LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8123, 31 May 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr R. McNab, M.H.R.,who is visiting America in search of information for his early history of New Zealand writes from Boston, undor dato April Ist: " I leave here the first thing tomorrow for Salem, where I commence my work. You would like Salem. It is an old shipping port, where about 1800 to 1801 lived, the wealthiest shipmasters in the world. They scoured every sea. In tho local museum are curios from New Zealand dated 1802. The old sea dogs had a club. One of tho conditions of membership was that you must have sailed as captain or supercargo round the Cape of Good Hope or Horn. They made collections and handed them to the club, which had 150. lam examining them and taking copies and photos of all relating to New Zealand for publication. I have found reference (o New Zealand as early as 1792."—Dunedin " Star."

The post mortem examination on the body of a young man who was found dead iu bed in Ashburton on Sunday morning, revealed a physiological phcnomenon, which is seldom met with. The organic system of the deceased was found to be an exact transposition of the orthodox human construction, tho heart and other organs which are generally located on the left side of the human body being on the right side, whilo the liver and other physical organs of the right side were found in corresponding positions on tho left side of the system. Dr. Boyd, who conducted the post mortem, said there was no reason why a person who was born with his physical economy so diametrically transposed should not be healthy and live an average existence. Such cases as this occur very rarely, and medical practitioners do not reckon on coming across one even in a lifetime,

Apropos of the tlecr-sfalking accidents during the past season, a Wanganui sporlsm-in, who had been shorting in the Wairarapa, told a friend i how easily serious accidents may happen, and narrated a case in point. A sport had been out in the morning and located a stag just entering a scrub break Believing that the animal would probably come out again in the course of half an hour or an hour, he decided to lay in waiting After some l ime had ela >«d the sportsman noticed a movement in the scrub and then delected a pair of antlers, lie was alioi t to shoot when a neculiar moyenicnt of I lie antlers caused him to hesititc and I scrutinise more closely, .lust tin n. instead of tho expected slag, a man emerged from (lie scrub carrying a stag's head, with long antlers, strapped to his back. The horns reached higher than the man's head, and consequently were visible over the scrub, whilst the man himself was hidden. A surprising fact in connection with the trade between New Zealand and Australia is to hand. For about three years the export of goods by the boats which leave Dunedin for Melbourne every week has barely averaged 50 tons per steamer. Inquiries made rog:iriling the matter show that this state of things is general all over New Zca. land. The cargo trade from the colony to the Commonwealth lias dwindied to a fraction of its former self, file cause being chiefly the Federal tariff. Since the breaking up of the groat Australian drought a year or two ago 1 things have been worse than ever. Good seasons in Australia mean a diminished Australian demand for '' New Zealand commodities—Dunedin ! "Star." 1 i Out. on flic deep 'lie storm blew wild, * But the man at the wheel stood firm. He swallowed some 0. T. PUNCH and ' smiled, 1 t lfot the cold couldn't make biro squjf«j (

It is reported that a R'lssiau litie j consisting at first of ten steamers, is shortly to engage in tra.de between Vladivostok and Sydney, and between the Far East and San Francisco.

The member for Rangitikei considers that lie lias just as much liopo of being elected Mikudo of Japan as of see'ng Mr Hall-Jones's prediction in respect to having railway communication through to Auckland by 1908 realised.

At a special meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council yesterday afternoon, it was decided to strike and levy a general rate of Is 9d in the £, and a water rate of 6d in the £ for the ensuing year. The special rate of lOd in the £ continues, making the total rates 3s Id in the £ the same as last year,

Commercial travellers who havo recently been to the Lakes district, Otago, state that tile bad weather experience 1 has been sobad that many old pioneers say that they havo not experienced such a protracted spell of tempestuous weather for 40 years. The hills and mountains are covered with snow.

A Welliagtonian has been for a holiday to Taranaki, and on his return he was asked what it was like there. " Oh," said he, " it is nothing but eows. There is cow everywhere, even on the names of places What with ' Cowpokonui,'' Cow-ponga,' and' Qow-puni,' it makes a fellow wonder if there is a place called Cow-land,"

Once again Messrs Harland and Wolff, the famous shipbuldcrs of Belfast, aro about to break all previous records in shipbuilding. Tho White Star liner Adriatic, now in course of construction at their yards, will have a register of 25,000 tans, a length of 710J feet, and a depth of 40 feet. She will bo the largest vessel in the world.

Mr T. E. Donne is establishing a branch of the Tourist Department in Sydney. No trouble will be spared to giye inquirers every particulars free |of charge its to land settlement, soonery, thermal aotion, native lifo, farming uuder every phaso.

On some of tho trout in tho Masterton fish hatcheries a cancerous growth has been detected. The Wellington " Timos " correspondent writes that Mr Gilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian, has made an examination of the fish affected, and has had fifteen marked and scparatod for special diet. In some of the trout there is a growth on tho neck as largo as a walnut.

The Hawkc's Bay Maori census shows a total population of 4397, Wairoa County contributing 220(1. The Maoris of the province havo 1230 acres of potatoes, 172 acres wheat, 501 acres maize, and 967 acres of other crops. Their live stock amounts to 68,342 sheep, 2722 cattle, and 1899 Pigs-

Professor Bonnor, of Messrs Bostock and Wombwell's Circus, desires us to intimate that the arrangements for the sensational hypnotic carriage drive, which starts from the circus at three o'clock this afternoon, arc well forward. The gentlemen who have kindly consented to act on the public committee aro requested to be in attendance at the circus tent at 2.30 shtyrp.

The strange disappearance of a number of vessels in Eastern waters is said to be causing a good deal of uneasiness amongst shipowners. It is thought unlikely that they have all foundered during bad weather. In consequence of the fears entertained that possibly the loss of one or more of these vessels had been occasioned by the depredations of pirates, the Chinese Government steamer Tsinghai was sent out recently, and was herself attacked by seven junjfs. After a long fight three of the vessels wero captured, but the other four escaped

The deficiencies of the Dunedin youth who seeks a position in a mcrca itile office were shown up'at a meeting of the Danedin School Committei g' Association recently. A Bond street merchant said" There is a great inarticulate growl about Ihi instruction given in our public schools. On behalf of the merchant class, I might say that when wp get a boy from the primary schools in the office we have to begin and teach him the things he should have learned years ago. I have had a good many boys through my hands for office work, and it is my experience, as well as of all the men I havo met, that when we get a boy from tho public schools wc haye to begin to teach him simple addition, and it is three or four years before we can brpak him of the abominable writing he loams at school, It is a third fact that we have to teach him manners."

The long ponding claim undor the Public Works Acts, made by Mr J. G. "Willy against the Eltham Borough for compensation for the taking of land, under lease to him, for drainago purposes was finally decided at Eltham on Monday last by tho Compensation Court, consisting of Mr Turnbull, S.M., as President specially appointed in the place of Mr Justioo Edwards, and of Messrs Bradshaw Dive and Templcr as assessors. Mr Samuel and Mr Symc (Borough solicitor) appeared as counsel for the Eltham Borough Council, and Mr G. P, Wake as counsel for Mr Willy. The claim was for £ISOO, but tho award made was for £450 and a perpetual right of way over part of the land taken, together with an order that tho Council should fence and keep all fences in repair. No costs were allowed. At tho same timo the Court dealt with an application by Mr G. J. Willy to reduce tl.'c rent payable under his lease from the Sclioil Commissioners by reason of part of tho land having been taken. Mr Samuel appeared as counsel for the Commissioners and Mr Wake as counsel for Mr Willy, and an order was made by consent fixing the reduction at £l3 per annum, to take effect as from the Ist July last.

There are said to be 10,800 nativeNew Zealanders in Sydney, says a Sydney paper reporting Mr Seddon's arrival, and " one might have imagined that thov were all on Circular Quipy. The landing place was lavishly decorated with flags, and several thousand people had assembled, from whom a groat chccr went up, jingled with Maori greetings, as the New Zealand Premier stepped from the steamer. ' Mr Seddoa, let me give you a welcome to New South Wales. Wo are very glad to see yon,' said Mr Carruthers, as the two Premiers shoo'c hands on the wharf '• liapai te pakeha. Ake ako. Tenakoe pakeha," and "Three cheers for good old Dick," shouted the crowd, as Mr Seddon, his wife and daughter, aad Mr Carruthers entered a waiting carriage. The recipient of the welcome thanked the bystanders for Iheir " kindly and courteous welcome," and the visitors were driven to the Australia hotel.

While a reporter was interviewing Mr Seddon at Sjdney, New Zealand's Premier began to give evidence of a desire to escape. He commenced to examine his watch, but the pressman with a happy inspiration, struck an '< Open Sesame" for a further flow of oratory. He mentioned ' New Zealand International Exhibition," and the Premier at onoe forgot about his chronometer. "It is going to be a new thing in exhibitions," lie said. "It will bo purely a State enterprise! and will bo run on lines different a good deal from those of most shows of this sort. Its success is assured. The buildings aro well in hand, and there has beon moro floor spaco asked for than we can supply; while from what I can gather tho class of exhibits is superior to anything we haye had south of the lino. The Homo Government are spending £IO,OOO in connection with it, and America has voted £2OOO fo ' delegates alone; while Canada will I eclipse tlumall. She is putting up a bu lding all her own. She means business, and my cxperienco is that when Canada means business other ountrics had better look out,"

Ladies''evening shoes, 2s lid; felt slippers' witli carpet sobs, Is pairs splendid felt slippers with cork soles, Is 9d ; dressy glace kid shoes, button or lane, Sis (jd; splendid house sljppcrs ■villi leather soles, 2s lid ; men's sizes, 3s lid; men's warm felt slippers, Is tid pair, at the Molbourno Clothing Co,—Ac VI,

A meeting of all those interested in | Irish affairs, and their number in legion, is to bo hold to-night in St. Joseph's schoolroom for tlio purpose of considering a proposal to form a branch of the United Irish League in New Plymouth. Mr A. Boivden, accountant, Inglewood and New Plymouth, intimates that he is prepared to keep and balance trades-peoples' books. For over twelve years Mr Bowden was accountant at the D.1.0. head office, Wellington, and is thoroughly versed in the most modern system of book-keeping.

" Ho you want the best at the least cost ? " is the query asked in Messrs Morey and Son's new advertisement iu this issue. The firm has a splendid line of dress materials advertised, and offers a discount of 10 per cent, spot cash to anyone mentioning their advertisement in this paper. That's money easily earned.

Mr W. T. Jennings, M.H.R., in pre* facing his remarks on the ironsand question last night, suggested that the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce should

frequently hold meetings representative of Taranaki, ana invite the Members of Parliament to be present, so that some unanimity and cohesion might be arrived at in regard to various public matters, This system was adopted with great success in Auckland and Dunedin, and it was time, he said, that Taranaki followed suit and joined hands, instead of being so divided on mittors of vital importance to tho province.

A quost for gold in ths wild and little known region of Ticrra del Fuogo, in Patagonia, is the object of an expedition which will shortly start from England. Prospectors discovered alluvial gold as far back as 1880, and the purpose of the present expedition is to dredge for gold, the sands of certain rivers being said to be full of particles of the precious metal washed down from the higher country. A queerlooking stern-wheel boat has b"»«xi constructed in Thornycroft's yard at Chiswick for the use of the expedition. It takes tho form of a shallow steam barge of metal, capable of carrying five tons of tho "golden saud," and will act as a tender to the dredger, carrying the sand to the headquarters of the prospectors to have the gold extracted.