LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 262, 27 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The veterans' annual re-union to celebrate the anniversary of the battle of Waireka will be held on Thursday evening next. There was a brief .sitting of the Magistrate's Court on Saturday, when a first offending inebriate was convicted and discharged by Mr. It. S. Fitzlierbcrt, S.M. In order to provide accommodation at Wanganui for ocean-going boats, a proposal has been made to create a basin at Castleeliff and two moles, and purohase a suction and bucket dredge, at a total cost of £200,000. On account of the death of the late Mrs. J. R. Hill, the committee of the Tarurutangi School have decided to postpone the annual picnic, which was to have been held on Thursday next, until Thursday, April 13. .<j •„ At a recent meeting of a local club it was suggested that ladies should be appointed as vice-presidents. The ladies present, however, did not take kindly to the innovation, one ejaculating: "Why, the folk will think we are suffragettes!" The suggestion was thrown out.

The Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin Evening Star states that the case to which so much public attention has been directed of late through tho Chief Justice hearing it. in camera has reference to the administration of trust' moneys in the state of the late Mr. Greenfield, who formerly owned the city tramways: The defendant is Mr. T. Kennedy Macdonald, M.L.C.

The Chief Postmaster advises us that on or about April 15 next the Department will open three new telephone bureaux. One will be installed at Messrs. Bullock and Johnston's store at Moturoa, and will be termed the •'Moturoa" Bureau; another at Mr. F. Scrivener's store, Devon street East, and be termed the "Henui" Bureau; whilst a third will be installed at Mr. W. L. Gordge's store at Vogeltown, and will be called the "Tarahua" Bureau. This is another forward step by the Department, and should prove a great convenience to the public.

) The goldfish in the ponds at Pukekura 1 Park are thriving and multiplying. They did not thrive so well in the old days, no doubt because they were not allowed to. The Hoard were then .somewhat concerned about tlicir diminution, and, seeing goldfish advertised for sale in Wellington, deputed a representative to buy a stock with which to replenish the ponds. The latter duly saw the adver--1 tiser, who, however, could not supply as many as desired. "You know," he said, "goldfish are not too plentiful. There's only one place in the country where, you can get a supply from, and that is the New Plymouth Recreation Ground." Further explanations showed that the advertiser had been securing his supplies from some, New Plymouth lads, who had been catching them in the Board's own ponds! The Board were trying to buy their own fish!

The delegates to the W.O.T.U. Convention spent Saturday afternoon in viewing some of the beauty spots of Xew Plymouth. Accompanied by friends, the party, numbering over a hundred, drove out to "Aotea," Messrs. Soles' property, which had been placed at their disposal by the owners. From thence they walked back to the Recreation Grounds, where they were entertained at afternoon tea by the members of the local branch. A pleasant afternoon was then spent boating on the lake or idling about, enjoying the scenery. The consensus of opinion was that both "Aotea" and the Park were charming spots. One lady, who has travelled all over the Dominion, said she had heard much about the loveliness of tile Recreation Grounds, but felt that the half had never been told. On Tuesday afternoon the delegates are to be entertained at a garden party at Mrs. Anion's, Frankley Road, and on "Wednesday a visit is in be paid to the oil bore.?, at the invitation of Mr, Tisch.

The Eltliam gasworks, to be opened shortly, will be the first municipal gasworks to be constructed in Taranaki.

If the allegation of a f southern scribe can be substantiated, Xow Zealanders do not "scorn the foreign yolk." It is stated that there have been several shipments of Chinese eggs in bulk—without shells—lately, and that most of the foreign hen-fruit 'limU it way into Dominion confectionery. A fine of £3 and costs was imposed at Stratford last week on a landholder for failure to clear ragwort and blackberry. The Inspector said this case was one of a series of very troublesome ones. In the course of business a large number of properties came into defendant's hands, and were allowed to remain untenanted and no steps were taken to check the growth of noxious weeds. In view of the general election u strong Opposition campaign is being organised, and the first stage of the programme lias been arranged. Mr. W. F. Massey proposes to travel over the country between Christchurch and Nelson, speaking at different centres. This will occupy him about ten days. He then goes to Otago, and proposes to go on a Central Otago tour, accompanied by Mr. R. Scott M.P. (Tuapeka). Afterwards it is likely that, accompanied by Mr. J. Allen, M.P. (Bruce), he will visit Southland. There is a probability of Mr. A. L. Herdman, M.P. (Wellington N.), speaking in Dunedin before the session of Parliament opens. Mr. Massey and Mr. F. W. Lang have been through the King Country, where they had a most, successful trip. Later on, Mr. Allen may go to Auckland, also to the Waikat" district and Taumarumii. Mr. W. 11. Herries, M.P. (Tauranga), will speak at Hokitika, and probably at other places.

An otherwise respectable citizen named J. M. Winter was charged at the Cambridge S.M. Court last week with being found without lawful excuse on the premises of one David Williamson. Constable McNamara, who prosecuted, said the facts were that while under the influence of liquor Winter went to Williamson's house between 2 and 3 o'clock on Sunday morning, frightened the inhabitants of the house greatly, and generally roused the whole neighborhood, afterwards breaking in Williamson's door with the shafts of a buggy, and, while the occupants sought refuge in a neighbor's house, he got into the bed they had just vacated. Williamson stated that Winter's behaviour was very threatening. Winter, who pleaded guilty, said he was very sorry for what he believed had occurred, but he remembered absolutely nothing about it. The Bench administered a severe admonition, convicted accused, and ordered him to pay the costs and to eome up for sentence "when called upon. A prohibition order was also issued against accused, he willingly consenting. D

His Honor Mr, Justice Sim, and Messrs. XV. Scott and J. A. McCullough, assessors of the Court of Arbitration, ■win reach N'ew Plymouth to-night. A sitting of the Court will be held to-mor-row, when the case of Lidiard v. Iredale will be heard. The plaintiff was formerly master of the s.s. Pitoitoi, trading between Waitara, Awanino and intervening ports, and he alleges that while assisting to unload the vessel at Marokapa on October 12, 1000, he sustained an injury by accident—internal hemorrhage—in consequence of which the optic nerves have become destroyed, causing incurable blindness. The defence is, first, that the blindness is not the result of an injury by accident, and, secondly, that plaintiff is not a worker within the meaning of the Workers' Compensation. Act, inasmuch as his salary, coupled with the cost of his keep on the steamer, exceeded £.) per week. Medical evidence, including that of Dr. Ferguson, has been taken at Dunedin and Wellington, and a large number of witnesses will be heard here. It is anticipated that the case will last the whole dav.

Mr. J. Robertson, secretary of the Dairy Factory Workers' Union for the Wellington and Taranaki provinces, speaking to a Hawera Star reporter, mentioned that the present arrangement comes to an end shortly, and explained the position from the employees point of view. Twelve months ago last .January the Taranaki Dairy Factory Workers' Union was registered under Arbitration Act. Subsequently the representatives of the Union met the Conciliation Board, and the men were induced to accept the award ruling in th» Wellington province, which meant the reduction of wages ruling in Taranaki. Mr. Robertson said that if the Employees' Union was again registered under the Arbitration Act they would have to go before the Arbitration Court. By doing so the workers would not better their position; by remaining unregistered the workers, lie held, would 1)0 more free. He said the negotiations were in progress for a new agreement, but lie was not in a position to give any information on the matter, except that he thought the deadlock over the employees not registering would he overcome.

Co-operative farming by Maoris on the East Coast of the North Island has long been known as a very successful institution. The latest observer, Dr. Buck, Northern Maori member, who has just completed a tour of the district where this movement nourishes, is greatly pleased with the enterprise anil industry of his compatriots, lie told a Now Zealand Times representative that he fouml the Maori sheep-fanners so busy with their flocks and so interested in the conduct of farming operations, that they scarcely had time to discuss any other subject, and that if there was a conversation, the subject was almost certainly to lie sheep. The establishment of the Tokomaru freezing works, in which the co-operative farms have shares, has been of immense benefit to litem, and the Maoris also gained advantage out of the construction of the building. A European brickmaker was omployed by the company to burn bricks for the construction' of the works. When be had done all (hat was necessary for the company, the co-operative farmers purchased a plant, and employed the brickmaker, utilising his product for lip-to-date sheep dip troughs, cement lined, and also for house building. When the Waiapu Diocesan Conference was held recently, the cookintr — always an important and extensive operation—was done in a baker's oven of modern type, erected out of bricks from the Maori plant. The owners are able to get good bricks by this means at a price quite £2 per thousand cheaper than they formerly paid. YOU SHOULD BEAR fa MIND That by using the Commercial Kucalyptus Oil, which is now bought, up at'fid per lb weight and bottle, and, on account of'the large profits, pushed, you are exposing yourself to nil the dangers to which the use of turpentine will expose you—irritation of kidneys, intestinal tract and mucous membranes. H v insisting on the GKXUINK SAN'HKR EUCALYPTI EXTRACT you not. only avoid these pitfalls, but you have a stimulating, safe and etlective medicament, the result of a special and careful manufacture.

Remember: SAXIIEIi'S KXTIiACT embodies the result of SO years' experience and of special sillily, and it does what is promised: it cures mid heals without injuring (he constitution, as the oiU on the market, frequently do. Therefore, nrotcct yourself by rejecting other brands. ' r

Within a radius of three miles from the Raetihi butter factory are fifteen thousand acres suitable for dairying. There nrc already soiye 200 to 300-acre sections making £SOO to £OOO a year from cows. "Think of it, ye long-suffering residents of Woodville!" remarks the Examiner. "The little and enterprising borough of Foxton has carried a poll on a proposal for the erection of a municipal hull to cost £280(1." Water for stock is very scarce in and around Ashhurst and ltanmai at present, several settlers having to drive their dairy cattle long distances for water twice daily. The dry weather is telling its tale on the milk supply, and the factory managers report a great falling-off. It would appear as though there was little difficulty in securing white labor in Queensland sugar plantations. Last season a Xew Zealand gang of ten men was the top gang for the season on two farms. Their earnings came to £5 per week per man. A persistent rumor is current in wellinformed circles to the effect that the Auckland police force, or a very considerable section of it, is in a ferment of discontent. It is not easy to ascertain just what the grounds are which have caused the unrest, but they would appear to be several, Some of the trouble has to do with promotions, which everybody knows must come to many members of the force in the near future, and some with the conduct of the force by the officer in charge of the district. It is claimed by some of them that the regime of late has been unnecessarily strict, and that the men have not been treated with due consideration in the matter of annual leave.

The proprietress of a Levin boardinghouse noticed that two men who had been lodging with her decamped without paying for their rooms or board. She found a note written by them, but not signed, saying that their work was finished, but they were going elsewhere, and would forward the money they owed in three weeks' time. She, however, was convinced that the men had no intention of redeeming their promise, and promptly took train to Koputaroa. Here she found the men on the platform waiting to take train on to Palme'rston. They had evidently walked to Koputaroa during the early hours of the morning. The men were thunderstruck on seeing her. They had no money, but were profuse in their apologies, and handed over to their landlady some suits of clothes.

An exhaustive debate occurred in the Methodist Conference in Sydney recently regarding the system of payments to married and unmarried ministers respectively. The practice is to appoint ministers and missioners to certain stations provided they are married. The Rev. J. Woolnough told a good story in this connection. A young man, anxious to get to a foreign mission station, called at the office and offered himself for the work, lie was informed that he would have to leave in ten days, and must go as a married man. The reply was a staggerer—the young man was not engaged to be married, he was not even in love with any girl, but he did not think there • would be any difficulty in the matter. (Laughter). ' "And," "added Mr. Wellnough, as the Conference metaphorically held its sides and laughed heartily, "he found a wife and managed to keep the obligation of the Conference:To the casual observer it is almost inconceivable that birds should be able not only to sustain their own weight in the air, but also to propel themselves at the rate of a mile a minute. This is the speed of our fast trains, and the fastest aeroplanes; and almost takes our breath awnv, but birds make nothing of it. Ducks are especially fast flyers. The canvas-back duck can distance any other duck. It can fly two miles a minute and keep it up for hours. The mallard is slower, but with an effort can go a mile a minute. Other members of the duck family can travel eighty miles an hour. The broad-bill duck is almost as swift as the canvas-back, but cannot keep the pace as long as the other. One would be apt to think that geeso fly slower than mallard ducks. This is not so. With the slow movement of their big wings they do not appear to be flying rapidly, but they travel from eighty to a hundred miles an hour, and keep it up for a day.

Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (First and Second Groups) are notiftad that subscriptions will be due and payable today (Monday), at the Secretary's Office, Curri« street, from 9 a.m. to 12.30, from 1 p.m. to 5 pan., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.— Adit.