LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8095, 27 April 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Captain Edwin wired at 4.15 p.m. on Thursday: —"Glass probably fall. Low tides, with very high sea and heavy rain,"

The diverted inward 'Frisco mail will be conveyed from Fiji to NcwZea- 1 land by the Tutanekai, and if the Moana arrives at Suva on time the mail should reach Auckland by the 19th prox.

There are 2117 names on tho New Plymouth electoral r011—897 in the east wurd, 641 in the central, and 579 in the west ward, Of those there were 1215 polled on Wednesday : cast 428, central 630, west 157. In the 1903 election 1227 Votes were exercised,

Th'?re are at present elevou students at the Education Board's continuation class on commercial law, Mr Brewer instructing. A request has been made for the establishment of a class for advanced accountancy, which, like the previously mentioned class, leads up to the awociateship in accountancy

The Eecreation Grounds Board has received the handsome bequest of £IOO from Mr C. W. Govett, from the estate of Mr Eobert Govett, his brother. The members of this family have, from time to time, showed m similar style their interest in New Plymouth, and the people of the town will doubtless appreciate to the full the motive which prompted this gift.

Tho attention of tho public is drawn to the gigantic sale at the Melbourne Clothing Co., particulars of which were advertised in yesterday's issue. This popular and enterprising firm owes much of its success to the exceptional bargains offered at these sales, and the one commencing to-morrow holds out the promise of even greater savings than at any previous period. Customers aro advised to make their piu chases early.

Noting the rapid change in motive power, Sir Alfred Hickman states that in his own works twenty-four valuable steam engines have been replaced within a fey years by electric motors driven by gas engines. This is estimated to have brought a saving in fuel alone of orer £7OOO a year. If future motors are to be driven by cxplosio l, He suggests the use of powder or dynamite, and predicts famo and fortune to the man harnessing dyni> nite for power.

One of the largest manufactories of the Japanese folded fan is at Kyoto, where an average of 3,000,000 fans yearly are turned out. Spain is the principal customer for tho Kyoto fans, Italy coming next in importance, and then the United States and Mexico.. The fins are not at all easy to raanuf letuve. So many as eight different workmen are required to make a single fan, while before the fan is finished it has to pass through the hands of no fewer than ten people.

In an article in the Adelaide Observer on the noxious weed "Apple of Sodom " (Solanum Sodoinaftm), referring to the poisonous qualities of the Solanicla), the statement is made: " While the fruit of the tomato plant is citcn, the fruit of the potatoo would kill." Wc have met this amazing fallacy ia point before. The potato-berry really is a tomato, a luscious and wholesome fruit worthy of special cultivation as such to the neglect of the tuber. If it were poisonous many of the present-day New Zealanders who hire eaten the fruit raw and in pics would have been in their graves many years ago.

While Messrs Allom and Mitchell were engaged in inspecting the block of land at Torere recently they made a remarkable discovery in the shape of a huge tree that had been felled for the purpose of making a canoe (says the Opotib •' Guardian"). The tree showed undoubted signs of having been chopped dowu with stone axes, and is reported to have been there for four genenitions. The native account states tint tlie man engaged in the work died, and the tree was pronounced tapu, hence the reason of the tree not having been used. The portion of tho tree showing the marks of the blunt stone axes used prior to the advent of the white man would prove a|great acquisition to the Auckland Museum.

Under the heading " Still Immune," Chrisljchurch " Truth " remarks : During the holidays two more intoxicated New Zealand excursion trains tripped over' themselves and fell off the line without doing anybody any damage. At Ekctahuna a train, with four hundred innocent excursionists, rushed wildly into the station at 12 miles an hour, and bounced off the line without hurting a soul. At Gore the engine of a special express, loaded with excursionists, shied at something in the station yard, and also ondeavoured to take to the country without success. Nobody was injured. Which, of.coursc, shows that Providence is still keeping an eye on the travelling pubhe in this country. Eight or nine engines have left the rails this year in various parts, and nothing has happened. In no other part of the world could trains koep on climbiHg off the rails, and otherwise misbehaving themselves, without killing somebody. Possibly it isn't Providence, merely the miraculous and overpowering mana of Seddon and Co., which seres even Death himself out of the field.

With a view to giving greater encouragement for the destruction of small birds, the Ashburton County Council has decided to give 8s 4d per hundred for heads during the months of May, June, July, and August. It has been decided to give 3d per tail for hares during the same months. Several members pointed out that both the small birds and hares have largely increased and become very destructive. High up on the plains it was now quite impossible to grow larch and other trees unless they were netted in, as tho hares quickly destroyed the young trees. The sum of £2832 has been paid bf way of bonus on hares taken into the Fairfield Freezing Works. The hares not only destroyed young plantations, but ate and destroyed turuins/etc. Mr Harper stated that at a shoot at his place at Hackthorne last season, a party of fourteen shot 190 hares one morning before lunch, and then out of the fourteen there were ten most indifferent marksmen, who rarely knocked over a hare.

The [congregation of (lie Queen street Primitive Methodist Church, and the workers in the Sunday school have every reason to bo proud of thp two young ladies tvho so successfully carried'out the arrangements of the "Japanese at home," a novel entertain, incut to raise.funds for the school. The schoolroom interior had been decorated almost beyond recognition, pretty lanterns with Japanese placards, with ferns and flowers, forming the bulk oE the adornment. Misses A. Beale and F. Ward were in full charge, and the decorations were the result of their labors, assisted by Mr W. Hooker, the SuncUy school secretary and treasurer, and Mr Pepprell, wlu brought' m the foliage for decorat ing. Both afternoon and evening saw good attendances. Afternooon tea was provided, quite a big troupe- of little waitresses in full Jap costume handing round the refreshments then and supper at night. A very enjoyable concert programme was given, most of t!i e performers being Sunday school pupils. The result was in every way satisfactory, and far better than was expected under the very untoward weather conditions.

HHEUMO Has cured hundreds of cases of rheumatisin, rheumatic gout; lumbago, and sciatica all over New Zealand. Our testimonials prove this. Try ltheumo, and you will not regret it. ' It is not a liniment, it is not a pill, but operates directly on the system by expelling from it the uric acid, the real cause of these diseases. It is pleasant to take, and if given a fair trial is bound to give you reliof from rheumatism, gout, sciatica, lumbago, and all kindred diseases. Sold by all chomists and stores at 2s b'd and 'is Gd per bottle, '