LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 103, 28 May 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There is' n probability or another dry goodis warehouse being opened in New Plymouth in tile near future. The MM'iierv, which was a feature of the recent production of "The Magistrate 1 ' ;ii the Theatre Royal, was the work of Mr. I'red Stephen*, of this town. The artist is to lie congratulated upon tbe excellence of his work.

II i-; :>tated that if tbe recent decision of the Commonwealth' Government largely interferes with "TattersalP* consultations" in Tasmania, tbe business will be removed to Noumea, where it can be conducted wiY'h open doorts.

l)ai>v l)i.\on, who was convicted at the S.M. Court on Monday on a charge of stealing -C7 10 s from a fellow employee at the (Irosvenor Hotel, was again arrested by JMective Jloddain and Constable Melvur last night charged with the theft of silverware from the Terminus Hotel.

The railway euchre party and dance, the s'econd of tin* series, which was hold in the Jlroug.liam Street Hall last evening, was very enjoyable. There was a large attendance . Mis* .Simmons won the first ladies 1 prize and Mrs. l'nddy th-ei second, the gent.V» prizes going to Mr. Middlemas (first) and Mr. Masfon (>ccotv.l). Miss Loveridge supplied thv music.

The 'Sydney Telegraph, of M:iy I'JUI, says: '"There was another big influx or passengers' from Xew Zealand yesterday Ity the Cuion liner Manuka. The list totalled '320 all told,,the. majority being steerage passengers. A fair proportion of these were working men and their families. Many have come across seeking work owing to the depression in Xew Zealand. *'

The filial' quoits match for the cup was played ycslrnhiv between the East and West End Clubs, (lie game resulting in a win for West End by 21 to 10. Those left in the I'raal were J. J. Stagpoole and W. liayly (West End) and A. McGouagli; and .]. Hcvell (West End). Bayly and lievell were tlie leading scorers'. Filzroy lias now started a club, and has issued a challenge to Xew Plymouth. There is also a |Hissibility of a club being started in Inglmvood.

The Creator Xeiv Plymouth scheme is again exercising the minds of the people. Should it eventuate the Tarauaki county toll-galo at ftmatn might have to lie moved. The. suggested UreaF:\valvi' mad gale could luil remain under such condition,=. for a toll-gate cannot lie oslaMishod within a mile of tlic liorougll.

The secretary for Education lias forwarded In lire Kdueation Board a copy (it a statement hy Colonel iovcda'y showing tlio re-M"■. ■ Yu i.n>pcelion of the public s.'olu.Ji c..,ict corps .in the Hoard's district. The statement sot out tlio points awarded to tlio various companies nf eailets ns follow:—Xo. 1. Company, Central. N'ew Plymouth, total 73; No. C pally, Central. Vow Plymouth, Ingle.wood, 71: Ngaire, SI);' Okato, (ill; Xo. 1. Company. Stratford. 80; Crenui. liS: Wailara. 70; AVest KniT. "7S. l-'itzroy was described as '-jiot eiassilieil."

A competent judge, in Mr. ft. T), (Yliorlie. or liennrcra. speaks high].,- nf the improvolnom which in notlcoaiiie in Itio breeding of |ig]i| horse*. Mr. O'UorUv acted in tile enpaoil v of judge at Tarauaki. Pa.tniorston mid Canterbury. Asked l,y i, Xew Zealand Farmer representative what- he. tlionghl of tire horses brought into tin- during his tour South. Mr. (VKorlsp imparted some interc~tiuv information. At the Tarauaki sh'ow the sires in the hlood seclion appealed slrongly to Uj m . and in Maniapnlo (;i *Oll of Soult), (Comnel t son of Cantor).and Simpson lie *i"l three eery line ~,ire., I„ j„,l"o. Mr. M. ''ones (.ilnooKic was also a horse <tl (lie T;iranaki -liovv wliivli came in fur slrong al Mr. O'Korke 1 * hands, and lie savs I Ms sire was „f the liesl for gelling re-umiiiils (hat lie lins ever had before lii„i. l>„|,ncrs|oi, had Ihe lii's,( entry of bors( , s (]| -. year in liis opinion. while the junipin" at the show was n-lso far uml awav tlio I oe.'.'t, and provided an example which oilier socH'tiivs might very well mi-

Two lovers with one self-same cold. Two chests witii hut one wheeze, Tun rose-ivd noses Mending in OIH* inijKissionO'J SIHV/.C. Twit Sol|]4 Willi hut one single (7if» U y|it, (inn Asnirnlion jnirr— p ' "This cold we're caught we'll set at )W Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. 13

The fruit traclo in Anvkluml w at I"'"' sent very slack. In conversion wi h a 1 [erald representative on the ' Ml. 'l'oumftn. one of tin' liirg('»l- ol fniit importers, said Hint ' steamer from tin- Island* l» u r lh "" , had done great injury to ' l "' 1 "i" 1 1 ihu I fruit trail,, generally. I kill liadtM ell'cet of bringing more Is and fm t1 to the Domini'"n timt conlil he piolitiil)l.\ alisorlied. Vricvs { '»' lsl ; ulil fnut R1 that steamer started had bc-cu vo>v lo\v | in comparison with foruwr vmi>, 1 particularly tor Mand oranges. I'»usually heavy shipments have conic fo.ward from the Islands 111 the last tliux trips," said Mr. Toomaii, "and on the Mand, a "id April cargoes heavy losses wore made by shippers. Ihe eai y set tins-ill of the winter has also kept down the prices oi' fruit very much, and has had a serious eil'eet upon values of the last Fiji and Rarotonga cargoes so far as .bananas are concerned/' The German system of municipal government, s'ays C. C. Reaile in the Anckland Star, lias been shaped by the belie! that the work of controlling and governing a eitv requires the highest experience and the devotion of long periods of service by its civic heads. The Mayor, therefore, who is reiiuired to be very competent, and in many respects technically pvotk'iiit. is appointed ior extended pcrioas, varying from six to twelve years and is paid a high salary. With hiin ar« elected several councillors or ndjoints, distinguished by professional attainments in municipal science, who also ro tain tlivir seats for long periods, and are paid good salaries. ( Every mayor ano adjoint knows that he will probably hold oflice for manv years, and is therefore encouraged to' think of the. best policy for the welfai'c of the community. The system has resulted ill a high degree of civic efficiency. The expert chiefs of departments that are found in the English and colonial sjsJtvms, in Germany become "the city lafliers." The paid, elements in the municipality come from the civil service of other German cities n.u! pun pjo.i.u ti opmu iiAW[ A "' ll .ll M:'tL-W noted for their expert (nullifications., Tlioy include, legal officers, finanehl directors, architects, civil engineers, school administrator*, and other e<pons. His quite understood tlint these men, including the Mayor, will be reappointed at the end of their terms. Tlivir tenure is practically for life, mile* the position is forfeited by misconduct or incompetency. But the largest piaportion of members ar« unpaid.

An extraordinary freak of nature >vas In-ought to the notice of .Mr. l'aul Taylor at Mnrylehone l'olice Court- recently. Mr. Alfred Kirby, the missionary, introduced to the magistrate a diminutive woman, and explained that she had applied lo him for his advice concerning the baby she was carrying wrapped up in her arms. She was a poor woman, Mr. Kirby said, with a large family, and, having a weak hus'band, she had been compelled lo go out charing ill order to maintain her family. IJefore the -birth of the baby she was employed at the hou« of a lady who kept .a parrot, which was allowed to lly free about he moms as it pleased. One day the bird llow upon the applicant's shoulder, and il gave her such a fright that when her l>:ibv was born its feet and hands wi'i'o found to he almost identical with the claws of a parrot, while its head was also similar in sha.pe to n parrots'. "Really," exclaimed the magistrate, with astonishment. "Would you ifiind me looking at it?" The woman consented, an! uncovered the baby's "hands" and "feet." "Oh.'poor little child!" said Mr. Pnul Taylor, sympathetically. Mr. Kirhy explained that the formation of the baliy's head was such that it would probably grow u-p an imbecile, and what 'the mother wished to know was whether sup could recover compensation from the owner of the parrot, ill', l'aul Taylor replied that he was very, very sorry for her. but he could nut express any opinion upon the matter. This was one of those terrible things which he supposed no one could guard against, lie wished he could do something for her, but he diil not feel in a position to give her ally advice. The poor woman left the Court crying.

The Jlo-.i.'Dr. Findlay, replying to an Auckland deputation's representations in regard to amending the bankruptcy laws, said that the statement made by the Prime .Minister at fnvercargill was not a definite one of intention, but was really an expression of opinion that economy could b 0 clVeeted by abolishing the present system of having independent official assignees and doing the work previously done by tlicui through the Public Trust Office. This' office had branches all over Xew Zealand, and they administered many estates, though they were those of deceased persons. That administration had been well, economically. and honestly carried out. As a practising lawyer lie had. had opportunities of seeing how the estates had been administered, and he thought that the Public Trust Office of Xcw Zeala nd was as well administered as it was anywhere else. Tlic Prime Minister hail (Stated no definite intention of merging these ttwo departments into one, ami had been speaking only from the point of view of economy, lie realised that the matter would have to lie considered again. and 110 doubt lite reasons of objection so forcibly expressed would have duo consideration. The bankruptcy law. however, was not for the sole protection and advantage of creditors; it was iptasipcnal and quasi-criminal. and sio system of bankruptcy that did not fully safeguard the. interests of the public' would have his approval. The mode, that could be. followed in the ease of any particular bankrupt was not always 'the course which would be most profitable to the creditors. The Official Assignee count always be selected by the creditors if they preferred a creditors' assignee to a trade assignee. When lie got back to Wellington he would go through the matter very carefully. There were fe;v laws' which were more perplexing ari l difficult limn the bankruptcy law. When yoii.gvt one tlufcig right in it you get another thing wrong, and one "had to proceed with the utmost care. A Bill, however, was being drafted, and would be laid before the chambers of commerce, anil would no doubt lie criticised by them.