LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 171, 18 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Burglars have been busy in Auckland of late, and * several successful and, unsuccessful attempts to deprive citizens of property have been made. In one instance a tailor's shop was .broken into and: suits valued: at- between £3O and £4O were take*. A novel by Amber Reeves, daughter of the Hon. W. P. Reeves, has recently been published by Mr. Heineman, of. London. The Athenaeum says that the book is "a remarkable achievement for a first novel," and gives a column of criticism and description of the book. It is many years since North Otago agricultural land was so productive as this 'season (says an exchange). One man with only seven acres of grass is ( milking five cows, grazing seven head of young stock, and three horses and is reserving three of the seven acres for hay. At the High School Board meeting yesterday, it was stated that about .50 children were going to the High School at Stratford; but that New Plymouth was the nearest one. They were compelled to do this as the train arrangements would not enable them to come to Nfew Plymouth. Bicycle stealing is a fairly common crime in New Zealand, and the days of motor car thieves are evidently coming. Recently no less than four thefts of motor cycles were reported to the Christchurch police; In - three instances the machines were recovered,, while the fourth is still missing.

"The system is secular and ought • to be respected," said a member at the High School Board meeting last night, when the question of morning prayers was being discussed. Most of the members were in sympathy with the request of the Principal for prayers, but some thought it was a matter which might be left uhtil an application came from the parents.

Messrs. E. J. Carthew and Co. report the following sales since January 1, 1912: —Five hundred and twenty acres at Tarata to Mr. H. 'Lett; 332 acres at Pohokura to Morrati Bros.; 80-acre dairy farm at Omata to Mr. Hartnell; 5-roomed residence-and full % acre, St. Aubyn, to Mr. R. Voght;' Mr. Perry's 42 feet Devon street to a local investor; and Mr. Letts' 10-roomed house and' half acre at Shannon.

A meeting in Waitara on Tuesday evening decided to ta'ke steps to raise subscriptions for the purpose of erecting a monument in the soldiers' cemetery, on which it is .proposed will be inscribed the names, of members of the regular forces and volunteers killed in engagements around Waitara district in the war of 1860-1. It has long been a reproach that the remains of brave men lie unmarked,' and it is hoped now the movement has been started that the cemetery will hereafter be properly cared for.

A startling accident 'occurred at one of the ferries on the Wai.au river, a few days ago. The ferryman was induced to take a settler's horse and gig aboard the punt, which was. already comfortably filled. The rear gate could not be shut on account of the trap partly projecting. When in midstream a horse in front became restive, causing the horse in the gig to back suddenly oyer the platform of the punt, and, in a moment, horse, trap and freight were swallowed up in the swirling waters. A lady passenger sprang from the vehicle not a moment too soon, but lost her outfit prepared for an extended holiday. . . When the question of teaching the boys and girls separately was being discussed at the High School Board meeting yesterday, one of the members said he was averse to an alteration, as tennis, cycling, etc., brought them into each other's company, and they had to earn their living shoulder to shoulder, and he did not see any reason for them 'being separated when being taught. He said marriage was no longer the ideal with girls, but the object-was to earn a living. He pointed out that a social change was taking place. • Other members did not agree, and thought that girls should be a credit to their sex and of assistance 1 "to their husbands when they got married. It was said that Germany, rather than America, was an example to follow.; About a hundred youths gathered atthe Lower Hutt Drillshed on Monday evening in obedience to summonses' to undergo the swearing-in ceremony for the territorial forces. The majority be longed to the senior cadet class, and about thirty of these announced themselves to ibe "objectors," refusing for a time to advance beyond the threshold of the hall. Why they had got that far . they did not explain. They were voluble, however, in explaining why they would not be sworn in. The officers came out, and urged, coaxed, and pleaded with them, tactfully disregarding a considerable amount of banter. However, practically all the youths were induced to take the oath. After the swearing-in had been completed, the youths were put through rudimentary exercises in squad drill. It is the intention of the Postal Department to make a canvass of the householders for the purpose of selling aperture letter-plates for doors. During next week an officer of the department will commence the canvass and have the sample plates with him, so that the householder may decided which style is | most suitable to him. The plates are in three sizes and are made of oxidised copper, and are well finished. The prices are 10d, Is 3d and Is fid, and if it is required to fit the plate an additional charge is made. In addition to the plates a wire basket can be supplied for Is 3d. The basket is made so that in the event of the door being kept open it can lie folded up and permit the door to swing back in its usual pin pp. The Postal Department recognises that it is often inconvenient to answer the door when the letter-carriers call, and so that the carriers will not be kept waiting and the householder having 'to neglect the various duties, the plates are offered at the very low prices quoted. The plates have had a big sale in other centres, and it is anticipated that a large number will he in use in this town. DR. SHELDON'S NEW DTSfOVERY for coughs and colds cures all chest complaint*. Price Is 6d and 3s. Obtainable everywhere. .

It is understood that a Taranaki Federated Union of Plumbers will shortly be formed. During last year 559 dogs were registered by the Hawera County Council, as against 038 in 1910.

Wednesday has been fixed as the day on which the half-holiday is to be observed in the County of Egmont. Picturesque Taranaki has a priceless treasure in its botanical gardens at New Plymouth, containing probably a better collection of native plants than can be found in any other town in the Dominion.—Lvtteltoii Times. A well-known farmer in the Temuka district in a conversation with a newspaper representative, said that he heard that a very severe blight was overtaking the Californinn thistle, and was spreading very rapidly throughout the Dominion. No doubt farmers will be glad to hear this, as the Californian thistle has been a source of much trouble to them for some years past.

Quite as large an area as usual has been planted in potatoes this season in most districts in Southland (says the News), but present appearances indicate that the yield will be below the average. This is certainly the case with regard to the early varieties, and the backward state of the main crops leads one to believe that the yield of tubers is not likely to be on a par with the past two seasons.

An echo of the Macky-Logan fire was a charge at the Auckland Police Court on Friday morning against a 14-year-old lad of stealing a quantity of sleeve links, initial pins, stockings and socks. The boy had, with others early in December, managed to make their collection of goods from among the ruins of the burnt building, but they were pounced on by a policeman as they were getting away. The boy admitted the offence, but decision was suspended pending enquiries as to his circumstances, with a view to giving him an industrial school training, i should such seem expedient. The first annual meeting of the local Trades and Labor Council was held in the Town Hall last evening. There were delegates present from the Waterside Workers' Union, Boot Operators' Union, General Laborers' Union, Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and the Carpenters' Union. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. S. Smith; vice-president, Mr. J. Lynch; general secretary, Mr. G. Roper; minute secretary, Mr, C. Arnold; treasurer, Mr. T. Lancaster; executive council, Messrs. J. O'Brien, Finn, H. Whitmore, J. Cock, and W. Wood; auditors, Messrs. Hardgreaves and Girling; trustees, Messrs. Frewin and McGimpsey. A subcommittee was appointed to report on the advisability of holding a Labor Day demonstration in New Plymouth. A committee was also appointed to procure suitable rooms to be used as a Trades Hall. A vote of thanke to flie chair concluded the meeting. Science is now being applied in a practical manner to economise fuel in municipal undertakings in the Commonwealth. An interesting experiment is being tried at Parramatta, New South Wales, where the gas generated at the three septic tanks is being utilised for power purposes. Formerly this gas was permitted to go to waste, but after it had been used to drive a 4-h.p. petrol engine, a larger engine was procured, and now the' sewer gas is driving a 10-h.p. engine, which, in its'turn, is driving a dynamo supplying current to 85 lamps. "The engine," says a recent report, "is running steadily with the gas valve only slightly open, and there would appear to be an ample supply of gas for much' greater power." At the present time the Government department concerned is hardly prepared to exploit what appears to 1 be a very cheap form of power, but the fact that so much has been done at Parramatta suggests vague possibilities in the not distant future, for the world is always on the look-out for cheap and effective power.

They have been having a ''wowser" hunt down C'hristchurch way. Many good men, and women, too, have been in pursuit of the interesting fantasy. One man, writing to the Lyttelton Times, says:—During my "hunt" I met an individual feeling towards a home that did not possess many attractions. It was evident he had for a good while spent his money for "that which is not bread." I made enquiries, and was assured he was not a "wowser." A few days later .there staggered across my path a gasping individual with a deep gash beneath one eye, besides several smaller wounds, the blood trickling down his coat. Again I enquired, but was assured he was no "wowser." I have the misfortune to live near an individual who indulges so freely in "Dutch courage" that he comes home at night to raise Cain for his wife and children and fill the air with the most obscene expressions, but the one thipg he thanks his stars for is that ho is not a "wowser." I turned my attention to a gang of not. over intelligent hoodlums who seem to have no occupa-. tion besides that of expectorating at a street corner and indulging in veiled obscenity, only to find that they were not "wowsers." .