LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 315, 14 January 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

.Local anglers had eome good sport on Sunday at the mouth of the Waiwakaiho, when some line kawhai were landed with the rod. The catch also included a line Sib brown trout. On the same day mackerel invaded the harbor in shoal-, and at the wharf a catch cf twenty was ijuite an ordinary thing. Beach-bathing is getting very popular, but bathers should be very careful. A "hark nearly live feet long was caught the other day in three feet ot' water at the mouth of the Heimi river. It is often said that these sharks won't attack a person in shallow water, but "it is safer not to give them a chance. The report of the Finance Committee to the Borough Council shown that during December the receipts were €s4<Kl 7s !)d, of which (M!tl 7 (is 7d was for rates. Abattoir fees produced Clti-l (is Id. electric light ,€UO 4s 2d, rents .€93 & 5(1. library €lB 17s, and sundries €li!l 10s ltd. The Council's ordinary account has a credit of €4l-17 '.ls at the bank, inclmflive of ClliOO of the Carnegie grant. I.oan accounts are also ill credit to the amount of €l."iot>. although the .special rates on some of the loan- have never been collected. I'sually the man of science i- n most

incredulous person who never accepts a fact until it has been proved in some indcjiendent manner. Tell him that you will meet with seven years' ill-luck if you smash a mirror, and he will laugh scornfully, replying (if he deigns to hold converse with one having such a nonsensical view of things) that the amount of had luck depends entirely upon the amount of money required to replace the smashed minor. Tell him that ill-luck will certainly he his portion if he takes money to an unknown land and—he will agree with you! This, at

least, is the view of Ueulcnant Shackleton, whose love of scientific research has led him to face a second time the hardships of the Antarctic. Before the Nimrod left Lyttelton on its voyage towards the South I'olc (says the New Zealand Times) a sum of t!">l U was collected from the shore party accompanying the expedition in accordance with the leader's superstition on the Kiilijeet of carrying money into an unknown land. Lieutenant Shaekleloii valiantly faced scientific opinion in the form of the representative collection of learned gentlemen on the Xiinrnd hy clearing his pockets of twelve shillings, hut some of his colleagues left behind as many sovereigns in loose cash. One wonders limv tliev will ilo business at the South Volar post oflicj.

MILKING-MACHINE EVIDENCE. Messrs. W. Bailey and Son, of Waiulcu, writ* as follows re the "Lawrence-Kennedy-Gillies" Milking-machine: "We ore using three machines for the third season, and we find them satisfactory. We milk 80 cows in 1% to \% hourV One can can look after the machines and carry the milk away, and one boy attends to the bailing up, etc., while one or two boys do the stripping, of which, as a rule, there is very little to do. The buffer-fat test and quantity of milk are fully maintained, and we find no ill | effects on the cows. There is no trouble with keeping quality of the milk." MacEwane, Ltd., Egmont-street, New Plymouth. - •

It is stated that the Masterton Municipal Band is in great form this year, It is anticipated that they will give a good account of themselves at the New l'lymouth contest.

"Housewife" writes: "How is it, Mr. Editor, that in New Plymouth we are charged at the rate of 4d per loaf, whilst in every other town in New Zealand the price has been lowered to 3d!" We will be glad if our baker friends will answer the query.

In accordance with the request of the New Plymouth Employers' Association, the Borough Council last night decided to again fix Thursday as the day for the weekly half-holiday, under the ' "Shops and Office.* Act Amendment Act, 1907." At the Police Court, Stratford, yesterday morning, ftporge Perrott was I charged with having on Saturday night last assaulted Margaret Davit*. He was also charged with resisting Constable I Mcintosh in the execution of his duty,

and with damaging a door, the property of Edward Smith. A remand was granted, bail being allowed in accused's own recognisance of £25 and one surety of £25.

The weak spot in New Plymouth's

liistorv and the bar to its progress was touched last night by Councillor Collis, when he ejaculated:' "It'w taihoa every time! This work has been put off and put off for months past, and now you want to put it off again." Half-an-hour later it was Councillor Collis who dri'W the "taihoa" red-herring across the scent of the progressive suggestion to make * decent entrance to the Recreation Grounds in Liardet-strcct.

A meeting was held last night in the Taranaki Hotel to dfeeuss the proposal to form a club (or the encouragement of rowing locally. Mr. Bishop presided. It was decided to form a club, to Ce called the New Plymouth Boating and Rowing Club, and to hold a general meeting the Town Hall on Friday night. The subscription wns fixed at five shillings. Mr. T. Smith was elected secretary pro

Mr. Fred Bellringer got one back upon the eountv chairman last night. The latter had blamed the Corough Council for the delav in arranging for a conference in regard to the borough's contribution to the cost of the Henui bridge. Councillor Bellringer pointed out that the Count v Coancil had not yet supplied the lKirough with sectional plans and so forth, a necessary courtesy, but when those came the Borough Council would lose no time in discussing the proposal.

Borough Councillor J. W. Boon on harbor works; "The Harbor Board is doing excellent work—tho best work done"in the province. . . Even above oil. a good harbor would make the district move ahead." Mr. Boon also said he thought the harbor rate was the most beneficial rate paid by the farmers. As a practical farmer of some years' experience and standing in the Ngaire district. Mr. Boon's words should have some weight with the ratepayers on the land.

It is stated, says an exchange, that during the last twelve months the bicycle trade in most parts of the Dominion had suffered a great slump. The depression has been felt in Wellington and in other towns of the province. It seems that cyclists are satisfied with the machines they hold, and refuse to lie tempted to the same extent as in former years to invest in new ones. The general excellence and durability of the machines render their life of utility a long one. The increasing popularity of motor cycles has also no doubt had a good deal to do with the decline in the trade.

At the Boating Club meeting last night the chairman referred to the )a.'k of'amusements in Xew Plymouth during the Christmas holidays. The only amusement consisted of two days' racing, and lie considered the possibilities of Xew Plymouth as a holiday resort were not made as much of as they might be. He made mention of the beautiful bench and the fine campingground at Motnroa. He thought that hundreds of people could be induced to spend their holidays here if some amusements were provided. What is needed, as this paper lias liefore pointed out, is an annual carnival, which if properly managed could not help but be successful. The Works Committee of the Xew Plymouth Borough Council recommended to the Council last night that the. Council should not claim the prize-money won by exhibiting the Council's horses at the recent agricultural show. Councillor Mills said he had understood that the winnings were to be distributed amongst the employees who had given overtime in the preparation of the animals for the show-ring. Several councillors said they had understood the same thing. Councillor Bellringer said he had never heard of any such proposal, and he was sure the employees had not expected extra remuneration. They had had a couple of days off to attend the show. Councillor Boon said it was the usual course to adopt. The recommendation of the committee was adopted, members agreeing that the Conner) should assist the society in its hour of need.

Amongst the many novel suggestions |iut forward regarding the rebuilding of the Parliament Buildings is one made liy a correspondent of a Wellington newspaper. He suggests the promotion of an art union of £250,000, with tickets at £1 each. Of this sum he proposes that 6150,000 shall he devoted to the rebuilding of the Parliament Buildings, and the balance of £IOO,OOO shall be divided into a series of prizes. He says: "I would propose that the first prize !.e the grant of that piece of land whereon the present Parliamentary Buildings stand, and which, for the purposes of this suggestion, I would value at £50,000, such sum to be payable to the Government out of the moneys reserved for prizes. Of the balance I 'would propose: Second prize, £10,000; third prize, £5000; fourth prize, £2500; fifth prize £1000; 20 of £SOO each ( £10,000); 40 of £250 each ( £10,000); 00 of £IOO each (£6000); 100 of £SO each ( £5000); 50 of £lO each ( £500)."

i "The cities of Xew Zealand console . their conscience with a periodical out- . cry against the 'child slavery of Tara- [ naki,' where of all the provinces tho , children are brought up in closest touch with their parents and with the best idea of a helpful, healthful, happy life." says Mr. %neer Clapham, in the Auckland Herald. "It is in the cities where there are boys and girls growing up in idleness and drifting away from all good friendship* that they need the probation system with its watchfulness and guidance. We have already adopted part of the Juvenile Court plan, but we are leaving out the corner-stone. The probation system is effective because it watches the whole environment of the hoy's and girl's life, ft provides them with a true friendship strong enough to keep them out of reformatories, in which we have every reason to think the spirit of love is not overwhelming."

■There were about a hundred visitors to the Xorih Kgmont Mountain House during Saturday night and Sunday, including large parties from Inglewood and New Plymouth. Several successfully scaled the peak, and there was the usual percentage of hopeful folk who found Mount Eginont a sterner trifle io climb than they had expocted;,._SiW!4 parties picnMcetrGU t!»Tiug'c"and about the house, and others visited Humphries' Castle and Warwick Castle. Mists shut out the view of the country below, but this was amply compensated for by the magnificent view of the miles of silveryfleecy clouds which intervened, with the throe inland mountains, Xgaruhoo, Tongariro, and ltuapehu, standing out clear in the distance. A verv large proportion of the visitors trusted Io the catering of the custodian and Mrs. Morris, who are certainly adepts at putting on a very satisfactory meal at a very reasonable charge, thus eliminating liom the mind of the visitor any worry about hampers and baskets. There was a general exit during Sunday afternoon. Hie road from the radius'line to the

house is now in excellent, order, without a had hole or a pool of water in the whole length. If you are in need of material for a morning or knockabout skirt, now 's the time to get it. White and Son are selling at their summer sale about 7()0 yards mixed and all-wool grey dress tweeds at Is a yard. Prices will not again lie so low. Some of the special lot* will be sold nut later, the variety will be smaller, and there's nothing like the first pick at any time—Advt.

There's a shop in New Plymouth called 'The Kash." Just about everybody in Taranaki knows this shop, and everybody knows it's just below Nolan's auction mart in Devoa-strcet. They've a splendid lot of men's and boys' clothing there, and you can rely upoti getting honest, dependable goods at a moderate figure. They have a suit called "The Prestwcll," which is specially made for them, and is favorably known throughout Taranaki. The prices run from 40s fid to 655, and many people mistake them for five-guinea suits. Boys' cloth- [ ing they do well, nnd thev have just landed about 00 Conway suits, the prices ranging from 13s fid to 27s fid. Norfolk suits they have from IDs 6d to 30s, sailor suits from 4s 3d to ils (Id. Don't forget to pay them a call. You'll be sure to be satisfied.—SJvt.

Fight new members were elected at the Taranaki Agricultural Society's meeting last night. The Fire Brigade has receired a dona-} tion of £1 from Mr G. Hale, in recognition of services rendered at a recenfi fire on his premises.

The weekly session of the Egmout Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was held last evening, Bro. G. W. Uartnel), C.T., presiding over a good attendance of members A "spelling bee," in charge of Bro. E. Stokes, was held, and resulted in Bro. L. Bullot winning the prize, presented by a member. It was decided to hold a quoit" match next week. At a meeting of the Egmont Road Board on Saturday the Department of Roads notified that a sum of £2OO had bee- placed to the credit of the Board for metalling and formation of King, Upland »and llursMiouac roads. It waij decided to call for tenders for the work. Messrs Hill a*l Marsh informed the Board that settlers on the Egmont road had collected the sum of £8 towards the cost oi tfce gravelling the Cross road and Egmomt road school, and asked th it the work riliould be carried out. It was decided to put the work in hand. Late ta%t night we were informed that anxiety Tas felt at the prolonged absence oi two prominent local men who were away on a fishing excursion. Inquiries made by a reporter failed to , discover any news of a mishap, so possibly the party lias by this time safely [ reacbad home.