The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 29. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8122, 29 May 1906, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 29. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Te Rangi Pai Song Rocital, Theatre Royal, to-night. Box plan at the Dresden.

As the time approaches for the Fitzroy Fire Brigade ball it is evident that it will prove an irresistible attraction. With a perfect floor, excellent orchestra, and all other details to correspond, there should bo a record gathering. Even the young folks will have an opportunity of onjoying thomsolves and helping a good oause, A local barrister, under instructions from a Palmerston resident, has issued a writ against an unqualified medical practitioner,- resident in the town, claiming damages for unskilful treatment by whioh claimant's wife's life was endangered, and necessitating urgent treatment in tho hospital. The details of the case arc alleged to be sensational. Manawatu " Daily Times,"

There is a saying that whenever a new settlement is foundod m Australia, tho first thing done is to mark out a | site for the cemetery, tho next to survey and grade the racecourse. The wholo life of this people is passed in the open air; the percentage of drones among them is so small as to be a negligible quality; ani altogether Australia might be considered the paradise ! of athletes.—Julian Hawthorne, iu the New York " American."

The growth of Rechabitism during the past few years has been very maaked, the Order taking on immensely with British troops and bluejackets. Staff-Sergeant Jackson, who was stationed in India for ten years, is paying a Bhort visit to New Plymouth, and to-night, at the Foresters' Hall, will relate some entertaining facts of work among the soldiers. His account ot the Rechabite meeting, held in the Temple of Heaven in Canton during the Boxer rising, is worth going miles to hear. A splendid miscellaneous programme of musical items, etc., will also be given, and a bumper house is expected.

The census has causod great trouble inWanganui. The "Herald" pleads for a "greater Wanganui," on the ground of lost prestige, and agitates for the borough area to be enlarged, so that Wanganui may come to be regarded as the fifth, and not the ninth town in the colony. " Strangers coming to New Zealand, and colonists who may think of settling in some other part, are very often influenced and guided in the choice of their future homo by the population of the town (says the " Herald "), and it is not difficult to conceive that Wanganui has lost many an enterprising business man and worthy settler owing to the false position in which we are placed." The " Herald " must be in a pretty bad way when it gives utterance to suoh a wail.

The Otago " Daily Times " is the latest journal to take up the question of the encouragement given to gambling by legalising the totalizator. It

finds that in fifteon years the amount of money invested on the totalisator by the public has increased fromjuSt over £500,000 a year to closo on £1,500,000 a year, and m another fifteen years, at the same rate of progress, the total will have reached four and a half millions, and tho State's commission on the in. vestments will exceed £60,000. "It is liigh time," says the " Daily Times," in considering this prospect, " that the relations of the Government to gamblers were clearly defined. Nay, more, it is absolutely necessary that such prcssuro shall be brought to bear upon the Premier and his colleague's as shall remove the last shiold of legality from an evil that threatens the very foundation of national progress."

Describing tho formation of the Taranaki country, apropos of the oil discoveries, in conversation witli a representative of theWelhugton "Post," Sir James Hector said that along the lines of fissures caused and more or less occupied by dykes of a volcanic nature radiating from the eruptive centre, the oil and gases must necessarily escape and reach the surface in an irregular manner ; the irregularity] was the great point of the whole thing. Aloug the great dykes that were now exposed at the surface and represented by what was known as the group of Sugar Loaves at Taranaki, fissures probably existed, from which issued the products of the destructive distillation tnat was caused by tbo later volcanic energy of Mount Egmont, and through these fissures was discharged the oil which for the last fifty years had excited the interest and aspirations of local residents." Sir James should now be invited to inspect the present oil well, and he would probably alter or modify his hypothesis. The graceful swans that glide over the surface of the ornamental lakelets in the Recreation Grounds were responsible for a miniature tragedy on Monday morning. Two of them, male and female, set upon the odd male bird, and a savage fight ensued. Wings and beaks wrought fearful havoc with the plumage. The bachelor put up a game fight, but was unable to withstand the onslaught of his assailants, and was overpowered and killed. Before the dead body could be recovered by the caretaker and a local resident, who saw the conclusion of the affray, the victors had almost denuded it of feathers, and the surface of the pond was covered with proof of their return tc their wild state. There are now only two swans—a pair—remaining out of the three pairs brought here from England about four years a?o by Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.E., and presented by' him to the Recreation Grounds Board. A matter which the Federal Government might very well take up (says the Australian " Review of Reviews '') is the question of reciprocal trade with New Zealand. There is not the slightest reason why there should not be free trade between the Commonwealth and that colony. Conditions of labor and provisions against sweating are as severe there as in Australia Indeed, conditions are stricter in somo respects than they are in some parts of Australia. Trade relations between the two places ought to be as free as is possible, and neither country would lose anything, but would gain vastly if the products of one were introduced in the other without the hamper of duty. Wc form one people in these southern seas, and it is just as ridiculous for trade restrictions to be imposed between the two countries, where equal conditions exist, as it would bo to restore trade restrictions between the States of Australia. It would be a truly statesmanlike action, with farrcaebing results, for the Federal Government to take the matter in hand, and open up negotiations with the New Zealand Government. The matter might be put through during the coming sessions of the respective Parliaments. It ought not to conflict with the views of protectionists, and would cortainly be most acceptable to the upholders of free trade, and would help to make still tighter the bond which already exists between the two countries

"Prevention is better than cure,' and it is cheaper and far moro satisfactory in the matter of coughs and colds. In wet weather keep dry, by wearing one of W. T. Hookham's rainproof coats, To keep warm, wear warm woollcu underclothing, which may bo obtained from the same establishment, on the corner of Devon and Brougham streets, New Plymouth.

When bronchial tubes of fell catarrh Give no uncertain hint, The best of cures both near and far Is Woods' Great Peppermint. The truth is great and will prevail, His blessings will endure, These are the virtues that we hail In Woods' Great Peppermint Cure> Every bullet has its billet, All the bow-wows have their days, If I had a hook I'd fill it up With O.T. PUNCH'S prais

Melbourne advises that Naples despatch of 25th April arrived in London on the afternoon of the 27th inst.

The Harbor Board on Monday sued 34 persons for rates, most of the defaulters paying into Court.

The programme of the Te Rangi Pai song recital at the Theatre Royal to-night, appears in our advertisement columns.

Rofcrrins to the recent " stnko " at the Now Plymouth Central school, the Manawatu "Daily Times" says:— There must bo some very large boys and some very small schoolmasters in New Plymouth.

Tho subscribers to the Gilbert belief Fund have appointed Mossrs Mc-1 Arthur and Snowball trustees of the fund, to deal with as best they think fit for the benefit of the widow anl family. Including tho Lodge funeral allowance, the subscriptions totalled £133.

At Stratford yesterday the sudden death ocourrei of Mr Samuel Carleton, the cause being heart trouble. Deceased, who was a director of the Midhurst Dairy Co. and the Central Co-operative Store Co,, was 45 years of age. About forty ladies have signified their intention of attending the ambulance classes arranged by the local branch of St. John's Ambulance Society. A good attendance is requested at the meeting to be held in the Council Chambers'this evening. Mr Selfe, New Zealand manager of the Eastern Extension Company states that the cable repairing* steamer Recorder completed repairs to the cable at 2.50 p.m. on Monday, and communication with Australia, per the Eastern, is now completely restored. The Recorder now proceeds to piok up and repair the second cable. The Egmont Lodge, 1.0. G.T., held a very successful open meeting in the Queen street Schoolroom last evening, Bro. J. C. legg, C.T., presiding. A very interesting programme of speeches, songs, recitations and musical items was rendered during the evening. Refreshments were handed round, after which the Ledge resumed business, and friends were proposed, and three candidates were initiated, while one was readmitted to the Order. An Auckland carter named Walter McQuoid, who, when his horse fell down owing to an excessive load, struck it on the head with his whip and twisted its tongue, was Sued £lO and costs, "I am satisfied you behaved in a most brutal and cowardly way to the unfortunate horse," declared the Magistrate, who added that the case was one of the worst he had come across. McQuoid had, be said, gone into the box and told him what was not true, and probably proceedings for perjury would be taken. A meeting of members of the North Taranaki Hunt Club was hold on Saturday, and the following officers were elected: President, Mr H. B. Lepperi vice-president, Mr Hyslopj committee, Messrs Gus Sole, A. Cliff, E. W. Wheatley, S. McGuinness, A. H. Street, H. Salway, and P. Carthcw; hon. secretary, Mr E. P. Webster. Arrangements were completed with the Egmont Hunt Club for bringing the Egmont pack to New Plymouth on the 20th or 21st June Good country has been secured for the first meet, and everything argues well for a successful career for tho club.

At the S.M. Court, New Plymouth, on Monday, judgment went by default in the following cases : Mary O'Connor, of Gisborne (Mr Malone for plaintiff) v. Miss Slator, of Auckland, claim for goods Lt 3s 2d, costs 10s j Now Plymouth Harbour Board (Mr Quilliam for plaintiff Board) v. Herbert Wilmshurst, Doucl is road, balance of ratos LI 7s 3d, costs 17s; samo v. William T. Cox, Kaponga, rates LI 19s sd, costs 12s; same v. Francis H. Kane, Eltham, rates 17s, costs 6s; A. J. Clark and Co. (Mr Malone for plaintiffs) v. Allan Olebind, Foilding, goods LlO 17s 4d, costs LI 10s 6d. In a recent issue the Westpoi't "News" says :—" The Seddonville State Coal mine is not as nourishing a business concern as it might be, and for obvious reasons. Instead of the Wellington management pushing tho sale of the special coal, which contains about 30 per cent, of small, it is accepting orders for practically nothing but screened coal. This, of course, means that to supply the orders, a large quantity of coal must be rendered practically unsaleable It is too small to suit retirements."

Passengers by the mail train had a peculiar experience last night, having to secure their luggage, locate the exit, and make thoir way out of the station in semi-darkness, the only light being dorived from the lights in the carriages. The gas supply had temporarily failed, and plunged the station into total darkness. Candles had to be requisitioned to allow of the clerical work proceeding.

The Recreation Sports Ground Committee are to be congratulated upon having secured such favourable leasing conditions from the Recreation Grounds Board. It is pleasing to note that the Boarjl is desirous of helping the committee, and that the members of the parent body recognise the energy and steadfastness of the committoe now endeavouring to make a ground worthy, of the town.

The regular meeting of the Loyal Egmont Lodge, 1.0.0.F, M.U, was held last evening, N.G. Bro. Matheson presiding. Apologies were received from Warden Steele and Elective Secretary W. Hooker. One candidate was initiated, and two proposed for membership. V.G. Bro. H. H. Ford was nominated fir N.G. for the ensuing term, and Bro. T. L. Brown for V.G., and W. H. Butler for Elective Secretary. After the business was concluded, the members enjoyed themselves with a few games of cribbago and euchre. Rumor is a lying jade, but sometimes it belies its reputation. Rumor at present says there is much discontent and dissatisfaction permeating the whole ranks of the public school teachers in Taranaki There is a .Teachers Institute for tho voicing of grievances, but it has not mot for over twelve months. Anyhow, it roproscnts but a small per centage of the teachers. WLy has there been no meeting, and further, why is it that an organisation, that is strong numerically and in, flucntially in evory other Education district, has never prospered here ? Rumor answers that Taranaki teachers are actually afraid to speak their minds, tho impression being abroad that plain speaking would spell the speaker's quietus. If this is so, something is seriously wrong arid the ..ooner matters are brought to a head the better for thp cause of education in this province.