LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 196, 16 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Hawke's Bay Herald says it is now nearly forty years since the first sod of the line which runs from Napier to Wellington was turned, and nearly thirty years ago since it reached Wood-. wile. During the whole thirty years not a penny has been spent on railwav extension in Hawke's Bay,

A freak in natural history has been exciting notice in Eangiora. A cat, which had kittens, on a very small live rabbit being offered it, adopted the stranger, and has, for a week or so, been bringing it up as one of its own family Bunny has so far escaped the notice of the rabbit inspector, and is thriving. On Tuesday morning last (says the Westport Tunes) a camping party on the North Beach, Westport, secured what ? i tx^, local record of fish f or one haul With a single operation of their trawl net they landed 635 kawhai. Four hours were occupied in clearing the net, The fish were caught at the junction of the Oraiwaiti river with the sea. It is satisfactory to learn that the immigrants arriving down South are experiencing little difficulty in finding employment. Nearly all 0 f them who write to the Christchurch office of the Labor Department regarding employment do not turn up to find whether anything is available, the presumption being that they have been suited independently of the Department.

Arthur Griffith, the famous lightning < calculator, known as the "Marvellous Griffith" in the music halls of America, was found dead in bed at an hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts, on December 25. The doctor suggests, states the New York correspondent of a London journal, that though Griffith apparently toyed with figures hurled at him during his stage performances he really underwent considerable mental stre?s, and that his deaht was due to brain rupture. Griffith, a farmer's son, was discovered in Indiana four years ago by a Chicago newspaper man, who proposed a theatrical partnership. Griffith, then 27 years old, and working on a farm for two shillings daily and his board, accepted, and his stage career began in Chicago the next day. Ih February, 1910, a score of professors from Harvard University tried to corner Griffith. Professors and instructors threw problems at him and he tossed back the solutions. Then he turned quizzer, and asked the professors relatively easy ones, which floored the experts completely.

Interest it at present focussed in the political situation. There have been numerous predictions and forecasts, but we think there are some surprises in store for the public. Whatever the surprise may be, it will not equal the surprise of those who for the first time taste Dragon Brand Tea, the tea of perfect quality. It is a tea for the fastidious palate, and it pleases everyone. Give it a trial at once.—Advt.

VISITING CARDS. - When you run out of cards, send your order for more to the Daily News Printery. 3/6 for 50, or 5/s for 100 (postage paid).

Harvesting operations in most of the Hawera districts are just about completed.

From Sunday morning to yesterday morning No. 5 oil well at Moturoa flowed lj>s barrels.

A bushman came into town yesterday to see the races, with money to the extent of £6O. Before many races had been decided he was relieved of his little pile by a pickpocket.

Advice has'been received by the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Browne) from the Minister of Internal Affairs, that the appointment of new Commissioner in place of the late Mr. W. Armstrong to act on the commission to decide the suitability • for municipal control of the St. Aubyn district has been held over pending the actual appointment of Commissioner of Crown Lands, New Plymouth. This has now been completed, and the matter will be proceeded with at once.

A charge of having assaulted John Trigger was preferred against William Monspn at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning before Messrs. C. M Lepper and H. Russell, J.P.'s. The assault was alleged to have taken place opposite the Theatre Royal at 10.30 pm. on Wednesday. Mr. Quilliam, who defended Monson, said the assault was without malice, and arose out of accused's attempt to indulge in skylarking with Trigger, who was not in the mood for it. Constable O'Neill stated that the blows delivered by accused were severe ones. Trigger, who .gave his occupation as a jockey, said he did not wish to take proceedings against Monsor, as the blow was given in play. The Bench convicted and discharged accused, after remarking that he had a very peculiar method of showing his friendship.