LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 281, 20 April 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Artisans and laborers to the number of 6440 were employed under the Public Works Department during the month of February. Of this number 3001 were engaged on railway work, and 2831) on roads. A Maslerton rabbitter informed a representative of the Age that the rabbits have been most prolific in the district this season. It is no uncommon thing to find a doe with a litter of ten, and he has found as many as twelve young rabbits in a single burrow. The startling increase in the population of India is viewed with concern by the British Government. The preliminary census returns disclose that the population of the Indian Empire is approximately -20,000,000 in excess of that when the last census was taken. It is feared that famine and seditious outbreaks may follow in the wake of this continued increase.

A band of young men of Blenheim, and some of the older hands, also, recognising that the habit of "shouting" is"a pernicious one, have leagued themselves into an "anti-shouting society," with the object of putting down the practice of indiscriminate drinking (states the Express). Each member of the society is pledged not to accept treating from anvone at a hotel bar, and that he himself will not treat anyone else. Rents charged in the four centres of the Dominion for houses of four to seven rooms, within a two-mile radius of the Post Office, are set out in the Labor Journal as follows—Four rooms: Auckland, !)s to 13s per week; Wellington, 12s fid to 20s; Christchurch, 9s to 14s; Dunedin, 7s to 12s Gd. Five rooms: Auckland, 12s to-'lSs; Wellington, 15s to 22s fid; Christchurch, 14s to lfls; Dunedin, 10s to 15s. Six rooms: Auckland, 20s to 255; Wellington, 18s to 255; Christchurch, Ids to 20s; Dunedin, 12s fid to 20s. Seven rooms: Auckland, 20s to 30s: Wellington. 20s to 27s fid; Christchurch, 20s upwards; Dunedin, los to 22s fid.

Many persons are not aware that formalin is a very potent and dangerous poison. Its use as a milk preservative is practically forbidden by law, and medical officers of health are at one in testifying to its injurious effects upon the health—especially upon young children. It is used to keep milk fresh. A timely warning is given by the Government" chemist, Mr. H, C. Aston, in the Agricultural Journal, together with a simple test for finding formalin in milk. On slightly warming the milk it will give oil' a pungent odor of fomaldehyde if the formalin lias been used as a preservative. It is saiil that in this manner one part of formalin in' 25.008 of milk may be detected.

A case with extraordinary features was reported to the Ashburton police (says the Guardian). A person visited the residence formerly occupied by his brother, who died about fifteen months ago, and in several tins near the fireplace lie found a substantial sum of money in gold, silver copper and notes. According to the story he told the police, lie left the money in the tins and locked up the residence securely and went out, but on returning to thc'liouse, several hours afterwards, be found that the money was missing .and one of the windows had been opened. The police accompanied the man to the house and instituted a search, the outcome of which was that Constable O'Grady found the tins, with the monev intact, tied up in a large handkerchief. When the money was handed to the original finder, it, suddenly dawned on him that he had tied up the tins for the purpose of taking them away, but, had laid the parcel down in an absent-minded sort of way and forgotten all about it. A strange feature of the case is that the tins containing the money had never been examined during the whole time they lay in the house.

A smart shock of earthquake was felt in New Plymouth about half-past eight o'clock last evening. The Stratford County Council has decided to ■ erect finger-posts throughout the country, as a guide to travellers. During the month of March the estates of forty-three deceased persons were placed u.ulcr the charge of the Public Trustee. A Hastings telegram states that 0.54 inch of rain has fallen there wince Saturday, and there was a prospect of more rain last .night. In the Police Court yesterday morning before Mr. J. VV. Boon, J.P., three first offending inebriates were convicted and discharged with a caution. The usual half-holiday will be observed among9t local shopkeepers to-day. This<is in accordance with the usual procedure after Easter holidays. By special request Eugene Ossipoff will sing "The Toreador" at to-night's and to-morrow night's concert. This item alone, as rendered by Ossipoff, is worth travelling a long way to hear. There is at present a scaricty of labor for road work, in various parts of the Stratford County. At yesterday's meeting the Council decided to apply to the local labor inspector to see if he could supply any men to cope with the deficiency. In the Supreme Court, on the motion of Mr. Quilliam (Govett and Quilliam), letters of administration with the will annexed to the estate of the late Dr. Francis Blake Hutchison, have been grautcd on behalf of the executors named in the will. "The more we do, the mofc we are wanted to do. I wish to goodness you had formed your drainage board. You could have had a good night or two.,, —The chairman of the Stratford County Council in connection with a deputation on the Douglas drainage question. The Easter holidays were unpleasant for tennis, and the .attendance at the Park courts was small. The members will therefore have two courts placed at their disposal on the usual afternoons till further notice. Meanwhile the remaining courts are being attended to. The North Taranaki Hunt Club opens its season to-day, when a meet will be held at Mr. W. Birdling's farm, Waitara. The country is excellent for hunting, and, as the pack is in excellent fettle, a good day's sport is assured. It was intended to hold a social at Waitara in the evening, but the hall not being available, the function will not be held. The annual balance-sheet of the Stratford School committee shows the somewhat remarkable credit balance of £47 3s Bd. The chairman at Monday's meeting explained that with monies to hand after the balance was struck, the actual credit of the committee on vacating their seats would be over £IOO. This, he said, was a result that could hardly be shown by any other committee in the Dominion. "The Concrete Town" is how Eltham is known very largely in other parts ol the Dominion, stated Mr. Blaokb.aH, a Mayoral candidate, in his address at Eltham the other evening to the ratepayers. "It is the cleanest, most substantial and most town that is known," fie continued. "JSai why?" he asked. "Because we have not been afraid to spend the necessary cash when we found out the demands and requirements of the place." The huntsman of the North Taranaki Hunt Club, Mr. A. Cliff, on going to his paddock at five o'clock yesterday morning, found that both of his well-known hunters, Kura and Kiri, had disappeared. The animals were secure in their paddock at nine o'clock the previous evening. Yesterday the whole country-side was carefully searched for the missing horses, but without avail, and it appeared that the hunters had been deliberately removed. The police have the matter in hand, and are making further search. The loss is an unfortunate one, as the hunting season opens to-day, and leaves the huntsman without a mount. The annual conference of the Federated Catholic Clubs was held last week at Chri3tchurch, when 21 delegates were present from all parts of the Dominion. The Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, on behalf of Bishop Grimes, extended a very hearty welcome to the delegates, and Archbishop Redwood wrote extending his best wishes for the success of the Federation. Reports on the past vear's work were read from the affiliated'clubs and showed that they were in a satisfactory condition. The next conference was fixed to be held in Wellington in Easter, 1912. The conference affirmed the desirability of the consolidation in each parish of the various Catholic societies with a view ultimately to the formation of a Catholic association for the Dominion. The appointment of a Catholic organiser for all Catholic societies was also affirmed, and the executive was empowered to bring this resolution before the forthcoming conference of Catholic bishops. Fires lm,-e been of such frequent occurrence in Stratford of late, that the suspicions aroused by the conditions of the house next to Morison's Haymarket seem to be well-grounded, and on Tuesday afternoon an outbreak occurred under circumstances even more suspicious. A little after three o'clock Mrs. Beslcy left her house in Orlando street, leaving nobody at home. About four o'clock Mrs. Frank Arden went up towards the house, and saw smoke coming out of one of the windows. She at once rushed into Mrs. McCluggage's next door, and rang up Mr. Besley, who advised the Fire Brigade. The brigade turned out smartly, but on arrival it was found that Mrs. Arden. with the help of Mrs Lawrence, who was staying with Mrs. McCluggagc, had extinguished the flames with a bucket of water. Mrs. Besley states that this window was closed when she left, but was open when she returned. A lady living close by states that she caught a glimpse of a' man in Mrs. Lesley s garden through the trees. The police are investigating. Mr. Beslev e ?o 1 / m ? t0S the <mmn /? c (lol,e «* between .130 to £4O, the piano having suffered and music being all burnt, in addition to damage to other furniture.—Post.