LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 140, 31 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Australian mails ex Maungamii at Wellington arrived in New Plymouth last night. A steward oil one of the big liners estimates the tips of one voyage at between £3O and £4O.

Twenty-eight horses, including two ■racehorses, were shipped North by the Rarawa last night. By a majority of 24 votes the Marton ratepayers yesterday carried a proposal to rate on the unimproved values. The double express service between Auckland and Wellington is announced as commencing next Friday, November

The Central School Carnival Committee have put on their programme a bicycle race for errand boys under 16. The boys will be nominated by their employers, and Mr. Arnold George has agreed to act as handicapper. Some time ago Mr. C. F. Davy, of New Plymouth, invented a non-refillable bottle, a contrivance that bottlers throughout the world have up to nowbeen vainly awaiting. A local syndicate took up the invention, and Mr. Davv, with the chairman (Mr. W. J. Williams), proceeded to Sydney with a view of seeing whether the article could be successfully manufactured. Word has just been received that they have been quite successful in their mission.

A whir wind, after laying flat a portion of bush near Kaitaia (says a North Auckland exchange) appears to have struck the Raiatea range, levelling a large patch of forest there, and to have been deflected from its couj so upwards, as nothing was heard further of its devastation. The roar of the falling bush was heard plainly at Kohukohu, and within thirty minutes there was a thick fall of leaves and twigs through the Broadwood district and Kohukohu and as far south at Kaikohe. The distance from Kohukohu to the scene of havoc is about twenty miles.

Mineral gas, apparently of the same description as that found at Waipatiki, near Weber, was discovered at Akitio in the most unexpected manner (says the Dannevirke Evening News). Experimental borings for ascertaining the nature of the foundation for bridge-build-ing purposes lias been made. One of these was in mid-stream. While in the vioinity of it one of the workmen struck a match and an area some two or three feet in size burst into flames on top of the water, showing that there was evidently a strong pressure of gas coming from the earth up through the water. The escape is considered to have been pretty strong, as the bore remained open for some days, while the following day gas was also again in evidence. The gas was burning altogether for a period of two or three days.

A device known as the pocket telephone is used in Berlin, where it has been adopted by the municipal authorities. The new system is greatly favored as an adjunct to the police system, for every policeman is provided with a pocket telephone, and can communicate with headquarters or other city departments whenever he finds it necessary. Contact devices have been provided on every street at very short distances. They are fastened to the walls, doors, trees, lamp posts or other convenient places. They are tightly enclosed, so that neither humidity nor storms can damage them, and they are thoroughly insulated. In the busy portions of Berlin there are two or three of these contact places to every block. The device is so small that it may be carried in a pocket or handbag. It weighs 7oz.

The detachment of Now Zealand Cadets who recently toured Canada are finishing "strong." Yesterday they were in New Plymouth and were on the move practically the whole of then' stay of a very few hours. They returned to Stratford early in ■the evening and witnessed the performance of "Our Regiment" by the Stratford Amateurs. During the evening they gave a display. Thursday will be spent in Eltliam, Manaia (for lunch) and Kaupokonui (where the dairy factory will be visited), returning to Eltliam, and thence by train back to Stratford. That evening they will attend the pictures, and will again give a display at the conclusion of "Our Regiment." On Friday they leave for Pahnerston North to attend the agricultural show, and on Saturday leave for Wanganui, where they remain until the sth prox. After that they leave for Wellington to welcome the squad of Canadian Cadets. Palmerston North will in all probability be in possession of an agricultural college as early as April next (says the Standard). This will be the outcome of the Seventh Day Adventist enterprise, the authorities of the church having acquired for the purpose 30 acres of firstelass land. Mr. G. F. Wright, late of Wanganui, will give advice in the matter of cropping when the college course of instruction is under way. At the present time the arrangements are in quite a preliminary stage, and it is only within a recent period that the land deal has been completed. The scheme, however, assumes fairly definite shape from the fact that tenders have been received for the erection of the buildings, and have been sent to Australia, where they are to be considered by the controlling body for Australasia. It is believed that the cost will not fall far short, of £3OOO.

SECOND INSTALMENT SALE OF _ LONDON "JOBS." The Melbourne's second job sale, now on, is crowded with magnificent bargains, entirely transcending the firs'l job sale of a few weeks ago. Our managing director has succeeded on his second attempt in securing an aggregation of goods at such reduced prices as to almost defy imagination. Anyway, the goods are here, the sale prices fixed, and it only remains now for every man and woman in the district to come and take advantage of the great economies offered. Seeing is believing. Tt is only necessary to visit any one of our four stores, at Stratford, New Plymouth, Inglewood or Eltham, to be convinced that the values arc as represented. If you cannot pay us a personal visit, write (including cash) for any of the sale items, and if the goods do not meet with your entire approval return them and we will cheerfully refund your money. Here are a few trade-disturbing prices: Check glass cloth, linen. 14 inches wide, 3d yard; "Ivy" black mending wool, 5d ball; men's white handkerchiefs, (i for Is; ladies' pure linen hemstitched handkerchiefs, 3 for Is; women's rough, serge costume skirts, 3s lid; Vinolia shhaving soap, 8d stick; ladies' white embroidered aprons, Is Gd; men's merino singlets, Is 6d; men's brown cotton pants. Is lid; fine lace curtains, 2s lid; damask serviettes, 22 inches square, 8d each; and a host of equally alluring bargains,—Advt.