LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 353, 2 April 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The New Plymouth vital statistics for March were 11 deaths, 13 marriages, and 20 births. For the quarter ending 31st March the figures were—Births 83, deaths 25, and marriages 29. In the first three months of 1909 there were registered here S4 births, 19 deaths, and 19 marriages. Good news for ratepayers in the Taranaki hospital rating district. The chairman of the Board announced yesterday that a rate of eightpence in the pound should he sufficient for the ensuing year, instead of ninepence as last year, the reduction being possible on account of the extension of the district by the inclusion of the whole of the Egmont County. Mr. R. Craig, of Invercargill, is the possessor of a remarkable cow. She is of the Ayrshire breed, is 17 years old, and has given birth to 14 calves. When still a heifer, 14 days before calving, she gave three buckets of milk daily. Before calving this season she had to be .milked three times a day, and is now yielding eight gallons of milk daily. The animal brings in a monthly return of £4 10s. Mr. Craig says that she is one of the best cows he has ever possessed.

, A New Zealand newspaper man, who ! iras in Great Britain during the election, remarks in the course of a letter tto a Christchurch friend that he was more than astonished at some of the tactics employed. "I never thought it •of the English nation," he writes. ''Some personal gleanings of election incidents would scarcely be believed in our enlightened country. English village life is as poor and scandalous as it is, still, |, picturesque. It is an appropriate supplement to the east of London."

Some amusement was caused in the Masterton Court during the hearing of a case in which a well-known medical gentleman of Masterton sued an equally well-known legal luminary for the recovery of a fee of 7s 6d alleged to be due 1 on a general account for consultations and services. At times the procedings were rather warm, the Bench expostulating severely with counsel on the nature of the cross-examination on Avhat the Magistrate characterised as the frivolous issues raised in defence.

If oil fuel is to come into general use among the navies of the world the demand for it will increase enormously, and if New Zealand remains diffident and inert some more enterprising country will rea.p the benefit. At a near date there will be considerable naval forces both in Australia and in New Zealand, and it will be anomalous in the extreme if, with extensive oil fields both in the Commonwealth and in this Dominion, the oil fuel for these vessels has to be brought from a foreign country in a distant part of the world. The matter is one that calls for attention without further los sof time.—Southland Times.

The New Zealand Mines Department has offered a bonus of 3d per gallon ( £0250) on the first half-million gallons •of mineral oil produced in the Dominion before March 31, 1913. The Department has also offered a bonus of 4d per lb on the first 100.0001b of good marketable retorted quicksilver from any mine in New Zealand, provided that one-third of the quantity is produced bv March 31, 1311, and the balance by March 31, 1012. In the event of more than one person producing the required quantities of quicksilver before those dates, and it is found that each applicant is equally entitled to a bonus, the amount will be divided in proportion to the quantities produced by each applicant.

The weir across the Waiwakaiho river just below the bridge on Devon-street is now practically completed. Yesterday Messrs. Brown, Hill, and Tate, representing the Taranaki County Council, and Mr. W.Cutflekl, representing tne Fitzroy Town Board, inspected the -ronf. The weir has had the effect of backing up the water for some distance and making about four or five feet of water at the piers which had been threatened by the scour. The weir, however, has the effect of creating a slight fall at its lower extremity, and this seems capable of forming a hole belovr the weir in flood time, which would undermine the weir. To the lax mind the weir seems to need widening ami diminishing to vanishing-point, so as to allow of the water getting clear away. MELBOURNE TAILOR-MADE SUITS.

Our customers are our best advertisement. They tell their friends, from actual knowledge and experience, that they can buy suits at this establishment at right prices, because we do nothing but a cash business: because, having three stores—New Plymouth, Stratford, and Eltham —we are the Largest buyers in Taranaki: and because we import all our materials direct from manufacturers, thus saving middlemen's profits. The Melbourne demonstrates its value-giving by merit of merchandise rather than bv comparative prices or exaggerations, although let it not bo forgotten that whenever our prices come into competition with others, Melbourne prices are lowest, always. Tn order to firmly establish the fact that the Melbourne does give values that are uncommon, we introduce 9 series of winter suit specials at 40s fid which are in reality sfls 8d goods. The tailoring of the suits is expressive of the best craftsmanship. The fabric is imnoTted and has a high finish. The coat i= beautifully cut and finished and cleverly adapted to the prevailing style. Come in and see it.—Advt.

The total rainfall for March was 3.G3 inches, compared with 5.54 inches , for March of 100!). Rain fell on fifteen days, the maximum being on the 2SJ'fi, viz., 1.16 inches. \

The anniversary in connection with Whitoley Sunday School will be celebrated to-morrow. At tin rehearsal hist night, held in the church, the selections went splendidly. As this is essentially a children' anniver.-ary. parents and friends are sure to he present to at least show their sympathy wnfl .Sunday School work.