LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 213, 17 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hyoscin, the mysterious poison with which Crippen was said to have made away with Belle Elmore, is distilled from the henbene, a common hedgerow weed in England, the botanical name of which is hyoscyamus. At a meeting of the Equitable Building Society on Friday night, Mr. D. Berry in the chair, the ballot in No. 1 group was drawn by Mr. A. Davidson, and No. '2 by Mr. W.'E. Percival, Ingle wood. The tenders for £3OO were, respectively, £OO os and £66. In connection with the Bayly Memorial Scholarship, Mr. Pridham, principal of the High School, at the break-up ceremony yesterday, made an interesting point for his boys who had competed at ■the sports at Stratford on the previous day. "Although," he said, "my boys were not all the best in the competitions, yet we gained 360 points to all the other schools' 280 points." The announcement was received with hearty applause. It transpires that, the "raid" made on the Masterton Club by "Wellington police" recently was a huge joke got up by local humorists. Two men called at the club, and representing themselves as police officials from Wellington, asked to inspect the lockers for drink. The members were somewhat perturbed at this raid. Gravely and with a fine display of official importance the two men systematically inspected each locker and took the names of the owners of lockers containing liquor. The joke worked splendidly. One of those "in the know"*who was unable to control himself struck one of the pseudo policemen on the head with a matchbox, being severely reprimanded by another member, who told him such conduct could only make it worse for them. Thef men completed their task of inspection and retired with the dignity required on such an occasion.

At the conclusion of the gymnastic { display at the High School grounds after the ■break-up ceremony yesterday, all present were the guests of Mrs. Pridham at afternoon tea. The New Plymouth Swimming Club's sports, to have been held at the Baths last evening, were 'postponed, on account of the wet weather, until Tuesday evening next. Peach blight is doing some damage to peach trees in Masterton orchards. The codlin moth is also to be seen on the wing, but systematic spraying is likely, to check the operations of this pest. The expenses in connection with the recent production of the oratorio "Elijah" were necessarily fairly heavy. Although there was a fair attendance there will be a deficit of about £l6. The barley trade in England has recovered. At one time, not so many months ago, people were inquiring what had come over the barley business, as the price had fallen away so much. It is realising a good paying figure now. The Chronicle reports that a Levin lad the other day took to the schoolmaster there a box containing upwards of 3000 birds' eggs, in order to secure the money offered by the Horowhenua County Council for the eggs of injurious small birds. A 400-acre farm on the Ahipaipa road, Okaiawa, is reported to have just changed hands at £6O per acre. This seems a. big figure for dairy farming .purposes, but experienced dairymen state that the highest priced land in South Taranaki is returning easily the best results. The Taranaki Petroleum Company has decided to extend to tire conference of the Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers, which will meet at the Thames shortly, an invitation to visit the company's wells at New Plymouth, and, if possible, to have them here upon the date of the anniversary of the No. 2 well starting to flow. The celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of the province of Canterbury yesterday was practically rendered impossible on account of the almost continuous drizzle of rain. The function at which the old colonists were to have been entertained by Mr. W. Guise Brittain had to be postponed, as were also a number ot outdoor sports fixtures.—Press telegram. According to an old and experienced Ohristchureh blacksmith, the taxicab has had a detrimental effect on the horseshoeing trade. "Since the taxicabs have come in," he said, "there has been a fall in the business. I am now working single-handed because there is not enough trade for more than one." It was suggested to him that there were still a, great many horse-drawn cabs in Christchurch, but he replied that he knew that several blacksmiths had gone out of business recently. Two West End residents are bemoaning the fate of their Christmas dinner. One lost a couple of fowls, and the other four ducks. The latter gentleman is in a state, known, in the vernacular, as "kicking hisself!" He had been warned by the owner of the disappearing fowls, but as "mother" took in the washing off the line and locked up the goslings, he thought the drake and his little harem would be safe from the marauders. "We are laying a trap," he said in recounting his tale of woe, "and you can bet if the other fellow catches them he'll shoot. He's a terror!" It is- unnecessary to point the moral that adorns the foregoing. Once the invalid pension system comes into general operation, says the Melbourne Age, it is hoped that the streets will no longer be the resort of blind beggars, who eke out an existence by accepting the small offerings of char-itably-disposed passers-by. These unfortunates will be eligible to receive an invalid (pension of 10s per week, provided they comply with the conditions laid down as length of residence. The Acting-Treasurer stated recently that he intended to prepare a general statement for the guidance of blind people in making their applications for pensions. Mr. Frazer considers that recipients of invalid pensions should be. if -possible, kej>t off the streets. Says the Canadian correspondent of the Otago Daily Times: While prosperity is smiling on Canada, our sister colony of Labrador, in the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is in acute distress. The fishing has been a failure this year, and that industry is the sole stay of the isolated community. : Dr. Grenfell, who has given up his life to sturdy and simple-living fisher folk, has written a statement of the situation to the British and American press. Food is dear, and the hope of late fishing may not be realised. The imported reindeer are doing well, however. Dr. Grenfell tells about the danger from dogs in times of famine. He has known six children to be killed and eaten by these semi-savage animals. During the past few weeks a large number of workers have left New Zealand for Australia. Trade is said to be very good in the Commonwealth, at present, and work is plentiful. We take the following advertisement from a recent copy of the Sydney Morning Herald, and this notice is only typical 'ot many similiar ones appearing from day to day:—"Wanted—One hundred men. We are now prepared to employ fifty experienced spawlers (9s Gd a day) and •fifty laborers (8s fid a, day). Lane and Peters, Barren Jack Works." When it is taken into consideration that the purchasing power of 9s Gd in New South Wales is equal to 12s 6d in New Zealand, it is very evident that there is at present a "boom" in the labor market in the Mother State. People passing Messrs Stedman and Wilson's motor garage in Cumberlandstreet are sometimes possessed with the idea that flying machines are on hire within (says the Otago Daily Times). This enterprising firm has not, however, reached that point ret. and the Hying apparatus lined up with the motor cars and cycles is merely there for the convenience of its inventor and builder, Mr. W. A. Francis Potter, of Kelso. Experts declare that it embodies an excellent idea, and its great lifting power and light substructure would seem to be greatly in its favor. The Kelso monoplane, which cost £7O, represents a year's work in overtime hours. The inventor claims it to be the. largest monoplane but four in the world. He savs the frame is built of Oregon, braced by piano wire and wire strainers of his design. It is springmounted on four stroiis motor wheels, castor fashion. The nlanes of the machine are composed of built-up ribs covered with strong air-proof and water-proof material. To give an idea of the amount of work in the construction of the planes, which arc of the double-surface type, there are 375 separate pieces of wood in each plane. The control of the machine is by the easiest method single steering-wheel mounted on a universal joint. In operating the machine for steering, the wheel is turned right or left according to the direction required. The same wheel is lifted up or down for operating the elevator. Another important feature stability, which is one of the difficulties in aviation, The main dimensions of the machine are:— Surface in main planes, 226 ft; span, 37ft; .length, 29ft; chord, 6ft f)in; camber, 4»/ s 'in; aspect ratio, 6y 2 in; weight, 4001b. 'Mr. Gill has inspected >.the planej' with a possible view of -giving it t a,,tria,l'}with hjJB new engine. ■«,...