LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 345, 22 March 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

x Unfortunately we have not ;et lieard the last oi the cadet camp complaints. The next move may emanate from Wellington. The Taranaki County Council's application ior a loan of £BOOO for bridgebuilding has been deferred for further consideration by the State Guaranteed Advances Office.

The Opotiki papers are making warfare over Rua, the Maori prophet. Onu urges that Jie is being treated with too much leniency and the other that two much notice is being taken of him. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, E. P. Bullot was adjudged, on the information of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, to be the putative father of an illegitimate child, and was ordered to pay all costs of confinement, and 10s ptr week towards its support. At the Police Court yesterday Emily Bilton, who was arrested for drunkenness on Saturday afternoon, failed to answer to her name. Sergeant Haddrell explained that her non-appearance was doubtless the result oi the suicide at Vogeltowa. He would therefore offer no evidence, and the case was dismissed.

Rhodesia, like the Rand, managed to create a fresh record an its goid output for the past year, tout, also like the •Rand, it uid not make such progress as in 1908. The total production of £2,624,000, in 1909, was increase on the previous best in 1908 of nearly £ioo,000; but, on the other, hand, 1908 gained as compared with 1907 by nearly £350,000. The Government intends to reintroduce in Parliament next session the Bill providing that absconding husbands who go to Australia may be dealt with there instead of having to be brought back to New Zealand at the cost of the wife or her relatives. The Bill provides for reciprocal relations between the Dominion and Commonwealth in ragard to this question. Farmers in the Urenui,. Uruti, and Tongaporutu districts will be interested to know that Captain Young, Government Veterinarian, will pay a visit to that portion of the province this week, and for the convenience of consultation has fixed the following itinerary:—Urenui, this (Tuesday) evening; Uruti, tomorrow (Wednesday); from 11 a.m. to noon; and Tongaporutu on Wednesday night. Factory proprietors will be interested, though probably not at all pleased, to learn that the observance oi a half-holi-day in their establishments to-day, at the request of the Mayor, does not relieve them of the necessity to close on Thursday. Shopkeepers who close today need not give their hands a halfholiday on Thursday, we are informed by Inspector Willis, but the Thursday half-holiday is compulsory with the factories.

The motor-hog has developed a fear in the breast of the toll collector at the toll gate away down in the Okato country. The latter's particular grievance is that motor-cars dash through the gate without paying either the statutory toll or the slightest attention to him as he stands with upraise 1 hand in the middle of the road, he having previously opened the gate. He asks the county chairman to, tell him how to act in the matter. What's wrong with keeping the gate shut until the motorist has paid up?

Captain John Black, secretary of the Veterans' Association, recently made application to Sir Joseph Ward, as Minister of Defence, for the issue of free ammunition for the veterans' rifle shooting matches on the Rewa Rewa .range next Monday, as well as for the issue ot free passes for those veterans from Wellington and elsewhere who are desirous of taking part in the local celebration cf the fiftieth anniversary 01 the Waireka engagement. A reply has been received to the effect that both the ammunition and the passes have been authorised, and the Defence Department has been instructed to communicate with Captain Black on the subject. Riding headlong in Princess street, Dunedin, on Saturday morning, a cyclist collided with an elderly gentleman at the. Dowling street crossing, says the Otago Daily Times. The unfortunate pedestrian was knocked literally head over heels by the shock of the impact. The bicycle recoiled and fell over wrtn a crash, the later rider having meanwhile described a parabolic curve in the air and thrown a number of involuntary handspring along the street. Both men stood brushing themselves, and bystanders saw the victim stride up to the one who had knocked him down. Would it be a blow? But there was not even a word. The gentleman who had been so unceremoniously treated only looked at the cyclist, but the glance spoke volumes. The other, seeing that no one was present to take his name, rode on at greatly reduced speed. The Puniho toll collector's position is apparently anything but a bed of roses. In a lengthy communication to the chairman of the Taranaki County Conn, cil he pleadingly asks to know how much abuse he is supposed to take from a Maori in the course of his duties as toll collector. Then he goes on to explain that he is on friendly terms with most of the Maoris now that he has got to know them, but there is one "particularly vile specimen" who is civil enough 'when alone but very abusive when in the company of other natives, and particularly at night. A countv chairman has many knottv problems t.o solve, an'' Mr. Brown is as good as most of them at setting out of an awkward corner, but the Puniho man "tins set him something of a "twister" this time when he asks him to measure prospective abuse.

The following is an extract from n letter written by the occupier of a Crown 'easehold at Flaxbourne to a friend in Christchureh:— I "We were all in for the Blue Mountain Run, drawn by ballot last week, a run of 0000 acres. The lucky winner was Miss Violet Boyd. There is no question that it is a fortune for her. Anyone would have given £2OOO to £3OOO straight away. The run is at present leased by the Richmonds, ox Richmond Brook. The annual rent is £2OO a year. There were 160 applications. . . . There is a nice block of country coming out at Kekerangu soon. lam going to have all the applications I can in for it."

A London contemporary pays a deserved tribute to the United Shipping Company, which now ranks' as one of the leading companies of the Empire a position which t|ie 'Dominion can be proud of, since it is the enterprise and ability of New Zealanders which has been responsible for the organisation of the concern. In referring to the progress of the company the paper says:—The Union Company was the first to introduce the turbine into colonial waters. It now owns three turbine steamers. It is forcing the pace in the matter of wireless telegraphy, which has been introduced into its Vancouver service, and from the extension of which in New Zealand, Australia and the Islands of the ipacific it should greatly profit. It is building an hotel at Suva, Fiji, and at home it has an officers' and engineers' superannuation scheme on generous but none the less Itfri/wdent linies. Finally, it (has acquired a sailing ship for the transportation of its junior officers, thus putting itself in this respect on a par with the White Star Line, and in front of the majority of other British lines. From flhese things we form a (clear opinion that this New Zealand company, though it may have its disappointment's, possesses the instincts and the energies which go far to assure a great future. Under "Engineering Notes" in the Times it is mentioned that a Chicago inventor has recently brought out a device which tests so far made seem to will take the place of pneumatic tires for automobiles and similar vehicles. The essential element is the volute spring, the inner coil of which is attached to the axle, and which is enclosed in a case within the wheel-hub. The axle is stationary 'and the wheel revolves upon it. The spring-case of the inner periphery of the hub is concentric, and between the two there is a series of rollers forming a roller-bear-ing ior the entire depth of the hub. Play for the axle under the compression of the spring is afforded by slots four and a-half inches deep in the outer and inner coverings of the spring-case, in which the squared end of the axle moves up and down according to* 1 load. The claims for the device from a commercial standpoint are that hard rubber tires -cost only one-tenth as much pneumatic tires; that they will last several years on ordinary roads, while the life of the pneumatic tire is uncertain, but commonly does not exceed one season; and that the volute can be rein case oi breakage, as easily as a tire, and can be carried in reserve in a small fraction of the space required for a reserved tire. The outer coil of the spring is about seven inches in diameter, and the inner coil is squared to fit the axle.

Referring to the young man King, who lost his life on Mount Egmont, and whose remains have now -been discovered, it is evidently an error to speak of liim as a "new-chum;' says the Hawera Star. He came dut to New Zea-' land in the lonic when he was about ■ 17 years of age, and made friends with Mr. George Bamford, of Hawera, who was at that time returning from a visit to England. On arrival he went to Christchureh, and endeavored to do something in the literary line, but for this :he was not very well fitted, and subsequently he appealed to Mr. Bamford for advice. Mr.Baniford suggested that he should take to farming work, and his advice being' followed he got King a billet with a settler in this district, and being stead}' and persevering, he became a good milker and pretty useful at farm work. And he stuck to this for perhaps ten years or so. But he had the adventurous spirit, and when he drew cheques he took trips. Once he went to the Islands, and on another occasion to Australia. At the time of his death he had quite a nice little sum saved up, £IOO or thereabouts, which his people in England received, and his life was insured. He paid his last visit to Mr. Bamford only three days before he started'oil his ill-fate 1 ascent of the mountain. But, as we commenced r ov saying, he was not a "new-ehum," and it is strange with the experience he had acquired that he should have met his death by getting lost. The strong position of the butter market has been the topic of the week. The question has naturally been asked.How long will it hold? It is impossible to ans'wer. It is known, however, that a very bad spring has been experienced in Great Britain and North Europe, and that supplies from those quarters will naturally be restricted; but the rise is a rapid and substantial one, althougn it is not unique. For example, in February, 1908, New Zealand butter reached 152, !but it dropped on 6th March of that year to 124, and before the month was out to 112s. On oth February of last year the price was Ills, receding to 106s on 13th March. Last year, it win be remembered, was unfortunately conspicuous for complaints of "fis'hiness" and over-moistur?. This year there has been an all-round improvement in the make of butter. The big ris'e in February of the year before last was traceable to a "bull" movement, and, indeed, it is thought in some quarters that there has been an unwarranted inflation of prices at the present time. This, time alone will prove. It is significant, however, that March-April business' has been done on a 128s basis. The butter, then, would appear to be wanted. In the meantime (says the Wellington Post) the local price has risen in sympathy. This, it is claimed in some quarters, will have the effect of checking home consumption, and at the same time prevent a wholesale diversion of butter required for home needs into the more profitable (for the moment) channel of <xport. Cheese is strong, and has a tendency to remain so, as' may be gatnered from the fact that on Saturday swas paid for the April-May output ot a big South Island factory.

YOUNf! NEW PLYMOUTH.—Now is Toii r chance to secure a smnr looking, tailor-fhmlied, boxed suit for yourself. of t"he well-dresned youths _vou sec in Xtif Plymouth get th"ir suits from The Kar=h We've iust, finished « lot of youths' suits in plain knickrrs. buckle and stran knickers, and button-kneed Rnicker. made from the most fashionable clotlw and finished in tip-top style, with well-fitting padded shoulders nnd good-fitting .?nits. We havelhem from 2!)s t,. <ji)s (3d.—TH (3 KASH.

A sharp shock of earthquake waa felt here shortly after six o'clock last night. The ordinary meeting of the Education Board will be held to-night and tomorrow. In order to commemorate Lord Kitchener's visit to New Zealand, the Han. D. Buddo has offered to the Ka<apoi School a prize of £1 to the school cadet writing the best essay on the FieldMarthal's visit, and £1 as an essay prize for the girls. At an extraordinary general meeting of the members of the Hawera Cooperative Dairy Company, Ltd., held on Saturday, the resolution passed by a previous meeting, which increases the capital of the company to £15,000 by the addition of £SOOO in £1 shares, wis confirmed. A water diviner successfully located an excellent spring of water at a little over thirty feet for the Sanatorium ior Consumptives at Palmerston South. The chairman and architect of the Hospital Board were extremely sceptical when the diviner indicated the spot—a small knott—where the boring should take place.

Mr Wilkie informs the Hawera Star that the caretaker of Dawson's Falls has been notified by the Department that the telephone bureau at that place may be known by the name "Dawson's Falls." It would appear, therefore, that the a ttempt to rename it in Maori has' Been abandoned, and the proposed petition for the retention of the name familiar to the district will not now be nec-.s-sary.

With regard to the complaint as to the need for an additional magistrate for the Taranaki district the Hon. D'. Findlay, Minister for Justice, *\&*ea that any inconvenience which might have arisen is due to the fact that the magistrate who iy temporarily filling the position has been indisposed. It is intended to make another permanent appointment to the magistracy at the next meeting of Cabinet, At the Masterton Magistrate's Court last week, before Mr. C. C. Graham, S.M., John A. Leahy was fined £5 and costs for having given an order on account of another person for liquor intended to be taken into the no-license district of Masterton and having failed to give a statement in writing oi the name and address of such other person. A similar,charge against Jeannie Leahy was dismissed. A charge against Kate Neilson of having kept liquor for sale in Masterton was also dismissed.

Further statistics have been prepared by the Agricultural Department regarding crops in New Zealand. It is pointed out that the threshing of grain crops, so far as it has progressed, has produced yields still more disappointing than those whieh were reported a month ago, and a further reduction in the estimates has to he made. Many crops have yielded on threshing 25 to 50 per cent, less than was indicated by their appearance when stacked, the causes of deficiency being dry weather and high winds in December, which caused injuries preventing heads from filling. Dmnage in a minor desrree was caused by caterpillars, small birds, the Hessian fiv, and rust. Probably the shortage mnv be sl'srht.lv modified bv the result of threshing which remains to be done, the present estimate being necessarilv based on partial returns. Tn the main the "otnto civi;) is nb'mrlant. but disease has Intelv spread widely. The situation regarding pastures, fodder, and root cropß is generally satisfactory, though pnemies of turnips have appeared in some districts.

A Wellington traveller who has just been over the coach route between Tokaanu and Waiouru reports that thousands of wild horses are to be wi on the margin of the route. The *niniais are usually first seen about eleven miles from the railway line, but they often stray nearer, and two foals arc reported to have been captured by Mr Kennedy, of Waiouru. In the mobs wh'ch are to be seen galloping over the pfains, the stallions are "Said to be ii* excellent condition. The mares, however, looked a poor lot. Some yea*s ago a large number of the wild horaeß on the Waimarino Plain were captured by a party headed by Mr E. O'Nel, a well-known Wellington provincial horseman. Each one of the party was mounted on a fast horse, and sections of the "outlaws'" were galloped to 8 state of exhaustion by means of relays. As each horse dropped to the ground, its legs were quickly bound; then it was blindfolded, and left while the chase after other fugitives was renewed. Later the captives were yarded and broken as much as' their sullen tempers wouTd permit.—Dominion.

The unsuccessful attempts to further improve the Manawatu line suburban service have been followed oy a proposal for a guaranteed service under | somewhat original conditions. Mr. W. ' H. Field, M.P., writing to the Hon. J. lA. Millar (Minister for Railways) stated: "I have pointed out more than once that the present system cf guarantees asked ior by the Railway Depart- ' ment to cover the loss on a new service j is altogether unfair to the guarantors, j who are asked to pay the whole loss j until" the new service becomes a paying ! one, but are not recouped out of the ! profits, however large, which may ac- : crue later. I suggest thnt there should be an accurate account kept of the ret ceipts and expenditure on any new eer- : vice forming the subject of a guarantee, ! and that while the guarantors should | pay, as at present, the actual loss while | there is a loss, there should be a period, I say of ten years, within which they i should be repaid out of the earnings in I the event of the service ultimately proving profitable. If guarantees were asked ■ ior on some such terms as these, there would be some hope in many cases of ; their being given, where under present | one-sided conditions the people naturally j shrink from undertaking such liabilities The entire fairness to the department of the proposal I make is self-evident. It is seldom that a new service pays ; from the very beginning; indeed, it may ! take years to establish itself. During , this period the people ore asked to pay j all loss without any hope of getting | their money baelc out of subsequent j profits gained as a result oi' their enterj nrise. T do not know that the people , beyond Johnsonville would gi»-e a guar--1 antee under any circumstances, but I am most anxious to give the suburban and seaside districts of Tawa Flat, Porirua. and Plimmerton a chance of development, and with that view T should be "lad to submit to the landowners and settlers any proposals for 11 guarantee unon terms which mav give them some hope of recovering their money." DR. SHELDON'S DIGESTIVE TABULES Are a positive cure for Indigestion, Flatulence, Heartburn, Acidity of Stomach, and all Stomach Troubles. Price 2s 6d per tin of 8® Tabulcs. Obtainable everywhere