LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 202, 6 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

While cleaning his bicycle the other day a boy named Leslie Lyster, of Greytown, had the misfortune to get his hand in the wheel while it was rapidly revolving, with the result that his arm was broken just above the wrist. Speaking at Hastings the other day, the Hon. W. G. 'Russell said he was surprised at the slow speed travelled 1 by I the trains on the East Coast and considered' a dining car was wanted. How about the service on this side of the island ? If sufficient inducement offers a road race from New Plymouth to Waitara and back will be held on Monday, June 3. Entries (entrance fee 2s 6d) close on May 25 with Mr. A. George, cycle agent, New Plymouth. Prizes will be allotted as follows: First, £2 10s; second, £1; third, 10 s. The Sabbath calm of Greytown is almost proverbial, and on occasion the inhabitants retire like periwinkles to the innermost recesses of their abodes. The local paper says that owing to the heavy downpour of :rain on Sunday evening, no services were held in the Anglican j or Presbyterian churches. The Royal Commission appointed to inquire and report regarding the route for a branch railway to Opunake will 'hold sittings a week later than arranged. The dates will be:—-Hawera, May 14; Manaia, May 15, Opunake, May 16, Kaponga, May 17; Eltham, May 18; Stratford, May 20; New Plymouth, May 21. J An important sale by auction of small ] dairy farms was held at Pahiatua on Saturday. Eight sections in the MangaI tainoke block, near Hamua, ranging from 68 to 80 acres, were offered and were all sold at prices ranging from £ls los up to £25 10s per acre. The purchase money paid for the eight sections totalled £10,746 10s. The Dannevirke Advocate ceased publication on Tuesday last, the proprietors, Messrs. Buick and Russell, having sold out to the Dannevirke Publishing Company, proprietors of the Evening News. The Advocate was inaugurated by Mr. J. H. Clayton (formerly of New Plymouth) in 1888. Messrs. Buick and Russell have directed its destinies since July, 1903.

A New Plymouth resident received a great surprise the other day. He was coming up from Wellington, and his carriage was uncoupled at Aramoho and 6hunted on to the Wanganui line. He was reading serenely when he discovered that the train was making for Wanganui and not New Plymouth! He had to stay the day at the city by the river, and is talking of bringing an action against the Railway Department for the loss and inconvenience he suffered.

, The New Zealand system of inspection of engines, boilers and machinery has attracted expert attention in America. , The Hon. G. Laurenson mentioned divr- | mg his interview with the Wellington : engine-drivers' deputation that he had received a letter from a high authority in ! the United States, remarking upon the I phenomenally low percentage of aeci- | dents in connection with engines in New Zealand, and asking for information as I to the law and practice in the matter. He had, m replying, forwarded copies of all the Inspection of Machinery Acts and tne regulations under them. A light-fingered gentleman made a big haul—and missed one.—on Sunday, from a house on the Sandon-Halcombe road. •A dav or two previously a young man named Harris returned to Sandon, having had a big win at the races. On top of this he was paid a cheque for £BO. This lie cashed and disregarded suggestions of his friends that lie should bank the money. He placed £3O under his pillow and the larger sum he left in the pocket of some clothes which were hanging in his room. He discovered that either on Saturday evening or Sunday his pocket had been picked, but the wallet under the pillow was intact. | A few weeks ago, Mr. C. B. Westmacott, who was manager of the "Maori | village" which was sent to England by an Australian syndicate, passed through Wellington en route to Sydney. In the course of an interview, Mr. Westmacott stated that failing to obtain a satisfactory financial settlement with the syndicate (which was alleged to have left the Maoris stranded in England), he intended to apply for redress through the courts. Information is now to hand that a satisfactory settlement has been come to between Mr. Westmacott and the syndicate. Mr. Westmacott intends to visit New Zealand shortly. A peculiar accident is reported from a ferry in Southland, under the control of the Wallace County Council, against which body claims have now been made in compensation for losses. It appears that there were two or three conveyances on the punt, and also two or three saddle horses belonging to the members of the Seventh Regiment, who were returning from the mounted camp at Wyndham. The gates on the punt were closed and fastened with a piece of rope, but when in mid-stream one of the horses attached to the conveyance in the middle of the punt became restless, and backed into the horse and cart behind it. The gate fastening did not stand the strain, and a rabbit cart and horse fell overboard, the trap disappearing, and the horse was drowned. Several of the Territorials had placed their swag in this vehicle, and the whole affair happened so suddenly that they had not time to reach them before the trap was overboard.

Referring to mixed marriages, Archbishop Kelly, of Sydney, in a sermon last week, said that there were those outside the fold more numerous than they were who would propose mixed marriages, but what about the union of hearts if they knelt before different altars. "What about the union of the soul," he asked, "if what we believe they condemn as idolatry? What about raising our thoughts and minds about animality? What about lifting ourselves up? God pity the Catholic girl who will deprive herself of a Catholic husband. You have souls and an eternal life before you. But if a Catholic young man for any reason ■will deprive his children of a Catholic mother—nh—listen now. Our Lord himself spoke and said: 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' Let us stop mixed marriages. Let Catholics stand their ground and refuse to enter into wedlock in such circumstances." The family, he continued, was the fountain head of society. If they could not agree, before wedlock on the religion they we.re to follow, it would be a bond of a'uin and damnation to the children.

There was a very large attendance at the Whiteley Memorial Church last night, when the Rev. J. Burton commenced the first of hia aeries of "Sermons to the Thoughtful." The subject dealt with last night was, "What evidence have we that God is?"

Writing to a friend in Waitara regarding a visit to the district in order to give addresses on the native land question, Dr. Te Rangihiroa says that he regrets being unaMe to do so at present, owing to having to undertake a prolonged tour of th'■ northern portion of his electorate, but he will probably visit Waitara at a later date. The Minister says that both Mrs. Te Rangihiroa and himself had a very enjoyable time during their recent visit.

An exciting incident was witnessed in Dawson street, Xew Plymouth, the other day. A cow was being driven along the street and whipped unmercifully by an individual on horseback. The beast became infuriated, and, espying a pedestrian, charged him. The latter saw his danger in time, and dived into an alleyway that, fortunately for him, was handy, the cow after him, and the driver looking on with astonishment. It was an exeiting race between man and beast, and the former just got out of danger in time. The cow got stuck in a shed, but after a time recovered its track. Later on he who had just had such a lucky escape emerged, and seeing the way clear, continued his journey. Had it been a woman or a child, or both, as might have been the case, instead of a nimble-footed man, the result might have been very serious. Onlookers informed a News reporter that the. driver was entirely responsible for the mad stsate of the cow.