LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 313, 12 February 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wellington-'Frisco mail despatch of January 4t'i arrived in London on 10th inst.

There's a county reserve at the T'apuae. A traveller passing there the other day noticed a neatly painted -iuo bearing the words. "County orchard. Cheap fruit." Blackberries?

Several sharks have been observed quite close in to the tfeach during tne ■past few weeks. Last evening thr-'e large brutes were seen in the surf opposite the railway station, about 60 yards from the .shore. The largest of these was a monster between fifteen and twenty feet in length. The others were from ten to twelve feet. Several people watched the gambols of the bruits .for some time off the railway bridge. Bathers should not take too many risks at present. According to our Constitution, the King has the power to make treaties' with other countries without reference to the Legislature.

Mr. Jennings, M.P.. remarked at the School Commissioners' meeting vestcrday that the land in the King Country is gradually falling into the hands of a few people, a circumstance that was greatly to be regretted. A meeting of the local branch of the Navy League was held la'st evening to deal with the question of entertaining the officers' of the ship Pegasus. Col. Ellis, in the unavoidable absence of Mr. Tisc-h (President), was voted to the chair. It was decided to invite the commander to become the guest of the League during his stay in New Plymouth and to entertain the officers of the ship. A special committee was appointed for the purpose of making necessary arrangements.

There were again only three members present at the meeting of the School Commissioners' yesterday morning. Mr. Morton remarked that although he had been a member for some little time now, T he had not yet had the pleasure of meeting Air. Major at the Board's table. When the latter gentleman was an M.P. it was often impossible, for him to attend the meetings, and the habit of absenting himself has been accentuated as time passes. Mr. Simpson, Commissioner of Crown Lands', often finds that his work in the back country •prevents his attending the meetings, and Mr. Jennings, M.P., is an irregular attendant when Parliament is sitting. The chairman, Mr. James Wade, is "never known to miss."

The Department of Agriculture's return for the fortnight January Kith !.o 31st shows that New Plymouth snipped butter to the value of £62,990 an 1 cheese valued at £23,861, representing twice the dairy produce of the next port, Wellington. Auckland's tally was £439 for butter and £2l for cheese. These figures, of course, do not represent the proper average, but we notice that the Auckland papers lose 110 ••oportunity of quoting their returns when they can be used to boost their output into a false position. Auckland's volume of dairy produce trade is certainly increasing, but in the aggregate for the season will be quite out-shadowea by Taranaki. Acre for acre, there is no portion of New Zealand that will ever reach within even measurable distance the producing capacity of this province.

Perhaps the most striking feature of "The New Idea" for February, which is just published, is the additional space given to the young people's entertainment. Right in the middle of the book there are some colored designs representing the variety of suits a wry lucky little boy would have in his wardrobe, and on the opposite page is a picture of the lucky little boy himself. It is a fascinating pastime for tne youngsters to cut out the costumes, and, by using the little paper clips provided, make the boy, in tunr, a scout, a sailor, a cricketer, a footballer, a feather, and so on. With every suit tliere is a cap or hat to match, a.nd we are sure there are hours of enjoyment for the little folks whose parents subscribe to "The New Idea." Then, elsewhere in this February issue of "The New Idea," there is an illustrated department, showing boys and girls' how to make some ingenious paper toys that will be worked by the slightest breeze that blows. Noteworthy on the literary side is an interesting arrHe on "Theatrical Stars and Their Salaries," illustrated with portraits of Oscar Asche, Lily Bray ton, David Warfield, and a quartette of the leading American stars, whose earnings' run ffom £IO.OOO a season to £4OOO a week. There is a chatty article, well (illustrated, on the Lost Property Department of the Railways; a delightful page of verse by Helen Keller—the wonderful blind girl—and an amusing skit,on the passing of the big hat. written and illustrated by a New Zealand girl. Fiction is, as usual, well i represented. The East ,End "mixed bathing" fraternity sent a "mixed" deputation of eleven to the borough council last night. There were eleven all told, six I ladies and five mere men. They were j not at all mixed, however, in their | ideas, but set out very clearly what , they wanted—money. Cr. Fred Bellringer introduced the deputation, of which Mr. W. H. Fletcher wo-, the spokesman. He told the council that , the bathers' committee had £39 in | hand as the result of the concert held a week ago. and they wanted the dressing shed enlarged, the council being asked to contribute £ for £ toward-,' the cost. Air. Fletcher pointed out that owing to the cramped accommodation men and boys had to dress and undress i )n the open, which was not desirable I altogether, seeing that the reserve was ! hugely used ] )v ladii»s. The proposal was to double the dressing shed accommodation, and the committee undertook to find the labor. Twelve carpenters and three or four bricklayers' had offered their services, and tliere were other services. Mr. Fletcher said lie understood the cost would be about '£3o, and the balance of the money would bo used in planting and. other improvements. The Mayor congratulated the East End people upon having atlast wakened to the value of the "Pines" reserve a s holiday resort.. He had "sung the song'' for years now, but it was not till now that people took up his idea. He moved that the council accede to the request for the subsidy, and that instructions be given for the purchase of material for increasing the j size of the dressing-shed, this work to j be done under the supervision of the i borough engineer. The deputation I thanked the council and withdrew.

PERFECT HEALTH,

■a good .stomach keeps every part of tlie Doily in perfect condition! and disease cannot break in. !: Digestive Tabules ar e a natural rcme:!v for all disorders and wyakneses of tho stomach. They possess exactly the i Mine properties as the gastric 'juk-rs j and other digestive lluids of the ; '"■n. They actually the dkv.-'ti'.,! ! work I)!' tho stoiindi. ami inn I '',:- tlr»r ! oriran to ;vst. recuperate, anil bvie;;.' : «"uiid and healthy. They act in a mild, ; natural manner, and cause no ili-tu: - ; i- ; anoe in the digestiye organs. Th-v ; prevent any fermentation of the fo'i.l. | which causes our stomach. Dr. SIH- ; dons Digestibc Tabules instill heal-ii into every part of the human body. They compel perfect digestion of the food, and periect assimilation of j food nutriment. Every oriran of the * body is kept in repair.'and "good health j necessarily results. At the-ame time I the stomach, being relieved of its work. I get wells and strong. A trial will crm- i vince you. Sold in tins rontninin? SO j Tabules at '2s 6d. Obtainable every- ■' where.

Tin l petition of the residents in fawn' of mixed bathing at the municipal liatlis has been referred to the baths committee for favourable consideration.

The wiiod-blooking at the corner »i Devon ar.:l Brougham streets played up the other clay in front of the .May)/, wno saw three horses fa 1.1 there in oniy a few minutes, and he brought the matter up uefore the Roroutrh Council last; night. It was decided to give the engineer instruction'; to improve the corner, with power to tear up the crossing if necessary. O. Dockrill said that tli- worv'tblocking was tried as an experiment to rid the town of a nast ■, muddy corner, nut unfortunately it ha.l not been p. success fror.. the traffic point of yifew.

The report of the borough electrical engineer 11, 0a the electrical staff shows the stall' numbers eight, being engineer and manager, power-hous'e engineer and two assistants, linesman ami assistant, clerk and junior. Requirements noted are the appointment of an electrical assistant; a competent and reliable bookkeeper (presumably in place of the present clerk); a separate ofliee for the clerk or bookkeeper (at present located in the switchboard room); an increase of salary and a holiday for the electrical engineer. We are unable to give the report in full. The report is to be discussed at a borough council meeting on Monday, 21st inst.

In reference to the -stud" system of tramways, mentioned in these columns recently, Mr. W. Reese, replying to a letter from Mr. Tisch, Mayo'r of New Fly mouth, has written as follows: "I do not think it is a system which will increase in use, because of the very heavy first cost of installation, and as you can readily understand the roadway must be kept in perfect condition, or else the system would soon get, out of alignment, anil consequently become dangerous to people passing over the studs, and horses would suffer, as they iUd at firs't at Wolverhampton, owing to imperfect contact. I think for all new countries there is nothing so smiple as the overhead trolley system now in use in the Dominion, and it is daily being installed in Great Britain, on the Continent, and in America."—This letter has been handed to the committee which has the tramway proposals in hand.