LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8163, 24 July 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Th.< Government buildings m New Plymouth will be closed on Thursday I for Arbor Day, instead of on Wednes-1 day as previously notified. The Taranaki Caunty Council's request for a furl her Government subsi ly of £ fo* £ towards the cost of regrading the Oakura hill on the South r ad will recciye the attention of Parliament at nexi session.

A petition from a number of ratepayers, asking tliat Ifobson street he metalled from Lemon street to the P'ymouth boundary, was submitted to the B irough Council last night, and referred to the Works Committee to report. Mr E. P. Webster, sec-eUry to the Taraaaki Agricultural Society, i iforms us that Mr J. A. Gilruth, chief Goycrnment veterinarian, will be pleased to deliver a lecture to farmers, tinder iho auspices oE tho Society, about the end of August or early in September. He has asked the Society to suggest the subject for the address, At the Magistrate's Court on Monday morning seventeen debt claims were called. Six were adjourned, and the remainder settled. In Dean v, Copestake, claim £5 7s (id, a judgment summons, the judgment debtor did not appear. An order was made for payment of the amount forwith, in default seven days' imprisonment with hard labor in the Auckland gaol,

The annual Social Work meeting of the Salvation Army was hold by the local corps last night. There was a very large attendance, Adjutant Macauley delivering a very exhaustive and interesting review of the social work of the year. Mr Upton presided, and the Rev. Nixon also spoke, The Garrison Rind marched in procession to the hall prior to the meeting, and rendered a number of selections.

The following figures arc rather interesting, as showing "how to make money." The amoaut paid to Mr R L Mestayer, consulting engineer, in connection with the Now Plymouth water, drainage and electric lighting installations, is as follows: Amount paid for supplying reports, £15:! Os Id ; amount paid for commission, £1,571 •2s 8d; a total of €1,721 2s 9d. Thenis a balance vet owing, £2Bl 6s dd. bringing the total to £2,005 'Js Id. The circumstances being generally known, there should be an overflowing attendance at the Garrison Band's promenade benefit concert at the Drill Hall on Thursday night, An excellent programme has been arranged, including items by a Uiincdm localist and a number of the latest descriptive selections by the Band. A dance is to he held after the concert,

Mr ft. V. Tate, Chairman of fh.. Taranaki County Couuml, Mr E. Doekrill, Mayor of New Plymouth, and Mr L, Steele, Chairman of the llenui Ttoid Biird. will confer this morning with Mr Biss, District Hallway Engineer, in respect to the matter of obtaining as a stock route the present railway line from Watson street to Paynter's Lane. The intentions of the Department have not yet been divulged with reference to the old route, which will, of course, be rendered useless to them by the deviation of ilia line beachwards.

The Hon. th-< Premier has written to the New Plymouth Borough Council flint although hi 1 h is no doubt that tin Legislature intended that local bodies should be enabled to help technical classes by grants, and that tho New Plymouth Borough O.iincil's grant to the Taranaki Kdueiition it jai'J was in accordance with law, he would not take rcponsibilily far Ik.- legal correctness of his opinion, uoii'ier was it open for him to suppiv t'ie council with the opinion of tie l.iL- ,' . u |visors of Ihe ftnv..r:i.neiit The ci.iul has accordingly rescinded the resolution viiieh made the grant. A petition ivi.i presented by Cr. rVed Mela'aioei- <■> fie .wv !'l /mouth li.'.roagii Cciu.dl list n!;!,!. askine that Waimaiiu street be opened. Waimaiiu street is shown on the map as running from Molcsworth street to the beach. The street is at present iccupied by the Taranaki Garrison Band hall, and by the Sash and Door Company. To open it up will mean that an overhead bridge must be built oyer the new railway line, and this aspect of the question will be mentioned to the District Engineer to-day. The mailer is in the hands of the Borough Works Committee.

The lirst Baud of Hope meeting for the season in connection with the Primitive Methodist Church atFilzroy was held in the Public Hull last night. The chair was taken by the liev. J. F Doherty in the presence of a large attendance. The programme submitted was of an excellent character, and comprised songs and recitations. The following took part:—Misses Maude Connett, E. Linn, Eva Briscoe, Hook, Hazel, Grillilhs, Isie Cathro, M. Briscoe, and Mr .Mason. A short address by the chairman completed, the programme. At the closo a very hearty vote of thanks was tendered to all those who had contributed to the enjoyment of tlm evening.

When the Mayor of New Plymouth was in Wellington over a month a(,'o, he obtained an assurance from the Premier that in future the Railway Department would deal promptly and courteously with any correspondencj ■oml by the New Plymouth. Borough iCumcil. There was a nudicd politeness and evenness in Cr. .Vilsoa's (one last night when Ir 'uceiimcl the milter of the Premier's issuriue,, and thru weni on to remark that ?.ix weeks age a letter was sent to ihej Department asking that bridge.over the railway be the full width of the streets, and if any suburban station would be proviled in lieu of Eliot street station. As yet, no answer habeeu received, so he moved that the Premier be asked to see that the letter be at least acknowledged. The motion was carried, the Mayor remarking thai the council had a great deal to complain of in respect to their treatment by the ItailwayDcpartment. f$

The Kgraont County Council ha< asked the assistance of' the New Ply. mouth Borough Council in urging on the Government He ueccs*i(v for the construction of I he" Kltlnm-Opmake" I'.iilir.iy. When Ihe mailer r line before the Council on .Xioinhiy, the Mayor and Councillors seemed inclined to leave ilie matter of route and the junction with the present line to the Goycrninenl to lix. Cr Bellrmger thought Tar.malii had more urgent and necessary works, and opposed the scheme. A resolution was ]i.rs.,e.l alllrmiiii.' ihe desirability of cjnneeting Opunalcc with the pre::enl mil way system.

What arc the ueces-cariesof iil'e ? Hi Ihc Magistrate's Oourt on .Monday n ju lenient debtor Was subjected to a searching examination by Mr Claude We,lon,'counsel fur the plainlilf, who is a wi.lo-ved lady in Jmsiness as a

grocer. Ah- Weston submitted that tue debtor was one of the class of men who live on the small storekeeper, c.ntracling accounts without having the slightest intention of paying, ii.inning a legal eye through the items of the bill, Mr Weston caught sight of •'pickles. 1n.1." This appeared to him a pie-e of extravagance. "Whit docs -i man in your position want with pick'.-.-, ;it. teiipem-e a bottle, loi?" I'eai-hes, g.d,!cn s-vup, and " nugget " -rev qurricii in iai-ii, but the d.-b!o» asked bow a man could live v.iihou! sn-h Ihmgs. and asked counsel to note ll.al these items appeared only a' long intervals. X.. order was made.

For reliable boots and snocs ot nil sorts at bedrock prices go to Dockrill's Devon Street Central, who has earned the reputation for the last 25 years of selling the above class of boots at the lowest prices. Postal orders always receive extra attention, as 1 guarantee I ogive every satisfaction in lit and style—A DVT A ii'tle 0. T. PUXCII, In a little water hot; A sound, refreshing sleep, Yes, ilnat is wliiu I .trot. A deintv liuie lunch, Willi a glass of O.T. PUNCH. j Is ihc acme of perfection, No. fear of contradiction, '

The Henui Church Guild intend holdinp; a sale of work, with afternoon lea and refreshments, in the afternoon and evening of Thursday, August 2nd. .Should the Mayor ho still unsatisfied i.ih riiiway deviation mat tors after his conference with the District Engineor today, he is authorised to call a special meeting of tho Borough Council.

Tlic euehre party in Si, Joseph's schoolroom on Monday was very well attended. The prizes" were won by Miss Potior and Mrs Bluett, and Messrs B. Stannering and P. Douglas. The parlies in future will be held on Monday evenings. Air F. Parkin has completed his stone carting contract for the New Plymouth Borough Council at the Waiwakaiho. Of the 2.0U0 yards of braiders, 70 ) yards hive been crushed and placed upon the borough streets. The Mayor ou Monday night referred to the proposed New Plymouth Technical school as "tho working"" man's school," and gave his opinion that in i few years uo young man would bo able to got a g-.od appointment without having had a course of tochnijul instruction.

Clematis is blooming freely in th" lovely piece of native bush" on M' Sole's property on tho Avenue roal New Plymouth. Clematis in full bloom in July is a rare occurrence, an I Mr Sole says it is almost incredible Willows are already budding, and there arc other signs that " spring is coming."

The residents m the Okalo district who offered to contribute £lO towards the cost of constructing a footpath in tho Okato township arc nof satisfied with the progress male, and Mr J. S. Eox, representing the subscribers, has written declining to pay the amount until the work is nearer completion.

The members oE the Conciliation Beard for the Taranaki Industrial District, met in the New Plymouth Courthouse on Monday afternoon to elect a chairman. Tho whole Board attended i Messrs Geo. Cliff and J. S. S. Medley representing the employers, and Messrs T. Buchanan and J. 0. George for the workers. Mr D. Berry, of New Plymouth, was elected chairman.

The informalioa asked for by Cr. Bellringcr, with regard to all night street lighting, has been supplied by Mr Black, borough electrician. Cr. Bellringcr has now given notice to inovo at uext Council meeting, that all street lights shall he kept burning all night. His notice to rescind the previous resolution of the Council, by which authority was given to light the arcs alt night, was withdrawn by consent of the Council.

On Friday next, Mr J. Foreman, chairman of the Clifton County Council, and Mr J. J. Elwin, will visit the South road deviation at Oakura, to assess the amount of compensation to be paid by the Taranaki County Council to Mr F. J. Morris, through whose land the new road will run. Mr Foreman acts for the Taranaki County Council, and Mr Elwin for Mr Morris.

The ilawora County Council discussed tho Opunake railway line proposal on Saturday, ami resolved " That this Council strongly protests against any effort to divert the route of tho proposed railway from Opunake to the present line, and pledges itself to do everything in its power to ensure such junction being made within the Hawera County."

Apparently there still remains soin doubt about the New P'ymauth inc'a • upply. On the motion of its abattoir committee, the Borough Council has suggested to the Agricultural De partment the advisability of It tying all condemned stock from the district killed in a specially prepared place at the abattoir, or failing this, that killing be allowed at the Barrett Bond depot only on certain days, and that the inspector be present on all such days to see the work of destruction .'ffectivoly carried out.

A curious occurrence is reported from Stanthorpe (Q). About three years ago Harry Connolly, a son of Mr A. Conolly, of Moloug, who was carrying on business as a baker at Glon Innes (N.S.W), mysteriously disappeared. Some time ago a resident of Glen Innes was touring Queensland, and while m the Stanthorpe district he came in contact with a young man locally known as Terry O'Brien, who was said locally to have completely lost his memory, except for events during the last three years. The nun recognised O'Brien as Conolly, and forthwith wrote to Molong to the young man's father. Mr Conolly, sen., Has left for Stanthorpe, He feels sure that O'Brien is his lost soa. Connolly asserts that he was attacked m the streets at Glen Tunes, struck on the head, and robbed of his money and valuables, [fc then lost his memory, the name of Terry O'Brien having been given to him by the nurse at the hospital, where his wounds were dressed.

Messrs Buckeridge, of Auckland, who have for eight years been experimenting with an automatic invention For preventing railway accidents, have brought their patent to Wellington (says the Wellington correspindent of ihe Otago" Daily Times.") The sysis elecirical, and by means of wires placed beUeeu the rails on the periiiancnt way and an equipment in the call of eaidi engine, auloinalic warnings can lie conveyed to rngine-drivers either iiy the ruling of a bell, ihe blowing of a whistle bysieam, or other signals. A d inner zone an be arranged within which it would be impossible for two engines to come into collision, and the giving way of a girder of a bridge, Ihe collapse of any portion of a tunnel, the washing away of any part of the permanent way, and the displacing of points would all be automatically intimated loan approaching •Miginc. The invention, which has bce u investigated by (he Kailivay Depar t . incut, is under offer to the New i 5e a . land and Australian Governments.