LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8085, 16 April 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The principal public attractions for holiday makers to-day arc the Star Sports at New Plymouth, the Patea Races and the Bowling Tournament at Hawcra. Mallard ducks arc fairly plentiful in the Turanaki province. The other afternoon a flight of close on 100 were observed on a poud in the Hawcra district. Fanners in South Tarauaki arc complaining of the cold wintry weather of the last mouth. Feed is very scant, and there is little indication that there will be any growth for winter grass. This means that the winter will be a long one, and stock will have to be fed for about two months longer than was the case last year.

"doing, going, gone!" shouted the auctioneer, and a mob of calves had changed hands at Is 6d a head. This transaction took place at a stock sale in Tarauaki only a few days ago. Rearing calves to sell at such a price must be most disl cartelling to farmers, yet this is the market price at present ruling. 01 course better prices arc obtained for good calves, but the best of them do not bring over 10s. Two years ago good wcaners sold up to £2 per head. A fillip to the local interest that has been excited over what is known as the " Meikle Commission " was given the other day (says the Wyndhani "Farmer"), when it became known that a lady ■friend of the notorious J. J. Meikle had arrived in Wyndhani, her mission being the securing of witnesses in that gentleman's interest. It is stated that at least live persons lire to be interviewed by the lady, with a view to their proceeding to Wellington at once to give evidence before the Commission. The local police officer is also understood to be on the warpath for evidence te support what may lie designated " the other side."

The Government penologist, Mr W. Boucher, left by the outgoing mail steamer for Sau Francisco on Friday, in connection with Conipierc's recent discovery of the parasite of the codlin moth. He will take a further consignment of codlin moth, which is being exchanged by the Government of New Zealand with the United States, us food for the parasite during the winter months. While in America, Mr 'Boucher will iilso inquire into I lie .fruit-growing industry, and more partileularly with regard to pests and their remedies. He is likely to be absent for about three mouths, and during that time he will travel through California and the Western States.

Men who rare to save money on their evening-wear fixings should buy at the Melbourne. Here's just to give an idea. White kid gloves Is (id pair, worth 2s 6d, splendid cashmere socks Is pair, white cambric bows 6d each, ■four-fold collars 7d and t»d,—Aun,

The woll.kaown picture, " The Light I of the World," by Mr Holnian Hunt, which is now being taken on au exhibition tour of the world, has arrived in Auckland from Sydney, in charge of Mr Jost. During the month of March 730 men wero assisted by the Department of Labour to secure work. The published details show that of this number 253 came from the North Island, 339" i from the South Island, 81 from the Commonwealth, and 52 from Groat Britain.

There has been an alarming increase of rabbits in the King Country, and at a meeting of over a hundred farmers held at Kihikihi, it was resolved to request the Government to take steps to assist settlers in tho destruction of rabbits. In Milan they water the streets from the electric tramcars. On these watering cars reservoirs have been fitted to the platforms, and those reservoirs are emptied as the cars run by means of perforated tubes placed fan-shape at the front and back of the car. Mr John Murdoch, who died near Edinburgh, left £60,000 to be devoted to the relief of indigent bachelors and widowers who had shown practical sympathy hi the pursuit of science. The next of kin challenged the validity of the will hi Edinburgh, on the ground that it was vague aud uncertain. The Court has declared the bequest void.

The last question put to Gerald Balfour on tho eve of his crushing defeat was: " Will Mr Balfour allow Lady Betty Balfour to accept a bouquet from a little girl who hopes that Mr Balfour will be M.P. before the flowers have faded f" And before the answer could bo given by the candidate a strident Yorkshire voice demanded, "Be they everlastings f"

A venerable clerk who has just died at Bungay had occupied the same desk in a solicitor's office for sixty-five years. A man who hus died at Croydon had been employed at a local clockmaker's for over fifty-three years, and in that time had mode upwards of 5000 clocks,

While three thousand persons were on the Humboldt Park Lagoon, in Chicago, witnessing or taking part in a carnival, the ice slowly gave way bcnoath them and sank until it was covered with two feet of water. In the panic that ensued many women and girls were trampled on, but the crowd readied the bauk in safety.

The chinchilla, the little rat-like animal which produces the popular fur, is in danger of extinction. Chinchillas used to be found in great numbers in the higher ranges of the Andes, in Bolivia, and Chili, but, owing to the demand for tlcir skins, they have been ruthlessly hunted.

The latest! A monster eagle overtook a Hocky Mountain express train travelling at full speed, Hew into tho cab of the engine, attacked and knocked senseless the engine-driver, and then made an attack on the fireman. The bird fastened its talons in his arms, but was beaten down with a shovel, and captured. The London " Daily Telegraph " makes the interesting announcement of the discovery of the original draft, in his own handwriting, of Lord Nelson's historic general memorandum to his captains at Trafalgar. The document was found in the possession of a private family leaving near Morton Abbey, the home of Lady Hamilton.

A cyclist got a smart surprise in Devon street on Saturday morning. He was coasting into town, gaging just where he should not have been, when he came imo contact with the wheel of a spring eart, sianding near the middle of the road. Luckily for him, his pace was not excessive, and the only repairs needed were a few touches to straighten the handle bars.

is The mierophotosopc, invented by a Berlin chemist, although no larger than a cigar-easc, permits of consulting tho map of the whole district by night as well as by day. The map is photographed in miniature on a plate of ground-glass, which is illumined by a small incandescent lamp supplied, when required, from a battery, while a lens can be adjusted to tho observer's sight. There arc misguided individuals (says "Country Life") who hang about to get " tips" from any jockey with whom they may happen to be on speaking terms. To begin with, it is the business of every jockey to hold his tongue ; secondly, nine jockeys out of every ten are very indifferent judges of racing; and, thirdly, most of them have an inward conviction that they can ride any other jockey's " head off."

Some time ago, the New York " Evening Post" made a discovery—the short stature of the Japanese was owing to the " national fashion of sitting, often for many hours, on hams and heels." It ventured to predict that with the introduction of chairs, the average height would increase. Now it triumphantly declares that its prophesy has been fulfilled—the people sit on chairs and are already taller. It is never safe to generalise from n single coincidence. For ages the Maoris—one of the tallest and best developed races on earth—always sat, and still sit from choice, exactly in Japanese fashion.

It happened on a down tram a morning or two ago. The rain was pelting down in torrents, and in one of the cars the water trickled down on to the teat—one of those scooped seats. The wet portion was studiously avoided for a long while. ' Presently a young fellow dashed iuto the train and sat down in close proximity to the miniature pool. The rain continued and the pool deepened, and began to flow along to the afore-mentioned individual. Presently the young fellow began to shift about uneasily, aud after getting well wetted ho discovered the cause. It was observed that for tho ensuing thirty miles of the journey the young man walked up and down the carriago to " keep his feet warm," so ho said.

The deadliest poison known is prussic acid. Its disco rercr was instantly killed by inhaling a single whiff of this fatal drug. Pure prussic acid is never sold or handled. Even the smell of it 'is fatal. It kills the instant it enters the lungs. The mixturo ordinarily sold as prussic acid contains ninety-eight parts of drug. Even when thus diluted it is very deadly. Atropine is another deadly poison ; as much as would adhere to the end of a n.cisteacd finger would cause death instantly Cyanide of potassium will also cause instant death. The odour of this drug is pleasant, aud not injurious, but the swallowing of a small qSKßtity kills at once. The importance of wirjlcss tclegrapky to vessels arriving from oversea was demonstrated as the flagship Powerful neared Sydney last week. The Powerful and most of the other vessels of Ihe squadron arc fitted with wireless apparatus, and her position was known to the naval authorities for some hours before she appeared in sight of the Heads. This is not the first time that wireless messages have been exchanged between the warships ; the system was used off the coast when the Powerful was on her first voyage to Sydney. But this is the lirst oc casion on which it has been utilised by a vessel coming across tho sea, iu order to make her whereabouts known to the shore.

COMPLETELY CUIiED AFTEK NINETEEN YEAK,S. After nineteen years siillering I rum rheumatism, Rum-Mo brought relief to Mr Chas. Dowsett, the well-known chimney-sweep, ol 51 Murphy-strcol, AVellington. Read what Mr Dowsett writes: —" ] thank you very much for the use of ItriEUiio. I have used nearly everything in existence for rheumatics, but found no relief till I used your Uhcuiiio. After nineteen years suffering it is a great comfort to be free from pain." Give llniu'iio a fair trial, and it will cure you as it cured Mr Dowsed. Your grocer or chemist sells il at 2s 6d and 4s Hd a bottle. For Children's Hacking Cough at night, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Is u'd and 2s u'd per bottle,

The Olympia skating rink will bo open" to-day. Particulars are advertised. Everything possiblo has been dono by the promotors and the ladios to ensure the suecess of the grand public ball in the Theatre Eoyal to-night in aid of the Western Park funds. It is expected that the attendance will be abnormal.

The famous Cheddar Gorge has been permanently disfigured by a fall of rocks from its face estimated at 70,000 tons at the lowest, and placed by somo at half a million tons. This disaster to one of the grandest spots in England is attributed to quarrying operations. Some of the boulders which have fallen weigh about fifty tons.

The Kev. J. Kilpatrick, speaking at the Dunedin Synod on Thursday, said that, whilst examining a Sunday school class recently, the subject being the life of Christ, he asked one of the girls " What is a carpenter P" and the reply was " A man who puts down carpets." This from the child of a minister, and not an infant.

Durint! a speech at the Levin Horticultural Show the Minister of Lands referred to tho potato blight. He said experiments would be made on the Levin State Farm which ho hoped would go a long way towards minimising the loss occasioned by the blight, which in his opinion was not the Irish blight.

The " Westminster Gazette " says : " Tho Emperor of Japan has conferred upon Miss Lyddel, a British lady, a medal with a blue ribbon, in recognition of her steady devotion since 1890 to her work among the inmates of the Leper Asylum at Tokio. The honour is unprecedented." The Bishop of llochester, in an address on football and gambling at a mass meeting of men at Chatham Town Hall, said \ho played football until he was thirty years old, but gave it up mainly because of I lie amount of gambling that used to go on. It was a terrible thing to him to think (that when a goal was kicked £2OO or £3OO changed bauds amongst those who were looking on. The appointment of District Judge Haselden as Judge of the District Courts for Taranaki, Wanganui, Wairarapa, Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru, Otago, Westland, and Nelson is gazetted. District Judge Haselden's circuit includes every district court m the colony except Hamilton and Thames.

Wkat is better for these cold nights than a snug armchair, well mado and well upholstered, in front of the lire P Most people have the fire, but several as yet have not experienced the real comfort obtainable from a chair that is mado lo suit and please. Messrs S. Clarke and Co. advertise in this issue that they make that kind of chair, and can also supply every need in the furnishing line.