LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 180, 29 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

According to a contemporary- Lord Islington is worth anything over £BO,OOO a year. It is the intention of Messrs. John Fuller and Sons to erect a theatre in Nelson, next to the post office, in Trafalgar street north. A White sparrow has been >seen in different parts of the Cheviot district lately. The bird has no dark markings and is almost' pure white. In Saturday's issue we gave credit to Mr. Perham for some splendid specimens of plums he left at the News office. The name should have .been Mr. T. Pelham, of Warea. A boy named Nelson Bell fell off the Fitzroy 'bus last week and had his leg rather badly lacerated. Enquiries at the hospital, where he was taken,' show that he is making good progress towards recovery.

"How did you find the weather in Wellington?" asked the friend of the returned traveller. "You don't need- to ■find the weather in Wellington," replied the traveller, "it bumps into you at every corner." Amongst the novelties on the new White Star liner Zealandic is an electrically driven potato peeler capable of dealing with a ton of potatoes in an hour, which lessens the work of the "doctor," who, with a full ship, has to provide for 1400 seojjle.

The Hawera Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution protesting against th« action of the Patea Shipping Company increasing the Wellington-Patea freights from 12s 6d to 17s 6d per ton. A committee was appointed to press the objections on the company. The neV Wellington General Post Office—the, largest stone building in the Dominion—which has been in course of erection for nearly two and a half years, ,is : expected to be- completed about May or Jupe next. This handsome structure is built almost entirely -of Tonga Bay granite, and the cost isi in the vicinity of £IOO,OOO.

"Woodlands" and "Maranui," belonging to Mr. Newton King and Mr. C. W. Govett respectively, were thrown open to the public yesterday, and quite a large number took advantage of the opportunity to visit the beautiful grounds, which, despite the unseasonable weather during the past few months, are looking splendidly, being'indeed a perfect picture to behold.

When the works, now in, progress .in connection with increasing the Auckland water supply are completed there will be a totM storage of 900,000,000 gallons, suifHcient for the needs of a city consuming double the present quantity for ninety days, even in the driest season; an additional 3,000,000 gallons will be available for running water, so that the city could use water lavishly throughout a drought lasting 128 days. What is believed to be a world's record in transforming standing grain into bread was established by a farmer living near Beliot, Kansas. Just 30 minutes elapsed between the time when the wheat was cut and when the grower took »ihe first bite of a biscuit which had been made from it. As soon as the grain was threshed it was rushed, a mile and a half to a mill, ground into flour, and then taken to a baker, who made the biscuits. The previous record is said to have been one hour.

Professor Gilruth, as is generally known, is not in the habit of discussing politics, but he has had experience of political conditions both in New Zealand and Australia. When asked what he thought of the state of affairs in New Zealand just now, he said it was a surprise to him, and the state of parties led him to 'express the opinion that the only way to prevent a series of elections, similar to those which had been held in Australia, would be for the parties to coalesce. At every election held on the other side the Labor party had become stronger, and the same thing would happen in New Zealand.

Some farmers are still opposed to dehorning their cows, but some singular reasons are occasionally advanced in support of their opinion. At a meeting of directors of a dairy factory where the majority, if not all, of the suppliers fed their cows on bush lands not yet cleared of fallen logs, the business of the meeting being over, the conversation naturally drifted to cows', and particularly as to which were the most profitable to keep. One director said he didn't concern himself so much about any particular breed, but he had no time for poly or dehorned rows, and upon being asked why, replied that on his place, unless the cows had horns to turn over the logs, thej'' would fare badly.

Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (First and Second Groups) are notified that subscriptions \vill he di:e and payable today (Monday), at the Secretary's Office, Currie street, from 0 a.m. to 12.30, from 1 run. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.— Advt.

The potatoes of the Hutt Valley ana Otaki are being attacked by blight, which is, also affecting crops in and around New Plymouth. The Dunedin Star has the best authority for saying that the reported resignation of the Hon. J. A. Millar of his seat lis a member of Parliament is absolutely incorrect.

It is stated that one fisherman in Picton has averaged £2B per week for the past five or six weeks, mainly from hapuka fishing. ' This ' fish fetches good prices in Wellington at present. "Going to the races?" remarked a Foxton resident to a tradesman the other day. "No!" replied the businep man; "but my money will be well represented there, as I noticed quite a number of my creditors going that way." On Saturday morning Mr. J. Jury, of Frankley road, met with an accident while ■harnessing a quiet horse. The animal kicked at another horse and struck the owner on the leg, breaking the knee-cap. The sufferer was rendered first aid by Mr. Okey, M.P., by whom he is employed, and conveyed to the hospital. In a litter of pigs recently born on the farm of Mr. F. L. Bishop, of Tarurutangi, t,wo of the animals were completely joined together from the snouts to the centre of the body. Bath were perfectly formed and Jived for a short time. The remains, of this freak of nature haw .been handed to the local museum.

At the Court on Saturday morning, Fanny Prior was apprehended on a warrant for having unlawfully sold liquor to C. Atkinson, at Wellington. Accused was arrested by Constable Smythe in New Plymouth, and on the application of Senior-Sergeant Haddrell was remanded to-Wellington, bail being allowed in one surety of £SO.

Jo-day a plate-laying gang 'will start in the Whangamomona tunnel on the Stratford Main Trunk railway. Within two months the .ballast engine shouK be able to get to the Mangare road, two miles from Whangamomona. There will be some delay, however, before the iron horse enters the,rising township, as in that two miles no less than seven bridges haye to tie constructed, the longest being 240 feet. e

At the Magistrate's Court on Saturday, before Mr. W. Bewley, J.P., a native named Wera Te Terra was charged with being found drunk on the South road, tliearrest having, been made by Constable O'Neill on Friday night. Accused said he was not drunk, but the evidence against him was too strong, and he was fined 5s and costs, after which he told the constable to get the money from the Public Trustee, which was done and the man liberated.

The loss of a postal packet from the mail bag travelling from Eerekapa to Waitara has completely puzzled the authorities, says the Mail. It appjears that the mail was made up at the Eerekapa office last Sunday, and conveyed to Okau, where it stayed under surveillance until Monday, when it was carried on to meet the contract coach. The missing packet consists of several letters registered, in which there is a considerable sum. of money. These letters were wrapped up in a brown paper parcel, and put inside the general mail'bag, which the postmaster at the other end is sure was properly sealed. When the bag was opened at the Waitara Post Office 'ok Monday evening it was minus the letters, «nd enquiries since have failed to make good the loss.

Dealing with the political situation at a social to the Hon. D. Buddo, at Kangiora, Sir Arthur Guinness, M.P., said that the Liberal Party had been caught napping last election. Its organisation was nothing like that of its' opponents. The party did not know whether it was in or out. (Laughter). : The members believed that the party was in, but on the 15th of next month they would know definitely. Even if the Opposition were in; the" Liberals had sufficient power in the House to control them and put a brake on them. There would be no attempt made to repeal the liberal and humanitarian measures. He did not think the Opposition, being men of their word, would attempt to repeal such legislation as the' old age pensions, 'Widows' pensions, and other humanitarian legislation. In conclusion, he said that as Speaker of the House he had tried to make the House a model Parliament. >

Pairying in the King Country is increasing to a great extent (says the Auckland Herald). There are now six up-to-date factories in its defines, two of which have been opened this season. The Aria ,and Ohura factories are the oldest concern, and are showing • decided increases year by year, whilst the more recent ones are exceeding anticipations. A noticeable,feature in connection with the industry is that settlers ars recognising the value of winter fodder. In the Aria and Pio Pio districts settlers have a great many acres in turnips, all of which are reported to be looking well, Shearing is at last completed in many part? of the district. Owing to the roads not be-, ing good, due to'the wet season, wool is not coming in to the railway as fast as other years. The late season has been a source of disappointment to many, settlers, especially those who were hoping for an early season, in order that they might get tboir wool cheques as early as possible.

About twelve years ago—twenty, for that matter—people on the Thames were (remarks the Auckland Herald) telling themselves that unless the old town struck gold in the deep levels it was a case of putting up the shutters. . .. P a P® r boom of the nineties was visibly subsiding, and Thames was very despondent as to what the twentieth century had in store for it. As things turned out gold was not struck in the deep levels, and lias not been struck even to date, and yet the shutters are not up. Instead of that the town, •though more restricted, is probably on a sounder basis than ever it was beforf. The number of new. houses is considerable, even if not so large as the number of old ones that have been razed; and the fact that a lot of dead wood has been pruned from the free makes the young growth the more vigorous. Even the older buildings, have been benefited a {food deal with wholesome rejuvenating pamt. and some of the cabins back on the hills, no longer weather-bleached, look coquettishly new in their settin* of old peach trees.

IN KING STREET (Opposite Carnegie Library) Morey & Moore's Big .lob Cash Fair opens to-morrow morning at 0 o'clock. This is what voti have all been waiting I for. The 2/11 room will be filled with numbers of useful articles, consisting of ladies knickers, ladies' chemises, ladies' camisoles, ladies' nights, ladies' combinations. umbrellas, sunshades, curtains, blouses, towels, shirts, etc.. etc. We will also have a big table full of assorted goods, which we are going to let vou have your pick of for ninepcncc. This wonderful table is alone worth a visit. Then again we have a lot of infants'bibs | to sell at the ridiculous price ofHwopence each We have a limited quantity of this lme. so<lon't be disappointed W another line that will please vou will be the big Jot of ladies' hem-stitched handkerchiefs, which will be cleared out l wr . dozen. That's cheap, isn't it? All our wide sash ribbons are to be sold at 4d a yard. There are some very nice colors and widths amongst this lot." And the laces and insertion at 1/6 a dozen wiJI astonish vou. We can therefore ask you with all confidence to visit this Fair o-moi i o\v and the following days, and the prices will givo you something, to talk about for some considerable time. *