LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8104, 8 May 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There is a very light calendar for the District Court, which opens at •New Plymouth this morning. Work at the new post office is advancing steadily, and it is now possible to obtain a slight idea of what the completed structure will look like. The electricity classes 011 Wednesday night will be continued as usual, arrangements having been made for Mr Burnsido to continue his instruction, despite his removal to Inglewood.

At a wedding in Stratford the other day, there was somewhat of a novelty in the decorative arrangements. From the centre of the pulpit was suspended a bis " wedding bell." The effect was pretty, of course, but it turned out that the boll was not merely for decorative purposes. Just as the first strains of the " Wedding March" pealed out, one of the attendants pulled a siring, precipitating quite an avalanche of flower petals on the bridegroom, who was standing right below. The only . flaw in the scheme was that the groom only, and not the bride, was tho rccipient of the good wishes thus conveyed. To say that he was astonished is to put it very mildly.

The report presented to the annual meeting of the Feilding branch of the Farmers' Union on Friday, in dealing with the question of annual subscriptions, suggested that the most commendable system is without doubt to charge £1 subscription and give one copy of the Farmers' Union Advocate post free to the member, but as this may be objected to by a few it was suggested that for the current year the subscription be—under 100 acres still ss, 100 to 500 acres 20s and paper free,, 500 to 1000 acres 30s and paper free, over 1000 acres JOs and paper free; subscriptions to be paid in advance before receiving free paper. The latter proposal was adopted.

The truism that figures may bo made to prove anything applies, perhaps, with as much force to criminal statistics as to anything else. Incidentally, a reporter was informed that all manner of offences, ranging from stone-throw-ing to murder, arc grouped in a gross total under the heading of crime. Details arc, of course, set out, and without particulars of tho offences, tJie mere mention of tho amount of "crime" for a given year is misleading to the uninitiated. Among the items included under " crime " are " absconding from industrial schools," " alms re and threatening language," "breaches of the peace," " contempt of court," " deserting and absenting from merchant vessels," "disobeying orders of court and summonses," " disturbing meetings and congregations," " drunkenncso," "illegally taking fish," "fortune-tell-ing," " furious riding and driving," and so on. The system, of grouping these widely-varied misdemeanours is said to serve a useful purpose in New Zealand, though jt may lead to misapprehension abroad, especially when statistical conjurors jugglo with the figures.

The Lyttelton "Times " says: "The colony provides a good market for four or iivo million gallons of refined oil annually, so that there is likely to be quite as largo a local demand as the Taranaki enterprise will require to make it profitable. lu 1904., the latest year for winch the figures are available, we imported 4,420,401 gallous of oil, valued at £11(1,812, mainly from the United Stales. The Standard Oil Company has a practical monopoly of the market, and if the local wells should prove at all valuable, we shall doubtless have nu opportunity of watching the peculiar methods of the trust ill operation. The first move in pases of the kind is generally an offer to purchase, ai)d it js at least pignificant that foreign buyers have already asked the Taranaki Company to name a price for its properly. The Standard Oil Company certainly lyould not relinquish the valuable New Zealand market to eyen a local rival without a light, and if the New Zcalandcrs make up their minds to keep their wells, the consumers may shortly find foreign oil growing unaccountably cheaper. These things are wrapped up in the future, of course, but the Taranaki 'boom 1 promises to give rise to an interesting, not to say piquant, situation in the iocal oil business."

Out Oil tho iSeen the storm blew wijil, "ut the man at tljo wheel vstood (inn. He swallowed some 0. T. PUNCH and smiled, l'or the cold couldn't niakehim squij'rn The Melbourne Clothing Company's gigantic sale is now in full swing. Tiiis e\ent presents a rare opportunity of saving money on boys' aud men's clothing, boots and shoes, etc, .See the great outside show of bargains.— A.DVT.

Classes in elementary dressmaking have bceu formed at tho Central and i West End Schools, at Now Plymouth. ] The annual meeting of ratepayers m j the Eliot ltoad Hoard district, which should have been held on Friday evening at Wcstown, lapsod for want of a quorum. Plans for a cookoryroom, and for au additional woodwork room, at the Stratford District High School, have been forwarded to tho Education Department. Messrs Morey and Sons have a striking ad. in this issue, announcing a slaughter in satin. Tho figures in an attractive notice on pago three of this issue, declare the bargains in unmistakcablo terms. From the Education Department tho Taranaki Education Board has received the sum of £215 18s lid, for haudwork and manual work in primary schools, in tho Taranaki Education district. As foroshadowoa by His Worship the Mayor, application has been made to the Borough Council for financial assistance in tho building of the New Plymouth Technical School. A similar application has been made to the New Plymouth High School Board of Governor*. There is every possibility of a tech" nieal class being formed, for instruc" tiou iu geometry and trigonometry under M r H. H, Ward, of New Plymouth, Information ean bo obtained Irom the local director of technical education. The Now Plymouth Borough Council will consider, on Monday night, a proposal from Cr. Brooking to revert to tlio old order of things, holding the Council meeting onco a month only. Ho suggests tho second Monday in cash month as tho night of meeting, and that tho Work's Committee meet on the previous Thursday. ■ The Uuion Steam Ship Company's winter excursions to tho South Seas begiu again this month. The new steamers being employed will form special attraction to those anxious to escape tho cold season here. The trip of the 6000 ton steamer "Aparima" to Singapore, Penang, and Calcutta, from New Zealand at tho end of this mouth is also announced. Particulars of both lines can be obtained at the Now Plymouth branch office.

The overdraft of the Taranaki County Council meeting was shown at Monday's meeting to be only £998 18s 3d, the lowest for ovor 20 years. The chairman and members expect to still further reduce the amount as soon as possible, provided that no unforsecn demands are made upon their excaequer. Mr Alfred George was the only candidate nominated in the Omata Road Board election, and has been declared duly elected. Mr D. McAllum, the Returning OfDeer, advertises that an election to fill the remaining vacancy will be held on Saturday, 2nd June. Nominations will be received up to the 26th May. Mr Hollo, of Messrs Okey and Hollo, has announced his intention of testing the Moturoa petroleum as fuel. The trial will bo made at the firm's well known Taranaki Iron Foundry. Crude petroleum is largely used in Southern Russia as fuei for engines, and there is no reason to suppose that the local sample is not equally suitable. At the Taranaki County Council's meeting on Monday, reference was made to tlie unpleasant task of the men engaged at Glory River, iu having to go into the rivor for stones. The water was running a couple of feet deep, and was icy cold, For this the men only received Is 3d an hour, and it was pointed out that the'wage was much too small. It was decided to pay the men Is (id per hour, one member remarking, " Littlo enough too, I wouldn't do the work for five bob an hour."

A dog owner eompiamcd at the Taranaki County Council's meeting on Monday, that he had paid the fee of 10s twice for the ono animal, and asked for a refund. It seems that the fee had been paid in town, and had also been paid to the collector in the country. "Quite right, anyhow," quoth a member, " the dog probably feeds in town." "Yes," replied member No. 2, and ltis eyes twinkled merrily, "but he goes home to sleep." The clerk was instructed to make the rebate.

Those who have heard Mr Jack Garry's manipulation of the violin since his return arc most enthusiastic as to his marvellous progress in the past fifteen months. His treatment of the old favourite melodies is a real musical treat, and it is hoped that the services of this talented young performer, who made his first appearance as a soloist some thirteen years ago iu New Plymouth, will be retained here. A violin recital, with a concert programme, has been arranged for Wednesday evening in St. Mary's Hall, and all lovers of music are recommended to attend.

At the Taranaki County Council meeting on Monday, a letter was'received from the firm who had contracted to supply dog collars for the year. The letter was in answer to a complaint made by the Council that the collars were not up to sample previously sent. As to length, the linn wrote " every collar would fit a dog, and some would (it a man round the waist, being 3-1 inches long. At any rate no length was specified." Councillors stated that it was the settlors who complained about the collars being ! interior and short. Jt was also considered that even though there was plenty of quantity in the straps, the quality was not up to the standard.

Favorable reports continue to come to hand concerning the New Plymouth oil wells, says the "Eltham Argus" of Monday. We are pleased to read them. The oil boom is not going to begin and end in New Plymouth. There is oil in many parts of Taranaki; Inglewood being one of Ike favoured spots. Hound about Eltham there are many iiicjicar tionsofpil. If can bo found in the Ngairc swamp, Possibly half of Taranaki may dev'olop into oil fields. However, everyone should wish tl|e greatest success to tl|e New Plymouth qil pioneers, 'They sunk a lot of moiiey and persevered in spite of all obstacles. We wish that those enter? prising men who lost their money in oil boring years ago, wore "in the swim" now; we aro afraid they are not.

One of those regrettable instances of domestic infelicity that from time to time obtrude themselves on the public gaze was before, the S.M. at New Plymouth yesterday, when Arabella Melinda Davis sued her husband, W. J3. Davis, for maintenance. A similar application was before the Court some time ago and dismissed, defendant staling that his home was always open to complainant. Sinco then, defendant told the Magistrate, he had seen ijothmg of His wife until a' fortnight ago when she suddenly returned home. Her ponduct appeared strange, said defendant, and she expressed fyer intention of poisoning him when pp. portunity offerwj. She then left tiie house £>!j suddenly as she had appeared, and Bpule complaints tijat 3110 lilid bpen rpfipscd food iuid shelter, ffhicl) was absolutely untrup. Cauiplaiiit, who ljief with n slight accident on Saturday, did not appear iu Court, and the S.M. adjourned the case for a week. He remarked that he had had some misgivings about issuing a summons and if the present proceedings should fail, no further summonses would be issuefj against the defendant;

A little 0. T. PUN OH In a little water hot, A sound refreshing sleep, Yes, that is what I got. One ot those rare sates at which genuine bargains abound is now in progress at the Melbourne. Thrifty people should not miss this rare chance of replenishing their wardrobes at a minimum of cost.—Advt.

The school touchers down the coast especially m the Opunako district, havo expressed a desiro that teacllcrs' training classes should bo held in Opunake on Saturdays. Recognising their right to share in the advantages reaped by teachers living nearer New Plymouth, Mr Spencer, chief inspector, ivill mcofc the Opunake School Committee to-night to discuss the proposal. Ho will also confer with them on the matter of forming evening classes there, and in connection with the proposed Opunake District High School.

At the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on Saturday morning, Dr A. MeArthur, S.M., heard legal argument in au application by James Cartwnght George for leave to lay an information against Henry David Merrick and John Thomas McKinnon, editor and manager respectively of the newspaper " New Zealand Truth," for alleged criminal libel. The matter complained of appeared in au articlo published in " Truth," and referring to tho Crown Dairy Factory Company, of which complaint is a member, in connection with the employment of child labor. His Worship reserved judgment until the 11th. inst.

At the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court on Monday, before Mr T. Hutchesou, S.M., judgment was given for plaintiffs by default in the following cases: —Robert Todd v. Henry Callaghan, £1 Os 6d and 5s costs; T. C. List v. E. H. Stevenson, £l9 l()s 5d and lbs costs; Honnor and Clark v. William Cole, £5 and 8s costs; Geo. Orifliiths v. Fred. Whiteinore, claim £1 Os (3d, costs 10s; Taranaki County Council v. P. Kmsella, claim 9s 9d, costs 10s; same v. M. Watts, claim 8s 6d, cost ss. The case of C. T. Mills v. Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was, on the plaintiff's application, adjourned for a week. Tho case of William Bucklo v. Raueara, for £3 3s for services of a stallion, was adjourned, the Magistrate remarking that the defendant had been very foolish to have offered to pay even half of the claim. Several other cases were settled, adjourned, or confessed.

The lot of the professional man who soils his brains and experience to public bodies is seldom the happiest. It is not uncommon to hear of a body of laymen pitting their knowledge of scientific and engineering subjocts against that of the experts whose business it is to know all about them. Evidently, however, there are exceptions to the rule, the fortunate professional man being Mr Spencer, Engineer to the Inglewood Borough Council. To the Taranaki County Council's application for a copy of-tlic Inglewood Borough Council's general conditions of contract, the Town Clerk ha< administered a caustic rebuke, stating that " although those conditions wore prepared by Mr Spencer for use by the Council, they do not consider they are at liberty to give them away to other local bodies, as in a way, the copyright belongs to Mr Spencer, being the result of part of his stock-in-trade, viz., his brains and experience." A splendid opportunity to secure the views of bush lawyers and bush engineers of the value of professional experience was lost by the County Council refusing to " entertain" the letter.

Mr Watkin Mills, the well known vocalist, tells in M A.P., an amusing story of an incident which occurred in British Columbia. One night he was singing " The Marriage of Shon Maelean," when he was conscious of a kind of suppressedcommotion proceeding from a private box, and whenever he turned his head in the direction of the whispered disturbance, he saw two faces expressing the very essence of astonishment. First they stared at him; thon they stared at each other; then at the singer—mingled with the look of amazement was a decided suggestion of annoyance. One faco was that of a pretty woman, the other that of a handsome man. Watkin Mills noticed that the astonishment depicted in them grew deeper every time he sang the words "Shon Maclean." When the concert was over the singer got an explanation of the mystory. The male occupier of the box, John Macklin, who had that morning been secretly married to the lady who was with him, went round to Watkin Mills in the artists' room, and asked how he knew of their marriage, and what right he had to shout about it in public,