LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 76, 20 September 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Courtenay street and Central Schools re-opened yesterday aifter the measles vacation. There were about fifty absentees.

Mr. J. C. Spedding, of Auckland, who has been on a visit to New Plymouth, leaves for Wellington by the mail train this morning. Messrs. C. Sole and W. C. Green have been elected to the directorate of the Rahotu Co-operative Dairy Company. There were seven candidates.

There was a cold "snap" yesterday, and no one was surprised to learn that snow fell at the North Egmont Mountain House yesterday morning, starting at 7 o'clock, and continuing throughout the day. On the. motion of Mr. Quilliam (Govett and Quilliam) probate of the will of the late Mr. Gustavo Tiscli has been granted by the Supreme Court to Mrs. Fanny Tisch and Francis John Webb, the executors named in the will.

Bee farming seems to be flourishing in the Waikato. A correspondent states that a local apiary exceeds 1000 colonies, extended over many miles of country, and a motor-car is used by the proprietors for the purpose of travelling from one station to the other.

A Tailiape correspondent says that limber which is purchased from the mills for 10s per 100 ft is sold to customers at 245. aud that similar timber can be purchased cheaper in Wellington after being sent down from Tailiape than it can be got at Tailiape. Another case of the nearer the produccT the dearer the produce.

The scientific dairyman needs both drought resisting crops for the hot summer weather and various root and other crops, -with- ensilage, for winter feeding. Prizes for the test dairying farm in a district, for the greatest economy in working a farm, for the greatest production of butter-fat per acre, and for similar practical purposes, would <lo much to popularise progress in 'an industry which is most deserving of sympathetic consideration from the GovernmentAuckland Herald.

Speaking at the Australian Museum, Sydney, recently, Mr. W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S.,' made an'attack on the performances of so-called "trained fleas." "Trained fiddlesticks!" said the lecturer. "A man might as well attempt to train fleas to do set acts as to hang his hat on the crescent moon." The fleas, it seems, are cured of their habit of jumping by being imprisoned in a glass ease, where they find the process of hopping painful, aiid soon learn to crawl. After that they arc gummed to their position in a set piece, and act only by the light of nature. "The whole thing is," said the lecturer, "nothing more nor less than a showman's trick."

The arrest of a new recruit for the United States army, who gave his name as Peters, has been followed by some strange and romantic disclosures. "Peters" was recruited in Indianapolis, and it was not long before his behaviour persuaded the military authorities that he had joined the army with motives distinctly ulterior. Strict enquiries made as to "Peters' " antecedents led to a remarkable statement being made by a young American lady. It appears that the lady met "Peters" on an ocean liner on the way to the States. He represented himself to be an Austrian nobleman. Count Windisehgraetz. They became engaged, and in the course of time the Count confided to the lady that his object in visiting America was to obtain the secret of the manufacture of the new American explosive, dunnitc, which is .supposed to be the most powerful chemical agent of destruction yet invented, and which is being used for loading shells for the. 'United States forces. The lady has supplied the military authorities "with an affidavit, detailing her acquaintance with the Count, who. she says, came from Prague, and his subsequent confessions to her.

An exciting experience has fallen to the lot of Mr. <"!. Maitland Edwards, F.G.S.. a well-known oil expert, while investigating 'oil lands for an influential group,of financiers in London, on and around the Sea of Marmora. Mr. Edwards had occasion to travel up country to Miyriophito, some 80 miles inland from Constantinople. His work led him into the hilly district, to which he had been guided from his camp by a shepherd. During this journey the shepherd noticed at least half a dozen suspicious looking men, evidently tracking them. Recognising the character of these men, the shepherd immediately gave warning to the gendarmerie of the district. A small party of soldiers was thereupon got together, and, seeking Mr. Edwards and his companion, escorted them to a Greek monastery at Hora. The party of gendarmes then returned and succeeded in surrounding the brigands, and when night came on a pitched battle was fought, one of the brigands being killed. In communicating this incident Mr. Edwards specially emphasises the fact of the promptness of the authorities in dealing with the matter and their anxiety that no harm should come to him, and that steps should be taken for him to continue his work unmolested. '

Moa hones have been found in a deep cutting towards the southern moutk of ,the new Chain Hills railway tunnel (Hays a Duncdin paper). One Jarge thigh bone, in thorough preservation, hag been unearthed from a cut over 50ft bolow the surface, and it is expected that when •the cutting is opened out to its full width some interesting and possibly important finds will come to light. The moa to which thin big bone belonged probably lay down there over a, thousand years ago, as it is all solid ground thereabouts.

Thine doctors were operating on a man for appendicitis (says Success). After the operation was completed one of the doctors missed a small sponge. The patient was reopened, the sponge found within, and the man was sewed up again. Immediately the second doctor missed a needle. Again the patient was opened and closed. Then the third doctor missed a pair of scissors. "Gentlemen," said the victim, as they were about to open hint up again, "for Heaven's sake, if" you': c going to keep this up, put buttons on me." Despite the introduction of up-to-date machinery into New Zealand, and the modern methods of farming now prevailing, there are evidently a few of the "old school" who stick to old-fashioned methods and leave "new-fangled irtstruI meats" (as they call them) severely alone, says "Mercutio" in Auckland Herald. (A day or two ago a local "vet" had occasion to visit a fanner whose horse was ailing. The surgeon took out his 1 stethoscope and placed it on the horse, listening intently. The farmer gazed silently in astonishment for some time, until at last he remarked, in tones of wonder, "Well, I'll be Wowed; I've heard a lot about wireless telegraphy, tout it's the first time I've seen 'em use a telephone on a horse." In the S.M. Court yesterday morning, Mr. 11. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., presiding, judgment by default was given in the following cases:—Joseph Manson (Mr. Johnstone) v. Mcrania Rcmene, claim £5 58, and costs £1 8s Od; Bullock and Johnston (Mr. Hutchen) v. Sidney Herbert Phipps, claim £2 13s 3d, and costs 10»; John Roberts v. William Taylor, claim £2 2s, costs 10s; A. C. H. Collins (Mr. 'Hutchen) v. Linda Edwards, claim £3 12s Od, costs 10s; E. S. Bayley (Mr. Hutchen) v. Alex B. Stewart, claim £lO 10s, costs £1 12s (W; Charlotte A. Whitaker, as executrix of the will ot the Lite Joseph Whitaker (Mr. Hughes) v. William Jenkins, flojm ,iW> 3s, costs £l. (is 6d; Clank Bros. (Mr. Johnstone) v. Wharton L. Humphries, claim £3 8s 2d, cO'-ts lis; Frederick George Scrivener (Mr. Bewley) v. Harry Eva, claim £5 ;is 2d, costs'£l 3« Od.

The London Daily News reports a motor-cycle boom which is keeping the manufacturers of Coventry busy to their limit. The ever-growing popularity of these machines is shown by round figures compiled from official sources. Two years ago there were (10,000 in actual use in •this country. Last year the numtor increased to 80,000, and it is estimated that when the official returns are published next month there will be well over 100,000 on the register. Coventry and Birmingham together are now turning out about 1000 motor-bicycles a week. "Wo cannot supply them fast enough," said one firm, "and one firm in New Zealand offered to buy the. whole of our output for next year. The much-maligned motor-cycle has penetrated to the wilds of Australia, Africa, and even .to those, places whore there is only a narrow track and where motor-cars are unknown."

"There has come to the'e shores a man who should be welcomed more than the prince of some minor State or one of the world's 'great men,' born to their rank and fame. For Thomas Edison," sayu the Chronicle, "who landed at Fishguard on Monday la-st, and has now travelled to London, has changed many of the material conditions of modern life, to a greater extent perhaps than any living roan. Mr Edison would not divulge the details of his latest invention, but he referred to his electric accumulator for motor-cars and rail-roads. The chief feature of this is that the casing is composed of niekellod steel, giving the advantage of extreme lightness compared with the old lead storage batteries. It is half the weight, whilst the power may be increased to any point. The cost of running is half that of petrol, whilst the recharging of the battery may be performed at any electric supply during an interval of twenty minutes. Asked about his cinephonograph, Mr Edison spoke highly of its success. Ho had two theatres in NewYork, where performances were given nightly, at a cost qf £I4OO per week. When" sufficient surplus, films are produced to keep pace with the huge demand expected, he will supply the world's theatres, and picture displays will be accompanied by voices.