LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8087, 18 April 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Postal Department in Victoria is removing telephones from establishments where betting is conducted. Despatches from missionaries, merchants, and other European and American residents in China are generally unanimous in declaring that there is no occasion for the alarming reports recently made of future native risings. Preparations are already being made in the United States to celebrate with all due honour the centenary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln three years hence. Steps are being taken to purchase the Kentucky farm on which he was born, for the purpose of turning it into a national park. A Hobart cablegram states that a Melbourne team, largely composed of the cricketers who visited New Zealand, drew matches against Southern and Northern Tasmania. Scores: Melbourne, 165 and seven wickets for 165 ; Southern Tasmania, 202 and one wicket for 43. Melbourne, six wickets for 302 (declared); Northern Tasmania, 111) and four wickets for 120.

The Hon. .1. T. Bell, (Queensland's Minister for .Land?, interviewed in Brisbane on his return f rom a v j sit to the Southern Stales and New Zealand, said lie had established four agencies m jSew Zealand f Ol . t| u , dissemination ot information in rt .g ttP j | 0 Queensland lands. One ot |] le |j r]ns ] lat i a branch in London, and tlicr representative there would also act for Queensland. This would not interfere with the work of the Agent-General. Mr Bell added that he specially desired to attract people from Great Britain, and many agents would be necessary in a country with such a large population The Minister added that no resentment at the action of Queensland was expressed in New Zealand.

It is pointed out tlint the total imports into Now Zealand in 11)05 from the United Kingdom and from all British services show a mere nominal increase upon 1902, and a reduction as compared with 1H99. The total from foreign sources shows a fractional relative decrease as compared with 1902, but a substantial increase on 181)9, and numerically in both comparisons America and Germany show increases on the figures for 181)9. "It is possible," says the " New Zealand Trade .Review," "that future returns may show other results, bid the Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act is, in our opinion, too meagre and ill-considered lo produce any important effect."

MEIUT niiWAUDbI-l IJ* (JUUIII OF JUSTICE. Tlie acknowledged good qualities and success of Sandeji anu Sons' Eucalypti Exihaut have brought out many imitations, and one case, was just tried in the Supreme Court of Victoria, before his Honor Chief Justice Sir J. Madden. ICC M.0., d<\

His honor, in giving judgment, said with regard to tlie Genuine Sandhii And iSons' Extuaut, that whenever an article is commended ti the public by reason of its good qualities etc., it is not permissible to imitate any of its features. He restrained the imitators perpetually from doing so, and ordered them to pay all costs.

Therefore, insist upon what is proved beyond all doubt by skilled witnesses at the Supreme Court of Victoria, and hy many authorities during the last 30 years to be a preparation of genuine merit, viz., The Genuine Sander & Sons' Pure Volatile Eucalypti Extwci,

The Melbourne-Naples despatch of 14th llaroli arrived in Loudon ou the afternoon of loth insl. A Sydney cable announces the death of llev. H. Robjohns, the well-known representative in Australasia of the British and Foreign Bible Society. A mean theft was perpetrated at tho Star sports on the Recreation Ground on Monday, a gold watch chain being stolen from a waistcoat hanging on the competitors' tent.

Mr E. M, Smith, M.H.R., received the following wire yesterday morning.: —"Received yoiir wire re Stoney River encroachment, and am obtaining report from Mr Murray.—Wm. HallJones." Mossrs Gilmour and Pattie report the sale oE 103 acres at Mangorei, a house and half-acre at Inglewood, to a local investor, and 4 acres, with nine roomed house, on the Elliott road, to Mr Holloway, The growth of the prohibition order system is shown by the fact that the Auckland Police Court officials issued 7540 papers within the last two weeks. One hundred and four copies of each order are issued and served on 45 city and 49 suburban hotels by tho police.

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

In mentioning that only three fires, and those of minor importance, had been reported in the Borough of New Plymouth during the past year, Captain Bellringer, Superintendent of the local Fire Brigade, considered this was a clear indication of the soundness of tho town," for it has become a recognised expectancy that when things commercial are quiet, fires are of more frequent occurrence, and of greater dimensions."

How does this fit in with the New Plymouth Borough retrenchment ? The Fire Brigade Suporintendent in his annual report says: " When it is considered that our total receipts from all sources aro only £2lO, and that the cost to the Borough by way of a subsidy is only £IOO, and out of this we have to keep two stations, with a resident custodian at each, I think the Council is getting good value for its money, and the time is not far distant when we will have to approach the authorities for an increased grant."

Mr Skinner, engineer to the Taranaki County Council, has started teu mon at work clearing away the obstructions in the Stony River at Okato, aud diverting the water back to the old channel. The work will lake about ten days to complete, Mr Murray is going out to-day to inspect the river, and will report to the .Government- on the application of the local bodies interested for financial assistance.

There was a . large amount ot tasty foodstuffs left over from the Public Ball on Monday night, which was sent to the Olil People's Home. Our night staff can vouch for the quality of the dainties, a quantity, thanks to the solioitudo of a leading lady of the committee, laving been generously sent round to the N bws office iu the early hours of Tuesday morning, and much appreciated.

The revival of the toboggan slide was the principle feature of spectacular amusement at the Olympia Rink last night, and a great deal of merriment was caused by the attempts of the beginners lo try to master the slide. To-morrow night skaters and spectators ate promised ail exhibition of fancy skating, and Mr Mcintosh also intends to jump over chairs with his skates on. The rink will bo open as usual to-night.

In the course of his speech at Rangiora the Premier, referring to the impending shipping fight, said the Government had done its best to establish the West of England service, and now tho other companies were trying to crush that particular line by cutting rates, For years farmers had been paying 33, and as much as 50 per cent, more for freights to the Mother Count try than was paid in Australia. Something ought to be done, and he tiioughllial if some of the surplus were applied to charter steamers that would give reasonable rates to the farmers aud the people in opposition to tho combines, then tho country would support the Government.

The Wellington "Post" says tliat the Fublic Trustee will shortly offer for lease 6000 acres of land in the Taranaki district. The land is held by the Public Trustee under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act. The total area administered under the Act in 200,000 acres, all in the Taranaki and Wellington land districts, and lies between the Waitotara river and Pukearulie (White Cliffs). The area already leased is 148,700 acres, and L 26,500 is obtained annually as rental. This sum is distributed to tho native owners half-yearly. The land to be thrown open shortly will be let on perpetual lease with revaluation and right of renewal every twenty-three years.

In announcing the Government s purchase of the Westport Coal Company's yards in order to commence delivering State coal, the "New Zealand Times" states that the price per ton.of double-screened household coal, delivered, may be put at 33s for Newcastle, 30s for Westport, and 40s for I'uponga. The State proposes to make its figure .for • the double-screened household coal 28s a ton; so at last the ideal seems at hand—cheap coal for the people, and little lots for the small man, for delivery will bo undertaken from a hundredweight upwards. Within a reasonable distance of the State Coal Depot, Lower Cuba street, .there will be delivered a hundredweight for Is fid; a quarter ton for 7s fid, half ton for 14s fid, ton for 28s. The terms are net cash on or before delivery; there will probably be no credit on small orders.

Madame Clara Butt, who, a London cable message stated on Saturday, is lo visit Australia and New Zealand on a concert tour, is the leading concert artiste of the present time in England, and her reputation as a singer of ballads is known throughout the Englishspeaking world. She is gifted with a voice of singularly rich quality—a pure contralto. It is well known in England that Madame Butt has always the " first call" amongst concert singers, and her fees are said to be remarkable. She is engaged for all the leading festivals in Great Britain, and her name oil a programme in England is more than sufficient to fill the largest hall. Mr Kennerley Runiford, who is Madame Butt's husband, is the possessor of a fine baritone voice, and will accompany Madame Butt on her Australian and New Zealand tour. The colonial tour will be directed by Mr Nevin Tail, who is now in London.

The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Young Men's Improvement and Literary Society was held in tlie Baptist Church on Tuesday evening. There was only a small attendance, probably on account of the fact that the holidays had not yet closed. Mr W. Gauktodgcr presided. It was decided to adjourn the meeting until next Tuesday, aud that in the interim the secretary, Mr Bigelow, make enquiries from the Ladies' Improvement Soeietv with a view to amalgamating tlie two societies. The adoption of the annual report and statement of accounts was held over, pending tko receipt of some information in regard to the amalgamation. An interesting informal discussion took place, and a proposal mooted to change the meeting-room, it boing pointed out that many people I seemed possessed of the idea thai; the Society was identified with tho church, simply on account of it using the church buildings. Tho Press representatives were asked to lay stress oil tlie point that tho Society has no religious connection at all, but is sinply to give young men a chance to cultivate the art of public speaking, while at tho same time providing recreation and iuforjjjatioß for its members,