LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 277, 20 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"If that's the man, I know he's no use to no one," remarked a member of a local body anent a certain applicant for a vacancy in its road staff. Needless to say, he was not appointed.

When the question of tlie suggested partial censorship of picture shows is being dealt with by the City Council it is very probable (says the Wellington Post) that the Mayor will also introduce the subject of objectionable posters on unauthorised places or licensed hoardings. Mr. McLaren is of opinion that coarsely inartistic posters should not be displayed.

Lord Islington will visit New Plymouth next month for the special purpose of opening the Winter Show, which will be held in the King George Coronation Agricultural Hall, on June 5, 6, 7, and 8. Farmers and others will wetcome the Governor, who is held to be an authority on agricultural matters, as well as many other subjects. Lord Islington, unlike most men in his position, has a practical knowledge of the farmers' daily labors, and, recognising the importance of agriculture to New Zealand, he has done a great deal to foster the theoretical aide of farming. Hie speeches at agricultural functions have aroused much interest, so his visit to New Plymouth on such an important engagement will be keenly looked forward to.

At its meeting last week the Fire Board carried a resolution drawing the attention of the Borough Council to the 1 "rayed and unsafe condition of many of the verandahs in town, and suggesting the removal or strengthening of all that may be a source of danger to firemen in the execution of their duty or to the general public. The Board also resolved, "That the .borough be asked to put down a 6-inch water main to Pukekura Park gates, and that the council's representatives on the Board be asked to support the matter." The principal reason for asking the Council to do this is that, in the opinion of the auperintendent, Mr. F. 0. J. Bellringer, the water supply in Liardet and Gilbert streets, being only a 3-inch main, would be inadequate in case of an outbreak of Are anywhere in the vicinity of the park gates.

The winter session of the Technical College commences on Monday, May 27. The classes are arranged to suit the wants of those engaged during the day, and afford an opportunity for youths to go on with their education. A special class is being formed for those who intend going up for the Civil Service examination, and will afford the personal help so valuable to students. A course of instruction is available for those who wish to qualify for the proficiency certificate issued by the Board of Education. It is rather surprising that more of those engaged in crafts do not seek to take up the important subject of instrumental drawing—a subject most useful to all wood-workers, metalworkers, pattern-makers, and others, as a certificate obtained under the tuition available is of value throughout the qolony, apart from the use the knowledge obtained is to the worker. The efficacy or otherwise of the poisoned wheat which the Moa Road Board distributes gratis among its ratepayers in order to assist them to cope with the small bird nuisance, was a [ theme that occupied the attention of the I Board for a few minutes on Saturday morning. One member, who doubted its deadly effect, seemed to think that he had clinched his argument most effectively when he stated that he had regularly set a tin of it for the purpose of destroying rats, but so far as he could see its only effect was to fatten them. The chairman, however, remarked that it was not intended by the Board that it should be used as a rat poison, but as a destroyer of small birds, and that it had proved very effective in that capacity. Its killing powers were further testified to by the clerk, who stated that he 'had often discovered mice, which had attempted to dine off the wheat as it lay in bags in the Board's office, and had suffered for their temerity with their lives.

'Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (First and Second Groups) are notified that subscriptions -will be due and payable today (Monday), at the Secretary's Office, Curric street, from 9 a.m. to 12.30, from 1 p.m., to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.— Advt.

A public meeting of those interested in the 1912 Circular Road Race is to be held in the Town Hall on Wednesday night.

The Nelson Colonist of a recent date contained eleven death notices, seven of which were of persons whose ages ranged from 62 to 89 years.

The dates for the ligmont Agricultural and Pastoral Association's spring show have been fixed for Wednesday and Thursday, November 20 and 21, the week following the Wanganui show. The Dairy Inspector has selected a site on Mr. Death's property at Kaimata for the proposed cheese factory. Arrangements will be made to start the cheese company at once.

At the quarterly meeting of the local branch of the Railway Amalgamated Society, held on Sunday, the following resolution was unanimoushly adopted:— "That this branch records its appreciation of the uniform courtesy extended by Sir Joseph Ward to our society at all times, and their gratitude for the many improvements in the conditions of employment in the railway service by Sir Joseph Ward during his term of office as Prime Minister and Minister for Railways." A message from Dunedin states that stoats and weasels are responsible for a marked and regrettable decrease of bird life in the Catlin's Bush. Robins are now rarely seen, and parakeets, kakas, tuis and various native birds that used to make the bush alive with song have almost disappeared. The native pigeon is also disappearing, and the time does not seem far distant when the native birds will be a thing of the past. A sportsman who has just returned from a duck-shooting expedition in the neighborhood of Waipiata, Central Otago, says the paradise ducks there are so numerous that the farmers are threatening to lay poison for them immediately the short open season of twelve days is done. This fine game bird is very destructive in the turnip field, to which it resorts in large, numbers. They attack the leaves, and are more rapacious than even the rabbits in that respect. Opossums are very plentiful, and very destructive to fruit trees in various parts of Catlin's. The regulation that one man may kill thirty by dogs or gun, but not by trapping, is roundly condemned. It is an absurd regulation (says the Clutlui Leader), for if they are to be killed at all it might as well 'be in such a way that their skins will lie of some value, and not riddled by shot or torn by dogs.