LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 78, 22 September 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The JRahotu Dairy Company has dis- '' posed of its output of cheese at the highly satisfactory figure of 6 5-Kid. "The degree of swiftness depends upon the paco at which the horse was travelling."—A. gem of wisdom from learned counsel in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon. A levy of 2d per cent, is to be deducted from the salaries of all civil servants in New Zealand this month, owing to the defalcations of an officer in the Agricultural Department. The sum to be made good is £278 9s 2d.

"I know something of driving myself," said Mr. Jcllicoe in addressing the jury ] yesterday, "and no doubt some of you gentlemen of the jury know what is required of a driver." —Some jurymen smiled. There were two livery stablekeepers amongst them. Yesterday morning the Rarawa was delayed owing to the rough weather, aiid failed to connect with the mail train. The 7.40 a.m. slow train, however, was delayed for a few moments, and the southern passengers were able to go forward as usual. The Government doea not at present consider it necessary to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the co-opera-tive system of constructing public works. Doubtless, the Minister for Public Works stated on Wednesday, in replying to a question by Mr. Okey, complaints will be made from time, to time, by interested parties, of waste and extravagance on the one hand, and on the other hand that the men on such works are insufficiently *paid, no matter whether the system bo co-operative, day-labor, or contract.

A strange story (says the Otago Daily Times) comes from St. Clair. Mr. F. R. Wheeley, tlie propmtor of a number of bathing boxes recently erected on St. Clair beach, states that on Friday afternoon he was warned by a youth, whom he did not know, that an attempt was to be made to burn down these sheds. Mr, Wheeley at once informed Constable Marshall, in charge of the St. Olair station, of what lie had heard, and as evening came on the two ensconced themselves in the bathing sheds. About 1 o'clock on Saturday morning Mr. Wheeley caught sight of two men near the footpath abutting on the beach, and, leaving the constable to watch the sheds, he made a detour, and was brought to a standstill by hearing scraps of conversation between two men. One-was making a statement that "he didn't think the sheds would hum, anyhow," but was assured by the other that with the aid of a bottle of kerosene he had with him a blaze would soon be started, and they could then easily get away. ' To this the first speaker replied that "he didn't know; it was. a pretty big risk to run a chance of getting five years in gaol for a £5 note,'.' Mr. Wheeley then crept away, and reported what he had heard to Constable Marshall. It was thereupon decided that the constable should keep on the edge of .the beach and Mr. Wheeley go along the edge of the sandhills. The latter gentleman eventually stumbled right on the two men, and gave chase., He says he struck one on the back of tho neck, but that the two then turned and knocked him down and got away. Mr. Wheeley asserts that he distinctly saw a bottle—presumably of kerosene—in one of his assailant's pockets.