LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 314, 2 July 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is. understood that there is a suspicion that some of the burglars who have been operating in the south have armed in New Plymouth, and it is well for tradesmen and householders to be on the qui Tire. At the Magistrate's Court in Christchurch last week, during the hearing of a case in which a young farmer was charged with having refused to take tlvj oath of allegiance, it was stated that the only reply the defence authorities had received in answer to their request that he should take the oath was that he "would think over it when the cows were dry." General Coilley recently informed a deputation from the New Zealand Rifle Club's Executive that rifles were on order from Home for the rifle clubs, and were expected to arrive bv the end of the year. To enable the members to have rifle practice this season, it was decided to ask the Commandant to procure from Australia on loan or purchase 500 Martini-Lee-Enfield rifles. General Godley has replied, however, that he has been able to make arrangements to allow the clubs to purchase rides from the stores. The Egmont Lodge, 1.0. C.T., met in the lodge room last evening in weekly session, Rro. C. Hayden, C.T., presiding. After the opening services the C.T. reported that a good beginning had been made with the temperance choir under the leadership of Mr. McGregor. This choir will meet fortnightly in the lodge room, but more voices are desired of those who are willing to help to sing temperance, as well as other progressive sentiments. The choir is not confined to Good Templars. Bro. 0. IT. Maunder reported on the doings at the Nation:'l Prohibition Convention, held in Wellington last week. It being an open lodge night, there were a few friends fiwi other temperance societies present. Th" harmony of the programme was sustained by recitations by several of the sisters^.-

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Egmont Lodge, 1.0.0. F., was held last evening, Bro. Bond presiding. There was a good attendance of members, and one candidate was admitted, whilst two others were proposed for membership. A member of the Hawke's Bay district paid a fraternal visnt to the lodge, and was accorded lodge honors. A framed past officers' certificate was presented to P.G. Bro. L. Brabant, who thanked the lodge for the honor conferred on him.

The accommodation at the Inebriates' Home at Roto Roa Island is taxed to its utmost capacity, there being now 10« patients at the institution. As accommodation is provided for a maximum of 100 patients, it can be seen that the authorities have had to make extra provision for six men. At Pakatoa Island there are 33 female patients, whereas there is accommodation for a maximum lof 50 women. At Roto Roa Island the most recent work of improvement is the construction of a breakwater and a road i along the foreshore of the bay. It is [the ultimate intention <of the Salvation Army authorities to erect a landing place or jetty at the bay, a most necessary" improvement in view of the fact that at the present time there are no proper facilities for landing. At 10 o'clock last Saturday night the last legally-served drinks were handed over the bars at the Porirua and Pahautanui Hotels. Their licenses become extinct by reason of their inclusion in the Wellington Suburbs electoral boundaries when the same were recently -altered. Previously they were not within the boundaries of a dry district. The closing of these hotels, together with the shutting up of the Johnsonville and Ngahauranga Hotels, extinguishes the old coaching inns from Wellington City borders to well along the main road to Wanganui. When the Manawatu railway was not built Wellington's connection with Wanganui was by coach, and the route was by Ngahauranga Gorge, through _ Johnsonville, Porirua, and Pahautanui, and along the Otaki Beach. The inns at these townships were well patronised by travellers in those days. Two men had a narrow escape from death at Auckland on Thursday afternoon last. .The scow Ladv of the Lake was lying at Wilson's Wharf, Hobson street, the crew being engaged in discharging sand in barrels from the vessel to the wharf. A barrel of sand, weighing about sewt,, had been hoisted about 20ft. when the mast to which the derrick was attached snapped in two, and with derrick, sand, and tackle fell' to the deck. Captain Grogan was struck in tie face by the tackle, and had two teeth knocked out, also receiving a bad cut over the eye. After attention at a chemist's shop lie was able to proceed home. Another member of tiie crew received a blow on the head, but was able to continue his work. Bystanders declare that the two men had marvellous escapes, as the barrel of sand fell very close to them, and if it had struck them it would have meant certain death. Extensive additions are to be made to the Wellington Woollen Company's mills at Petone. A railway siding is already in course c< construction from the main line to the boiler-house, coal depot, and new wool store. The latter building is to be in steel and concrete, and of three floors, with flat roof, provision being made for adding further floors. The floors each measure 63ft. sin. by 77ft. Gin., and together will give,

roughly 15,(100ft. of floor space. An elevator will servo each floor. Another addition to the works will be a new hosiery factory, of two floors, each 02ft. by 103 ft., giving 13,000 ft. of floor space. The lower floor is to be lighted from all sides and the top by a "saw-tooth" roof in nine bays. This building will also be in steel and concrete. The additional buildings are rendered necessary by reason of the expansion of business. More hands will -have to be employed as soon as the new machinery in the hosiery factory is installed.

Trouble has arisen in local boxing circles in Wellington, due to an intimation from the New Zealand Boxing Council to the Wellington Boxing Association, that, instead of the coming New Zealand championships being supervised in the usual way, viz., by a referee and two judges, six referees' are to be appointed, the nominations being as follow:—Messrs. Burke (Auckland). Sampson (Wellington), Sharplin (Christchurch), Shaw (Dunedin), Cook (Timaru), and Bush (Nelson). The Wellington Boxing Association is greatly perturbed at the idea of the proposed innovation, and has written to the council, stating it is opposed to such a course being taken. It is pointed out that the standard of criticism will never be consistent with so many referees, and hence will be unsatisfactory both to spectators and competitors. The championships are fixed for the Kith and 17th Julv in Wellington, and there is a feeling that thev may have to be abandoned if the council persists in appointing the six referees. ■The agents of the Edison storage-bat-tery tramears would appear to be still m hopes of the type of tramways being adopted by the New Plymouth borough. The Council has received advice from the New Zealand agent (Mr. A. R. tlislop, of Wellington) that he had been in communication with the Australian representative with a view to having an expert sent over to New Zealand, but had received a reply, stating that he was away m Townsville, and would not be back for some time yet. A Beach car, he added, had arrived in Australia, and would be m operation within a month, and then the company would invite the engineer or representative from any citv about to mstal tramways to visit the company's depot to see the car in operaHe asked if, when the car was running, it would be convenient for the Council to appoint someone to go to Sydney on the above matter. The company also asked for certain information relative to the proposed New Plymouth tranrwavs, which is sunplied. ° '

To show the hardships settlers and delivery carts have to put up with in the Whangamomona district, the Stratford Post says that one driver remarked that he would not get home, under two hours, a distance of five miles. Mr. C. Meredith, while drivin? his cart containing bread a quarter of a mile from the township, got his shatter into difficulties, and all he could do was to get some pungas and place under the horse's head to keep it from getting suffocated in the mud and losing sight of it altogether. After a short delay he was enabled to proceed on his journey. A young bov, who was riding alon™ the road in the vicinity of Kohuratahi the other day, got into difficulties, the horse getting bogged, and he was unable to get it out for some time, but patience and perseverance enabled him to succeed at Inst. When, another gentleman (a councillor) came near and started to laugh, the bov politely remarked: "You may laugh, but you are not game to ride in the same bole with your horse." Needless to saw ho did not attempt it. Tn the same locality a butcher's curt, also driven by a boy. came a loner. Tim boy, thinking the road (no bad to negotiate, thought hj« would turn his horses towards th" bn.uk and try and '.ret a better track. TTe and the horses were willing, hut the cart objected, and now lies just visible in the mud.

The tender of Mr. James Salt, at £lO4 10s, has been accepted by the Borough Council for the erection of a shed in Liardet street for the electric light department. "An Abominable Tradition," is the heading that the journal Hospital gives to the following interesting paragraph. early Victorian tradition that 'plain' puddings are wholesome has probably ruined more careers than drink ; has. How can a young brain wrestle with arithmetic while the stomach struggles with suet pudding? As a rule childJ ren of all ages dislike fat and like sugary things. There is no physiological reason known for tin's preference. It exists. Why should it not 'bo recognised and indulged? Nature does not give physiogical cravings without sufficient cause."

Some interesting references to "squatters" were made by the Prime Minister (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) in a recent lecture at Wellington in aid of the Boys' Institute. The squatters, he said, had performed most important functions in the agricultural settlement of this country. Of course, now that they were passing away, one should not forget their useful work-. They had braved many dangers and had gone through many experiences and hardships. They introduced capital and men of experience in stock and agriculture to the country, and they radiated round their runs a considerable amount of settlement. In the North Island, Sir William Russell had told him, he had often to sleep with his rifle near by, and if now the squatters had to givs way we should pay our tribute to the men who had carried on the work of colonisation. 9 There are well found traditions of a boat having been blown off the "beach," in the old days of Wellington, and killing a woman. Although the sea is now a long way oft', by means of consecutive reclamation contracts, the locality is still known by some such name as "Stormy Point" to the old identities, and the wind can still blow with hurricane force in the windy city. It is recorded that the force of the gale was such one evening last week that an elderly resident of North Kilbirnie, who got out of the tram, was whirled, along by the wind, and collided with a large wooden telegraph pole, to which he endeavored to run for safety; but the velocity of the wind was so strong that he was knocked against the pole and sustained severe bruises about the face and legs. He was taken to an adjacent chemist's shop and attended te. He is still suffering from the effects of the collision.

j ''When the war broke out we all had to serve —every man, whether lie liked it or not," said Air. W. (_'. Ken- ; sington, retiring Under-Secretary for Lands, in his retrospect at Wellington on Wednesday. "f was only seventeen at the time," he went on, "but I had to serve, too. We talk much to-d;iy about our Territorials and their compulsory training, but I can assure you that in those early days everybody had to serve in the defence of the country, 'whether lie liked it or not." Mr. Kensington then described how he saw officers and men shot down in the storming of the Gate Pa. He was serving . in the howitzer battery at the time, and could see everything connected with that disastrous incident. He paid a great tribute to the memory of Major Heaphy, who, though weak in body, was endowed with the greatest pluck that >he ever saw in any man. Surveyors j worked in troublous, dangerous times then, under covering parties, and so he J went over the whole of the Waikato, i then a waste.