LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 51, 9 June 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A roller skating r}nk is to be opened shortly in Eltham. During its five weeks' operations the Pa tea Farmers' Co-op. Freezing Co. has made a profit of Levin and Coi liave se6iired land near the Patea railway station, and plans are now being prepared for the erection of | a bi'k-k building. A farm at Auroa, not the best dairying land of the Waimate Plains, has been recently leased at £2 2s per acre, •plus rates and taxes. A witness before the OMftemun River j Silting Commission estimated the value of the fishing boats at the Thames, with their geai", at £20,000. There are forty-two b'dats, and some of them are valued at £3OO each. The latest enquiry for New Zealand draught horses Comes (from Canada, Irom the new territory of Alberta. Enquiries have come in regard to freight and prices, and it is quite possible a trade in draught horses to Vancouver may yet ibe developed. According to an advertisement appearing in the Gazette, tenders for tiie installation of the wireless system of telegraphy !n the Dominion will close on December 15. Among the stipulations is one to the effect that tenderers must state the name of the country in which the apparatus would be manufactured. An exchange says that Hawke's Binbids fair to develcy) into a second Taranaki in the matter of dairying. Last month the cheques to suppliers at the Hastings dairy factory were a little short of £IOOO. The factory is paying 10% d for butter-fat and lid for cream. One supplier with thirty-one good cows, drew a cheque for the month of £52. "I think," said the Hon. Dr. Findlny. speaking to an Auckland Herald representative, '"'that most southern ipeople share the view that the North of Auckland is mostly poor or waste lands, and consequently has no future before it. As far as I am concerned this impression is now entirely dissipated. In addition to the magnificent Ibeauty of the landscape and sea coast, I was greatly impressed by the large areas of land already under cultivation, the number of dairy farms at present doing well, and of course the much larger area of native and Crown lands still' awaiting settlement and development." One of the peculiarities of ancient Maori carvings was referred to by Mr. H. James, when speaking at a meeting of the Philosophical Society in Wellington. He said that probably all would have observed that there were'only three fi users on either hand of some Maori figures. One explanation given to him was that such figures were those of I deities, while those possessing the usual number of fingers were representations of ordinary people. However, he doubted whether this could be relied upon, for his experience with the drawings of his own young children led him to the belief that the carvers only gave three fingers because they did not know any better. Tt was only in more modern times that five-fingered hands had been carved. Ladies' this will interest you. To-day and to-morrow Cooper and Co., ladies' tailors, are making a display at the White Hart Hotel, 'New Plymouth, of pfiw materials and «tvles, the latest in coats and skirts—Advt. For Chronic Chest Complaints. Woods' Ireat Poj> ; »ermit Da::, l,\ 2,0.

The weekly session of the Juvenile Temple, No. 25. 1.0. G.T., was held in St. Mary's Hall last night. The temple was opened in due form by Sister D. Eva, and there was a very good attendance. A very enjoyable evening was spent in parlor games, etc. The sisters again won the banner. The oil exhibit at the Winter Show attracted great attention yesterday evening. Most of the ipeople attending wore not {previously aware of the money that lay at their feet waiting to be gathered. The directors will meet on Friday, and it will then be determined whether the exhibit shall lie shown at the Palmers ton North and Hawera shows. The point needs little consideration. Demonstration is necessary if it is desired to determine the future of the Taranaki :;ii industry.

In performing the opening ceremony .at the Winter' Show last night. Mr. 11. Okey, M.l'., said ho was sorvy the Hon. [ Thomas Mackenzie was not there to take the position, because they had, in addition to opening the show, arranged a ! good programme of work for him tomorrow. First, as Minister in ehargo of the Tourist Department, it had ■been arranged to drive him to the North E<rmont Mountain House; and secondly, as Minister of Trades and Commerce, he was to have been taken to the oil works at Moturoa. after which the first legislation in regard to oil in New Zealand that was proposed to be introduced next session would have been discussed. The Commission which recently reported to the Government on tramway brakes made some disquieting references to the magnetic brake of the kind fitted to the Wellington cars. Tt is denied, however, that the tests made by th*: Commission in Wellington warrant the deductions and remarks which *hi>" made. It is stated that onlv two trials were made, one run down the Brooklyn incline and one run to Seatoun, and it is contended that those tests were not ot an order to be deemed conclusive. Practically it is maintained that the magnetic brake in Wellington was not given a reasonable trial. It is mentioned, too, that the magnetic brake has been adopted. for the larger tramway systems of Great Britain, including some with heavy grades, after very searching tests had (been made. The statements of the Commission are to receive some attention from the Wellington authorities. Among the matters to which Mr. Bishop, iS.M., as Royal Commissioner, referred in his report on the police force wa9 the old procedure connected with applications for positions in the force. He commented on the fact that application forms for enrolment were not issued to inspectors in the various districts, but were sent out only from the head office. It has now been decided that applications for enrolment in the police are to Ibe made to the inspectors in charge of the districts where the applicants reside, and supplies of the necessary forms have been distributed to the inspectors. Tt is expected the new arrangement will be a convenience to applicants, and will also facilitate the departmental enquiries regarding the character, conduct, and general fitness of the persons who de?ire to be enlisted. This change of procedure w ill harmonise with the system adopt?d since Mr. Bishop submitted his report, iby which inspectors in charge of districts are required to see the applicants'. There is now a double safeguard —the strict enquiry and the personal interview. Thus a skilful writer in the Christchurch Press: "After hands unseen have hung the curtain of night around the skies there is a new world for those who care to wander in it. Rising 'at the midnight, in the silence of the sleeptime,' there are many people who, during the last few weeks ? have learned more of the soft and illimitable star •Spaces than they previously knew there was to learn. ' Venua, in all her silver splendor, has acted as chaperone, and has introduced the comet to a gazing world. But she has not been alone in her intimacy. Of'tV.i lias swung his belted sword watchfully in the early sky, the Southern Cross has sparkled at iis zenith* and the gredt star-feathered Crane, has .pressed his pillions TEp aiming his brothers in the west. They ftffe new friends to an old people,, and something of the impressiveness of 'eternity has I iboen borne in on those \vho, searching for the comet, have been drawn into the worship of the skies and have breathlessly paid homage to the last wild star as it. vei\ed itseli in the amber folds of morning." .

Sonic 'yfears since, as Mr. Llojd-George had just finished a speech to a crowded meeting, an aged man approached him and detained him: '"Thirty-nine years l ago," said the stranger, ''a poor woman I came through the pouring ram to my surgery, and begged me to come and see her baby. She had. lost her husband, and now her little boy was dangerously ill. I went out to her home, five miles awav, and found the infant in a little wicker cradle. 1 implied the necessary remedies, and it recovered. As I went home, « cccided not to send in my bill; and then I wondered whether it had been worth while to save a tiny infant who, after all, would probably only grow up to be {an agricultural laborer. Lately I have made enquiries, and T. find that you, sir, were that little boy in the wicker cradle." Mr. Llloyd-George seized the stranger's hand, and poured forth the thanks which so long had been in his heart. The future Cabinet. Minister whs the eldest of three boys, early left fatherless. The mother's purse was too slender to admit of her sending the bovs to any but the narisli school; but her ■brother, a noble-hearted fellow, learned French'and mastered law, so that he might coach his eldest nephew, and enable him to practice as a solicitor. Mr. Lloyd-George qualified, as did his younger brother, and they became partners. And now there are many people, including the Duke of Beaufort, and other dignitaries, who wish that the aged man ha<l not "applied the necessary remedies." GREAT -REBUILDING SALE. The news of The Melbourne's great (bargain sale—inaugurated last week—spread far and wide. Every day the great corner store has 'been filled with enthusiastic shoppers. Early buyers passed the good news along—told about the bargains and, what's better, brought their friends along with them. Everything was found to ibe as promised —nothing exaggerated. Hundreds of pounds' worth of new goods are being simply slaughtered each week to give the builders elbow-room. This week eight cases nf goods ex Corinthic, comprising men's welted boots, women's slippers, men's cashmere socks, and men's and women's handkerchiefs are included in the sale, and will be sold at prices that will not return us a single penny of profit. As fast as new goods arrive they are placed on the bargain tables, and as the watchword 'of the sale is "Reduce the Stock," much desperate underpricing is being indulged in. , It's il>argain-time with a real vengeance at The Melbourne just now. TRADERS. Country storekeepers with goods arriving from Home should know that we undertake the work of clearing the goods. We pass entries, accept delivery, forward goods on without delay. It's surprising the amount of Customs work we do for country traders. And yet not surprising, either—our service is so reli-1 able.—N.Z, Ehvss Compiny, Ltd.