LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 218, 13 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Platelayers started yesterday laying I the line to the Mangare road, on the I Stratford-Whangamomona line. The Whangamomona tunnel is now completed, work on the parapets just being finished.—Own correspondent. Counsel to a 'witness at the Supreme Court yesterday: "You do rather resent my doubting your word." Witness: "No, it is part 'of your " Counsel. (interjecting) "My trade! And you know that it is part of your trade as a valuer never to be wrong." - As the date chosen for the Re-union Sports clashed with the Irish National concert, the committee have decided to postpone the sports until. Easter Monday, this date being vacant, through the local sports lapsing. ' This change of date should be appreciated by runners and the public alike, as they will be given the opportunity .of .spending a pleasant day's outing within easy reach oi home. Sir James Carroll states that the area of native land actually taken up for settlement purposes during the current financial year will probably reach a record total of 500,000 acres. Last year the area settled was 231,000 acres. The latest figures, the Native Minister stated, are based on returns up to last month, which show that 270,000 acres have been alienated by sale, and the, balance leased.

A meeting of the general committee of the New Plymouth Operatic Society was held last evening. Amongst the business discussed was the question of an opera to be performed, rooms for rehearsals, and date of first meeting were decided. By unanimous consent the names of Messrs. K. Cock and M.. Gilmour were added to the list of gentlemen to be asked to accept positions as vice-presidents. OUR CHECKED BAGGAGE RETURNS LAST MOTTTH-A RECORD. Yes, an absolute record! Returns bigger than ever. Shows travellers are appreciating the great boon, which saves them time, trouble, worry, and averts loss. We handle the baggage at both ends —collect it, place it on train or steamer, deliver it at other end immediately. Don't miss a good thing, but chock next time you travel.—The N.Z. Express Coy., Ltd. —Advt.

The legal fraternity; is unusually strongly represented in the town just now, no less than 14 foregathering in one rendezvous last evening. The police force has also been swollen. Tile case of Catherin Cameron v. Public Trustee and others, claim for an order under part 2 of the Family Protection Act, 'which was set down for hearing at the Supreme Court this week, has been adjourned till next sessions.

The engineering and electricity classes at the Technical -College will not meet to-night, owing to the room being otherwise engaged. Students should enrol before the 20th inst. Miss Hftnt will meet students at Tariki on Thursday afternoon and at New Plymouth on Friday.

Some idea of the huge profits reaped sometimes by land speculators was gleaned at the Supreme Court yesterday during the cross-examination of one *o'f their number by Mr. H. D. Bell, K.C. Witness admitted having purchased a farming property at Te Puke last August for £lO an acre and selling it within two days of his purchase at an advance of no less than £3 10s per acre. Further questioned, witness said that since then improvements to the value of £1 per acre had been effected on the property, so that he was confident that the man to whom lie sold could to-day command as much as from £2O to £25 per, acre, and then not be asking too much.

Those who have ha'd so much to say recently of the '-'mistake" made by Sir Joseph Ward in getting Parliament to sanction the gift of a Dreadnought to the Imperial Government, may be interested in the following remarks by Mr. John Clrigg, of Longbeach, Canterbury, who has been on a visit to the Oul Coun-, try:—"Now, on the point of trade within the Empire, you have heard of New Zealand's gift of a Dreadnought, but far and away more important—as in all gifts —than the value are the sentiment and feelings which went with it. We have been able to borrow money at from 3y 2 to 4% per cent, to develop this splendid little country, when at the same time the Argentine has had to pay 5, 7, 8 and 9 per cent., privately and publicly. A recent arrival from England .was very much struck by what he termed the casual way that colonials have of doing business. Some time before the mail train departed from New Plymouth yesterday morning, the usual large bundle containing Daily News -was brought down for sale at the bookstall. The stall not being open at the time, the bundle was deposited on the platform alongside. At once there was a rush by intending passengers -desirous of purchasing the News. The lad that looks after the stall was not in sight, however. At last a prospective purchaser, more enterprising than the. rest, opened the bundle, abstracted a paper, and deposited the humble penny on the bundle. His example was quickly followed, and very soon there was quite a respectable sum in coppers and small silver, because the person who had not the humble brownie put down the smallest coin that, he had and helped himself to change as well as paper. The scheme evidently worked well, because wJhen the youth came strolling along a few minutes before the train left "he found that the money and papers tallied.