LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 261, 14 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Masterton settler states that a shepherd on his property has shot no fewer than four hundred hawks durinc the hist couple of months, °

Mushrooms are realising between 7s 'ind 19s per banana case in Wellington just now. The fields in the Masterton district are white with mushrooms at present. The owner of a traction engine has been lined 10s and costs at Maryborough for driving an engine alone the road without its being accompanied bv two men.

The old site of the Old People's Home next to the hospital now presents a very bare appearance, the last section of the building having been removed to its new site at Westown on Saturday.

The delegates of seamen's associations from different countries are meeting at Antwerp. The Germans are in no wise convinced of the expediency of an international strike, and the subject lias been indefinitely postponed. At a meeting of Durham road settlers held in the schoolroom last week to discuss the question of orderin;r lime for tlie furthcoming season, it was dofilled to lake stops to form a f.inn.T cltib for the district. Monthly nice! iiiuwill be held, at which matters of gwiersil interest to farmers will be discussed.

Last night the Rarawa took away about 55 horses for Auckland. Several more were shut out, the vessel being unable to take the number offering. On Sunday afternoon whilst a number of children were playing about on the site for the proposed Good Templars Hall, a fall of earth occurred, and ont small lad had a narrow escape. As showing some of the difficulties being encountered during the progress of tile work of improving harbor, yesterday a boulder weighing about five tons was located by the diver, and hauled on to the wharf by a crane. The Mangorei Dairy Factory's output is now 40 boxes daily, as against 73 in the Hush of the season. The tests range from 3.9 to 4.7. At Tarata, the output of the local factory is about five boxes daily, as against nine. The tests range from 4.0 to 5.0.

Those connected with educational movements in Britain are organising a clean-teeth campaign, with proper toothbrush drill. The proper care of the teeth is being inculcated in the minds of the rising generation in England, which must result in great benelit to the national health.

A first offender appeared at the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. G. Tisch, J.P., charged with having been found drunk on the esplanade. Mr. Tisch, in convicting and discharging the accused, who had been in gaol since early on Sunday morning, remarked that this ollence was becoming too common on the esplanade, and considerable nuisance was caused by the number of bottles there. He warned the accused that a second offence would not be so leniently treated.

At the Whiteley Sunday School anniversary meeting last night the treasurer, Mr. F. W. Okey, read some extracts from a balance-sheet of the school in 1861, fifty years ago. The collections at Sunday's anniversary services then totalled £lB, whilst this year they amounted to £l6 Bs. The tea in 1861 produced £l6 odd, and £25 17s 3d was received in donations. But against this the bakers charged £2l odd for catering for that tea, which was a heavier item than the school is called upon to pay to-day.

The mail train arrived here at 20 minutes to ten last night, just one and three-quarter hours late. The delay was caused by a break-down on the engine, about iy 2 miles beyond Patea. Another engine had to be despatched from Hawera to bring the train through. Thert was a good number of passengers aboard, and some of them to while away the time walked into Patea. The actions of one passenger who was afraid to cross an arm of the sea on a sleeper bridge, but preferred to wade through the mud underneath (the tide being out at the time), considerably relieved the monotony. /J : £!' Travellers on the East Road railway route speak verjr highly of the universal courtesy, civility, ftlid consideration shown them by the officials in charge of the public works ballast train, which runs from Te Wcra to the railhead. Numbers of passengers arrive at the present terminus (Te Wera) daily, with the intention of proceeding along the unopened portion of the line to Pohokura or Whangamomona. Whether "swaggie" looking for work, "commercial" looking for business, or tourist on pleasure bent, one and all are given a helping hand along tihe line per medium of the ballast train—a convenience that is much appreciated. A proposal is ou foot to run a monster cycle race around the mountain. There is no reason why such a race should not be successful. It could be run on similar lines to the Christchurch-Timaru race. The route possesses immense advantages over that course, as the road is metalled and bridged throughout, except two trifling streams, and, moreover, the race would begin and end in the same spot, competitors merely completing one lap of a 108-mie course (just four miles less than the Timaru event), via Opunake and Eltham. The prize list, it is thought, should be framed on a liberal scale, not less than £l5O. Already, we understand, a considerable sum has been promised. If necessary arrangements can be made, the race will eventuate about August, so as to enable cyclists to compete both here and at Timaru. A meeting will probably be held shortly to discuss the project.

At last night's meeting of the borough council, Cr. Watkins drew the council's attention to the fact that at a picture show held in the theatre a few evenings ago, the building was crowded, mostly with children. All the doors were locked, and had a fire taken place the position, to say the least, would have been serious. Cr. Gilbert stated that lie locked the door simply to keep people out. They kept rushing in in such crowds that he could not handle them, and so closed the door. It was, however, only closed for five minutes. Members wanted to know if there was no member of the Fire Board there. One member facetiously observed that possibly the firemen could not get in on account of the crowd. Cr. Watkins said that more than one door was closed; in fact, even the fire escapes were locked. Cr. Gilbert stated that the fire escapes were opened by the firemen. Such a thing would, however, not occur again. The matter then dropped. A public meeting of electors was held in the Council Chambers last night for the purpose of considering the proposal to close a portion of Tamar street, between Bulteel and Downe streets, and Downe street between Cutflekl road and Morlev street. In addition to the members of the Borough Council, the only members of the public present were Messrs. L. 13. Webster, F. C. Bcllringer (chairman) and Lepper (secretary of the Hospital Board) and C'orney. Mr. Webster objected, on the grounds that if the new hospital was built on Tamar street it would block his view. He did not want to block the proposed hospital, which he considered a good move, but he had to look after his own interests. The Mayor said the matter had been advertised for some time, and it was a nity this objection had not been brought forward sooner, instead of at the eleventh hour. Mr. Bellringer said he did not think tliev were ever likely to build on the road, but of course he could not bind future boards. At any rate, if they wished to block Mr. Webster's view, which they certainly did not, they could build on their leasehold on the* other side of the road. After some discussion it was resolved-, by seven votes to four, to close the roads. '

YOU SHOULD BEAR IN MIND That Dy usrng une uommerciai eucalyptus Oil, which is now bought up at 6d per lb. weight and bottle, and, on account of the large profits, pushed, you are exposing yourself to all the dangers to which the use of turpentine will expose you—irritation of kidneys, intestinal tract aad mucous membranes. By insisting on the GENUINE SANDER EUCALYPTI EXTRACT you not only avoid these pitfalls, but you have a stimulating, safe and effective medicament, the result of a special and careful manufacture. Remember; SANDER'S EXTRACT °mbodies the result of 50 years' experience and of special study, and it does what is promised; it cure's and hea.li williou! injuring the. conHt.itui.ion, us H>.» <rf|> m , (he market I'rwinently dn. Th.'.vf"! protect yourself by reject'''? o!}-. brands.

A number of Wairarapa deer are to be caught and despatched to t'hc Havoc's Bay district.

Stratford Borough Comicii is going in for a loan for the purpose of enabling several town impronmeurs to he carried out. The Major (Mr. J. Masters) stated at a special meeting that a contractor had expressed the opinion that the works scheduled at present would cost .C—5,000. The Stratford l'o;-.: -ulcs that a good number of men arc enured on the wurk of clearing the bush to allow of the extension of the Mount Egniout railway, and about half of the necessary clearing has been done. The earthwork at the new quarry should he started at an early date. A Masterton youth took to his liome what he imagined to be a kit of handsome mushro.oms. These he fried himself and ate wtih relish. Alarming symptoms presented themselves, and he was seized with violent paroxysms and vomiting. Emetics were given, and he recovered. He had gathered and eaten the poisonous toadstools.—Age. Mr. H. J. Palmer, president of the Petone Licensed Victuallers' Association, told a Chronicle reporter that his party is negotiating to obtain the services of an organiser from Australia wJio has had a lot of experience in the American no-license districts. Mr. Palmer says that the campaign will be an expensive one, but 110 money will be spared. The latest idea is that the flying-man shall be inside a steel wire cage when on his machine, so that if he fall he will remain surrounded by the ball and protected by it. Experiments were made with a model of the device, a guinea pi« in a bag taking the place of a man. The ball, attached to a plane on a flyingmachine, was dropped from a height of (i 5 feet. The steel cage saved the guinea pig from all harm. Such is fame. Prioif to Mr. Roots winning the rifle championship of New Zealand, no one bothered much about his cognomen. But at the reception at. Kaponga on Saturday a well-wisher telegraphed that he looked upon the success of Kifleman Roots as a tribute to Kaponga soil in producing such an excellent crop. During the evening some one else facetiously remarked that it was the first time he had heard of roots being at the top of the tree. "It is a most extraordinary thing that in almost every case the one who stands up in a runaway trap or other vehicle always comes to grief." So said the Coroner at an Inquest in Dunedin. A man who had lost his presence of mind and stood up had been jolted out, with, the result that the wheels hod struck hiin, inflicting internal injuries, from which he died. Another occupant had sat still, and, although the trap had overturned, he escaped without injury. Tile Times of Ceylon, in advocating a scheme for the defence of the North Indian Ocean, arguas strongly for strengthening the Imperial Navy instead of going in for a policy or harbor defence vessels. It pointedly remarks that "Suflren and Hughes would never have had to lichi their brilliant series of actions if cither Johnstone or Suflren had gained a de-i cisive victory at Porto-Prava." The editor adds: "The moral effect of the offer by New Zealand of the Dreadnought was something tremendous, and opened people's eyes in a way that nothing had done before."

The lack of education in many of the sons of farmers was commented on by Mr. Justice Denniston in the Supreme Court at Christchurch, when Mr. Stringer, K.C., offered to call evidence to show that certain farmer's family had worked on the farm and had lost the advantages of education in consequence. His Honor remarked that he could quite believe such evidence. In a good many cases that came before him of farmers worth £SOOO to £IOXIOO the farmer had made the money out of the earnings of his family, and it was perfectly well known that the children in such cases worked until they were grown men in the hope or knowledge that, they would receive money from their parents. He had in mind a wealthy man who could neither read nor write. Mr. Stringer added that he had been astonished to find in the case before him that an otherwise intelligent man could not read or write.

A jury in Vienna lias returned a surprising verdict in h case that lias just concluded. The wife of a railway official, after reading the accounts of the famous Hoffrichter chocolate poisoning case, conceived the idea of anonymously sending poisoned bon-hons with the object of getting rid of her cousin, an aged woman. The latter had lent the accused £SOO on tlio understanding that she should receive interest on the loan until her death, hut the accused hail failed to pay. The jury's sympathies were swayed by the story of the accused, which showed her to be an exemplary woman driven to desperation bv her husband's conduct, and thus brought to ruin. A pathetic incident in the case was the reading of a Christmas letter sent by the woman's 13-vear-old son to his imprisoned mother, in which lie said:—"My dearest mamam, never fear the verdict. Twelve men will only act on the laws which condemn, but will consider those which elevate, raise and rescue. Thcv will not send my mother to death." The jury acquitted the accused. Mr. W. Swadling, in the couwc of a humorous speech at the Roots reception at Kaponga on Saturday night, said they were all very proud to be there that night, but it was not the first time they had reason to be proud of Kaponga—Captain Guy had very nearly got the belt once before. Kaponga was capable of doing anything they set their hearts upon. Why, if they tried, some of them would take down Jack .Johnson. I hey could make butter and they could make cheese at Kaponga, and some 01 them, anyhow, could shoot, and if ever the time came when New Zealand wanted men to defend the country, some Kaponga men would be found willing to go to the front. Kaponga men all ran straight and clean, and played the game every time. He believed that Kaponga had won more trophies, first prizes, etc., than any other small place in the Dominion. and they were pleased to add the Champion Belt. He trusted that at Bisley Rifleman Roots would become the champion of champions, and return home the champion of the Empire. The various speakers, who included spine fellowcompetitors at Trentham, paid a tribute to Rifleman Roots as a clean-living man and a true sport. The reception was a crowded a flair, and the local band and several local vocalists took part.