LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 7, 3 July 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Lord and Lady TsliiiL'toii have made themselves popular aft. Aucklanil, to which city they will always be welcome. Invercargill appears t|o be booming just now. A property Was just changer hands in that town, t,he price representing £2lO per foot, unimproved value. It is proposed t<A hold, in litli), the jubilee of the West Coast goldfields. It will probably take placu at Greymoutli, and already the programme is under preliminary discussion.

The fact tliat the use of the aero-; plane will be'the most advanced fcatatre of Dr. Mawson's forthcoming expedition to the South Pole is creating great intercut.

A Wairanipa settler who is on a visit to Pahiatua informs the Herald that he took lfViS sacks of oaten chaff oh" 20 acres this year, the yield being 2,5 sacks to the ton.

Messrs. Morison and McLean, solicitors, Wellington, have issued a writ, at the instance of Mr. C. A. W. Monckton, against Mr. Uryon Brown, of Otaki, claiming £1250 damages for slander. Here is a rather disquieting fact for staid reflection. Of 78 boys granted exemption after passing the sixth standard by a school committee during last year, only four were apprenticed to productive trades, and 33 are now errand boys. In last week's Gazette is published a copy of the certificate of the death of Tahi Kaka, executed n't Auckland. It is signed by Dr. Murray, Rev. D. Macpherson, v Presbyterian chaplain, the sheriff, the gaoler, th ■ chief warder, and press representatives.

Mr. Grahamc White undertook a contract to deliver cinematograph films of the Coronation by aeroplane to Birmingham, Bristol and Rugby. Immediately afted tne pictures had been taken they were to have been developed and placed in aeroplanes at Heiidon, whence they were to he transported by air to their destinations.

We have recurrent complaints that valuation arc too high, but it is a very singular fact that when the Government suggest taking over properties with ten per cent, added, the owners in nearly every case suddenly discover that they were quite mistaken about the valuation, and that, after all, it was too low.—Palmerston Times.

A Masterton resident, who has been delving into figures in regard to the dairy industry, states that though there has been an increase in the number of cattle in Europe during the past ten years the increase has not been proportionate to -the increase in tlie population. During the period mentioned the population has increased by 13.2 per cent., while the number of "cattle has only increased by 4.4 per cent. The continuous telephone service in New Plymouth was initiated at twelve o'clock on Friday night. Mr. J. W. H. Martin, who had, the hard work of having the improvement effected, was given the honor of opening the service, his conversation being with Mr. E. C. Harrison, at Paparahia, Awakino. The service is already being fairly largely availed of. Last night the telephone service seemed to he in great demand. "Mother of Ten," writing to the editor, asks if the controlling authority will have the entrance to the Recreation Grounds improved. The roadway is composed largely of big road metal, whose projecting angles trip up the uawary kiddies, and,make Mg bruises and cuts on their legs. At least, that is what the. letter says. The roadway is not quite as black as it is painted." but the complaint is easily justified from a mother's point of view. An idea of values in property in Auckland may be gathered from the fact that a block in Queen street, with a frontage of 27ft. 51 in., backing on to Lome street, where it has a frontage of 28ft. 2>/.in., was passed in at auction, a bid" of .t14,5,"i0 being refused. This was equal to £540 per foot of the Queen street frontage, which is occupied by .Messrs. McMaster, Shalders and Co. * Vot another block with frontages of !)3ft. and 49ft. Bin. in Lome street £24.500 was bid and refused.

A Soutlilnml visitor to the Palmerston North winter show, conversing with a representative of the Manawatu Ntanddard, said:. "I have seen the llawera winter show. I was there last year, and my opinion is that if Palmerston is to retain the position it now elnims to hold it will nave to go one lietter, as the saying is. llawera is going to make a big ell'ort to elaim the position of the leading show of the North Island. Palmerston has got Hie lead, and should lie alile to keej) its end up. lint it will have to look to its laurels."

It is understood, says the Dominion, that matters have not been running altogether 1 smoothly with one or two members of the Wellington police force recently. A constable, who has not been long trr "thc~ service, was, it is alleged, discovered on night duty with a bottle of beer in his possession, and reported to headquarters by his sergeant. The matter formed the subject of an inquiry, with the result that a fine was imposed, this lenient treatment being extended ''on account of the fact that the offender was a teetotaller." A matter that will form the subject of a further inquiry is a report by two civilians that they observed a constable in uniform under the influence of liquor last week. There arc some very interesting points in the records of the recent tour of the Sheffield Choir through Canada whilst en route to New Zealand. In Canada the choir gave 02 concerts, at which the aggregate of the audiences was 4.')0,. l ioo. The receptions attended numbered. 37. and the speeches listened to So, The biggest audiences were at Vancouver (three of 0000 people each). The speeches made by Dr. Coward were 3G, all delivered extempore. The choir had 17 rehearsals. Rendered "Sing Ye to the Lord" (its best unaccompanied item) 21 times, delivered "The Dream ol Oerontius., five times, and sung "The, Hells Of St. ilichael's Tower" (the most popular piece on the programme) 46 times. Altogether 522 part-songs were sung, 40 works, and IS selections from works. The choir carries Ccwt. of orchestral music and 21201b. of choral music, and is perfectly trained in 103 separate items, which they can give at a moment's notice. The party will have travelled, when the tour is finished. 34,310 miles, not including pleasure and private excursions on Sundays.

Napier, (lishorne •UlfTi Palincrston NorUv arc the next 'Wee, towns to have electric car Tim proposals in each of these citicv'tiir up-to-date installations are making rapiil progress, lnvercargill's cars are expected to be run ning in Septemlier, ami there is a prospect of a scheme being introduced to enable Tiinaru to instill a ear service.

A farmer in one of the upper districts of Ash burton stated that his Hock recently became affected with a peculiar disease. Acting on the advice of a neighbor', he carted a loan of green pinus intffgmis branches into the paddock, when • the sheep greedily devoured the green needles and the disease disappeared. He contends that the needles of the pine tree are rich in medicinal properties.

During the proceedings at the Supreme Court at Napier. Mr. Dolan pointed out that while the punishment of stealing a bicycle could not exceed two years' imprisonment a man who received it knowing it to have been stolen was liable to be sentenced to seven years. Mr. Justice Chapman said that appeared to be so. ''And further than that," added his Honor, "a man might get fourteen years for stealing a sucking pig while he could not get more than two years for the theft of a motor car!" •

The Kaipara district has been making such rapid strides of late that it has been decided to establish a well-equipped dairy factory. A company has been formed, which will work under the name of the Kaipara Co-operative Dairy Factory Company (Ltd.). and a suitable site has been purchased in Helensville South. In view of the establishing of such a concern, it is expected that a large estate within a short distance of Helensville will be cut up into lots suitable for dairy* farms.

A literary note from over the sea jtates that a French dressmaker has just written a novel . We sincerely hope it will not turn on! to be another specimen of machine-made fiction wherein a tailor-made heroine is pursued by a villain with a seamy past, only to be rescued at the last moment by a dummy hero, who, having sewed his last oat, is now pressing his suit. If it avoids these pitfalls it has a chance of being considerud it ripping good story, and if illustrated with fashion-plates and written without bias, it should be popular.

Tlic fruit market promises to I>e almost swamped l>y shipments of oranges 'anil bananas from Ru'rntoriga and Fiji by the Moana and Mokoia (says the Dunediu Star). Merchants seem to consider it unfortunate that two Island boats should arrive within some twentyfour hours or so, as a better distribution of fruit would be effected if these services did not clash. Of late the market has been supplied well, both from local and distant sources. The local suppliers appear to be near an end. It is expected that when the duty of Id per lb on Australian fruit ih reduced by half on July U the market will be kept well stocked. The most recent fnstance of legal process against an animal occurred at South Bend, Indiana. One of the performers in a travelling menagerie visiting the town was a chimpanzee, who gave a performance on the lines of the rennwned Consul. This included the smoking of a cigarette. A policeman stepped forward and asked for the animal's name, in order that a summons might be issued against him for infringing a recent taw of the Indiana Legislature prohibiting cigarette smoking. In court the. following day it, was pleaded that the chimpanzee could hardly be expected to know the extent of his guilt, nut the Magis£ryJjApuj£c[that ignorance was no excuse lor la'vPCrea'king,' and fln«d the defendant five dollars, which amount was paid. A remarkable rumor spread over Xoumea, the capital of New Caledonia, on June 3. It was freely reported and believed that Germany had declared war on France. Anxious groups met in the atroets, and the newspaper offices were invaded by crowds looking for confirmation of the news. Even the statement of tho Governor that the rumor was false did not have the effect of allaying the alarm of the citizens, for part of the canard was that Australia had made common cause with Cermany and had blocked telegraphic communication with New Caledonia. Some excited persons went so far as to say that the gunboat Kersaint, which was in port at Sydney, had been given urgent orders to get up steam and tuke in ammunition. Noumea went to bed in a fever- and woke up calm.

The Rev. Wells Smailes had a very narrow escape from drowning last Sunday afternoon when returning in a trap from Katikati after conducting a wedding ceremony there (reports a Waihi correspondent'). It appears that the rev. gentleman was giving his horse a drink in a swampy declivity off the road proper between Athenree and Katikati, when the animal attempted to get further out. Mr. Smailes endeavored to turn the horse round when the trap capsized, and fell into deep water, pinning him to the bottom by one leg. The rev. gentleman was completely immersed in some'eight feet of water, but with difficulty lie managed to get his leg free and scramble to the bank in an exhausted condition. Shortly afterwards Mr. Wigley, of Katikati. came along, and assisted Mr. Smailes to resume his journey. The horse escaped any injury, as tlie harness slipped over his back when the trap capsized. fn order to counteract ami-llritisli propaganda, the Government of India has resolved upon the unusual course of issuing weekly newspapers in the native tongue. An agreement has been entered into between the Government, of Heng.il and the editor of tl„, l m ij., n Mirror, Rai N'oremlra Xalh Sen Bahadur, who has undertaken lo publish, on the lines of the Indian Mirror, a weeklv vernacular paper, of which the Covernment engages to subscribe for •J.'j.OOf) copies. The term of the agreement is three years, with the condition that duriii" that period the Rai P.ahardtir retains the paper under his direction. An anniril »nm of R5.C2,r.00 ( ftllill), one quarter of which has been paid in advance, will cover the cost to the Government. The proposal is to distribute tlie copies wide l.v in the districts, in Covernment offices, educational institutions, and the pancbavats. A similar scheme has been undertaken in Eastern Rental and Assam tor one year at a cost, of R5.20,000.

A singular incident is reported from Twakina. A gentleman, as he left the train, casually noticed a turkey lieu with three young ones on the road along which he was to travel, and shortlj afteryards heard a fluttering and rustling of wings where lie had seen the birds. On coming up with them, lie found a hawk lying on the side of the road, struggling with a broken wing. He was forced to the conclusion that iv repelling an attack from the hawk the. turkey had made'a lucky stroke and: broken the wing of the marauder of the air. Roused to admiration at the turkey hen's capable defence of her young, the traveller finished the job so well begun, and administered the coup-de-grace.

Referring to trade returns exports for the past two and a half months are over •a million sterling short when compared with those of the corresponding period ot 1010—i.e., t:),ll83,."i!IO, as against £4,72.1,779. The Trade Review says: ''When the quarter's figures are published, we still expect to find a good balance on the right side of the ledger. It is hardly to be expected that our exports will snow an increase every year, and although the present season falls somewhat short of the previous one, yet a very satisfactory total is attained." The chairman of the Hank of Now Zealand recently sounded a note of warning against over-importation, and it would appear from the figures available that importers should heed this, and keep a careful eye on their requirements when importing, although at present the relations of imports to exports is very satisfactory and gives no cause for fear.'' It was a Stratford lady who had her arm cut in the railway accident on the Main Trunk railway on Thursday night (says the Post). She was sitting with her arm on the sill of a window, and the force of the accident pushed her arm through. The passengers were left in total darkness, and were without heat-, ing, the heat on the train being supplied from the engine, and as this was derailed no beat was available for the carriages. However, some of the gentlemen passengers made the best of things by making a bonfire at the side of the track. The railway officials were courteous and considerate, and did all in their power to improve the lot of the passengers. Taranaki residents travelling on the train were fortunate enough to connect with the special Sheffield Choir train. Te Kauwhata, where the accident occurred, is a small station between Mercer and Huntly.