LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 180, 9 November 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

December 27 has been declared a bank holiday in England. There was a further big drop in Wailn gold-mining shares yesterday. At the S.M. Court yesterday morning a first offender for drunkenness was convicted and discharged. The Wanganui Garrison Band broke the home journey at Taihape, and were accorded an enthusiastic reception. The members of the band were welcomed by the Mayor and the president of the Chamber of Commerce as guests of the town.

The Committee of the Taranaki Agricultural Society meet cn the racecourse at 2.30 on Thursday afternoon, when a working bee will be hekl. An adjournment will be made at 3.30 to enable members to attend tlie function al "Aotea."

Some sportsmen (?) shot a yearling heifer in the mountain reserve on Sunday morning. The animal belonged to a neighbouring' settler, and had strayed through a hroke;i fence. The settlei managed to capture a dog belonging to the party, and is now looking for the scalps of the offenders. At the last meeting of the Committee of the New Plymouth Horticultural Society final arrangements were made for the Rose Exhibition, which is to be held in the Brougham Street Hall on Thursday. 17th inst. Very favorable reports were- received regarding the number of exhibits, and it is expected that this year's show will be a record one both with the entries and the attendance.

Judgment by default was given by Mr. Fitzherbert, S.M., in the following eases called at the local Court yesterday morning.—L. D. Nathan and Co., Ltd. (Mr. C. H. Weston) v. Albert Lethabv, claim £S lis Id (costs £1 3s fid); J. Nicholson (Mr. C. H. Weston) v. Thomas Welch, £22 10s (£3); W. D. Anderson (Mr. Johnstone) v. John Walter Wilson. £2o 10s 3d (£2 14s); Grayson and Cock (Mr. Wright) v. John Ward. £1 lfis 10d (os): John Hoskin (Mr. C. H. Weston) v. Henrv Autridje £lO (Is f.is); same v. John London, £2 13s 3d (10s): same v. Charlie Christensen. 13s fid (iis); Allen Veale (Mr. Standish) v. Atua Taukoi, £1 7s 7d (10s). When your stomach's all wrong, so are you; When you bowels will not act, you fee! "blue." There's a sifn <>uri' far Tnrni'i" n'i«'rv to Miss— Take i> P'l! Laxo-Tonic or two. Laxo-Tonie Pil'«, 10% d and Is Gd. Obtainable at Bullock and Johnston's,

The estate of the late Mr. I<\ Baume, M.P., was proved at £1757. A Foxton flaxmillor was fined £2 lasi. week for failing to dismiss two men who were not unionists.

A correspondent writing to an English paper says that he often finds himself in need of new words. London Opinion wants to know why he doesn't join a golf club.

t'hristehurch and Timaru send us messages reporting resolutions oa the matter of recognition of the Engine-Drivers' Union by the Government —Timaru in favor and Christchurch against. The publicity given to the fact that the auction of the lease of the Aueklana Islands had failed to elicit a bid has resulted in a syndicate taking up the lease. The syn ;l ..i'ate includes Moffatt Bros., of Invert a rgill. The area com | prises 11G,000 acres.

Giving evidence in a case in which a man was charged with stealing a fork of the value of Is, an Auckland restaur-ant-keeper stated that during the past two years he had lost some 200 knives, the practice being to appropriate one of these articles at a time.

Divers engaged in the mother-of-pearl industry in Tahiti can dive down 12b feet, and experts can remain under the water from two and a half to three minutes. The shells of the lagoon are regarded as the property of any of the natives in the colony who will dive for them.

Great Britain heads the list of postal savings with ten million depositors, who have at their credit £143,800,000, while France has four million depositors with £40,000,000. Russia has £20,000.000 with 1.300,000 depositors, and Japan has £8,000,000 divided among 1,200,000 persons. The Dannevirke Advocate, edited by Mr. T. L. Buiek, one time member of Parliament, who should know, says that members of Parliament receive liberal payment for their services; that some earn their money, and others do not; and that "all receive many valuable perquisites."

In an article on American slang, the Lyttelton Times says: The American who would a-wooing go was at one time

in the fashion if he informed the object of his affections that she was "tlit only pebble on the beach." Later on lie would have called her ''a peach on tin. top of the basket," but nowadays the keenest fervour would be expressed if he addressed her as."Oh, you kid."

During the past 10 years we have exported £0,250,000 worth of kauri gum, The quantity exported during that time was 80,000 tons. In 1900 the export was SOOO tons, of a value of £552,C00. The Croatian gumdiggers of the North have revolutionised the business, and these useful colonists are yet likely to demonstrate what may be done with the poor gum lands that Britishers refuse to tackle.

At a meeting of the Beautifying Association last night, the Mayor pioiding, it was reported that •'he ladies committee had everything arranged for the afternoon tea and refreshment stalls at "Aotea" to-morrow alttrnoori. Mr. Sole reported having received a donation of a pound from a well-wisher. Mr. Tiseh stated that the 'bus pioprietors had agreed to run the 'buses fiom town to "Aotea" at sixpenny fares. There is an indication that the Government intends to give effect to at least one of Lord Kitchener's recommendations with regard to the fort defences of Auckland. An area of about 20 acres of land at Burton's Point, near Takapuna, has recently been surveyed, and a Government officer is negotiating with the landowners as to the probable price. Lord Kitchener recommended that this point should be strongly fortified, and that the fortifications of Auckland in general should be up to the standard of Sydney's. A resident of Christchurch, who returned last week from a holiday trip

on the West Coast, said he witnessed "a remarkable thing" while in Westport. Tons of whitebait were caught in the river along the beach, and the enormous number secured proved too much for the local canning factory, which soon ran out of tins. The fish could not be shipped away, as there was 110 boat in, and the residents were "sick of tho sight of them," so the whitebait assisted at a funeral, and several tons of them were carted to the beach and buried.

A Chinese picnic to celebrate the 24015t anniversary of the birthday of Confucius was held at Clifton Garden, Sydney, on October 5. A feature of the festivities was the sinking by the bovs attending the Chinese school. That these children are being imbued with the spirit of patriotism wqs evident from a speech made by one of them. Here are a few sentences: "We must all be soldiers, for then the Chinese flag will be flying all over the world. We must do something great to help our nation. We must not bo afraid of death, because when we die we will die for our country. Some soldiers are afraid of death, but they are cowards, and those who are not cowards will win." These sentiments struck a chord in the heart of an elderly follower of Confucius, who had watched the drill. "Boys such ps lie." he exclaimed, "are the hope of China.''

It is noticeable that in the questioning of witnesses the Prime Minister's questions arc nearly all in the one direction (says the Eltliam Argus Parliamentary correspondent anent the Hine Commission). He is evidently quite unconcerned as to whether Mr. Symes or Mr. Major received commissions on tho sale of estates to the Government. That, lie appears to think, is their business. What lie is concerned in is the protection of the honor of his Government and the Departmental officers. He has thrown open to .Mr. Hine and his counsel all the files deal in'.' with the sales of tho estates referred to by the number for Stratford and offers every opportunity to that sentleman to prove any charge against'~the Department, the Land Purchase Board, or the Government. Mr. Hine's friends' cannot but admit that he has been offered the fullest opportunities for a complete investigation. It is rumored that his counsel considers that his strongest case will come when the Flaxbourhe"estate is dealt with.

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