LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 181, 30 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Borough Council hag now in hand the work of redecking the old railway bridge over .the Te Henui river. Before Mr. J. S. S. Medley, J.P., at a sittmgof the court yesterday morning, one first-offending inebriate was eonvicted and discharged. A movement is afoot among the young men of New Plymouth to entertain the laranaki war veterans on the night of the anniversary of the battle of Waireka. of land opposite the Methodat Church has. been acquired by a %wT, P15,1, !?" th Fire Board fr °m Mr A. ahuttleworth to accommodate the nroposed n«v«r Central Station. The site has already met with the approval of Inspector Hugo. So far eighteen applications have been made in the New Plymouth registration district by those desirous of enjoying the advantages of the Widow's Pension Act. Of this number eleven came from New Plymouth. Other towns in the district include Jnglewood, Waitara, and Opunake. i At a social at Te Kuiti, when the toast of "The Man on the Lund" was being ; honored, Mr. E. Guilford, a settler from Tangitu, remarked that what the "cow coekie" wanted was roads. "In my district," he said, "the road was all" mud pools, and settlers had to literally ewim out to get to civilisation." One effect of the amalgamation of Fitzroy with the New Plymouth borough is that persons erecting buildings in the former district must comply with the borough by-laws and obtain a permit. Hitherto this practice did not obtain! and although Fitzroy has been absorbed by the borough since December Ist, several ratepayers have lately shown that they are not aware of the altered position- of affairs.

Part of an "In Memoriam" notice in an American paper reads: "In memory of our beloved husband," and the names of three sorrowing divorcees are appended! As the result of the long spell of dry weather experienced on the East Coast, the Tokomaru freezing works have had to cease operations, owing to the shortage of water. A Taranaki gentleman who is visiting Gisborne predicts that during next winter butter will go up to 2s per lb. Many of the companies will have difficulty in fulfilling their contracts for export. There have already been dealings in grain harvested this year in the South Island. A line of 10,000 bushels of this season's standing crop of wheat has been sold for forward delivery in Timaru at 3s 4y,d per busbd. A line of 22 fat turkeys, auctioned at Timaru lately, brought the fancy price of two guineas per pair. Other poultry was 'equally expensive. Ducks made 8s 9d a pair, geese 10s fid a pair, and fat cockerels 7s 9d a pair. From a southern exchange we learn that the burnt-out sawmill areas in that part of the Dominion provide a prolific breeding-ground for rabbits. In some districts they are particularly abundant at the present time, being encountered in hundreds, especially at dusk. As a result of the leasing of the 23 sections of the Borough Reserve, Avenue road, the borough, or rather the other reserves; will benefit to the extent of £l4O a year. There is a feeling among ratepayers that the upsets on the remaining sections are on the high side. An American maid-servant, in recognition of her tWenty-five years' faithful service, has had bequeathed to her by her late mistress, a splendid country mansion on Long Island, together with furniture, jewels, silverware, horses and carriages. The bequest carries an income for life of £B6OO.

The goldfish in the ponds of the local park have thriven, considerably this season. The curator has for some time conducted an active campaign against the eels that infest the ponds, and the other day secured one specimen weighing about 121b. These old men eels play havoc with the gold and other fish with which the park's waters are stocked.

A visitor to New Plymouth "did" "Brooklands" and "Maranui" on Sunday, as well as Pukekura Park. "The finest grounds and scenery I have ever seen," was his verdict. The visitor has been twice round the world. "Some of the gardens in America can beat you for flowers, etc., but no country in the world has your wealth of ferns and trees. You should be a contented people." Important business is set down for discussion at a general meeting of the Taranaki Agricultural Society to be held at the Town Hall this evening. Members will be asked to take a vote on the committee's recommendation to borrow the sum o! £ISOO for the erection of a building to commemorate the Coronation of King George. Another recommendation, that the present two days spring show should be substituted by a three days autumn show, will also ,be discussed.

As the sequel to much deputationising on the part of settlers interested, the Taranaki County Council has been notified that the strip of land lying between Weld road and Timaru beach bridge has been proclaimed a public road by the Public Works Department. Tataramaika and Oakura settlers have from time to time petitioned the Council to put the bridge, which is at present in a bad state, in repair, but the local body's hands were tied, pending the issuing of the proclamation.

Some delay may possibly ensue in connection with' the greater New Plymouth movement on account of the unfortunate position that has arisen through the death of both Mr. Pollen late undersecretary for Internal Affairs, who had the matter in hand at Wellington, and Mr. W. Armstrong, late Commissioner of Crown Lands for Taranaki, who was chairman of the commission set up to deal with the proposals. Mr. Craig, and his late coadjutor, the late Mr. Armstrong, had seventy days in which to bring down their report on the findings of the commission, and not half the time has expired yet. The scene was the opening of a tennis club away in the backblocks of Taranaki. During the afternoon a prominent member of the club had been indulging in some good-humored chaff and scoring off a mild good-natured member, who apparently took no notice. When afternoon tea was ready, the joker, in rough and ready, hospitable fashion, announced, "Line up here for grub," and playfully asked the good-natured man if he had brought his mug with him, an allusion perhaps to the bun fights of his childhood days. "No," was the soft answer which turneth away wrath, "I did not; but I see Mrs (mentioning the joker's wife) has brought her big mug with her.' The laugh that followed showed the hit was appreciated by the onlookers, but it was some time before the prominent member, who was not a Scotchman, saw the point.

The usual weekly meeting of the Egmont Lodge, LQ.G.T., W as held in the lodgeroonr last evening. Bro. C. Pepperell, C.T., opened the lodge, and in the course of his introductory remarks pointed out the irregularities of some officers. It was important, he said, above all things that the officers should be regular and punctual in attendance. The lodge heartily welcomed Bro. Vercoe, of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Lodge, Blenheim, and another brother who has been for a lengthy visit to Dunedin. The business of the meeting was the election of officers for the ensuing quarter, resulting as follows:—C.T., Bro. G. Hayden; V.T., Sister Kusden; secretary, Sister E. White; Chaplain, Bro. A. Whitefinancial secretary, Bro. B. Hayden; treasurer, Sister Mrs. Legg; Marshal, Bro. L. Gdodacre; Guard, Bro. Bray; Sentinel, Bro. Rowling; pianiste, Sister Way; reporter, Bro. Hayden; assistant secrec- 1 ? ?, ro - N ' Howe "; Deputy-Marshal, bister B. Connett. A .special meeting is called for Thursday to prepare a new programme.

The usual monthly meeting of the W.C.T.U. will be held oil Wednesday next, January 31, in the Good Templar Hall, at 2.30. Business: Annual reports, etc.* IN KING STREET (Opposite Carnegie Library) Morey & Moore's Big ,7ob Cash Fair opens tins morning at <) o'clock. This is what you have all been waiting 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 you nave your pick of for ninepence. This ! wonderful table is alone worth a visit. Then again we have a Jot of infants'bibs to sell at the ridiculous price of twopence each. We have a limited quani tity of this line, so don't be disappointed, ;>ow another line that will please you will be the big lot of h.-lios' hem-stitched handkerchiefs, which will be cleared out at 1/4 per 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 will astonish you. We can therefore ask you with all confidence to visit this Fair to-monow and the follo'ving days, and - the prices will give you something to talk about for some considerable time. * 1

The fishing season is now in full swing on Lake Taupo. Two more newspapers are about to be started in the North Island, one at Te Puke and the other at Ngaruawahia. There can be no doubt now (says the Auckland Herald) that this season will prove a record one for Auckland's dairying industry both in output and price. Mr. E. G. Sclous, who is 61 years of age, has gone to Africa in pursuit of big game. He is said to have broken every bone in his bodv in the course of his career as a mighty hunter.

Since the setting in of settled weather there has been quite a rush of visitors to Dawson's Palls Mountain house. Up to the end of last week the visitors during the month numbered 846. The s.s. Arawa took 2070 cases of cheese on account of the Kaupokonui Co-operative Dairy Factory Co., making a total for five shipments of 10,016 cases, of an estimated value of £44,500. A business man, writing from Johannesburg to a Hawera resident, says there is a considerable amount of business done there in New Zealand butter and cheese, through the medium of resident agents and export firms. The writer is anxious to open negotiations for transacting business with one of the Taranaki factories.

A singular occurrence occurred at Portland lately, when the chef of a big club cut into a sheep's carcase, and £ 130 in currency coins fell to the floor. A telephone call to the market from which the mutton had been received revealed the fact that the clerk had placed the money inside the carcase for safe keeping after banking hours. The necessity for people exercising care when visiting centres of thermal activity was again exemplified at Waimangu (says the Rotorua Times), when a young lady visitor was badly scalded. Being a public holiday, there was naturally a large number of people walking round with the guide, and the lady unwittingly stepped off the path on Frying Pan Flat, her foot going through the crust into the steam below.

A new dairy factory, which is to be run on co-operative lines and the home separation system, has just been opened at Te Kuiti. Several of the improved farm settlers of Tangitu are going to supply the factory, and the directors are hopeful of having a supply of fully 500 cows from there next season. The new factory has been erected at a cost of approximately £4OOO, and is capable of turning out COO tons of butter per annum.

Owners of private wireless installations in Christchureh have received an intimation from the Post and Telegraph D&jjartment that unless they dismantle their installations they will render themselves liable to a penalty not exceeding £SOO. It is stated that this action of the department has been occasioned by the fact that a wireless message from Wellington to a steamer off the coast of New Zealand was intercepted by a private installation.

His Highness Maharajah Gaekwar Sir Sayayi Roa 111., Sena Khas Khel, Sam Shur Bahadur, Farzand, Khas-i Dowlat-i-Ingliahia, the gentleman who was seen in the local pictures to turn his .back on the King Emperor at Delhi, has an income of two million pounds per annum. He wears a diamond necklace worth exactly a year's income. His predecessor in Baroda lost his billet through trying to poison the British Resident, and the British Government set the Gaekwar in authority.

He had asked to look over one of those beautiful pieces of native bush that are prized in New Plymouth. The owner acquiesced and accompanied him around. He waltzed through in quick time, and whisking, with his w.alking stick, the tops off the young pungas a,nd other plants. As he departed he exclaimed: "Well, you should never be short of firewood here. Those native trees should keep you provided for many a long day to come!" Truly this is a utilitarian age! Hero is a singular illustration of the principle of cause and effect. The gradual substitution of motor power for horse traction in England has led to a serious decrease in the growth of oats and a corresponding increase in the area under wheat. The next oat harvest will be the smallest ever known in England. It is only in the north of England, where much porridge'is eaten, that oats are still being grown on a large scale. The consumers are now chiefly well-bred horses and hunters and French and German farmers, who generally go to England for good oat seed.

The church marriage service is being zealously guarded. We sometimes hear of young ladies who boast of their intention, at the proper time and place, to leave out the word "obey" at the marriage altar. It is well, therefore, to note the opinion of the Archbishop of Canterbury on the subject. This high dignatory of the Church states that such an omission would render the validity of the marriage doubtful, under the present law. Intending brides, therefore, should carefully consider the consequences before refusing to follow the orthodox lines.

American papers give details of a prairie tragedy such as is rarely chronicled. A family was travelling overland to California from Utah with their stock. Seven weeks out from their home town, the first symptoms of poisoning, believed to have been caused by the water of a treacherous spring, developed in a cow among the live stock. It died. The horses were stricken the next day. Then the husband fell ill and six days later died. His wife searched the desert for miles for water in an effort to save his life. She then became ill ,and, with the body of her dead husband by her side, and five helpless children clinging to her cot of blankets, she was facing death when a party of teamsters stumbled into the camp. The poor vkmian is unlikely to survive.