LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 162, 26 November 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, H. F. Callaghan was remanded for a week on a charge of drunkennes..

As showing the profits of motor omnibuses, it is stated by the London Daily -News that the London General Omnibus Company may pay a dividend of 21) per cent.

S, I John ?' PWaident of the Tara:n I C Sa %moUthand^-^i-

At the higher examinations held in connection with Trinity College of MuskLondon, in July last, the following pupils' of the *ow Plymouth Convent were suc-cessful:-Miss ]j n B. Henderson, A.TCL (Associate of Trinity College) ; Miss Clara Old and Miss Irene Connett passed the Art of Teaching" examination.

Owing to the unsettled state of the labor market in shipping and other circles, also to increased freight charges, many Taranaki growers are this season disposing of their clips through local agents. Mr. Newton King reports the sale of a !)0-bale clip at a satisfactory figure, besides several smaller ones. The following handicaps have open declared for the Rovers Cycle Club's Road Race to Waitara and back on Thursday afternoon:—o. Rowlands scr„ A. White y 2 min, L. Smith lmin, V. Gunson iy : , min, R. Rcnner 2min, W. Gunson 3min, L. Nippert 3>/,miii, S. Beauchamp smin, A. May Tniiu, J. Jury Bmin, Utiger f)min, E. Johnson Omin, it. Julian !)min, E. Read 9mirr. >

The New Plymouth Horticultural Society's Spring Show is this year to be held in the Coronation Hall. Several fine exhibits are already promised. A very large and attractive number of classes are scheduled, and judging by the success of the Rose Show this year's Spring Show ought to be a great event. Entries close on Tuesday, December 3. The Show is to. be hold on the Thursday following, December 5. The Chairman of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society had an interview with the Hon. IT. 1). Bell yesterday, and presented a petition from'settlers in the Southland, Otago and Wellington districts, asking that the killing of opposums -be regulated, and curly he allowed during certain months of the year. Mr. Bell admitted that the Chairman had made out a strong case and promised to make further enquiries and to reconsider .the matter.

The following paragraph is of interest to farmers and all connected with the dairying industry, and fully illustrates the wonderful advances of mo-

dern science. It is reported from an authoritative source that the discovery of a Rotterdam farmer is likely to make a revolution in cheese-making. Cheese must be preserved many months before it can be placed on the'market, but the Dutch farmer has found that by passing an electric current through the cheese blocks they can be "matured" within twenty-four hours. Recent experiments in Switzerland have been very successful.

The question as to whether a man is able to identify a beast by its general appearance, without any'particular marks to guide him, was one of the features of some cattle eases heard in the B.M. Court at Te Puke. The evidence of witnesses'generally was to the effect that men accustomed to cattle were quite able to recognise animals by their general appearance, even after a considerable lapse of time, although a beast might bear no distinguishing marks whatever. One witness stated .hat when he recently missed four steers out of a mob of liso. he knew which particular animals were away. The formation of a motor reserve, on the lines of the scheme adopted by the military authorities at Home, is under the consideration of the New Zealand Defence Department. It is proposed to ask motorists in the principal cities and towns of the Dominion to form corps, whose services would be available in connection wi.th the defence movement whenever called upon, the Department on its part agreeing to pay certain expenses during the time the machines ana their owners are so engaged. Colonel Heard, Acting-Commandant, is to discus* the scheme with the Christclmrch Automobile Association.

Writes the Wellington Times' Special Commissioner to Waihi:—There remains a deep and general resentment against the federation leaders and those who have brought a prosperous town to the verge of ruin., and it is certain that under no pretext will the strike propogandists be allowed to rear their heads authoratively in Waihi again. Every see tion of the community is determined about thai. Not only have the workers forfeited between £IO,OOO and £12.000 in wages, but-many of them have lost their homes and the savings of a lifetime, and wherever they go will have extreme difficulty in obtaining employment under such idea! conditions. The'snake entered Eden and left misery and desolation in its trail. But the snake is dead. For verily, "An injury to one is an injury to all."

A wef, night militated against a good attendance at any meetings last night. Nevertheless the Egmont Lodge, T.O.Ci.T., assembled as usual under the lead of Pro. L. Peppercll. C.T. "The usual business was only light. The picnic committee reported that the proposed combined picnic that was proposed by this lodge and the lodges at Eltliam and Waitara. should be put of]' until Easter, when the Grand Lodge assembles in New Zealand. Several members were reported as on the sick list, and the visiting committee were reminded thereof and exhorted to attend to these invalid brothers. After a short recess the appointed programme was carried out. Pro. TTartnell'read a paper on his "Experiences on the Gumfields," and Pro. G. llayden one on the "Right Working of a Lodge." This paper evoked considerable discussion. Pro. E. Maunder'?, paper was on "Cheap Living." It was really a review of a new book "How I Lived mi Threepence a Day." by Mr. J. L. Cross. Though it bore on English experience it might also apply in New Zealand to a great extent. The Lodge closed at the usual hour.

An anarchist plot to poison a number of property-owners in Milan in revenge for their anti-anarchist activities, has been unearthed by the police in that city. Many of those against whom the conspiracy was directed have already died from the effects of poison. Ail the victims received letters in which they wore warned of the fate that awaited them.

A Carterton farmer went to Wellington last week to endeavor to secure two of the newly-arrived immigrants for his farms. He was disappointed, for there were numbers of similar applications, and the few men available were snapped up at once. The News hears that it is difficult, too, to get blade, shearers this season, most of those looking for shearing being machine hands. A well-known merchant stated to a Southland News representative that within a few years the price of firewood would rise to double what it is at present, lie vouchsafed as his reason for the statement the increase of deforestation by sawmills and the long distances the wood will have, to be carted. Firewood which is at present being sold at 27s a cord could fifteen years ago have been purchased at only 13s. , "He asked me to pay 5s to keep it'Oiit of the papers," said Airs. Annie Nicholson, referring to her son-in-law, Carl Gloisten, who was applying to the Magistrate's Court, Christehurch, for the rehearing of maintenance proceedings instituted by Ruth, his wife. "Five shillings won't go very far amongst three reporters," commented Magistrate Bishop pleasantly. A longer report than usual appeared in the papers.

A destructive grub has been unearthed in the Waihuka district (says a Gisborne correspondent). ft is a white grub, which attacks the roots of vegetation, and on one station a bed of strawberries has been destroyed. When matured the grub is transformed into a small fawnish-black beetle which emerges from the earth at nightfall, and sets to work on the leaves of rose trees and other shrubs, which are quickly stripped.

Mr. David Whyte, of Hastings, has received a telegram from his brother in Wellington, the Rev. A. Whyte, late of Havelock, to the effect that £IO,OOO had been guaranteed towards payment for the erection of the Presbyterian Ladies' College at Havelock. This sum will enable work to be commenced on the college, as the £IO.OOO will provide for the accommodation of 80 girls. Already applications for the accommodation of girls has been received.