LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 312, 29 June 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

(The address at the meeting of the Xew ''Plymouth Brotherhood to-morrow j afternoon will be given by Mr. G. H. Dolby, M.A., who will take as his subject, "The Education of the Adult." The chair will be taken by Mr. J. B. Roy at 3 p.m. The services in the Whiteley Church to-morrow will be conducted by tlie Eev. J. W. Burton. The morning subject will be, "The Fiery Law of Life"; and in the evening Mr. Burton ■will give the fifth of the series of sermons to the thoughtful—"What are wo thinking of the New Testament?" Bro. R. Ellis, W.M., was installed in office at a meeting of the De Burgh Adams Lodge on Thursday evening. The following officers were invested: — Bro. 11 M. Cornev, 1.P.M.; Bro. R. J. Deare, S.W.; Bro. J. Harden, J.W.; R.W. Bro. J. Ellis, treasurer; V.W Bro Goldwater, secretary; R.W. Bro. W. F. Brooking, chaplain; V.W. Bro. E. Whittle, DC; Bro. IT. M. Smith, organist; Bro. II V Leatham. S.D.; Bro. J. Toms. J.D.; Bro. W. W. Thompson, 1.G.; Bro. E. J. Sole, S.S.; Bro. A. Wooller, ,T.S. During the evening a presentation of a silver tray and tea service was made to R.W. Bro. J. Ellis in recognition of his forty-seven years' continuous service in the lodge. Rain interfered someivbat with the enjoyment of those who participated in the North Taranaki Hunt Club's meet at Mr. George Foreman's Tikorangi. on Thursday afternoon. Subsequent to the hunt, the members were entertained at tea by Mr. and Mrs. Foreman. .Amongst those present at the meet were the Master (Mr. A. IT. Halcombe), the .deputy master (Mr. B. If. Chaney), the huntsman (Mr. A. Cliff), and Messrs. A. E. Rtsindish, AV. T. Hookam. L. Jennins, H. Rook. J. Cole, C. Topliss, L. Pepperell, W. Cole. L. fleorge, N Periperell, L. V. Russell, C. Leppcr, jim., IT. George and E. W. Wheatley, M-.wters K. Julian and Payne, Me=dame« Wheatley anil Jennings. Misses Wheatley (2), K. Vickers, Quigley, and McAllum (2), and the secretary, Mr. A. L, Humphries.

Ten head of cattle, three horses, and 100 cases of meat were shipped to Auckland by the Rarawa last night. For refusing to pay a penny for being carried an extra section on the Auckland tramways, a man was fined 10s and 28s costs. His plea of being unable to get out at his section was unavailing. Mr. Herdman is to ask the Minister for Justice whether the fine of £IOO inflicted upon the Wellington Tramways Union in connection with the recent strike in Wellington has been collected. The Gazette of this week contains a notice setting forth the list of medicines and medical stores which shall be carried by Home-trade ships of 30 tons register and upwards. Ships making voyages of less than 24 hours from port to port have the option of carrying only the small ambulance hamper of the St. John Ambulance Association or its equivalent. It was elicited at a meeting of the Wellington Land Board yesterday that a settler who took up a section at Taihape was not living on it as required by the regulations, but instead had built three houses upon it, from which he was deriving substantial rent. He was, however, living himself in a whare on Maori land. The Board resolved to forfeit the section for non-compliance of conditions. As a result of the activity of the New Zealand Rifle Club's executive General Godley has intimated to the executive that a certain number of rifles are nowavailable in store, and arrangements are being made for a new issue of rifles to rifle clubs, on repayment by the clubs, which have been debarred from obtaining rifles for about 18 months. The decision of the General will be welcomed in all parts of the Dominion. The results of the postponed school committee elections continue to filter through. The latest batch is as follows: —Huirangi: Mrs. S. Turnbull, Messrs. ,T. Smith, P. Surrey, F. Loveridge, F. G. Andrews (chairman), J. Nicoll and S. Sarten. Okoke: Messrs. Rogers, Hammond, Hutchins, Jones, and McDonald (chairman). Purangi: Messrs. Dowman, Hanover, AVebb, Epo lume. A. H. Barnett (chairman). Hurworth: Mesdames Gilbert and Waters, Messrs. A. Q. Binnie (chairman), S. Fetch, F. Petch, Edwards, and Gilbert.

The Magisterial inquiry into the circumstances in connection with the missing dredge Manchester, which left Ly ttelton on April 4, and Wellington on April G, for Sydney, and which has not since been heard of, will be held at Lyttelton on Wednesday next. July 3, before Mr. 11. W. Bishop, S.M. Eight witnesses have "been subpoenaed to give evidence regarding the vessel and the manner in which she was fitted out for her voyage. The inquiry will be conducted by Mr. A. Elliott, Collector of Customs, and it is understood that the nautical assessors will be Captain ficoullar, of Lyttelton, and Captain C. Post, of Wellington. The Sydney Harbor Trust will be represented at the inquiry by Mr. 11. J. Bcswick. Tlie Housewives' Union is a movement that is approved of by the Hon. George Fowlds. During the course of a recent address he pointed out that in Invercargill the Union there was 00 or 80 strong, and they set to work overhauling everything. When the milk suppliers were proposing to increase the price of milk from 4d to 5d a quart, they got in touch with the large producers and made an agreement whereby members of the Union would be supplied for 3d a quart in the winter and a lower price in the summer months. They then proceeded to the supply of fuel, and -succeeded in getting coal at Gs per ton lower than the price previously charged. This was evidence of what the women could do when they got to work. A mild sensation was created in Wangamii on Thursday night over a burglary scare. A telegraph messenger, passing Gibson and Paterson's grocery shop, noticed a faint light at the rear of the shop, which appeared to come from a bull's-eye or bicycle lamp. Thinking that it must be n. burglar, he in formed a constable, who pressed a Maori Territorial into service, and sent tin telegraph boy for further help. Two more policemen arrived, and it was then decided to wait for the supposed burglar, as there was only one way of exit. Several citizens were* attracted to the scene, and all waited patiently. Finally the intruder walked out. only to find himself confronted hv the policemen, a Territorial and a small party of civilians. The would-be burglar-catchers got a big surprise on discovering that the in°truder was Mr. Paterson, one of the proprietors, who had been working late. At the last meeting of the National Park Board, a sub-committee comprising the chairman (Mr. (i. ]J. Bullard) and Messrs. Collis and S. Percy-Smith was appointed to draw up hy-laws to regulate the traffic on the Mountain tracks. Instructions were issued to the different caretakers to impound all stray cattle found in the reserve. The annual statement of finances showed the credit balance at March 31 to be £34!) 8s lOd, an increase of £OO 3s fid for the year. With the balance brought forward from the previous year of £250 Ss 4d, the total receipts came to £1052 14s. The expenditure was mainly composed of maintenance and repairs 'to the different cottages and houses and tracks, £745 8s 4d being spent in these works. The caretakers, as their commission on fees collected, received between them £227 7s fld. The amounts received from the four houses for house, and cottage fees wereNorth £l2O, South £232, East about £lO, West £3. When the local company of the Territorials paraded (says the Patea Press), only eight men put in an appearance. The fact that a dancing class was being i held that night was thought a possible' explanation, so Lieut. Kirk was sent to investigate. After posting sentries at hoth doors, he entered the hall. It happened to be just the psychological moment. The youths of the class were at the time moving in single file round the hall, practising a certain step, and all Lieut. Kirk had to do was to jot down the names of the defaulters—they were many—as they passed. The expressions on their faces were more easily imagined than described, especially that on the face of -one poor conscript who had olh tain leave of absence "because his foot was so sore he could not walk." One man made a dive for the front door and was promptly taken in charge by tne sentry. A crop of fines will probably be the sequel.

The Melbourne Clothing Company announce the last week of their record "job" sale. The magnitude of the bargains has been quite unprecedented, with the result that business all along the line has been phenomenal. All readers of the News are reminded that the bargains advertised may he obtained with equal facility at any of our branch stores, New Plymouth, Tnglewood, Stratford and Eltham. For the last week many extraordinary bargains are announced. A few are noted here, but remember this always—a visit to the store will reveal many unusual bargains quite eclipsing anything we advertise. Come and sample the youth's Government coats at f)/G, the white all-wool blankets at l!)/(5 the pair for full double-bed, the ladies' genuine Trish lawn hemstitched handkerchiefs at 8 for 1/-, the damask serviettes .1 for 1/-, the saddle trousers at 7/11, the whipcord trousers 5/11, the 44-inch tweed at 1/11 yd., the wonderful bar-■f.-r'is in men's and boys' overcoats and -nits, and marvel how such li\w prices can be placed on goods that are good. »

Prize-winners at the recent Taranaki Agricultural Society'.* Winter Shaw may secure thoir winnings at the secretary's : office to-day. For ,tho portion of electrical engineer the Inglewood Borough Council has received 51 applications. These were reduced to cloven at the special meeting on Wednesday. Another meeting will be .held this evening to make the final selection. What i.s known as- the wireless icono-1 graph is the latest and most wonderful thing i n telegraphy. It is the invention ot an Italian boy, Francesco du Barocchie, and from its correspondent at Milan the Daily Chronicle has received particulars of the surprising rosults obtained. Besides- ordinary messages, the iconograph transmits autographs, shorthand character, and any kind of cryptograph, all of which are reproduced at the receiving end with absolute fidelity to the originals. The transmitter and receiver "can be applied to the ordinary wireless plant. The Raiian Minister for War is so impressed with the advantages of the invention that he is taking steps to secure its exclusive possession for Italy. An intelligent dumb guardian of citizens' property, in the shape of a. small fox terrier, can be seen any night in Queen streets (says the Auckland Herald). "Spot," as he is called by the constables, trots up to the police ; -barracks shortly before 8.45 p.m. very night, where the night duty men "line up." As tho men are marched off to their respective stations, "Spot" trots soberly along with them until one particular beat in Queen street is reached, when he drops out and accompanies the constable deputed to work that portion of the city. During the night "Spot" indulges in an occa- ; sional rat bunt, but never by any chance deserts the beat. When daylight comes and the night duty men are'relieved, the dog returns with them to the barracks, and after receiving a meal, disappears until night again. A curious thing i.s that nobody knows ■where the intelligent animal comes from. Tt is not a case of devotion to any single constable, as who ever is in charge of "Spot's beat" is always favored with his company. The dog is an excellent judge of time, and never by any chance arrives at the barracks late.

There would appear to bo a great deal of poverty and destitution in Christchurch at pre-ent. Up to the present over three hundred people have applied for coal nud blankets, and in the great majority of eases the applicant for charitable aid was but one of a miserable family doomed by poverty toi shiver through interminable cheerless days, illfed, ill-clothed, in an unwanued. draughty, comfortless cottage. The lady secretary of the Mayor's Coal and Blanket Fund informed an interviewer that in several cases it had been found necessary to give four blankets—as a rule only two are given. One of these wa.s that of a laborer with a wife and eleven children, the eldest fourteen years of age. The father was the only one earning money, and his wages went in bare necessities. Sacks formed the only bedding. Another case was a woman who was having a very hard battle in struggling to keep five children of her own and six of her brother's, who was recently drowned at sea. She appealed, rather pitifully modest, asking that even a little may be r done 'for her. So they run on. those mournful letters—a great pile, 315 of them. The husband a consumptive, the wife ill. ... A wklow with five children. In face of those letters the secretary's statements were horribly true. There is much poverty in Christchurch.