LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 105, 19 September 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Australian mails, via Wellington, will arrive in New Plymouth this evening. At Eltham recently, for selling adulterated milk, Charles Kruise was fined £o and costs 7s. The Borough Council is advertising for a valuer. The person appointed will not be expected to devote the whole of his time to the service of the Council, "Owing to the alleged short-weight in butter in certain of the local supplies, I am endeavouring to locate the grounds" —extract from the monthly report of the Inspector to the Hospital Board.

In his monthly report the Inspector to the Hospital Board (Mr. A. H. Kendall) noted that the outbreak of scarlet fever in New Plymouth fortunately appeared to have subsided, as no fresh case had been notified since August 26. A lecture under the auspices of the Agricultural Society will be given by His Excellency the Governor to' a meeting o? farmers in the Good Templars' Hall on October 5, at 11 a.m. Ladies are. specially invited to hear His Excellency. Mii» Marion Weston, who passed with distinction the primary division of the practical examinations recently held here in connection with the R.A.M. and E.C.M., London, was a pupil of Miss R. C. Brough, of Waitara, and not of Miss Gilbert, as previously announced. As the prosecution of a builder for erecting a building without a permit, contrary to the Borough By-laws, is pending, property-owners in the Greater New Plymouth area should remember that they are now subject to the law prohibiting the erection of buildings without a permit.

The Wanganui Chronicle, referring to the pictures of the Pukckura Park taken by the Empire Picture Company, !Sew Plymouth, says:—"Absolutely one of the best .pictures of the scenic kind yet shown in Wanganui is the views. of the Recreation Ground, New Plymouth. The pic j ture has but recently been taken, and is in every way an admirable product of the camera. It is artistically coloured, and taken all round, more than holds its own with imported scenics." Following on the receipt of the Hospital Board's resolution on the subject, which was passed at last meeting, the Chief Health Officer intimated at yesterday's _ meeting of that body, that tlje question of providing an institution for ike compulsory detention of morally deftwtir# girla and "women was now receiving the consideration of the Department. The Chairman (Mr. F. C. Bellringer) pointed out to members that the Department had apparently overlooked the fact that the Board's resolution made provision for the compulsory detention of male as well as female degenerates. It was deckled to bring this fact under the notice of the Department. Another ease of a man being affected by the pyridine used as a de-naturing agent in' imported methylated, spirits, has occurred in Auckland, the man's eyes being so badly injured that he is only able to see with the aid of smoked glasses. Mr. Manson. secretary of the Furniture Worker's' Union, has graphed to the Prime Minister with respect to the case, urging some alteration in the Customs regulation so that the adulteration of imported methylated spirits may be prohibited, and some denaturing agent other than pyridine used. Mr. Manson hopes that the public will support him in his protest, and points out, that as methylated spirits are used so largely in connection with the manufacture of various household, articles, it is to the public's advantage to see that the use of pyridine is prohibited. Two Frenchmen fought a desperate duel with revolvers in Paris recently, one receiving three bullets in'the body, while the other escaped unscathed to surrender himself to the police. The wounded man, M. Alauzel, was a wine-shop proprietor, He had accused the other man, 51. Charles Fromcnt, a moter dealer, of robbing him-of his wife's affections, and for some time there had been a deadly feud between the men. They met accidentally in a bar. Both bad revolvers, and one said to the other: "If you are a man, come out, and we will settle our. affair between us. I shall have your skin, and it shall not weigh heavily on my conscience.' They went to some waste ground to have it out. Two acquaintances accompanied them to see that the fight was a fair one. Hardly bad the combatants taken up their position when, without waiting for the signal, one of them took aim. M. Froment was the first to fire, and he instantly lodged three bullets in the body of his opponent. The latter was carried to a hospital, where his condition was found to be very grave. M. Froment walked down the street, and handed his revolver to the first policeman 'he met. "I have shot my enemy, and I suppose I have killed him," he said. /'Do with me what you like." He further stated that M. Alauzel was taking aim before the signal was given, and that lie Qred first in legitimatic self-defence.

The idea, that by some device communication might be held between persons far apart by means of some ctherial agent, is as old as Galileo, but he was not thinking of electricity, then almost unknownj or any other applied phenomena, of nature. It was hut a thought of something to he regarded as possible. Morse noticed some peculiarities in the electric fluid that he put aside for the time. Tn 1842 he sent electric signals across the Suspuehanna without wires, which was several years before his first telegraphic despatch passed by wire between Washington ind Baltimore. In 1864 an English scientist proved wireless telegraphy to be feasible, unit in 1885 wireless messages were transmilted in London a quarter of a mile. i!v ISil'i wireless instruments on the Welsh Coast worked between points over three miles apart. Marconi introduced his high-wire system in 1597, and in 1903 England utilised it at several naval stations, having found it available on the ocean for 1.500 miles. Its development since then is familar to the public through the many lives it has saved and the ships in distress it has aided to reach port. Last year wireless messages were exchanged between New York and London. and between the Effil tower. Paris, and Canada, and at sea over 5.000 miles. The [system is one of the most remarkable triumphs of science. RHEUMATISM AND DROPSY. "SO RAD HE SIMPLY COULD NOT WORK."

"For over two years my husband suffered. severely with rheumatism in various parts of the body, and for over two years he also had dropsy," writes Mrs. M. Simpson. 43 Metropolitan road. Enmore; New South Wales. "He was so bad that lie had to lie up for some time at different periods, for he simply could not work. TTc was under the doctor for his complaint., but could only get temporary relief; in fact, the medicine-; only seemed to help him for an hour, and then lie. would be just as bad as ever. T heard of Dr. Sheldon's Gin Pills, and induced my husband to try them, and lie says that he got relief from tinfirst dose." He is now quite cured in every way. " Price Is Od and 2s Cd. Obtainable everywhere.

For drunkenness une first oitaider was yesterday convicted and discharged in the Magistrate's Court. Part of the programme arranged In coijnection with the Parliamentary rally to be held in Wanganui at the coming week-end is an upriver trip on Sunday. Strong exception to this has been taken, and a resolution of protest was carried by the Ministers' Association, the Presbyterian Session, and a representative gathering of Church people at a farewell social to the Rev. Mr. Willis last night.

At a meeting of the Taranaki Agricultural Society this week, the President (Mr. J. S. Connett) and Messrs. 11. Giddy, A. Lister, S. J. Smith, and A. H. Street, were delegated to go into the matter of experimental plots in Taranaki, about which a letter was read from the Department of Agriculture. A large committee was set up to arrange for the entertaining of the Governor when he visits New Plymouth in the first week in October. Mr. G. Sole's name was authorised to be sent forward for addition to the list of New Zealand judges.

The Committee of the North Egmont Mountain House has decided that all casual visitors to the hostel shall be charged a park fee of Is per day. Luncheon is to be procurable at 2s and afternoon tea at Is. The following tariff was arranged for the new house:—Per day 9s, per week £2 10s for single rooms, 10s per day or £3 per week for threequarter or double. bedrooms. These prices include the park fees. Visitors to the old house 'remaining overnight and finding their own provisions- will be charged Is Gd per day, including park fee. Blankets may.be hired at Is per night. The cottage fees remain as heretofore, i.e., 2s per day for each visitor, with arrangements for parties. Motors are to be charged Is each for a :stand in the shed, and horscg Is for stabling; paddocking remains as before, Gd per day, per horse. The motor toll is 2s 6d and the horse Is. Drivers of public conveyances plying for hire are exempt from park fees.

The Western Park Committee were favoured with fine weather last night for the first time this season, on the occasion of the final of the popular series of euchre parties, held in the Brougham street Hall. There a good attendance, seventeen tables being occupied. The finishes, too, were very close. Four ladies, Mcsdames Monk, Joseph, Waters and Miss Stewart had to play off for the prizes, Mrs. Monk securing first, Miss Stewart second, and Mrs. Waters third. The men's prizes were annexed by Messrs W. Harvey, first; W. Wylie, second; Johnston, third; the last named having to play off with Messrs. Martin, Mason and George. The ladies' committee consisting of Mesdames Brown, Wood, Ward, OHiver and Wallach. Misses Ward (2), and Sisley were responsible for the catering, which could not have been on a more generous scale. Music for the afterdance was provided by Mrs. George's orchestra. Mr. W. McLean making a capable M.C.

An amazing story, which might have come from the pen of Jules Verue, is reported from Toulon, where a divor has had a light, which nearly proved fatal, with a giant octopus. While Diver Ledu was under water in the floating dock of the arsenal, he suddenly saw the approach of a, marine monster. In a moment, its long tentacles were wound about him, but not before, he managed to give the signal to be raised to the surface. He was lifted on to a float unconscious, and the tentacles of the octopiw had to be cut , from the man's body, the monster refusing to abandon its prey. When measured, the creature's tentacles were found to be 33ft long. Describing the adventure, Ledu said: "I went down with out my dagger, because I felt safe in the floating dock. I had been under water

]•) minutes when I noticed an unusual movement, and saw with horror that I. had to deal with a giant devil-fish. It immediately closed upon me, winding its tentacles around me. In a. moment I Was helpless, but before I losit the use of my arms I pulled the alarm signal violently. Then I lost consciousness. When I recovered 1 was on the float with my comrades about me. They had killed the monster, which had refused to let go, and was dragged into the. float with me. ; They had a long fight before .they mastered the creature." Over a hundred lodgemen congregated in the Foresters' llnil last evening on the •■occasion of a re-union of the Court Waireka. . Mr. C. 11. Weston presided. Prior to the festive part of the .evening, the Chairman of the Committee (Mr. W. W. Tunbridge) submitted the report of the Ways and Means Committee for the year ending June 20, 1012. In it he stated that the receipts had totalled £Bll 4s 9(1, leaving a credit balance of £34 7s. Sick pay disbursed for one year totalled £525 lis 3d, being an increase on the [previous year of £O7 12s id. The total worth of the sick and funeral fund at the end of the year was £0.9(17 -5s fid (an increase of £582 ;*), and that of the ITall Fund £u."ii O-i 7d, an increase of £4O 3s. The total wnrth of funds was £10,052 13b 4d, and the number of members. 518. The Committee recommended that the Court should recognise, the cood work done by Trustee Bro. T. Avery during the past twenty rears by presenting him with a jewel. ' A lengthy toast list was gone through, and a. programme of song and slow contributed to by Messrs. J, Lovell, 0. Sommerville, Reeves, Vincent, Court nav, Preece, P. Tunbridge, Scott, Herd, and Uonse. Mr. Brookes played a. violin solo. During the evening many references were made to the splendid progress the Lodge had made during the last few years, and to the solid basis it was now on.