LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 240, 16 November 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. A. (i. Ciawi'oiil's iii.mir-coach for the Wailara-Uruti run was landed at New Plymouth yesterday, and made trial runs in town. The commission paid by the. Hospital! Braird recently to a linn for indenting surgical appliances, etc., from Home vas V/-j per cent. Mr. Newton King lauded yesterday a I handy litlle two-seater Calthorpe motorsir, of 12-14 h.p.. capable of travelling | up to 45 miles an hour.

A Masterton linn has received an order for 8000 ft of white pine for Australia. The wood is to be used ,for the purpose of making boys' cricket bats. Of the world's gold output last year,

say .1:84,1(15,000, no less than X.W, 028,000 was produced in countries belonging to itlie. English-speaking race, including the United States. Mr. C. W. Palmer, secretary of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, who has been visiting New Plymouth lat tlic invitation of the Taranaki branch of the League, yesterday visited the local schools. The Taranaki County Council has instructed Mr. Orbell, of Messrs. Orbell and -Mackay, to furnish a report of all bridges requiring reconstruction in the Moa Riding, together with an estimate of each bridge in reinforced concrete. Very few 'people realise (says the Tiniaru Post) the value of trees .to a country, and the rapid clearing of our forests may result in the future in scri-

ous loss through the cllect it will have on the soil and climate. It is true some tree-planting is being done, but 'not nearly enough to make up tor the wholesale destruction that has been going on for many years'. An inmate in the Old Peoples Home recently wrote away to an acquaintance telling him a tale of woe, included in widen was a statement tlial he had developed dropsy in the right leg. He also forwarded his brother's address, so that "in the event of finality" he could be communicated with. This gentleman has in turn written to the Board asking whether the inmate's position was really as the tone of his letter would lead one to believe, or whether he had just got "a fit of the blues." The secretary replied to the effect that the man appeared to be doing well, and that the dropsy was but a creature of bis imagination.

The Taranaki Friendly Societies' Association's latest payment to the New | Plymouth Hospital Board for maintenance of its members in the hospital | amounted to XlO2 Ms lOd. It is fairly safe to say the Board would have had to "whistle" for some of this money. The members pay 2s a quarter each to the association funds, in return for which their hospital fees are paid. Recently the association was called on for the payment of CBO for one patient alone, which suggests that the 2s a quarter is a pretty safe investment. In the account just paid; some of the members' benefits amounted to £2O, ,C 23 ss, Cl2 10s, etc., in individual cases.

There was a large attendance at tiie Theatre Royal last night to witness the entertainment given under the auspices of the Taranaki branch of the Xavy League. The entertainment took the form of an address bv Mr. C. W. Parker (secretary ;of the Wellington branch of the League). The lecture was illustrated with a very interesting lot of picture slides, depicting naval life, battleships of various countries, etc. His Worship the .Mayor (Mr. ft. Tisch) presided. During the evening Messrs. T. Woodhnrd and K. Clarke contributed appropriate songs. At the conclusion of I the lecture a number of members were enrolled as members of the local branch of the League.

The following is a list of recent visitors to the North Egnionl mountain house.—lf. Quickfal!,, S. Ouickfall E Turner. A. skenles, ('. Patterson. AY. Peters. C. Inimin. L. Sutton, S. Ilolah It' N.Collis, W. Okey. W. A. Colli*, li and F. Vickers, W. Trimble, )|. viekers, Singer, A. Morcy. Mis. Morev, Mrs Coker. E. Edmunds, J. Morev, 11. Stocker A. Standish, Dr. Hell. E. Slaudish l)r Holmes,. Master Lairs. A. Richards Mrs' A. Richards, Mr. ami Mis. E. -Master Hooker. .1. .Morev. Mrs and Miss Slanders, Mr., .Mrs. and .Miss Blun'deil S. Mark, S. Broadbent. L. Broadbent and R. Harle. The custodian stales lli-ii Ihe weather during the past two weeks has been beautiful, so intondiii" visitors should take advantage of the present condition. '

flic origin „f tl, e Marathon race is an interesting bit, of ancient history. A Sicat battle was fought liet-woon the Ici'suuis and the Greeks. The Persian anny was commanded by DaUs, and consisted of 1110,00(1 foot and 10,()| l(1 , mt . I'd soldiers; that of the Athenians •""minted to I",oim inn,, i„ all. and was leaded by ten generals, of whom Milfades was the chief. T|„. result of (lie '"'Uie was that the Athenians were suc-ces-inl, and immediately aflor the hat ;4'';an Athenian sohlici'- named Phciilinpides i|tiittcd Uie nrmv and ran lo Uhcis in carry the news to liis fcllow-citi/cns "hen lie arrived at the nin<r[s|,..,!o's Imusi. ne only uttered the words "He. joiee, the victory i s ours." and he Ml down and died. The Persians were so sure of victory that they provided marlac at Marathon to be erected •," •, Micmnmeut. The Greeks look l!,i/,uarble and cause,! „ s .(. llllc . u , ~,, |n . u|( , f >t l>.v Phidias i„ honour of the goddess -Nemesis, who had a temple near Ihe *'lo nf the lmuie. Marathon is situated n'mut 2(i miles from Athens, and lull" Usance races commemorating the A henian sohlier's great run were established.