LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 234, 8 February 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Chicken pox is at present prevalent in Manaia, and several children are lain up with it. The Wellington-Brindisi despatch oi the 13th December, arrived in London on the 3rd inst.

At the West Coast swimming championships to be held at Hawera on Wednesday, 22nd inst., New Plymouth will be well represented, and polo and relay teams will compete. The North Taranaki Dairy Company's factory at Onaero is now turning out 25 boxes of butter daily. The tests are very good, the lowest being 3.7, and the highest 4.0. The majority, however, are above 4.0.

The attendance at the New Plymouth High School is now 127, being an increase of 21 on the opening attendance for 1910. There are eight scholars in the boarding establishment. The agricultural class has opened with twelve students.

A first offending inebriate (a stranger to the town), who was convicted and discharged by Mr. Fitzherbert, S.M., at the local court yesterday morning, is stated to have had jewellery in his possession at the time of his arrest to the value of £2OO.

At the local court yesterday morning, Mr. Fitzherbert, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs by default in the following cases:—T. S. Weston (Mr. C. Weston) v. George Lynch, claim £2, costs ss; J. Hooker and Co. (Mr. Hutchen) v. John Neilson, claim 9s 6d, costs 10s; Same v. Ralph Farmer, claim 8s Bd, costs ss; J. A. Tuthill v. David Carmichael, costs only, los. The long-deferred Levin Carnegie Library is looming through' the mists. Correspondence was read at Monday night's borough council meeting showed that Mr. Carnegie approved the plans, but refused to sanction any charge for the use of the library building or books borrowed for home use. Mr. Carnegie now authorises progress payments of £ISOO on the building. The council is arranging forthwith to call tenders for the work of erection.

On Tuesday evening next, the New Plymouth Swimming Club will hold a gala at the Municipal Baths, commencing at eight o'clock. Among the events to be put on will be a 440 yds club handicap, the first prize for which is valued at two guineas; and Messrs. Lints and Pfankuch, both of whom are holders of medallions and Royal Life Saving Society's certificates, will give an exhibition of life-saving. There should be a splendid evening's sport in store for patrons, for whom plenty of seating accommodation will be provided. At a meeting of the Pukekura Park Board on Monday night, the curator (Mr. W. W. Smith) stated that good progress had been made in cutting the aquatic weeds in the lakes and the grass in the Park. Mr. S. Percy Smith was appointed overseer for the ensuing month. The secretary (Mr. E. H. Tribe) furnished a balance-sheet in connection with the recent garden party in the ParK showing a profit of about £64, which will be divided equally between the Board and the Sports Ground Committee. The chairman and Mr. Corkill were deputed to arrange for music for the fireworks display to be given in the Park on Wednesday evening next.

Mr. George Snell, of Okato, met with a somewhat serious accident on Monday, and was brought into New Plymouth yesterday, when he was attended to by Dr. Walker. Mr. Snell was driving to the Okato factory, when the horse shied at a roadman's barrow and capsized the whole turn-out over an embankment, turning two complete somersaults in tlu descent. There was a cargo of flOOlba of milk on board at the time, and Mr. Snell was landed amongst the flying cans with the vehicle on top of him. He was badly bruised and knocked about, besides being otherwise injured, but to what extent was not ascertainable last night. >

The Premier, as most people know, was in the Post and Telegraph service before he entered politics, and known as an expert telegraphist. More than once since he has put his knowledge then acquired to practical use. On one occasion he was travelling in a train that met with an accident in the vicinity of a small station in Otago. The stationmaster had to attend to practically everything, and at the time of the accident Sir Joseph (then Right Hon.) volunteered to forward the telegrams awaiting despatch. He did so. Having sent a message, he was "called up" and his name mentioned by another operator many miles away who knew his "fingering" though he had not heard it for over twenty years. That operator, said Sir Joseph to some friends in New Plymouth, was Mr. Day, the local stationmaster.

The attendance at the Town Hall yes. terday afternoon to meet Mr. Hugo Gorlitz was very sparse. Besides His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch) only two gentlemen were present. This is in reference to the visit of the famous Sheffield choir, which will give a performance at Palmcrston North on Friday, 30th June. The object of the meeting was to obtain a sufficiency of patrons to guarantee a special train being run from New Plymouth to Palmerston North. Owing, however, to the fact that seven out of the nine committeemen appointed at the last meeting were out of town or had left the district, it is not to be wondered at that the attendance was small. What is suggested is that music/overs should inform His Worship the Mayor or the secretary (Mr. Gilmour), of their intention to proceed to Palmerston North, and the convenience of the special train will then be assured. Mr. Gorlitz has made all arrangements towards the attainment of tin's object, but it is probable he will return to New Plymouth and complete details in the course of a month or two.

Some time ago it was reported that traces of petroleum had been discovered on a farm near Hamilton and that a sample forwarded to the Government analyst showed it to be similar to that obtained in Taranaki. A Taranaki gentleman, interested in petroleum matters, happened to be in the Waikato at the time the report appeared, and hied him. self out to the place. He had a good look over the farm, had an interesting talk with the people of the locality, and especially the driver of the conveyance lie used, and returned to Hamilton, where he looked up the owner. The latter told him, in reply to a query, that J it was true he wanted to sell the property, but since petroleum had been found in the neighborhood the prict would have to be increased. Eventuallj the Taranaki man obtained an option over the property. Then he "sailed" for the property owner, whom he threatened to have arrested for gross misrepresentations, stating that he had obtained conclusive evidence that the oil had been carted out there and distributed over a portion of the ground, that it had originally been secured by a Stratford man from the Moturoa wells, and that the sole purpose was to give the land a higher selling value! The owner collapsed, and our informant, the Taranaki man in question, says that it is unlikely that the individual in question will get up to any more of his "salting" tricks in Mure. _ -...iJj^M

The profits of the Auckland Gas Co. last year were £44,021. The fiftieth anniversary of the pro clamation of Southland aß' a separate province falls on March 25.

The codlin moth has been very destructive in the Ashburton county this season, and, in addition to attacking the apple and pear crop, a fairly large proportion of the plums have been eaten into by the moths.

In order to prevent the "Black Hand" becoming a real menace in America, it has been suggested that the Government should demand from every Italian who lands a certilicate for good character from the Chief of Police for the district from which lie comes.

The country along the coast towards L'rcnui is looking rather parched as the result of the recent spell of dry weather. Those who have oats to harvest are taking advantage of the fine spell. Rain, however, would be particularly beneficial, if only to lay the dust which has been careering madly along the highways during the past few days. It is reported that the bookmakers are likely to appeal to the Privy Council. Against what is not stated. Their trouble is the Act of last session, and it will be news to learn that there is any appeal to the Privy Council against an Act of Parliament, though the judicial interpretation of the provisions of an Act may be appealed against.

Worshippers in a London synagogue had a novel experience. As a Jewish bridegroom was being called to the reading of the law a shower of almonds, raisins and chocolates descended upon him. The synagogue omcials and the bridegroom were obviously surprised. It was found that the dainties were tnrown bytwo ladies in the gallery, who were but following an old and disused custom.

The Balclutha Free Press is reliably informed that a man of foreign extraction employed on the wharf at Dunedin litis been notified that a, share in a fortune of one and a-half millions sterling awaits him. His share is estimated to be at least £IOO,OOO, and he intends shortly to proceed to the Old Country, taking with him a young Dunediuite who has been acting as his amanuensis during the enquiries that have been made as to the man's identity.

"It seems to have become the thing to impute corruption against Parliament," said the Hon. J. Bigg at a dinner to the Hon. G. Fowlds. Surely, he went on, if there were such corruption, he would have found some indication of it. But from the first day he had entered Parliament he had had no knowledge of any such corruption, and he judged, therefore, that it did not exist, and was brought forward and used for party purposes. (Applause). A returned New Zealander, just back from a trip Home, mentions that in passing through Melbourne he saw the German flag flying over four vessels, two steamers and two sailers, which had just arrived full of cargq from Germany. He is confident that the Germans are making big efforts to capture the trade of the world, and to build the biggest steamers in the Atlantic service. His opinion is that if Britain does not put a protective tariff on importations, she will yet lose a great deal of the world's trade. To this we would reply by stating that there never was a time in the, history of the Empire when Britain's commerce was so great or prosperous as now. Protective tariffs do not necessarily make for a trade; as a rule, they curb it. The N T ew York Tribune announces that a searching investigation by the Treasury authorities has led to the discovery of gigantic frauds in connection with the importation of Cuban tobacco leaf. It is stated that the frauds have been going on for five years, and that as a result the Government has been deprived of revenue to the extent of over £1,000,000. The manner in which the swindles were worked was, it appears, to enter best Havana leaf, used for the outer wrappers of cigars, as "filling" tobacco. By this means 5s a pound in duty was saved. The Tribune declares it to be an open secret that this has been going on for a long time. A foreigner was charged at the Melbourne Central Police Court with having manufactured ice-cream in unenclosed promises, and with having neglected to keep his clothing clean while engaged in the preparation of food for sale. The inspector found the accused mixing the contents of a kerosene tin, placed over a fire, with a dirty stick. The premises were in a filthy condition, and the perspiration was streaming from defendant's face and neck into the tin. He was fined 10s or seven days' imprisonment on the first charge, and £5 or one month on the second. The magistrate said that but for the poverty of defendant the fine would have been heavier. The manner in which the inhabitants of iSydney distribute their spare cash gives food for serious reflection (says an exchange). Races absorb £400,000 a year, theatres and music-halls £200,000, and moving pictures and skating rinks £IOO,OOO. In striking contrast to these enormous totals, football is supported to the extent of £13,000, and cricket receives £12,000, while some £13,000 is spent on sailing, £3BOO on cycling, and £sooo on rowing. The figures almost justify a cynic's suggestion that the amount of patronage accorded any particular form of pleasure is in inverse pro portion to the degree of physical and mental exertion entailed on the the spectator. Milk production, generally on smaller areas than arc at present employed, will he the chief industry of this country in the near future (says the Wellington Times). Kven in districts were graingrowing has been general practically even since the land was fenced, dairying i.s ousting the production of cereals, and will continue to do so. New Zealand must be regarded as a stock-keeping country under the most favorable conditions in Hie world, and it is doubtful if stall feeding of farm animals, which would suggest a possibility of beet sugar manufacture being successful, will ever come to pass. Victoria is at present making an important practical test of beet sugar production, and it would pnv Xew Zealand well to await the lessons of her experience,

TAILORED SLITS AT 49/0 TO 65/AT THE MELBOURNE. No store in any town in Taranaki ever showed at one time such, a collection as now graces our clothing section. The entire display is bewildering— nearly 200 suits arc here to charm you, and at each price we olTer you more than your money's worth in style and quality. There never was a season so indulgent to color and combinations of color, so rich in numberless shades and tints, so wonderfully lavish in new and exquisite materials, so helpful and suggestive in the development of a suit for the modem man of taste and discernment. The prices (the lowest we have ever quoted) are made possible because of our heavv buying aim direct importations. The qualities are guaranteed. The goods come from the most famous mills in the world. Further introduction is unnecessary The appearance of the suits talks forcibly for us. If you're a prospective suit buyer don't let anything prevent you from seeing the Melbourne's remarkably fine collection.— Advt. Ladies, don't risk a substitute for Warner's celebrated corsets. Sranmrber every pair is guaranteed.—Advt. '