LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 238, 13 February 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Last year California produced 52,000,000 barrels of oil.

The Garrison lianu left by the mail train on Saturday morning to attend the contest at Palmcrston North.

A mother and her daughter in Cambridge arc in receipt of the old-age pension, the former being over DO years of

At the Magistrate's Court on Saturday, before Mr. ri. S. Fitaherbert, S.M., a iirst-offending inebriate was convicted and discharged. In an interview with a representative of the Sydney Sun, Arnst stated that lie had won a substantial amount in sculling races, probably £3OOO to .£-1000. The floating population at Kotorua during the holidays has been estimated at upwards of 3000, and it is still somewhat difficult to secure accommodation.

A writer in a contemporary says that 3i is a fatal year lor genius. Quite a number of the world's immortals have been cut off from the earth at that age.

The heaviest man in England to-day is Mr. W. Ecclestone, proprietor of the Kensal Green athletic grounds, who trains pugilists and pedestrians, and who turns the scale at 36st. Interviewed at Hamilton, the Hon. R. McKenzie said he did not think the drop in Waihi shares would be detrimental to mining generally throughout the Dominion, although it might affect the Waihi mines for a time.

It is stated, but not officially, that the Minister of Internal Affairs has decided against the amalgamation of Fitzroy with the borougn, and that an officer is to be sent up from Wellington to investigate the matter of ratepayers' rolls, etc.

Prices of sheep were low at the Auckland sheep fair last week, attributable to the great scarcity of grass. Shorn lambs sold at 5s (id and down to 3s !)d for poor specimens. Several pens of really fine lambs sold at 7s 3d, and others were passed in at 6s 9d. An exchange says a large bulj escaped from one of the pens at the A. and P. Show at Weraroa and leaped all the fences of the show grounds. A number of horsemen and spectators started in pursuit, but the animal took to the bush and defied all efforts to secure him.

Under the will of the late Mr. .lames Cotterell, of Rangiaolua, Waikato, a large sum of money has been left to various religious bodies in the AVainato and Australia. The proceeds of the sale of the testator's farm are to be handed over to the Auckland Diocesan Board.

There is considerable commotion among literary circles in London owing to the seizure of a new novel by the police. The censorship is certainly far more strict and severe at present than it has been for years, and every publisher who brings out a risky book docs it at his peril.

The Greymouth dredge Mawhera, which commenced work on December 18, ceased work on the' -ftli inst., and the hands have all be paid off. During the time she has been at work splendid results have been obtained. There is now a depth of over 20 feet at the steamer berthage.

The finest, picture programme ever shown by the Biograph Pictures, which means the finest ever seen in New Plymouth, was screened on Saturday evening at the Theatre Royal, and will be repeated to-morrow and Wednesday night. The performance is far too good to be missed. There is a town in South Africa where trains have ceased to run owing to the progress of the automobile. Not only this, but the station has been converted into a garage for the housing of the victorious machines. The ticket office, the waiting rooms, and other outbuildings are being used as workshops and storerooms.

Mr. Dunlop, one of the Scottish Commissioners, speaking at Foilding, said he hud seen Mr. Short's horses and cattle and had inspected the Ronniey sheep on that gentleman's farm, and these be characterised as the finest he had seen in the world. The Hereford hull at-the show would not have been beaten at the Royal Agricultural Show. Income tax is being received at all post offices up to the 1-Jth inst., without the imposition of penalty, but if tendered later than to-morrow (Tuesday) 10 per cent, must lie added to the amount. The Chief Post Office will remain open till 5 p.m. in the money order branch on the 1-n.ii, for the greater convenience of those making payment. During the month of January 64 cows, 81) bullocks, 0 calves, 529 sheep, 213 lambs,-and 141 pigs were, slaughtered at the Municipal Abattoirs. Compared with the corresponding month of last year, there is an increase of 10 in the number of .sheep killed, and a decrease of I cattle, 4 calves, 3(1 lambs, and 18 pig.s. Three cattle, I sheep. 1 lamb, and 3 pigs were condemned. The receipts for the month amounted to £ll6 12s 4d. It seems certain now that, the citizens' banquet to Sir Joseph Ward i.s "oil'" (says the Wellington correspondent of the I'etone Chronicle). In the first case, Mr. Wilford seems to have raised some objection to Dr. Fimllay's representative status and to have put forward the argument that it was unreasonable to expect him a.s .Mayor to preside over a citizens' gathering to do honor to a legislator who was really going Home on private business, and who had not. won his political spurs. A similar argument seems to have been put. forward at a meeting of ladies called to consider the women's social .send-off. Dr. Findlay. it appears; heard of the friction, and took time by the forelock by writing a letter to the committee declining to attend the proposed banquet. The incident is reported to have caused grave displeasure to the Prime Minister, and it is probable that lie will also decline to be entertained. This, in conjunction with an incident at the Trentham racecourse where some hitch occurred over the matter of entree to the official luncheon, which Sir Joseph Ward strongly resented, is causing a good deal of gossip.

TAILORED SPITS AT 40/(1 TO C-V----AT THE MELBOURNE. No store in any town in Taranald ever showed at one time such a collection as now graces our clothing section. The entire display is -bewildering—nearly 20() suits are here to charm you, and at eacli price we offer 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 arid suggestive in the development of a suit for the modern man of taste and discernment. The prices (the lowest we have ever quoted) are made possible because of our heavy buying and 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.

A vise of £2l an acre in the value of land in four years and a half is a pretty good business proposition. A farmer on the Plains, who bought in I!HMi at £2(l. is reported to have just sold at the increase mentioned above,

On Wednesday a nasty accident liofel ft young man employed in a cordial factory at Waveilev. When filling a bottle it burst. One of the fragments struck him above the eye, causing an ugly wound, which necessitated the insertion I of three stitches. The local Postmaster advises that the local income tax is being received at all post offices up to the 14th inst., without 1 the imposition of penalty, but if tendered later than next Tuesday per cent, must be added. The Chief Post Odice will remain open till ."> p.m. in the money order branch on the 14th for the greater convenience of those making payment.

The work of laying a temporary water supply to the new site of the Old Men's Home nt Westown was completed last week by a staff working under Mr. .Smith. The supply is conveyed in an inch pipe, and is solely for the use of the institution. Some of the residents of the district made an endeavor to secure the water service at the same time, but were unsuccessful.

A man was brought in to the New Plymouth hospital this morning from Awakino suffering from burns sustained in a bush fire. He had been brought in from Awakino in a gig—a journey of seventy miles, with three changes of horses. "It's all in a lifetime," said the man who was driving, when lie had been,directed to the institution, at about half-past one o'clock. Air. Walter Ambury, president of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, met Mr. Dunlop, the 'Scottish Agricultural Commissioner, when lie was passing through New Plymouth on Friday evening on his way to Auckland, and. in welcoming him, expressed regret that Mr. Dunlop was unable to make a stay in and see the district. Mr. Dunlop said he would very much have liked to do so, but his time was exceedingly limited, and he had to miss Taranaki as well as other places. What he had seen of this province in his hurried trip in the southern part of it, and that afforded by the train journey. impressed him a great deal. Closer settlement there was ample evidence of, but still there was a great deal of room for even closer settlement and the employment of more extensive methods. Taraiiaki's comparative greenness was in striking contrast to the country further soutji, where the lack of rain was badly felt and clearly evidenced by the state of the pastures.