The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 5.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8077, 5 April 1906, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 5.

On the application of Mr Govett, (Govett and Quilliam), probate of the will of William West, late of Tikorangi, was granted to Tom Arthur West, the executor named in the will. Mr Farrar, manager of the Old People's Home, wishes to thank the Westown Church for donation of fruit and vegetables, and also Mr Bewick or a donation of apples. ".Vogoltown! Yes, it has its 'bus service,, its waterservice, and it is going to have electric light, and then it'll get the people," said a prominent resident from that suburb yesterday. " What about electric trams," suggested a bystander.

The Olympia Skating Rink, that was so popular and successful in New Plymouth last winter, will re-open on Friday evening in the Drill Hall, under the same capable management. At present nearly all the interior arrangements, for dropsing-roonis, etc., are completed. At the Whitley Hall this evening a farewell social will be tendorcd to Eev. J. N. and Mrs Buttle, who are leaving to-morrow morning for Mastcrton. The social is arranged by the Whilchjy Church congregation, who extend a hearty invitation to all friends who are desirous of being present.

The author of "The Yellow Peril aud White Monstrosity" was brought before Messrs McDonald and Head, Js.P., at Marton, and committed to Porirua asylum. He had been parading Marton strcots, barefooted, like a pilgrim of old, and ringing a bell to call public attention to his tale of the evils of the alien. A friendly constablo arrested his career before he had an opportunity of rivalling Terry.—Taihape " Post'" Wellington has established a record for itself in the number of plaints heard at the Magistrate's Court in the quarter just concluded. The tally runs to 1615, representing £20,803 Is Id, of which a sum of £10,546 was recovered. The civil fees amounted to £BBB 7s, and the criminal fees and lines to £355 16s. The distress wafrants numbered 99, judgment summonses 12p (on which 31 orders wore made), writs of arrest 5, and warrants for committal 6. Regarding the Woilington-Mnnawa, tu Eailway, Mr G. M. Kebbell writes: —I am a shareholder who would like the Government to get the railway, provided I get a good price for my shares. The Premier at Levin mentioned a time when they would take it. Now, the directors may choose to renew the whole of the debentures beforo they become due, and tie up the railway and uncalled capital for another twenty-one years—in which case there would be trouble. It may answer the Government to hasten up a little, and pay that ten per cent, which they are trying to avoid. It is satisfactory to know that the voracious dogfish is now a recognised item in the Baitish fish market, and the erstwhile terror of the fishermen lias become a source of profit. But its name has been found to cause prejudice, and some months ago Mr Murdouk, Plymouth, manager to Messrs Powell and Hough, of Liverpool, offered a prize of a guinea to whoever should devise the best name to be applied to the fish as a substitute. A good committee of reference was appointed, and many names—mostly unsuitable—wero sent in. Among those available, the "Hake" was selected as the bost, and as the tiake the "dog" will henceforth be known to commerce. The name is a good description, as the fish is flaky aud friable.

A Wnibito man, like Mark Twain, seems to have found it necessary to protest that a report of his death was •' an exaggeration." At any rate the paper concerned explains : "We are «lad to state that tlie news of Mr —■ 's death, published in our yesterday's issue, [was incorrect. The news was received by us through a private wire, too late, however, for us to get confirmation from our Cambridge representative, but wc made enquiries locally, and received couiifmnlion from two sources. Wc aro pleased to be able to make this correction, and trust that in a very short time Mr will be well enough |to appreciate his unique position, and the grim humor of being able to read his own obituary notice."

Three local gentlemen, including a racehorse owner, says the Ashburton " Guardian,'" wore proceeding to a recent clearing [sale by means of a motor car All went merrily until nearing their destination, when, on approaching a water raco, the driver of the car desired to apply the brake. Then it was found that something had gone Iwrong, and the gear would not act. The car dashed through the racej and with unslackened speed bore down upon a gateway. The driver admitted that it was impossible to pull up, and in tho midst of the dilemma the racing man shouted—" Give her her head then, she'll take it." And the car did, making matchwood of the gate', although the onslaught gave the occupants a jolt they still remember.

A gruesome picture of an Afnoun jujii Louse is given by a correspondent iu the " Daily Grapliic." On an appointed day the chiefs of Bonny and Opobo, in Southern Nigeria, who have some sort of control over the Andoni tribe, were called together and informed by the British Kesident that cannibalism must be put a stop to. After much hesitation the principal chief led the way to the centre of the village. The juju house was literally covered with human skulls, even the gable ends of the verandah posts bearing these horrible trophies. Some were comparatively fresh, clearly showing that human sacrifices were still practised. In all upwards of two thousand were counted. The order was given to bum the bouse, but no native dared execute the demand, so thai at last the British Resident himself set fire to the chamber of horrors. Among the articles which perished was an historical drain, fashioned entirely out of human skin, and only beaten at the moment nhen the executioner struck off the head of some hapless victim.

J Mr F. W. Payn-Bickley, Kent, tells the following curious dream story in the " Daily Mail":—Some time ago I hail some shooting near Moray Firth, in Scotland, and stayed at a farmhouse on the edge of the cliffs. Several hundred feet bcW there are certain rocks away in the (irth called "The King's Sons " Several persons who were pre sent in the house at the time can vouch for the following facts. One night I here was a tremendous gale, and in Ihe morning the farmer's wife stated nt breakfast that she dreamt she heard a knock at the front door, and on going to the window saw five men outside. She opened the window and asked them what they wanted, when they replied that they were ship-wrecked sailors ami wanted shelter. She then told them lo go round to the groove's (farm bailiff's) cottage, and if he behoved their story he would take them in. She told the story in the most circumstantial way Shortly afterwards live bodies were washed ashore, and it was found Hint n small barque with n crew of live men had been driven by the storm on to " The King's Suns," and that all the crew had perished.