LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 219, 14 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During the progress of a picture show in a neighboring town, (when "The Cup Winner" was being shown), the leader of the orchestra made a particularly happydeparture in wafting the villain from this world of care to the strains of "There's a ]and that is fairer than day." The strike is a shockingly old-fashion-ed and dangerous weapon; a gun that throws bullets 'in every direction and j wounds everyone. At least it must be conceded to stupid advocates of strikes that they have the virtue of self-sacri-fice. That may be good in ethics, but it is simple lunacy in warfare.—Melbourne Leader. A resident of Oamaru met with a painful accident the other day in a rather peculiar manner. He had sprained his wrist, and bound cloths saturated in turpentine round the injured part. He struck a match to light his pipe, when the binding round the arm took fire, and burned up fiercely. Before he could tear the bandages off the arm was severely burned, and he will be incapacitated from work for a week or two. Sir Arthur Guinness does not think very highly of Hansard as a Parliamentary record. He referred to the system of revision of speeches prevailing, and said that some members had a habit of altering the reports of their speeches so that Hansard did not convey what was really said. But its worst offence, in Sir Arthur's eyes, was that it encouraged members to talk so that their speeches might be reported and circulated among their constituents. i The following matrimonial advertisement appeared,in an Auckland paper:— "A gentleman slightly past middle-age, with honorable and sincere intentions, owner of beautiful home, wishes to correspond with a lady of similar inclination and a refined nature, possessing some means, which she could take pleasure in joining with the possessions of one who is trueand sincere at heart. v The confidence of a lady writing would be much valued." Surely such a flowing effusion ought to fetch 'em! An amusing incident happened a short time ago in one of the Paris courts of justice. A vain, haughty woman was called as a witness, when the magistrate enquired her age. "Twenty-five last August," promptly replied the lady. The next witness was a young man, who at once acknowledged that he was 27 of age. "Are yon related to the last witness?" queried the magistrate.' "Yes, I'm her son," he replied. "Ah!" mused the magistrate, "your mother must have married very young." It is estimated by the Geological Department's surveyors, who have just completed and published a comprehensive survey bulletin on the Grey subdivision, that the Grey coalfield contains 636,000,000 tons of coal, of which about six million tons have already been mined, and ten million tons at least left as irrecoverable in worked'areas. Of the immense quantity remaining, the Government geologist (Mr. Percy G. Morgan) estimates that under the ordinary conditions about 15O;0O0,OOO tons may be mined, though- this ultimate capacity of the coalfield would be doubled by increasing the efficiency of methods and providing for the fujler utilisation of crushed coal. The low percentage of extraction in this coalfield is put down to faulting and irregular folding of the strata. He estimates that an annual output of 500,000 tons will soon be reached, and that this could be doubled under favorable conditions. So the Greymouth coal miners will apparently have no need for anxiety about their occupation until 300 years have gone by. A somewhat extraordinary case has come before the courts in Melbourne, a lady claiming £SO damages from a well-, known catering firm on account of having, as she alleges, found the head of a mouse in a meat pie supplied to her at one of the company's establishments. This writ set out that the claim was for "damages caused to the plaintiff by the negligence of the defendants and their servants in and about the making, cooking and preparation of and the selling to the plaintiff of a pie intended for consumption by her, and unfit for consumption at all." The firm is famous for its hot pies, and it has many branches in Sydney and Melbourne', where the public are in the hahit of going in large numbers for meals. The firm denies the allegation, though, of course, -even if it be tine, no one imagines that mice are caught for the purpose of being done up into meat pies. At the worst, it was an accident. The case, however, has not yet been decided, and being sub judiee had better not be discussed further. The coal strike in England, unless speedily settled, will have far-reacliing consequences. The entire industries of Great Britain will be paralysed, and the after effects will be felt in Ihe remotest parts of the world. It. is very likely that we shall feel it in our trade returns, but we do not think any trou- I ble will prevent the people of. New Zealand from drinking Dragon Blend Tea. It is one of the. necessities of life,.and it is just good, pure, delicious tea. Advt. . , . Busmeos me?! waiting billheads, letteror any other description of print ing, canno* be beiter in price, quality or despatch, than by thn D&ib News Priniery. Try us "ill, jjrj u ™ or WTifcfl.

There te a possibility of Philip Newbury, the famous singer, visiting New Plymouth at an early date. If he comes there is a treat in store for the public of New Plymouth. A garden fete held at Dunedin on Tuesday realised £I2OO. It is estimated that the surplus will be over £looo,] and this is to go to the immediate improvement of the city reserves. At the request of Mr. Spence, the case of an originating summons pre-, ferred by one James against Hurley and others, has been adjourned by the Supreme Court until the next sessions at New Plymouth. The clerk to the Waimate West County Council has notified the Taranaki County Council that the question of holding a conference with regard to the proposal to electrify the Main South road will be considered at the ordinary meeting of the council on the 14th inst. The first issue of the Pukekohe and Waiuku Times is to hand, and a bright and chirpy little production it is. Its appearance is due to the enterprise of Mt. R. J. Eames, an erstwhile journalist of Taranaki, to whom we 'offer our congratulations and best wishes for the future of the paper. ■""'•*' » A Taranaki local body received the following letter from an irate ratepayer in response to its usual demand for rates. "Sir,—l want the road completed before I can pay my rates. There have 'been four horses lamed through the stones being so large." The s.s. Earawa will not run her usual trip from Onehunga on Thursday, 21st inst, nor from New Plymouth 'on Friday, 22nd. She is to have her boilers cleaned at Onehunga, after which she will take up the usual running on Sunday, March 24, leaving Onehunga on that date at the usual time. Ratepayers of the St. Aubyn town district are reminded that a poll- will be taken to-day at the. West End Gymnasium upon ia proposal by the St. Aubyn Town Board to borrow a sum of . £SOOO for the purpose of re-grading, farming, and metalling streets, kerbing and making footpaths, and constructing culverts in the town district. At the Supreme Court yesterday orders for release of administration by the Official Assignee were made in the following bankrupt estates: Edwin Bright well, Charles E. Meyenherg, Eusco and Adams, Bound and Clover, Charles Henry Ellis, Alexander Eeid, Thomas Higginson, Joseph Sharrock, Elias Frank Franzer, Roland V. Edwards, Albert Burton Clark and Richard P. Watts. Am extraordinary aflair is reported from Kakaramea by the Patea Press. It appears that on Sunday night Mr. Roberts, of Kakaramea, was walking home from Patea, and had reached the vicinity. of the Kakaramea Dairy Factory, when a gun was discharged in close proximity to him by some miscreant, who decamped in the darkness. Not satisfied with his escapade the same individual repeated the performance shortly afterwards as Mr. Edgecombe was passing along the road. The matter is at present in the hands of the police, who hope' to bring the culprit to justice. The offence is a serious one, and calls for the severest penalty the law will allow. An absconder from the Burnham Industrial school was recognised in New Plymouth yesterday by Constable O'Neill driving one of the waggons connected with Barton's circus. The constable, accompanied by Constable Egan, went to the circus site some time later to apprehend the youth. He, however, also recognised them, and when they were within a few yards of him waited not on the order of his going, but set out to beat Donaldson's time. Constable O'Neill, however, set forth in chase, and his condition and training stood to "him, as he overhauled his quarry within 50 yards. The race proved very interesting to the onlookers whilst it lasted. The ' youth will probably appear before the court this morning. | A motor-car, believed to be from New Plymouth, was travelling at a fine pacej along the Mountain road on Tuesday, when it ran over a young dog which happened to be on the road (says the' Eltham Argus). As the poor brute was yelping in pain and the car sped on its way the occupants' were served to be laughing heartily! Perhaps they considered the juggernauting of a dog to be,an enjoyable incident in the course of a motor ride. The running over of a dog may be purely accidental, but it is difficult to see what there is to laugh at. It is unfeeling conduct of the kind referred to that gives rise to the public hatred of "motor hogs," and a desire for their punishment. The dog in this case, which is,valued by its owners, was badly injured, hut may possibly recover.