LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 69, 12 September 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is assumed that Mr. Fowlds will retain the prolix of "Honorable," as the right to do so is usually accorded to one who has been a Minister for three years or more. A Masterton land and estate agent informed a.Times reporter that there is at the present time more inquiries for farms in the Masterton district than has been the case for some years. A number of ■properties have changed hands during the past two or three weeks. The Otago Daily Times, reverting to Messrs. Adams Bros.' bill of costs 011 the Licensing Bill, says: "We are not exactly in a position to say what barristers' earnings in New Zealand are, but if -they arc at the rate of £309 <ss fld for six weeks, or tliiCO per annum, then we congratulate the leading members of the profession u|ii)n the lucrative nature of their calling."

The' frequency of applications by athletic and other societies for help from the public was a subject of discussion at the, Masterton Borough Council tln { other evening, and the Mayor said a rather good thing:—"My experience—and it is a pretty extensive one, too—of the young man of Masterton is that he lias had a lot done for him in the past, and the time has certainly arrived for him to help himself!" At Stratford, during the hearing of a judgment summons case, the debtor pleaded that he could not pay, but the debtor had been present with a young lady at the performance, of "The Bad Girl o>f the Family," the entertainment costing him eight shillings. The debt was for clothes. The magistrate said a man who could afford to patronise entertainments could pay his debts, and made an order for payment forthwith, in default 14 days' imprisonment. There have been some very-discredit-able scenes in the South Australian Legishitive Council of late. On a recent occasion the Minister for Agriculture did not reply to a question by Mr. Bice, who then referred to the Minister as an "absolute slmMer/' To this the Minister replied, "You are an infernal scoundrel!' ITon. members exclaimed, • "Sliame! shame:'' as well theymiglrt. Another member ejaculated, referring to the Minister, "I would not like to die in the same paddock as you." This is a nice example to those whom they represent. ■

A strange visitor, in the shape of an eight-foot, seal, was recently found 1 on the beach near the dill's by Mr. A. Ward. He lost no time in preparing to capture his ilrnl, and with Messrs. Barashdttom, T. Egan, and A. IMII, went to the beach with ropes and a cart. They managed to put a noose over the seal's nose without, much difficulty, and.very soon' had him' tied safe on board the dray. His captors intend keeping him until they can ascertain if he will be welcomed at the Aramoho Zoo. T| not, his thick grey skin will be of considerable value.—Pa tea Press. A remarkable visitation of luck came to two young men in the land ballot at Mart-on hist week. One of the young men, practically a newcomer to the Dominion, arrived in Wanganui a little wliile ago. and. when discussing his.prospects with a friend there, the hitter suggested that tie should try his luck in the land ballot of the Retaruke block. The youuir man bethought himself of an Knglish friend in another part of the Dominion, and tliev decided to enter. Xeither had seen the land in question, ami neither would have been any wiser if they had seen it, but, acting 011 the advice of the Wanganui friend, who is also a farmer (but who had not seen the land, though he had procured a plan and a few hints), the young men entered for two adjoining sections. Strange to say. out of a large number of applicants they were lucky in the ballot. " I would give £IOO,O to be in their shoes." said a fanner, "they have secured the pick of the block.''

At Eotormi. a unique sight can lie ollVml to visitors and residents, for "many have, never seen it (says the Auckland Star). Strolling along the banks of the Utnhiria, for an afternoon walk, past'Slm'ilFs farm, and inspecting the stream as one goes, hundreds and thousands of trout will be seen at the bottom. There they are, ranged by companies, and battalions, like soldiers on review. The heads are all up-stream, and the tails are gently waving to keep them in their positions in the ranks. They have eome from the lake to spawn in shallow water where, there is a sandy or shingly bottom. It is a beautiful and wonderful sight, especially to those from the Old Country accustomed to half and three-quarter pounders; for here can be seen many trout that would tip the scale at ten pounds. At this time of year the fish are somewhat lethargic and not difficult to cateli by hand, ali'ording an opportunity to those in authority to weed out the thin, diseased, and useless. A visit to the t'tuhina will prove delightful. The only wish that must be left ungratified is the desire to drop a "Marsh Brown" or a "Blue Doctor" over one of the leaders of the piscatorial army.

■ The Chief Postmaster informs us that ft money-order office and savings bank is to ibe opened at Uruti under the charge of Air. T. (J. Mallett on the Kith insf. ">•••••

The promoters of last week's Deacon Fund concert have net proceeds amounting to £8 5s in hand, and there are some ticket returns to come. Those having ticket money are asked to hand it in so that the money can be handed over.

The electrical engineer reported to the Borough Council last night that one tender had 'been received (in connection with the electric light extension) for the foreibay contract, and one for the ironwork only. Three tenders had been received for this—one 'for wood' stave ,pipes and two for riveted steel pipes. None included excavating or concrete work. The tenders are to be dealt with at an adjourned meeting of the Council. The weekly session of the Egmont Lodge, No. I'l2, 1.0. G.T., was held in the Templar Hall last night. The C.T., "Bro. J. Sailt, presided. Two friends were proposed and one initiated. The Mission Committee will meet on Tuesday night. A' '•parliamentary" election took place. | The following were candidates: Government, Bros. E. Pepperill; Laixor, Bra. jO. Hayden; Independent. Bro. J. -Salt; Oppositionist, Bro. A. White. The candidates were given a good hearing, tho Government always coming out on top. The September issue of "Progress" is a l'ail-way number, tho major portion of this instructive and entertaining periodical being devoted to a bright and interesting account of the railways of New Zealand, from the pen of Will Lawson. Beginning with the broad gauge, which was laid in Canterbury in the late "fifties," the author deals graphically with the subsequent conversion of the line to the present gauge and the building of other railways on similar gauge in the various centres. Interesting chapters comprise those on the Midland Railway Company's operations, the WellingtoiiManawatu Company's successful career, the Aucklnnd-to-Tnvereargill mail service, and the history of the express engines of this Dominion. The Borough Council received a letter last night from the Rangiota Borough Council, UTging the establishment of a State censorship of pictures films exliiWted in public entertainments. At an entertainment there recently three dims were shown which were utterly unfit for children's eyes. One of them represented two murders; a second pictured a husband's infidelity, a murder and a suicide; whilst a third suggested a marriage as the only way of escape from disgrace brought on by pre-nuptial wrongdoing. These films, the writers were told, were typical of one-tenth of the pictures now being shown througliout New Zealand, and such being the case the Rangiora Council was strongly of opinion that some steps should be taken to -check this growing evil. The Mayor said he frequently attended picture shows, and lie'was glad to say that the state of things referred to had not been reached in New Plymouth yet. Of course, if picture companies were putting on entertainments' =uch as the letter described, the. Council should do its best to have the public protected. Or. Clarke: There are plenty of murders in all the ipietures. Cr. Gilbert: Too .big a matter for us to tackle. Cr. Stoeker: Tt's the public taste, I suppose. Cr. Gilbert: A lot of the hooks in circulation ought to be stopped. T think. That would be of more use. —The letter was "received." Messrs. Hardiwicke and Dunks, contractors, of New Plymouth, who are av present working near Rialiotu, were aroused from their peaceful. slumbers about 3 a.m. on -Saturday by a plaintiff voice repeatedly crying out, "Kill me, father! Kill me, father!" On getting up to investigate, they discovered a man in en adjacent paddock, stripped to tlio waist, standing -lmfore a rough cross, which lie bad fashioned out of .building timber, with a knife in one hand and a pointed) stick in the other. They took jiiin. to Rahotu, about a mile distant, and as he appeared to have become more rational, left him in a stable, while they roused Constable Kelly. On returning, the quairrv had flown, but. was discovered some time later by Constable Kelly wandering aimlessly aiwut. As he appeared t® be suffering from religiousmania, Constable Kelly brought him into town yesterday, and he was finally committed to the asylum by Mr. 'l'itzhor•bert, S.-M. Tlis name was Pram-is "Moore, and he had recently arrived in the district, having walked from Wellington, and no doubt the exposure and want of food have been contributory causes. He bore a striking resemblance to Powelk-a, excepting that he was about two inches shorter. It speaks much for the common sense of the residents of that district that a Powelka sea-re haxl not been raised during the few days of his wanderings thereabouts.