LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 13, 10 July 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Twenty-five connections with the' municipal electric lighting system were made during the month of June. The initial practices of the New Plymouth (United Gymnasium Society, under the instruetoship of Mr. W. H. Beadle, were well attended, there being several new members. Owing to the hall being engaged on Thursday, the men's class will be heldt as usual on Friday night. All necessary particulars can be obtained from Mr. W. H. Beadle, Gill street, or at St. Mary's Hall on the practice nights. As an indication that difficulty exists in finding suitable homes for a certain class of tenant, says the Auckland Star, it is not unusual to notice a bonus offered in connection therewith. For instance, a resent advertisement read:— 'A £5 bonus will be paid for a suitable i house of five or six rooms at a rental of not more than £l." Qn inquiry a well-knoWn land agent said that houses at a rental of 10s to £ 1 were very scarce. Indeed, his firm had only three, such houses to let within three miles ot the city. During the past month 92 cows, 93 bullocks, 6 calves, 635 sheep, 2 lambs, 137 pigs, and 2 suckers were slaughtered for local consumtpion at the muicipal abattoirs. Compared with the corresponding month, of last year, these figures show an increase of 6 cattle, 4 calves, 27 sheep, and 2 lambs, and a decrease of 76 in the number of pigs. One cow and three pigs were condemned. There were slaughtered for export 13 cows, 1 ox, and 5 bulls. One cow was condemned. The receipts amounted to £124 7s 3d.

In his monthly report to the Borough Council, Mr. H. Black, the electrical engineer, states:—"The past month has been our heaviest, the output being for private lighting and power, more than 5000 units over the output for the corresponding month of last year. On Saturday, June 24, with Coronation illuminations, all the machines at the powerhouse were taking all the load that they could carry.. It was fortunate that the river was fairly high, the rack clean, and the ordinary lighting load not above the normal, as otherwise we might not have been able to take everything. All conditions were favorable, so we just managed." "I believe Mr. Massey, from a rudimentary standpoint," said Mr. Taylor at Richmond recently, "is a pretty honest man. I think he is just about as fit to lead the country in its future policy as he is to take a position as a nursery governess. He-would be just about as successful in one capacity as the other. I think the Opposition is going to frame a policy in Wellington. I have heard of some species of birds to which both male and female assist in hatching out the eggs. Well, at afty rate, Opposition members are gathering from north and south to hatch a policy, and it will be a pretty thing to look at. Whatever Mr. Massey may desire, he is the victim of his environment, and he stands us the mouthpiece of every movement in New Zealand that is conservative and hostile to the progress of democracy."—Lyttelton Times.

The first prize of £IOO in the competition for designs of a Commonwealth stamp was won (as previously cabled) by Mr. Herman Altermann, of St. Killla. and the second money (£SO) divided between Mr. Donald Mackay, of England. and Mr. Edwin A. Arnold, of America. The winning design is the only one of the placed efforts which bears the King's head. It also includes the coat of arms of the various States grouped round the top of the stamp, while an einu and a kangaroo occupy positions on each side. The emu head of Mr. Mackay's design makes a feature of the Australian coat of arms, while the centre of Mr. Arnold's stamp is'a kangaroo. The Postmaster-General (Mr. Thomas) explained that the Government were not committed to adopt any of the winning designs. New York newspapers have got a laugh on Canada that is likely to last. The Canadians have for years been trying to refute the charge that theirs is an exceptionally cold climate. They indignantly resented Rudyard Kipling's reference to their country as "Our Ladv of the snows," and even Montreal abandoned its winter carnival with ice palace features because it tended to advertise tho frigidity of the climate. Quite lately, however, the people of the northwestern province became alarn;ed at a threatened migration to their midst of a lot of negroes from a Southern State. They rose en masse to petition against sucli an invasion, and one of the "indiscreet sections of the petition was to the effect that the climate was too severe for such people, so that they were likely to become public charges. The admission that the climate was too severe for anything proved a fatal one.

In a speech at Wellington a few nights ago Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., ° expressed the opinion that the present Ministry was held in office by virtue of the powers it wielded, not by political belief or ability. He said: "Mr. Fowlds who used to travel New Zealand at his own expense, declaring that single tax was the only real remedy for all "thine® now savs nothing about it, unless taunted with his silence. Mr. Millar does not agree with Mr. Fowhls' on this subject at all. Mr. Millar, does not think any Crown land should be sold. Mr. Tom Mackenzie does not agree with this. T-Ie boieves in freehold, but spvr nothing about, it, as it might annoy ?,Pr. Roddy McKenzie, who believes in continuance, but would not hurt Mr. Buildo's feelings for worlds, as Mr. Bnddo believes in no-lieense, stoats and weasels. .Sir John Findlav, K.C.' believes entirely in Sir Joseph' Ward Bart, and .Sir Joseph Ward. Bart., believes entirely in Sir Jolni Findlay, R.C. However, they are all on top of the coach and all Imbued with a strong desire to remain there at all costs."

YOU SHOULD BEAR IN MIND That r>y using tile Commercial Eucalyptus Oil, which is now bought up at Cd per lb weight and bottle, and, on account of the large profits, pushed, you are exposing yourself to all the dangers to which_ the use of turpentine will expose you—irritation of kidneys, intestinal tract and mucous membranes. By insisting on the GENUINE SANDER EUCALYPTI EXTEACT you not only avoid these pitfalls, but you have a stimulating, safe and effective medicament, the result of a special and careful manufacture. Remember: SANDER'S EXTRACT embodies the result of. 60 years' experience and of special study, and it does what, is promised; it cures aad heals without", injuring the constitution; as the oils on the market frequently do. Therefore, protect yourself v* mjaoting' other hrftnj*.

Mr. H. Okey, M.P., has received a letter from the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, on the matter of the congestion of traffic at the local goods shed, -which was brought to the Minister's notice when he was here recently, Mr. Millar explains how a particular case of congestion occurred, and repeats that it is intended to add eighty feet to the length of the goods shed. All of which we knew \>efore.

A remarkable accident occurred a few days ago at Gisborne. The Herald states that a fox terrier walked into Mr. W. Good's jewellery shop, and thert caught sight of its reflection in a large mirror (about 9ft by sft) that was standing up against the back wall. The terrier made a savage dash towards a supposed antagonist, the consequence being that the dog crashed into tht mirror, which was split right across about 18in up. Tho lower part subsided, letting the main portion of the mirror fall. The dog, although responsible for about £lO worth of damage, was not hurt.

A unique souvenir reached Colonel Porter, C.8., on Coronation Day.. When Colonel Porter was in South Afrjja in command of the 7th New Zealand contingent, amongst a party of prisoners captured in Zululand for harboring wounded Boers, and who were escorted by the New Zealandors to Newcastle, was a Dr. Rheford, a Belgian, with whom the New Zealand officer became intimate, the doctor bivouacking with him. In remembrance of their association on the field. Dr. Rheford sent Colonel Porter a handsomely engraved watch, containing on one cover a relief portrait of King Edward, and on the t other a portrait of King (leorge in admiral's uniform. Inside the cover is another engraving of Britannia mourning the loss of the Peacemaker, and round the rim of the watch is inscribed 1 "God Save 'the ,King." The engravings are very faithful in detp.il, and the watch altogether a valuable and artistic souvenir.

iNewcastle has been the secne of much excitement lately, but no incident caused anything like the commotion the decision of two sailors to desert from the Norwegian barque Arno did. When the story was told in subsequent Police Court proceedings, a shudder ran through the Court. It seems that the men had been taken from Sydney to the northern centre owing to the scarcity of seamen there, but no sooner had they got on board tlmn they resolved to desert, and when the ship got under way the two men jumped overboard in a stretch of water known to bo infested witn sharks. Once clear, the men swam for the shore briskly enough, but, clothed as they were, they soon tired, and it certainly seemed as if they would sink. In the meantime assistance from the pilot steamer went to them, and just in time, too, for had another five minutes elapsed they would certainly have been drowned. The danger of the men's action will be understood when it is stated tliat a sailor, in attempting; to swim ashore in the same locality some time ago, had his head bitten off by a shark.

Considerable candor cluiraeterised the comments of Baron Oura, Minister for Agriculture and Commerce in Japan, on his experiences during his recent tour in Europe. According to a translation of his remarks which were published in the Kobe Chronicle, he considers that "in the important essentials of a great power—wealth and commercial morality —Japan is still too young to be classed among the world's foremost countries." Japanese merchants, the Minister added, are regarded with suspicion, with, the result that their merchandise "cannot pass the Customs authorities on a mere invoice, but is subject to a very rigorous examination, being completely unpacked and minutely inspected," this entailing expense and delay) nis opinion of British methods, on the other hand, affords a striking contrast to those of his own countrymen. "British merchandise." lie declares, "is always more substantial than it is advertised to be. For example, if a piece of cloth is announced to be 30 feet in length, it always measures a little longer; and a similar observation applies in the case of goods sold by weight. In short," he concludes, '"English goods never fail to justify their advertised description." It is to be hoped that this high estimate of British commercial standards is accurate.

"The people there seem to me to be very prosperous," said his Honor • the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) to a Wellington Post reporter, speaking of Rai otonga, from which he has just returned. Everyone, lie added, seemed very busy. While he was there two ships—the Maitai and Talune—left for New Zealand, one with 13,000 and the other with 11,000 cases of fruit, but he believed that if the land were cultivatea fcJio quantity 01 fruit for export could be multiplied thirty or forty times It IS a small island, only twenty-one miles round, hut its soil is very'rich. For about a mile back from the sea the hind is flat and undulating, and will grow anything. 'T was on a planter's section there,' said his Honor, "and saw rubber, cotton, cocoa, tea, coffee and all kinds of tropical fruits growing to perfection. Anything you want you can grow there. The soil is rich Volcanic deposit washed down from the hills by the heavy rainfalls, and under the warm sun the growth is most prolitiic. Tho natives, he went on to say, seemed to work very hard when there was work to do. They always seemed to he working hard while he was there Of course they had not the European faculty of continuous labor, but that was not necessary in such a climate. I.ivmg is easy, fruit is plentiful, and only light clothing is required. Most of the natives have American buggies and light expresses, i„ which thev bring theirproduce to the port for'export. Ihn people are Irappy and pleasant, takng 1. e easily. Recently they have been S-nnh l' Mmtnct with tl,e "»™>atojr aph. run by one Tempo, a half-caste oi'ol I<Unan ' Furtherm( W I there is no