LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 263, 13 December 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is estimated thai the two recent wool sales in Napier will result in an inciease of a quarter of a million to the wealth of llawke's Bay.

All telegraph offices hitherto observing the hours of !) a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight will, on New Year's Day, open from !) a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Premier lias informed Mr. Okey, M.P., that the matter of the duty on petroleum boring machinery is before the Cabinet, with a view of cither amending the Customs Act or arranging that all duty paid will be refunded.

The Wuverley correspondent of lue Pa tea Press* utatos that the (loverniiienl Ims definitely decided to bum and grass the Rangitaiau block, near Waitotara. It is expected that the laud \iill be ballot ted for early in March. During tlie next three years the Government purpose spending as much as £5llOO annually on the roau and block.

The following are the. points prizes awarded in connection with the recent agricultural show:—Horses: Thoroughbreds, J. Bond. New Plymouth; Carriage horses and hacks, G. Colson, Fitzroy, and R. .1. Linn, Xoimauby (equal); points' prize for all horse classes, J. D. 'Mitchell, Jlanaia: cattle (all classes), W. Birdlin'g, Waitara; sheep (all classes), Newton King, New Plymouth. The butler exported from Taranaki (New Plymouth and I'atea) from September Ist to November 30th was valued at £145,992, and the cheese at £98,004, miking the total for dairy produce £244,050. During the same period Auckland exported butter to the value of £141,370 and cheese to the value of '£(1243, making a total of £147,013. Wellington's exports were: Butter £87,189, cheese £39,922, total £.127,111. A shocking gun accideut occurred at Clonbinanc, Victoria, recently. A little boy seven years of age, named Quillian, accidentally shot his sister, live aid aluilf years of age. The two children were playing in a barn where the gun was hanging. The boy took it down and placed it on a bench in a line with tha door. The little fellow caught hold ot tin? trigger and pulled it, and the shot struck the 'girl on the side of the face, and she died a few minutes later. A magisterial enquiry was held and a verdict returned that deceased met her death through a gunshot wound. TAere 13 a mild epidemic of typhoid fiver in the Grey Lynn district (writes the Auckland correspondent of the Dominion). Since 23rd November there have been sixteen cases, including nine in Murdoch road, four in Rose road, two in Mackelvc street, and one in Queen street, Richmond. Outbreaks of typhoid have unfortunately been common in Auckland during past summers. The present epidemic lias not so far assumed alarming proportions, but it is causing the local authority (the Grey Lynn Borough Council) to take energetic measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

A L..yttelton Times reporter was informed by a ini'inbcr of the Uhristehureh Prohibition League that it resident of Christchurch who had become a chronic alcoholic subject, and who applied to tlie Magistrate's Court for admission to the l*ukatoa Institution, was refused the necessary order for admission on the ground that he had not been convicted for drunkenness the statutory number of times. 'J he man thereupon went through the procedure imposed upon him by the law, got himself into a sufficient state of insobriety on two occasions to secure his arrest, and was at last granted admission to the institution.

Enquiry in authoritative quarters elicits the fact that tliere is a considerable falling off in the tourist traffic tins

season, so far as it lias gone, in comparison with past years. Usually at this time of tlie year numbers arrive by every Sydney boat coming to Auckland and Wellington, but Uiis year they are conspicuous by their absence. Jt is suggested that the traffic from Australia is impeded by the big coal strike at Newcastle, the effects of which are so far-reaching. Even the well-to-do paß- - and agriculturist might be feeling anxious as to the possibility of "bottoms" for his produce being stueic up for lack of coal. Many cargo boats are laid up in Sydney 'and Newcastl", unable lo load, as there is not any immediate prospect of being able to get coal supplies, which must lead to a congestion of certain lines of produce ashore. Those- interested are more, likely to stay a I home waiting to see "how the cat jumps," rather than leave their wellstored barns to go a-tripping anywhere. In England the political situation is causing a spirit- of unrest, the like £1 which has not been experienced for many years, and it is argued that the class of 'English tourist who would be likely to include New Zealand in his itinerary is vitally affected by the great issues that are before the nation.-—Dominion.

Conditions continue fairly easy and money is readily available for all reasonable and legitimate purposes (says the current iss'uo of the Trade Review), rn the ordinary course the bank returns for the December quarter show the effect of advances made to wool farmers and other producers for tho handling of the season's products, while in the following quarter the returns benefit liberally from the realisation of these goods and their exportation to the markets of consumption. The present season is exceptionally early. The wool sales show substantially increased quantities brought to market, while an unusually large proportion is being sold, and that at very satisfactory prices. Dairy produce is [also going forward in extra large quantities. The bank returns for the current quarter, when they come to be .published, can scarcely fail to show that exceptionally large amounts have been brought to credit from these sources. The large proportion of the season's exports go forward, however, in the March quarter, when the excess of exports over imports always amounts to some million.-,. There are disturbing factors' in operation or in prospect that threaten a measure of unfavorable results for trade. There is the very serious labor strike in

New South AValos and the prospect of an exciting general election in the Old Country, both of which may have some effect

upon New Zealand. We have ourselves a small trouble similar to that existing in New South Wales, but it is hardly

likely to be of long duration or to assume serious proportions. On the whole, however, trade prospects the world over arc encouraging, and New Zealand is in a good position to profit by favorable conditions.

A New Zealand engineer who is in charge of construction work on a new section of Chinese railwav, writing to a Wellington friend, is picturesque regarding the difficulties. AH the labor is, of course, undertaken by coolies, and former engineers' have "used the hobnailed boot" and left the workers in a discontented state. The particular line of railway runs at the back of the village of Mochuen. The villagers who own the property through which part of tlie rail-

way will run refuse to sell, because such

a transfer would strike, at their belief of "Funshai," n belief not explained, but any interference with which means death

to villagers in their opinion. Three ' emissaries from the nearest viceroy . called at the village, had lunch and a . smoke with the engineer, and harangued , the villagers'. The villagers at once told the emissaries that they were firm m their nnn-cnmplitmco. This was the last chance for Moelmcn. The head men ol the village were arrested and sent to Canton. Their lives will be safe as long as Mochucn liehavcs itself. Five hundred Imperial troops have been despatched to the village, and arc, of course, living on the fat of the land, eating the villagers out, as well as' doing exactly as they like without regard to the marital arrangements of the villagers. "This is the Chinese way," says the engineer, "and it is most effective." The troops will stay in the village until the construction is complete. The New I Zealaader Baa had to have a larger military bodyguard -Vinee the villagers objected, and facetiously remarks that if lie U "wiped off the "mop" he's glad to have had time to send Christmas greetings to his" liiitive land. "Already the j youth of Morhucii are thirsting for my I gore," he concludes, "and it is useful to , have had some practice with arms on I the South African veldt." I DR. SHELDON'S NEW DISCOVJSUY For Coughs and Colds cures when all I else fails. Price, la Cd and 3s. Obtainable everywhere. If there' one thing The Kaah prides itself on it's their clothing. While the quality is always first grade, the : price is kept very low. Their saddle- ' tweed trousers aw a marvel of cheap- ' ness, ranging 'torn 6s lid. Their tailor- I made boxed suits can't be beaten. Ask ' their salesmen to show you one,—The • Kuk-AdTt, . ; 1

"Our football season has' been open three weeks," writes the American correspondent of the " Sportsman," " and to date there have been live fatal accidents and 101) players seriously injured." "One of the greatest curses that can fall on a young man is to have removed from him any necessity and every prospect of having to make his own way in the world," said the Attorney-General in the Legislative Council on Friday. " Many a young man has been made a wreck by having too much wealth left him by his parents." This week a very fine motor-brougham will arrive in. Wellington for Mrs. W. R. Williams (says the Dominion). It is an S.C.A.T., of 22.30 horse-power, and is capable of doing 50 miles an hour. This handsome car, which is fitted with electrict light and sumptuously upholstered, will be one of the finest in New Zealand. A similar one is now in His Majesty's garage. The front of the car, where the driver sits, is closed in, so that, in the most boisterous of Wellington's northerly gales, lie will suffer no incoiivenienca

A movement is on foot for the ac-. quisition by the Government as a tourist reserve of an area of land at Waitangi, Bay of Islands, which has 1 very interesting historical associations. The property, which is at present owned by Mr. E. G. Hewin, consists of five acres, and includes the historical residence of the late Mr. John Busby, who was British Resident at Waitangi before the arrival of Governor Hobson and the proclamation of New Zealand as a colony. The house, which was built of Australian hardwood, still stands, and desp.te the fact that it is about seventy years old it is in an excellent state, of preservation. It was on tlie lawn in front of the house that most of the signatures were affixed to the famous Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P. for the district, has been interesting himself in the matter, and the particulars have been placed before the Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister in charge of tourist resorts. If the property is purchased, the historic house will be used as an accommodation house, ilie Cabinet now has the matter under consideration.

Writes the Rev. F. G. Ilammond to the Hawera Star: —"Prior to the construction of the railway to Mount Egmont for road metal purposes I pointed out to several Patea residents and to some members of the County Council that a large supply of good etono could he obtained in Waipipi, Whemmk.i.-a beach. Access to this stone could be provided by a short and uncostly line, either from the railway station, Waverley racecourse, or the railway bridge at Whcnuakura. river. The formation r.f the coast between the Whcnuakura rwer and the Wairoa stream is remarkable in fossil shells and the vast ironsanil deposits. But just at the W-ipri reef there appears to be an inexhuuf li.ile deposit of a kind of cemenl :oek. 1 have no doubt this stone would provt a valuable road metal, and it might be worth while to obtain expert opinions upon it. The Waipipi reef is composed of the same kind of stone, which could be worked at half and low tides and -never be exhausted; while above high-watar mark and extending inland there seems •in abundant supply. I should not have troubled you but for the knowledge I I think the settlor generally i'l-v little of the toast-line uV-

posits." In the October number of the Financial Review of Reviews there is an excellent article by Sir Wcstby Perceval, making a few suggestions to the capitalists of England with regard to the prospects of the Australasian States for the investment of British morey. In a plain, unvnrnislied tale, bristling with figures, he sets forth what the Australasian States (including, of course, New Zealand) have done in the way of development, and what they offer for the future. If it is read, this article ought to be a good corrective of the ideas that exist in some circles here as to the advantages of investing money in foreign concerns. "The present position and future prospects of Australasia," he concludes, "may justly claim the attention of the British investor." Of Jew Zealand in particular Sir Wcstby remarks: "New Zealand being outside the Commonwealth, and having a separate tariff, cannot be regarded as a market for Australian manufactured goods, but rather as a future competitor for the markets of the East. Tn one respect New Zealand is in a superior position to Australia in becoming a manufacturing country, for in tho Dominion water-power, which is so essential for cheap production, is abundant and available in nearly every part. . . . In both, countries there is ample scope for an increased output from existing factories."