LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 30 July 1907, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr J''iuherbm, S.M., gave jiUf-o-yesterday morning in the case v\ ood v. Hall, an Umata leuciug dispute. His Worship held that the icnce pioposed to be erected by Mrs Hall was a satisfactory one, and thai there was nothing in the Fencing Act to compel her to erect a fence of seven-barbed wiles. Jodgmeul would be for tire defendant. When is a dog not a dog? A farmer in this district lias just paid the halfcrown license fee for a dog which tic says is "a very old dog who has ceased to be a dog in the spirit of the law." Probably t,he dog is an old friend, a sort of family retaiuer, bound by ties of alfection. I'or a farmer in some cases to kill such an old favorite would be to him almost like committing murder.

A witness in Court yesterdai stated that her husband had allowed her ;i()s a week with which to "keep house," and out of that she had managed to save 17 or £8 a year. The Magistrate. "Not clothing, of course';" "Yes, clothing too. We were up in the bush, and that didn't cost much." The Magistrate remarked: "It's a pity there are not more wives like you. Vou deserve to be complimented.'' Liter on, it was elicited that there had been bom a family of eleven, of whom sev-u w.'iv still living. "And you mean to say that you managed on .1178 a year!" queried Mr Fitzlrerbcrt. 'Yes. and often on less. For two vears 1 don't believe I had £IOO altogether, for Mr bad all our milk cheques."

During the hearing of the dispute between natives, in regard to the ownership of the Te Akau block, XV 2, which is situated ill the Auckland district, Sir Robert Stout, C.J.—who, in addition to his previously acquired knowledge of the Maoris and their customs, has recently gained further experience, in the matter of his connection with the Native Lands Commission—remarked: "These native say, 'We want posses-ion of the land of which our ancestors were the owners from time immemorial. We have never been conquered; we have ever been loyal to Great Britain, and this land is undoubtedly ours by ancestral right and ancient Maori custom.' Now, if you take that land awav from them, I 'fancy there will be a' fight pretty soon. A Maori onlv wants to get and keep his ancestral' rights; he does not want the ancestral lands of another native. The tribal lands were communal lands, and there was no owner but the tribe or hapii, and the occupiers were; uot lon-ml--in-common. There was no owtiev."--\'.Z. Times.

The Oerman Crown Prince has made a very successful debut in practical politics liy brin</i!l;r abouT llir. downfall ol' tlic powerful Coiirl r!hpie which had contrived to obtain personal influence over tlie Kaiser and thus indirectly over Hie (lovermncu! of fiennanv. Th- exposure of this clif|Ue. headed l.v Prince Philip of I'u'cnhure-. which was reported recentlv. w:is due to reiireseulalions made l.y (he Crown Pri'ife In (lie Kai--ir. who acted on his eldest son's information and advice in this case. No one else at Court dared io enliphfen tlie Emperor reeravilinpr the true character of his favorite courtiers, so fhat but for the encrpelie action of the frown Prince the inlluonce of the Camarilla nnVlit have continued for an inrlelinite period. Io the detriment of Cermnny's interests. 'i'lie Crown Prince, who lias hitherto remained in the background, has scored a distinct triumph in this affair, and the (ierman pennle have gained a pleasini; glimpsf' of the yoimpr man who in the iialural course of events will one day rule over them. This nioniiiic White and Ron', ivill commence selling n marvellous line 0 f (is lid each, and also a line of costumes at is lid and 21s each, the very best jralue offering in the -whole district.

Capl. Edwin Hire,! ai 12.52 yesterday; I - Southerly strung winds; glass fail; [ tides moderate: sea considerable: ruin ;' probably heavy, and rivers- high.' i The progressive Maori farmers 01 tin'! East ('ape have liad a .younpc native s(u- ! ( ili'iitatllic experimental f.urru at Mouie- < lialii fur some time An attempt, is now j , being made t,. have him admitted to tin; : j Airriciiltm-iil College at Lincoln. , The delegates appointed l.v the Kl- I tliain Coualy Council, Elthant Borough | Council and Kapunga Town Hoard, inet ;; a; Eithani on Nafurdav. and decided ■' U.at an expert's opinion should he oi.- ' iaineil as ~-,.n ;L , p„.. n i|,le uii tile pro- ; ]io-,.ai con. ;,,'.-: i.,n „f an elceiii.- tr ; rway from lathain to Auro* road. Mr Black, of \',\.|li:i..-i ( ,ii. was M-bclcd 1., make a ic : .„rl. ' . A pathetic tragedy, in which a far- ! iicr had to choose between saving tinlives of his iw» little sons or that of i his wife, has occurred at Pout, near Le \ I'llv, France. 11. Kuhue, with his sons, | aged four and six, was wailing on tlio I hank ol' the Allier for his wile,' who had gone (o a village „n the opposite side i of the river. When (he wife, on return- ! nig. saw her luebaiid and children ; waiting for her sbe started wading . across the river instead of making a : , detour of .".nil yard-; and crossing by a j hridge. The river was only three feel ; deep at the spot, hut the 'current was i ', slir.ng, and smhhnlv M. Knhue was j horrified to m.(. his wife swept off her ; feet and carried down stream. !!■• jumped into the river to her rescue, ' hut the two Hi I'c, children followed

th :r father's example, and they also were swept down stream. The agonised father had to choose immediately, and he swam for the hoys, lie brought the two boys to the hank' in safety, and then returned for his wife, but she had been carried into a deep pool lower down the river and drowned. Her body was recovered half an hour later. At Wuilara on Wednesday last HiFitzherbert, 5..\1. ; presided at the Assessment tuurt to determine an objection iiled by two Clifton County ratepayers to their inclusion in the Oapui special raling area. Mr Xichoison (Hoy and Wilson) appeared for the Clifton County Council, while Mr C. H. Weston watched proceedings on India if of the consenting ratepayers, the two objectors, Messrs .lensen and Druiiimond appearing in person. The evidence given in support of the objections to the ell'ect Ihat Me-srs .lensen and Driiniiuond, having already a frontage to the Junction lioad, niiiiie in. u-e of the Oapui Head, and would eonsei|uenl ly derive no benefit from the proposed metalling of the road, was modified under cross-examina-tion, and was conlvadicled l.v witnesses called l.y Mr Xichoison, to" the ell'ect that, objectors used entrances to their properties from Ihe Oapui road. 11 is Worship.in refusing the objectors'application, state.! that it was clear that these settlers did u-.e the Oapui road, ■mil would derive benefit by Ihe meial-

ling of the road The decision is of some interest and importance to local

bodies and the farming community in general, in that it indirectly involve.--, the principle of the liability of the owner of a comer seel ion lo contribute to the intenance of aby road fronting hi-; property. These, proceedings are probably the first of the kind insliluted in the colony. With ihe intention of giving others the beiu lit of a valuable experiment, the. Committee of the Tiutaru Alain School wrote to the Education Dcparlnieiit, pointing out how, iu the committee's opinion, its large school had been kept remarkably immune from epidemics. This was attributed lo the committee's method of' using sawdust damped with sheep-dip, for spreading upon the lloors before sweeping. The sawdust gathered up all the dirt, and prevented it from settling on the walls and desks. Prior to adopting this method, ihe Tiinaru School had to be closed because of epidemics of mumps, measles, and levers. The department sent the letter on lo the head of the Health Department, and Dr. Mason replied that he quite approved of the Tiinarti method, and added: ''One of the groat sources of infection in schools, however, is not so much the dust on ihe lloors as on the desks. Children iiii.h measles, scarlet fever, or diphtheria in the early stages may be attending school. They cough or sneeze on to the desk, and in this way infection i- spread. It would be a move in a direction which would make very great.y for the diminution of infectious disci ie in schools if you could do away with slates altogether. Simply use writing (Kids, which could be destroyed. The dirt which collects between the -late and the wooden border is very often of n most filthy description." A copy of this correspondence was read at the Wellington Education Board,which resolved that copies be sent to all its school committees.

The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer tiakaia arrived at Uuiiiaml'roiu Port Chalmers at noon oii Thursday last, and alter lying to in the bay until 2 o'clock, when (he tide was full, she was safely brought into the harbor by Oaplain Jbimsay. She had a f.iirly large amount of cargo aboard, and at present drawing about 18 feet; the

depth of water in the shallowest part of the channel was 23 feet, and in the entrance, opposite the dolphin, about 24 feet, while the depth of water beside the wharf at high water averages slightly over 28 feet. There was a considerable sea miming, ami the task of bringing the vessel in through the entrance at a loiv speed under these conditions was no easy one; Captain Ramsay, however, judged her time to a nicety, and the vessel entered the basin without mishap. The next diilieulty to be overcome was that of turning the vessel round in (lie limited space within the basin, but by means of warps and the judicious use of the screw this was accomplished shortly after 'J o'clock, ami the liakaia. was'bertlied beside, the wharf. The chairman and members of the Harbor Hoard, the Mayor, and a number of local commercial men met Captain Vine and his ollicers on board, and extend.-d to them, as representing Ihe pioneer vessel of the New Zealand •Shipping Company's line to enterOamaru harbor, a very hearty welcome on

behalf of the town. This was suitably acknowledged by Captain Vine. The work of loading was commenced inimedintcly. The cargo consists of some 20.000 carcase-; ~,f frozen mutton and a ipianlity of sundries.