The Daily News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8053, 22 February 1906, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Brisbane advises that Si. Lueia, St, Yincent and Grenada cables are interrupted. Telegrams fur SI. Vincent and Barbadoes are being sent by | sailing vessels or steamers as often as I possible without increase in charge. Mrs Webb, teacher in charge of the i Upper Kent-road, has resigned as from the end of March, and Miss Cross has resigned from the Tataraimaka School. It is" understood that an olficial investigation, by prominent officers of the Veterinary Department, is lo be held on various farms in the province witli--lin a few days, into the blackleg mortality. Up lo a late hour on Wednesday night, no further word had reached the police concerning the two young men Robert Smith, of I'renin, and Frank Warner, of Patea, missing from Mokau. On Sunday they went into the bush on a pig hunting expedition, and up till last night they had not since been heard of, although several search parties had been out. A man named Donald Hainiiion was admitted to the New Plymouth hospital at midnight on Wednesday, from Uruti, suffering from a severe kick in the groin, received by being run over by a cow. The accident oecured in the evening, the sufferer being subsequently driven 31 miles into town. Though painful the injury is not expected to prove serious.

The members of the local police force have been interesting themselves iu establishing a class to learn the Maori language, and have been successful iu enrolling a large number of intending pupils, and also securing the services of competent teachers. The latter, we understand, are Mr Thomson, of the Maori Hostelry, and Constable Woods, both well-known interpreters. The idea is a lirst c!ass one and deserves lo succeed. The prominence given by the " News" to tho excessive mortality amongst calves after inoculation for blackleg, lias evidently been appreciated by farmers, quite a number of whom have called on us to express their thanks, and corroborate our views. The Education Board has accepted Messrs Irvine and Henry's tender of £1215 for alterations and additions to the headmaster's residence at Stratford. The other lenders were Messrs A. J. Davey, £121) IDs; N J. King £ll2 ; Brown aud For'jcs Cll2 10s. If is fifteen years since the New Plymouth Borough valuations have been disputed iu the Assessment Court. The time his now arrived for consideration of the new Borough valuation, which, as revised at the 15th mst. by the Town Clerk, is £5 l, UI 1, an increase in the annual value of £3S t over last year. This represents an increase of £II,OBO in the capital, made up entirely of new buildings aud improvements effected jluriug the last year.

Ernest Chitly, a blind student at the Aucklaud l T niversi y College, has received intimation that he has pissed tlie linal for the B.A. examination. Chitty has -been studying at the University for three years, and he is quite blind, but has a remarkable faculty for remembrance, lie got through all Ihe examinations without a failure, which is considered a remarkable record, as he took mathematics, general and constitutional history, political economy, mental science, and jurisprudence. Students read to him, and in his examination he dictated the answers to a typist. One of Ihe prettiest—many are sure it was the pre!liest—poster costumes at the Garden Party yesterday was that worn bv little Miss liila Whittle. This wee mite was dres-ol in the heighl of fashion, with a dainty hut cnquetlishly placed on the side of her head. Streamers denoted that her mission was to advertise Jlerh.'rls •• Up-to-Dale" drapery and millinery establishment, and this it did in no mean manner, the little lady carrying herself with charming self-eonlidence and childish enjoyment intermingled* It is apparently necessary—it should not be—for us to state that in giving his evidence in the prosecution against bookmakers for betting on the New Plymouth Racecourse Reserve, Mr John John Skinner was acting instructions from the Taranaki Jockey Club, and his evidence was of au expert nature that could only be given by a tiuahfied engineer, namely, that the men engaged iu betting were acutally on the reserve. Acting on his instructions, Mr Skinner had pegged oil' Ihe boundaries of the reserve, and was thus able to give positive evidence. Investigating the statement that appeared in Ibis paper on Tuesday, to the elleci that at least one lot uf blackleg vaccine had been withdrawn by the Department alter it had been found to be putrid, a " Stratford l.'ost " representative waited on a prominent ollieial ol the Stock Department, who expressed his unwillingness to give much information. He said, however, that though a quantity of vaccine had been withdrawn, so far as he knew the statement I hat a veterinary surgeon had found putrid vaccine iu nse was incorrect

When the remaining butting eases, against Campbell ami Fahcy eaiue on before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., at (lie New Plymouth Magistrate's Court 011 Wednesday morning, Mr Quilliain, for the prosecution, slated that lie had rceeived a telephonic coninmnication from Mr Spence, solicitor for the accused bookmakers,■ to the effect that they would not eall evidence hut would sub- . mil lo the judgment of Ihe Oourl. The ■. offence, betting on a public reserve f within the borough of IS'ew Plymouth, i wis then proved, 011 the evidence of Mr t John Skinner. Each of the defendants | was lined £2, and ordered to pay solidf tors' costs Jtl Us (id, court fees S», and 1 witness' expenses as. When judg--1 meat had been given, Mr 4Jitilliiiin i stated that in these cases he had not t pressed for heavy penalties, but would I be instructed to do so in any future 1' offence, ihe maximum penalty fori which was a tine of i'2ll. The Magis- ■ trale said that, of course, a repetition ,• ot the offence would lie treated 111 no such lenient manner, ami the lines imposed would be heavy.

On "Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock a new gevser broke out just below the shelter sheds at Wainiangu, There , were I ;ur shots with an interval of about a second between. Water and Mark sand were sent about Itvo hundred feet above the shelter shed. The geyser is now playing continuously, and I lie volume of water and mud is increasing 111 height and width. The shots have gone up lully eight hundred feet. Numerous spectators have telephoned to say the sight is a magnificent one. The caretaker at Waimangu noticed activity for the pasl three days, and informed tourists luoday lhal he had a presentiment there was going to bean eruption. The breaking out of the new gevser caused some excitement at Holuroa.

What a great fund of amuseinenl, interest and service a good sewing machine provides! Anyone who has visited the classes lor teaching art needle work at (lie (singer Sewing Machine would appreciate this. Thirty year* seems long life indeed for a machine, imf this is (lie lifeol a Singer. I'.very day the cost is being repaid by ihc service and use a careful housewife ean put it too, (leiieral, and useful sewing, dainty articles for draping and ornamentation, or the most beautiful and elegant work of art, are equally simple on this world-famed Singer Sewing Machine. An open invitation is given to Singer users and ladies who sew to lake instructions in lie useful art of machine sewing. licadcrs have but to see the pleasing work done 011 the Singer tu at once feel the desire lo attain Hie knowledge necessary to do Hurt such u» this,—Am.