LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 169, 4 December 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Recently the directors of the Taranaki (New Zealand) Oil Wells, Limited, wrote inviting the Hon. J. Allen to visit the works at Moturoa for the purpose of acquainting himself, before he left for England, with the latest activities at Moturoa. In reply, Mr. Okey, M.P., has received a telegram from the honorable gentleman, expressing his regret that he is unable to visit New Plymouth before his departure, but that he will be glad to have the latest particulars to take to England with a view to possible discussion with the naval authorities there.

To some extent it has been an unfortunate circumstance to lave put off the Horticultural Show till Thursday week, but with the weather as at present it will at least enable growers to get hold of more suitable exhibits, and after all make the show much better than it otherwise might have been. The Show stands now for the 12th hist, at the Coronation Hall, and the fact that there are nearly 000 prizes, and quite a large number of entries more than last year, with also the promise of some very flue professional exhibits, should make the Show much more interesting than usual. Entries close on December 10.

"England is not a decadent country. The man who thinks it is, is an utter fool," so exclaimed Mr. Chas. Ahier, just back from a trip to England, to a "Xews" representative yesterday. "The Old Country was never so vigorous, so sound, so enterprising and so successful as she is now. She is beating the Germans and the Yanks in the commercial race, opinions to. the contrary notwithstanding. The English are honest traders and put quality in all the goods they make and sell. It is this policy that is holding to England just now,' and accounts for her success over her pushful rivals. The Americans who invaded London some years ago are losing ground and getting sick of the fight against the Britons. One can't go to England without being struck by the way in which British commerce is advancing. x\o; don't believe the man who is painting in pessimistic hues the future of the British trader. He is all right, and can by his qualities of honesty and thoroughness be relied upon every time to win through against the strongest competition of the foreigners."

The Railway Department is making a concession in the shape of holiday excursion rates to firemen attending the demonstration at Woolcombe Terrace tomorrow.

During November 7.75 inches of rain fell at New Plymouth, being distributed over 18 days. In the corresponding month of last year there were 3.90 inches, which fell on 25 days. The 'nominations of the Eltham brigade for the Fire Brigades' demonstration at New Plymouth to-morrow, came to hand on Saturday, after entries had closed, and the question as to whether the Eltham men will be able to compete will be decided at the conference of Taranaki Fire Brigades to-night.— Argus.

A public banquet has been given at Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, in honor of the phenomenal milking record put up by a Jersey cow. During the last three years this cow has produced 38,0001b of milk and 25,'0001b of butter, and lias returned her owner £2OO for cream and skimmed milk. In the same period she has had three calves, for which an offer of £4OO was refused.

It was mentioned by the area-ser-geant-major in the Hawera Magistrate's Court on Monday, reports the Star, that the Defence Department could not make Cadets or Territorials efficient if they stayed away from parades, and only attended their drills at irregular intervals. The lastest order issued from headquarters was to the effect that in future summonses were to be issued against all Territorials absent from two consecutive parades without leave. Early clos ; ng of shops on Saturday appears to be a success in Sydney. Mr. R. 11. Bowie, of Timaru, who recently visited there, informed a Timaru Post reporter: "Everybody seems welt satisfied with it. Tradesmen keep open till 10 o'clock on Friday nights. People do their shopping, on Friday nights, and the shops are crowded, as though it were Saturday. The shopkeepers seem very well pleased with the arrangement. Most employers pay their wages on Friday." Writing to a New Plymouth friend, a Napier resident says: "As showing how much behind the times we are in regard to the handling of cargo, I may quote the experience of the contractors for the* tramway lines that are now being laid down. The rails, 40 feet long, came here but they found they could not be unloaded by the lighters, and 20 had to be carried to Wellington, thence transhipped and brought back by ligthers. We are expecting to remedy this sojt of thing by going on with the inner harbor scheme.

The Outlook, the official organ of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, deplores the fact that the recent General Assembly had no mind to make up in regard to the Labor question. The editor follows with this amazing exordium: When will the Church awake to the fact that Socialism and even Syndicalism have come to stay, and that, unless these modern movements arc infused with the spirit of Christ and transformed by the power of Christianity, the world will be in a very bad way? Once get the advocates of Socialism and Syndicalism to take hold of the truth that only by a union with the Church can success be assured, and the battle is more than half won. There was a short sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M. Mention was made iby Mr. D. Hutchen of the case in which MeLeod and Slade sued Petrie, Curin, and Paviell, of Auckland, for the sum of £S 5s 3d. Counsel, on behalf of the plaintiffs, applied to have the evidence- of his clients taken. Jlis Worship acceded to this request, and after formal evidence had been given by 0. W. Dillon, accountant to the plaintiffs, the case was, on Mr. Hutchen's application, adjourned till December 17. Mr. Hutchen appeared for the plaintiff? in the adjourned cases of the A.B.C. Boot and Shoe Company, and of 11. 11. Ford v. Paul Jenkins, defendant, in which attachment orders (interlocutory) had been made with the object of joining Stanley J. Smith to defendant, as sub-debtor, and announced that the matter had been settled out of Court.

The quality of (he Jerseys in the Auckland province must be fairlv good if a line is taken through the comments of Mr. W. M. Tapp. of Auckland, who judged the Jerseys shown at the Hawcra A. and P. gathering. There were many people at the ring-side who were enthusiastic about the stock shown, but Mr. Tapp was not one of them as a whole. In fact, he is reported to have termed them only an average lot, and to have added that many of them would not find a place in an Auckland show. The best cows at Hawcra could not, said Mr. Tapp, be mentioned alongside Flora 11., or even Buttercup. The "former, he believed, could go anywhere, in the Dominion and be in a class by herself. The Auckland bulls, too, were, in his opinion, much-superior to those shown at Hawpra. It is interesting, in view of the above, to notice the awards made by Mr. J. (I Harkness, who judged the Jersey class at Auckland last week. Mr. Harkness apparently held tlrfit Flora 11. was a good one, for he placed her first in the class of cows of three years, but Buttercup only got v.h.c. in this class.--Domin-ion.

It is interesting to recall just now. when further partition seems inevitable, how enormously the Turkish Empire decreased during the reign of ex-Sultan Abdul TTamid. A generation ago the independent Balkan States now leagued against the Ottoman Power were entirely or partially under the sway of the Sultan, and comprised more than one-half of European Turkey. In addition to their loss, Bosnia and Herzegovina have been annexed by Austria-Hungary, and the rich province of Thessalv handed over to Greece. In Northern Africa, Egypt. Tunis and now Tripoli have passed into other hands; east of the Red Sea the Arabs of the Yemen have virtually won their independence, and the ■jioniinal Turkish suzerainty over Cyprus and Crete has ceased to' be effective. Macedonia and Albania, only one small corner of Europe, barely 10,000 square miles in area, will be left to the Sultan to remind him of the vast Empire conquered by his predecessors, which reached northward to Poland and westward almost to Vienna. Even Asiatic Turkej', which Abdul Hamid maintained intact, is but a remnant of the widespread territory in Western Asia ruled by the great founder of the Ottoman Empire. The small, bird nuisance is yearly becoming a serious matter, garden stuffs being punished severely by certain kinds (writes a country correspondent). When they start scratching out maize by the roots it leads one to believe that they have been taking careful lessons from the profitable hen. It is all very well for those gents, who love a. day's shooting to encourage the propagation' of quail and pheasants, but if tliey were "in the other fellow's place" at times I'm afraid there would be another kind of a yarn. I'm not much of a sportsman, in the <rmi line, but would not like to prevent those who enjoy that kind of sport, but really when one has to pay the prices now-a-days for clover and rye grass seed it is rather tough to see swarms of quail loaded to the beak with those seeds. The consequent thinness of the grass crop is a serious matter to the farmer. The blackbird and thrush pull up the roots of such plants as peas, beans, and other smaller garden seeds as soon as they show above ground, and those shootists who would like the larger birds protected so as to multiply could do the farmer a good turn by taking a trip to the country and expend ammunition to protect him from the depredations of the smaller kinds—one good turn deserves another! J

An effort is to be made to induce the organiser of the, Overseas Club, who is now in New Zealand, to give a lecture in New Plymouth.

A young man named True, a wellknown Feilding milkman, is reported to have been lucky enough to draw the first horse in a Tattersall sweep on the Melbourne Cup. Tt is stated that the total remitted to True was £4BOO.

The question of arranging for a special tram from down the line to New Plymouth on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve is being discussed by local business people, and will probably be considered at the next meeting of the Tradesmen's Association.

A deputation from the Expansion and lounst League, consisting of Dr. Leatham, Messrs E. Griffiths, J. R. Cruickshanks and T. C. List, waited upon the local stutiomnaster yesterday with reference to the issue of excursion fares for week-end trips from Hawera and intermediate stations to New Plymouth during the summer months. As a result, ■the representations, which were afterwards submitted in writing, will be forwarded to the. District Traffic Manager of Railways.

"V\e hear on good authority." says the Northern Mail, "that a syndicate of Hawkes Hay and Auckland speculators intend exploiting the Northern Auckland lands. The syndicate, which comprises some of the wealthiest farmers in the Hawke's Bay district, propose buying up the unimproved farms and lands and developing them, afterwards disposing of them to farmers with a small capital and on easy terms. Mr. A. H. Dillon, lately of the Northern Land Agency, has been offered and has accepted the position of managing director for the syndicate."

If not the first, certainly the largest and most successful queue ever worked in y e \v Zealand was at the Dunstan in 1862 (states a correspondent of the Dunedin Star). It was introduced by the diggers on the arrival of the mail from Dunedin and honored to perfection in those days. Firearms would have gone off easily, they say, if one had attempted to sneak a place in advance of his appointed turn. It was no uncommon experience then to wait eight hours before one's turn came, and even then the chances were that one's friends had forgotten to write.

The violent storm of Monday morning has done considerable damage to .the streets of the town, chiefly by carrying off the blinding and scouring the sfcles of the roads. Some of the smaller culverts were choked, but the clearing of these will not involve much expense. Complaint is made regarding the inadequacy of the culverts, but if they had been double <the size> they would not have been equal to the great pressure they were subjected to on Monday. The chief private sufferer seems to have been Archdeacon Evans, whose beautiful gardens were badly scoured.

According to French law, the editor of a newspaper wields more power than the proprietor. A wealthy Russian admirer of Louis Blanc founded a paper, "L'Homme Libre,' of which Blanc was appointed editor. The Russian rather fancied himself as a writer, and sent some articles to the paper, which Blanc returned with thanks. This so infuriated the owner that he endeavored to make the Courts compel Blanc to insert the articles. The Judge held that an editor has a right to decline an article, even when written by his proprietor, and dismissed the plaintiff's suit with costs: but it was probably within the proprietor's right to retaliate by dismissing the editor.

Why do not colonial boys take to the sea? The question has often been before the public, but probably every reason oilier than the right one has been adduced in answer to the query. At the meeting of the Royal Kcw Zealand Association of ex-Imperial Navy Men, in Wellington, Captain G. H. White staled that many young colonials had gone to sea, but had been driven away from it because of the large number of foreigners that merchant ships carried. He had seen forecastles with one or two Britishers, the rest of the crew being comprised of foreigners. When at VVhaugarci years ago, he had aseeriained that on eleven vessels in the harbor, there were only two Britishers amongst the entire complement. He was one of them. If shipowners had been compelled to carry two-third British crews, more colonials might have been induced to follow the sea as a livelihood.

"The giving of the Dreadnought was the finest advertisement New Zealand has ever had," declared Mr. Chas. Ahier, who has returned to Xcw Plymouth from I a trip to the Old Country. He cxplain- [ ed that on arrival in England he was struck by the alacrity and willingness of I the porters handling his party's luggage, whilst others experienced not a little difficulty with theirs. He commented on the fact to the porters subsequently. "You come from Xew Zealand," they replied; '-'that makes all the difference. Bid not Xew Zealand come to the fore with a Dreadnought when the people of this country wove hesitating about the. future of our navy and wanted a lead? We cannot do too much for any people that come from Xew Zealand." _ Mr. Ahier went to the Greenwich Hospital to see the national relics there. He was asked by the porter at the door for his admittance ticket. Mr. Ahier had not provided himself with one. The porter was adamant; no visitors were allowed who had not a ticket. "Well, •frell," exclaimed Mr. Ahier; ; 'to think that we have come all the way from Xew Zealand to sec this place and are then blocked!" "Xew Zealand?' said the porter: "you come from New Zealand? Then just walk inside," and inside they went. Mr. Ahier had a chat with the porter subsequently, and remarked that no Xcw Zealander required a ticket to any institution in Greenwich. "Did not New Zealand give us a Dreadnought?" he asked. Again, when at Smithfield, he happened to mention to a trader where lie came from. "I'm glad to meet you, or any Xew Zealander. There's no sentiment in business, but I must say that after what Xew Zealand did in going to tln> assistance of the Empire in the South African war and giving the Dreadnought, I never miss a chance of pushing Xew Zealand's interests for all I'm worth. It is a patriotic and great little conntiT. You must have some fine statesmen there. Yes. sir, I'm right glad to meet you." And the Smithiield merchant could not do enough for him. All over Britain it was the same. Everyone knew Xew Zealand as the country that gave the Dreadnought and promised another if it were required, and could iio( refrain from expressing the gratitude they undoubtedly felt.

One cow is nothing much to the number—more or less—in Taranaki. One cow off vour herd is something t —if you lose it. Many a farmer t cno through neglecting some snian »n----mptit. Are you neglecting any ailment with vour htrd? If so see SYKES, THI FARMERS' CHEMTF.T.-Artvt

CAUSED PAIN AND INCONVENIENCE.

"'I am subject to bowel troubles which have caused me considerable pain and ineonveuience." says "Mr. Alfred Wane, 1.8;) Auburn r.find, Auburn, Victoria, "but was advised to try Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhoea Remedy, and I find it always effects a complete cure after the second dose. I am pleased to know that there is such a safe and certain remedy as Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhoea Remedy and I always keep a bottle handy now."—Sold by all Chemists and Storekeepers. __ _ __ .., a

Canning mussels is becoming quite aB industry in Coromandel. One factory ha* already canned over 20,000 tins of mussels.

The land over which the Napier-Git-borne railway will pass has been sold at prices ranging from £2O to £6O an acre.

An Australian sheep farmer, who recently struck a Lincoln-Somney shed in the Wairarapa, remarked:—"Gee! If this is the size of the sheep, Pd like to sea the cattle!"

The New Zealand Casein Company is erecting a large central drying factory at Aramolio, and have also made arrangements to dry for the Bunnythorpe Co-operative Dairy Factory and a number of Taranaki firms. It is reported that a large casein factory will shortly be erected in Taranaki.

"New Zealand apples, for quality, will easily hold their own in competition," remarked a Nelson fruitgrower, in the course of conversation with a newspaper representative. "It is not generally known that in 1004 at Hobart, in 1907 at Brisbane, and this year at Melbourne, New Zealand apples were awarded pride of place."

Conditions under which the sum of £4OOO will be distributed to public libraries in the shape of subsidies are set forth in the current Gazette. The distribution will take place in February 3, 1913, and no claim will be entitled to consideration tliat shall not have been •cut in in due form and received by th« Secretary for Education, Wellington, onor before January 25, 1913. « In the last report of the Department of Labor it was mentioned that some of the Sedgwick boys had absconded. The Department has just received a letter from the mother of one of these lads, in which she states: "Jack came home from New Zealand a fine young man; a very different lad than when he left Liverpool. I, his own mother, did not know him when he came home." The mother goes on to explain that the probable cause of her son's leaving New Zealand was that she had told him of the death of a young sister, to whom he was much attached.