LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 5 June 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There wa# again a good attendance at West's Pictures in the Theatre Koyal last night, and the splendid pictures! shown were received with no less enthusiasm than has been exhibited nightly during the live nights of the season. At last night's meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. llughes mentioned that the (Suverniuent had decided not to go on with the proposal to acquire " .Mokau Jones' " estate for closer settlement, owing to dilHeultiea in regard to the title.

The third of the serifs of railway euchre parties was held last evening in the Brougham Street iiall. There was ft good attendance. Tile prizes were won as follows.—Ladies' prize, Mists Kennedy; genu's prize, .Mr. (J. Jury, t'ne music was supplied by Mrs. George. At last night's 1 meeting of the Clumber of Commerce the president stated, aiicni the proposal to establish a brickmaking industry ia New Plymouth, that there was 111 the town a baker's oven in whiell bricks made of isew I'lyjuoutii sand had stfiod the constant baking of the last twelve years, and they are still sound.

This Auckland Fanners' Freezing Co., \\"iiicli .started in March, 11JU.3, made a prolii of JI4S4U fur the yt'ar ending tfUtli June, 11)08. The prolix oi the previous year amounted to £OIB4, The works cost, in round figures, £3o,UOU. These liguros were given, by the president of the Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting last evening.

Mv. Miller, manager of West'* Pieturt's, has intimated to Mr. Donipaey as the re&ulL of the latter's ingestions, tliat the essay* written in the linn's competitions' are not lo have the names 0/ the writers attached, but the writers are to attach 110 ms do plume, enclosing their own names m separate envelopes. The Jiiiui'ber to oe selected by the teachers lor sulbmissiou to the judges has been increased from three to six. There are very numerous competitors.

A very successful euchre party and dance was thelil at the Currniglon Koad achoolhouse on Wednesday evening. About 4u attended. The ladies' prize in the euchre was won by -Miss Darner, with-Mrs 1 . Water* second'. Air. X. Lister carried oil' the gent.'is prize, Air. King being second. Tile "boobv" awards went 10 Jliss C. Clout, and Air. K. iicwis. Miss darner supplied the dance music, ami a dainty supper was presided over by Alesdames Lander, Waters, Pepperill and Uilbcrt.

Speaking to a deputation at Wellington the other day, Dr. Findla.v said the liovcriinicnt's action, upon h'in suggestion, of abolishing the District Courts, had met with n certain a, mount of criticism, but he was satisfied that every member of the legal profession in New Zealand, speaking not only for the interests oi the profession," but also of the litigants, must approve of the dis-

appearance of the District Court as a Court which, from its inherent character, was out of date. With the extension of .Magistrates' power, and the holding ut' iurthcr sittings of the Stlpreme Court, lie believed several thousands per annum could lie saved W'itliout 10.-s of ellicieucy, or causing one moment of delay.

Kefcrring to tlie fruit fcnluslry in his animal report to the Chamber of Commerce evening-, the chairman siiid manager of Hie Friinlev Canning Co. told Hint when lie was iii Xew Plymouth the other clay that when he lirst started uperatioiw lie had to rejeet more than half the fruit grown a« quite unmarketable, and that to get lite requirements lie had to grow his own. And in selling it," continued ill'. Schnuekeiilierg, "lie was met by a remarkable anomaly. |f he sends'it away fresli it goes at Is per cwt. for any distant, say to Wellington, empty eases returnable free; but if he turn "it into jam or otherwise preserves' it so as to put it into a isliape that will supply tlie need of !Now Zealand instead of imI"" "'g during tint winter, it goes at class B rates, and thus eosts oUs per Lou to Wellington. A'o wonder die complains that it is cheaper to rail it to Napier, send by steamer to Wellington tia.islnp at Wellington to the breakwater and then rail to Xew Plymouth, than to let it come by rail nil the way"