LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81849, 24 September 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The New Plymouth sessions of the Supreme Court open to-morrow. It is rumoured that holders of oilboring rights have sold at /^io ; ooo. There is no official confirmation of the report. Mr Jennings is urgiijj;- the Government to purchase for closer settlement Mr Joshur, Jones' Mokau estate, in .N'Orth TaranaUi. The c ontract for the installation of electric liifht in the New Plymouth Post Office and government Builndings has beyn secured by Messrs Smart Bros. Negotiations are proceeding with a view to securing a recital by Mr H. J.eniaiv at St. Mary's Church, New Plymouth, before ihis celebrated oireturns io Melbourne alter his visit to iii«- i.iMHsy. The Kaikoia correspondent of a Napier paper notes a.> a sign of ihe times that e;ev<n faipi' rs of the trict have had oil engines and .-dn upshearing machinery on their iaims during the last few weeks, and mure arc to fol'ow .-suit. Figures collected by the Tourist J)'-partment show thai no less than 4<,<» visitor stayed at the piincipal hotuh ami in Auckland during the pa-a j)ioiuh. (.)!' thuse qi) came from Kngland, 14ft from New S-.uth Wales, and 2z from \ icti.'i ia. This represents an iih'va.-,e of about 100 on the pirn ding- jii'iith, and illustrates the importance uf the touiist traliic to Auckland. A petition in bankiuptcv has been signed against Alexander PatetMin, t lading u* PaVrson Jiios., diapers, Jlaueia. The Auckland "Herald" uml<T>iands that the r>tato is one ~f considerable s'w, with liabilities amounting K> some /.Noou or /jo,ooo, and a.-sets iv luinaljy valued'at about The iirst meeiing of creditors will b;; held at I lawera on October j. By the de;i',!) of Mi I'dwat<l Tims. I'etly 011 Thursday, New Plymouth 1 .ses one of iiS old'St M-lller*. The 'ate gentleman, who had many bene-' voicnt qualities and was much esleemed, came to Taranaki in the 1 carjy Jays, and f< r a period of nearI !v 2$ years w.u- in business in the town as a furnishei. He is survived by a family of four bov ;md ihree girls. The funeral took place on Kriday and \v;H la;rgely ;>/ueni:!ed, . il)e Rev. Nixon officiating at the graveside-. Members of the Ma-S'-nic fratemil y were rhe bearers, deceased being a prominent *vJason and at one time secretary of the local branch for eight years. He had almost th« a'l'Jtted span, his age

House rents are a diminishing quantity just now. A Now Plymouth ag'tu i-ports a fa!! of somcwhcm about ten per cenl. on recent rates, prcbabiy due to tin- inducements now offered to residents in the suburbs.

The Bid to amend the Workers' Dwellings Act of last year, introduced by the Minister for Labour, increases the salary maximum <.f a worker who may apply a dwelling under the Act from ,£156 to ,6200 per annum.

The Whakatika A ladies' hockey team (New Plymouth) journeyed to lnglewood on Saturday to meet the Hinemoas (Stratford) in the final for the championship. The result was indecisive, each side scoring one goal, and another match wi'l be p'aved next Saturday. The Whakatika B's played the Inglewood team, and this match ended in the same way.

It is rumored in Dunedin shipping circles that the Union Company ha 6 augmented the strength cf its fleet by the purchase of another steamer. Inquiries at headquarters elicit the reply that public info:illation is being withheld for a few days. Nevertheless (says the "Otago Times") there is good reason to believe that the rumor is correct.

The Bank of England rate of discount for best three months' bank bills has been raised from 3J to 4 per cent owing to the drain of gold for the United States and Egypt. It was feared that the rate would have been raised to 4! and possibly 5 per cent, but the pressure was relieved, the Bank of France undertaking to supply ,63,000,000. In his annual report, the Chief Health Officer's Dr. Mason's) scheme of medically inspecting school children is set forth, together with the statement that, of 117,000 children attending the colony's elementary schools, only 27,327 live in the four large centres, so that, even if the children there were looked after, a great number would still go uninspected. By the light of a candle stuck in a bottle it was possible 011 Saturday night to decipher the legend, "The Great Sea Serpent," fastened on the exterior of a coloured tent on the vacant section opposite the Taranaki Hotel. A be'l jingled and jangled its invitation to the people, some of whom parted with coin of the realm to see the "sea-serpent," probably the ribbon-fish or the octopus caught at Moturoa on Friday. Enterprise I Several Crown and native leaseholders in the Hawke's Bay back country have forwarded a petition to the Minister for Agriculture, asking that the work of the destruction of rabbits be prosecuted with greater vigor and efficiency. The petition (says the "Telegraph") intimates that, unless measures are taken promptly, the leases in some cases will have to be abandoned, as ill some cases the cost of rabbiting is far too great a burden on the land.

Proffessor Abbott, of Melbourne, lecturing in the Federal Ciub rooms recently, exhibited a picture of a lady, who lie said, was interviewed by the late Premier(Mr. R. J. Scddon) when last in Melbourne, and who told him that he would not reach New Zealand alive. Mr. Seddon doubted the lady's prescience at the time, but her clairvoyant abilities were amply justified by the tragic termination of Mr. Secldon's last visit to the Commonwealth.

ft is stated that wild, sheep have keen running undisturbed in a corner of Tutira run, in llawke's Bay, for 40 years, during which time they Iravc reverted to almost the original colour. Mr Gutlirie Smith, the owner of the run, says that 25 to 30 per cent, of them an: pure b ! ack with a wiiite tip to the tails. The prototype of these scattered mobs wei.e merino sheep, and, in spite of a mixture of longwoo] blood, all the rams carry fine merino heads. It has been suggested, says t'le Lvttelton Times, that the Education and Defence authorities should approach the Government with the view ci inviting Earl Roberts to visit New Zealand during the Exhibition period, and undertake an extensive review of the cadei.s and volunteers. It is believed that a visit fr„m the veetan soldier would evoke a great deal of interest, and that Earl Roberts' sympathy with and interest in the cadet movement would, if the colony sent an invitation, induce him to visit New Zealand.

A number of cows within the last few days have suddenly died (says the Glen Oroua correspondent of the Marlon Advocate), being taken with symptoms of a somewhat similar nature to those of milk fever, but the attack occurs both before and after calving-, sometimes even a m'bntii .ater, and dairymen are rather exercised in their minds as to the cause. It is confined to half-a dozen adjoining farms and so far no apparent cause either before or after death can be traced. Mr. Raikes, Government Veterinarian, is investigating the matter.

Chatting about political manias tin: other day, Mr A. K. Barclay, M.U.R., said that at one time il was imnigbt certain that the session wou.d wind up before November, but ihat is by no means » sure thing now. 11 (lie Land Hill is not passed before then (and lie thinks that there is litt.e likelihood that it will be, although it may be), mere is strong probability that the House ivill |)e to adjourn for a week or ton days, and return to complete their work after the Exhibition has been fairly started. The impression seems to have gained ground that the operation ol lie Land for Settlement Act would become practically a dead letter, but apparently such vviH not be the case. All". Ijai) lay stares (hat in conversation with the Milliner for ]. ; a|ids, ]ie found that such was not the intention of the Government. It is intended to continue the purchase of lands for closer settlement, but without further bori owing on the London market.

An interesting- experiment has been begun in Philadelphia by the healtn and charity officials of the city, with a view to depriving chi.dren of criminal tedencies by means of surgical operations. Nine eminent physicians met recently to »ee performed upon seven children, there were two operations on the brain, three on tho eyes, and two minor operations for nervousness. These seven patients had been picked from a large number as' being children who appeiir.ed fo be destined to careers of "evil doing unless something was clone to a'u'r their organisation; Their past history and the condition of their general health had been made tin- -subject of careful study, and, final'v, the consent of the parents was asked' and obtained before the knife was used. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is largely responsible for this novel campaign against the incipient disposition to crime, and medical men are deeply interested in the experiment. It" is intended to perform a great number of operations upon feeble-minded and criminal youths if these experiments prove to be successful.

'Hie Buenos Avres Standard has the following remarks op the subject of emigration to Argentina: "When on the subject wi! would like to once more pro.est most energetically against the criminal ignorance displayed by some of our contemporaries ill British colonies. They go into raptures over the prosperity, greatness and magnificence of the Argentine Republic, and never mention the prohibitive drawbacks awaiting British immigrants. The natural cotise i|U'-nee is that every office with an English name, and even Government offices where Englishmen are known lo be, are flooded with men rr-reni'v arrived from South Africa, Australia or Mew Zealand—besides a fair contingent from England itself—a 1 asking ft r work, and more often than not lor temporary pecuniary assistance. Nobody wants such men anywhere, in town or ramp. They cannot speak Spanish, and are useless: nor is there work, such as they want, for them to do. Pretty well every berth in 'lie country has already a dozen applicants for it. Work, 110 doubt, there is; but it is for navvies, and the ma iority of tin- in-'ii wou'd not stav a wo'-k hordiivr witli Italians of the lowest class, and no one can wonder a 1 it. It is sheer cruelty to deceive men so, and it is the tluiy of the press to put fads franklv .before those whom it may concern."

On Saturday, Mr B. Dive received a cable from London to the effect that there is a rise of two kroncrs (about 2/1) in the quotations for Danish butter, and of 6/ for Normandy (French) butter. Evidently the prices for best New Zealand consignments will show a correspondingly iarge rise, says the Eltham Argus.

The Borough Council's warning to drivers not to exceed a walking pace in crossing the Powdcrham-street bridge seems to be honoured as much in the breach as in the observance, perhaps more so. Many foils in charge of horses do not ease the pace one jot on arriving at the bridge, forgetting that on the stability of the bridge depends their safety. But it doesn't matter to the driver, it's only a public bridge, belonging, in his opinion, to nobody in particular. The way of transgressors is hard. On Saturday night an accident occurred, the principals in which are hardly likely to proceed against one another or to lay an information against [he other fellow for breach of the by-laws. Both were cycling along a footpath, breach No. 1; both were without lights, breach No. 2; they met, crashed together, uttered warm language, breach No. 3. It was fortunate that neither had any great speed on, and the damage was almost nil.

Today and to-morrow, Mr G. H. I'inson, the well-known Auckland tailor and specialist in breeches and lia.btt-making, may be seen at No. 3, ,' J ' x l :,ross Co.'s sample rooms! Ihe .latest "Field" f/shion plates from London, and the new season's sarnp.es may be inspected, and in this connection Mr Pinson announces he wilt be pleased to show ladies and gentlemen the samples and plates, Whether they are intending purchasers or not.

I lie lot of the Ashburton policeman nowadays (says the "Press") is at-, most wholly associated with the manner and methods of public observance of tile -liquor laws. The monotony Oi the beat is broken by visits to the railway station 011 the arrival of tiains to see that liquor coming into the no-license district is properly labelled as required by the Act, and that none is smuggled i Dj while raids 011 places suspected of slygrog-sclling are of frequent occurrence.

Ale Aute settler was puzzled lately by unaccountable mortality amongst his sheep and cattle. Between forty and fifty sheep (says the Hawkes' 1 'Werald ) died within a few days, as well as seven head of cattle, ilio Settler, at his wit's end to find the cause, called in the Government veterinary and stock inspector in charge of the district, Mr D. H. Rait, who found the symptoms in all cases to be those of irritant poisoning-. He forwarded portions of the dead bodies to the Government Analyist, wlio confirmed Mr Rait's suspicions, stating' positively that deatli was caused by arsenical poisoning, -Inquiries elicited the fact that a quantity of weed destroyer had been used to kill blackberries a few' days before the mortality commenced, and it is practically certain that the cattle and sheep partook of the grass around the bushes on which the mixture had fallen and were poisoned thereby. The settler has paid dearly for the knowledge he has acquired!