LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 38, 4 February 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The County Council has raised the wages of its foremen to nine shillings a day. There were, good attendances when the town schools reopened yesterday morning. A ■ ix-roomed house at Midhirst, owned ad occupied by H. Robertson, was total y destroyed by fire on Sunday night. The building was insured for £2OO. and the contents for £IOO in the Stati ollice. "V- ii go to court, and you get judgment, and the court and the lawyers get i il the money," remarked the chairman of the County Council yesterday. Was ihis wisdom born of experience 1 Tli ■ County Council yesterday placed on r-icord its appreciation of the manner i i which Mr. Crockett had carried mil. iiis duties as Inspector of Noxious Weei's in this district. In the .Supreme Court, on the application of Jfr. (Juilliiini (Covett and Quilliam , probate ot the will of Jacob Ruth tv, late of Raliotu, deceased, was granted to Henry Rothery, John Rothery aud Michael Flemming, the executors nam- d in the will. Tl e final deposit in the Wcbb-Tres-sidd. r match hits to be put up in solid cash by noon of Saturday, loth February- i.£2oo—that is, ten dayß before the contest. The stake is £SOO a-side, and £3OO each of that amount is already in . the hands of tlie stakeholders.

The Railway Department has limited the Stratford school committee to 22 large bogie carriages for its annual sea. side excursion to New Plymouth on the 13th instant. Twelve Hundred tickets are to be issued, 'ancpfchere is already a brisk demand for them.

The county solicitor has been instruct- I ed lo take legal action for the recovery of the Elthiun road special rate. The tpieslion of engaging extra counsel has been left in the hands of the county chairman and the county solicitor. Mr. W. A. Collis, chairman of the North Egmont Mountain House Committee, interviewed Sir Joseph Ward at the railway station yesterday morning in reference to the inadequate water•upply at the Mountain House. The I'lemier said there were no funds available lo provide improvements this year, and if the Government did decide to do anything it would have to be considered when the estimates were being framed next year.

A representative baker was in Stratford on Thursday from New Plymouth, interviewing Ihe local bakers with regard to raising the price of bread from 7d to Bd, at which latter price it is being sold in Tv'cw Plymouth. We were informed that although very little is at present being made out of the bread at /da loaf, it is not likely that it will be raised unless the price of flour is again increased.-Post.

An inquest was held yesterday hefore Air H. S, Fitzherbert. coroner, concerning the death of the -Maori Apaic Aomii. wlios,. body was found by the roadside on December 27th last. ' Mr Kerr, Crown Solicitor, represented tin Crown, and Sergt. Haddrell watchei the proceedings for the police. Aftei hearing a good deal of evidence the jttrj returned a verdict that the deeeasci met his death bv falling from his hors. whilsl drunk.

The Egmont National Park Board has been notified that prospecting cannot be allowed on the Kaitaki ranges until they have been brought under the provisions of the Mining Act. One of the Government geological surveyors will, however, be sent up shortly to inspect, and no doubt further action will depend upon his reports. The Army Council is said to have definitely decided to adopt the Japanese pattern bayonet for the British Army. The Japanese bayonet, which is about 15 inches long—three inches longer than the present British pattern bayonet—proved a leiible weapon in close-range firing during the recent war in Manchuria. The British attaches were greatly impressed wiht its effectiveness during the war. it is reported from Seattle (America) that one of the many great flocks of sheep at pasture in the Cascade Mountains has been entirely annihilated owing to the fidelity of the animals to their leader. Drovers on December 13 discovered the mangled bodies of about 11,000 sheep lying at the foot of a precipice, it is surmised that in the darkness the. leader of the flock strayed over the edge of the cliff, and that the others followed the tinkling bell with fatal instinct-

Throughout, his sojourn in England the Kaiser was guarded by some of the cutest representatives of Scotland Yard, and also by German detectives. His, Majesty lives in no dread of anarchists, however. Once a friend remonstrated with him for walking in the streets of Potsdam. "The Czar wouldn't undergo such a risk," he was told. "Perhaps not," answered William 11., "but if I allowed my thoughts to be occupied with the thoughts of my being murdered, I should have no time to think of anything else."

When tlie matter of the Avenue road bridge came up yesterday at the County Council meeting, comment was made on Uic recent ".News" paragraphs concerning the plans. The 'county engineer, it will be remembered slated that he had forwarded the plans to (he borough authorities, and the chairman of the borough works committee had seen the plans. Councillor Andrews said yesterday that enquiries showed that the plans had been on the table at the works committee meeting, but the committee didn't want to see them. Cr. Hill said the plans had apparently not been ''officially" before the Borough Council. "They're great sticklers for etiquette down there now," said the iliairnmi.

An accident that might easily have been attended with very serious consequences occurred yesterday afternoon at the corner of Liardet and Leach streets. Three of Mr. Honnor's children, two little girls and a littleboy, were crossing the street, when a baker's cart belonging to Mr. West turned into the street. The two girls got out of the way, but the little chap tell, and the wheel passed over his hack. Dr. Fookes was summoned, and attended to the injuries. At a late hour last night the little patient was improving. As yet there is a possibility of internal injuries, but these have not shown'thchiselves.

It must be rery gratifying to Mr. F. Tyrer, head master of the Stratford District High School, to find that his pupils have obtained such places of distinction at recent examinations tor scholarships and the junior civil service held "1/ w cllingiou. .Not only should it be gratifying to .Mr. Tyrer (says the fost), but it is conclusive evidence to parents that that their boys and girls are receiving a i ruining second to none in the Dominion. Unly the other day we chronicled the tact that Fanny Sherlock was fourth in Queens Scholarship, and besides this great achievement there were a number ol' other scholars from the Stratford school who figured well in the list in parses, in this issue it will be seen i hat out of !MJ candidates who passed the Civil Scvice junior examination (020 with credit), Francis Fridcaux was second on the list—anotherieathcr in Mr Tyrol's cap, and one that places the Stratford District High School in the I rout rank of the Dominion's District High Schools.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the ■■- Loyal Eguiout Lodge,, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was - held last night, Bro. L. F. Webster, N.LI., e presiding. IF.P.LI.M. Bro. Pepperell and I !'.«. Bro. J. Cleland, of the Loyal Ex- - celsior Lodge, were present to receive 1 the district ollicers, who paid the town lodges their official visit, the visitors ' being Piov. Li. M, Bro. V. X). Sole (Strat- ■ ford), D.P.G.M. Bro. F. .W. Oliver, Disl trict Corresponding Secretary Bro. C. E. • Bellringer, and District Warden Bro. W. I Hooker. The attendance of members was sparse. Lodge nonora were accorded ' th c visitors. The Prov. C.M., in rcturui ing thanks, said that the district ollicers had visited all the lodges in the district during the year, and had notjeed that every lodge was "making such progress that it seemed very likely that th e Cor. responding Secretary's vision of one thousand members in Taranaki by Easier next would Tic fulfilled. He mentioned th c annual movable conference, which would sit at New Plymouth at Kaster time, and said that arrangements for the entertainment of the visitors were well in hand. Efforts were being made to have a monster church parade for Oddfellows on Easter Sunday, with special trains running from llawera. The committee in charge of (he arrangements for the Premier picnic were endeavoring to arrange a big excursion to Mount Kgmont liv railway on 26th March. D.P.G.M. Bro. Oliver, in return-

ing thanks, commented upon the paucity of the attendance, which was not what | lie had expected for a combined meeting of two of the biggest lodges in the district. C.S. Bro. Bellringer made remarks upon the Mine topic, and went on to say that the progress of the district, numerically and financially, had been very satisfactory in the past year. Thc | next district meeting was to be held at Midhirst, and some very important matters would be discussed.