The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 11 December 1907, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11.

The English mail despatched via Van- ; couvcr on the 2!) th October arrived in | London on the morning of the Oth inst. y Mr. L. Olivers, whose property ad- '; joins that where the lire occurred last ; week at Fitzroy, has forwarded to the | Fitzroy Fire Brigade a donation of £l, s accompanying it witn very appreciative j comment on the brigade's ellicieucy. The Government holidays gazetted for this mouth are Wednesday (Christmas Day), Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of ' Christmas ' week, and Wednesday (New Year's Day) and Thursday of the following week. A sop to Cerberus. In making application to the Borough Council for permission to erect a tannery within the borough, a resident inserted the taking clause that he intended to instal electric power. With a view of showing the general public what a charming suburb is Yogeltown, a general invitation is to be issued by the Carrington Road Board to a picnic to be held in a couple, of months' time in the district. Mr. C. W. Govett has written drawing the attention of the Cemetery Committee to the fact that a great part of the cemetery looking over the llenui stream is being completely run over with thorny acacia. Nothing but the most careful grubbing and systematic attention, he says, will get rid of this pest. A gentleman who is engaged in farming pursuits in the Eltham district called on Mr. George Toogood, the honorary secretary of the Sedduii National Memorial Fund, on Monday and handed him a cheque for £IOO as his donation to the fund. The donor, who says he was not personally acquainted with the deceased statesman, does not wish his name to be divulged. New Zealand Times.

A poultry fancier in Xew Plymouth was surprised the other day to receive from the borough inspector a notice to cease keeping fowls at the rear of his premises, near the centre of the borough. It appears that he has not the requisite space in which to keep poultry and comply with the borough bylaws as to distance from adjoining properties, and so on, and complaints had been made that the fowls were not desirable neighbours. At the Police Court yesterday morning Henry Cailaghan was charged with having procured liquor during ihe currency ot a prohibition order. lie pleaded guilty, and informed the Bench, that he was trying hard to overcome the temptation to drink, but he had been unable, on account of weakness, to resist on this occasion. Sergeant Hadcirell said he had been thrice previously convicted in the past six months. Th* Bench indicted a line of 20s and costs. The civil sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning occupied about a minute and a quarter, during which time three cases were called aud formally adjourned. .Mr. J. A. Osborne, the owner of the Fort Francis "Times,'' -Manitoba, who has returned from an exploring expedition in the country between Labrador and James Bay, states that the inhabitant* have become cannibaW owing to famine. He met at a skin factory a young man who had fled in terror from his uncle for fear that he would be eaten. The man declared that his uncle had already killed eight persons, who had been eaten. In another case two children had been killed by a family and eaten to keep the rest alive. Mr. Osborne says that the famine is due to an utter absence of game, of which the people have usually abundant supplies. The linal concert in the main saloon of the Lusitania, on her record-breaking trip between Knglaud and America recently, was marked by an extraordinary incident. The passengers were so delighted with the Lusitania's record that they subscribed il2j for the stokers. Then someone suggested that it would be a lining climax if a stoker

were summoned to receive the money. Presently the most dilapidated specimen of a stoker seen for a long time entered the saloon. He was in .rags, and his face and hands were black with coal dust. The passengers applauded hiui sympathetically, when he made a hesitating, ungrammatical speech of thanks on behalf of "me and my mates." Then, to the horror of everyone, he pulled out a disreputable pipe, and requested a match, observing at the same time that the stokers wished to complain about the insulikient quantity of grog served them. Several of the ship's ollieers were present, and the stoker's conduct was so astounding that they merely gazed at him open-mouthed. The chairman of the concert tried to persuade the stoker to withdraw, lie replied insolently, whereupon half-a-dozen stewards attempted to eject him. The stoker resisted. Suddenly he pulled oil' his wig, and was found to be Air. Uransby Williams, the character im-

pcrsunator, who was on #s way to lil an engagement in Xew York, if any oj the passengers remained on deck unti

1.30 on die eventful morning, to see the ollicial conclusion of the race. The Lusitania anchored oil' the lightship until 7.10, when she came through the new Ambrose channel to quarantine. Caplain Watt declares that the Lusitania can make an even better record, granted favourable weather conditions.

Colonel Porter, C.ii., President of t Tai-ltawhiii .Maori Laud Hoard, whi is entrusted with the settlement, win possible, of all the lands of Uie J&i

Coast, stretching from East Cape 'to Mairoa, furnished some interesting iulormatiou concerning the operations of the Hoard before the .Native Land Comu!nr M l, M ih » n *- Sin™ Cctober, I'M li->\> acres had been vested ill the Hoard, 42.d0j acres prepared /or settlement, and 75,0UU acres comprised letscs and approvals. In July last year 30 000 ucrcs Had been prepared for settlement, but, upon the instructions of the Sative -Minister, which he produced, the land was kept back, pending the passim- during the session which lias just concluded oi iurther legislation respecting the disposal of these lands and native laud in general, under public auction or by lea* to other natives. The area which now came under this schedule amounted to thirty-tour blocks of 42,505 acres The 238 leases and approvals formed ical I work quite apart from the other lands. 'J he term of lease, Colonel Porter went on to say, varied from seven years to thirty years, but in most instances they were tor twenty-one years, with ri-ht o"f renewal lor another twenty-one years on Covenimcnt valuation., which was generally not to exceed £> J.- M ])L . r iILTe for improvements. They hail had applications lor iilty-year leases, but bad refused them. Colonel Porter proceeded to point out an important point which

had arisen from section 4 of the .Maori l-'Hld (1,-lilll, ~11(1 Laws Act of I,l*l year, which abolished the former trustee* of incorporated blocks in f imillr of |he Hoards, and i-atlivr than allow large sums of money, rents from jiu-oi-poiated lands, to go to irresponsible natives, tin. Hoard hail, in the alwence of statutory regulation on the subject, assumed the position of receiver of moneys, which formerly went (o the Public Trust (v, and had' carried on the disbursements, which involved considerable work. This position iilt'ecled twen-ty-seven blocks, of an urea of 31,172 acres. THE ■•IIAirrXETT" PATEXT MILKIX(! MACHINE, lias certainly come lo slay: there is no room lor doubt on that poin'l. Tlievaru being installed ill all directions. Every plant crucled seem* to be th ( . forerunner of fresh orders. Inquiries lead to speedy I conviction that the "llartnctt' has no | equal as a simple, safe, and effective j Milking Machine. Its patented improvement"; are of a very high order, and substantial in character. Those who have [used the machines longest are loudest anil most frequent ill. their praises. It will lie well for all intending buyers to get their orders promptly Itooked. The new season is at tlie doors; delay means trouble and loss when the cows come in, if farmers are not. ready. For full particulars, apply to C. Dahl and Co., Ltd., Palmerstsn North; or Taranaki Farmers' Co., Ltd., New Plymouth, ,

Owing k> tlio s.a. Rarawa not leaving Wellington until Thursday there will bo no steamer to Onelmnga to-night, anil none from Onelmnga on Friday

morning. Two Koru residents, Messrs. Mimro

and Tuck, wore driving to town yesterday morning, and wlien passing tbe mail coacli near here's, their horse swerved and tlie gig was thrown down tlio embankment. The gig was badly damaged, lmt the occupants escaped

without injury. The Carrington Road Board has accepted the tender of Mr. C. llendrickseu

for extending the metal for 82 chains on tin' Upper Carrington-road. The work of widening Vjict»ria-road from th« borough boundary to Mill-mail is now almost completed, and the workmen will then start on the second section, from Mill-road to the store, flood process has been made on the first section, and also on Mr. Sole's Ratanui

■ontraet. Af no tenders have been re■eived for forming and metalling Urook-lands-road, the engineer (Mi'. Spencer) lias been instrncted to seek private tenders.

The inquest on the late Mr. J. Bradley, of Wuverley, who was believed to Have died as the result of irritant poisoning, was resumed on Tuesday. The Government analyst's report stated that

there was uo evidence of irritant poisoning, the only poisons that were found bem" traces 01 zinc and morphia. The amount of morphia was extremely small. The amount of zinc was also very small, and was most probably derived from the zinc caps of the bottles in which the stomach, etc., were forwarded. The report considered the presence of the zinc may also have been due to the deceased using water collected from an iron roof for drinking purposes. A verdict was returned that the deceased died from natural causes.

The following teams will represent the New I'lymouth Fire Brigade in the fire brigade events at the opening of the Recreation Sports Ground on New | Vcar's Day:— iuve men, hose, hydrant, and union—A team: Lieut. Boon, Foreman Clark, Firemen llardwick and J. Way, and Secretary Ford; B team: Firemen W. Sadler, W. Roch, W. Way, W. Tempero, and W. Douglas. Three men, hose and hydrant—A team: Lieut. Boon, Foreman Clark, Secretary Ford; B team: Foremen J. Way, W. llardwick, W. Sjdler; C team: Firemen G. Tempero, W. Way, W. Roch; D team: Firemen Oman, Bond, Douglas. The Eltham and Fitzroy Fire Brigades will also send teams for these events, which should create considerable interest.

The membership of the New Plymouth United Gymnasium Club now stands at 110 —a considerable increase on that of the previous year. Tiie funds are in a very satisfactory condition, the position having improved by about £ti in the past season. Good work has been done in the regular practices. Besides providing a good evening entertainment for the members, the gymnasium is, or should be, conferring a lasting benefit upon them by cultivating and developing a healthy body. And as the clubroom is conducted under the close supervision of responsible and respected townspeople, there can be little doubt that the moral effect will also be far better than many other forms of amusement which must be adopted in the absence of such an institution as a gymnasium. The instructor (Mr. W. Lints), the secretary (Mr. S. Catrau), and the committee and the workers of the club arc deserving of warm commendation for the excellent results achieved. As Mr. Ambury remarked at last night's social, the club is treated as a public institution, and a most beneficial and praiseworthy one it is.

There are more than 30,000 men employed in the construction of the Panama Canal by the American Government. The housing and feeding of these men and their families falls directly upon the War Department, aud it has required a commissary of size to accomplish these details of the enterprise, says the correspondent of the Dunedin

•■'Times." The Panama railroad, 48 miles long, and connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific, is the only State railroad that we have. The United States Government owns all but one share of its stock, which is proving to be. more and more of a profitable investment. There are 200 locomotives employed iu the regular operation of the railroad, in addition to another 100 locomotives that are employed upon the canal construction. The line from Colon, on the Atlantic, to Panama, on the Pacific, is a virtual railroad yard for the entire distance. In addition to the great traffic caused by the digging of the canal, there is a heavy freight trallie between the oceans. Frequent trains run all day between the two ports, with scarce a mile's interval between them. Eight passenger trains are operated over the road.

Thi! question of removing tlie band rotunda from iiawaroa Park to Ilcgina Place (the junction of Dawson street and the Victoria Esplanade) was discussed on Monday night by the Borough Council. The Council engineer had reported that tlie cost of removing it would be i)3sj replacing the present concrete lloor with wood. The Council was unable to authorise the work to go on, owing to want of funds. Coun-. cillor Collis said the bands preferred the ■ wooden iloor, for concrete deadened the music. Several councillors favoured the more permanent llooring. Councillor Alills doubted the advisability of remosjng the rotunda at all. Certainly J; wan a bit out of the way, but they couldn't foresee the requirements of the lown in live years from now. Councillor iiellringei doubted whether the Council had power to interfere with the rotunda, which was a Corouation memorial, created partly out of Government funds. The Mayor said that the foundation-stone had been laid in Queen street, but tlie rotunda was not erected there on account of the excessive cost

of Uiu foundations. This reserve known as Kawaroa Park was to have been handed over to the borough free, or in exchange lor some other property, but the ALinister of the Crown did not act up to his promise. They were now leasing the park and baths site at £2 lUs a year, and he thought it was time enough to talk about moving the rotunda when it was found impossible to renew the lease. Eventually the matter was referred to the engineer, to report again in time for consideration by the Estimates Committee.

A Hx. J. P. Murphy, late of Opuimkc

and now ul' i'olnga Pay, Poverty Pay district, lately jneferrcd some specific charges against the dairymen of Xaranaki in connection with alleged child shivery. Particulars of these charges appeared in the Poverty Pay Herald, ilr. Al. J. Bremian, of (Jpunake, in a recent issue of the pap«r mentioned, replies to the charges. Inter alia, he says:— "Air. Aluiphy throws down a challenge of £SIJ to any one. who will prove that what he says is not correct. .Now, that is net in accordance with Prilish usage or fair play. A challenge should not be to prove a negative, unless there is a direct and delinite charge laid, aud this Air. Murphy lias not done. However, if he lias £SO he does not know what to do with, if he is prepared to put it up on the following grounds, lie will get it covered without any delay whatever—namely: (1) He says he milked, when in a billet at 15s per week, ■lO cows night and morning. I am aatislied he never did it, and was never able to do it, and if he will undertake to prove that he wan ever asked or expected to do it, and cares to put up £SO, he can have it covered; (2) he .■■tales lie ami his wife milked 30 cows cs-h for two years; that lie had n herd of 70 cows, which it took him twelve years to select, and which gave him a return of li'J each; he can liave £SO staked that this is not true; (3) also £SO will be -taked that he never saw any tiny girls working at milking with petticoats up to their knees and slush nearly up to their hips; thai he cannot give (he names j of three men in this district who, (luring his residence here, were milking on j -hares on as low a percentage as 35 per , •cut.; that his .statement that 50 per , •cut. »f (lie milk supplied is worked on t

(he share system is not true; that he cannot give the name of the man who, with his wife and family, milked a herd of 4110 cows. If Air. Alurphy is not prepared to stake his money on any of these specific grounds, then you will be able to place a fair yaluc on the rest of his statements, which I regret to say do not appeal to tlie sense of accuracy as understood by lu's late fellow-settlers in the Opuuake district in Taranaki."

There will be no mail for Auckland to-night (Wednesday).

The new Uovernnient offices in Xew Plymouth will, it is understood, have accommodation for the Deeds and Stamps, Stock and Dairy, and Roads Departments.

Seven members of the Xew Plymouth Swimming Club, and eleven pupils of the. West End School swimming classes, will attend the official opening of the Stratford swindling baths on the l'l'.h inst.

The postponed bauijuot to cck-lnulc the passing of the Waitara llarhour Bill eventuates to-night. A presciiation of :i gold watch, suitably inscribed, and chain, is to lie made to ill'. W. T. Jennings, M.P., who piloted the Bill through the lower House. i Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., lnul a chat with Webl>, the world's chanipion sculler, at Wanganui the other day. Weill) says he is in excellent health—in fact, I was never hotter in his life, lie is very hopeful of retaining the position of champion at Hie conclusion of Ilia coming contest with TrcssMcr. Over a year ago the Government took ! a portion of Waimami street, under the Public- Works Act. The Borough Council has just found it out. The officers in charge of the Railway department Had promised not to interfere with this street, which gives access from Molesworth street to the beach. It was suggested at last night's meeting that portion of the street is to remain open, whilst the remainder is thrown into the Sash and Door Company's property.

Considerable merriment was occasioned at a recent function in town. A young lady who was going to a progressive euchre party with her beau stipulated that she should have his winnings. He won a prize—the ''booby." In presenting the award, but before exhibiting it, the chairman announced that he had heard of this proviso. Then he handed ! over the prize—a baby's "dummy." The laugh that followed was most discomfiting to the young lady concerned. Some horse-owner in the town has had free grazing in the reserve near the municipal baths. But he was late one morning, and was seen taking the animal out by the ordinary gate. How he became possessed of the key lias not yet been discovered, but it will now be necessary for him to obtain another one, for the lock has been changed. But the Reserves Committee desires it to be known that in the case of a man taking grass as isn't his'n, if he's cotched, he'll go to prison.

"It's just like a nice bedroom," said a lady who, with hundreds of others, inspected the comfortable cabins of the Union Company's new turbine steamer Maori last week at Wellington. The fittings are really palatial in character. In some of the saloon cabins are double beds, in others two single beds (they are not berths), and there are occasional four-bed cabins, but in each and every case ample room is provided, and nothing is missing that is necessary' for the comfort of travellers. There are chests of drawers, heaters for cold weather, and electric fans for the warm months. The washstands may be converted into desks for private clerical work, and above cacii snjh article of cabin furniture is a nest of little drawers and receptacles for the hundred and one things people, especially women, have to tind room for. Instead of the oldtime spare blanket for each berth is a gaily-colored kapok quilt, and rich earpets bespread the iloors. The only thing one is likely to regret in travelling on the Maori is the short length of time travellers will have to enjoy these luxuries of the sea.