LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 228, 1 February 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The work of clearing the track for the extension of the Mount Egmont railway is being pushed forward. A meeting of Waihi Gold Mining 1 Company's shareholders will be held in Wellington to-night concerning the mine. Among the deceased persons' estates certified for duty during January are the following Taranaki estates: David A. Lealand, £5036; Oswald S. Jackson, £3056; Ralph Paddison, £1388.—-Press Association.

Old-age pensioners applying for payment on the first day of each month will in future take the Robe street entrance to the Post Office, instead of that in Silver street. They will enter at the door on right hand 'Side of the posting boxes.

Ernest Paulger, aged five years, son of Mr. J. W. Paulger, East road, Stratford, lost himself when returning from Bchool on Monday afternoon. Search parties scoured the country all that evening and yesterday, and in the afternoon came across him.

The secretary of the Garrison Band wishes us to state that he wil be waiting on honorary members during this week and next for their annual subscriptions, and should there be anyone who feels disposed to assist the band by becoming a honorary • member, if they will communicate with the secretary lie will be only to pleased to wait on them for their subscriptions. The New Plymouth High School made *ll improved showing in the attendance on the opening day compared to the position last year. Altogether 121 pupils (69 boys and 52 girls) enrolled yesterday, whereas last year the total was 106 (62 boys and 44 girls). Previously the attendance has not risen above 106 or 107. There are eight boarders at the school for a start, being one higher than at any time since the boarding establishment was opened at the beginning of last year.

The attendance at the opening of the Central School on Monday was somewhat seriously affected, it would seem, owing to the opening date not being widely known, as several pupils tearfully explained to the headmaster (Mr. Dempsey) yesterday morning that they had lost their chance of getting a good attendance certificate at the end of the year. Mr. Dempscy metaphorically wiped the tear from every eye and advised the late-comers to make good every day. The school this year started with a roll number of 52(>, compared with 514 at the beginning of 1910, and 531 at the Xmas break-up. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch) has received tlie following leter from His Excellency the Governor, dated 28th inst:—"Government House, Wellington. Dear Mr. Tisch, —I must write a few lines to you on my return from New Plymouth to express to you how very gratified I was at the cordiality of my reception during my first visit to Taranaki. I was greatly interested in all I saw there, and much impressed with the progress made. I desire especially to thank you personally for the unremitting courtesy and attention you showed me during my visit, which so largely contributed to my enjoyment and comfort. With many sincere thanks, believe me, dear Mr. Mayor, yours sincerely, Islington." A Chinaman, who had been celebrating the anniversary of the Chinese New Year on Monday well but not too wise-; ly, answered for his indiscretions by appearing before the S.M. at the local court yesterday morning. From his childlike and bland account of what had happened to bring him into the,dock it was noted that he had got '"welly" mixed. He had drunk beer, ginger-wine, shandy-gaff, brandy, and "soft stuff" until he forgot what he had drunk and where he was. And he wandered up to the very place he should have kept away from—the police station! It is not surprising, therefore, that he was locked up for the night as a first offender. Mr. Fitzherbert entered a conviction against "John" and discharged him. I

"Regular Passenger" writes to complain of the disgraceful state of the socalled roadway at the root of the wharf at Moturoa, now used as a turning-point for the breakwater 'busses. Upon the receipt of the letter a News reporter saw Mr. Jones, proprietor of one line ol 'busses, and he said the complaint was absolutely justified. He said the word disgraceful wasn't nearly strong enough, and further that not a pennyworth of metal had been put there for ten years pas. He said it seemed to be "no man's land." It was outside the jurisdiction of the county council, and neither the harbor board nor the railway people seemed to bother their heads about it. Mr. Jones said the 'bus proprietors put up with a lot before they complain, but things have gone to the extreme now, and unless the road is improved lie will have to turn the 'busses at the hotel, and leave people to walk from there to the wharf, and vice versa. In the interests of the 'busses and the traveling public, it is hoped the authorities will do something quickly. A gentleman at Eltham informs the Argus that a year ago he and a friend were on a holiday tour and passed through the Whangamomona district. He says that in the vicinity of the Whangamomona saddle they saw several huias. In view of the fruitless search for the rare bird that is now going 011, the above information should be very interesting to some people. The paper adds: "Our informant is a gentleman of intelligence whose evidence we feel that we can rely 011. We questioned him closely, thinking that perhaps he had made a mistake in the name of the birds, but he describes them as having white tips on their tail feathers, and says that some of the birds had straight beaks and some of them curved. This is a fairly accurate description of the huia. Our informant's companion, whom we have not yet seen on this matter, is a student of natural history and would not be likely to make any mistake in such a matter; if he says that I the birds were huias we are satisfied that they were. We shall make further enquiries into the subject." At the local Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, before Mr. Fitzherbert, S.M., judgment was given for plaintiffs by default in the following eases:—S. B. White and Sons (Mr. Nicholson) v. Frank Drurv, costs only, 8s; Bullock and Johnston (Mr. Hutchen) v. Annie Cave, claim £ls 19s 3d, costs £1 14s fld; E. G. Malone (Mr. Johnstone) v. Duncan McKay. £0 (£1 .Is Gd); Hooker and Co. (Mr. Hutchen) v. James Alfred Stamford. 12s 3d (12s); S. Rundle (Mr. F. E. Wilson) v. Arthur Henrv Callashan, £0 as (£1 3s (id); J. McNeill (Mr. Hutchen) v. William Hart, £3 15s 10(1 (10s); T. K. Skinner (Mr. F. E. Wilson) v. John Bratli, £75 (£4 7s fid). In the judgment summons case, F. P. Corkill (Mr. F. E. Wilson) v. Emily Bilton,! widow, of Wanganui. the debtor (who! did not appear) was ordered to pay the 1 amount (£5 14s 9d) within fourteen days, in default seven days' imprison ment in Wanganui Gaol, In the case of the N.Z. Express Co. (Mr. Nicholson) v. Ted Hopkinson, a debt of £ 1 15s, no order was made. Defendant is a laborer in, the. employ of the New Plymouth Borough Council, and has a wife and • four children to support.

A bather near the beach at Hawera on Sunday swallowed a copious draught of salt water. In expectorating the nauseous fluid false teeth were also ejected. Diligent search for the missing articles proved futile, says the Star. A fat boy from Coney Island, New York, U.S.A., is at present being exhibited in South Island towns. He is 18 years of age, and weighs 42st Blbs. A marvellous chimpanzee is another attraction. The latter plays the piano and a mouth organ, smokes a pipe, winds a watch, wheels a perambulator, and does other wonderful things. The pair are said to be drawing crowds as a magnet draws a needle.

The Brennan gyroscopic railroad is to be given an experimental trial in Alaska. The route will be about 100 miles long, and to construct such a line with double track and railbed would cost about £4OOO per mile, while the amount required for the monorail will be about £6OO per mile. The road will be ready for operation by the latter method in less than half the time required for the construction of the other.

A number of settlers in the Masterton district have this season tried the effect of nitro bacteria for the fertilising ot their root and cereal crops. The result has been eminently satisfactory. The bacteria is said to increase at the rate of 500,000 in twenty-four hours. It can readily be understood, therefore, that the imparting of the life-giving elements to the soil has a marked eircct upon the propagation of grain species.

Aviators will soon be competing for some tempting prizes. The Daily Mail is again offering £IO,OOO for a flight from Paris to London, and £BOOO is offered for what is known as the Southern France circuit. Another big event will be a race from Paris to Brussels and London and back to Paris, for which the prize will be £BOOO. Then there is the British international meet, in connection with which the prize money will amount to £40,000. An extraordinary accident is reported from Millfleld, in New South Wales. A young man named Jenkins, a resident ol Broke, was shooting along the bank of a creek and brought down a hare. He was about to pick up the animal, when he was bitten on the thumb by a death adder. He attempted to shoot the thumb off by placing it at the mouth of the barrel of his gun, but the charge shattered a considerable portion of his hand. However, he is now progressing favorably. A second-hand motor-car figured large l ly in a case which occupied the time ol Mr. Fitzherbert, S.M., and the Court for over an hour yesterday morning. The matter in dispute between M. L. Holah, Central Motor Garage, New Plymouth, and Thos. Mercer, hairdresser and tobacconist, of Stratford, really amounted to a question of "extras." Mr. A. Bewley appeared for plaintiff and Mr. T. C. Fookes (Stratford) for defendant. The claim was for £sl7slod for goods sold and delivered. It appears that defendant took a second-hand motor-car which he had purchased to plaintiff to get it repaired. Defendant estimated the cost at about £l9 or £2O, and later stated in a letter to plaintiff that £l9 would be the outside price. Plaintiff contended this amount was for repairing the engine: and gear-box only, but defendant said it was for everything. Defendant paid plaintiff £lB Is, being £l9 less five per cent, discount agreed on, and declined to pay for certain items which plaintiff said were "extras." The sum of 13s 3d was paid into Court by defendant as an allowance for "extras"—tin of oil and shifting tyres. After hearing the evidence of the parties in the ease, His Worship gave judgment for the amount paid into Court, and defendant was allowed £2 2s costs on the defended claim. , ..jif;