LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 275, 11 April 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., a first offending inebriate was convicted ana discharged. An address is to be givon in the Whiteley Hall at a quarter to jevon tomorrow night by the Past High CLief Ruler of the Kechabite Order in England. The reason for the present arrangements, and especially for the very early hour of the meeting, is on account of Mr. Churchill having to yo on to Auckland by the boat at eight o'clock. He has the reputation of being a firstclass platform speaker, and taking a keen interest in friendly society and temperance work. A large attendance is anticipated. ■ With the idea of bringing scientific agricultural knowledge and methods before the farmers of the distrftt, Mr. Heatley, technical organiser to the Taranaki Education Board, has been visiting some of the country centres and arranging meetings of farmers. There will be a meeting at Ngaere on Thursday, when an address will be given, after which, it is hoped, sufficient will enrol to take a short course in dairy science. On Thursday, April 20, Captain Young and Mr. Heatley will visit Midhirst and deliver short instructional addresses.

The secretary of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board (Mr. C. iU. Lepper) has estimated the amount of charitable aid rate required to be contributed by the various local bodies interested, and has notified them accordingly. The amounts to be paid by each local body is as follows:—New Plymouth borough, valuation £1,090,158, annual contribution £305 7s 9d; Fitzroy Town Board, £121,903, £4O 12s Sd; St. Aubyn Town Board, £94,00-2, £3l 0s 8d; Inglewood Borough Council £130,159, £45 7s 9d; Waitara Borougk Council, £180,577, £O2 3s lOd; Taranaki County Council, £1,951,720, £OSO lis Od; Clifton County Council, £094,003, £231 10s 8d; Egraont County Council, £1,303,321, £454 8s lOd.

The housewife was startled by a prolonged and dictatorial "ring" at the door-hell. She hastily rushed up the, passage, for her infant was asleep. Before she could reach the door the bell had been twice attacked again. Outside stood a young man with the air of a State official about to deliver a death warrant. He snapped out "I'm getting particulars for a directory. What is your husband's first name, etc., etc." The woman wasn't quite sure what despotic act he might do if asked to be civil, and she was not particular if the name was in a directory or not. Tie then snapped his book, and marched down the paddock, leaving the gate wide open. Any horses that might be in the paddock were not his horses, anyhow. Who owns New Plymouth ?

A lady called at the News office yesterday, and asked us to air her protest against the action of the Pukekura Park authorities in cutting down the large pinus insignia trees in the vicinity of the gate near the Carrington road. Already one has been felled, she stated, and the others there, she was informed by the curator, were shortly to share tile same fate. She pointed out that the trees are one of the attractions of the gardens, and serve ns a picnicking ground for scores of visitors. It is always a shady spot, and an ideal place for children. "I asked the curator why he was cutting the trees down," she continued, "and lie replied that they cause so much work. Well, is he not paid for doing this work ? If the workis too much and the trpes are to be sacrificed because of it, T, for one. would willingly lend a hand occasionally, and I am sure there are many other ladies who would do the same. Marsland ITill has been spoilt l),v the removal of the trees from it; so, too, has St. Mary's Church, and now the vandals are going to do the same with our priceless possession, our lovely park. In the older countries the authorities are (loin™ evervthing possible to grow trees and beautify towns; here they liave the trees and natural beauty and are ,-cokliisr their destruction. Tt is enough to make one weep. Cannot something be done to stop the curator cutting down those lovely trees V .

F.iglit milking machine plants have been ordered by settlers at Matierc ( King Country).

Land in the vicinity of Feihling has been changing hands at JloO an acre for dairying purposes. One native who was at the recent gathering of Maoris at I'apawai turned the scale at '25 stone. Quite a number 01 them were over twenty stone in weight. The Alexandra, lleraltl says ft local resident has discovered a preventative for the spread of the potato grub by soaking the potatoes in a mixture of water and Jeycs' iluid, which is said to kill the grub.

In definite and unmeasured terms Charles Schwab, the American steel magnate, has impressed French statesmen and financiers with the certainty of war taking place between the United States and Japan. Mr, Schwab emphasises also the assurances that the contest would be short, but decisive.

It is stated that the output of honey this season has exceeded the demand, and that this is the first year that some of the Wairapapa apiarists have not been able to readily dispose of the whole of their supply. The value of honey as an article of food is considerable, and it is a little surprising that it is not consumed in larger quantities. Wairarapa Times.

An application for land dealt with by the Auckland Board last week was from a settler who admitted that he was already in occupation of a large section, but asked that consideration be shown him on the ground that he had a family of seventeen children, and the land he possessed was not sufficient to support such a large number. The Board appeared to considered that large families of this short should be encouraged, and accordingly waived the point and allowed the applicant to take his chance at the ballot.

A singular fatality is reported in the Australian papers, ' A lad named MaeDonald was looking for horses at Table Top, three miles from Inverell (N.S.W.), when he noticed a sulky and horse overturned in the gully with a man underneath the sulky. On investigation he found the man to be a well-known resident, who followed the occupation of driver. He was pinned to the rocks, and said that he had been there all night unable to help himself, as he had lost the power of his light arm. The lad got the horse free, lifted the sulky, and went for assistance. When it arrived, the man was dead.

The crew of the trawler Nora Niven experienced something in the nature of a disappointment during the recent trawling cruise in Cook Strait. On the occasion in question the vessel was in the vicinity of Palliser Bay, and instructions had been given to liatil in the net. As it began to come in it 'appeared to have a large quantity of fish in it. for it was particularly heavy. Enthusiasm ran high, and those on board had visions of a good pay day ahead of them (so it is said). One man promised himself a new suit on the strength of tne catch. But. as the trawl gradually came into view, these line hopes vanished. It was presently seen that the net contained three tons of sharks, ranging from six to nine feet in length. Those on board the vessel state that they had never seen such a number of slinrks come on board in one haul before.—Dominion.

A one-day-a-woek course is to be offered to boys and youths who cannot spare the time to attend full-time at the Stratford and New Plymouth Technical Schools. Classes will be held in New Plymouth after the, arrival of the 11 train, and will finish in in time to enable the students to catch the 4.20 train. The course embraces farm carpentry, farm metal work, mensuration, and surveying, dairy work and agricultural instruction. Those completing the first year's course will go on, next year, to the senior course in farriery, veterinary science, and more advanced work. Those holding proficiency certificates may attend free and obtain a railway pass. Others will pay 30s for the course, and, if under 10, may get a quarterly ticket on the raihvav for 10s; if under 20 the ticket will cost '2os. This is a move in advance, and several have already signified their intention of availing themselves of the opportunity. It is desired to start the course shortly after Easter, so all desirous of joining should give in their names at once, as we understand that at least twelve students arc required.

At a meeting of creditors in the estate of Albert Champion, an Auckland bookmaker, last week, bankrupt stated that the cause of his filing was his inability to moot a judgment summons instituted by a ladv creditor. Prior to this bankrupt's wife had got judgment against him, and in order not to have to file he borrowed money to pay the amount. His wife, who was now in Sydney, had been the cause of much trouble to him, and would continue to be until the end of the chapter. While in Australia Sirs. Champion had purchased a Melbourne Cup dress, which cost £3B, without bankrupt's knowledge or consent. By further borrowing lie had succeeded in paying off £3O of this debt. Champion said he had done his best to avoid filing, and he thought the amount owing to him was sufficient to cover his debts. The following resolution was unanimously carried:—"That this meeting of creditors, being fully aware of the circumstances which have brought about this bankruptcy, and knowing the bankruptcy is the result of misfortune over which lie had no control, directs that the Assignee shall facilitate his discharge."

Writing to a Wellington friend from Yang-Chow, under date February 23rd, a correspondent says: "If only you could have been with me to-day as I went outside the West Gate, I 'wonder what you would have thought and done. I think I know you would have wept, as I did, to behold the sorrow of the people. As I was coming back and passing hundreds living in huts like animals, I saw at a corner a poor woman weeping for the two children that had just passed away from fever and starvation, while her husband is lying very ill from the lack of food, and she with the other three children almost starved also. Oh, the pain of it! You have never seen anything like it, I am sure. The gratitude of that iinor starved and halffrozen woman I shall not soon forget. This is only one of thousands', nay, tens of thousands, and the vision of that other (almost starved to death) woman who was awaiting me at home just haunted me; thirteen days with only a bite of food, and some days none at all, for she is too ill to stand the crushing to get the tiny allowance granted to some of the poor. About sixteen were trampled to death in their attempt, in one day. Oh. for a Rockfeller's or Carnegie's wealth—there would not then be what now exists. Last night I saw about two hundred men, women and children sitting on the ground in the fierce and biting cold, enough to freeze anyone, waiting for their little basin of thin rice gruel, which a wealthy man srives in order to accumulate merit. There arc sometimes several hundreds waiting for hours, and many of them with a sheet of matting to cover them. This is what is burdening mv heart now, and T suppose that is why T am telling you—it pierces me, and how little one can do for them."