LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 135, 16 September 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning a man named James Wallach, who had ibeen brought in from Opunake by Constable Hickman, was charged with helpless drunkenness, and was remanded for medical treatment. The town is again invaded by the members of our Maori friends in large numbers, this time to attend the sittings of the Native Appellate Court in the Robe Street Hall. The list of cases is not a very long one, but the evidence is voluminous, and the sitting will probably occupy another week yet. According to the Lyttelton Times fish has been sold almost at famine prices in Christchurch during the last week or two. The paper, commenting editorially upon the position, says all the evidence available points to the conclusion that a "ring" is at work in the wholesale market. At the inaugural meeting of a club in New Plymouth a few months ago over twenty vice-presidents were elected, the qualification being ability and probable willingness to donate half-a-guinea to the funds. In a more recent meeting of an institution of long standing a proposal to re-elect the club's vice-presi-dents was met by a mild protest that "only one of them gave us anything last year." The meeting, however, rose above the sordid element, and .the reelection took place accordingly. NEEDED EVERY DAY. A good liniment, and one that can always be relied upon, as nowhere more appreciated than in the country. Scarcely a week passes but some member of the family has need of it. Chamberlain's Fain Balm is more widely known than any/liniment for cuts, burns and sprains, and it not only gives relief, but heals the wound in about one third the time required by any other treatment The great power of Chamberlain's Pain Balm has over pain is shown in the relief it affords in cases of acute and inflammatory rheumatism. Chamberlain's Pain Balm is also an antiseptic. Sold by all

"If we had enough people New Zenlanders would be just as go-ahead as the Americans," said Mr. J. «C. Morey yesterday morning. The following Taranaki factories are consigning their outputs to Lovell and Christmas, Ltd.; Kakaramea, Joll Co., and Riversdale, butter and cheese, Manutahi, Xgaere, Hurleyville, Ararata and Melrose, cheese; Xormanby, Moa Farmers and Whenuakura, butter. Some light sovereigns, with the Australian device, are in circulation. The} are of standard coinage gold, and of a very light color. They can only be distinguished by weight from the genuine article, but are only worth 17s each. They are 'believed to be the work of some coiner. The Dominion should now have a .fleet of 2G aeroplanes and aerial machines completed, or in the course of construction, if all the ideas germinating in the minds of inventors had come to full fruition. Hardly a month went by last year without one or more flying machines being patented in New Zealand. The following table compares the most powerful battleships in the world: —Xew Ship, Nation Brazilian, tonnage 32,000, guns XII, 14-in; Moreno, Argentine, 28,000, XII. 12-in; Tegetthoff, Austrian, 21,000, XII. 12-in.; Oldenburg German, 23,000, XII. 12-in.; .Orion, British, 22,000, X. 12-in. The original British Dreadnought displaces 17,000 tons and carries ten 12-in guns. la an interview in Wellington, Dr. Bell, the famous inventor of the telephone, said his patent had been more valuable than any patent taken out in America. "I have not had anything to do with the telephone since; but, strange to say, the instrument has never been changed. In spite of all the efforts to get round the patent, all the improvements have consisted of additions, and the old patent still remains." The first woman who ever became a fully qualified medical practitioner was Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, who died recently in England, although she was an American by birth. She studied medicine at the University of Geneva, New York. She went to London. in 1849, and although finding much opposition, entered St. Bartholomew's Hospital as a student. In. -Paris she contracteu opthalmia from a patient, with the result that she lost an eye. Then her hopes were blasted of making surgery a speciality. In ■ 1851 she returned to America and established a dispensary, which afterwards grew into the New York Infirmary for Women. The Southland News states that an unusual accident 'befel a thirteen-year-old lad, son of Mr. Alfred Smith, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, a few days ago. The youngster was playing with a revolver which he had come across in rummaging about a drawer, and out of curiosity pulled the trigger. It happened to be loaded, and .the bullet tore a hole in the vicinity of his trousers. Fortunately a pocket knife intervened, and, although it became broken and contorted, it served the purpose of sending <the bullet off at a tangent, and it did not enter the leg. The knife caused a wound, however, and it was at first thought that the bullet was in the leg, but medical examination proved that it was not. On Wednesday night the Red, White, and Blue team played'the challenge cup match against the Mangorei Upper House. The match was played at the latter place and lasted for three solid hours. The following are the scores, Upper House being mentioned first in each base:—E. Penwardea and H. Marsh (8) v. H. Baker and W. Hooker (7); C. Southcombe and A'. Kidd (6) v. H. Rampton and W. Taylor (7); W. Richards and F. Cheffings (4) v. T. Richards and T. Prentice (11); W. Davy and W. Lethbridge..(6) v. J. Blewman and M. iPattinson (9); S, Hooker and F. Jordan (6) v. C. Jordan and A. Richards (10). Totals: Upper House 30; Red, White and Blue 44. What is supposed to be an opalised snake has been discovered by a prospector at White Cliffs opal fields, South Australia, from whom it has been secured by an Adelaide resident named S. Saunders. On what appeared to be a piece of ironstone, dark brown in color, and therefore making an excellent background to show off the precious stone, was imbedded the form of a small snake, or lizard of pure opal. The coiling body measured about two inches in length, and the head and eyes are to be plainly seen. Even the scales on the back can be discerned. Before Mr. Saunders secured it the specimen had been submitted for examination at the museum, and he was informed on making the purchase that it was a Teptile of some, kind ossified and then opalised. The Trade Review, issued on Wednesday, remarks:—"Money is in good supply at reasonable rates, but we still hear complaints of want of confidence and an absence of enterprise,' whatever the cause may be. After a grand wool season and a splendid year for the dairy farmers it seems strange to hear reports, though only partial, of tightness of money in country districts. This is probably attributable to the very high terms on,which many of the dairy farmers of the present day are occupying their lands, so a record season falls short of the effects that it ought to produce in the district. .... We.are now through the winter, and with the start of spring the export of dairy produce has made a ibeginning, which will cause a helpful flow of money in country districts, no doubt bringing with it an improvement in trade all round.' Town trade is still characterised by a tone of quietness; apparently a number of people have left the place to seek employment elsewhere, and this has left several houses empty, thus checking building enterprise and bringing a restriction of business all round. However, prospects for the coming season are better, and there is every reason to anticipate a general improvement in conditions before long. Financial obligations are, on the whole, satisfactorily met, though reports differ somewhat on this. SALE OF DRAPERY. The sale of Manchester gooffs at the Melbourne surpasses all previous sales. It is, in fact, the most commanding sale for years. Planned on a basis without equal, calling upon the world's foremost mills for their best stocks, buying in prodigious quantities for spot cash, and offering these goods at prices that arouse the liveliest interest, make this sale positively one that far eclipses all previous endeavours. The big corner store will prove a centre of great buying all this month. Come to the Melbourne and buy enough for many months to come. It will pay you handsomely to buy check zephyrs at *3y a d a yard, art muslins at 3Va a yard, reversible cretonnes at 6d a yard, indigo prints at 6d a yard, 36-inch longeloth at 6d yard, heavy calico at 5%d a yard, striped galateas at 6d a yard, spot muslins at 4d a yard, and hundreds of other wonderful barpins. Send your orders' for printing to th 9 'ftaily News" Printery. Prices right and utisfactior guaranteed.

Mr. Alfred Jordan, the famous draughts player, met local exponent* last night and played 48 games. He won forty-one, the other seven being drawn. Those who drew with him were .Messrs Bruce (2), Page, Park and Oliver, and two gentlemen whose name* were not handed in. The Taranaki Rifles held their annual ball—perhaps the last to be given by ihe company as at present manned—is the Theatre Royal last night. The attendance, though good, was not up to expectations, but dancing is not a popular pastime with our menfolk this winter, and it is very late in the season, too. The ballroom has never been better decorated by the corps, nor has the dancing floor been equalled this winter. Added to these factors were the splendid music supplied by Mrs. Woods' orchestra, and a capital supper provided by the people of New Plymouth at the request of an energetic committee of ladies. The scarlet uniforms of the military had a fine effect Amongst the officers present were Colonel Okey, V.D., Lieut-Colonel Malone, Major Bellringer, Quartermaster-Captain Okey (staff officer), Major Sandford, V.D., Captain G. Cock, V.D., Captain Mills, Lieutenant Beadle (Taranaki Guards), Captain Wright and Lieutenant Johnstone (Ha> wera Rifles), Lieutenant Klenner (Waitara Rifles), Lieutenant Joll (North Taranaki Mounted Rifles), Captain Fletcher, Lieutenants Willis and Marett (Taranaki Rifles). The M. C.'s were Captain Fletcher, Lieut Marett, Sergt Josetph, and Mr. A. Humphries-, ami Lieut. Willis was a most capable secretary. The supper-room decorations were the work of Mrs. O'Driscoll, and the great clusters of magnificent violeti cam'e from Mrs. H. Weston's garden. The ladies' committee comprised the following: Mesdames G. Tiseh, E. Dockrill, E. M. Smith, W. H. Fletcher, F. W. Sandford, E. N. L. Okey, F. T. Bellringer, Joseph, Bach, R. Jury, O'Driscoll, F. E. Clarke, Misses Hoskin and Clarke.