LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 278, 15 April 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Still they come! A bi-weekly newspaper makes its appearance at Te Awamutu on the 18th inst. A large number of golfers arrived by the mail train last night to take part in the Ngamotu Golf Club's Easter tournament, which commences this morning. Captain Young, veterinarian, intends making a coastal trip next week. On Monday he will be at Okato, and on Tuesday at Rahotu. This will be a good opportunity for farmers who want advice re stock. As notified in our advertising columns, the St. Aubyn Town Board has declared the bridge over the Mangotuku stream as unsafe for heavy traffic. Hence persons using the said bridge do so at their own risk. The Emperor of Austria, who is 81 years of age, insists on bathing in icy cold water every morning and in driving in an open carriage in the depth of winter, despite the entreaties of doctors, who beg him to use a, closed motor car. The mail trains yesterday, both outward ajid inward, were particularly heavy, all the additional carriages being well filled. Despite the extra work, occasioned by the rush during holiday times, the mail train arrived here last night practically on time. Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., has left us a copy of the London Daily Mail of February 10th.. containing a full page advertisement devoted to extolling by word and picture the virtues of New ; Zealand butter. The one advertisement cost the dealers in New Zealand butter £350. Mr. Arthur Cliff, secretary of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, has received intimation from the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, that he is making inquiries into the matter of allowing the State Farm exhibit to be shown at the next'Taranaki winter show, New Plymouth, in June. Mr. F. T. Bellringer, the town clerk, informs us that there arc now 2538 names on the borough electors' roll. Of these there are 1003 in the east ward,| 754 in the central, and 781 in the west ward. Included in the above are 738 names added since the main roll was completed, much of the increase being due to the activity of the Municipal Progressive Association. In the Police Court on Thursday morning, before .Messrs. G. Tiseh and j. F. Eustace, J.'sl'., a first offending inebriate, who a week previously liad been remanded for medical treatment, was convicted and discharged. He was also ordered to pay costs of medical treatment ( £1) within forty-eight hours, or in default three days' imprisonment. A first offender was also convicted and discharged. A uniform profit of some £2900 a year lias been earned by the Wanganui gasworks during the past four years. Nine years ago, when the borough purchased the gasworks, the then Mayor, Mr. A. Hatrick, predicted that the profits would, in time, be sufficient to meet the whole of the interest, not only on the proposed loan for the gasworks, but fox' the Okelm water supply also. Mr. Hatrick's optimistic prediction bids fair to be realised. Mr. H. Palethorpe, Inspector of Fruit, etc., arrived in New Plymouth last night in connection with the disposal of the grub-infected potatoes that were recently condemned. Arrangements have been made that the tubers will be buried to-day. with a considerable quantity ol lime, which it is considered will completely destroy and chance of the pest spreading. It is also understood that a number of sacks of potatoes which were not dealt with lust week, being considered sound enough to be picked over, have also been condemned, and they will be treated like the rest. We were shown on Thursday last a fruit that is entirely new to Taranaki. It is called the Spanish Toronga, or grape fruit. Mr. T. Rowe, of Bell Block, imported the young tree four years ago from California, and this year a splendid crop of fruit is on the branches. In appearance the fruit is very like an orange, but about two or three times as large. In place of only one fruit growing oil a stem, there are clusters of from four to eight. In flavor tile fruit when ripe resembles that of a luscious orange. The plant or tree is about four feet high, grows very sturdily, and appears to suit the Taranaki climate. A fine sample of the fruit may be seen at this office.

YOU SHOULD BEAR IN MIND That by using the Commercial Eucalyptus Oil. which is now bought up at ml per lb weight and bottle, and, on account of the large profits, pushed, you are exposing yourself to all the dangers to which tiic use of turpentine will expose y»u—irritation of kidneys, intestinal tract and mucous membranos. By insisting on the GENTJTXE SANDER EUOALY7TT 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 embodies the result of 50 years' experience and of special study, and it does what in promised; it cures and heals without injuring the constitution, as the oils on the market frequently do. Therefore, protect yourself ky rejecting other brands. j

A resident of Rongotea, near Palmerston North, has practically completed the building of a biplane, and will be making trials shortly. The revenue received at the Eltham railway station la*t month showed an increase of about £230 over that of the , corresponding month last year, f A cablegram from Sydney last ilightj stated that there are record crowds in 1 the city. Trains and trains are unequal to the demand. The telephone exchange had 00,000 calls on Thursday, easily a record. j Registration returns from the Napier 'area group received at District Headquarters recently show that in the lirst week's work of the area officer and his area sergeant-majors (lie total number, of applications for registration was The New Plymouth area group returns are still to arrive, but taking the returns which have come to hand, the officer commanding the district (Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor) expects that the live days' work will result in a total of 1200 odd.—Dominion. Whilst surf-bathing on the Opunakc beach on Wednesday morning, a young lad suddenly got into difficulties owing to a very strong back-wash prevailing at the time. Dr. Barron, who was also bathing, observed the lad's perilous j position, and swam out to his assistance. Although a strong swimmer, the doctor I had to exert all his energy to save th» boy from drowning, but after a strenuous effort lie eventually got his charge beyond the danger zone. The rescuer and rescued were much exhausted, but were otherwise none the worse for their experience.—Times. The Alf. Bayly Memorial Scholarship funds should benefit considerably through the magnanimity of Mr. G. 11. Saunders in devoting the proceeds of last night's entertainment towards that praiseworthy object. This memorial deserves support and encouragement, not only because it hands down to posterity the name of one who was as revered for his qualities as a man as he was noted for his ability as a footballer, but also because of the method adopted, viz., by an annual scholarship open to boys of Taranaki, in which both athletic prowess and mental and intellectual attainments count. During the evening an address was given by the Mayor, Mr. G. Tisch, explaining the scholarship conditions. Mr. If. A. Prebble has now definitely decided to rebuild the Stratford Troeadero Private Hotel, recently burned down (says the Post). The new building is. to be in ferro-concrete, and special provision will be made to guard against damage, by fire. The new premises will be two stories in height, and will provide for seven shops facing Regan street. The hotel portion will be much better equipped in every way than the old building was, and will be made easy of access from every side. The new building should in every way be a credit to Stratford, and will, we understand, cost approximately £4300. Wellington County Council, which had a debit balance of £10,515 last year, closed the present financial year with a credit of £7207. The tramways were responsible for £622.3 of the profit. Last year the profit earned by electric li'ght was £2228. This year it is £4340. The difference, £Ol9l, represents the excess of profits over the whole of the operations of the city compared with last year. That the council is on a good wicket:, apart from the profits from these undertakings, is shown by the statement of Mayor Wilford, who said that in less than three years, the council would benefit to the extent of some ,£30,000 annually owing to the revalua- ! tion of its land let oil lease. Yet there are people who see nothing good about endowment leases ! One of five children of Mr. and Mrs. Erni, settlers of Swiss nationality, resident in the Mangaohutu Valley, somo 30 miles down the Wanganui river, sickened with diphtheria about a week ago, and died before they could bring it to Tatimarunui. The father and mother took the dead child to Taumarunui, and after the funeral returned home, only to find two of the four remaining children ill with the same dread disease. Not waiting for a boat, they got horses, and, each carrying one of the ailing little ones, rode a distance of 28 miles to Rauriinu, whence they took them by train to the Taumarunui Hospital. Last Friday night (the 7th) one of the two children, a boy, died. The other has ' chances of recovery. The Dowers were hardly withered on the grave of the first child before the other was laid to rest beside it. The mother is almost demented with grief. At the adjourned meeting of the creditors of Thomas Higginson, farmer, Lowgarth, held at Stratford on Wednesday, bankrupt produced a statement regarding his own and his wife's business deal- , ings. After consultation with the ered- ' itors, the Assignee suggested that bankrupt should ask his wife to help to pay 10s in the £, .is to be paid within a fortnight, and the balance, to be paid within six months, which would be soon after the commencement of the next milking season. If this was done the creditors would not object to bankrupt staying on his wife's farm. Bankrupt said he would not ask his wife to pay 10s in the ,£. Tho Assignee said bankrupt could earn money and repay his wife. Bankrupt said he did not intend to work hard to pay lawyers' bills. He would prefer to go to New Plymouth gaol. The meeting was adjourned on tho understanding that bankrupt would consult his wife. Here is a splendid proof of Scotch caution. Mr. John McCluskev, a Scottish laborer, arrived at New York recently with a solicitor to claim a fortune of ■Cilii/.uiiO bequeathed to liini by his longlost brother. Mr. James McCluskey, who died in New York last July. Mr. James MeCluskey emigrated fifty years ago, and became a manufacturer of paper boxes. Tie amassed C'200,11(10, Three years ago he returned to Ireland in search of his brother John, who in the menntime had crossed (o Scotland, leav'iii? no trace. His brother returned to America disappointed, but died without; alterinif his will, according to which Mr. John McCluskev is the sole legatee. A search for him was bemm. and Mr. Andrew Wilson, a New York lawyer, discovered him loading a cart with turnips on a farm outside Glasgow. "It's a good bit of money you mention." he said, when lie heard the news. "When f have, finished with these turnips 1 will take the time to talk it over with you.''

MILITakY overcoats—a boon to FARMERS. Since I lie advent of tliese coats on the market a couple of years as;o they liavo jrrown into popularity to ,-ncli an extent as to seriously imperil the oilskin trade. The eoais in question are those supplied to die llritisli .Army liy the hnporiat Ctovcrnnient and after a period of service are called in. and. after lieinu tlioroupliIv overhauled and funujiated under medical inspection, are sold by the Army Stores. The Melbourne nothing Company lias been fortunate enough to secure a splendid lot of the riding coats, willi deep capes, all specially selected poods, in most perfect condition, and now offer them for sale at prices hitherto unknown in Taranaki. The coats are of the highest possible "rade, made of heavy blue vicuna and lined with best quality red ser.cfc. Price, complete with cape and belt. '27s (id: or without cape 23s (Rl. Cniue and secure one: they'll give years of splendid service.—Advt.

The lmpcrinl Institute states that a new .source ,)f wheat supply for the I mted Kingdom which is likely to become available in tI IP near future is British Kast Africa, The area under wheat cultivation in that Protectorate is rapidly extending, and is now very nearly sufficient to supply all the requirements, of the country itself. Rejuvenating qualities in radium have been discovered by Professor Gabriel Petit at the veterinary school at Alfort (says a message from Paris), lie states that two injections of radium in lite jugular artery of a very old horse had a surprising result. Despite the comparative largeness of the dose the radium had no ill-effect. The weary steed, indeed, seemed to i:uve received a new lease of life. It began to put on flesh and became tjuite frisky while it* whole appearance suggested * better nourishment. The aninnl threw ell a certain amount of radium in tin days succeeding the injection, but the blood si ill showed considerable traces of sulphate of radium while the red corpuscles increased in number. The doctor notes that these injections produced a lasting radio-activity of the whole organism, and bases on these experiments the idea of thus utilising through the blood a radio-active serum. With much satisfaction (says the Berlin correspondent of the Daily' Telegraph) the Press announces the end of the "radium famine," under which German research, with its comparatively modest pecuniary resources, has had to suffer. Professor Otto llalm, of Berlin University, has succeeded in obtaining an effective substitute for the costly substance, and in a few months' time the Academy of Science here will be in possession of no lesa than 250 milligrammes of it, which it will lend out to investigators. The new radio-active matter is a byproduct of the manufacture of thorium gas mantles, and has been named by its discoverer "mesotborium." In combination with bromium it is a white salt, with the same radio-active properties as the corresponding salt of radium, though the latter costs three times as much, it is stated that Germany alone can produce ten grammes of mesothorium salt in a year, or as much as the present entire. world's supply of radium salt. A case is about to come on for trial' at Constantinople which shows that tho ex-Sultan Abdul Hamid pushed' somewhat to extremes his taste for experiments with human life. Some years ago, at the height of his power, when one of his best beloved daughters fell ill with appendicitis, the Sultan declined to give permission for an operation to be performed upon the Sultana before being .shown exactly in what it consisted and that it was as simple a matter as had been made out. The Court practitioners suddenly bethought themselves of a women, an Ottoman subject, who wag about to be discharged convalescent from the Italian hospital after suffering from some nver complaint. .She was seized, taken to the Hamidia hospital, and, in l the presence of the Sultan, her appendix was removed. The operation was a complete success, the patient, or rather the victim, recovering quickly, and the Sultan, in consequence, allowed his daughter to be treated in similar fashion. To-day Abdul Hamid is banished, tongues are untied, and his victim is wringing an action against the Court physicians who risked her life for their experiment. It is curious to notice how often the subject of the prolongation of life crops up in the world's press. Articles on Metehnikoff's theory are still plentiful, though it is some time since the sour milk cure was launched on the world. Tt looks ns if man really wants to live to be a hundred, and as if scientific men are eager to help him towards bis desire. Dr. Mitchell, secretary of tlva British Zoological Society, made some very interesting contributions to the question i» a recent address on "Problems of Animals in Captivity." Dr. .Mitchell doubted whether a really natural death ever occurred in any kind of animal. Accident and disease are strictly speaking not natural causes, and an animal living in a perfectly hygienic world, sheltered from all diseases, would eventually die of old age, or the result of gradual accumulation of waste matter in the tissues. This breaking up could, says Dr. Mitchell, following Metchnikoir, be postponed for years if people lived healthier lives, lie puts the potential age of man at well over 10(1, which places man nearer the top of the table of longevity. Dr. Mitchell gave some interesting facts about longevity among lower animals. The number of potential centenarians among animals is comparatively small. Among mammals there are only man. whales and elephants, and among birds eagles and parrots. There is no relation between size and potential longevity. A canary lives almost as long as an ostrich. Snails and sea molluses, which are low in the scale of life, are said to be capable of living to 100 years, but the evidence is doubtful. There is, however, a case of a sea anemone that is known to have lived for over (10 years. Dr. Mitchell lias lately been observing the conditions of life of animals living under captivity in zoological gardens, and is endeavouring to ascertain whether man is harder on the animals than nature; whether on the whole lie subjects them to conditions that make their life at least as long, or whether be is simply killing them. Nature, instead of being "red in tooth' and claw," may be found to be more kindly than advanced man.