LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 147, 19 July 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

According to the Auckland Star, the J raising of firt; insurance rates in New 1 Zealand will take placu from ls't Auguvl next. According to one of the ''unemployed'' agitators, ilmre ai'e over 40,000 men out of work in Sydney at present, and it was decided to carry out a demoustra* tion in force against Parliament. The Ilaiibor Board on Friday decided to request Mr. Marchant, the Board's engineer, and Captain Bone, Marine (Superintendent of the New Zealand Shipping Company, to 'be present at the August meeting of the Board in connection with the wharf extension proposals. Mr. W. G. Miilonc's excuse for absence from Friday night's banquet raised a round of applause. ''l am," lie Wrote, ''very busy preparing an address on national military training, for delivery at the Jfew Plymouth Cluu on Thursday next, and as I have only my evenings free, and have had short notice I must put in all the time i. can;' The New Plymouth Beautifying Association met on Saturday evening, the Mayor presiding. It was reported that the recent concert given by the TnyloiCarrington Company netted £lO to the Association. It was decided to proceed with the improvement of Baines' Terrace and with the planting of some hundreds of trees on the Mount Bryan reserve and east end esplanade. One of the most hopeful speeches made at Friday night's banquet was that of Mr. M. Kudd, the New Plymouth agent of the Union Steamship Company, who declared that he would he prepared to recommend his company to send intercolonial steamers to , New Plymouth as soon as trade warranted it. He noticed that it was reckoned that three years would elapse before an ocean liner berthed here, .but he didn't think we would have to wait as long as that for an intercolonial steamer. TVT.. \\T \ ohrnvnlflTi nf

Mr. W. A. McUutcnan, cnairnmn 01 the Whnngamomona County council, wrote as follows in apologising for his absence from Friday night's banquet:— "I greatly regret being unable to lie present at the banquet to Messrs. Connett and King on the occasion of their return from England. The services of both gentlemen to the provincial district in connection with harbor construction have been above value. The foresight which prompted them to advocate during recent years the vigorous prosecution of harbor works is finding general realisation now, from the fact that harbor facilities are not meeting the requirements of what we produce. VTith this year's lambing the flocks of the province should number well over one million sheep, providing ample material for both proprietary and settlers' works. Unfortunately, enthusiasm for the new freezing works project is held in check awaiting an authoritative assurance that the harbor will be ready to do its part." j Tn our necessarily condensed report o£ Friday's night's function, only brief reference was made to the project mentioned by Mr. Newton King for tile re.duction of freights between Opunake and New Plymouth. He stated that whilst in ]£nglnnd he had seen in use a motor-waggon which lie considered would be eminently suitable for the Opunake trade. At present the freight charges from New Plymouth to Oaonui, five miles on this side of Opunake, were £2 a ton, but he was confident that this waggon would enable goods to be carried at a profit right through to Opunake at £1 a ton. Of course this would be impossible if the County Council was going to insist on collecting £l' a trip from the motor-waggon. Ho was not going to say a word against the County Council, but he thought a strong deputation should approach that body at its'next meeting on this matter.

A fairly cheerful reference to the state of the money market is made in the last issue of the Trade Review. "An easier tone," il says, "is already noticeable all round, but there is still some leeway to he made up. It must ibe remembered, also, that the March and June quarters are the 'fat' quarters' of New Zealand finance, and the 'lean* quarters, the third and fourth quarters at the year, lave to be met. In the September and December quarters' of IUOB the imports exceeded the exports by two millions and one million respectively, and if this experience were repeated in 'the current .year it would mean a serious set-back in the position. There is every reason, however, to hope that better results will be achieved this year. A larger volume of expuits may le anticipated than in IIIIIS, „ml it is practically certain that the volume of imports will lie con.sidera'ii'.v lighter. However, if for that six month* we can just keep an even balance we shall have done well. After that we mav look for another move ahead."

Signor Fagliani, a Milanese engineer, lias invented a hydroplane, which is able to tear along the surface of the water at forty-five miles per hour. It is propelled by a motor-engine of only 25 horse-power, and carries passengers. In appearance the machine is torpedo shay* ed, and when at rest it lies on the water. When set in motion its seven planes cause it to rise and skim the surface. A screw propeller is fixed at an inclined angle of 4deg. behind the vessel, and always remains in the water. For use in the sea, Signor Fagliani has completed a larger and more powerful hydroplane, which lie states can. attain the terrific speed of 125 miles per hour in smooth water. As soon as he has completed his series of experiments with the i latest design, the principal features of which are the substitution of the screw propeller by a pair of aerial ones and the use of benzine instead of ateam power, Signer JTagHiani wiiJl Md a. mammoth ocean-going hydroplane for Transatlantic purposes, capable of whirliiig 100 passengers between Genoa and New York.

In view of the celebration of Arbor - Day 011 July 21, the following method it of tree-planting is recommended by Mr. t le Supervisor of Agricultural Training under the Wanganui Education Hoard: —"Dig tlie holes somewhat larger than the natural spread of the roots. If the soil is poor some well- [. rotted farmyard manure should bo jniA<!d , i with it, but on no account should i'resh i taniiyard manure or fertilisers contain- ' ing potash or soda lie used. In plantm* i the roots of all trees should have *a r line mellow bod of good soil, which s should lie firmly pressed into contact with every rootlet. Xo air spaces should be left, and no two roots should be in 1 U'P fine soil to a depth l of three or four inches is pressed into ! , place, the remainder may be thrown s loosely on top. If the early summer is dry it is a good plan to apply a nmich of straw, hay, weeds* or ti-tree around the tree. This mulch should be about three inches deep, and should cover an «uo.t a little larger than the size of the hole m which the tree was planted Before planting trees in the school ground it will he necessary to have a plan carefully drawn out. The completion of the plan may be the work of years, but without a plan no work any value can he done. The first thing to plan for is shelter, and from the data accumulated in most schools tins will not he a difficult task. It is not a good plan to plant tall growing trees in front of the school, or to plant trees in a position that they will block out any gooff views that may: be had from the school grounds.'' i 3 * Morwick. Grey-street. Shortland, Thames, N.Z., says: "Some tin<e ago when my liltle boy had his hands severely burnt, Hanson and Co. recommended me to try Chamberlain's Pain Balm. I applied the liniment as soon as possible, and after a few applies- ' healed without scars. Since then I liave used Chamberlain's Pain Balin for head-11 ache, toothache, ami rheumatism, and | ' I find that it always gives relief. I can j ( recommend it to anvone wanting a good 1 family liniment." For sale by all chem- ' j ists and .storekeepers. * Just arrived, ut Dockrill's, Devon ' street Central,, New Plymouth, an in- s , rtent of Allan's famous gents' boots, also C. and J. Clarke's superior ladies' boots (l and shots. In'stock, a large assortment f of the best ladles 1 , gents', and children'] 0 colonial boots and shoes by reliable 8 makers. All the above are offered to j the public p*. prices that can't be beaten vt.

Tf ywip proneriv is not insured call at or rljipf up the United Insurance Company, Ltft Devon Street. Telephone 1!H. Webs if" Broa,, district agents. Inflnrancft." effected on tiro most favorable terms.—Aflvt. Money is desperately scarce and yo* rnn t afford to miss any chance of saving it. These fisruros are money-aavers: Gonts.'s chrome bals (usual price 15s fid) present price 8« Od; gent's fflace Iwls (17s Gd), 12b Od; men's heavy kip shooters (16s Od), lis 9d; ladies' place ■button boots OOsJ Od), 10s fid; Indies' alaoe laced button shoes (8s (Ml, 4s lid; ladies' golosJiea (4s 3d), 3s 3d.—A.B.G Boot Co,, New Plymouth—Advt, 1

Retrenchment is ibeing mad'e in the Labor Department. Fifteen of the employees have been notified that their services will be no longer required, and are being paid their salary up to 30th Seiptsiribcr.

Lamb in July! "Pretty old lamb at this time of the year," says tile diner when lie sees " roast lamb'" on the Dill-of-iare. 'But there are exceptions. i'jr instance, Mr. F. Snlwuy lias raised some excellent lamb on his llell Block pro-1 pei'ty recently. One of tlie.se, a tonweeks old lamb, furnished part of the menu at the banquet ill New Plymouth on Friday night. It was a well-grown animal, weighing 351b dressed, adding credit not only to the grazing capabilities of the Bell Block soil, but also to llr. Suhvay's reputation as a breeder ot I pure Southdowns.

Tile New Plymouth iiarbor loan was just comfortably subscribed. About .t;iBU,OUO was subscribed oil tlie day it was opened to the public. Next day scarcely any business was done, and tlic underwriters put in a large amount to protect themselves. Then, wlien the loan was closed to the public, tile bondholders came in for £(>0,000, because they were satislied with their previous investment in New Plymouth harbor bonds, having always received their interest regularly, with the exception of one default. One of the London papers referred to that default when this proseat loan was .being placed before tin investing public. News' lias reached Sydney that the lii'it ipriuting has been done on a print-ing-in'ess in the Solomons, it is at Mumvovo, and it is the first and only printing press ill the Solomons. It is at present worked in a missionary bedroom. "When i began to pull proofs," lie writes to the "Southern Cross Log,'' "the interest was intense. Crowds flocked round the house, the bedroom being packed. Sometimes a boy would pluck up courage and approach the wonderful piece of iron to inspect it. When 1 pulled the lirst proof they all exclaimed 'Aluu!' ('Good Gracious'), and when it was thrown away in disgust, being unrcadaible, there was quite a tussle for it, and the lucky one, a youngster of about fourteen, soon made 'off to one of the houses to make what he could out of it."