LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 280, 19 April 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The total cost of the buildings, grounds, furnishing, etc., of Gisborne's new hospital will be close on £OO,OOO. Twenty "domestics," who came out to New Zealand by the Ruapehu, were "snapped up" within a very short time of their arrival at Wellington. The Manawatu Times states that rabbits are so numerous on the Longburn road that a motorist ran over six one evening last week. A Masterton resident is in possession of a printed genealogical tree, from which lie traces his ancestry back to the tenth century. There are few in the community who can go that far back. It was reported that the floor space let for the Wellington Exhibition was over 19,000 square feet, exclusive of gallery space. Including frontage rates, the amounts received in cash so far total at least £BOO.

A considerable area of country in tin Masterton district has been wire-netted against rabbits this season. Settlers are beginning to realise that this is the only effective method of protecting themselves against the spread of rabbits. Referring to the fires that have occurred in Stratford during the past few weeks, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the most reecnt conflagration, the Post urges the necessity of the townspeople appointing a nightwatchman. A great number of Stratford residents visited New Plymouth on Monday, says the Post, and there weie many complaints about the carriage accommodation provided by the Railway Department. The day was cold and windy, and the open trucks provided were far from comfortable, especially for ladies with young children. Matters wax warm in the Stratford municipal election. There are several candidates for seats on the council. Mr. J. Masters, the Mayor, is coming forward again, and Mr. W. H. H. Young, a recently elected member of the council who has already made a reputation for finding out things and for his advocacy of a progressive policy, is announced as a candidate against all-comers for the Mayoralty, As more effective work can be done with wireless instruments when the "aerial" is free from -the, influence of surrounding high land, the Government has decided to acquire a piece of native land in Wellington, twelve acres in extent, on the Tinakori hills, near the trig station, upon which will be erected one of the four high-powered wireless- stations required in connection with the complete scheme of wireless communication for the carrying, out of which a contract has been let by the' Government. As a cab containing a bride and bridegroom left a certain church in Wellington on Monday (says the Dominion), it was greeted with yells of laughter. The merriment grew as the cab proceeded down crowded Cuba street. A second cab containing the bridesmaids startea out hotly in pursuit, but could not draw up close. So the bride's cab went gaily on to its destination, the blissful couple all unaware of the fact that attached to the glossy back of their vehicle, was a big placard of the "Bad Girl of the Familv."

"I think Gisborne should unquestionably have a car system," remarked Mr. Arnold Foster (who is just over on a holiday visit from San Francisco), in the course of an interview with the local Herald. "I was told about vour scheme and that no one would ride in them. Why, if this town were in America 'it would have had,cars long ago. I have known places where there was scarcely a house. A car company has come along, bought up the rights of the land, laid out car lines everywhere, started a good service, and the place has sold like hot cakes. It spreads out a town and creates traffic. One gets out of the habit of walking." The trouble that the harem skirt brings is not all of one kind. As a rule the disturbances of which news has been circulated have been due to the unkind attentions of the vulgar, but at Kalgoorlie a sensation was caused in quite a different way. A young barmaid was charged with having been drunk while wearing a harem skirt. It was thought that her harem skirt of crimson hue would be worn in the Court, and a large number of spectators attended in expectation, but she appeared in a skirt concealed by a long grey coat. Her counsel attributed her position to over-indulg-ence in champagne. She was a much humiliated woman, and wept bitterly. The Bench agreed that the night's incarceration was sufficient punishment.

The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Fire Brigade was held in the station last night. Superintendent F. C. Bellringer presided. All the officers were re-elected as follows:—Superintendent F. C. Bellringcr; sub-superintendent, A. Boon; east foreman, J. Clark; central foreman, J. Roberts; west foreman, J. Johnson; hook and ladder foreman, T. Partington; executive committee, W. Sadler, W. Roch. with officers ex officio; auditors, W. Way and W. Sadler; secretary, If. Ford; central custodian, J. Way; east custodian, G. Lambert. The report showed thnt there were 38 roll calls during the year. No one obtained the possible number of attendances, but several were present at all but one. The annual dinner was then held in the station, a fine spread having been provided by Mr. J. West. Two or three hours were spent in pleasant harmony, songs and recitations being given by the members. During the evening Fireman Doughty was presented with a three years' certificate, and Fireman Pryov was presented with a silver bar for two years' additional service, making seven years in all. The Otago Daily Times understands that a communication has been received by the medical superintendent of the Dunedin Hospital from the district health officer at Dunedin with reference to the subject of prophvlaetic injections for the prevention of typhoid fever, with which it is suggested that the nurses who arc engaged in the typhoid fever ward at the Dunedin Hospital should 1»' treated, if they so desire it. Dr. Champtaloup (district health officer), questioned in regard to this method of treatment, said it has been largely used at. Home for some vears past., principally anions troops, and has now been perfected. In accordance with this means of preventing infection from typhoid, n preparation is made from cultures of typhoid bacilli, and those desiring to be rendered immune from typhoid fever receive two small injections at. intervals, and the liability of contracting typhoid fever over the succeeding two years is then verv slight, and, if it should be contracted it occurs in a very mild form. The Health Department at Dunedin intends preparing this material for purposes of injection, and it will be issued through the Department to the various hospitals in the Dominion. CHECRTNG BAGGAGE THROUGH US IS NOT EXPENSIVE. Don't run away with the idea that to chwk your baggage is a luxury. It's not. All we charge is small fee for cartage at either end.; the actual checking we do free. And look at the benefit you get: your baggage collected, checked! and delivered by the time you arrive, without bother *n rou at all.—N.Z. Express Co. Ltd—Advt. , :.-:'.::;S: 1:^0:3

Nominations for the Mayoral and borough councillors' elections, and for the harbor board elections also, close today. Recently an Invereargill business firm advertised that a certain hour a woman would appear in their show window attired in a harem skirt. Hundreds of people gathered to get a glimpse of the garment, and to prevent a disturbance, the lady bad to retire from sight. A local resident states that while on a visit to Wangnnui he was astonished to see the number of fine houses that are being erected. Large numbers of people from other places who have made a competence are going there to live in retirement. The up-to-date tram service and other conveniences are said to be the source of attraction. On a recent steamer passage from Sydney to Wellington among the passengers were two Maori ladies. One evening one of them spoke to a fellowI passenger warmly of the musical nature of the Maori,language, and recommended it to the visitor on the score that it contained no naughty words. "What do you do if you want to swear?" wa9 enquired. "Use yours," was the unexpected response. It is stated that the late Maori chief, Tnmahnu Mahupuku, spent £40,000 in eight years. He was regarded as a father by his people, who went to him for everything, and he scarcely failed to respond to their requests. He was exceedingly generous, and this fact, no doubt, greatly increased the power which his strong personality naturally exercised. I A correspondent of the Wairarnpa Age, writing from the Chatham Islands, says: "The teeth of the Chatham Islanders appear to suffer as badly as those of other people, judging by the big business done bv any visiting dentists who reach here. ,They do not often come, so that will explain why they seem hard at work at their profession from the time they land to the time they leave—sometimes mor« than six weeks." The Star states that samples of potatoes riddled with the worm have been dug up in gardens in Feilding. A month ago some of the potatoes, when lifted, showed scarcely any signs of the worm. Potato-growers should be very careful to cover up all .potatoes at night, and not leave any exposed. Moths which fly about at night lay eggs on any potatoes they find, and the grubs are hatched almost immediately and bore into the potato, which at once loses all commercial value. The grub is also reported to be in potato crops at Marton. An office is provided in Feilding for the Inspector of Noxious Weeds, and is situated at the back of the Courthouse. Round the Courthouse a neat lawn is being laid down, fine grass being sown, and shrubs distributed to give the house of justice a finished appearance. But round the inspector's premises the noxious weed holds undisputed sway. The persistent dock finds the soil first-class, and scatters the seeds of unkindness with a liberal band. The Dutch broom looks as healthy and

as ferocious as its ancestors with which Van Tromp swept the seas Some centuries ago. The gorse impudently shoves its arms through the fence, and scratches the leg of the passer-by. The Scotch thistle and other ordinary weeds help to make up the -wilderness. The inspector—ah! He is very busy searching the district for the wicked landowner who allows noxious weeds to grow on his farm. Clearing should begin at home.—Feilding Star.