LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 161, 17 October 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A miniature aeroplane was last week floating over: Marslarid Hill.

A severe frost in Nelson last week destroyed thousands of tomato plants, one grower losing 10,000 plants.

New potatoes are sold at V/ 2 d pel lb. in Wellington. In New Plymouth last week the price for really good tubbers was 4d per lb.

There is every indication of a phenomenal crop of stone fruits this season in tliis district, says the Stoke correspondent of the Nelson MaiJ.

There are believed to be only thirtytwo survivors of the rank and file who took part in the historic charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, and,of these twenty-two are in necessitous circumstances.

A witness in the Magistrate's Court at Ashburton on Friday stated that he was working as a laborer and earning 24s a week. He paid 9s in rent, and with the halance had to keep his wife and tw« children. i

A local amateur gardener is telling of his peas, which made their appearance in seven days after sowing, in an exposed situation. The way to beat this in the way of getting peas up quickly is to let the fowls into the garden. The Slew Plymouth Bowling Club's members spent an enjoyable time on the green on Saturday afternoon. Mr. A. P."Gray sent up the first; lead. The green played excellently for so early in the season. The mascotte "Georgie" was one of the first arrivals.

A suburban minister, during his discourse one Sabbath morning, said: "Li each blade of grass there is a sermon." The following day one of his flock found the good man mowing his grass. "Well, parson, I'm glad to see you engaged in cutting your sermons short!" said he. A Foxton resident has just received a number of booklets, testimonials and a typewritten letter from the notorious H. H. Crippen. The typewritten letter was no doubt the work of Miss Le Neve, and the signature that of Hawley Crippen. The letter is dated July 7, 1910.

A peculiar disease has attacked poultry in this district. The birds seem to "go sick" suddenly, and in a few days, die., Ope owner jnformed.Va New«*,re-., porter that he had lost all his good fowls from the disease, which, he said, was unlike any other disease to whicli fowls are subject.

On Saturday mrning an error. ¥ .ap< peared in" our comment on the opera "Dorothy," which is to be produced by the New Plymouth Operatic Society in the Theatre Royal on November 3 and 4, hot on Tuesday and Wednesday o\ this week, as stated. A full-dress rehearsal takes place this evening in the Theatre, when the specially painted scenery will be U9ed.

Thje Maori War'"memorial on •Marsland Hill his how a'eoihpanion". A few : y'afdß' , 'tb',;f^'-'^s^arS-!df''lt"% , 0 i ir arises a fountain, erected by Mr. W. F. Short to the order of the South African Troopers' Fund Committee, who were assisted by a substantial (and at the time anonymous) donation from Mr. G. Tjsch. The fountain is an ornamental affair, and stands some sixteen feet in height.

",One objection scheme of Saturday closing for insurance aiid jnercan?' tile offices is that the "fruit steamer" from the south usually arrives here towards the end of the week, and in the summer it is necessary to sell the fruit as soon alter it arrives as possible. Thus Saturday afternoon sales are imperative. So long as Saturday is a day for the fruit auction, just so long wiil the fruit marts have to keep but of the Saturday closing scheme, says a local auctioneer. /

At a meeting of a Taranaki local body the question of expenditure on, a certain road (which lor obvious reasons had better be left unmentioned) was under discussion, when the member for that particular locality stated that the aettler9 were very dissatisfied with their pasi treatment bv> the local body. "Yes," ejaculated another member, "'there's a certain percentage of settlers on that road that if a man went up the road with a new suit on he'd be lucky if they left him his collar to return with." That settled the discussion.

A French paper publishes an account of the straits to which certain bearers of noble names were reduced to earn a living. The Duchess de Saint-Simon is a working housekeeper. The heir of the last Doge of Venice is an actor at the St. Denis Theatre, the Keys 01 Venice, in an ornate case, which were confided to the hereditary keeping 01 his family, repose beneath a glass shade on his mantelpiece. The Capital de Puch, a unique title, one of the noblosi. in France, is also an actor. The Duchesse de San Severino earns a, pittance as assistant in a milliner's shop.

The levels have been obtained ana pegged off for the promenade lawn at the Park Tennis and Croquet Club's courts, and the levelling is to be dont by the members themselves. This is one. of the works set out for the "working bee" on Thursday afternoon. Most of the old workers have signified their intention of mustering again, but fifty can be accommodated with a job. There were scores of visitors to the courts yesterday afternoon. The secretary of the Recreation Grounds Board (Mr. E. H. Tribe) is interesting himself in the improvement of the grounds alongside the lawns, and by the time summer comes there will be a lovely picnicking spot developed just below 'the croquet lawn. With a view of still further improving the surroundings, the residents of the locality are going to form a footpath along the Carrington road frontage to connect with the metalled road opposite Mr. Smith's cottage, and the Borough Council will be asked to gravel

The Taranaki Garrison Band had a large audience, despite the threatening weather, at its open-air performance ii Pukekura Park yesterday afternoon, Mr. J. J. Cummins conducting. The standard of music attained was a distinct advance on that sot at the last such performance, and the appearance on the programme of the old favorite sacred airs, "Ora Pro Nobis" and "Nearer, my God, to Thee," was a pleasing feature both pieces being well expressed. If the band will make more frequent appearances at these times when the public can hear it, and keep on improving as it lias done of late, there should be :io need to complain of the lack of practical support from the people. Yesterday's programme was as follows: March "Goeze"; contest selection, "Verdi's Works"; hymn, '-Nearer, mv God, to Thee"; intermezzo, "Ida and Dot"; quickstep, ''Guards' Parade"; solo, "Ora Pro Nobis"; contest selection, "I Puritani"march, "Washington Grevs"* livmn' "Kait Patiently, m x Soul," ' } '

"San JKmncisco hopesto have £8,600,' r 000 to spend on its exhibition' in "' celebration of the opening of the Panama Canal," writes a correspondent. The final examinations for the year of the N.Z. .Society of Accountants open to-day in the Masonic Rooms,' Robe street, and will be concluded on Thursday. Eight candidates will be examined and Mr. C. T. Mills will supervise. A local boy sustained severe injuries on Saturday in Leach street. 'He climbed a tree overhanging a cutting where the old railway line used to be. A branch on which he was sitting broke, and the boy fell into the cutting, lacerating his ' forehead badly and giving him slight concussion of the brain.

Eight members of Parliament to go to England for the coronation- Gee! (exclaims the Christchurch Evening News). But we must be careful! We mustn't do anything rash. Messrs Buddo and £ll simply can't go. Why? Well, you lend*, the English authorities snapped up Col. Davies, and the prospect of their appropriating these two—r-. But no; not even for the Empire could we be expected to make such a sacrifice.

"Inadequate smoking-car accommodation" is just now a chronic form of complaint amongst firsU'lass passengers on the Main Trunk line expresses. For months these trains havo each provided a first-class half-car, accommodating only fifteen peopje, Lately, the first "smokers' have been so rushed, even at their starting, places, that it has-been a case tof "standing room only," to ti» general of every passenger in- tlie ■car. It is pointed but that on the New Plymouth and Napier expresses, the firstclass accommodation on each train is for more than thirty passengers. Why is it less on the Main Trunk expresses? asks the Dominion.

Already several residents are interesting themselves in the matter of arranging for a big boost for the Beautifying Association's funds on November 10 next, when the Association is to receive the proceeds of the function associated with the opening of "Aotea" for the season. "Aotea" i s apt to be looked upon by some as a\ public reserve, but it is private property, the owners of which are keenly interested in the proservation and beautification of this charming valley, clad in wonderful fern growth and native bush. Messrs. Sola Bros, have hundreds of visitors to the grounds every season. It is their intention tD , c J9 se ;.,t.he.grounds .for .again after the opening day, and as this will take place just when the horse-shoe ana Prince of Wales' feather ferns are at their best there will probably be a big crowd of visitors. Mrs. Wood's owhes:.,travof ten instrumentalists has kindly offered its services, and now the €awison Band comes forward to hefc its present (Mr. Tisch) in his scheme of beautifying Marsland Hill and Fort Niger at present, and other public places as funds permit. Several ladies have volunteered to act on a refreshment comSV consider it& certainty that the whole of the edibles required! £° r suPP.Wngafternoon, tea wilMxfcalad..?J^ n *^'#e : dtisiensi' •Mr/Hoffrtaln :" a ? : ?«?w* a piano, and!-Mf. Ghivers has • offered to convey it to and from the grounds..free, of charge. Mr.: Sole has received cash donations from a visitor and from Mr. Frank Lee towards the cost of the work on Marsland Hill, and Mrs. Howell has promised a substantial donation. Further arrangements will be made at the meeting of the Beautifying Association this evening.