LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8056, 26 February 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A man named John James, employed at tlie harbor, was badly bitten in the face on Saturday by a dog. At a recent meeting in New Plymouth : —" Come on, Mr , you're a good-looking fellow." " I'm sorry I can't return the compliment," came the retort, which caused great merriment, Mr Jacob liolhery, a well-known Eaholu farmer lost ten valuable Jersey calves a fortnight ago, death supervening on inoculation for blackleg. Captain ioimg, Government Vctinarian, made an investigation afterwards. The annual prize-giving in connection with the South Road Methodist Sunday-school w.is held on Friday eieuing, Almost the whole of the children w ere given prizes. A musical programme was gone through, and an exceedingly pleasant evening was spent. Mr J, Taylor, of Toko, whilst returning homewards from Stratford on Friday night was thrown from his trap, his horse shying at a mob of sheep. Drs. Carbery and Paget attended, and found the patient had sustained concussion of the brain. On Saturday he was progressing favorably. At the B.ieou Company's meeting on Saturday, Mr Colson suggested thai the factory should be closed for a year, but llrst I lie property should be secured to ihe farmers, so that if private syndicates at any time fried to " bear' the market and bring down prices, the farmers could re-open lheir co-operative concern. A sort of bogie lo frighten big boys with. Punlers who followed the tips of Moturoa," our sporting writer, in the Woodville anil Dunediii races must have added considerably to their revenue. Between New Plymouth and Wanganui who follow bis tips at every meeting, and if they adhered lo this practice in the meeting's above referred to, they struck 23 dividends in the 21 Dunedin events, and 18 in the lfi starts at Woodville. This is rather a remarkable record. On Saturday afternoon a young man li'oiii Omaia, driving willi a lady in a gig from New Plymouth, had a t'c.v minutes', lively experience near Ihe South-road cricket, field. The horse boiled, but'was checked by the management of the driver. Then the brute kicked pieces out-of the front of the trap, and fell liadly on the side of the road, no furl her damage resulted. The young lady, be it said, behaved in a plucky and stoical fashion throughout. A gentleman from Victoria who i* "doing" New Zealand was in New Plymouth on Saturday, ami after a visit to the Recreation Grounds expressed the opinion that the gardens compared more than favorably with anything he had seen in bis travels. '' T he wealth of native beauty contained ill the New Plymouth Recreation (■rounds is such as may but seldom be seen, and would charm (he most travelled of globe-trotters,' remarked the Victorian. During the lust eleven days, Messrs Gilmour and Pattie have sold the following properties Mrs Goodman's house and qunrter-acrc at Fitzroy, Mr Mcrriman's section and dwelliug, Mr Smith's section at Westown, Mr Basket's section and house in Lemon-street, Mr Thompson's SI acres to Sir Featherstone, Mr Thomson's farm of 101 acres to Mr Hodgson, four cottages and seclions in (lie estate of the laic Mr Tlico. White, Mr Jlruces's farm of lot) acres, a section in the Straiidou estate, and n residence aud section in Courtneystreet,

The potato disease lias spread very rapidly in the South Island, from Christchurch southward, the recent weather—-moist and fairly warm—being especially favourable to ils propagation, there was an outbreak of the disease in the ,South at this time hist year. Two olfi'Mals of Hie Biological Department are giving demonstration!! of spraying 111 the South Island, and in Auckland a great deal of spraying has been done. One ot the Department's olliccrs has been tor some time engaged ill giving instructions and demonstrations to the natives in the North. A remarkable sight can lie seen in a well at Haniner Springs, on a section leased by Mr -IW-'fflblter (reports the LyttSlFou "Times") The well, which is about 10ft deep, was lilled lo overflowing by the recent heavy rains, and, on the water subsidsng, thai remaining having the appearance of boiling furiously, although (jiiile cold, The sound occasioned by it resembled that of a small engine, The phenomenon i< no doubl due io tin l presene.' of natural gas, such as is »ive:i oil' by Iho hot springs in the spa ground". The gas has secured an outlet in the well, and should the supply be permanent will no doubl prove very useful. The Government spa is lit by nieaiisofnalur.il gas from the springs. It is reassuring to hear thai New Zealand is now at peace with all nations, although spoiling for light. The following is an e\tr,icl from the address presented lo Ihe Governor by the Sinilford Borough Council : —My the ruling of Divine Providence our country is now happily at peace with all nations, and the opportunity oiii-e afforded us of furnishing practical proof of our loyally is no longer ours, but we can assure your Excellency thai whenever the call lo arms is sounded. Stratford's sons will again be found ready and eager to journey to (he lui'tliermost parts of the earth, and lo bear their part shoulder to shoulder with Iho sons of the Molherhiud," Ml®IT JtEWAJtputJ in LOUKT OK .71',STICK* The acknowledged good qualities and success of Sandhu and Sons' Euoawjti XTItAC'P have brought out many imitations, and one case was just tried'in llie Supreme Court ot Victoria, before his Honor Chief Justice Sir J, Madden, KC M.G., etc. ' ' His honor, in giving judgment, said that whenever an article is commended i • llie public by reason o[ its good quality, etc., it is not purniisslvo lo ii'iiitato any of its features. Restraining Iho imitators perpetually from doing so, he ordered them to pay all osts. We publi h this lo afford the people an opportunity of protecting themselves, and of securing what is proved beyond all doubt by skilled witnesses at, the Supreme Court of Victoria, and hy many authorities during llie last )!l years to he a preparation of genuine merit, viz. Tub Genuine Sandkk & Sons IVKE VoIiATJtK EtJCALYrn Extuact.

To-ilay is the last day oil which discount will lie ill lowed by the ( Ins Com]).iny on current accounts. •1. A. Johnson, headmaster of the Tiuiaru School. Inis been :i|i]iointed principal of Ihc Trainin K Oolh-c at Holiart, al .Comta vcar.

The Hawern ''Star" says: - The considerable mortality among calves lately inoculated, which last week was brought under the notice flu* .Minister for Agriculture, and evoked very strong complaints during discussion at the meeting of the Fanners' I'uiun provincial executive, his been further ventilated this week. On points of detail there have been various contradictory statements, but on the main point there is no dispute. Enormous losses have been sustained, and there are strong reasons for attributing them to the ipiality of the vaccine used. It is really a serious matter and should at once form the subject of the strictest investigation. .lust now farmers cannot afford losses, anil the Agricultural Department cannot afford to lose the confidence of the farming community. The incident is most unfortunate from every point of view.

The prohibiting of the rafting of sawn timber oil the Wanganui aud Ongarue Rivers has led to a petition to Mr W. T. Jennings, M.lf.R., being circulated amongst the residents of Tauniarunui and surrounding districts, who claim that the sawmilling industry is likely to be very seriously affected by the recent decision of the authorities. It is pointed out by the petitioners that until tin, Alain Trunk line is completed to Wellington, the only way of reaching the latter market (if the river rafting is not allowed) will be by railing to Auckland, a distance of some 200 miles, and then back South by sea. It is claimed that the method adopted in conveying timber down the rivers is not attended by risk to life or property, the so-called rafts being built on the principle of barges or punts, and being as much under control as a boatr propelled by oars. The object of the petition, which has received over 301) signatures, is to have the facts brought under the notice of the Government, with a view to redress.

James Ilulberl, aged 21, son of an ex-Mayor of Christehurch, when in ICngland four years ago, enlisted in the lith l uniskilling Dragoons, with whom lie served three years, though he did no active service, and was then placed on the reserve list. Subsequently he came to New Zealand aiul became an employee of the Postal Department here. The regulations provide that the term of reserve, eight years, must be served in some part of the British Empire where a British garrison is stationed. There is no garrison stationed in this colony, and Jtulbert has received notice to report himself in Loudon. If the order is insisted ou, Hulbci't must throw up his position here, ami, not being m affluent circumstances, work his passage Home and risk the chance of employe liu London. Steps are being taken to urge the Premier to communicate with the High Commissioner in order to ascertain if the reserve service could not be put in in the colony.