LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 85, 19 July 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are desirous of obtaining copies of our issues of 31st July, 1000, and 4th and 17th April, 1910. We should be obliged if anyone having copies of above will forward same to this office. At the last meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board, the chairman (Mr. Sutton) and Mr. J. Marx were appointed to meet the New Plymouth Board at New Plymouth on Wednesday to arrange a settlement of accounts at present in dispute between the two Boards. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Egmont Lodge, 1.0.0. F., was held last evening, Bro. W. Hooker, N.G., presiding. There was a fair attendance. One "lady candidate was proposed for membership. It was decided to hold a social evening next lodge-night, Ist August, and invite the members and friends of the sister lodge. Speaking of the Juvenile Court, in his report to Parliament, Mr. W. G. Riddall, S.M., says:— "I am satisfied that the Court is an unqualified success. I am able to appeal to the children better in private than in the open Court. The children's parents are nearly always present, and good reason is given if they are not there. No representative of any society or organisation attends the Juvenile Court." The Inglewood Record, a paper with ! more than a "leaning" to the Opposition, writes concerning the Knyvett affair: "Mr. Massey said the question had not been used politically. There may, of course, be differences of opinion as to what 'politically' means, but we venture to think that strangely few will be found who do not consider that the matter has been so used, and very wronglv so at that." I Whaling is not the profitable industry it used to be in New Zealand, and there are only four stations remaining. At Tory Channel right and hump-back-ed whales are taken, oil and whalebone being the only parts used, but only two or three are caught every year, and tile same is reported of Kaikoura. At Campbell Island last year, however, thirteen right whales were caught, and at Whangamumu, Auckland, sixteen humpbacked whales were caught and all their products utilised. At this place an up-to-date whaling vessel will bo used this season. At one or two meetings of the Clifton County Council recently, the chairman (Mr. J. W. Foreman) has spoken of the seemingly unwarrantable disregard by officials in Wellington of queries from the County Office respecting matters pertaining to the Pukearuhe loan. It has now been ascertained that the negligence was due to an official in the State Advances Office. We (Waitara Mail) are informed that Mr. Jennings has unj earthed quite a number of annoying de- [ lays in connection with public matters arising from the changes made by the retrenchment scheme. The committee of the Park Tennis and Croquet Club met last night, the president (Mr. R. Cock) presiding. The principal business was the consideration of tenders received for the construction of the five grass lawns on the amended scheme. It was decided to accept that of Mr. A. J. Cole, who was also successful in the original contract. The committee unanimously decided that the work be supervised by Messrs. Sladdqn and Palmer, who had prepared the plans and specifications. The secretary was instructed to obtain quotations for grass seed. The next meeting of the committee, on Monday evening next, will be for the purpose of drafting rules for submission to a general meeting of members.

In a paragraph concerning the dredge Thomas King, the Waitara Mail says:— "The New Plymouth Board on Friday considered applications for its use, and it was resolved to reply that definite information will be supplied about the middle of August. The engineer is to be instructed to fix a price and name a date on which delivery can be made. We have been hoping that tTie Waitara Board would make an effort to obtain this plant, as it would serve the purpose very well of removing the accumulation of sand on the south side of the river, and thus lead to a better scour through the dry months of the year. Of course, it would have first to be ascertained if the dredge would do the work successfully."

According to the Official Year Book for 1910, advance sheets of which are to hand, the total trade of 'Xew Zealand for the past year amounted to £35.336,71-5, an increase of one and a half millions for the year compared with 1!)08. This is figured out at £3O 7s 3d per head of population, and of this £-20 4s 8d per head is the value of exports. The United Kingdom contributed oO'/t per cent, of the imports and took 82% per cent, of the produce exported. Tn*» Commonwealth contributions to imports was 17.04 per cent., but only 0.75 per cent, of New Zealand exports was taken by Australia. Goods landed at Wellington were valued at £4,405.547—the highest value for any one port in Xew Zealand. Auckland came second with £4,333,857. Wellington also heads the list of exporting ports, the value of the trade being £3,080.687, Auckland coming next with £3,371,407. Mr. J. J, Campbell has returned to Eltham from his visit to the Waikato. He is much impressed with the future possibilities of the northern land. At present the Waikato river is a set-back to the sending of the country ahead, as the river has a habit of occasionally spoiling good land by overflowing itsibanks in places. With dredging the mouth of the river so as to get a greater fall the trouble would bo minimised. Tf this is done things will move swiftly up north. Of course Taranaki land, particularly round p here, was better, generally speaking, i Here a man could buy a section blindfolded, and get a good one, all the land being of fine quality. In the Waikato that was not so, as, whilst there was good soil there was also some poor land. Land there required working, and the man who put bone and muscle into his section would do all right, but it would ' take time. At present the Waikato river was a fault to settlement, but once the water was confined to its banks the future of the land .was assured,—Argus,

A Wairarapa farmer who recently sent a bale of rabbit skins to Dnnedin is ftportod to have netted something like £BO for his parcel, which works out at over 4s per 11) of skins. A net profit of £570 7s lid was made by the Marine Department from its oyster-picking operations last year in the North Island. From the beds in Hauraki Gulf, Bay of Islands and Great Barrier Islands 7034 sacks were obtained, t!4205 being expended in labor, while the gross return was £4775. The drive in the deep levels at the Thames is still being continued by hand for two shifts, but as the ground in the face is of a hard nature the progress being made is somewhat slow, the total distance driven to date being 4)oft. Although the ground in the face is of so hard a nature as to make progress slow and difficult with hand labor it is of a I favorable nature for good progress it rock drills we're used.

A Christchurch paper reports that a movement is on foot to have the facts of the Bealey tunnel fatality in May last, when several of the miners employed displayed conspicuous heroism in rescuing comrades, brought before the Government, with a view of the men being recommended for the Edward medal. The medal is awarded to workmen'who, while employed in some industrial occupation, display conspicuous bravery in saving or trying to save the Jives of others.

A Palmertson correspondent writes:— A leading financial agent informs me that not for a long time has money for investment been so plentiful in Palmerston. "There are simply stacks of money,'' he said, "and every oflice that 1 know of is in the same position. An ample—too ample—sum of money, but a limited number of investments offering. The fact is, the Government institutions have got the pick of the investments lately offering, and the consequence is that money is almost going a-begging." Mr. Harry Fisher, of Wellington, the inventor of the non-sinkable and noncapsizable lifeboat, and direct-lift flying machine, has reached London. Mr. Fisher's, lifeboat is said to have been subjected to some very severe tests, and it is his intention to build a similar boat in England, and give a trial to shipping and business men at Southend-on-Sea. For the flying machine Mr. Fisher claims that it has a perpendicular lift, rises to any altitude, remains stationary, can travel at great speed, and will lift as much again as its own weight. The moving picture is certainly moving, says a contemporary. According to the latest report from .Paris these things have happened: (1) A great surgeon resolved to have all his big operations cinematographed for the benefit of students and posterity. (2) The operator turned a dishonest pound by selling the films. (3) A great lady, lately convalescent, got the shock of her life when, at a theatre, she saw herself brought out and scientifically carved—on the screen—for the amusement of the crowd. (4) The surgeon is claiming heavy damages from the operator. 'During his short stay in Auckland.. Lord Islington was greatly charmed with the city and its surroundings. It is understood that his Excellency regrets the controversy that has arisen in regard to the retention of Government House", as a matter in which he can take no part, but that he is favorably inclined towards the continuation of this long established institution. The matter, presumably, will' therefore rest with the Government The Governor, it is stated, is very well satisfied with the state of preservation of Government House, although, of course, the naked interior of the dismantled building can hardly be expected; to have appealed to him. An incident showing the fidelity of a dog is given by the Woodville Examiner: A well-known Pahiafua resident owned a rather well-bred bull dog, which soma weeks ago he sold to a friend at Manga' tainoka. The dog was kept in the lattei township for a couple of weeks when it was sent to Napier. In the meantime the original owner of the dog had changed his residence in Pahiatua, and had been in his new home some weeks when late one night he heard an animal scratching at his front door. On opening it he was greatly astonished to see his old dog, which was very much distressed, so much so that he slept for two days. The old owner is certain the dog travelled all the way from Napier. Serious apprehension is felt all over the Dominion at the damage caused to turnip, rape and kindred crops by the ravages of insect pests, and fungoid diseases. The 'Department of Agriculture lias taken steps to acquire accurate information on the subject by circulating among tamers a set of enquiries to which answers are requested. It is asked that in detailing the injury caused by insects, the use of the name '"turnip fly" should be avoided, as misleading. There are no flies that trouble turnip crops in New Zealand. The term apparently is used indiscriminately to describe aphis or diamond black moth, and information on the relative importance o! both these pests is needed. Replies w>i be treated as confidential.

The opinion is expressed in commercial circles in Christeliureh that certainly a sharp war, and possibly a protracted one, between the shipping companies trading between Australia and the Mother Country are inevitable. It is believed that the chairman of the German company came out to Australia to enquire into the shipping conditions, anil to see if a general agreement could not be arrived at as to freight and passenger rates. His announcement of reductions is regarded as an indication thai spoliations for an agreement have failed, and as the first shot of a severe war Messrs Thomas Cook and Son's agencies throughout Xew Zealand have already been advised of the reduction of rates, which will take effect in October, with the sailing of the Sclmrnhorst. The passenger single rates to London are to be £OS first class and .€3O second class, return fares being 50 per cent, additional. The reductions apply to rates to the South of 'Europe. BOOTS —AS AX INVESTMENT. There is no room for doubting that next season's boot prices will range much higher. Reports from all authentic sources confirm the statement. Future 1 conditions therefore render doubly important the extraordinary opportunity presented at the Melbourne by these offerings on all boots and shoes for men, women, and children. Men's strong kip shooters, 7s Cd; men's bluchers. 4s lid I and 5s 11<1; man's famous welted boots, IBs Od; men's heavy kip watertight*,' 13s lid; women's ward shoes with rubber heels, 5s lid; ladies' dancing shoes, 4s lid; men's dancing shoes, 6s lid; men's splendid chrome shooters, 12s fid; youths' kip shooters, 0s lid; youths' chrome balmorals, 8s lid; girls' chrome school boots, 5s lid and fis lid; girls' 2-bar cHrome shoes, 4s lid. There Is no preparation manufactured that will sooth and heal chilblains as Chamberlain's Pain Balm will do. When this liniment is applied it soon allavs the itch and prevents the chilblain breaking. It causes them to heal in a i very short while. Sold by all chemists ' and storekeepers.- . \