LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 122, 14 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thursday, November 23 (Show Day) will be observed as a holiday by the banks at New Plymouth, Inglewoo'd and Waitara.

A telegraph messenger named Patterson was cycling down Devon street yesterday evening on duty. When close to the Criterion Hotel a young lady stepped in front of his bicycle. Both were thrown td the ground. The lady escaped unharmed, but the lad was not so fortunate, sustaining slight injury to his shoulder and being dazed for a "few moments.

"D.G." writes:—A paragraph is being diligently reprinted everywhere stating that "to his everlasting "credit" Major Macdonald (who commands the State School Junior Cadets)' has nipped a threatened presentation from them in the bud. It may aid the admiring public to know that the regulations do not permit a military officer to receive public presentations, and that Major Macdonald has no "say" or credit in the matter.

A debtor, at a recent creditors' meeting in Auckland, spoke feelingly, if not exactly eloquently, on ; some methods in vogue in this country. "It is a most amusing thing," he said, "that in this country a man files his petition in bankruptcy, having first to raise the necessary six pounds somehow, though he is penniless, and then he is able to employ a solicitor to turn up and speak for him."

One of Ashburton's "unlicensed victuallers" is said to be making a boast of the fact that during show week he disposed of close on forty gallons of home-brewed beer. It is understood (states the Guardian) that this vendor retails his '■beer," a few days after it has been manufactured, at the rate of 6d per medium glass; or, in other words, at 16s per gallon. Figured out on this basis, a brew of . forty gallons would bring in a revenue of £3O, less about 8d per gallon, the cost of material. The programme of the organ recital to be given in St. Mary's Church this evening is published in this issue. While some of the movements are fresh to a New Plymouth audience, many will certainly not prove unfamiliar. The most enjoyable will be found in the "String Quartet" and the "Clarinet Quintet" of Mozart. The "Egmont Overture" is a favorite concert orchestral work, and on the organ loses nothing of its fire and dignity. A collection is to be taken in aid of the organ fund. A small amount is still owing, and it is hoped a substantial sum may be realised towards covering the deficit."

At the meeting of the Egmont Lodge, 1.0. G.T., last evening there was a large attendance. Tho lodge was called to order and opened by the Chief Templar. Two new members were duly initiated, and another new member was proposed. Tho usual recess after initiations was unusually lively. There are all sorts of plans for a forward move in temperance matters. Bro. Goodaere, from the Star of W'estown Lodge, as a visitor, explained his plan, which cannot here be disclosed, and asked for full-handed cooperation on the part of the lodge. This being the first business meeting of the quarter the arrangement of the programme for the quarter took some time, but was in tho end very satisfactorily settled. Tt was further d'eeided that the District Deputy hold a District Lodge meeting at an early date. On the motion of the District Deputy a vote of sympathy and condolence was passed to Sis. Mrs. Williamson in the death of Mrs, Williamson, sen. The items for the evening's entertainment were given by the new officers: The Vice-Templar, a recitation; the Pianiste, a recitation; the Chaplain, an apology; the DeputyMarshal, a piano solo; some officers found substitutes; the Chief Templar, a reading. Tho lodge was closed in due order.

A. new Opera House is to he erected by a. local syndicate at Wangunui. The building will l,e of cainerated concrete, and will be the first of the kind to be erected in that town. A contemporary, reporting an ania- ' tcur performance, says that the weather was so bad as to render any'attempt at facing the elements a mere evidence of insauit.v »•» "• ' • -"-*^r;~--1 t ..lik-icss, a very u«. □ , house greeted the rising of the. curtain. : The Monawatu Times has received a unique photograph, from Mr. B. Perirefc, of Sawlon, showing a ewe with 'seven lambs, the property of Mr W. Phillips, of Sandon. This is undoubtedly a recerd for one ewe. At the present time six of the lambs are alive and healthy.

Mr. W. 11. Skinner, who intimated some time ago that he would be pleased to hand over his collection of Maori curios and. other articles, such as pictures, manuscripts, etc., dealing with the early history of New Plymouth, for the benefit of the town, providing a suitable fire-proof addition to the Carnegie building were made available for their receptions, writes stating that the collection has not by any means the value we placed on it. lie says the collection is one of only very ordinary commercial value, but it is interesting in that it contains a great deal of what is of undoubted value to the town from the historic standpoint. .

A few years ago the;average product per cow in Denmark was 30001b. The average production now stands at 60001b. How was it done? Quite simply. The Danish farmers listened to the teachers, to the dairy experts, to the men who were, studying these things. Acting upon the advice of teachers, they iformefl' cowtesting associations, they found out what each cow in the heM was doing, and the cow that was not paying her 'way, or barely. Only the profitable cow .'was of any use to the Danish dairyman, and he made it his business to find out which were profitable. After a while he aimed at the most profitable, or at least the more ambitious dairymen did. And in a-few years the average production has ; doubled.

; ; A correspondent who is connected with ■the oil industry writes to the Financial Pressj stating that the time is not far distantiwhenNew Zealand will be a large producer of petroleum. After referring to 'jfokau, New Plymouth and Moturoa, he 'concludes: "In" the near future, with ! rapid strides being made in the use of oil ! fuel for power purposes-,- there should be 'with" the further demand, so that Iwith" the further developments of the :New Zealand fields oil should always ! command a fair price, and at the same I time make the colonial markets independent of foreign supplies. It is the opinion jaf those able to speak with authority, (that with good management and ample |f,unds for development, the New Zealand j oilfields have a very great future." | There are now 325 luggers and 10 i schooners engaged in the pearling industry at' Broome, and the rise in price of I mother-of-pearl, should ensure a highly ; prosperous season. A magnificant pearl, weighing 178 grains,,and valued at £3OOO was recently found by Mr B. Miller, and but for the fact that it was slightly faulty it would have realised; a higher price than the pearl sold by Mr J. Eacott for over £SOOO. Mr W. Wallace recently sold a pearl for £ 1300, Mr Wharton one for £llsO, and Mr J. Taylor another for £BOO. It is considered in Broome that tibe proposal to exclude colored divers and their tenders will prove unworkable, but the Pearlers Association are fitting five luggers and a schooner, and offering special terms to Britishers to work them as an experiment. Two scientific tramps, Jesse and Warren Buffuin, are-attempting an odd task, namely, that of crossing the Araericaa continent from Boston to San Francisco on foot, taking turns to trundle a wheelbarrow with supplies. One eats meat and the other vegetables, and both confine themselves to temperance drinfos and sleep out of doors. The instigator of this experiment is Dr. Dudley Sargent, Physical Director of Harvard University, wh* is. paying all the expenses of the trip. The men have reached Chicago. Warren the vegetarian, so far seemed to have a trifle tie better of the test. Both men, however, look well and brown, and are in good spirits. Tliey promised Dr Sargent to weigh themselves periodically, so that the, world may know whether beef or beans, crops or cabbage, pork or potatoes, provide the best food for the human mechanism. If Warren gets hungry en route he can help himself to fresh corn. Jesse, however, cannot \try well lead a laro'b to the slaughter, or even chase a rabbit with much hope of capture. They are enjoying themselves and receiving hospitality on all sides. They are under no contract to break any time records, and i they mean to see all the sights of Ofai-I eago before resuming their pilgrimage.