LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 311, 28 June 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A distinct shortage in milk supplies is being experienced, in Wellington in common with several other towns in the Dominion.

It is stated that a company is being formed in Masterton to prospect for silver in the neighboring hills, (lood reports are to hand of samples which have been procured, Four sections in Aria. Oluira, and Ponatu Survey Districts, comprising 1639 acres, will be open for selection under optional conditions, and one section in Totor Survey District, containing 175 acres under renewable lease, at the office of the Taranaki Land Board, New Plymouth, on Monday, July 15. , A nursing class has been formed at the Technical College, and is being run with the co-operation of the local branch of St. John's Ambulance Society. The class, which is held on Wednesday evenings, bids fair t& become most successful, no fewer than thirty-eight pupils having enrolled the first week. Those attending the class have an opportunity not only of securing the certificate of the Society, but also of gaining a certificate of attendance at a Technical School class. The course of instruction embraces the nursing of children as well as invalids, and the benefits derivable are too patent to need enumerating.

Under section 10 of the Taranaici Botanic Garden Act the Pukekura Park Board has power to make by-laws for the safety and preservation of the grounds and the conduct of visitors. In a letter to the Borough Council pointing out' this fact, Mr. C. W. Govett (chairman of the' Board) remarks that it is notorious that for some years past the by-laws have not been properly observed, and the whole community has suffered in consequence. The Board considers, he adds, that if some person like Mr. B. l'ippins (the borough inspector) was appointed few offences would be committed and the offenders would probably be discovered and dealt with. He had seen Mr. Tippins, who has expressed his willingness to act as inspector on behalf of the Board, without remuneration, provided the Council will give its consent to the appointment. In asking the Council to agree to the appointment, Mr. Govett points out that the grounds are the property of the public and may'possibly, at some future time, be vested in the Council.

Omar Khayyam's elusive "bird of happiness" has apparently been caught by at least one of the earth's inhabitants. The successful ornithologist in question appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday in answer to a'charge of having swept the Queen street footpath between the prohibited hours of 8.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. When the usher eried out his name, the defendant (Tong Lee) was missing, but a fellow countryman, who Was in attendance, rushed' out of court, and returned a few minutes later with another Oriental, whose visage bore a smile which -would almost atone for any offence on the criminal calendar. Whatever apologies he had to make for keeping the court waiting were embodied in a smile of true celestial type. He smiled his way into the box. and, still smiling, answered rapidly in the affirmative every question put to him. Even when a fine of 5s and costs 7s was announced., ilifi.s blandness and affability never failed him. In fact, he seemed to regard the whole proceedings as a huge joke, being seemingly possessed of an elysian happiness. quite beyond the ken of ordinary mortals.

Some interesting disclosures have been made regarding Lord Loreburn's retirement from the post of Lord High Chancellor. Lord Loreburn's resignation and Viscount Haldane.'s acceptance of the portfolio were arranged by means of wireless messages that were exchanged with Mr. Asquith wliile the Prime Minister was in the Mediterranean. When Lord Loreluirn wrote his letter of resignation it was> transmitted liv wireless to the Primo Minister, and the offer of the portfolio was communicated to Lord Haldane in the same way. It was generally expected that Mr. Asquith would succeed Lord Loreburn if the latter could he prevailed upon to retire. This, however, he is said to hare stubbornly refused to do. because of a personal feud with the Prime Minister. The Lord Chancellor had no objection to retiring, but lie would do so only on the understanding that Mr. Asquitli should not succeed him. The approaching retirement of Mr. Asquitli is rumored to have created a serious split in the Cabinet, the members of which can come to 110 sort of agreement as to who should succeed tho Prime Minister. .

The. non-alcoholic properties of EUSRETTA CIDER commend this favorite thirst-quencher to all workers. Office men, men in shops, housewives and house-keepers, all like RUSSETTA. Pure apple juice—pure cane sugar—that's all! All hotels and stores. 9

A Palmerston resident met with a peculiar chapter of motor accidents the other day (says the Standard). Ilis. car, having met with a mishap near Awahuri, he immediately returned ,to Palmerston to secure the aid of another car. Unfortunately the second car was rendered hors de combat within a stone's ■throw of the first. Nothing daunted, the assistance of a third car was obtained, when, peculiarly enough, it also was put out of action. The unfortunate traveller then thought it best to secure the aid of an expert.

In an editorial on the agricultural outlook the Dunedin Star says: At present wo have about 56 million acres of agricultural and pastoral land, admirably suited to the production of wool, meat, dairy produce and grain, with a climate that is delightfully temperate, and our population may be taken at a million. Our exports of products of the soil for 1910 were a trifle over 18 millions sterling. Denmark, with a soil by nature poorer than many parts of England, Ireland, or of the Scottish Lowlands, and infinitely poorer than New Zealand, is able to export to Great Britain every year butter and eggs alone to the value of 2(i millions sterling. Yet the country has only an area of a little less than 15,000 square miles (against New Zealand's 103,000 square miles), but supports a population of two and a-half millions under by no means ideal climatic conditions. This success has been brought about by educational processes, that must lie followed here if we are to take that prominent position in rural productiveness that is at our command.

An interesting experiment has been made by Mr. E. Short, of Feilding, in the growing of pumpkins to feed stock. One crop returned 00 to 80 tons to the acre, and the stock ate it with avidity. Mr. Short had been heavily taxing the crop for feed, and he was keeping hoggets and bulls on the;surplus. Mr. Short said he had put 20 acres under crop, and four acres were a failure owing to the slugs getting on them. Off the first piece of 12 acres he fed 300 ewo hoggets and 40 bulls. The method of feeding was for a man to smash open the pumpkins and take out the seed, and these would pay for the experiment three times over. Mr. Short said it did not require good land to grow pumpkins. For his experiment the ground was turned up for the lirst time with the plough, and then disc harrowed. The seed was sown a foot apart in rows about 14ft apart. Two inches of soil was quite sufficient covering for the seed. Two boys and a man could sow 20 acres a day. The plants required protection from the frosts.

Quite a shoal of letters have been received by Mr. Knibbs, Commonwealth Statistician, from ladies, bearing on the delicate subject of their ages as previously supplied for census purposes. The Statistician regards the matter seriously from the official standpoint, which demands absolute accuracy in such matters, but the evergreen subject litis nevertheless its comic aspects. Mr. Knibbs stated last week that since the census lie had received 16.000 letters, mostly from ladies, who wrote to say that they had made mistakes in their ages- on the census returns. This announcement aroused the laughter of the audience lie addressed, but Mr. Knibbs was sympathetic with the correspondents whose memories had played them false, rather than condemnatory. He said it was essential that the age records of people should be i correct, and, as there appeared to be some reluctance to state ages 011 the ordinary forms, lie hoped at next census 'j to have a card enclosed with the returns, on which particulars which it was desired to keep secret could be entered. By the steamer Victoria, which left Auckland this week for Sydney, there was forwarded to Sydney a brood of 50 chicks. The chicks were being sent across as an experiment, which will be watched with great interest by all engaged in the poultry industry. Enclosed in a long, shallow box, the chicks, while enjoying plenty of freedom, were also kept in a warm temperature, which was regulated with the aid of a kerosene lamp. At one end of the box was a large padding of flannel and feathers, constructed on a light, wooden frame. When the chicks are huddled together beneath the folds of ilannel, great warmth is obtained. The brood was the first shipment of day-old chicks which had been sent 011 a long sea voyage, and should the brood survive the passage to Sydney it is anticipated that a remunerative trade will result in the carriage of young poultry between New Zealand and Australia. Previously the eggs have been packed and despatched by steamer, to be placed in the incubators on reaching their destination. It is anticipated that with careful nursing, as in the case mentioned, better results will be obtained.

The Rev. Alexander McCalluin. of Victoria, one of the speakers at, the annual meeting of the Central Methodist Mission in the Town Ilall at Melbourne a few days ago, told a remarkable story, which may not have been without some effect on his hearers. He was deploring the want of "welcome" to children when they crossed the threshold of life, and proceeded to illustrate tlie'storv by saying that one morning he received a message asking Mm to attend at the cemetery to read the service over the body of a child. Whilst waiting for the funeral, lie was surprised to see a cab driven up to the gate, the cabman alight, and, taking a small eoftin from the vehicle, walked towards an open grave. 'The gravedigger stood on one side of the grave," said the speaker, "the cabman on the other, and I at the end. I looked at the little box. is there 110 woman to drop a tear on this baby's coffin?' I asked. The cabman muttered something, and then I understood—the child had not been welcome. I don't know whether I was right, your Excellency (turning to the Covernor-OneraJ), but I turned to the men. 'Take off your bats,' I said, and then I added, 'Oh, Lord! find the man who is the father of this child and damn him!'" Mr. McCallum emphasised the contention that the children were the sort of immigrants Australia needed—our own born children !

The cinematograph might bo said to have "commenced business" in a very humble way. Even the great Edison declares that he did not foresee any great commercial possibilities resulting from his invention. Yet, within a few years of its conception, the cinematographic entertainment has become a world-wide institution a consistent source of amusement to millions of pleasureBeckers. To those about to enter the "gilded" ranks of picture theatre proprietors, or to those who are dissatisfied with their present operating machine, the Ernemann "I.mperator" Bioscope cannot be too highly recommended. It machine which projects a flickerless picture, and it is of perfect rigidity. The Ernemann has been installed in practically all the up-to-date picture theatre in the world, owing to its clearness in projection, its simplicity of operation, and its remarkable wearing qualities. Full particulars in regard to tho Ernemann Bioscope may be obtain"d irom the sole agents. Harringtons N.Z Ltd., Willis street, Wellington.—Aclvl

Tf vour property is not in c ' 'vd, call at or ring up the United Insurance Company, Ltd., Devon Street: tel«|,i one 1!W. Webster Bros., district agen's, Insurances effected on the mo?.' mvorablc terms.—Advt.

At Uic National Dairy Show now being held at Paimerston North the local «x----hibitor, 11. J. Movcrley, was very sue- : cessful in the homer pigeon classes, securing five firsts, five seconds, special for best blue, and the £2 2« trophy tfor points scored in distance flying classes, against strong competition. Mr. V. H. Beal, another local fancier, secured one first and one second, also in the the homer pigeon classes. A private telegram from Auckland states that Mr. J. C. Williamson's spectacular religious drama, "Ben Hur," created an absolute sensation at its opening night. It is generally acknowledged to be tho best-staged production seen in the Dominion. There are over two hundred in the performance of the wreck scene and the chariot race. The meeting of the three wise men and the .Mt. Olivet tableaux are the limit in stage ingenuity. The bad time grain farmers experienced in garnering their crops this year is also being experienced by potato farmers in Southland. Labor for digging is scareo, and, owing to the wet and sticky state of the ground the machine diggers cannot !n> used, ft rowers have not had the luck of the game their- way at all this year, for had they been able to get their potatoes to the lines of communication many more would have, been sold, and the good prices going nearly all of last month would have made considerable difference to them. In some districts forward delivery wiles at from £4 to £5 have been made pretty freely, but probably fully half of the crop in Southland has to be sold—and also dug. The samples appear to be particularly sound and clean, and very little blight has been reported.