LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 88, 30 August 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

„The Borough Council saw fit to remove the asphalt from the Liardet street footpath the day before the football match. The thousands of feet that passed over it yesterday will no doubt have rendered it a perfect quagmire. The- Prime Minister, replying to Mr. Russell in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, stated that the date of his visit and the visit of the Hon. W. Fraser to the districts affected by tho proposed Opunake railway had not yet been fixed. The visit was not intended to influence the Egmont election iu any way. The interior of the Theatre Royal presented a gay and festive scene last night on the occasion of the Hunt Club's annual .ball. The arrangements left nothing to be desired, but then -the Hunt's annual function is always a success. A dainty supper was provided. The music and floor also gave every satisfaction. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Alfred Walker was , adjudged the putative father of an illegitimate child, and . ordered to pay expenses amounting to £!) ISs, and to contribute 10s a week toward* its support. The defendant, a young man, did not oppose the application. Mr. Roy appeared, for the complainant. A charge of indecent exposure was preferred against a young man named Arthur Towes in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, was defended by Mr. G. Grey. After 'hearing the evidence of the informant (a married woman) and other witnesses, tho magistrate sentenced Towes to one month's imprisonment. Enforcement of the sentence was postponed, pending the report of the probationary officer.

At a special meeting of the High School Board' it 'was ' unanimously decided that it was desirable that a separate girls' school he established, and a committee consisting of Messrs. S. Percy-Smith, ITutehen and the chairman, with power to add to their number, was appointed to consider ways and means and to report to the board in November. The board also decided to give effect, to the recommendation that a' preparatory school be started next year.

Another case under the Defence Act was heard at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, when Wm. Prestney was charged with failing to render personal service in that he did not attend either of the annual training camps at ITawera or ■ Waverley. Accused made no appearance, and Captain Lampen, who appeared on behalf of the Defence Department, explained that he : had also failed to attend any of the parades held' since the : eamp. The magistrate (Mr. A. Crcoke, S.M.) inflicted a fine of £l, with costs 7s. The Taranaki Fire Brigades' Association will 'bold their first demonstration on the Recreation Grounds on December 5. The New Plymouth brigade has decided to accept the conditions under which the Borough Council is prepared to lay a .temporary water main to the grounds, viz., the brigade to contribute £lO towards the cost -provided the main is laid 14 days prior to the date of the demonstration. A draft programme was drawn up, comprising about six events, and an endeavor will be made to hold a number of bicycle races and other competitions to lend variety to the programme.

The different points of view of buyer and seller were illustrated by a transaction which came under the notice of the Clutha Leader the other day. A wejl-known IJolstein cattle breeder sold a two-year-old'bull for £2s'a year or two ago to a buyer, and when sending thq cheque the buyer wrote that it was "the price, of two bulls.". The buyer, however, sold off all his cattle the other day, and he then declared that the animal in question was "the best bull in Southland," and wrote to the original vendor for the pedigree. At the auc- , tion sale the bull brought 50gns., and cross-bred yearling heifers by this bull brought as high as £ls. Holsteins are favorites amongst the dairy farmers. • Sereral by-law cases were brought on at the Magistrate's Court yesterday at the instance of the borough inspector (Mr. B. Tippins). For cycling at night without lights, C. S. Tyrol! was lined ;w with 7s "costs. A charge, of cycling on the footpath was preferred against Nevill 11. Ardcn, who made no appearance. A line, of 5s with costs 7s was imposed. Thomas Stewart pleaded guilty to allowing his express to stand in a public street beyond a reasonable time. In view of the fact that the defendant did not at the time know that he was committing a breach of the borough by-laws, the inspector did not press for a heavy penalty. Defendant was 'accordingly convicted arid discharged. Harriet E. Johnson was before the court on a maintenance summons for the support of her child. It was explained that since her last appearance in court she had paid £1 5s oft' the arrears, leaving £1 owing up .till July 14. The case was further adjourned for a month in order to give the defendant an opportunity of paying the balance.

Mt. T. M. Wilfont declared in the House of Representatives on Wednesday that it was a misnomer to advertise tile Wanganui river as the "New Zealand Rhine." The Rhine, he said, was a dirty, porridge-colored river with mud banks occasionally dry, and it was a quite different river. People who travelled from Cologne to Maintz would never be attracted to New Zealand by calling the Wanganui "The New Zealand Rhine." The Wanganui river was known for the natural beauty of its vegetation.' The wooded banks and palisades were unrivalled, and he advised the (government in future not to refer to the stream as "The New Zealand Rhine." Mr. Wilford must have travelled along the Rhine on a dull wintry day. Those who 'have seen the summer glories of the vines, covering the high rocky slopes in terraces, would hardly' admit Ms contention that the river was dirty. From Cologne to Mayence, especially alter passing the Drachenfcls, the traveller has one varying panorama of majestic ruins, crowning the loftv "bergs" that frown over the valley. Their rich historical suggestiveness and associations are part of the beauty of the "German Rhine," whose history is intimately bound up with the fortunes of men anil nations from time immemorial. Of course the vegetation is different, and the immense traffic makes the water somewhat turbid. Long freight trains roar throiHi the valley. But the Rhino has its distinctive and characteristic beauty just as much as the Wanganui. In certain respects, each stream is unique. A NEW HAT FOR MEN. A new style of men's head gear is being shown by (he Melbourne Clothing Company and branches. The new hat is made of fur felt, with rough hairy beaver finish, and looks extremely smart. The shades are in greens and' browns. Judging by the way the new style has taken on in Australia, the bat 'is sure to have a sensational run in New Zealand. Just now, owing to its popularity and the delay in getting shipments from the Old Country," supplies are extremely short, and Taranaki residents are very fortunate in being able to purchase from a good selection at the Melbourne. Purchasers are advised to make an early call, as the stock in hand is limited. 'Special window displays of these goods are beinjr made at the firm's four stores—New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford and Eltham.

■Usually the groat British public are credited with taking their pleasures sadly—it is the ebullient Frenchman who is popularly supposed to let his feelings get the better of him in exciting moments. An incident at Epsom on Saturday in the 'Wellington v. Auckland match, however, showed that the representatives of France have not a monopoly of the enthusiasm of the world. After the Auckland three-quarter, Maeky, had grounded the ball and notched the first : try for the local team, one of the onlook- I ers rushed from the crowd as Macky was walking back, and, throwing his arms round him most enthusiastically, kissed him on the cheek. Both teams laughed heartily at the incident, but Macky evidently did not want a repetition of the performance, for he scored the rest of his tries at the other end of the ground. sl. Mary's Hall was crowded last night on the occaison of a farewell social to the Rev. J. Wilkinson, who leaves for his new charge at Epsom to-night Mr. 11. Fookes, the people's warden, presided. Tho Vicar spoke feelingly about the work done by the He v. Wilkinson and his loyalty to himself and to the parish. Archdeacon Evans also enlarged Upon the Rev. Wilkinson's personal good qualities, and upon his reliability whilst he was his curate. Mr. Fookes touched upon Mr. Wilkinson's work as curate and also as locum tenons during the absence in England of the late viea<r, Rev. Mr. Evans. He then, on behalf of the parishioners of St. Mary's, presented the Hot. Wilkinson with a purse iof sovereigns and also intimated that the people were presenting him with a writing table and chair and a revolving hook-case. The Rev. Wilkinson feelingly responded, thanking them for their many kindnesses. He would never, he said, forget his happy associations in New Plymouth. A musical programme was provided by members of the congregation.

It is stated (says the Continent) as one of the stories of the Titanic disaster which lias not yet had wide telling, that when the survivor* met in the Carpathian cabin to adopt resolutions of to those who had rescued them from death, the committee reported on paper without any religious note whatever. A quiet little woman, Mrs. Ryersoh, protested that if thanks were to be rendered ,to any rescuer God must not be left out. There was no, vote on the amendment, but heads bowing in reverent silence throughout the room gave ian unmistakable consent, and the chairman, amid a profound hush, wrote at the top of the committee's report a new introduction: "Whereas, in the mercy of Cod, it has pleased Him to spare our ! lives, we do humbly render thanks to j our Father in heaven and to all who ! have assisted in our rescue." This is | the Mrs. Arthur Tiycrson who founded a scholarship of 50U0 dollars at Yale in memory of her son. Arthur Lamed, who was killed in ah accident at his home, i Mrs. Kyerson was returning to his funeral when the wreck of the Titanic occurred. Am absorbingly interesting and extremely instructive : article in last month's Journal of the Department of Agriculture is supplied by Mr. W. Bur-geS-s, of Taranaki, who describes how in six yeara he increased the yield of but- , terfat from his herds bv 031b per cow— J from 1981b in 1905-06 to 2011b in 1911-12. Surely it would pay the dairy former to devote himself to bringing about an improvement which has now been proved attainable. There are fi33;732 cows employed in the dairying industry, and if their average 'annual yield of butter-fat were increased to 2801b each, those cows, j at present prices, would return a net 'profit of £3,802,893 per annum. Needless to say; the dairy ■ farmers of New Zealand as a whole do not get anything like such a sum annually. They are content with something like a quarter of that sum. Instead of groping about after pence by seeking to beat the buyers of his produce and get the highest possible price for it, he might be securing pounds by a proper attention to his real business. _ A perverted .commercial j sense makes h'im turn tip the wrong end of the whole matter. !