LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 273, 11 November 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Chatting wilh one of Webb's supporters al U"a\erlcy on .Monday, a Daily News rcporicr gathered that tile alleged serious injuries to the champion's hand are not nearly so serious as generally stated. H appears Webb was firing some rockets on the slh November,

when one exploded in his hand, leaving nasty raw patches in the palm of the hand and between the lingers. This mishap prevented the idol of Wanganui from sculling for the last five days, but he is expected to resume training about, to-day. Webb's followers are very confident of success, "and," said Webb's backer, "we have a thousand or two to back his skill and our opinion, so let them all come!"

"Altruist'' writes to the British Medical .Journal in respect to occasional advertisements appearing in Home papers for a medical man for a sparsely populated district in New Zealand, lie says that .1:300 a year guaranteed docs not go as Jar as .Cl5O in the Old Country; in winter tho mud is up to the horses' girths, while the bush tracks, even to an experienced rider, are dangerous and sometimes impassable. Proceeding, he says he was "under the domination of a committee of settlers, •some of whom could neither read nor write, before whom he was liable to be hauled on the most trivial pretext." The writer says he has had personal 'experience of this, and "recently a medical man holding one of these appointments had to go through the Insolvency Court because the settlers failed to pay their subscriptions."

The "Petroleum World," in a reference to the annual report of the New Zealand Mines Department oil the subject of oil-bearing fields, says: "This is most satisfactory, because, quite apart from the Imperial aspect of these developments, it is recognised that New Zealand enjoys exceptional geographical advantages in relation to the markets of the Far East and the Antipodes, and has a climate in which work can be carried on all the year round. Wherever oil is produced at reasonable expense a market exists, and New Zealand hopes to get a large share of the crud? oil trade of the Southern Hemisphere. Enquiries in New Zealand show that coastal, intercolonial, and Home boats would use a home-produced oil fuel, for j it is in the Antipodes that the use oi oil fuel on board steamers makes for j economy.

Following ;ire the names of the vbiiors to the North Mountain House from the '2Bth October: —Mrs. L. X. Collis, W. A. Cullis. -i. Muldoon, J. 11. Parker. (1. W. Gunsoa. M. E. Blanchett, li. C. Blanchett, T. li. lilanchett, A. 15. Slandish. T. C. Simpson, Harry Mocker. E. C'l.vton, P. Wood, C. Harris, T. W. Smilli, C. Tomlinson. 0. K. Tomlinson, •T. Dobbs. Elsie Doblis, Mrs. A. V. Oliver, 11. A. Sharp. .1. W. llayden, .1. Smyth. 11. llayden. .1. llayden, M. A. llayden B. Nulluiau, N. C. llaltson, M, L. Hayden, E. F. Jluydeu. A. M. Hayden, \V. Lullman, 0. A. llayden. S. llayden, W, A. Ctillis. K. Collis. X. C'ollis. Mr. William*. ami Mr. Caddy. The weathei on King's Birthday (writes our cone spondent) was simply wonderful, tlif clouds and tlie sun lighting for su premacy, the sun coming put on top m the finish.

At the special meeting of the, Taranaki County Council on Tuesday, alter the business of the mooting was finished, Councillor Stevens said that Ire had been struck by the bight rate of extra expenditure recorded for Foreman .Innc* 1 length of road in Moa Hiding. ' and as that part of the county roads came immediately under his notice he had made it his business to enquire into the of this extra cost, lie found that the chief sources of expenditure were special repairs on account of sawmill traDie on Tariki road, £7B 8s; approaches to and other work at the new concrete bridge over the Manganui river on the same road, £7l 15s 3d; and breaking of stone got when excavating the said approaches, CIO 10s—toUl, £IOO His JJd. He Jiad also found that against the first item might be put £sl) obtained by judgment from the sawmiller, the value of 2n,j»/ y -yards of metal got from the bridge approach and I u-cd for metal on iOVs chains oi road i and tiie price 'that the 70 yards of stone would have cost'at contract rate*, viz.. £24 10s—giving a total value gained of ,CM(i 8s (id to be reckoned against the £IOO Uis lid; so the councillors would ,see. that that p'ortio;i of tin* county roads was able to show a better return for money spent than would r.t first sight appear. or than could be shown in the clerk's report of expenditure.