LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8053, 21 February 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tllc Jlelbourue-Nnples despatch ot January l/th arrived in London on [he 1 Sth inst.

riU'ominon with ofJior public bodies, the Xew Plymouth Harbor Board has received notice from its bankers that the rate of interest on its overdraft lias been reduced 100 percent, as from the Ist March next.

lUiring his visit to iS'ew Zealand, Admiral Fankcs, accompanied by some <>f his ollicers, Hill In. l;ik L -n in tfi<» Tumuekai to tin- West Coast, for |]„. purpose of examining the coal iiHMsm-i-s there. A report will Ik- ftiriu.slicil to uu' Auminihv.

A correspondent, writing |„ (],„ Southland " l)iiilv Xens." "There reside ;i(. present in Xortli invcrcargill an old couple who arrival in IS7I. with four daughters ami |, u ,i sons, nud now have sixty-six liviii" descendants (will, themselves sixty" eight)."

Whilst out gout-hunting on lh" I Himuialia ranges a few ,iavs a»o a nieinlier of I lie Milic Work's Departineni survey parly, engaged in the Vicinity of the Kaitokc. captured a potil horns measuring 2liin, in h'ligth. Hie head is considered lo lie tlie west yet seen in the locality,

| shewing the attractiveness o| I -"hares in the Kcpiilable Building N„. cicly of .Xen I'lynioulh, successful idrawers o! appropriations al the last ballot in hulh the lirsl ami second 1 groups have l>eeu able to dispose of same at a prolit of A)SO, the owners still retaining original shares, which are eligible for future ballots. The secretary of tiie Society has a few | shares for disposal, and intending purchasers wishing to secure same should make early application at the Sccretary's otliee, Cum# street. -Advt.

The Tnrainki Rifles rind' Guards are notified that there will be a special parade at the Drill Hall this afternoon, at 1,15 sharp, The meeting of the New Plymouth High School Board, called for tlus evening, is postponed lo Friday. February 23rd, at 7.30 p.m. The whole of llio programme arranged for to-day's Garden Party will be carried out, so the attendance is not likely to suffer by reason of the Govirnor being unavoidably absent, From soundings" taken at the New Plymouth harbor during the last few weeks, the harbormaster states that the sand is starting to form a spit at end of the breakwater. Mr F. P. Corkili, Grand Superintendent of Turanaki, invites members o£ all Masonic Lodges to accompany him on a fraternal visit to De Burgh Adams Lodge this evening. The shops and warehouses iu town will observe the weekly half-holiday this afternoon instead of to-morrow, in order that employees may have an opportunity of attending the Garden Party and Sports in the Recreation Grounds.

Owing to adverse weather conditions, the liarawa was unable to leave Ouehunga on Tuesday afternoon. It is expected, however, she will leave this morning and reach New Plymouth about six to-night, subsequently returning to Onehimga at the usual time.

Mr F. Henderson, foreman under the Harbor Board, reports that the breakwater has been extended 21ft Gin during the month, making a total length of new work of 136 ft. Fifteen piles have been driven in the wharf extension, forming two complete bays and two piles of the third, which is the last bay of the present extension. The dredge at the harbor worked 23 days, removing 5760 cubic yards of sand and silt from the new berth. Owing to the dredge deepening this berth, a large amount of sand is coming from the beach, and will continue to do so until this comer at the root of the breakwater is denuded of sand. In reference to the recent "scare" about butter prices, Mr D. Cuddie, Assistant Dairy Commissioner, stated lo a " N ewh" representative last night that it was " absolute nonsense," and remarked that the present prices were belter than for years past, especially when the reduction of two shillings per hundredweight in freight was taken into consideration.

I u moving yesterday that Mr .1, B. Council be re-elected chairman of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, Mr li. W. Hornby said that this gave him great pleasure on account of the callable and ellicient manner iu which Mr Connett had curried out his duties. He desired to express his confidence in the chairman's methods. Mr Hine endorsed his remarks iu tolo, and seconded the nomination.

At the Harbor Board meeting yes terday, the harbormaster reported thai during the five weeks ending February luth, there were -18 steamer berthing.-

at the wharf, the aggregate gross tonn ige amounting to 15,023 tons. Imports, 'l-610 tons, including 1239 tons of railway coal and sleepers, and 1(17 tons of coal for private use. Exports amounted to 8711 tons, making a total of 5511) tons of cargo handled.

The value of technical training is shown by the experience of one of. the largest contract shearers in Australia, who some time ago induced a number of smart youths to loam* wool-classing at the Sydney Technical College, and then employed them as rollers at the sheds. The skirting was so clean and the general handling of the fleeces sj good that the ivool brought from Jd to |d per lb mare than similar wool treated at other tables by the ordinary men.

With regard to lighting at the harbor, the Borough Council has notified that the Harbor Board's application for electric is being considered, and the New Plymouth Gas Company to the effect that an estimate of the cost of laying a gas mam to the harbor works is being prepared. C.iniinentinu: oil this at yesterday's meeting, the chairman stated that he had taken the responsibility of acting thus in the matter, hoping to effect a saving. At present the lighting is an expensive matter, lhe attendance alone costing £2 per week. *

a l At the meeting of the Central S.'hool Committee held on Monday evening, it was decided to make 3 ifawera the destination of the annual , excursion. The West End, Fitzro.v and Bell Block Schools have intimated their intention of joining iu the trip, ' The date is not fixed, but it will be about the Hth prox. Afterwards, the | Technical Committee met, and Mr Spenecr submitted a balance-sheet of last year s classes. There is a small credit i balance, but not sufficient to warrant any reduction of fees for the current year. It is proposed, if possible, to ' re-open the classes about the middle of March, and to hold two terms of sixteen weeks each, during the year, lhe prospectus for the year will he issued in a few days'. Mr W. C, Kensingloti, Under-Secre-tary for Lands, Mr Campbell, Colonial Architect, and Mr Mackay, Assistant Secretary lo the Labor Department, are at present in Auckland. They have been appointed a Board of Advice to the Mmister for Labor, in connection with the scheme for workmen's homes in Auckland, The houses are lo he erected ou laud acquired by the Government at Kllershe from the Agricultural Association, in exchange for an area at Olahufiii. The site will provide room for 6(1 cottages, at an estimated cost of .fc.loO to C 100 each. Provision is made for the absolute acquisition of 1 the freehold by tenants, the department i putting up lhe cottages and providing I drainage, roads, etc,, and then dispos- s

ing of them on detorred payment, or by au insurance scheme, there being three systems under which the freehold may be acquired,

is With regard to the complaints o passengers that considerable iucon vemenee is caused owiug to Inn lighting on the Xew Plymouth whuri e ami the height of the railway earriag n pintforms, Messrs Conuolt and King On behalf ul the Xew Plymouth Hap bor Board, rerunlly waited on M Mr 0 Loughhn, stationmasfer, am suggested that some -ps be procure* tor the convenience of passenger; alighting from and hoarding trains After discussing (he pros, ami cons. E the three gontlenmn cmue to the unanj: > mous conclusion tlint it would not In ud\isable to procure these steps until the wharf is belter lighted, As flu _ chairniiin remarked, with the present lighting arrangements, " passengers , would probably use one set of step* . an " run iiloiig in tho dark until thoy struck another set, and either break their shins or tumble overboard." To uvoid such disastrous results, tUo Hoard decided (o endorse the opinion ot its delegates, A monster fruit sale this morning :it Bewley and (Iritliths 1 will commencing {).;](), 4 \ o ],, ss [] lan ( ,l ereil varieties ol Iruit will ( be put up for auction, A clearing sale for Mr J. Hale will be conducted by Newton King at •Junclion-roail to-day. A. large consignment of fruit will be auctioned at Newton King's marl ;it 10 o clock this morning, MERIT KEWAJdIJsij m WJUKTOF justice. Jbe acknowledge! good qualities and success of SANMiIt AND Sons' BI'OAI.VITi xtiiaut luivc brought out many iml> latnins, and one ease was just, tried'in the (supreme Court of Victoria, before Ills Honor Chief Justice Sir J Madden, K.O. M.0., ele.

Li .I' 5 i judgment, said t- mil whenever an arliole is commended to I lie public liv reason of its good quality, etc., it, is not permissive lo imitate any of ns Icatiires, Restraining the. imitators perpetually from doing so, he ordered ilium lu uli osts, | Wo publi h this to afford the people ,-m opportunity of protecting themselves, and or securing what is proved beyond all doubt hy skilled witnesses at the Munlomc Court, of Victoria, and hy ninny authorities during the last 111 years to bo a pioparation of genuine merit, viz. I'uk Gknuink Samubb & Sons Pube VOLATII.K Eucalypti E sillier,

The regular' monthly meeting oE the De Burgli Adams Lodge, 1.C., will be held this evening in tlio Lodge room, I'ohe-strecl.

'lhe Strolling Minstrel Troupe, engaged by the Garden Party Committee, will provide a fund oT amusement lor the public on Wednesday afternoon at" the New Plymouth ivc. A most successful social was held in the Salvation Army Hall on Tuesday evening In farewell Cadet Annie Howell, who leaves for Melbourne 'lraiuiug Home on Thursl.ty morning. Several friends made reference to her work, and wished her all blessings in her work.

The Chairman of the Harbor Hoard must have had two eyes on Mr lloruby, of Mnnaia, on Tuesday, when lie made reference to the " Waimate Witness' " article on harbor affairs, as Mr Hornby denied that the article had been inspired by him. The tone of the comment suggested an ignorance of harbor affairs, and the writer was, he knew, a new-comer to the district.

The Woodville correspondent of the " Hawke's Bay Herald " can have the belt on application, This is his latest: One of our settlers had an ex. perieuee that gave him sonic unpleasant ideas one evening last week. He was milkiug his cows, and found that one he was at was very fidgety. Looking to sec the cause, he found that a weasel was hanging on to its lip. Xccdlesss to say, he drove the animal away, but to his surprise, it simply passed on to another cow, which it also attacked. He drove it awav again, only to sec it attack a third cow, at tlie teats this time. This seemed to the settler to be monotonous, and he killed the little brute. Law or no law, the opinion of settlers is that he was warranted in doing so, and they are inclined to think that brutes like weasels arc likely to he a worse pest than rabbits.

Quite the latest evidence iu support of the nebular hypothesis theory of the moon's origin is advanced by Professor W. H. Pickering, the American astronomer. He has long devoted himself to selenography, and is not only of the opinion that the lunar volcanoes are by no means played out, as most astronomers aver, but also believes a low form of plant life exists on the moon. His latest theory of the moon's origin, however, is <|uite daring. He has been to Hawaii to study the volcanoes there, and now announces that, were the lava formations of the Hawaiian volcanoes photographed from a balloon, they could not be distinguished from photographs of similar formations on the moon. 1 3n fact, he thinks it very probable that the moon is a chip off this part of the earth, and when it broke away from our planet it left in its place an enormous cavity, which is now the Pacific Ocean.

The romantic meeting of a father and a long-lost daughter is (he talk of Chalonssur-Marne (France). More than twenty years ago the father was a captain iu the mcrcautilo. His wife died in giving birth to a little girl. As the bereaved husband was obliged to leave immediately on a long voyage, the child was placed iu the care of a nurse, who betrayed her trust in allowing herself to be bribed by certain persons who had an interest iii the dis. appearance of the captain's only child. The baby was placed by her in the porch of a church m a distant village, ajul the captain was informed that his' Little daughter had died. The unhappy father, distracted with grief, resigned his post, entered a religious order, and became a missionary. Years passed, 'itid the baby-girl, which hud been adopted by a well-to-do childless couple, grew-up to beautiful womanhood, lhe guilty nurse was seized with a mortal illness, and confessed her evil deed on her deathbed. Certain information reached the missionary on a far-off shore, and he hurried buck to [' ranee to clasp his beloved daughter iu his arms.

• A circular road at a meeting of th > Marlborough Laud Board notified thn the Cabinet has decided to set apai r one million acres of Crown lands a * an education endowment, the basis o distribution among the several lam districts to be in proportion to th j number of children m each cducatioi , district. It is proposed to devote on - half of the revenue dei'ivod from thos. ifiidowments to primary, one quarter ti secondary, ami one quarter to tcchnica 1 education. The land is to be selectei ' from three classos, namely, blocks no ! yd placed in the market, surveyed o: I unsurvcyed, those advertised in u law guide, and those hold and oecupici i under a p istoral license. The circulai asked lhe Commissioner of Crowi 1 Lands lo recommend a reservation : The average number of children attending the primary schools in Marlborough iu lilOJ. was 1621), and the quota of laud required to be set apart in Marlborough would, theroforc, be about H.OOO aei'es, In the course ot discussion members of the Board expressed the opinion that H,0;)0 acres would not be a fair allowance for such a large total area of land as Marlborough possesses in proportion lo population, more especially as this province never had a fair share of educational endowments, The matter was deferred until the Commissioner has prepared his rei'ommendation.s. Asked if lie found any trace of gold or silver amongst the debris of the wrecked Flinganiilc, the diver said: " Absolutely none; all trace of it has disappeared. The coins were in woodeq bo*es, enclosed ii, ai| iron tank or strong room. This was situated on the starboard side, where it could catch full force of the sea. I located the spot where the lank had been, jut the lank as well as the coins

have entirely disappeared. I made a eiU'ctaf search amongst the wwkaue, out T was unable tQ discover even a single oo n to hang on my wat'di chain lhe treasure, which is worth more than i' 17,000, has evidently been swept down the shelving rock into deep water where it will remain scattered

or a I time." Although unable t< hnd the treasure the diver did not re d t,mi em pty-haudcd, In „ I)rotectei : f, Col ''. lCl ' , ot f'»e l'ort- bilge alon«ide tlu , c engine lie discovered a niimberof tools , <! «., and he has brought several o| h • lU l', l - V l|s So, ivei|irs of the c.vpedi- ,, lion, lI|C colleuljon consists of n d [l'Millicr of gauge glasses, labium ill Jl'S, hammers, and pliers, and a rubber • s U ' arlielc ,l u tl1 ': » kss are in a good _ state o preservation, ln ( t the hummei's , HUM pliers are a n t ass of i. M sl, the ~ wooden handles of the hammers hav- | ing ■ almost entirely disappeared. Most „ of the articles are also encrusted with t a cnraliiie f irination and other murine 3 Mowth, and they form a verv interests ling representation of the ruins of the ~ "f 1 Mr Ijeigli states £f. 1 tho ? ü b' portions of cargo seen by ) l '° llslsl "I a large number of coils , ol barbed wire lying in various posiI lions about the wreclf. A BOON TO DAfli V.UKX A bail has lieen pa'cnlcd liy a Tara-j Haiti firm, which is far in advance of any oilier contrivance for scriiriii" cows while being milked. II is operated torn the back of the cow, and she can be bailed up or released with the greatest ease by evcu the smallest milker. Dairymen will find these bails are not only great time-savers, but are reliable, easy to ti v , and never get out 0 repair i intact, can be Used with Mile alteration in any shed iu which old bails are at present in use. The articles supplied are pulleys, Hit or cord and ring, 1 iron bail; and I .lie cost is Only a few shillings, Messrs Kobertson and Bond, of LiardcUstrcct, New Plymouth, are the patentees and vendors. An illustrated leaflet, ami all estimates or particulars, will be provided lo enquirers free. The folio ving letter ju<| received speaks volumes : --Messrs. liobcrlsou and Bouil, New ' 1 lymoutii. Dear Sirs, —I l,aye ]ilea- ! )!) .-taling that (1)0 new cow I/alls 1 you supplied are giving every satisfac- 1 lion. I'liey arc easy to lj\, ai|d ell'ict ■' a great saving of time, 1 (irmly l,c- ; lieve il they were used continually for 1 twelve mouths they would more than ;i save their flrsl cost, I can confidently 11 recommend thcui to all dairymen. ' Wishing you every success, I am,'faith-' 1 hilly yours,—limiiitii' Onistmy, Umala 1 iui'anaki. v