LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 200, 2 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The vital statistics for the New Ply- j mouth for the month of November were as follows: Births 23. deaths 7, marriages (i. Matters appear busy in the pig industry, and no less than six waggon loads were met on the road between Hawera and Manaia on Wednesdy, says the Star. The Isle of Wight County Press publishes a list of island residents who have lived in six reigns. It included three centenarians, six persons over 05 years of age, six of 94, five of 93, thirteen of 92, twelve of 91, and five of 90. Messrs. Xewton King and C. W. Govett have decided to throw their beautiful grounds open to the public on Sunday next. Doubtless the invitation will be largely availed of, for here flowers of all kinds are carefully tended and grown to perfection. The Taranaki Dairy Employees' Union has amalgamated with the Wairarapa, Manawatu and Wellington Districts Union, with the object of forming one strong union for the whole district named. The secretary of the Union, Mr. J. Robertson, visits Taranaki next week

Somewhat of a sensation was caused at Turakina railway station shortly after 9 on Tuesday evening ( (the Waaiganui Chronicle reports), when the goods train for Wanganui ran off at the points. The engine and several trucks ploughed up about two chains of metal. A temporary line had to be laid down to allow traffic to be resumed. Writes Frank Reid in the Stratford Post:—''lf the protective barrier were reduced by one-half and the Closer Settlement Bill abolished altogether, and substituted by a Betterment Bill (applied to the ci'ty landlord) and the graduated land tax (applied to the country monopolist), there would be cheap living in the city and cheap land in the country —itwo very desirable acquisitionsi

Among the visitors to Lake Manapouri recently were two biograph operators, who were taking views of the several arms and inlets of the lake for reproduction at the numerous picture shows. These views will be shown at some of the New Zealand theatres, and then .go over to delight Australian audiences, eventually going to London and being reproduced there. This should do a lot to advertise New Zealand scenery, as the pictures were taken under the most favorable conditions. Milford Sound and Lake Te Anau are also to be included in this set of films.

Contrary to general opinion, the Indian race is not rapidly dying out, according to Dr. Joseph A. Murph.v, United States medical inspector of Indian schools. While the death-rate among the Indians is nearly double that among the white race, the birth-rate is proportionately higher, Dr. Murphy declares, and the balance is slightly in'favor of race increase. The death-rate among the red-skinned race is about thirty in every 1000, while the birth-rate is about thirty-one to every 1000. To the vigorous campaign among the Indians against tuberculosis : .s attributed the increase of births over deaths.

Swiss naturalists have already presented to the Helvetian Society of Natural 'Science the results of their studies of the remains of dogs found among the ancient lake dwellings of Switzerland, the earliest of which date from the Age of Stone. It has been found tha't. three different races of dogs existed there at that time, one of which resembled the Siberian sledge dog. Later, when the Age of Bronze dawned upon the Alps, two new species appeared, one being a shepherd dog and the other a hunting dog. _ All of these dogs were of northern origin, the canine types of the Mediterranean lands not having crossed the Alps. Satisfactory arrangements for the continuance of the medical service of the Stratford District Hospital have been completed (says the Post). Dr. Carbery is to act as Superintendent until the expiry of his contract with the Board, which terminates on February 25, 1911. Tn the meantime Dr. Paget and the Acting-Superintendent have agreed that Dr. Paget will treat a number of casies which he has had under his care at the Hospital recently, until they are discharged. These latter services will be reindtered gratuitously by Dr. Paget, and he is to have the full assistance of the Hospital staff in carrying them out. The annual sheep returns show that there are 38,535 sheep in the Taranaki County as against 43,853 last year. The number's of sheep returned for the neighboring counties are as follows, the figr ure for the previous year being given in parentheses: Egmont County 11,89 ft (12,100); Clifton, 80,914 (71,237); Stratford, 119,539 (115,0(12); W-hangamom-ona, 88,892 (68,166); Hawera and Waamate West 103,64.1 (92,269); Patea, 274.227 (267,649); Eltham, 47,139 (46,614). The number of sheep owners in the Dominion on 30th April, 1909, was 21,858, and on 30th April last 21,522, a decrease of 336. The number of sheep on the same dates were respectively 23,480.707 and 24,269,020, an increase of 788,913.

A dramatic story was told (savs the Dailv Telegraph) before a coroner's jury at' Dalkev, County Dublin. The Rev. Father English, of St. Mary's College, Rathmines, was drowned on October 2, and his body was afterwards found in the crevice of a rock. The Rev. Father Walsh, of the same community, described how he and deceased were bathing at Dalkey, and after swimming about fifty yards,' thev had turned to come in, when Father English cried, "Help, help me!" Father Walsh seized his arm and dragged him to within ten yards of the rocks, when the heavv back-wash swept them out again. Three times Father Walsh endeavored to bring in his friend, and each time they were washed back. At length, becoming exhausted, he lost his hoid. Father English endeavored feebly to swim; and Father Walsh, seeing it was only a matter of moments with his fellow-priest, raised his hands, and cave him absolution in artieulo mortis. ° The deceased immediately disappeared. Father Walsh a moment later was fiunj upon a rock. He was swept off again, but at length secured a safe landing in an exhausted condition. The jury, in returning a verdict of accidental death, expressed admiration of the priest's efforts at rescue.