LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 5 July 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The St. Aubyn town district still'forms ipart of the Taranaki county, and ratepayers are liable to pay the usual county rate. This information, which will come as a great surprise to St. Aubyn ratepayers, who were under the belief that they had got right out of the county and its obligations, transpired at yesterday's meeting of the County Council. The matter is fully reported elsewhere. There are to be no more monthly accounts at the' Puniho tollgate. Ail tolls must be paid at least weekly. Mr. Sam 'Hill has presented to the New Plymouth Club a library of bound copies of Hansard. The volumes date from before 1870. The Taranaki County Council resolved at their meeting yesterday to ask the Government to grant a subsidy of £ for £ up to £IOOO, to enable the Council to keep the Main South Road open for traffic. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Egmont Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held last evening, Bro. W. Hooker, N.G., presiding. There was an unusually good attendance of members, male and female. The quarterJv balance-sheet was read and adopted. The membership is now 232, and the invested funds £O7OB 5s 7d. "An Evening in India" was the subject of a limelight lecture by Miss McGregor, of the Ramabai Mukti Mission for the Child Widows of India, at the Whiteley Hall last evening. There was a large and appreciative audience, the lecturer handling an interesting subject in a most able way. In tlie Police Court yesterday, before Mr. C. E. Bellringer, J.P., an okl Maori was charged with drunkenness, and pleaded guilty. Being a first offender, he was convicted and discharged with a caution. A similar course was adopted with another first offender, .who will, however, have to answer. before a Stinendiarv Magistrate a charge of having committed a breach of a prohibition order.

The committee appointed by the veterans on Saturday in connection with military pensions do not intend to let the grass grow under their feet. Already they have forwarded letters on the subject to the Taranaki members of Parliament.

"You know where Charlie L lives, Cr. Stevens. You've been up there, i | suppose," said Cr. Hill yesterday at the I County Council meeting. ''l've seen it up there, but I haven't done any aeroplaning j yet," replied Cr. Stevens. The Council, doesn't intend metalling any aeroplane, roads this year. On the 28th June his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman, on the application of Mr. T. S. Weston (Weston and Weston), granted probate of the will of the late Mr. Francis Ovenden, and also of that of the late Mrs. William Cottier; and, on the Ist instant, of the will of the late Mr. Charles Tait. "The House resumed—debate interrupted by the swearing of members." So runs an entry in that highly formal record, the journal of the House, reports the Dominion. The entry is not meant to indicate that members ran wild, but simply prefaces the swearing-in of two members who arrived after the main body of members had taken the oath. Egmont road ratepayers applied to the County Council for some metalling. It was reported that the settlers had given a day's free labor on the road, some of them more, besides fending their horses and drays. Councillors were quite pleased at the news, and a suggestion was made that a letter of thanks be sent to the ratepayers concerned. The chairman said he believed in helping people who were prepared to help themselves, and the best thanks nvould be to grant them tlie metal when they ascertained what was required. A somewhat amusing incident is recorded from a Taranaki country town. A football match was in progress on the local grounds. The ftrebell sounded an alarm; and immediately there was a stampede of the whole of the spectators. The gatekeeper bolted, men vaulted the fences, and a rushing procession was soon heading for the town. Appeals were ■ made for the stopping of the game, but were unheeded. The ; players, however, had the laugh when they found out that the spectators had missed .a game of! football to watch a chimney smoking! What'might have turned out to be a very serious accident occurred'yesterday afternoon in Devon-street. A local gentleman, driving in a gig, came down the hill towards the Imperial Hotel corner at a fairly rapid pace, more rapid, perhaps, than is desirable in the central portion of the main thoroughfare. A little child who was crossing the road, miscalculating the' speed of the approaching vehicle, was as nearJy as possible run .over. Those Who saw the youngster almost under the feet of the horse had their "hearts in their mou'ths," to usf a colloquialism, and marvelled that the youngster escaped; . Mr. R. Crick'is optimistic,, and opting ism is a splendid thing. He informed his colleagues on the Park Board' last night of his belief that in about twenty years' time the racecourse reserve will be the centre of New Plymouth. The remark was greeted with laughter, and Mr. Cock explained that he meant the residential portion of the town. Mr. Hughes interposed that New Plymouth was sixty years old, and it now had six thousand people. Mr. Cock: Yes, and why? Because we have for years been the butt end of Taranaki, the butt end of everywhere between here and Wellington. We are now getting harbor accommodation, and will have steamers here soon from Australia and other countries. We've had ,to deal. with a lot of nonprogressive people. We've had people--I you remember them* Mr. I can—who objected to 1 metalling the roads between New Plymouth and Omata because it meant:,that they would hive had to shoe their horses. These 'who held the reins of New Plymou'.h in the old days kept the place back, but fortunately they are dying on 1 ..' In the course of his monthly report to the Pukekura Board, Mr. W. W. Smith, the curator, wrote: "During the, month I received plants from Mr, Putt, Mr. Brooks, and Miss Devenish, and two packages of native trees and shrubs, with packets of native tree seeds, from the three brothers Raby, of 'Rerekapa. These young men have given much time and work to procuring the fine young- plants which they brought 'by coach and 011 horseback free of cost to the park. 1 would here remark that, like the brothers Raby, all young men working in the native bush have exceptioria.l opportunities for obtaining young native plants and seeds. As ,we require some i thousands of young tree's and shrubs for planting iij the park at the present time, I may be permitted to request those who. have such opportunities to send us such for the improvement and beautiffcation of the park." A vote of appreciation was passed, and will be forwarded to the vari- | ous donors. A message was received frpm Mr. S. Percy-Smith that he had instructed Mr. R. W. Davies to obtain a collection of native shrubs during his trip to Raglan and Hokianga, which trees Mr. Smith intended presenting to the park.

It is not often that one'hears of a clergyman who is an expert rough-rider (writes an Auckland correspondent), but at' l a recent performance of Jones Bros.' buck-jumpers at Whangarei the audience had the somewhat unique experience of witnessing a member of the cloth comfortably seated on an "outlaw." Tlie ring-master had called for volunteers to ride a wiry-looking animal named Lively Kitty, when much to the astonishnfent of the audience a parson came smiling} into the ring in the person of the Rev. Jasper Calder, of Whangarei. The proprietor stared blankly at the. somewhat small figure in black, but said nothing, and assisted the young man to mount. After two unsuccessful attempts at mounting, due to the restlessness of the horse, Mr. Calder got safely seated. In an instant Lively Kitty showed that her name was justly earned by putting in a few straight bucks and some nasty "twists," but the reverend gentleman showed himself to be an excellent horseman by sitting calmly in the saddle and smiling in perfect ease until his mount had had enough. The audience cheered the rider to the echo, and the proprietor was so delighted that he announced his attention of presenting Mr. Calder with a special gold medal for his unique exhibition. The following night' the memento was duly presented before a crowded audience (mainly from the back-blocks) amid great applause. The medal hears the following inscription: "Presented by Jones Bros, for rougli-riding to th 6 Rev. J. Calder. 'the little minister.'" Mr. Calder is a son of Archibald Calder, of Ponsonbv, Auckland, one of the l most popular and unconventional clergymen of the Auckland diocese, who can tell many a good story of his own experience in bygone days as a country clergyman.

Men's Suits.—Worsteds in particular our reputation for carrying the bast in these is established. This seasonfs are particularly nobby, are cut in the: vere latest style, with hair-cloth fronts, 1 good TVixfli canvas ,put risrht through ,th« coa», and- very good linings. They're brands 'The Prestwell," and you fyojn't see their equal in New Zealand, jij ;e a •25s to 60s.—THE KASH. lievbn Sfctaet New Plymouth.—Advk f,

(At a Manaia clearing sale last week a big herd of cows average £9 9s per kerd. I A Lancashire firm is putting out post-' ers in duplicate form, the upper portion being printed the wrong way up so that it may be read by passing aviators. A living memento of the floods exist in Pans lit the person of a little boy who has been christened Moses. He came into the world while his parents were being rescued from the overflowing iScine. Hence his name. A decision of some interest to bowlers was arrived at at the annual meeting of the Petoiw Bowling Club, when it was resolved to substitute a merit board in .place of trophies, the practice of giving which is to be discontinued. A correspondent furnished the Liverpool Courier with the following communication from a Welsh friend, which speaks for itself: "My gardener's little girl, agea ten, was found in tears, and said that she was afraid they would make LToydGeorge king."

A Canadian journalist, who left Mon-! treal on Sew Year's Day, 1907, to walk round the world, reached the end of his journey recently, when he arrived at Liverpool from Hull. He had covered 6000 miles in the three years and worn out seventy-two pairs of boots. Japan has over 70,000 telephones, and in Egypt the Telephone Company has more than 7000 stations, without taking into account Algeria and the whole of South Africa. The number of telephones now in work in the world is certainly considerably over 10,000,000. Mr. E. Norris, a Welsh farmer, of Machdre, has a ewe which has reached the age of 2o years. She had two lambs when she was two years old, and has kept up the reputation till this year, when slie presented her owner with one lamb only. The ewe is a mother of 45. An aphis has attacked the Californian thistle, to the delight of those who suffered from' this troublesome weed (says the Ivopuaranga correspondent of tile Wairarapa Daily Times). It is too early yet to say if the aphis will kill it out, but next spring should see whether the "cure" is permanent or temporary.

A remarkable circumstance is related in connection with the ilhess of an aged Ashburton resident—a woman. It appears that she has been ill for several months, mainly in consequence of old age, and that during the .past five weeks she lias not taken a particle of food, but has an unquenchable thirst. She has no desire for food, and is suffering noboclily pain, although it necessarily follows that she is becoming very week. The relatives and friends of Mr'. 0. M. Townsend, barrister and solicitor, are feeling anxious about his welfare (says ,the Inglewood Record). ,He left| Waitara four weeks ago,, and said he would not be away more than tliree days, as business in Wellington would ;be accomplished in that time. It is now feared that he has met with an accident. Enquiries are l)4ing made, now-' ever, which may set the fears at rest. On Saturday morning a naval reservist, who Iras done two years' service as a stoker, was court-martialled on 'H.M.S. Pioneer, now at the Railway Wharf, Wellington.Commander Blunt, i of the, drillship, presided, attended by; the other officers of the'vessel. The reservist was charged with misconduct] and drunkenness, and bn being found guilty, was immediately dismissed the service.

A new system of treating eggs so as to prevent them from growing stale when in cold sWage has been discovered in Rochester. This consists in subjecting the eggs to an electrical current. The theory is that > eggs when placed in storage are alive and artf gradually,frozen to death, whereas if the life is destroyed by an electrical current before they are placed in storage they do not taste stale, even when kept on ice for a long period of time.

Very large figures were mentioned in connection with the sale of- Messrs Bowron Bros.' tannery -plan and. business to a syndicate formed in Christchureh and New South Wales. The negotiations have been in progress for some time, and the majority of the shares are' held in Christchuroh. It is stated that the vendors propose to retire from business, and that the sale has no connection with the Recent Court proceedings and the resignation of the Commissioner of Taxes, Information made public in the course of the negotiations gave rise to the incoine tax prosecution.. ' T' e Old People's Home is now without a piano. Formerly the musical purtur. that went to the Home to ch-;er the inmates used the instrument belonging to Mrs. Farrar.' A movement mis Vtn initiated to hold a concert f.r lhn ].t.rpo: n of raising funds topumme a m-w jwno and present it to the Hntn'!. I'. s iilielv that the funds so raised will bear the Government subsidy. The different religious organisations of the town are being asked to co-operate, and will no doubt be only too to join in the movement, which, considering the worthiness of the object, can hardly help proving successful.

Afootffr'lito6&jnpnths ago Mr. C. L. Spencer, of MnsfeftottvSent a sample of New Zealand Eomney wriol to one of the •largest sheep-owners in the South of Spain, with a view of ascertaining how it would be received in the home of the ■Merinos. He has now received a reply in which surprise is'expressed lit the excellent quality of the wool. An enquiry is also' made'as to the cost of consigning some of the best rams and ewes to Spain, as the breeder interested evidently is of the opinion that it would pay him well to do so. Although Spain is a large sheep - breeding country, the wool grown there, it is stated, is not to be compared with ours. Mr. Spencer intends shortly to send over a sample of Lincola wool, and he contends that if a trade could be worked up with Spain it would be an excellent thing for 'New Zealand breeders.

' TAILORED SUITS FOR MEN. ' A DEMONSTRATION. At the Melbourne Clothing Company it is the firm's purpose to demonstrate the superiority of their offerings by a series of outside and window displays from week to week, where shall be made a comprehensive showing of their models at stated prices. By this method the show windows are turned into salesmen, | and enable buyers to examine the suits with the least possible effort. The firm can offer no better test of their belief in the merits of their apparel than that the 'garments themselves, without written or spoken word of praise, are con-' vincing evidence that the materials jire better,, the styles more exclusive, the workmanship more thorough, the assort-1 ments more complete, and the values' ibetter than can ibe found elsewhere. For j those who desire to be served quickly j and .satisfactorily it is important that j they go at once' to a store where they j can be sure of finding the size and the j shade desired in the suit chosen. Re- ] member, The Melbourne's the place.—