho please don't send any more bills. P.S.—I am sending this piece of paper back to you again." The tone of patient explanation is quite artistic, and the theory that a man's death constitutes in itself full payment of all his debts is something quite fresh. For the "shady nook," or a quiet read during the evening, much pleasure is provided by well-selected books, of the deeply interesting kind. When once you pick up stories such as the following, you absolutely cannot put them down until finished : " Beverley, of Craustark," by McCulcheou, "The Pillar of Light," by Louis Tracy; "The Princess Passes," a delightful novel by C, >'. and A. M. Williamson ; or "I.X.K.L" by Pcler Hosscger. These are but a few of Mr T. ii. Hodder's selections; bookseller, of Devon street. These books make pleasing gifts at auv time.—Advt.

A native who had been in the habit of getting loans of money from a wellknown lhianeicr m South Taranaki, received a set-back the other day, which fairly " settled" him. He pestered the pakcha for several hours, until the latter, becoming thoroughly tired and annoyed with the native, pulled out his cheque book and requested the amount his dusky lordship would require. " Kapai you give me 1:20." The linaucier wrote out the cheque lor the amount named, and signed the same, but in place of the cheque reading " Bay Mr or bearer the sum of C2D,'" etc., the drawer inserted the word '■ Don't" before the word " pay." The Maori's face, when he presented the cheque at Ibe bank, is reported to have been a great study, and it was not until he had secured the services of an interpreter that he discovered the trick that luul boon played on him. Then the atmosphere turned purple!