LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 211, 15 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

For drunkenness, John Donn was fined ss, or in default 48 hours' imprisonment. at the local court yesterday morning-

The New Plymouth High School Board of Governors have decided to have nn agricultural course of instruction included in next year's work. It is understood that the Railway Department have rescinded their decision to put a refreshment car on the express from New Plymouth during the holiday season.

What is claimed to be the largest living kauri tree in New Zealand is growing in its majestic splendor at Puriri, near Thames. It has a girth of 40ft, or is roughly 13ft in diameter.

Mr. F. B. Knyvett has lodged an appeal for a re-trial of the charges on which lie was dismissed from the defence forces in January. The Defence Act of last session made a new trial possible, and Mr. Knyvett forwarded his appeal to Wellington as soon as General Godley arrived.

There was not a big muster of local draughts players to meet Mr. J. Gardner, the ex-champion, at the Carnegie Library draughts and chess room last night, and some disappointment was felt when some of the strongest players were numbered among the absentees. Bruce lost two and drew two games; Eustace lost one and drew one; Page lost two, and Wells lost one and drew one. The passengers by the mail train last might included the redoubtable Amy Bock, who masqueraded in male attire and was married to a girl down south. Amy is now in the custody of the. Crown, and, having completed her sentence for false pretences, is to undergo a period of detention as a "habitual" in the New Plymouth reformatory prison. It had been given out that the arrival would take place to-night, so some folks will be disappointed. The draft regulations in the report of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives as to school committee allowances were, with slight amendment, adopted by the Wellington Educatino Board yesterday. The most important variation, said the chairman, was the recommendation that money spent on free books could be better spent on a more satisfactory supply of stationery throughout the schools. It was decided that Government be asked to make a grant for the supply of pajper to schools.

At the annual meeting of the Wellington Publishing Company on Monday the Hon. C. J. Johnston, chairman, said that despite. a certain amount of commercial depression locally during the year The Dominion had continued to improve its position financially and otherwise. There had been a substantial increase in income, and during the past two months there had been an excess of income over expenditure, which marked the turn of the tide. Messrs. J. Duthie and A. L. Herdman were reelected directors.

The adjourned meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of T. R. Southall took place yesterday, - the D.O.A. (Mr. J. S. S. Medley) presiding. Bankrupt was cross-examined length 'by Mr. Govett regarding Iris share transactions with Mr. Thorne-George, of Auckland, and his methods ■of book-keeping. Bankrupt stated that he was unable to' make an offer. The meeting decided to further adjourn for a month with a] view to enabling bankrupt to make an offer, failing which creditors were ot opinion further stqps should be taken.-

"Education is in a transition stage just at present," said a member &f the High School Board of Governors at the meeting yesterday. "Teachers, seem all intent upon getting passes, and it should be- impressed upon them that what is more important, than passes is that the children should leave school in possession of a. little knowledge." While agreeing generally with the remarks of the previous speaker, another member said that until the Department recognised that, their schools would deteriorate, as compared with other schools, if this idea was put into practice.

The wail of "too much out-door education" was heard at the Education Board's meeting yesterday. A settler writing to the committee complained that his children were not getting on as well as he wished, and that he intended sending them to another school unless the teacher in charge was shifted. The writer specifically mentioned incidents of school life witli wMch he did not agree, and. the conclusion he came to was that there was "too much outdoor education nowadays." There is nothing new in this, but it goes to show that some parents (and there are not a few) place more faith in the three "R's" as a basis for their children's battle with the world than all the nature study that has now become so fashionable.

Applications from younjg men to fill •the ten places allotted to the Dominion for cadets at the newly-established military college in Australia are called for to be made to the officer commanding at Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury. Nelson, and Otago before January la next* Examinations will be held during the latter part of January, which will ensure the successful ten reaching the college in time for the opening in March. Details will be issued to commanding officers in the course of a week for the guidance of applicants and parents. The ten places will be free, the candidates' sixteenth birthday to be on or before March 1 next, and their nineteenth birthday aiter that date. They must be in good health and free from physical defect.

Mr. Samuel Clarke, of Wyndham, who has just returned from the most recent of his trips to Australia with New Zealand draught horses, gave a Southland Times reporter some interesting particulars of his experience. He says the bottom has been knocked out of the market, -though he came out without loss by selling privately. Others, however, hau not been so fortunate. One North Island dealer, for instance, iha <1 taken 35 liorses to Melbourne and had lost no less than £250 over them. He (Mr. Clarke) had been present when .his colleague's horses were sold at auction, and they had brought as low as £7 10s, £B, £l4, £ls, and £lB, whilst one good animal which had cost £46 in Feilding, only fetched £44. In his (Mr. Clarke's) own case, his IB mares had produced £551, and that he was able to secure an average of, roughly, £46 per 'head was due to appreciation of the good class of stock for which Southland is noted. At the same time his net .profits worked out at only £l4 2s. It may be stated that last week's boat was a blank for horses to Australia, the Warrimoo only having 10 on board, all of which were consigned to Hobart.

PIMPLES OFF IN TWO DAYS. "My chin and one side of my face were severed with blackheads and pimples, wihioh looked very unsightly. I tried everything I could buy, but could not get rid of the disfigurements. I was given a tin of Rexona Ointment, which I used; and in two days was surprised to find my skin quite clean and free from any marks whatever," writes J. Brown, 64 Metropolitan roaid, Enroore, N.S.W. Rexona, the rapid-healing ointment, w a reliable remedy for all eruptions and irritations of the skin. It is sold in triangular pots, at Is 3d. and 3s. Obtainable at Bullook and Johnston's.

A sheep farmer who -was in j tlie witness'/ stand at tihe Wellington Supreme Court ' the other day, stated that , having lately realised on a property 'be Bent a sum of £35,000 to the Argentine to be loaned at 9 per cent. Another large sum he invested in QuwnslnnJ, and a smaller amount he invested locally in horses, because, as he put it, "they are not taxed." "Probably," his Honor interjected, "the Soli-citor-General will now turn his attention to horses."

It speak« highly of the manner in which the farmers of Taranaki look after their cows and of the general cleanliness of the dairies when it is known (vide the annual report of public health) that of the foodstuffs condemned during the year there were only Gibs of dairy butter included. Despite the cry made about the unhealthiness of pigs it is satisfactory to learn that but four sides of bacon were branded as unfit for human consumption. For an unknown period, prior to the recollection of the oldest -Maori inhabitant, a portion of a wrecked vessel 'has lain on the beach near Aotea. Although covered with sand far nearly forty years, it 'has (says the Kawhia Settler) recently been exposed, and has attracted considerable attention from the settlers. Its timbers are bolted together with metal and wooden screws, the material of which ■fixes its workmanship and date of con-e struetion somewhere in the eighteenth century, possibly a Dutch wthaling craft built in the East Indies.

The New Justices Manual, a handbook for the use of Justices of the Peace, by Messrs W. G. Riddel), S.M., and A. H. Holmes, Cleric of Court, at Wellington, has now* been completed, and will heissued free, on application, to Justices 4 of the Peace. ITae work has been carefully compiled, and will prove of considerable value to Justices of the Peace, taking the place of the New Zealand Jfustice of the Peace handbook, which is now out of print. The new work has been rendered necessary owing to the consolidation of the statutes, which involved a complete revolution in the references' to Acts and clauses. It'has been compiled with a view to setting out, in condensed form, the procedure followed' in the inferior courts, as a guide to those Justices who, without professional training, are often called upon to act either ministerially or judicially. The limits of jurisdiction and powers areplainly indicated.

How lovely is the green grass! Yet the ignorance that prevails on the subject of grasses is amazing. A High School governor at yesterday's meeting referred to this matter, and expressed his opinion in. graphic terms: "Why," he said, "there are not two men in, thousand that know the importance of a knowledge of grasses. If it were not for the grass, we could not live; we are dependent upon it to an extent that is little imagined. We even depend upon it to cover our graves when we aredead! And of all other things, 'it isthe most important knowledge you should have if you are going on the land." The meeting was discussing the matter of the establishment of an agricultural course-at the High School, and . the speaker concluded: "If we do nothing more for the pupils on our own land than' instruct them on the native grasses, we will have done well for theschool." j Tl|,e deaths are announced ,by cable fronti London of Or. 'Emil* Re Mi, Hun- ■ garian Jurist, and Mrs. French Sheldon, traveller. Dr. Reich, who was 56 years of age, was a well-lpown lecturer and the author of many, historical and philosophical wo&s. Mrs. M. French Sheldon was . born in the United Sates, and was elfected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 1592. She was an explorer; author of many books; translator of fifty books, principally Salammbo, which she dramatised; playwright and lecturer; studied medicine and was licensed! as a doctor; pupil of Clesengiero in sculpture; made three journeys round the world, making historical and ethnological research; owned and conducted the publishing house of Saxon and Co. for maiiy ** years; was constantly engaged in editorial work and ■was a prolific writer of articles on topics of the world's progress, stories, books, and dramatic work. The French Government placed an edition de luxe of 'her translation of .Salammbo in Flaubert's tomb at Rouen.