LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 260, 24 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The honorarium of the chairman oi the New Plymouth Harbor Board has been fixed at £IOO per annum.

The Kaimata school children and settlers picnicked at the East End beach yesterday, and had a very enjoyable time. It is rumored that Masterton electorate will undergo a big change at the hands of the Commissioners, Carterton going into Masterton and Eketahuna into Pahiatua.

Travelling expenses of Ministers of the Crown for the financial year totalled over £ISOO. Mr. A. W. Hogg's little bill for the few months he was Minister amounted to over £l6O. The Hawera Star is making a strong protest against trains being pulled up some distance from the platform, causing passengers considerable inconvenience and risk in alighting.

The results of the native census show that the tribes on the East Coast are increasing and that general conditions are much improved. More attention is being paid to the tilling of the soil, and a good deal of land under cultivation.

A Masterton settler' upon whose property ragwort is somewhat plentiful has adopted a unique method of destroying the weed (says the Age). He has had a sharp piece of steel attached to the toe of eacli boot, and whenever he walks he is doing execution, A London correspondent says the War Office is inviting applications from cavalry and infantry sergeants to go .to Mew Zealand as instructors. Four of each are wanted, and the men selected must be young,. unmarried, desirous of and medically fit for the appointments. They will be paid £l6O a year. "Parents are still under the impression that they can keep their children home from school one day a week," remarked Mr. A. Hooker, Truant Inspector, at the Police Court yesterday. "They were entitled to do so last year, but the new Act is quite explicit that they must send their children to school every time the school is open, and this has been in force since the New Year." He also mentioned that it-, was not necessary to go to a doctor for a certificate, as a certificate of exemption could at any time be obtained from the headmaster of the school, or the chairman of the school committee, on giving satisfactory evidence that the child was unable to attend school. I

Mr. G. Tisch, Mayor and chairman of the Anniversary Day Committee, writes as follow^: —"in connection with the general holiday and celebrations to bi held at Moturoa on Thursday, Marcii 30, the seventieth anniversary of tliei landing of the Pilgrim Fathers by the j barque William Bryan, I have to begj your assistance in giving publicity tc-1 the invitation that I now extend on I behalf of the citizens of New Plymouth ( to all those pioneers and early settlers who landed at Moturoa for New Plymouth prior to 1845 to be present at Moturoa on Anniversary Day, March 30. I find it impossible to send individual invitations to all those who come under this list, so I am doing it in a general way through the press. I do not wish the early settlers to think that tile invitation now given is on this account less real and hearty than if it had t been sent to them individually. It is only on account of lack of information I as to the names of those who are still I living that 1 fall back on a general in-) vitation. I .hope to see and welcome ah I members of that grand band of pioneers I who are with us and well enough to | conic to New Plymouth and be present | at the unveiling of the Memorial! Obelisk." j

While on his visit to Taranaki, the Acting-Premier was, as lias lieen mentioned in the News columns, the adored of the Maoris. When lie was taken out to see the oilfields, several of the natives thought they should he in the J party and proceeded to a local livery stables to secure a vehicle. ''Good day, poss," remarked one of the party, with the assurance that only a Maori can command, "We like ko for ti drife. all! same Timi Kara. Kapai. You git' us ti pest horse, ti best puggy. Go on, we I like him werrv quick." "Certainly,"! responded the stable-keeper, "but who I is going to pay?" "Oh! tat ail right, you get ti money, Timi Kara, '"lie prenty ti money V' and the speaker strutted around like a thoroughbrerl horse on parade. The stable-keeper had 110 doubt about "Timi Kara" having "prenty ti money," but naturally enough wanted an order to get his share of It for payment for vehicle hire. He told the natives they could have all they desired if tiat or the cash were fortheofning. The natives stared blankly at each other for a few moments, then peeing their little game would not work, stole out by the back entrance, made for the nearest pub, arid ordering a gallon ! of beer, proceeded to repair their in- j jured dignity by plentiful "inner luhri- } cation." Who savs the Maori of to-dnv j is not wily? ;■

The business session'of the W-C.T.U. convention will commence in St. Mary's Hall at nine o'clock this niorniii-.'. The proceedings will be open to visitors. We are requested to state that the reason for the withdrawal of the salt of the Standard Oil Company's plant on Upper Carrington road was not due tu its having satisfied the claims against it, but to its having gone into liquidation. We understand thai there is every probability of the company being reconstructed, and the boring work proceeded with. Very good indications have been met with, and it is considered that the prospects of tapping the oil measures in the near future are excellent.

A young man named Jennings, belonging to Hawera, had an exciting experience last evening, Mounted on a motor-cycle he was proceeding along the main South road, and in attempting to dodge the loose metal he struck the kerbing. The sudden impact threw him from his seat, and dislodged the stopper from the benzine tank, and the benzino coming in contact with the light on his machine was soon ignited. A crowd collected, and it was some fifteen minutes before the flames could be suppressed. The cycle was much damaged, but Mr. Jennings escaped unhurt.

A child named Ethel Ivy Gill, aged seven, daughter of Mr. Wm. Gill, of Whangamomona, died on Sunday as the result of burns received that day. Oni Tuesday an inquest was held by Mr. J. Sexton, J.P.. at which evidence was given that the child was left in the house while the mother went to the shed. About an hour later the father saw her run out of the house in flames. In tearing the child's clothes off his hands were severely burnt. Death occurred on the way - to the Stratford hospital. There was no fire in the house when he left, and he considered she got burnt while relighting it. A verdict 01 death from shock, no blame attachable to anyone, was returned. The Pukekura Park Board arc unfortunate in regard to their fireworks displays. They had arranged to hoid one on the night the races, but though the night was fine and there were crowds in town, the function had to be postponed because of the dryness of the country and consequent risk of starting fires in the Park and elsewhere. The display was fixed for last night, and this time it clashed with the proceedings in connection with the W.C.T.U., consequently the attendance was only moderate. The full programme, howefer, was gone through, and was keenly appreciated. The enjoyment of the evening was considerably added to by the musical items discoursed by the Garrison Band.

Mr. W. Woolstonc, of Raurimu, informs the Taumaranui Press of a serious accident which befel his wife, his three little children, and his mother-in. law when they were driving in a trap the other day'along the Oio road. Mrs. Woolston held the veins, and after turning a corner where the road leads down to the second railway crossing, the horse swerved at a place where a steep bank descends to the stream, the result being that the horse, trap and people were all hauled down the bank. The horse was killed instantly and the trap broken, but none of the occupants were injured. The shock, however, was severe. Mr. Woolston's feelings may be imagined when he came along the "road and found the wreck, especially at at first he thought some of his family were buried beneath it.

It is stated that a new Maori Mecca, is likely to bS established not far from New Plymouth shortly, now that Parihaka has lost its attraction and mana. A well-known native, Konake by name, who lives on the Smart road, "appearJ to be tile aspirant to prophetic honors. I'or the past two or three months meetings have been held at his pah. It is intended to' make the ISth of each month the Maori Sunday. So far the meetings have been successful, and each month sees a further increase of adherents. On Sunday last several pakehas were invited, and an interesting day was spent. The catering was a feature, all kinds of meats, fish and vegetables being dispensed in up-to-date pakcha fashion. Afternoon tea was also "put on" in first-elass style. Poi and haka dances formed part of the programme. Rules and regulations for governing the settlement have been drawn up.

Last wffk an obscure newspaper In the South Island endeavored to startle its subscribers with a dreadful exposure of bribery and corruption. It professed to have discovered in an Act of Parliament passed last session a plot to lend the Trades Council of Auckland •t'COOO on inadequate security, and asked. with the usual blatant* appeal to class prejudice found in this type of critic: ''lf a farmer wanted to* buy a farm worth £7OOO and had only £IOOO. would the Government lend him £oooo' It would not!" The land settlement finance scheme, under which the Government stands guarantee for a working farmer purchasing a holding to the full amount expended to buy it, is overlooked m this too eager condemnation. However. the facts are not so hideous after all. The Government and the Public liust ofiiee appear to have made a busi-liess-like arrangement with the-promot-ers of the Auckland Trades Hall, a -rood margin bom? allowed between the loan n" » A piece of land for the hall was purchased in Tlobson-strcet m (he centre of the city, at a cost of ■r , , ?' lpS ""'OH'sts found £IOOO and the Public Trust Office adjanced- the remaining £7B,>. A tra(|os had wi.l I><> erected at a cost, of £4OOO which amount will be advanced, as the nir 5 , ".' opeo(ls ' b .y t'l" 1 Public Trust Office, bearing interest at the rate of 4V, ,T hc sitp is '">W valued at --OD. an,, has a much higher prospectus' milue [he Trust Olliee is, in fact The (" ,! I '°" 11 £l ' on ° P>m-rtv. J lie (.overnment is guaranteeing the intmst to the Public Trust Office, statutoi.v powers being taken to do this to sm '° thl 't «!)<> loan for purposes of a. trades ball is as legal as the some, of similar loans issued for buildin,, chinches.—ellington Times,

rnnru\ !0l ' RXR C ' LOTHl >>C' CO. FORUrosr CLOTHIERS SINCE VT. On (l ". Stock Exchange they toll us w, when to take profits murks ■ 'i ( h y rp .'"' n .'wtwwn rich men u! (! '" I " t ' l, ' r k| n<l- . In otln-r field? the ''"'l' °"'y «•<> c«l! those ! s vn.iii'f. For fifteen years tlie Melbe,.., taiiorinnr standard Tara- - r aopc, Pt«>'t hy (he. most di.«on 111111:1 tmir. critical and best-dressed "dec of clothes in tlii«. the best-dressed 1 V "1 the Dominion —the Tarn- £' V"',™ 1 "o*' 0 *' t( ">• I'-'VO been 1 standard as the quality. But zrr-1 °" r . v r nt ire stiiu"" have been and an still be!n(r oflercd. Now the quality is the same high Melbourne qualitv-the J llO P'-wtically doubled— these present reorganisation prices are the 2 value mark of Melbourne Clothing Comsuits for r' : . o"' S l ai .! or - n,i,(lc worsted tvrn m f "!'! tailor-made worsted t o„,er 3 for 18s,fid; 80s f„,e tailor-made Jd ffo worsted suits for (Lis; fi o touch L 1 h>h worsted suits, bin-bly finished, ,y«Htli-s' tailor-made suits, 45men s solid wearing famous Oamaru W<lle trousers, 13s fid; specially fine i n di«o dyed navy blue suit, made of fi„ ( , chamois finish coating, (i.»s. worth five guinea-'.; liuobt fabric purchasable.— Adyt.

A boy named Ilartwell, aged 12 years, was drowned in the Waitotara river on Sunday, since which dragging operations have been conducted without any tra«e of the body being found. No particular® are to hand ns to how the accident occurred.

Feilding is about to inaugurate a gravitation sewerage scheme to relieve the low-lying portions of the town. The necessary surveys arc to be put in hand as soon "as possible. The banquet tendered to Sir Joseph Ward in St. James' Hall, Sydney, on Saturday night by the Xew Zealand Association of Xcw South Wales, of Which Mr. E. Owen Cox is president, was of 4 typically Xcw Zealand character. Not only was there an imitation Maori whare on the platform, where from time to time songs about Xew Zealand and the Maoris were sung by Xew Zealanders, but pictures of Maori chiefs and Maori poi-girls were scattered about the ferns and vines, with which the hall was lavishly decorated, and even the souvenir pienu-card and programme hud Xew Zealand scenes and Maori carvings depictcff thereon. On the front page was a portrait of Sir Joseph Ward, with his Maori name at the bottom, "To Hohepa Hon' W&are," and at the top> were the Maori ■words of welcome—"Ko ia te tangata. mana totau e bono kia tatau.", But hr addition to at! that, the dishes that woro served bore Xew Zealand names. For instance, there were "huitres a !& Stewart Island," "tortue claire Bay of Plenty," "cailles en Xelson," "coupe Mt. Egmonti" "selle d'agncau Rotorua," "asperge® froides Mt. Cook," "gateau fourre Maori 'King," anjl "Bombe Taranaki." On the back of the programme was a picture of the kiwi. Altogether it was a memorable "tangi."

A story of a burglar's comparative failure in the quest for money comes from Taumarunui. A few days ago Wirth's circus was performing in that town. It was well patronised, and ort one particfitr niplit Mr. Wirth, the proprietor, had £3OO in his possession. He--was staying at Meredith House and' fortunately took the precaution to hand the money to the landlord 1 for safe keeping, and the latter locked it up in a safe. Someone had evidently become acquainted with the fact that this money was in the house, for there was evidence that a search was made in several of the rooms, evidently for the purpose of finding the one in which Mr. Wirth waa staying. Mr. J. W. Ellis, a aawmiller, on awakening in the morning, realised' that his clothes were missing, and beyond his pyjamas and'collar, none of his property was left. No sign of the clothes could be found on the premises. On going outside, however (in borrowed' clothes all too tight—for he is a big man), Mr. Ellis was overjoyed to find his several garments in' an adjacent allotment. His valuable gold watch was missing, besides ,-£lO in cash. The polite have the matter (but not the watch) im hand,