LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 118, 26 August 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Major Bellringer will be the lecturer to-night at the Cadet Officers' School of Instruction. Subject : Examination papers for captains and lieuieiiants. On Wednesday night a number of settlers on the Upper Frankly road gathered at Mr. Baker's residence to bid farewell to Mr. A. E. Sadler, who f is leaving the district. A pleasant, evening was spent in dancing and games, and during a break in the proceedings, Mr. Leighton, on behalf of the settlers, presented Mr. Sadier with a handsome eight-day clock. The legal standard of quality for milk offered for sale would seem to be defective. At Oamaru two milk vendors were prosecuted for selling milk containing less than the correct percentage of non-fatty solids. The analysis showed this, ibut it also showed an excess ot ■fatty solids, so that the two together exceeded the standard total. The Magistrate convicted, but imposed no penalty.

The Dairy Commissioner was reported] to have said at Kaupokonui:—The Department had figures representing 120 herds in Taranaki, about 5000 sows. The average butter-fat production amounted to l&Jlb. per cow. One herd had only an average of 130, and the highest was 272. Taking butter-fat at Is a lb, there was a return of £6 10s against £l3 12s. How the farmer who had* the low butterfat returns could continue dairying in this district at the present price of land was unexplainable.

A man who plays many parts in the daily life of Okarito, a small township aibout ninety miles south of Hokitika, has been discovered. In a return to the Labor Department this individual hesitates to state the natures of the business carried on toy him, but describes himself [as " jack-of-all-trades." The department's agent there adds the following lexplanation:—This man is primarily a , carpenter, but mends boots and harness, '• clocks and watches and machinery l generally. He also does plumbing and tinkering generally, ibrick-laying, makes and mendis boots, paints, pulls teeth, and ! administers medicine in emergencies. ': ( | At the recent meeting of the iPalmer- ' ston Borough Council a letter was read i from Mr. Carnegi in connection with the' i council's application for a grant towards the erection of a new library. It is I quite twelve mofithg since the council I wrote to Mr. Carnegie, and they had decided to go on with the erection of aj ■new building without further reference' jto him. In the letter just to hand, Mr. Carnegie makes many objections, and ! practically tells the council that it does ! not know what it really' wants. In the/ 1 jface of this reply, it seems as if Mr. Carnegie did not wish to advance money, and the council has again decided not to further molest him. It is not generally known that, at the Kawhaiki Pa, a dozen miles up the Wanganui River, there is a kind of Native Historical Society. J?or the past six or seven years the Maoris have gathered once a month to relate incidents of Maori legend, history, and genealogy, and already a great mass of material has been- collected, most of which has been reduced to writing, with a view of, some day, being published in book form. The idea was first suggested by the Native Department, which was anxious to enlist the help of the Maoris themselves in perpetuating the history of their race, and stated that, in several Maori villages throughout the North Island, similar gatherings are held. s

In a letter on the Empire movement within the British Isles, the, Earl of Meath states that had King Edward lived Empire Day would have been observed this year iby 19,942 schools in the British Isles, with an average attendance of 4,099,895 scholars, with an attendance of, 3,863,446 scholars in 1909, an increase of 1 861 schools, with 236,449 scholars. This year 8037 sermons and addresses were delivered in churches and chapels, irrespective of those delivered overseas, as compared with 6795 in ISO 9, an increase of 1242. 'Since May 24, 1909, the education committees for two county councils, fourteen borough councils, and six urban district councils have joined the movement, so that it is now sanctioned by about four-fifths of the educational authorities in England and Wales. iSome curious facts are mentioned in letters that come from New Guinea in the Duneclin Methodist Ladies' Missionary Society. Recently a lady missionary hearing there had been a death in a neighboring v village ihurried off to minister sympathy. She found all the people laughing and' talking, and expressed her surprise. They said very simply that they had been mourning a long time and were tired. After they had had a rest they would begin again. Another My relates that babies are very plentiful at iher station. They have nine babies on the premises. One of the native teachers had been presented with twins. The village people regard this as a great disgrace, and their custom was to kill one of the twins immediately. Converts with difficulty give up such tribal opinions, but in this case the father was quite proud.

The piano purchased for the Old People's Home was formally presented to that 4 institution last night, the affair taking the shape of a musical function. Mr. N. K. McDiarmid (chairman of the piano fund committee) presided, and there was a representative gathering of townspeople as well as the inmates of the Home. Mr. McDiarmid stated that the piano was the result of a happy conception by Mr. J. H. Parker, and he called on that gentleman to make the presentation. Mr. Parker referred to the assistance that the committee had received from everyone they had approached in connection with the piano. There was no doubt that the New Plymouth people did rally round and assist a worthy object, and on behalf of the committee he handed over the piano to the chairman of the Charitable Aid Board for the benefit and entertainment of the people at the Home. Mr. Fred Bellringer suitably acknowledged. Several selections by the Orchestral Society, under the baton of Mr. C. H. I Lawn, were given, including a duet by jthe Misses Bucktaan, songs by Miss Hiandley, Messrs. Crawford, Woodard, and Stewart (a member of the Home), all being encored, and added greatly to the evening's enjoyment. Light refreshments, provided by the matron, Mrs. Bayly, were then dispensed, and the gathering terminated after singing the National Anthem. The performers were accorded a hearty vote of thanks by the inmates, and the chairman announced that a committee would probably be formed to arrange for monthly entertainments.

. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED Howmuch better you feel if your stomach is in good condition. Dr. Sheldon's Digestive Tabules will improve your digestion at once. Price, 2s 6d. Obtainable everywhere.

Send your order for printing to the "Daily News!' Printery. Prices right satisfaction guaranteed.