LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 305, 21 December 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tile Mayor's challenge cup presented to the cadet battalion for tlie buglers' competition \v;is vim by Bugler Whrte, 01- the Centr.il school company. One of the Otckaike settlers (says the Tiuumi Herald) sold his wool as it came oil' tlie sliceps' back at I)'/id per lb on tlie (arm, this price being free of commission or any other charges. The buyer was a Timaru wool-dealer. . The Waitara-Urenui cadets earned the distinction of being the most manly and best liehaved boys in the cadet encampment. They also secured i-jm* .Board inspectors' prizes for the most tidily kept tent during the week. Caustic remark by a tonsorial artist in a saloon prior to the boat race: "Who do 1 think xviU win tlie sculling race'/ Well, you can bet your boots that if Webb goes under Wanganui will want to fill in tlieir river; they'll have no further use for it!" Palmersto.i Standard. 1 As a result of the action of the Fiji shippers of banauas in boycotting Dunedin, the Auckland merchants are reap-' iug a harvest. Over 100U cases of Tonga n bananas, ex Atua, luive hecn sold tip to lis 3ii per ilin case in Dttuedin, and Fijian purchases from Wellington have been sold to arrive at '.Os per case. The Dunedin fruiterers are boycotting Fijian pines, and are buying Tonga ns. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a mounted rifle corps in New Plymouth was held in the Tow;n Hall on Saturday afternoon. There was a fair attendance, and the secretary pro torn., Jlr. Jas. Smith, announced tliat 08 intending members had sent in tlieir names. The meeting proved abortive, however, owing to the failure of the defence authorities to acknowledge the secretary's letters. Over a month ago a 'communication was received, from tlie responsible ollic'er of the Department, asking for certain information. This was at once supplied, and an application made for authority to enrol. The

Department has shown so little interest -in the proposal that it has not had the courtesy to acknowledge, the letter. The meeting expressed itself strongly concerning the apathy of the authorities, and decided, in the meantime, at any rate, to let the proposal drop. Mark Twain wi\s once pestered by an insurance, agent to protect the welfare of those dependent'on .him by taking out an accident insurance policy which would ensure a certaiu sum being pit id to his family if lie lamentably k, shuflled off this mortiil coil" by sudden disastrous accident. The great humorist promised to give the subject his earnest consideration, anil did so. JHs conclusions appeared in an article, in which lie pointed out that the real danger to humanity was not through railroad or steamboat travelling, but through going to bed. "The number of people who die in their beds," said Mark Twain, "is appalling." lie proceeded to point out, in effect. that the only policy he was likely to take out against death was one which would-provide for his dear ones if lie died in bed, because, as he stated, there was much more likelihood of his succumbing in bed than by sudden accident, and he -cited figures to prove it.