LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 288, 29 April 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Garrison Band will parade in, Devon street this evening, commencing at the Red House corner at 7.30 o'clock. No date has yet been fixed for the next stage of the "Secret Case," or what is legally known as the action Rose v. Macdonald. It is understood, however (says the Dominion), that the matter will not be advanced any further before the middle of next month.

The New Plymouth Boxing Associa-] tion has decided to hold a tournament in the Theatre Royal on Thursday, June Ist. Several special matches will be arranged for the evening, as well as two competitions for novices over 10 stone, and 10 stone and under. A Te Kuiti correspondent says that in a week's time it is expected that a sum of between £30,000 and £40,000 will be paid to Natives by the Waikato Maniopoto District Maori Land Board. This sum includes £25,000 purchase money for the Mokau Jones estate, and rents from various holdings which the Board controls.

A man who was driving down Devon street yesterday afternoon in a trap, whilst in a state of insobriety, was arrested by Constable O'Neill, and safely lodged in the lock-up. He will be brought up this morning, charged with drunkenness whilst in charge of a horse, and also with having committed a breach of his prohibition order.

A clause in the annual report of the Taranak'i Acclimatisation Society submitted last night stated that the bush fires which occurred some months ago took a large toll of fish, but on the other hand destroyed great quantities of eels. One pleasing feature brought to notice by the fires was the •finding of fish in streams in which they had not been liberated, suggesting that they had run in from the sea.

Applications for registration under the Defence Act, 1009, are not coming in as promptly as anticipated. The attention of all persons required by the Act to enrol is called to an advertisement appearing in this issue, and we trust it will not be found necessary to enforce the penalties mentioned therein for failure to enrol. Forms of registration may be obtained at any Post Office or police station.

This morning the rare spectacle of an eclipse of the sun will be seen in New Zealand. The eclipse will not be total as viewed from the Dominion. About 00 per cent, of the sun's diameter will be seen to be obscured by the moon's shape, so that the phenomenon will be well marked and highly interesting. Those who wish to observe it should note that the eclipse beings at 7.27% a.m., its greatest phase is at 8.25 a.m., and the final contact takes place at 9.28 a.m.

At the Acclimatisation Society meeting last night a letter was received from the Stratford Society, stating that if the New Plymouth Sociey would purchase hawks' feet, the Stratford Society would endorse New Plymouth shooting licenses. It was pointed out that the society was encouraging the destruction of hawks, and was also agreeable to endorse Stratford shooting licenses. By these endorsements, license-holders in one district will have both districts placed at their disposal. The fabulous prices paid for leasehold township sections has had no check on speculators, and more sections have recently changed hands (says the Te Kuiti correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). The majority of residents consider that speculation has run mad, and think that the speculators' profits, while personally benefiting themselves, will be a distinct loss to the community. Many consider that if the land in the town is going to be rushed up until it gets beyond the means of moderate purses general settlement will be retarded, and building crippled. Capable working men wishing to have homes of their own at reasonable rates, are seeking more favorable fields. Taranaki, so frequently spoken of as the home of the Jersey cattle in New Zealand, will shortly receive a very valuable addition in the shape of a yearling bull which has within the last few days taken first prize "over the island" at the annual show held in Jersey Island —whence these famous cattle derive their name. This animal has just been purchased by Mr. Goodson, of Hawera, by cable through the agency 01 Mr. E. Griffiths, of New Plymouth. He is by the celebrated champion "Noble of Oaklands," out of Lady Viola, who won the first prize in Jersey Island for butter-fat, and also won the same event in England for three years running. The price paid has not transpired, but must have been considerable.

A borough ratepayer who is fond of analysing figures and facts points out that "the west ward has scored again." He points out that the west ward, besides its three representatives, has four other residents on the Council. His Worship the Mayor is a resident of the west ward, and so are Councillors Clarke, Stoekcr and Buxton, the latter having been elected unopposed for the east ward on the Progressive Association's ticket. The east ward finds consolation in the fact that, having been left with only two elected representatives, it still has Mr. Walter Ambury, a central member, residing "out east." Our informant, who is an cast-ender himself, points out that the east ward has the biggest population, but disproportionate representation.

In the course of his address to the members of the Knox Church congregation (Dunedin) at the annual "social" on Tuesday evening, the Rev. C. Murray spoke of the drift of the people towards Mormonism. The evil was greatest in England, he stated, but several Europeans in his last charge had adopted the Mormon faith, and had set out for Utah, the centre of Mormonism in North America. With regard to the manner in which such organisations should be broken up, he was of the opinion that it would be invidious to make attacks on them, and the Church should rather look to the education of the members of the Protestant Church in the principles of the Protestant faith. The ignorance of so many people in a country which professed to be Christian was lamentable.

There was a good attendance at Westown on Thursday evening, when the second of a series of euchre parties was held. About fourteen tables were occupied, and the games proceeded smoothly under the control of Messrs. P. Langman and R. Ridland. Miss N. Antridge secured the first prize (a fruit dish) for ladies, and Mrs. P. Langman the second (a tea pot). Among the gentlemen Mr. Knott was first-prize winner, and secured a shaving mug, whilst Mr. McGimpsey took a sovereign purso for second prize, Several ladies provided and dispensed a dainty supper. Dancing was then commenced and kept up till about 2..10 a.m. to excellent music supplied by Miss X. Crozicr, extras being rendered by Miss Lobb and Messrs. Marett and Taylor. Mr. R. Rid-1 land as M.C. looked well after the in- j terests of the dancers. .

The evening services in the Whitcley Memorial Church to-morrow will be conducted by thcßev. the n -" e , ll i-feV.i' ,B^.P.l ''* , ' s ' l alH ' Foreign Bible Society. ™~S retiring collection will be taken up in aid of the funds of the Socioty.—Advt.