LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 304, 20 June 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ratepayers of Palmerston North yesterday carried by 722 votes to 455, a majority of 207, the poll for a loan of £60,000 to instal electric tramways on the overhead trolley system. The Marine Department has decided to hold a magisterial inquiry into the loss of the dredge Manchester, which left Wellington on April 0 for Sydney. The inquiry will be held at Lyttelton. The Premier. Hon. T. replying to a deputation from the Noliccnse League at Dargavillc, declared that the Government was not prepared to bring in a Bill to give the hare majority. Mrs. Bayly, matron at the Old People's Home, reported yesterday that during the month the discipline at the Home had. been very good. There had been two admissions and one departure, leaving in the Home 24 males and 9 females. At a meeting of the St. Anbvn Town Board last evening the tender of Messrs. T. and R. Parkins was accepted for the supply of 600 yards of metal for the Main South road. It was also decided to call for tenders for a concrete culvert on the Belt road, and for earth-work at Roy Terrace, Newton and Calvert streets. _ At yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, Mr. R. Masters gave notice to move at next meeting that in future the Board meet at 1 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month, and sit until the business is finished, instead of meeting on the Tuesday evening preceding the fourth Wednesday, as is at present the case.

Dr. E. A. Walker,'medical superintendent at the New Plymouth hospital, reported to the Board yesterday that 31 patients had been admitted to the hospital during the month of May; 34 had been discharged, whilst three'had died, and there were now remaining in the hospital 40 patients. The number of operations had been seventeen. A deadlock has occurred in connection with the construction of the new bridge at Wanganui. The specified method of driving piles has turned out useless, the. river bottom having proved to be gravel, whereas borings led the contractor to expect clay. The piles simply will not drive, - and work has been suspended. Legal proceedings are probable. During the hearing of a divorce case at Dunedin, one of the witnesses said that the co-respondent, on being served with the notice, asked whether he would) be able to marry the lady as soon as the decree was granted. Mr. Justice Williams referred to this in his judgment. He said it ought to be generally known that parties to a divorce were not entitled to re-marry upon the granting of a decree nisi: they were not free.of each other until the decree was made absolute, and. in fact, not until after the time for appealing had) expired. Mr. Irwin remarked that persons had been convicted for marrying again before the decree was made absolute. The stove installed for heating purposes in some of the schools in the Taranaki district was under discussion yesterday, when a member remarked that the stoves were very unsightly. The overseer, however, said that he did not think they were unsightly. They would, at any rate, last 100 years, which ■was different from some highly-orna-mented stoves, the plates of which could easily be kicked through. The mein•ber whose artistic eye was offended by their unsightliness admitted that they were very serviceable, as also did the committees of the schools where they were installed, and said that possibly the teachers might iniprove their appearance by utilising them to -teach the children brush-work!

I At the Supreme Court yesterday it was announced that a settlement had been arrived at in the case of Emma Lash v. E. H. Heappy and wife, claim for £2OO damages for moneys alleged to have been advanced by way of loan. On behalf of the plaintiff, Mr. C. H. Weston intimated that the case of John H. Wood v. Frank H. Jellyman (Mr. Quilliam) had been settled. The claim was for an order that the defendant account to the plaintiff (his former partner) for certain partnership moneys alleged to be due in respect of a property belonging to the defendant. Mr. Weston mentioned that the plaintiff wished to state that there was no imputation whatsoever of fraud on the part of the defendant. Another case which was struck out was that of the trustees of Arthur, deceased (Mr. Ijarton) v. A. H. Arthur (Mr. G. H. Ryan), claim for £llO2 17s 7d, alleged to he owing under a memorandum of mortgage. The remaining business for the Court comprises the case of Edwin Mav ! (Mr. Frank Wilson) v. Henry Weston (Mr. T. S. Weston), two separate causes of action, involving a claim for ,6410 4s lid damages for alleged breach of warranty in respect to a motor-car; an undefended divorce case (Tleihoringion v. Hetherington), and some bankruptcy cases. The divorce case will be taken at 9.30 o'clock. Under the circumstances it is probable that the session will conchide this evening. For Children's Hacking Cough at night. Wood's Great Peppermint Cure i/fi. I[t The Post and Telegraph Department staff is much exercised over the "Gambling Circular" issued by the PostmnsterGeneral. Gambling will go on till the end of time, but the housewife need not on tea. WTu 1n,,., Tea in one of the three grades at 1/8, 1/10 and 2/- per lb, she gets absolutely pure tea. with a pleasing and nevervarying flavor.

Despite the bad weather there was a very fair attendance at the euchre party and dance held in the Brougham street hall last night in aid of the Western Park funds. The prizes, which were keenly contested, were won by Mrs. R. Cock (12 games) and MNs A. Williams (10 games), and Messrs. T. Marett and F. Jul I (10 games each). In the play-jii" Mr. Marett was successful. After an excellent supper had been discussed, dancing was commenced and kept up until the earlv hours to the enlivening strains of lr.nsic discoursed by Mrs. George's orchestra. Mr. W. McLean acted as M.C. If there should lie an appeal to the country within a year—and there may be—it may well devoutly be wished that the people will strive to influence members to bring about the reform of an Elective Executive. If such a system existed wo should get rid of the placehunting crowd who, during the past few months, have made the sweets of office of more importance than the well-being of New Zealand. It is not with some men a question of .sound! government or otherwise. The one question with them is. "Am I to have office; and, failing my getting ofl'ice, will my city or province have full representation in the Cabinet V'—Potone, Chronicle.