LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8046, 10 February 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Patoa breakwater is now extended to (>7O feet. Two years ago to-day the liussoJapanese war commenced. The Sydney despatch of 2<!lh December, via Vancouver, arrived in London on the Ith inst., four days late. " There will lie no liroworks in this Parliament," said the Premier at Pal. nierslon North on Monday, " there will be nothing extreme." The Union Steamship Company's new turbine steamer, the Maheno, put up a record troin the Bluff to Hobart, her time being S(M hours. The best day's run was 102 knots. Mr E. E. Maniicriug, manager of the Union Bank of Australia, landed a particularly line specimen of a trout from the Waiivakaiho River on Thursday. The length of .the lish was 21 inches, girth laiin, and weight Hlbs. The Reserve* Trustee, Mr Fisher, is now paying the native rents. Several thousands of pounds have been distributed, but it will take some time yet to get all round. At this week's meeting of the Patea Harbor Board (we learn from the Press) the pilot reported the master of. lie Kapiti for entering the port against, signals. It was resolved to ask the owners aud captain for an explanation. A correspondent of the Opuimke Times writeslt's an* ill wind thai blows nobody any good is the motto that follows tile potato blight. It has taken to the I'mi in the bush aud is playing havoc with it, so the bush sellers w ill come out about siptare. We understand thai the Taranaki Rugby Union will show a credit on this year's balance-sheet of £7O, with assets amounting to £l3. The'actual .year's working shows a debit of six Shillings. The annual meeting will be held early in March. " We have never borrowed a shilling inr spent a shilling in legal expenses s'nee the inauguration of the county system in Wnilaki, nearly twenty-nine yeirs ago," was Chairman Duncan 'Sutherland's boast at a function at Oaimtru on Thursday. This is surely a unique experience among the public bodies of the colony.

The dimensions that pigeon racing have attained in England may be gauged by the following facts -. —It took two special trains and two steamboats to taki> the birds to the Grand National race point; 8,511 birds competed in the 1905 Nantes race, and the cost of transit, conveyers, and liberation generally was close on £3OO. Mr P. E, Tinr.Mii, of Fairview, has growing on his farm, hemp, millet, aud Iti li tit corn, lit e.tcli else the plants have done well, an I arc now coming to in ilurity. M: 1 Til ire i't says lie intra U to sow hemp on an extensive seale next yen 1 , aa-l he is eoiililent that it is a er.ip which would p:iy New Xealauders well to grow.

On the application of Messrs Roland Wilson Mr Justice Edwards has granted probale of the wills of William Bennett (New Plymouth) Henry Crompton (Oinata) ami Kmily Elizabeth Is:iker (New Plymouth) Id tlitrespective caciiluis named. On the application of Mr Spence probate lias been granted of the will of .1. Air Lareu (Stratford.) A general meeting of shareholders in tin 1 Moturoa .Petroleum Company was lit'lil in the Town Hall on Friday, when formal business relative to the increasing of tlu* -capital of the Company was transacted. Work at the bore is being .steadily prosecuted, particularly with the sinking of the six inch casing Tt is expected that in about another ten days the whole of the easing will lie in position, and therefore it will speedily be demonstrated whether or not the water dilliculty has been overcome.

The ~S.Z. liugby Union has decided to extend an otlicial welcome lo the footballers on the day aflcr I heir arrival at Auckland. The details arc being left lo the .Auckland Union to arrange. 111 the evening an invitation banquet will lie held, at which the team will be the guests. Members of Parliament and of civic bodies, and representatives of all the amateur sporting bodies in the colony are to be invited. The cost of the bancpiet will be borne hv the A'.Z. Uugby Union. Owing lo his arrangements in the South the (lovcrnor regrets that he will lie unable lo visit Auckland to welcome the team. The I'reniier and Leader of the Opposition have been invited. Whitclcv Church, Suudav, February 1 till.-—Preacher : liev. J.' X. Butt le, morning and. evening. A'isitors to town are heartily welcomed.—A nvr. The block light is greatly improving the lighting in some of the shops of New Plymouth. You need less burners and gel more light. They also save the trying of your eyes to read bv; a beautiful, clear, bright, white light; one light will light up a large room.—Advl.

As shewing the attractiveness of shares in the Imputable Building Society of New Plymouth, successful drawers of appropriations at the last ballot in both the first and second groups have been able to dispose of

same at a profit of £SO, the owners still retaining original shares, which are eligible for future ballots. The secretary of the Society has a few shares for disposal, iuul intending purchasers wishing to secure same should make early application at the Secretary's oflice, Currie street. —Aihl.