LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 125, 14 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Advice has been received in Wellington that a raising of the Bank -of England rate to sper cent is imminent. ■ The passengers by the train that left Auckland at 9 o'clock on Thursday night, and was delayed by slips, reached Wellington at 3.50 o'clock on Saturday morning.

In their monthly report the Carnegie Institute Committee recommends that a complete catalogue of books in the library be printed and'issued, and that the Borough Council be rquested to. make provision in next year's estimates for same at an approximate cost of £SO. The trout fry at the Taranaki Society's hatcheries 'have made excellent progress and are growing so rapidly that there is not 'sufficient accommodation for the whole hatching of two hundred thousand. A consignment of ten thousand brown trout fry was liberated by Mr. C. Young in the streams around Tariki on Friday. Messrs. Webster and C. M. Hill in company with the caretaker also liberated ten thousand rainbow fry'in tihe Waiwakailio River.

Ninety-three cows, 87 bullocks 8 calves, 048 sheep, 39 lambs and 79 .pig.? weie slaughtered at the municipal abattoirs for local consumption during last month. Compared with last September the figures slhow an increase of 30 cattle, 4 calves and G sheep and a decrease of 12 lambs and 23 pigs. The inspector condemned 1 cow, 1 bullock, 2 sheep and 3 pigs. There were also slaughtered for export 7 cows and 7 'bullocks (a decrease of 2G cattle) and of these 3 cows were condemned.

In the interests of the settlers of Tarata and others who travel (iver the Zi«zag, -Mrs A. Standish, of Tarata. has written to the Taranaki County Council asking it if something cannot be done to ''govern the motor traffic on this dangerous part of the road." "Motor cars and motor cycles have," adds the writer, "become such frequent visitors to this part of the country that people who depend 011 horses and'vehicles as a mode of conveyance run a very great risk of being run into whenever'they cross the Zig-zag. In many places the road is so narrow, and the turns are so sharp that drivers of vehicles would have absolutely 110 chance of getting out of the way of a motor car, even had they time to do so. As one means of overcoming the danger, I would suggest that motoiv,- sLould be prohibited from crossing the Zig-zag on one day a week, thus leaving the road free to travellers on that day. [ know that were a petition circularised it would be signed by a .-lond while the council ha« power to reside in the Clifton county." It is understood while the council has power to regulate molor traffic, it has 110 power to absolutely prohibit it on one day in Hie week. Undoubtedly it is a dangerous place for a trap (especially if driven bv a woman) to meet a motor car, and if something could be done—not exactly in the manner suggested—to better the conditions, it would help to stave off the I inevitable—a serious accident. '

Mr. J. H. Quilliam presided over yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Brotherhood, at which a splendid address was delivered by the Rev. H. J. Lewis on the relation of miracles and prayer to law. Four recitations were delivered by Mr. J, M. Clark, of Wellington, who is undoubtedly one of the best reciters yet seen in New Plymouth. Owing to the Good Templar Hall being otherwise engaged, the Brotherhood will by courtesy of the Whiteley Trustees meet next Sunday afternoon in the Wihiteley Church.

The report of the Works Committee to be presented at to-night's meeting of the Borough Council include!? the following two interesting recommendations:—(l) That a committee consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Ambury and Gilbert be appointed to suggest names for the streets in Greater New Plymouth, to be je-namod to avoid tihe present duplications; (2) that the Telegraph Department be requested to expedite the work of substituting underground cables for the present overhead wires in Devon street.

The Telegraph Department have recently installed a Morse instrument in the Awakino post office. This will (have the effect of greatly expediting the transmission of telegrams, as well as preventing any leakage of information over the wires when telegrams' were phoned under the old system. Another feature is tlhat all bureau telephone messages north of Mokau now have to be connected by Awakino. It is understood that the Department lost a considerable amount of revenue in this direction in past years, hence the change. An intoxicated Chinaman is a "rara avis," and a celestial in a state of inebriation while in charge of a cart is an even greater curiosity. One of the latter species, however, promenaded in Devon street on Saturday afternoon, creating considerable diversion. Whether he was celebrating the Chinese equivalent for "The Glorious Fourth" is not known, but the fact remains that a constable jumped into his cart, and l drove the equippage and its owner to the police cells. There he was deposited for the night. A Chinaman, however, is never without friends among, his own countryman—have you ever, seen a celestial absolutely on the rocks?—and it was not very long before he was- bailed out by a compatriot.

A meeting of superannuated raihvaymen was held in Ghristcliurch on Saturday for tlie purpose of forming an Association. It was decided: "T!hat a society, to be called the Superannuated Railwaymen's Association, be formed." The principal objects of the Association are to conserve the interests of superannuated raihvaymen in regard to departmental concessions, and to take action with respect to alterations to the Superannuation Act. It is proposed to form branches throughout the Dominion for the purpose of united action, and of arriving at a common understanding on matters affecting superannuated railwaymen. Mr. J. Ashley was elected president and Mr. J. Bowles secretary and treasurer. A committee consisting of two from each branch of the service was set up.

The County roller went through the woodwork of the Maketawa bridge on the Mountain Road on Saturday morning. It has been recognised for some time past that tlhe bridge was in a rotten condition, aild recently u concrete arch had been constructed underneath which it was intended to fill with earth' shortly. The engine had almost crossed the bridge when the accident happened, no one being hurt, as the driver was able to step off the engine, which gentlv subsided through the decking. Mr. R, \y Bond (County Inspector), M. Jones (foreman) and others were quickly on the scene, and after considerable trouble succeeded in raising the engine and repairing the bridge. Horse traffic was able to proceed by fording the river but motor communication with Stratford was hung up for a time.

Messrs. Okey, Arnold and Son's window is now » centre of attraction, there being on view sonic beautiful artistic exhibits of an original and novel method of composing pictures. The principal subject of a bride, entitled "Being Photographed," also two smaller subjects of busts show the different styles of unique and realistic mounting. This process' of art work has been patented bv the originator, Mrs. W. Davy, of Mangorei. daughter of Professor Martin, late of Dunedin. There ought to be a great demand for these pictures, as there has (hitherto been nothing like them on the market The general public will undoubtedly appreciate this chaste style of mounting pictures and photographs, and it would be well worth while for any one to see the exhibit, which will be 01 view for a few days. Mrs. Davy in tends 'holding an art sale in the near f» ture, which will be duly advertised These pictures wall not become commoi property as the patentee only intend putting a limited number of production up for sale, and as the work cannot b copied or imitated in any shape or fo(full protection 'bavin? been secure, •the works will retain their value a anyone purchasing -a picture will posse a work of art worthy of embellishing wall m any home. '