LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 11, 7 July 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Rumors regarding the steady decline of the Pope's health are still heing persistently circulated (says a cable in the Australian papers), it is known for certain that his Holiness is suffering from gout, and that each successive attack serious weakens him. The Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister for Public Works, has advised Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., that his visit to Kawhia will be made as soon as he can make necessary arrangements. He also informed Mr. Jennings that money for the Kihi road has been handed over to the Kawhia County Council for expenditure. "I remember," said Sir George Reid (Australia's High Commissioner, who is Falstaffian in bulk, in a recent speech), "it was towards the close of my public career in Australia. 1 was referring to the time when I should be passing the bourne whence no traveller returns, when a voice rang out from the audience: 'My word, George, the fat will be in the lire then!' My only safety lay in heartily joining in the laugh." A little incident which happened during the Sheffield Choir's brief stay in Palmerston on Friday (says the Standard) is creating amusement. While the performers were refreshing themselves before continuing the journey to Wellington, Dr. Coward had to submit as gracefully «s possible to the questioning of a rather insistent local scribe. ''Yes," said the doctor, "a great deal of responsibility and worry attaches to the tour of such a large organisation as the Sheffield Choir." Replied the modest scribe: "Pm sure of it. I've had a little experience that way myself. You know. I've managed one or two touring football teams." Collapse of the choirmaster! . The front page of the massive Times Empire Supplement, issued by the Times, is taken up by a'line advertisement for New Zealand. There are pictures of Milford Sound, a bit of Milford Track, Cabbage Tree Grove, Woodside, Tamahere, the dredging industry, and Taranaki, the centre of dairy farming, as well as a portrait of the Prime Minister. The letterpress deals with agriculture, cattle-raising, the timber trades, water power and electricity, maritime and minerals. In the body of the supplement a half-column disposes of the progress of New Zealand during 1011, the subjects referred to being the new defence scheme and advances to settlers.

REXONA, THE RAPID HEALER. R»xona is a reliable remedy for all eruptions and irritations of the skin, ecaema, pimples, sores, chilblains, chapped hands, sciatica, itching or bleedin* piles, cuts, burns, bruises, scalds, bad leg*, stints of insects, aid all kinds of i»rkinm«t»on. Rexojwt i» wld tnly in Wasgula* pots at la Mmi 9*. Obtaifl»lsl« at Bullock and J^ksfiton'a."

On the same day on which the barque Duncraig cleared Liverpool for Wellington, the barque Margit left for New Plymouth, and a race ensued on the long voyage. The Duncraig arrived in Wellington on Sunday morning last, and her rival made New Plymouth at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Duncraig therefore ibeat her opponent by two days. The annual general meeting of the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Liberal and Labor Federation was held last night, when there "was a fairly good attendance. Mr. Berry was elected president. The party has decided to run a candidate at the forthcoming general election, but no selection will be made until after the boundaries of the electoral district have been adjusted. The borough inspector, Mr. B. Tippins, secured three convictions in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. H. S. Fitzherbcrt, S.M., for breaches of the borough by-laws. H. Goodacre was fined 5s and costs for driving at night without proper lights affixed to his vehicle. Frank S. Johns, for cycling on a footpath, was fined 2s 6d and costs, and the same treatment was meted out to Marjorie Glasgow for a similar offence.

A large and enthusiastic meeting of settlers was held at the residence of Mr. W. J. Parsons, Wai-iti, Pukearuhe, and it was unanimously decided to form a branch of tne Mokau-Waitara Railway League. A committee of five was appointed to confer with delegates from other branches of the League. They were given power to make a levy on members to cover the cost of sending a representative to Wellington, or for other necessary expenses. It was also decided to recommend to the Urenui executive that a petition be circulated for signature in all the outlying districts as soon as possible.

"Foveaux Strait, in the vicinity of Centre Maud lighthouse," writes Mr. 6. McPherson to the Balchitha Free Press, "is at present teeming with whales, and every day large numbers of them may be seen sporting and spouting in the sunshine. In some instances they are seen to jump bodily out of the water and fall back on their sides, making a splash like a tidal wave, which can be seen at a distance of several miles. It is reported that they travel north for the winter, and return in the spring, and this probably accounts for their presence in such large numbers. I think if a whaling station were established on Stewart Island it would do well."

While advocating his Council of Empire scheme at the Imperial Conference, Sir Joseph Ward said there should not be any interference by one portion of the Empire with another in regard to

questions connected with the local land

forces. No doubt all parts of the Empire would carry out the conditions required for effective land forces and for the protection from the interior of their respective territories. New Zealand, for instance, would shortly have a mobile land force of some 80,000 trained men. But the naval defence of the Empire as a whole was a matter of the first consequence to all parts of the Empire, and that was why he looked forward to the possibility of co-ordination and co-oper-ation in order to provide a more powerful oversea navy than could at present exist. On his recent visit to England the Kaiser impressed people as a very charming gentleman. A well-known Australian actress, writing to a Sydney paper, says: "His photos do not do him justice; no, not a little bit. He seemed a large man, seated beside our King, his magnificent face radiant with smiles, and his eagle eyes lit up with gracious affability—his manner is characterised by a personality and impressiveness that charms the soul of anyone who has seen the world. And if he is not a good and gallant gentleman in the true sense of the word, then 'looks go for nothing.' His manner of bowing to the acclamation of delighted crowds is a masterpiece of gracefulness." A correspondent writes to a contemporary asking if a Union Jack, without a border, can be flown over any building. The reply of the authorities is that the Union Jack is the national flag, and can, of course, be flown over any building. The Union .tack with a white border is a signal for a pilot, but it may be flown from any buili.mg. The Union Jack with any badge in the centre may not be flown unless authorised; St. George's Cross can only be used by the Navy; the White Ensign is for men-of-war only; the Royal Standard is only to he used by Government House; the Blue Ensign is only for the Royal Navy Reserve; the Red Ensign with the Admiralty badge or colonial device is only for tne Admiralty and defence vessels.