LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 161, 6 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Yesterday was a day to make the heart rejoice and the soul of the farmer leap with joy. After many weeks of drab, dreary weather, and the ever present downpour of the rain, the glad sunshine was reflected in every face. Most people who commented on the change — and everybody did so—expressed the belief that it was too good, to last. One citizen, viewing the magnificence of the mountain—without its usual fog overcoat —prophesied that we should have good weather for at least two hours, and regretted that his umbrella was loaned. The absence of the violent wind that tried the nerves on Thursday added to the excellence of this, the first perfect day since last summer. The Evening Post says it is probable that Sir Joseph Ward may be in a position to make a statement next -week as to his intentions. « We desire to acknowledge receipt of a well-got-up calendar from the local agents of the Commercial Union Assurance Co. (Messrs Webster and McKellar). At the court yesterday morning, a man, whose occupation is a cook, applied' for a prohibition order against himself for the licensing district of Kaiapoi (Canterbury), to which place he was returning to work. The Justices granted the request.

"He is a non-smoker. That means a ■saving of an hour a day," remarked a councillor at the meeting of the Clifton County Council yesterday, when- discussing qualifications of applicants for the important post of surfaceman. The nonsmoker got the job. When Senior-Sergeant Dart was crossexamining a witness in the Court yesterday, a defendant, who was conducting his own case, objected. He said the sergeant wanted the witness to say something that she 'had not said before. "Certainly I do," retorted the sergeant.

Births in the New Plymouth registration district last -year were 363, as against 349 in 1910, made up of 171 males and 192 females (1910, 179 male, 'l7O females). Deaths were 125—males 79, females 1 40 (1910, males 80, females 64 124), Twenty died between 70 and 80, ,10 between 80 and 90, whilst three were 1 ,over 90. The oldest registered death was 102. 'These figures go to show that the air of New Plymouth is conducive, to longevity. At the enquiry commission yesterdayrelative to merging districts into the borough of New Plymouth, a ratepayer said he objected because his rates would be increased. It was suggested to him that he should get married, and he would take ' more interest in improvements. "Not married!" said the commissioner in surprise. ,A few minutes later, another bachelor' raised an objection, and the Commissioner caused a laugh by again expressing, surprise. However, the man on whom the laugh was turned said he was as good a man as one who was married, a remark which some of the married men queried.

. The ; *"Yanks" get the credit of being cute business men, but a Taranaki country storekeeper can easily give them points and then win. Recently he purchased a brand new motor car, Vith which he intends to combine pleasure and profit. He has accordingly notified the settlers within a radius of about twenty miles that purchasers of goods to a certain amount (groceries barred) will be given a freej ride to the store and home again per 'motor.. The scheme, is bound to catch on, for what good man. or good lady; could resist the enjoyment of the liix'ury of a free motor trip? Nothing is said as to what will be the fate of anyone who avails the opportunity but fails to purchase up to the requisite amount. Probably such a one would have to foot it home.

At yesterday's meeting of the Clifton County Council,, Mr. G. F. Murray, Resident Road Engineer, wrote under date January 3rd, that he was in receipt of instructions' to urge all local bodies to. push on with such of the 'Government grants as were now under offer, or were already authorised to them. He -therefore asked the Council to use their best endeavors to do so, and, in order that some claims may come to be charged against the votes for the current year, to kindly forward .not later than February 29 all such claims on account of work done during the current year. Even if the wfyole work was incomplete at that date claims for progress payment on such parts as kvere then actually completed should be rendered Cr. Hicks said that the only thing to do was to urge the engineer to push the works along.

Ferenially the straying cattle nuisance crops up among local bodies in Taranaki until it seems to be a perfect bugbear. Some councils- instruct their foremen to deal with the. nuisance by impounding the cattle. Naturally, this is an unpleasant task that foremen are not anxious to undertake, because very soon they would bring down on their devoted heads the wrath of numerous irate ratepayers and others, who conceive that they have a perfect right to the grass growing alongside their sections (and the other fellow's, too, if -they can get it), particularly when they are called upon to keep that portion clear of noxious weeds. Two complaints were received at yesterday's meeting of the Clifton County Council, one from a foreman, who reported that a great number of horses ,and cattle were straying on the roads. Would the Council advise him what was best to do? A resident of Urenui also drew attention to the nuisance caused toy stray stock in that township and hoped that something would be done to remedy the matter. With regard to the first complaint, councillors could not see why roadmen could not comply with instructions given them. A new councillor remarked "that all their time would be expended impounding .cattle and no work would be done on the roads. One of thevold councillors reiterated the instructions given to. roadmen, first to notify owners of stray cattle to prevent recurrence of the nuisance, then, if that were not effective, notify the Council, who would prosecute the owners direct without impounding the cattle. With regard' to the second complaint, it was pointed out that there was a pound in Urenui, and the poundkeeper was willing to act as ranger. He was appointed ranger for Urenui and Waihi ridings, and a councillor said that he would undertake to carry out notification of the appointment, so that "the fun could start in the morning," because, if notified, tho delinquents would probably keep their cattle in. Some, doubt was expressed as to whether the Council could impound without giving notice, but the opinion was expressed that a ranger on receiving notification of his appointment could act at once. This should certainly prove effective as far as Urenui and Waihi ridings are concerned. * ° The services in the Whiteley Church to-morrow will be conducted by the Rev. J. W. Burton. The morning subject will be, "The Sign of the Rainbow," and in the evening the sermon will be on "The Philosophy of Obstacles." RHEUMO permanently cures Rheumatism. This is no idle boast nor an ocerdrawn statement. It is a fact; and thousands of delighted users of RHEUMO testify to its wonderful curative' properties. Sold everywhere at 2/6 and j 4/6 per bottle. 19 I

The nest conference of the New Zenland Educational Institute is to be held in New Plymouth. Bankruptcies in Danncvirke seem to be a tiling of the past. For two years there have not been any insolvencies in the town itself. _ . j The old adage, ".Make hay while the sun shines," was practically illustratad throughout Taranaki yesterday, farmers all round working energetically at harvesting.' At the meeting yesterday for enquiry re the 'Greater New Plymouth scheme, there were two or Uu'ee men who were not progressive enough to wish to come mto the area. One man objected, but said if he were to lie included then he wanted everyone to be brought in. A deputation from the Waitara Borough .Council waited on the Clifton County Council yesterday with a view to securing a contribution towards the cost of the new bridge, a contract for which was recently let. After considerable discussion no proposal was carried, so that the apportionment of cost will have to be settled by a commission. The Eltham Argus states that anxious enquiries are being made in Eltham concerning the whereabouts of a gentleman recently resident there, and who was interested in the. life insurance business. One of the enquirers is so eager for an interview with the gentleman that he .has issued an invitation, printed on bine paper,- requesting the pleasure of hi? company in Eltham.

The s.s. Earawa did not reach the Breakwater until after 7 a.m. yesterday. The vessel did not leave Onehunga until 5 p.m. the previous day, and the head wind and rough sea met with early on the voyage delayed her. As a result the steamer did not connect with the main train. Passengers -for the south were, however, able to proceed bv the slow train, which was delayed for a few minutes to await the arrival of the boat train.

■Looker-on" writes:—"Now that the police have shown activity in regard to street loitering by -hauling up -a respectable citizen, they might pay a little attention to the gentlemen to be found afternoon and night holding up verandah posts and blocking the pathway, and -whose chief occupation seems to foe to' pass remarks derogatory to pessers-by. In the past the police have maintained'a policy of masterly inactivity in regard to these pillars of Devon street." ° Strong exception was taken by some members of the Clifton County Council yesterday to some remarks that Mr. Jennings was alleged to have made after the recent election. The remarks that were objected, to were as follows:—"On the Mimi-Mokau road £OBSO was voted and €3780 spent. In connection with the last item (Mimi-MokanJ ,the greater part of the money was in the hands of the Clifton County Council; yet the small proportion of money expended on that road by the Council would be noted," Councillors were of opinion that Mr. Jennings had been misinformed. If the matter was investigated it would be found that all money authorised had been spent, with the possibility perhaps of £350 for some contracts which were not yet finished. They could honestly say that all the money received had been expended. Cr. Kennington said that such an incorrect statement was "a slur on the Council. He did not wish to jump on>a man when he was down, but Mr. Jennings must have been smarting under defeat at the time. Anyone reading that paragraph would jump at the conclusion that the Council, having received £6850 and expended only £37SG, were holding the balance of over £3OOO, whereas in, many cases the Council did not handle the grants until after the work was completed and money for its partial payment advanced out of the general county funds.