LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 295, 8 May 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During the month of April there were shipped from New Plymouth to Onehunga 2489 sheep, 32 head of cattle, ami 33 calves. At Messrs. Webster Bros.' mart sale on Saturday, pure-bred pullets were in demand. White Leghorns realised 5s sd. black Minorcas 5s 4d, brown Leghorns 4s Id. In each instance the pullets were particularly well bred, and on the point of laying. A year ago four veterans of the Tnninaki wars were yarning over old times at the corner of Devon and Brougham streets, nnd agreed that they (or any of those left) would meet at the same place on the same day next year. On Saturday last the year was up, and the four veterans assembled at the time and place arranged and celebrated the occasion.

A young man had a very unpleasant experience whilst riding along Liardet street on Saturday morning. His horse, which was rather lre»h, shied at a man-hole, and after a few vigorous plunges dislodged.its rider. The youth hung on to the reins, until the steed, kicking out vigorously, struck him on the chest, and he was forced to let go. he escaped without injury, although his clothing was somewhat damaged.

A remarkable case of deliberate suicide by an animal was witnessed by a resident of Hamilton recently, says the Auckland Star. A sorry-looking grey horse was seen standing with its forefeet in the water on the Hamilton East side of the Waikato river, at a spot near Mr. H. J. Greenslade's residence, gazing despondently into the stream. It occupied this position for about half an hour, when it suddenly jumped into the river, and repeatedly immersed its head, slowly drifting down stream the while, until when about fifty yards distant from the spot where the plunge was taken the poor beast was as dead as the. proverbial doornail. In the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning, before Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., Frederick William Hetherington appeared on remand charged with drunkenness and with procuring, liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. Mr. Johnstone appeared for defendant, who pleaded guilty. Mr. Johnstone, in asking that iv fine should be imposed, stated that defendant's friends were arranging for private treatment. On the charge of procuring liquor a fine of 1-fts, with costs 19s (kl (including 17s fid medical expenses), was inflicted, and om the charge of drunkenness a conviction was recorded. A first-offending inebriate who hailed from Mokau was also convicted and discharged.

The annual report and accounts of Queen Anne's Bounty show that the funds held by the governors in money and stock have increased to upwards of £7,380,000. These funds represent capita] belonging to upwards of 0500 benefices. The amount of first fruits and rents due in 1910 was £16,830 4s 10d., and the surplus of general revenue was £10,171 10s lid,' making an aggregate amount of £27,008 Is Ort available for year 1911. From the establishment of the corporation the benefactions and grants amount to the aggregate of £8.283,521 14s, but the total capital addition to the endowments of poor benefices resulting from the operations of the corporation is largely in excess of this amount, many investments having from time to time been made in the purchase for particular benefices of estates which have since increased in value.

Mambera of the Equitable Building Society of N«tv Plymouth (First and Second Groups) are notafiod that subscriptions will be due and payable today (Monday), a.t tho Secretary's Office, Oiirrie street, from fl a.m. to 12.30, from Kp.ni. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.—

There are now 695 connections with the municipal electric light and power supply system. The official opening of the Eltham municipal gas works and town hall will take place to-day. The former function will be at 3.30 p.m., the latter at 8 p.m. The town streets will be lighted for the first time by gas. At a meeting of the committee ot the Presbyterian Church held on Friday evening the secretary was instructed to write to the following ministers in regard to filling the vacancy caused by the retirement of the Rev. S. S. Osborne: Rev. McCully, Turakina; Rev. Q. McDonald, Mataura; Revs. Roosevelt, Westland and Marshall, Wellington. The abattoir manager reports that during the month there were slaughtered at the New Plymouth abattoirs for local consumption: Eighty cows, 70 bullocks, eight calves, 550 sheep, 93 lambs, 197 pigs, and five suckers; and 124 tripes were cleaned. Compared with the corresponding month of last year, this shows an increase of two calves, 37 lambs, 16 pigs, and five suckers, and a decrease of 12 cattle, 27 sheep, and 22 tripes. One cow, one bullock, and four pigs were condemned. Two cows and seven bulls were slaughtered for export. During the month fees had been collected amounting to £l2O 14s 9d, an increase of 14s.

The speakers at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday evening on the important subject of "Home Rule for Ireland," will be Mr. H. A. Redmond, M.P. for East Tyrone, and Mr. Donovan, B.L. Mr. Redmond is a son of the leader of the Irish Parliamentary party in the House of Commons, and is the youngest M.P. in that assembly. Mr. Donovan is a solicitor in practice at Dublin. Both are gifted orators, and persons attending on the occasion will hear from these accredited delegates what Home Rule means. There is no charge for admission to the hall. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Tisch) hag kindly consented to lake the chair.

The annual meeting of St. Mary's choir was held on Friday evening, the Rev. J. Wilkinson, curate-in-charge, presiding. The statement of accounts presented by Mr. H. M. Bannister, hon. secretary and treasurer, showed a credit balance of £53. It was resolved that a substantia! amount be handed over to the vestry in reduction of the debt of £2OO on the organ. The following officers were elected:—Hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. M. Bannister (reelected); librarian, Miss Gideon (reelected) ; committee, the vicar, choirmaster, secretary, librarian, Misses Standish and Putt, and Messrs. T. Woodard and B. J. Clark; custodians of vestments. Miss Hall (ladies) and Mr. Taylor (men's).

A serious tragedy was narrowly averted on board the new destroyer ■Nautilus in the Clyde recently. One of the crew entered the forecastle at 5.30 in the morning to wake his comrades, and found ten of them lying unconscious in their bunks. He raised an alarm, and the men were carried at once into the fresh air. Two medical men were summoned by telephone, and after a while the men were restored to consciousness, but they remained in an exhausted state for a considerable time. It was discovered that a coke-fed stove had been burning in the forecastle, whence there was no escape for the fumes, which had asphyxiatod the men. The medical men declared that if the sailors had remained in their bunks much longer they would have lost their lives.

Mr. Hiram Maxim has declared that baked pork and beans is the best food in the world, and goes even a step further. He,stated in an interview with a Daily Express representative- that this dish is unequalled as a producer of good looks, bright eyes, and a peach-like complexion. In confirmation of this remarkable declaration, he pointed to the fine features, splendid health, and symetrical figures of the girls employed in his inhaler factory at Norwood. "I will challenge any one," he said, "to find such a healthy, good-looking set of workpeople." The Express representative, who made a tour of the rooms, readily agreed with Sir Hiram's eulogy. "And they are good workers too," the famous inventor added. "If you ask me what has done most to bring about this desirable state of things, I shall reply, 'Mainly baked beans and pork.'"

How Great Britain maintains her supremacy in the merchant shipping of the world is demonstrated in the statistical abstract for foreign countries, just issued by the Board of Trade. Comparative figures are given from 1809 to 1909, and it is seen that the tonnage ownea by Great Britain advanced by 2,400,000 tons in that period to 11,58(1,000 tons; Germany's total in 1909 was 2,859,000 tons, or an increase of 1,122,000 tons: and France owned 1,444,000 tons, or an advance of 486,000 tons. The totnl for Japan was 1,000,000, for Italy 1,000,000 tons, for Russia 700.000 tons, and for Norway 1,581,000 tons. The United States owned in 1909 a total registered tonnage of 887,500 tons, representing a growth of only 39,000 tons, but if vessels employed in the river, lake and home trades be included, the total is raised to 6,501,000 tons, and the increase: works out at 2,500,000 tons.

The body of King Chulalongkorn of Slam, who died last October, was cremated in Bangkok early in March (says a Reuter telegram). Followed by King Vnjiraoudh and the princes on foot, the body was conveyed through the streets thronged with silent, white-clad people. After the body had been placed upon a magnificently decorated platform the new king set the funeral pyre alight. According to Siamese custom the remains of a king should be kept thus for from two to five years, but King Vajiroudh determined that preparations should begin at once for the cremation. According to practice everyone present at the ceremony is provided with a taper and an inflammable wreath of imitation (lowers, made of wood shavings. The service concluded, the new king, after lighting his taper at a holy lamp, lights the pyre and retires. The others present then,' in order of precedence, light their tapers and add them with their wreaths to the pyre. The ashes are afterwards collected in an urn and placed in some royal palace. The cremation ends the period of mourning.

APRIL BLANKET SALE. Quantities, varieties and values for this sale at the Melbourne are beyond any attempt to compete with it. We don't tell trade secrets, but we don't mind letting customers know that, for various good and sufficient reasons, we obtained unusually low prices on the blankets bought for this sale. Stock up for winter. Nothing talks like price. Here are figures. You'll not buy like this later! White blankets, single-bed size, Ds fld pair; double-bed size, 17s Cd pair. Heavy blue-grey blankets, singlebed, 8s 9d pair; three-quarter size, 12b 6d pair. All-pure-wool N.Z. blankets, three-quarter-bed size, 17s 6d pair; full double-bed size, 21s pair. Fine white Roslyn blankets, long fibre N.Z. wool, assorted borders, good heavy weight, three-quarter size, 18s Cd; full doublebed size, 24s fid. High-grade blankets, superfine merino long staple wool, snowy white, beautiful soft finish, with uncommon border, full double-bed size, 27s Cd; extra large size, 32s Cd. Above prices for this sale only. We reserve right of limiting quantities.Advt.