LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8110, 15 May 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Messrs Gilmour and Puttie report the sale of Mr O'Hanlon's 120 acres on the Egmont road.

Messrs Bostock and Wombwell's novelty circus and complete menagerie which is at present touring the Colony, will appear in New Plymouth on Thursday and Friday, May 31st and June Ist respectively.

To-morrow Mr Ncwlon King will hold an unreserved sale of furniture in Vivian street, on account of Mrs

F. W. Watts. Anyone requiring firstclass furniture should not fail to attend this sale, as everything is in good order, and a large proportion practically new, including a lot of blankets, sheets, etc.

At the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court on Monday, a Maori, Puke Taura by name, was lined os, or 21 hours' gaol, for being drunk at the railway station on Saturday night. At the same sitting, a maintenance ease, Arabella B. Davies v. W. B. Davies] was called on. The case had been' adjourned from a previous week tn enable the complainant to attend, but it was reported that, she was still in the Hospital, and the Magistrate adjourned the ease till Tuesday fortnight.

Maurice Sanoni, who styled himself an actor, sued Jo.icph Linton, proprietor of a theatrical show, for two weeks' wages, 30s, at Monday's sitting of the New Plymouth Court. Defendant was represented by Mr T. S. Weston. The defence was that plaintiff had not discharged his duties properly, owing to intemperance, and in New Plymouth he had been arrested for his insobriety, and generally had done the show no good. Tho Magistrate gave'judgment for the amount of claim, but refused to grant immediate execution.

" Can you seize anything Y' asked the Magistrate at the New Plymouth Court on .Holiday, when replying to the overtures of plaintiff to get an order for immediate execution of judgment. _ "Well, I might," replied plaintiff in the action, an actor by calling; " There's some stray wigs and 'gowns, paints and tools, etc., deI'endants has at his show; and I see he s wearing a tlash coat, which I could seize, as I have none !" Defendant looked aghast at the idea of losing his coat

| For Bronchial Coughs and Colds, Weods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is 6d and 2s (id per bottle.

The Tananaki provincial Conference of the Farmers' Union begins at Eltham to-morrow.

A Wellington resident, known to be a " good mark," enquired the rent of a six roomed house at Kilbirnic recently anil was informed that it was £2 per week! Fact.

An abortive attempt to force an entry into the drapery establishment of J5. J Davidson, at Eltham, was brought to light on Monday morning. The would-be burglar was evidently disturbed, having left a couple Of " jemmies" as mementoes of his intentions. At Akaroa on Thursday the defendant in an application for a prohibition order, asked his wife, the complainant: "Do I get drunk too often ?" The wife replied: " Well, Tom, perhaps not more than once a week on the average." The prohibition order was granted,

Messrs E. J. Carthcw and Co. report having sold a section in Courtcnay street, and a valuable town allotment, with 42ft. frontage to Devon street, to Mr J. H. Parker; also a2O acre section of that ideal suburban property known as '* Smart Suburbs," to a local investor.

The Standard Oil Co. controls not ouly 23 railways, with a mileage of 117,080 miles, or fully two-thirds of the lines in the United States, but banks, insurance ollices, steel and iron works, steamboats and land. For tho past five years its dividends have averaged 45 million dollars a lyear.

There was a large attendance of members and visitors at the weekly meeting of the Egmont Lodge, No. 112, 1.0. G.T. held in the Primitivo Methodist schoolroom on Monday night, Bro. J. C. Lake presiding. One candidate was initiated. Bro. Stokes, L.D. installed the officers already reported, {pr the quarter, The rest of the evening was given over to harmony.

The Moturoa oil well continues to afford forcible demonstrations of the enormous pent up subterranean cnergies. On Monday morning, at an early hour, a blow-up occurred, but no damage was done to the gear. During the day the pressure had to be eased by letting the oil run off at intervals. The bore has now to be closely watched, to guard against such a con. tingency as a destructive blow-out.

In future, the New Plymouth Borough Council will meet only once a month, on the second Monday in the month. During the past two or three years, the amount of business transacted in connection with loan works rendered fortnightly meetings a necessary, but it is thought that, with a return to a more normal state of affairs, less frequent meetings arc needed.

It is gratifying to learn that the directors of tho Petroleum Company have no intention of advocating any proposal which would lead to the registered office of the company, or any portion of the works being conducted outside Kew Plymouth. At a meeting of the directors held subsequent to tho shareholders' meeting on Saturday, it was decided not to accept the proposals —particulars of which we published last week, —for the flotation of a company in Wellington.

At the meeting of the Hawera branch of the Farmers' Union 011 Saturday night it was mentioned in respect of the proposed dairy school that Mr Kinsella favored Klthaw as the site, " Will the school be any good P " several asked. " It's going to cost a lot of money," remarked the chairman (Mr Davidson). Mr J. R. Corvigan thought the farmers had done very well with their produce without a dairy school, and the money might bo well spent in some othor way. Mr F Livingston: "In opening up the country."—" Star."

At Monday's Borough Council meeting, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Cr Eiviug for his services as councillor, aud his resignation was accepted with regret. Crs Brooking and Hutchen, the mover aud seconder, remarked on Cr Swing's ability and zeal as a councillor, and expressed tho opinion that his absence from the council table would be a serious loss to the burgesses.

The usual fortnightly meeting of tho Loyal Egmont Lodge was held last evening, N.G. Bro. Matheson presiding. A letter of recommendation was granted to Bro. H. R. Kemp (who has been transferred to Napier), to enable him to visit the Lodges there. P.G.H. Hooker gave an interesting account of his visit to the Auckland Lodges, and spoke in a most flattering manner of the reception he had received from the brethern in Auckland. An animated discussion took place re contributions and beaofits, in which P.P.G. Bros. Ainsworth, McGahey, H. Hooker, P.G. H. H. Bord, and N. G. Matheson took part.

A Nciv Plymouth resident, being in fear that there was a possibility of American enterprise throttling the oil industry by buying up the Moturoa well, or getting hold of a preponderance of shares in the company about to be formed, has received the following communication from the Hon. Mr HallJones ■ Your telegram of May 11th to the Bight Hon. tho Premier will have very careful consideration of the Government. You may rest assured that the interest of the colony will be safeguarded." The decision of the Stratford Borough Council to reduce its rates by one-eiglith of a penny is ono of the best indications that things are on the up-grade in Stratford; to outsiders, in fact, no better sign of the recovery and advancement of the place could be afforded. Now Plymouth, it is hoped, will not be long in following suil, The rates in the capital of the province could, with advantage, come down pretty considerably. If they were gradually reduced, outside capital would be more likely to come into the town. More capital means more business and moro progress, and, in the end, the town by lowering its rates, and economising in a manner consistent with efficiency, would be a very desirable place in which to invest.

Several of the leading newspapers of the colony are making a determined stand against the totalisator. The " Lyttelton Times" has long been its strong opponent. Now the Auckland " Herald" joins suit and points out that " important as is the breeding of horses, tho making of men is of infinitely greater importance." The Napier " Telegraph" says: "It is the totalisator which renders it possible for half the racing clubs to exist. If the totalisator were wiped out, and tho law now in force against booknnkmg retainod, there could not be half as many race meetings in the colony as at present. . . . The gambling evil is now a far greater curse than excessive drinking, and the evil is ono that grows worse every year."

The New Plymouth Magistrate's Court was the seene of some amusing ' passages between counsel and plaintiff during the hearing of a case on M onday. A facial contortionist, or " the wonderful india-rubber face artist' vide the bills—was seeking to recover wages from his employer, whom counsel defended. The contortionist, a garrulous individual, was given any amount of latitude by the indulgent Bench, and was in the midst of a harangue to the Court when counsel appealed to the Magistrate, stating that plaintiff was exceeding his powers, " I don't think you should say much, anyhow," exclaimed the "rubberfaced " individual; " you've had a good deal to say yourself. In fact, I have had to jrait here since ten for you to come down! " (Counsel was latp in arriving)- Counsel at another stage, in cross-examining plaintiff, invited him to give an exhibition of his contortions to the Court, " Certainly," exclaimed plaintiff, " if you pay me one shilling—the price usually charged. Anyhow, I think my face is worth a shilling to look at, and (Here he assumed an impressive air) certainly yours is!" The sally convulsed the Court.

For Children's Hacking Cough at mght, Woods' Great Peppormint Cure Is 6d and 2s 6d per bottle.

The Recreation Sports Ground Com. niittce cannot obtain any financial assistance from the New Plymouth Borough Council, but may rest content in that body's expressed hope that " at a future timo it may be in a position to assist." The Council's purse is not equal to any big straiu just now. Of. Hutchen strongly opposed the action of the Borough Council in promising to pay £IOO to the Technical School authorities at the opening of the next financial year, contending that it is not just to anticipate next year's rovenue, and th'it the Council has no right to vote money to any technical school other than a municipal one. His only supporter on the Council is Cr. Monteath, who is strongly of opinion that the funds do not warrant the expenditure, and the more honest course would bo to state straightforwardly that the borough cannot afford to grant any assistance at all.

Photographs at a shilling a dozen, at two shillings a dozen, at 5s 6d a dozen are the leading lines in the new advertisement of Me A, Henderson in this issue. Mr Henderson has secured the studio until recently occupied by Mr C. P. Cottier, in Devon Street eist, and is now preparing to turn out all olasses of photographic work promptly and properly. The " Oammy " photos, at two shilling's a dozen, are a special line.

... ".Reports of the Works Committee mtftftfiga are sent in to the Council, and if the ratepayers aro not properly informed of the Council's business it is the fault of the Pross and its laxity in reporting," said Cr. Monteath at last night's meeting. " They leave out a lot of things that ought to go m, and put in a lot that should bo left out. I know I lay myself open to a nasty smack in the face in to-morrow's paper more likely in the morning paper than in the evening."—Sorry to disappoint Cr. Monteath, but we really can't be bothered smacking him.

" It is a particularly tedious and very awkward job," said Mr Gibbon, the borough engineer, laat night, in referring to the work of rendering the big concrete waterworks tunnel impervious to water, and, consequently, of stopping the reported leakago. He went on to explain his meaning. First, it was necessary for a man to leave town and report at the power house at 2.30 a.m. his intention to cut off the water. Then he must go to the intake and shut off the water. The tunnel would not be sufficiently dry until 7,30, Every bit of m.iterial required had to bo carried into the tunnel oil the workmen s backs for a distance of thirty chains, an arduous performance, and the work of rendering hid to be finished and the men out of the tunnel by 12.30 1Q order to allow the cement to dry before the water was again turned into the tunnel. This work could not be hurried, as the reservoir had to be kept full. On the average it was possible to do fifteen feet a day and about two chaius 011 each side of the tunnel required attention. The I work, Mr Gibbon claimed, would engage three men three days a week for a month or six weeks, and would be absolutely effective.