LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 86, 7 May 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wailara Freezing Works having been very fully supplied with stock during this season, it has been decided to immediately largely increase the power capacity and size of the works. Th's will partly be completed for this coining season, and will be wholly in use for the following one.

•The Chief Postmaster informed one of our representatives yesterday that he was not approached by anyone in connection with the, hoisting of the flag on the post office tower on Wednesday, so he could not have refused to hoist it, as was stated. He further stated that had ordinary common courtesy been ~.xlemled to him by the person responsible for this fuss, the position would have been respectfully and fully explained. Writing recently to the Melbourne Argus, Mr. .luhu Lemnioue, Madame Mclba's' manager, said: "Sir,—ln a recent article ill the Argus, taken from the Strand Magazine, a serious misstate-, ment is ina,l t . with regard lo Madame Mclba's fees—an error which, however trilling ill one light, is. in another sense, a grave misrepresentation of facts. The official statement as to operatic artist-' remuneration published by the Covent Harden Syndicate ill the Loudon Press a few months ago. showed that during the last twenty years onlv two artists have received t2jb a night and upwards at that house, these two singers being Madame I'atti and .Madame Melba. A recent statement is published by the two opera houses in New York, in their endeavor to check the growing expense of operatic productions in the United States, proved that in Xew York Madame Melba receives 301(0 dollars, i.e.. 11111 l guineas a night, which is 11100 guineas' per night in excess of that given to the next highest-paid singer on the combined lists of two houses. The average remuneration of great operatic stars has enormously increased since Madame Palli's retirement from the stag,, 13 years ago. anil throughout that period Madame .Melba. as her compatriots should be proud to know, has-been the highest-paid singer in the world. She can draw more money in any city than any living «iiiger. and the extraordinary fact of the Royal Albert Hall, with il's seating accommodation of 10.01)11. sold out a week in advance of her November concert, was a record never approached even by Patli. and. should be still fresh in the memory of Hi,, Argus readers. The Strand Magazine is also being coiiiiiiunicated with. In Sydney Madame M'elba established the world's record during her season. 1!I02-:|. when her net I

share of a single concert o»jne to .Ci'iliO."

A certain young fellow of Ryde Determined that he'd suicide. Rut the pill Laxo-Toiiie Made living harmonic. Now—he couldn't he sick if be tried. LAXO-TOXIC RILLS. 10'/ a d and Is (Id,

THE "DREADN'OUGHT" QUESTION.

And New Zealand's offer is excllinj more interest. Still, another mailer of importance to the public of the Dominion is that th,. New Zealand Express iCo.. Ltd.. undertake to forward goods and parcels to any part of the glolie. to pass entries for traders, provide storage accommodation and sample rooms, re-J move furniture, handl,. baggage. To traders, travellers, tourists, and the general public, they offer a service guar. I anteod reliable iu every department, '

The satutory annual meeting of ratepayers of the Pnrihakn Road Board, called for the 3rd inst., lapsed on account of no one rolling up. The New Plymouth Homing Club held a 100-mile race from .Marlon yesterday afternoon. The nice, "The Oaks," was for lieu birds only, and resulted as fol-lows:—-11. Movcrl'cy's Union, 3hrs. 33'/a' niin., first; W. H.'lioulton's (iem, .'llirs. 34min., second; V. 11. Beale's Julia, 3hrs. 35min., third; J, Sparkes' Princess, 3min. 3(i ! / 2 inin., fourth.

A very interesting collection of photographs, the property of .Mr. W. F. Gordon, is being displayed in the window of Mr. T. Avery, Devon Street. The collection consists of about fifty officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of her Majesty's forces and civilians who were killed ill action or murdered by rebel Natives during the Maori wars of 18110-1801).

Mr. S. Percy-Smith received a telegram from Sir Joseph Ward yesterday afternoon stating that instructions had been given for as many Government departments as could do so to close this afternoon for the unveiling ceremony on Marsland Hill. hi those departments that cannot close, all officers who can be spared during the ceremony'will be permitted to attend. A correspondent signing himselt "H.E.T." writes to the Stratford Post as follows:—''l wish to draw your attention to the driver of a team of bullocks drawing metal on the road at the cemetery. On Tuesday, while a funeral cortege was drawing up.to the cemetery gates, the bullock driver in question | got into difficulties and losl his temper, and had no respect for the dead; and during the whole time of the funeral service he was thrashing and shouting at the poor defenceless, brutes, to the great annoyance of the mourners." It has been decided by the Government that from May 1 rock oysters, ill quantities of not less than a sack, may be obtained on application to the manager of the Government Oyster Depot at Auckland. In this connection it is proposed to sell the oysters in Two classes, the first class oysters at 12s lid per sack, and the second class oysters at lis per sack, to which, in each ease, must be added the, sum of 8d for cartage

and wharfage al Auckland. The intention is to sell the first-class oysters until the supply is exhausted, when the sec-ond-class will be sold.

Our Upper t'arrington Road correspondent writes: A most successful euchre party was held in the Upper Carrington Road schoolroom oil Wednesday night, about sixty competing. The first ladies' prize was won by Miss V. Shodroski, and the second by Mrs. Cooper, of Maugoroi. The gent's prize wis secured by Mr. W. Coonibes, of Franklcy Road, whilst tbc "booby" prize was annexed by Mr. Frank Lander. After a splendid supper, presided over by Mesdames R. Gilbert, H. Lander, E. Pepperell and J. Waters, dancing commenced at eleven o'clock, the music being supplied bv Miss Bishop. The duties ol M.C. were ably carried out by .Mr. K Peppcrell. Songs by .Miss Bishop during intervals were much appreciated. At a meeting of landowners at Rowan the following resolutions were carried: '• That this meeting of ratepayers ill the West Riding of the Stratford County write the Valuer-General, through their countv representative, with a view of obtaining a meeting with him in Stratford for the purpose of (1) discussing the high valuation that exists throughout the Riding: (2) the unequal values as between the improved and unimproved values; (3) the inequality that exists Hetwtau sections whose uiiiimproved values should be equal, or in niauv instances lower, and that the Valuer-General should be urged to effect an alteration and reduction.' "Unit in the event of the Valuer-General failing to accede to a meeting Ihe matter be" brought before Hie County Council with the request that the Valuer-General be approached by the Council."

Iu these so-called bad times it is always cheering to hear of somebody who is doing well (says the Stratford Post). A farm not many miles from Stratford, which was purchased some eight months ago for X.W an acre, was pointed out bv the manager of an adjacent creamery, and il was stated that the owner, who has every reason to anticipate clearing

A'.'iOO during (he first complete twelve months thereon, has recently refused an advance of .C 7 per acrc on his bargain, but is quite satisfied to hold oil. It is perhaps needless to add that the present occupier is an up-to-date dairy farmer in every respect, and attends carefully both to the manuring of his pastures—a thing practically undreamt of iu this district a. few years since—and the careful culling of his herd. A cow that; being tested, is not up to the mark is promptly quitted, and the farmer alluded to lias now the satisfaction of owning several that have returned him as much us Us a week each.

Passengers by the Auckland-Welling-ton express on a recent afternoon state that, while coming o\cr the W'nimarinn Plains in the morning, t'ney had a splendid view of Xganriihoc ill eruption. The dav was perfectly clear, and billowing clouds of white steam could be discerned ascending almost perpendicularly, and then drifting westward. East week the eruption was mainly black ashes, the effect of which is evidenced ill the dark,

smudgy appearance of both Tongariro and Nganruhoe, and a portion of Rua■pchu, and which has quite spoilt their aspect. H appears that the most intense upheaval is always that which belches out the black ashes, in conversation with a Dominion representative, the Tokuanu mailman, who passes within three miles of tho mount a in, stated that (here was no doubt that Xgaiirulioc was eating itself up with its own internal fires. The eruptions were coming down the Mil with more numerous .blowholes, and, with a thinning crust, the mountain seemed to be crumbling away,

The borough workmen who have charge of the horse teams have an enviable reputation for looking well after their charge*. The animals are always ill good condition and fit to do any fair work put behind tlieiii. During the last day or two wink has been proceeding on Brougham street, between Devon anil Vivian streets, on which loose blinding material is being spread. The hill is a verv stiff pull for a horse attached to a ,'lray-loail of blinding. Iu fact, the strain is too much for one horse. On Wednesday afternoon at least one of these heavy loads was taken up the hill by one horse. The dumb brute was almost in a state of collapse when he reached the ~nd of the pull. The horse

is an old one and should not be asked lo do such a heavy task. Even a young horse would be almost pulled to pieces if used for such a work. It is not our de

sire to find fault with tli u driver of the horse, but whoever is in charge should learn (if lie does not know) that there is n limit to a horse'*' capability, and. further, should remember that it' is ihe "last straw that breaks the camel's back."

Two young boys were brought before the Juvenile Court on Monday ufterI noon, charged with stealing parts of oil launch engines (savs Ihe Wanganui Chronicle). Detective Siddells said the bids were studying electricity, and, being unable to purchase the plant they required, bad stolen the articles from launches in the river. One of the boys had fitted up a workshop, and in it tne two boys bad conducted experiments. With llie exception of one coll, which had been exchanged for an Edison cell, none of the stolen property had been disposed of. The parents of the boys bad admonished them and made good the damage that had been caused, this amounting to CIS. In view of the circumstances, Detective Siddells said he would be quite siltisfied if the boys were warned as to the seriousness of their offence. 'He had no wish that tliey should go forth into Hie world branded as thieves, but other boys must be made to know that they must not act similarly. Mr. Trcadwell, who appeared for the'boys, said they appreciated the seriousness of their offence, and were not likely lu offend again. Mr. Ivcrr, S.M., after giving the bovs a severe talking lo anil some advice, discharged them. Similar treatment was meted out, to an- j other lad who had received the coil referred to above.

Miss A. Ratz. The Lake, via Charlcvillc. 0.. wrilcs: '•! do not know what we people who live in the bush would do without Chamberlain's Remedies. Many of us live miles from a doctor, and the time that would be lost in sending for one iu a case of Croup would in most cases prove fatal, to say nothing of the expense. In our family we take the precaution of keeping Chunberlain's Cough Remedy on hand—we always have a few bottles in the house--and we call it our doctor. As a matter of fact, one and all of Chamberlain's Remedies have a place in our medicine chest, and [ could not, tell yon the number of times I hey have saved us serious trouble." For sale bv all chemists and storekeepers. '

Just arrived, at Dockrili's, Devon street Centra!,, Wew Plymouth, an indent 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 colonial boots anil shoes by tellable wakers. Al] the above are offered to trrejnibHc at prices that can't be beaten. AdvL,

A waterspout was witnessed by those | on board the New Zealand Shipping, Company's steamer lliniuliika. as thu vessel was approaching New Zealand on Tuesday. The position of the vessel at the time was 4U.52 south latitude; 179 cast longitude. It was seen On the starboard quarter, and burst about a mile from the vessel. A second one should up shortly after, but was much smaller than the first. I

Whilst dealing on Saturday night it luvercargill with the statement that tho Government policy bad resulted in driving capital out "of Xew Zealand, Sir Joseph Ward said it was true that two or three North Island men had sold land here and bought in Queensland, but he could give some particulars of Hip results ill at least one case. This man bad paid £40,000 for a Queensland estate, and next day the sellers' agent wired Sir Joseph if lie would take the .C4fl,nilo and give 4 per cent for it, ''l took it lik c a shot," added the Prime Minister.

When the Wairarapa Daily Times was established in .Masterton (Sir Joseph Ward must then have been a very small boy) this town was over-banked, and yet there were but two banks trading here (says the editor of that paper). Money was plentiful, and the bankers twain would button-bole a customer and whisper, '"Don't you want an overdraft t" The world went very well then and '•every man who had a wheelbarrow enjoyed an overdraft." There was a land boom, too, but, alas, one sad day a stern-looking official arrived on the scene and called in all the overdrafts. There was weeping and wailing llien. for Masterton had gon,, up like a rocket, only to come down like a stick. The bail time then was' something far worse than our present experiences of to-dav. We learnt then the lesson that there are more perils in "over-banking" than in "under-banking." At the annual ladies' night debate of the Union Society of London some amusing suggestions were made for taxing bachelors'. One speaker stated that the census showed ,'10.5 bachelors in England, 3(i.!l ill Scotland, and 47.8 in Ireland. These figures indicated that the Englishman rus'hes Veadlong into matrimony; the Scotsman was more cautious: but in the case of the Irishman statistics were fallacious, the reason he did not marry being that he could not afford it. The bachelor was selfishness incarnate. He was content

with what he had got. having no matrimonial worries. A tax on bachelors would be a consolation to the married man. and would give him some reflection of a pleasant nature when parading the room in night attire hushing a, bundle of vociferous malignity, lie looked fomvard to the day when* bachelorhood' should be brought into great contempt in every European country, in every civilised country, and in Ireland. Miss Woods opposed the proposal, on the ground that the most eligible bachelors had no income to tax. Her experience bad been that her bachelor frirads when they married became cramped, narrow and disagreeable, and were far more objectionable than in their bachelor davs.

She questioned whether it, was cheaper to tax the bachelor than to marry him. A man should be taxed according to bis character. A subsequent speaker s'aid that there was more peril at present from bachelor women than from bachelor men. There were far more of tho cold-blooded calculating commercial spirit among the girls of this day than there used to lie. Miss Constance Williams said every man should marry between thirty and thirty-five. Another speaker suggested that the proper corollary on the motion should be a stamp duty on refusals'.