LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 66, 8 September 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The election of a councillor for the West Ward of the borough takes place to-day. Messrs. 11. J. Gilbert and N. Maunder are the candidates. The body of the young man who was found at the foot of Marsland llill oil Sunday, and who since died in the hospital, was identified yesterday by Mr. and Mrs. McSporran, of Auckland, as their son, who had been missing since August 30. The Works Committee of the Borough Council cannot see its way to recommend the granting of the request of the residents for the extension of the water mains to McLean street, Fitzroy, until the Greater New Plymouth scheme is an accomplished fact. The Council will then take into consideration the matter of launching a scheme for the complete reticulation of the added portions of the borough. The fine spring weather of last month has made those engaged in the seed trade exceptionally busy, and we have the assurance of one firm that never in their history have they had such a strenuous month as that just closed. So acute is the pressure that they have decided to close their doors for one day in the week until such time as they can pull up arrears of work, and this notwithstanding a considerably increased stall'. Asked as to whether there was any other reason beyond the weather, the reply was that the increasing settlement, of the suburban districts, where each householder, generally speaking, has his quarter-acre section, was a great factor in increasing the sale of garden seeds, while in the country a much larger area than usual was evidently being sown out in pasture grasses. In the S.M. Court yesterday morning, before Messrs. 11. F. Russell and F. C. •I. Kcllringcr, J.l'.'s. several offenders were convicted for breaches of the borough by-hnv>. .lames Morrison was lined r>s and costs 7s on the information of Inspector Tippins, for cycling on the footpath in Devon street west,. There was no appearance of the defendant, who entered a plea of guilty. The inspector also proceeded against W. 11. I tonlion for leaving a horse unattended ill King street, and a fine of os. with costs 7s, was indicted. I'pon the information of the police, .1 ohn Smith was lined ."is and costs 7s for cycling at night without lights. Denis Downey, charged with being found- drunk in ISrougham street, was convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The ca-.ic of Mary Ann Smith v. .1. C. Smith, disobedience of a -maintenance order, was adjourned for a week. For influenza take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Never fails. Is 6d and 2s 6d.

Afternoon and evening rehearsals of "The Pirates of Penzance" were held yesterday by the New Plymouth Amateur Operatic Society. Good progress is l)cing made with'the opera, which is to be staged shortly. The crusade against the ruts is still being steadily pursued by the _ Health Department in Auckland. The number of rodents received by the department last week was alxnit nine.ty, which is under Uie weekly average of the last few weeks. No traoo of disease was found in any of the rats.

Numerous property-owners in the borough, whose properties are not yet connected with the sewers, have been repoi ted to the Borough Council for their failure to connect. The Works Committee recommends the Borough Council to give them notice requiring them to connect with the sewer within a month, and, in the event of their not complying with the requisition, that proceedings be taken to enforce compliance in every case. During the voyage of the Tainui from London there was an outbreak of measles among the third-class passengers, but with no serious results. Some excitement occurred on board when the vessel was at Hobart, n young woman attempting to jump overboard. The prompt action of the boatswain (MoPherson), however, frustrated the attempt. The woman was subsequently medically examined. and was refused permission to land by the port health officer. Maryland Ilill is just now undergoing a "spring cleaning" at the hands of a gang of prisoners, who are grubbing up and burning the fern and weeds. , The Beautifying Association is "footing the bill" for this care of the public domain, and is also paying for the tar to l>e used in the tarring of the paths by the borough workmen. The funds of the association are running very low, and some function is to be arranged with a view to replenishing the coffers, so that this excellent work, initiated by the late Mr. Tisch. can be carried on. What appears to have been a deliberate attempt to interfere with the drainage system of the town is disclosed in a report of Mr. Skitrop to the Borough Council, On August 10th, lie reports, the sewer became blocked: in the little lane leading from Carrie street street to the septic tank, and after trying unsuccessfully to move the obstruction with the sewer rods' the workmen had to sink a hole and cut the sewer pipe. After several hours' labor with the rods and water-hose they cleared the pipe of the obstruction, which consisted chiefly of about a cubic yard of beach gravel. How this stuff came into the sewer is left to the imagination, hut it seems improbable that it got there accidentally.

It is suggested that the several little foot-bridges in the borough, such as those across the Huatoki at B,lines' Terrace and across the Mangaotuku in Outfield road, would look all the better for a coat of paint, besides which they would doubtless last longer. The same remark applies to the protective fence just erected outride the Good Templars' Hull bv the municipality. A sum of €5 was granted for the work of improving the footpath at this corner and making a decent approach to the hall. Nearly £1 of this sum remains unexpended, which would more than Mitlice to put 'th{> finishing touches on the job. Then the Council might turn its attention to (lie footpath on the other side of the Carrington road, and make it reasonably even and safe for pedestrians.

An unu-ual sight was witnessed by the officers of the steamer Ka.ramea on the voyage from London to Montreal. When approaching the coast of Newfoundland the vessel was delayed for two days by heavy -fogis. The fog lifted on Monday, June I'2. find the Ka.ramea entered Belle Isle Straits, between Labrador and Newfoundland. Here several largo icebergs were seen. By midnight the ice became so thick that"it was advisable to reduce the vessel's speed. At 2.30 a.m. the Belle Isle Straits presented a magnificent picture, being one vast mass of pack ice. with large icebergs looming high in the air at intervals as far as the eye could see. At daylight the officers were able to obtain a' clear view of the spectacle, which thc-v describe as magnificent. The ice wis too thick for the vessel to plough her way through, and at. sunrise (3 a.m.) her course was altered for Cape Race, thus taking the circuitous route up the St. Lawrence to 'Montreal.