LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8091, 23 April 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The public arc advise 1 that, in consequence of the earthquake disaster, telegrams for San Francisco will bo accepted only at the sender's risk.

The Postmaster at New Plymouth informs us code addresses for inland telegrams may now be registered. The fee for registration is, if code address is the same as that on cable telegrams, 10s per annum; if different £1 per annum. The monthly fee to cover both registrations is 5s

The Government having declined to acquire tho Hillend estate in Otago for close settlement, the proprietors, Messrs-Begg Bros., have determined to place on the market 10,000 acres of their station, which lies between Smith's Track and the Waitahuna River. The new settlement will be known as Blackburn, and on this block thirty farms have been surveyed, ranging from 65 acres to 920 acaes.

The potato crops of New Zealand are subject to attacks of blight, but those of Victoria have an equally tuber-destroying plague to contend with. A writer in the Melbourne " Argus " says that 95 per cent of the potatoes placed on the Melbourne market are rendered unfit for human consumption owing to being tunnelled and retunnelled by the potato borer grub. The grub leaves on evil smell behind it, and unless every affected part is cut off tho potato cannot be used.

Mr John Duthie, cx-M.K.K., writing about the surplus in the country's finances for the past year, says there is included in it £65,000 of loan money and £201,03(1 from last year, which has already done duty as part of the surplus of that year. While the Treasurer tells of an increase of revenue amounting to £280,430, he is discreetly silent over the increase in expenditure, which amounted to £503,498 as compared with the previous year.

A London press correspondent writes: Mr J. W. Harding, a large landowner and farmer in Taranaki, is visiting friends in Nottingham. Mr Harding travelled through Argentine, and expresses the highest opinions concerning the farming and cattle-producing capacity of the South American republic. Bat New Zealand, in his opinion, possessos one advantago over its rival, in that a man can start farming in the colony with only £IOO, whereas in Argentine the ostancias are on so largo a scale that the intending farmer requires a capital of from £SOOO to £IO,OOO.

The modern Taranaki Maori is proverbially cute, and there is a, story current of oue who " let ill" the loea! brewers and spirit merchants lor a considerable sum. He had bought considerable quantities of beer and spirits, but refused to pay the bills. When the tradesmen sought to recover, they found they could, not succeed, because the cute young Maori had previously taken out a prohibition order out against himself, and it is illegal for any person to supply liquor to a prohibited person ! —Wanganui Herald,

This is the last month of the troutlishing season at Rotorua. Each month since the opening of tho season m November of last year has shown an increased take, and no less than 17,413 trout have been accounted for. The aggregate weight of the fish is 69,4911b, or over 31 tons. The following are the figures:—November 4029 fish, 15,9991b ; December, 3104 fish, lb ; January, 3739 fish, 11,8961b; February, 2507 fish, 10,8121b; March, 10157 iisli, 14,7701b; total, 17,443 fish, fi9,l!)llb. These figures, however, do not give the actual number of fish taken, as many Europeans and natives have kept no record, and it is estimated that the number and weight could [be added to by fully a third. Some large fish have been caught, the heaviest being IMb.

The winter winds are blowing, Think of the ills they bring, And guard with care your household Until the welcome spring. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure Will aid you to this end, And, as a sentry, safe and sure, , Your dear ones will defend

The Garrison Baud will give an opon-air concert at "Tho Piucs " tonight. The Western Park Ball on Easter Monday nif>ht resultod in a profit of about £lB, Keceipts were approximately £36, and expenses £lB. At most of the Taranaki churches yesterday, reference was made to the Frisco calamity, and prayers offered up for tho survivors and the relatives and friends of the victims. Owing to the southerly gale, the s.s. Barawa was bar-bound at Manakau yesterday, and is expected to get out this morning. She will sail again for Onehunga to-night as advertised. The Eecreation Sports Ground Committee will hold a big bazaar, extending over four days, in Christmas week, and the Theatre Eoyal has already been engaged, The Chinese fruiterers in New Plymouth had another visit on Saturday night or Sunday morning from someone who aspires to emulate in a minor degree Lionel Terry. The nocturnal anti-Chow man smeared the various windows with "The Yellow Peril," using yellow paint. The disfigurements were removed by the Celestials at an early hour. These pranks are not exactly the sort of thing to achieve the removal of the Chinamen. That can only bo done by a species of boycott, and the " yellow peril" individual will probably have to deal with the police.

A most exciting incident occurred at the Kaiapoi sports on Easter Monday, when, during the race for the ten miles motor handicap, the machine driven by C. E. Jones suddenly blazed up into flame. Mr Jones was travelling at about forty miles an hour at the time, Out he displayed great presence of u.'nd. Slackening speed, he ran on to the grass and fell clear of the buying machine. By this time, however, his trousers, socks, and boots were saturated with blazing petrol. Several officials quickly rushed to the spot, and smothered the flames with their coats. Mr Jones' trousers were not burned to any great extent, but he was considerably bruised and shaken, and had his wrist wrenched. The occurrence was due to the breaking of a petrol pipe. On Wednesday the Chief Dairy Commissioner (Mr J. A. Kinsella) returned to Wellington from a trip l o the Westland province. He fouud that dairying was in a backward state there, though some disposition to go in for it more extensively wis being shown. At present the country is indicted with gorse, blackberry, and other noxious weeds, which will have to be extirpated to make the ground suitable for dairying on a proper footing. Hitherto that pursuit has been neglected in Westland, in favor of the mining, sawmilling, and sjmepfarming Industries, but now that the bush lands are becoming clear, more attention is likely to be given to dairying. A large shipment of famous " Hygeia " winter-weight undershirts and pants has just beeu opened up at the Melbourne. These goods are guaranteed unshrinkable, and from a hygienic point of view are the very best. Shirts 3s 6d, pants 3s lid.—Advt.

Ladies devoted to the Terpsichorean art will find a splendid stock of dancing shoes at the Melbourne ; very chic goods. Prices, 3s fid, 3s lid, 4s lid.— Advt.

A speciality is made ot Ladies' Hair Dressing and Ladies' Toilet necessities at the Egmont Hairdressing Saloon, Egmont streot. A very fine snowing of ladies' sundries offered. The proprietary haw mado quite a reputation for their skilful and pleasing attention l o 'Ms department.—Advt. A " cleaner," for general household use, is "Hyirolcin" soap, the "King of Cleaners." Used in warm or cold water, economical, saves rubbing, and hard work, costs only 3Jd at T. W. Welch's, Brougham street, N.P.— Advt-