LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 157, 2 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Yesterday was a perfect day for holidaying, and was taken full advantage of by the people of Taranaki. The beach at Moturoa attracted about six thousand people, the races at Stratford several thousand, whilst the Axemen's Carnival at Eahotu attracted a large attendance. There were several bowling matches, and a North v. South Taranaki cricket match at the New Plymouth Park. Full reports of all the events will bo found elsewhere in tliig issue. In the evening the chief attraction in New Plymouth was the picture performance at the new Empire Theatre. , Last night was the hottest experienced in New Plymouth this summer. It is estimated tkat there were SO,OOO people attending the Auckland rates at Ellerslie on the first day of the meeting. Mr. E. Griffiths is in receipt of .'a cable from Mills and Sparrow, Londo'rf, advising that the average price fop the be®t quality New Zealand butter/at present is 130s. . / All the churches were Well filled on Sunday, and appropriate jfermons were preached. w6re commenced af- ' attending. fy boßea

The Taranaki Agricultural Society de-1 sire to thank the settlers of Egmont road for a donation of £6 towards the King George Coronation Hall. The sum was raised by the social recently held by the' Egmont road people. , The Labor Party throughout the Dominion is quietly organising in view of the possibility of an early election. It is stated that if the organising work is gone about as completely as it has been in Australia, Labor will achieve the same results here as there and get into the political saddle without the assistance of either party. On Saturday mourning, the little six-year-old daughter of Mr. J. W. Gibson had the misfortune to have lier face cut so badly that Dr. Fookes had to put three stitches in it. It appears that she was .playing outside, and fell on a piece of iron, cutting the lower part of her face. No anaesthetic was used, and the little child had to undergo the pain. She is getting on as well as can be' expected. Owing ,to the sub-division of several of the larger fiawke'a Bay estates, and the commencement of the Napier-Gisborne railway, there will no doubt be an increased population, both in town and country. Increased population meahs an increased demand for good land, particularly in smaller areas handy to the town. For this reason we predict good competition tor the various sections 'of the "Pakowhai" estate, which will be offered by auction at .Hastings on the 10th January by Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., and Mr. J. R. Lanauze. Mr. Everard Gilmour has been interesting himself in the matter of obtaining a visit to New "Plymouth of Mr. H. B. Irving, the famous English actor, who opens in Auckland on Tuesday next. This morning Mr. Gilmour received advice from J. C. Williamson, Ltd., that Mr. Irving, who is supported by Miss Dorothea Baird and a complete London company of fifty specially selected artists, will give a performance of "Hamlet" at the Theatre Royal on Monday, January 22. This will mark an epoch in the theatrical history of the town. Particulars will be announced in due course.

A movement was on foot to provide a suitable testimonial to Mr. A. W. Hogg, the late member for Masterton, in recognition /of his long and valuable services to the district, and residents of all political colors had signified their intention to contribute. It was anticipated that close upon one thousand pounds would have been subscribed. Messrs. R. Brown and G. R. Sykes, the Opposition candidate who Mr. Hogg at the second .ballot, were appointed joint treasurers, and were prominent leaders in the movement. Mr. Hogg, has, however, asked that the testimonial be relinquished, and" distinctly declines to accept any testimonial from representatives of a party which ousted him from his seat in Parliament. As Mr. Hogg is the principal party concerned, his wish for the abandonment of this testi monial is to be acquiesced in. Dr. Mcßae, of Tinui, Masterton, has just hadi a very trying experience, which illustrates the hardships baekblooks doctors have to undergo. He had 'been visiting the outlying part of the country, and in the evening was returning home. At one difficult place on the track he dismounted from his horse and proceeded to lead the animal down the hillside, when he slipped and fell, and struck a piece of manuka so heavily that a number of his ribs were broken. The horse got away and the doctor, in severe pain, and with night rapidly approaching, struggled along the track towards the nearest habitation. The night was pitch black, and rain descended in torrents, so that. the doctor's plight can be better imagined than described. When daylight broke next-morning he found him-' self close, to Annedale' station, where he was given all possible attention. He was wandering about with broken ribs N from 7 pjn. until 4 a.m. Dr. Mcßae was then brought into Masterton and his injuries attended to by Dr. Hosking.