LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 350, 30 March 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Major McDonald, commanding the junior cadets of the Dominion, has asked Major Sandford for a report upon the arrangements for the recent Hutt encampment, and the latter officer has placed himself in communication with the Central School Committee, asking whence their information was obtained which led to the recent complaints. Our information-concerning the colors party in the Waireka- veterans' ma?eii on. Easter Monday was not quite correct. In the multiplicity of counsellors there may be wisdom, but in the multiplicity of informants the reporter often finds confusion and, as l in this case, incorrectness. From later information we learn that Mr F. Stevens, of Wellington, a Waireka veteran, was once colorsergeant in Captain Atkinson's company. Mr Stevens' was also one of the colors guard on the occasion of the presentation of the colors by Mrs Warre, at Poverty Flat, on May 24th, 1860 It is amusing to hear yarns from some of the veterans explaining why they were not at the battle of Waireka. One old chap at Monday evening's social stated that lie as a boy started to go with the volunteers, but his' aunt, looking out of a window in Brougham street, saw him and sent the storeman to fetch him. The storeman happened to be a Maori named Jacob, who made a prisoner of the lad and took him back. The veteran ■wound up his yarn by statin": "You will therefore observe that I was the only person captured by a Maori on the day of the Waireka fight." To say that the borough poundkeeper's face was' wreathed in smiles yesterday morning would be to put it all too mildly. He has a great record of horses and cattle impounded to date, and doubtless feels pleased -with himself in consequence. But it was hot that which made him chuckle so gleefully yesterday. It was the memory of a simple capture. In the very early hours of the morning he found a Jersey cow, a heifer and a calf hugely enjoying the rich grass in the outer paddock of the pound. Either the cows or the person who placed them there for the free feed had closed the gate and placed the loop over. Mr Tippins went a step further He locked the gate, and then smiled as he awaited the arrival of t&e owner to pay the tariff rate for food in the borough pound. Members of tliq Equitabl" Building Sncietv of New p iymouth (First and Second Groups) are notified that sub-script-inn* will l><» due and pavable today (Wednesday) at the Secretary's Office, Currie-street, from 9 am. to 12.30. from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.—Advt.

The Hon. Mr Buddo yesterday wired to His Worhip the Mayor (Mr G. Tisch) —"Govemme-nt officea ia New Plymouth will be closed as usual on the 31ek Inst., that day being the provincial annirersary." ■ ■ A petition has been numerously signed in the Hastings district, praying the Government to take over the late Mrs. G. P. Donnelly's property at Waimarama—about 6000 acres. The Department of Agriculture is j carrying out. experiments with the object of ascertaining whether or not bacon fi-Jid cheese can be carried overseas in the same cool chamber. A patrol of Girl Peace Scouts was formed at Kaiapoi last week by girls from the woollen mills. Major Cossgrove gave an address on the movement, an it was decided to call the patrol the "Rode Patrol." Mr. John D. Rockefeller's agent haa been informed that the Pope has .pronounced a blessing on the great multimilionaire, for that he has devoted his immense fortune to the alleviation of human suffering and the betterment of mankind. The Maoris have been amongst those whose .potato crops were affected by the blight. The kumara crops turned out well, however, and these, with the prolific crop of "kumikums," will more than compensate for any losses occasioned by the blig.ht. Mr. Bernard Shaw, London's brilliant playwright and author of many sociological plays', has propounded a scheme for the inauguration of a social scheme in which all undesirable would be mercifully exterminated and private property and marriage abolished. Sergt. Duffy, a Crimean veteran and sergt.-major of the local veterans, on Monday night "brought down the house" by singing a vigorous song the value of which was in its humorous reference to old-times and to identities present. The quaint and good-natured words were received with cheers.

In connection with the change in regard to defence matters .brought about by the Act passed last session, it is understood, says the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, that the authorities are considering the question of organising a corps of nurses for service in the field.

A good haul of schnapper was made the other day off the breakwater by a couple of local fishermen. They were out for five or six hours and brought iback in their boat aboift 160 fine samples of fish, all of which were caught on lines. One man caught about 90 and the other about 70.

Supplies are being well maintained at the grading store (says the Patea Press). About 500 cases of cheese and 250 boxes of butter are coming in daily. There are at present in store against the next shipment some 2000 cases of cheese and 1500 boxes of butter. About 500 boxes of butter will be retained in store to meet local requirements during the winter.

A veteran at Monday night's Waireko jubilee celebation told many stories of the way in which soldiers of the old times "beat" the commissariat for rum. Rum was served to every man and if he did not drink it he was obliged to throw it away. Many men merely held it in their mouths and then ejected it into bottles aftewards. These were saleable for 15s to 16s each. One quartermaster-sersreant during the Tarannki campaign used to mennre the tot bv holding a stump of a thumb inside the rrlass. Rome soldiers did not care about the "thumb-ration." so tint the <--eycre«r> f srenernllv retired from the wntwon with -i bottle or two to the good. '

Tt is proposed, during the first fortnight of the forthcoming session of Parliament,/to hold a conference of the Counties Association at Wellington. In the meantime the Premier lias been requested to supnly to all county councils and road hoards copies of the Local Government Piill which during the last session of Parliament he stated would be brought forward during the forthcoming session for consideration of the House of 'Representatives. Affiliated local bodies are pxuected to consider the nrovisions of the measure and forward to the secretary of the Counties Association before April 30th any amendments to the Bill or existing statutes which thev niav think necessary. The actual date of the conference has not yet been fixed.

The. president of the New Zealand Counties Association, in a circular letter, brings before the notice of the Taranaki County Council a suggestion that it might be in the interests of all local bodies affiliated to the Association to form themselves into an association or corporation with a view of insuring their workers in accordance with the provisions of "The Workers' Compensation Act. 1908." instead of insuring with private corporations as is being done at the nresent time, and thus effect a very considerable saving to the local authorities affected. For this purpose the clerks of the affiliated bodies are asking to supplv statements showing the premiums pflid bv the councils during the past five vears, so that the matter can be more fully considered. The motor van that is' now to be seen daily convoying loads of butter from tlje Mangatoki Dairy Factory to the £ltham Railway Station and back-loads in the shape of hutter boxes is attracting a considerable amount of attention (says the. Eltham. Argus). The ran is the property of Mr Cooper, manager of the Mangatoki Dairy Factory, and ftas been manufactured in accordance -with his own designs. The machinery part was imported and is a "Sterling" engine. four cylinders, 26-32 horse-power, and was made in Edinburgh. The body part was built in New Plymouth to Mr Cooper's specifications. The van will carry from two to three tons of butter or cheese, and can comfortably keep up a pace of ten miles' an hour on the level. The steep gradients between Eltham and Mangatoki do not appear to act as an obstacle. NOTHING TO FEAR.Mothers need have no hesitation in giving Chamberlain's Cough Remedy to their littl" ones, as it contains absolutely no injurious drugs. This medicine is not only perfectly safe to give to small children, but it is a medicine of great worth, and merit. Sold by all chemists and storekeepers. There is no class of ailment that arfects 'lie sv=t'ni quicker than bowel complaints, and any delay in treating Diarrhoea or colic is dangerous. Chamberlain's C'olic. Cholera, and Diarrhoea Remedy is' the only remedy that is absolutely reliable in e<i9es of this kind, and as some memoer tf the family is always liable to an attack at any time it should always be kept in the house. This rcin»dv never fails to give prompt relief. Sold by all he.'j.ists and storekeepers.