LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8070, 28 March 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Telegraph office will be opened outside the New Plymouth racecourse on Thursday 2!)lh, and Friday 30th inst. Hours of attendance 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The liarawa was detained at Oneluinga yesterday by the south-easl gale. The local agent, Mr Webster expects that she will arrive at New Plymouth to-day, in time to connect, a> u-mal, with the express train Iron South.

The Education .Department has sent to the Taranaki Education Hoard a model desk. It lias few recommendations. In the first plain- it is cvideiitally built for wee urchins, and not for the sturdy "child slaves „f Taranaki." It is long enough for one scholar, nut long enough to accommodate two, and would cramp the legs of the unfortunate, little chap using it. The Taranaki Education Board's new desk appears to lie a far superior one. The model forwarded by tip- Department has a level seat, as against the Hoard's hollowed scat, and just where the pupils body touches tlic scat, or where the seal should touch him, appears a brass hinge, to ad.l to the excruciating agonies of Latin and Greek instruct ion. The redeeming feature is the comfort of the hack of the scat.

.Men who shave themselves should lie in ting r|iialilies o[ the "Kiwi" razors. Have an even temper, extraordinary keenness of edge, do not vibrate, when cutting into an extraordinary heavy beard, and give yon a clean, luxurious shave, even if you' have the touchiest skin, Make, me prove these statements, 1 will change your razor as soften as yon like "until you are satisfied KIWI is the name, (jet it at J. Avery s the place for men's sundry needs, Deven street.— Aavi

lu this, the last week of the financial year, the Mayor announced at last Monday's me tiu;, there is a credit of £215 2s to the general account of the Borough of New Plymouth, and £I!IS7 Is 3d to the credit of the loan account. " With all due reference to the papers, aud ill wo have hoard from those who havo triod to create a disturbance in tho town," he said, "wo still have a credit, and I suppose all our accouuls are paid."

It is alleged by W. Glenn, one of tho New Zealand football team, that the nervousness of Thomson probably prevented the King from shaking hands with each of the half-dozen members of the team at the Agricultural Show. " His Majesty shook hands with Tyler," so Glonn told a Sydney reporter, " and would uo doubt have extended the courtesy to tlie remainder of the halfdozen had it not been for the fact that Thomson, who was next to Tyler, got into such a funk that he would not put out his hand," It is the intention of the HuddartParker Company, says the General Managor (Mr W. T. Appleton), to order a new steamer for the Cook Strait—that is, the intercolonial service. The Wimmera will then be placed in the Northern running with the Victoria, and, if necessary, the Zealandia will also be employed. Mr Appleton has consulted with those concerned about tho expected Exhibition traffic, and, in conjunction with the Union Company, the extra requirements will be met As far as practicable.

At a public meeting held at Tauinarunui last week, speakers expressed the view that timber-ruftiiigon the Wauganui river was practicable. Both Maoris and Europeans addressed the meeting. The heavy Freights upon Taumarunui 'timber, aud the expense of reaching the Auckland market, were fully discussed, and it was agreed that the rafting of sawn timber down the Wangnnui river tji Wauganui reached | the best market available until such I time as the through railway to Wellington was open.

That spraying potatoes with the Bordeaux mixture recommended by the Government Pomologist has been the mesus of saving many crops of potatoes is well known ; but in Taramiki the trouble farmers have experienced is in getting the solution to adbero to the plants. The rain, so common to the province, washes every vestige of the mixture away in quick time. If the farmers had to spray after every shower .of rain they would have a pretty tough contract, and one hardly worth while. One farmer at Oinata has hit upon an effective way of overcoming the difficulty. In the solution he adds a quantity of brown sugar or treacle, which makes fhe solution adhere to the leaves. This particular parly has been very successful tin's past season. He declares that had he not used the sugar ho would have been no better off with his potatoes than the rest of the farmers.

A romantic termination to the ceremonies attendant on the unveiling of the monument erected to tho memory of the late chief Te Keepa, at Whakiircwarcwa, took place when the Maoris who had assembled to participate in the ceremonies commenced to Alike preparations for their departure. ■lt appears (siys tlio New Zealand "Herald") that when the lato ehict died, a niece of the chief Paparui, of Taupo, had been lixe.l upon as a wife for Keepa, son of the late chief. Keepa, however, had not claimed her so far, and had not, up to the hour of the departure of the visitors from Taupo, gave indication that he intended to do so. Just as everything was in readiness for the paoplS to make a more homewards, however, Keepa came forward and claimed Ani Patene, to the surprise of everybody, and insisted on her taking up her abode with him at Whakarewarewa. Her people were lot'i to part with her, but after congratulations had been exchanged, the happy couple were left rejoicing.

An amusing incident occurred tit Wliakarewarewa during the recent ceremony of unveiling a monument to a departed Maori chief in that district. The Maori women were cooking food in one of the boiling pools when suddenly tho pool developed geyser action, and up went kits of potatoes, puddings, etc., into the air. Among the walimcs there was a general scramble, and the whole of the food was eventually secured, not much the worse for its aerial ilight. It appears that this pool has on several occasions developed geyser action, which is attributed to the oily substance coining from the articles placed therein for cooking purposes flouting on the surface and having a similar effect to the soap when applied to the Wairoa geyser. On one occasion when the wahines were engaged washing clothes, and had put them into the boiling pool, it became active, and erupted, with the result that the clothes were first of all sent into the air, and as they fell into the pool, disappeared, never to be seen again.

A Melbourne syndicate has completed arrangements for securing the skating rink in Armagh-street, Christchurch, and fitting it up with sets of bedrooms for accommodation of visitors during the Exhibition, says the Lyteltou " Times." it will supply sleeping accommodation only, and it is expected that the scheme of alterations in the building will enable it to hold about 100 beds. One hotelkeeper admitted that he had already booked his available accommodation for the first few weeks of the Exhibition at " full" rates, but others are declining to quote prices for accommodation, or, if they arc prepared to quote, are dcmandiug]a guarantee of at least feu days' stay. But many of the more important is(abtishuients are hanging back altogether, waiting for developments. is |an instance of this, the Inveivargill j Municipal Garrison Baud recently wrote to no fewer than four hotclkeepcrs in Christchurch, with a view to obtaining accommodation duriug the week of tlie Exhibition baud conttest ftud in each case [} ie rc ply was to he effect that rooms were not yet being let for Exhibition time. In despair the baud lias had to appeal to tho Exhibition Commissioners to lenow if I there is any method of reserving accommodation.

Mr Justice Cooper bus delivered his reserved judgment in the matter of the application for a new trial in tiic case of tlie Governors of Nelson College against Savage and Son, contractors, moved by the Governors. The ease, it will he remembered, arose out of the destruction by lire of Nelson College during a lime when Savage and Son were rc-p. inting it, and allegation was made that the lire was caused through the use of a lamp (to burn off paint) by servants of Savago and Son. Tt was asked by plaintiffs (in the event of the motion for a new trial being refused, that nil order for payment of bis damages bo made. His Honor's judgment refuses the new trial, liu(. gives judgment for the phiintiff for Ids with cost? of the action on the Unrest scale, necessary disbursements, and expenses of all witnesses who gave evidence concerning the use of the bun]) upon the building and corcerning the breach of contract by defendants. Plaintiffs were also allowed one hll'-a day extra (£7 17s lid) ami £8 Sh. for second counsel, and a cerlilicatc was granted under Rule o2t. Tn respect of tile issue upon which the <\\\- lendanls succeeded they wo.rc allowecj one day and a half at £l*j 15s per day, No costs to cither parly were allowed on tile latest motion.

A "cleaner," for general hotsehohl use, is " llyilr.dcin " soap, the " King of t'lcancr.s." I "sod ill warm or coht water, economical, saves rubbing, and hard work, costs only :!M at T. W. Wni.cn's. Hroiighani street. N.P.— Amr-

For reliable boots and shoes ol all sorts at bedrock prices go to Pockrill's. Devon Street Central, who has earned (he reputation for (he last 25 years of soiling tho above class of boots at tho lowest prices. Postal orders always receive extra attention, as I guarantee to give eyory satisfaction iu tit and stvle,—A dvt,

The Mclbournc-Brindisi despatch of mails of February 21st arrived in London on the 23rd inst.

During the past year nearly a thousand new estates were placed under the management of the Public Trust Ollicc, and 459 wills were deposited, naming tho Public Trusleo as executor. Tho Egmont Lodge, 1.0. G.T., held a very successful opon meeting in the Queen-street Hall on Monday evening, about sixty members and friends being present. Instrumental items were rendered by Messrs Deare, Salt, Golding, and Hosking, solos by Misses Connctt, Loesch, and Buckmann, and recitations by Misses Jean and Colo and Mr Stokes. Refreshments were handed round, and a very enjoyable evening was spent.

In order to ensure always having plenty of surplus water power available, the Hawcra Electric Lighting Company have decided to erect a large weir over the Waionongoro Bivcr near the power house. The weir will dam the river, for. a distance of a mile, ten foot deep. Work was commenced about a week ago, but the fresh in the river i n. Saturday carried away a considerable portion of the completed earthwork.

On a guess, we should say that Ihe recent storm marked the dividing line between seasonable aud unseasonable weather, and it is high time to renew what Carlyle would call your interthatching of the Hecce of sheep and the bark of vegetables. As an example of what can be done with these crude but ductile commodities, the Melbourne Clothing Company are showing men's merino shirts and pants at Is lid, llannel unders at 2s 3d, and fine wmtorweight all-wool shirts and punts at 3s lid and is (id.—Advt.

The fact that the schooners Konga and Joseph Sims are waiting for men at Lyttleton to complete their crews leads a Christchnrch paper to remark that there seems to be a general shortage of sailor men in New Zealand ports at present. Captain Smith, Gjvernmcnt Shipping Master, was approached recently as to the con dition of things in Wellington. As far as steamers are concerned no diffi culty is experienced in getting men, but the higher wages ruling on this class of vessol mako it somewhat dillicult to get men for sailing ships. The demand for the berths on sailcrg is probably less now than it has been for some time past.. " I call it a meeting behind the door," said Cr. Monteath on Monday night, in speaking of the caucus of Borough Councillors bold on Friday night last to talk over Borough retrenchment matters. " Your Worship said that if any Councillor objected to the meeting being held, you would not hold it. I objected, but the meeting was held. I don't kir w who was there, or what was done; nor do I care. But I was not told that tlie meeting was to be held." The Mayor said ho distinctly remembered asking if there were any Councillors who objected to tho holding of the meeting, and added that he was not at all anxious for it. No one answered, so the meeting was held. It proved entirely abortive.

A correspondent, discussing the question of " dear fruit and blackbirds," writes to an exchange:—" From the number of enquiries as to how I manago to catch oOOblackbirds and thrushes in a single season, it would appear that a largo number are interested in the destruction of these voracious fruiteating birds. My plan has been to trap them by five kinds of rat traps, baited with cherries from my wirenetted cherry orchard, an additional inducement to catch tho birds being tho great relish they afford to my largo lizards and trout, when the feathers of tho birds are singed off. The beneficial effect of a blackbird diet for invalids, especially when the birds nro lirintr on a fruit diet, has been forcibly brought to my notice, and done more yood than medicines. If the public generally were alive to the toothsome delicacy of blackbird pic and its health-restoring qualities, we should have less complaints about these fruit destroyers and dear fruit."

Reviewing Mr Turkman Gray's '■ History of English Philanthropy," the "Lancet" savs : —it wnuld lie, scarcely possible to name a form of charity, either actual or projected, among ourselves, of which at least the nucleus may not bej discovered in the past, or us to which some information of value will not reward the patient, enquirer into history. From the commencement to the close of Mr Gray's enquiries, want of employment appears as the most constant explanation of the poverty which has required the help of the charitable ; and the causes of the .want do not vary much in successive generations. , . . The unemployed poor are roughly divisible into two great bodies, for which totally different treatment is required. There are the helpless victims of a diminution in the demand for the only industry which they have learned to practise, and there are the systematic idlers whom nobody will employ except in times of pressure. The great object of the former {flit is is, er should be, to remain where they are known, and where their characters will help them ; the great object of the latter is to soelc alms whore they are unknown, and where their record will not tend to their disadvantage. . As for the wastrels, the men who want wages without work, the only plan for dealing with them is the penal labor colony. Compulsory work for those who will not work voluntarily, together with separation of tho soxes, might afford a possible solution of thc-problem presented by the unemployable, but the difficulties in organising such a scheme would bj very great in this country, and could only be overcome if a strong social party were convinced of its practical and moral merits.

A visit to Cheviot was made last week by Mr J. L Dow, agricultural editor of the Melbourne " Leader," and he has given some of his impressions to a South Island journalist. He was surprised, he said, to find that most of the settlers were satisfied with the leasehold principle. Settlers in Victoria would not consider the leasehold. They would have nothing but the freehold. The Victorian settlement scheme, l\e explained, was grafted on to the credit foneier system ; a settler made thirty-one half-yearly payments, which included both interest and principal, and in sixteen years the laud was his. At present a settler had to pay the first instalment in advance. He had to pay three years' instalments before his land began to produce, and this was a heavy strain upon him. It was proposed to introduce legislation to allow him three years' grace before he made any payments. In that way he would be greatly relieved, and lf'a poor man would be given a real advantage. The trouble in connection with introducing the leasehold system in Victoria lay in the faci that the Labour party there was extreme in its views. It talked loudlv of Socialism, an I that kind of thin;,'. All hough il probably did mil mean half what it said, il crcaled much uneasiness,'which amounted almosl to u " scire," and gave rise to a feeling of uncertainty. New Zealand legislators were reasonable, and did not go to extremes. The result was that the Parliament and the Gorernm'ent enjoyed a public confidence that was seldom seen in political life. . . He believed that the value of NewZealand's hind system would he enhanced by applying "l c improvement wlpch jt was'proposed to make in Victoria, and whjch he had sketched. On the other hand, Victoria would vpry much like 10 have New Zealand's power of compulsory purchase.

COMPLETELY CLUED AITKR NINETEEN VKAIIS.

After nineteen years suilering Irom rheumatism, Hiuxuo brought relief to Mr Chas. Dowse!t, the well-known chimney-sweep, ol 51 Murphy-street, Wellington, vllem) what Mr Domett writes: —:'Ttlpinlf you very much, fop the use of liniirwo. 1 have tisod nearly everything ill c.\isliin; J .o for I'hcu, ii'atics, but found no relief till I used your Itutnimn, After nineteen years suffering it is u grout; comfort to bo free from pain." Give HitEi'MO a, fair trial, and it will cure you as it cured Mr Powscfl. Your grocer or chemist sells it at is lid, atid. h (id ti bottle,

[ A Eur boa and two keys await owners |«t the Polio* Station.

Snow w»s lying to a depth of four inches at the Alountain House after Llie heavy fall on Tueßilay jnoruing.

The plans for the New Plymouth Technical School are now complete, and tenders for the erection of the building are to be called. Prior to leaving Hawora, the Eev. Father Bowe was presented with an illuminated address by the Hawera, Manaia, and Ukaiawa congregations. . Mr Johnston, of Dannevirke, has been appointed manager of the Opunake Dairy Factory. The New Plymouth Borough Council's late sitting on Monday was eclipsed by the Hawer i body of that ilk, as they sat until after 11.30 p.m. Captain MaHiu Petersen, who was

was drowned at Patea the other day, had been a member of the Druids for 22 years, aad his widow will receive .6120. The moral is plain.

"We*iv'(jot to get our living from the land. There's no alternative. You may talk about your oil and your ironsand as you like, "—Mr Wade at the Education Board meeting last night.

Members of Friendly Societies in New Plymouth are reminded of the arrangements mad* for them to join in the torchlight procession to-night, prior to the opening of the Garrison Band Bazaar.

The Taranaki Education Board has received intimation that a grant has been made for a new school at Mangapapa, on the Paemako-Mangaroa road. This will relieve the Matiore School of several of its pupils, and obviate the necessity for the enlargement asked for by the Matierc Committee.

To-night will open one of the biggest bazaars ever held in this district. Tho promoters we the Taranaki Garrison Baud, and Mr Newton Allen is secretary to the committee. Arrangements hare been made with a view to securing a very large addition to the band funds. Tho novelties, competitions, land spcctuclar effects all promise to be I of unusual interest and merit.

The Taranuki Education Board's Chief Inspector, when in Wanganui, made enquiries with regard to the proposal to appoint woodwork nnd cookery instructors for the Taranaki Education District and the northern part of the Wanganui district. It has now been practically decided that Mr Clark, woodwork instructor under theTaranaki Board, will he appointed to cover this joint district, and a cookery instructor is to bo appointed. It is expected those arrangements 'will bo ratified by the Wanganui Board at its next meeting.

A good itory is going tho round about Mr Picrpont Morgan. For three consecutive days the great financier carried an empty birdcigc ( in his hand to and from his office. On the third day ouo of his junior managers ventured to ask why lie carried that apparently useless article. "To see," replied Pierpont Morgan," if anyone would hare the impudence to ask me why I did so," " I bog your pardon," began the inquirer. " I——" " You needn't do that," said the chief, grimly smiling; "I had abet with a man that 1 had at least oue employee with some curiosity. I've won the money; but in future don't ask questions about things that don't concern you."

In giving evideneo before the Shipping/3ervice Commission at Melbourne, Mr Francis Keep, a hardwaro merchant, and a prominent momber of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce, was asked his opinion of the Commonwealth running a steamship service of its own. His reply was short and to the point: " I cannot eee how it is possible for such «, line to be commercially successful. The ships would I cost more to build, more lo man and manage. They could not be laid up in times of bad trade. The line would have to be run at a loss at limes, and it could not, for political reasons, make it up by increased charges. The Government cannot make a profit oul of the necessities of its own people."

"If 1 find ii number of stray horses or cows on my place, I was always of opinion that I can impound them on my place. But I can't. I have to drive them right away to the nearest pound," was a remark mado by the Chairman of the Education Board on Tuesday night. Several members appeared to doubt the accuracy of Mr Wade's legal dictum, but he cited the case of the Whangamomona School Committee, who had found they had no right to sue for trespass the owner of a number of horses in the school playground, but were rather open to an action for damages for the detention, or attempted detention, of the bei.sts whose owner they had sought to penalise.

For toilet sundries, and little necessaries for the toilet table, you cannot do better than inspect tho show windows of the Arcadia Saloon, opposite the Coffee Palaeo. All tho goods arc so low in price you wonder how they can be " quality " at the prico. You can prico any article yourself.—Advi.

Star and Tukapa footballors will find tho right kinds of jerseys at the Melbourne. These are made of strongly-spun colonial yarn with strapped shoulder? and laced fronts, a iid arc warranted to stand any . v mount of hard pulling. Pricos 6s lid, 7s 6d. --Advt.