LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 69, 17 April 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

" I enclose photo of my wife and myself, having u „ other cncumiirance." So says an applicant for a local iiui.ticipal billet. The Harbor Board will hold a special meeting to-day lo discuss matters pertaining to the loan. The ordinary monthly meeting will probably be takeii at the conclusion of (he special business. ••It seem- tome." said Mr Kettle, during the hearing of n case under the Arbitration Act in Auckland one day Inst week, "that n great many ot niese disputes could |)c avoided if employers were careful to have the work for which men are employed truthfully entered iu the wages book and signed, if possible by both parties."' ' '

A. sensation has been caused at the Rlull' (telegraphs the Otago Daily Times' correspondent) consequent upon tii<■ report that the head of a well-known Southland financial institution has been missing from his usual haunts for a l"' 1 '"" 1 » f "i lays. Report has it that serious financial shortages are the explanation of hi.s disappearance. The amounts involved are said to run into thousands of pounds. Diligent inquiries have failed to disclose his whereabouts. At the meeting of the Opunake branch '"' Xi'w Zea d Farmers- r„jo, Saturday, the. following resolution was passed, and is t„ be forwarded to the Provincial Conference. "That while there is so much waste hind iu Xcw Zealand (both Crown ami native) awaiting setI lenient, this (.ranch considers it worse than folly continually borrowin.r in the foreign money market to purchase improved private estates for the purpose of leasing to settlers ; (he Government.-act-ing as agent fur the money lender Incollecting (lie rents to pay' interest o'n Hie borrowed money thereby creating a gigantic system of'absentee' liiiidlurilisiti Hint must ultimately prove disastrous to the Dominion."

Xew Zealand lends itself admirably (o closer settlement, and in this connection possesses distinct advantages "ver Victoria, thinks Ihe lion. 11. McKcnzie. thy Aictoriaii .Minister of Lauds, who is investigating the work of land settlement iu the Dominion. " You have." he remarked to aTi s representative, "the water everywhere, and then you have the climate. In our country w'e can put people on closely settled areas, even near towns, we hale in make provision for water for them : and tne gTealesl source of expenditure j s i„ securing a pernian-' cut water supply, li some eases in my' State water has to be brought long dislances. 11 is only in a very small porHon of A'icloria that men 'can live on ten acres of land and keep a family so that the village settlement idea is not feasibje lo any extent with us."

Mr Percy (Irainger's researches into old English folk songs, many of which he has by (he aid of a phonograph succeeded in rescuing from the oblivion whereto otherwise in the nature of things they would speedily have been consigned, are-held in great esteem by the musical world. During his recent 'visit lo X>w Zealand, the Age says, he has busied himself taking recornr, of Maori music, much of which he considers lo be most interesting, lit addition to his work in Ihe Dominion, the collecting of which has been his own special hobby, „ friend of his has also supplied him with phonograph records of native liarolonga part songs. These he describes as " full of Ihe joy of life, and voicing a tremendous, glad, teeming.energy, genuine polyphonic music showing much sense of harmony." As il is usually in four, and sometimes'in eight, purls, he linds Hie iask of Iranscribiug the records "appalling hard"; but he is keen and enthusiastic, and lluds the work fascinating.-' These Polynesians, he says, must evidently have had! n musical civilisation of their own, on a par, artistically, with their legends, I carvings, decorative patterns. Mr Grainger has signed a coutracl for » series of piano rectin|s in Scandinavia next summer.

Chamberlain's Cough Remedy Is Suture's most natural remedy, improved by science to a pleasant, permanent, positive cure for coughs, colds, and all inllamed surfaces of the lungs and bronchial tubes. The sore, weary, roughwonn lungs niv exhilarated, thi' microbebearing mucus is cut nut. tTie cause of that tickling removed, ami the inllaiiied membranes are healed and soothed, so that there is no inclination to cough. It always cures. For sale by all chemists and storekeepers. Just arrived, at Dockrill's, Devon I street Central,, New Plymouth, an incfrtit of Allan's famous gents' boots, also C. and J. Clarke's superior ladies' boots and shots. In stock, a large assortment of the best ladies', gents', and children's I colonial boots and shoes by reliable rankers. All the above are offered to the public nt prices that oah't be beaten. Advt. I

There arc fifty applications for Hie position of foreman, of the borough. The, ap])licatio]i liail from all parts 'if the Dominion. They arc lying in the Mayor's room for inspection' hy councillors during to-day and .Monday.

_ Two South Island fishermen have decided to commence, systematic fishing operations along this coast, with New Plymouth as their harbor and principal market. They have just received from Auckland a line 30ft launch, fitted with a 10 h.p. engine, and with a set of sails as auxiliary power. The cost of the vessel was somewhere about .C3OO. If these enterprising fishermen can guarantee us a regular supply of fish they will be welcomed,

During the recent heavy Hoods in tiie Waingawa river the Wairnrapa Age states that the water cut into quite ■new channels, and seriously encroached upon the properties of settlers on the Fernridgc side. The opinion is expressed by farmers who have resided in the local ity for many years past that the position is absolutely dangerous, and unless a great deal of river protective works are carried out immediately the next heavy Hoods will bring the water right across the Plain and through Mastertoii: nome 35 years ago Maslcrfon experienced such a condition of alfairc. sue question is one that should certainly be dealt with at once in a practical manner. In the cuurse of a lecture iu Dunediu the other dav, Ur Nisbci slated, as reported by the OUgo Daily Times, that : —" Amongst the articles' discovered in houses at Ancient Gczar, were numerous brooches, and among them ail article almost exa'ctly resembling the modern safety pin. The pin was toriued Ity the continuation of the metal of the brooch, after it had made one spiral twist, this spring being at the opposite end of the brooch to the catch. Thus the man who, not a great mam years ago, claimed to have invented the safety-pin, only really re-discovered the dev.-vc which was wellknown in the ancients. After that one becomes suspicious of the telephone and the motor car."

A powerfully built man of about 45 years of age is causing some anxiety in the Poverty Bay district. He has a strange mania fur climbing hills and traversing nionntaiiu,ns country, "irre-

specthe." savs a correspondent of the Auckland Herald, "of precipitous dill's, rivers, gorges, and bush." He hungaboiit Tinirolo for weeks. iui([ is now said to have made for the M ...u. i nongh he is inoll'ensive, he will descend upon a homestead after a long trump and ask for food, and he has Ijcen known to go foodless on an erratic trump for days. His feet are reported to be raw with hard and constant travelling. When questioned, his mind appears to be a blank, anil Instructions are being issued for his apprehension.

In connection ivith the exchange of Hags between Shqiparton State School (Victoria) and SlicpparUni-on-'tlianies (England), the directors of Shcpparton Butler Factory have decided to arrange for the export of about 30110 apples of the best variety iu eases. Each apple is to be wrapped iu tissue paper, bearing the following printed matter :—" This fruit was grown in the (loulburn Valley (Shcpparton district), Victoria, Australia, and. like Shepparton butter, is famous as the best Australian. 8011 l products are shipped to England every year." The proposal is decidely novel, and as an advertising medium has much to recommend it. The apples accompany the Hag, and will be presented to the children iu England. The Territorial Service Gaz.eUe of Feoruary 10th, I'.MHI, contained the following paragraph :—" Owing to the success of Cadet Colour-Sergeant William R. Friar's visit to the Mother Country in 1008, it has been decided to invite II) cadets from New Zealand, some from Canada, and some from Australia. Hospitality will be forthcoming from the English boys to these cadets, on ihe ranges and in the playing fields, from July to September. The most cherished traditions of the city of Loudon are educational progress and the exercise of wise hospitality. This, " L.«« l.ooerts' boys" will attempt to carry out again, in'lllOi), with the help of all schoolboys in the Mother Country," Jn connection with this matter, Major Rolilt wrote to. Sir .Joseph Ward asking the Government's intention in the matter, and although the reply was not a favorable one, an attempt wit. u « made by the Onehunga people to send at least one cadet to compete at Bislcy this year. On Wednesday evening the members and congregation of the Baptist Church celebrated the anniversary of the Rev. d. Laird's settlement in' the pastorate by a social evening, which was largely attended and was in every way a success. Congratulatory addresses were given by (W Rev. Drew (a former pastor). Rev. Lewis, and Messrs llal Goodacre and George Maunder. The Rev. Laird, iu reply, spoke of Ihe spirit lof unity and fellowship thai existed between the church members, ollicers and pastor, and siiid that the prospect of the coming year's work was must promising and encouraging. During the evening songs were sung liv Misses K. Carthew. llxeiiham. I. Giiodacrc. Messrs A. Ambiiry. jniir.. and liiehiirdson. while recitations were given bv Miss B. Hunt and Master F. Coleman. A violin solo ! was played by .Miss lilanchett, and a pleasing iicm wa.- a vocal duel nicely rendered by .Misses ,1. Cocker anil E. Auihury. During the evening a mucliapprecialed supper was served bv the ladies.

AVhen reformers speak of a Stale Hank and State issue of notes we are told it is impracticable, ami are given quotations from Adam Smith and Kicardo. men who lived lot) or 200 years ago (says the Pelone Chronicle). Surely we have men in Xew Zealand with a's much brains as Adiini Smith had. What we want is a. system to suit present-day ni'eds and requirements. We would like t» ask those who are opposed to a State Bunk. Hi,, hard-headed practical sort of men. to answer the following questions: (I I If the English money-lenders arc. prepared to advance money'to Xew Zealand on the strength of our securities, why* should not, (li,. tiovcriinivnt issue, notes on the strength of these same l securities'; fit |.'„ v ||, e pm-p,,-,. «f public works, and advances to settlers, is there any reason why notes should nol 'he issued ns new assets arc created? (3) Seeing Ihal. our ~xporls exceed our imports, wherein lies (he dillicnltv with regard to exchange? (4) Being it selfcontained community, what is there to prevent us from issuing a legal Government tender to represent our labor and our produce'!

! " Xow is the time to die ; line chance 1 for a funeral dirt cheap." This is the appeal which was placarded all oyer ,lersey City one day recently in support of an ell'ort made iiy free and independent undertakers to rid the trade of what is called the " Burial Trust" (reports the Xew York correspondent of the Daily Telegraph). According to the free-inui-independents, the trust has been charging extortionate prices, and even (ben. in many cases, "neglected to pud the outside box." "How much," I asked one of the raiders, •■ should be charged for the burial of the average working man ?" He - responded enthusiastically. " For about CI"! one can get as line a funeral j as any mnii could wish--black horses, 1 waving plumes, and union drivers," while for ,1.-20 he undertook to provide not only u funeral but what he called "a cute little grave, with luxurious accessories, and free death nol ices in two prominent papers." lie attacked the. Burial 'trust as " grafters unworthy of the responsibilities of embalming, 'burying, and lonibstoniug." He painted so alluring a picture of burial by (lie free-and-indepen-dents, particularly emphasising that they padded the " outside box," that one begun to question the advantages of life when to die in Jersey City was so cheap and Ihe accessories 'of death so Inxiiri-

WJSDUEKBUUiV, VKI. Thos. Dazeley, Wciklerburn, Vic. writes: "It .is with feeling,; of gratitude that I. testify to the intrinsic value of Dr. Sheldon's Digestive Tubules ia my recent illness, brought on "by an attack of indigestion in a severe i'oriii, and which produced distressing heart troubles a7id licad affections, necessitating the regular employment of strong laxatives. My weight fell from 14st lib to list 81b. | A decided improvement began and continued with the use of Dr. Sheldon's i Digestive Tubules, the digestive organs gotJiered tone, troublesome! gus causing pressure about the heart was removed, and the retention of food waiTe possible. Less than three boxes of Digestive Tab iles have made me a new mail." Dr. (Sheldon'* Digestive Tubules arc an unequalled preparation for the cure of Indigestion and all Stomach Troubles. Price 2s (id per tin. Obtainable every-

The Su]«>rinteudeni of the Fire Brigade acknowledges the receipt of a cheque for two guineas from .Mr. 11. Weston, in recognition of the services of the brigade at the lire in the 'Herald Oll'ice a few days ago. .We understand that the proposal to inscribe the names of certain niembcr.s of the committee upon the Marsland Hill Memorial has been dropped at. the instance of one or two of the gcnllemen concerned. The s.s. Buteshire took from Waitara the other day a quantity of selected mountain r'uiiii to the order of Mr. W. Monkhouse, formerly of Stratford, and now residing in England. The wood is for use in the interior of his new home. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., have received the following cable from their London house under yesterday's date:— " Shcepskhs: Merino and cross-bred anticipate firm market. For other descriptions we anticipate weaker market." At the meeting.of the Taranaki Provincial Executive of the Farmers' I'nion at llawera, a letter was received from the officer in charge of die Government labour ■■bureau at New Plymouth to the .ell'ccl that he had noticed from I hie report of the last meeting of the Executive that there was a good demand for farm laborers and bushfcllers. and as no had a number of applicants for work whom he had been unable to place, lie would be pleased if (he Executive would give the names and airilresses of eui: ployers who required labor. It was resolved to reply that flic resolution of the Executive was passed with a full knowledge of the requirements of the district, hut that it was not part ot the functions of the Fxccutivc to lind employment for w'orkcrs, ) 1. obvious reasons, it would be unwise for this body to usurp the functions of labor agencies and the Government bureau.

A friend scud* the Tiliiaru Herald Ihe following highly interesting and suggestive extract from a letter dated Bagdad, from a relative who is engaged in the restoration of t'haldea: - ".I - is with me and has lieen surveying and levelling the Babylon branch' of the Euphrates and is just back. Day after to-morrow he stalls for a survey of the giant works which Ximrod constructed on the Tigris. The works themselves have been swept away, but we can trace their canals and admire the height towhich I bey raised Ihe river. They dosed the biggest rivers with earthen dams and fnrned them over the hills and used them for irrigation. The Orientals were as enterprising in those days as any colonists in ours. We have surveyed and levelled and located the four rivers of Paradise, mid the Garden itself, and the city Cain built. We are all greatly interested in •fixing the Medeau vale of Xenophou. and the vale of Sviuiraniis. They are on some maps, but have been placed by people who neither surveyed nor levelled, and who put t.liem 'IOO miles from where they are. . . When I have my first lecture ready on this very interesting subject I will send you a copy. . .' . We arc all of us working ns hard as we can. and for all we are worth, so as to get our tasks finished before the beginning of the hot. weather stops our work in the field, and we hope to (inish our office work also. This Js a. very cold country in winter, going to 22 tleg., whilst in summer the thermometer rises to 12l)ileg. in the shade. The extremes are great, and 22deg. in the dry and windy bare country is much cobU'r than 22dcg. in damp countries, with trees and shelter. We have no I bush sometimes for 200 miles."