LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 206, 20 January 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Egmont County Council at its meeting on Friday decided to declare Wednesday as the statutory half-holi-day for the ensuing year. The crop of honey in New Plymouth and district this season promises to establish a record. The quality, too, appears to he of a high order. The Moa Koad Board, at a special meeting on Saturday, decided to dec. ire Thursday as statutory half-iioliday for the ensuing year, as heretofore. We have to aekowledge the receipt of a very line sample of Burbank plumfi, grown by Mr. R. Crocker, of Bell Block, equal in every way they are to the best we have seen. The dredge Paritutu left for Wellington on Saturday morning to undergo its periodical overhaul at the Patent Slip.. The vessel had a fine run down, arriving in Wellington early yesterday. iDi;|iug Just mont)i, 'the SiaiigoreJ Dairy Company pa id out £4137 2s lOd for butter-fat supplied, against £4IIS 16s Sd for the corresponding month of the previous year. "We should carefully watch the tarring experiments on the Kltham Road, as I believe it, is going to be a great thing for the roads.''—Remark by the Chairman of the Egmont County Council at the recent meeting of that local body. At the meeting of the Egmont County Council on Friday, it was resolved that as the Council is in urgent need of momey that steps be taken to at once collect outstanding rates. The clerk was authorised to draw twenty names out of the hat. and at once take proceedings aguirint the ratepayers represented. The following donations hare been, received by Mr. A. Humphries, secretary of the North Egmont Hostelry, towards the cost of improving the >oad from the Radius Line to the Mountain House: Stephens and Brvn, £1; B. Whale, II; T. .Salter, £1; \\\ Lmcv, £1; \Y. Sampson, 10s; P. J. McComish, £1; A. N. Morev, £1; KB.. 2s 0d; W.C.W.. £l. Total, £7 12s Od. Eighty-one cows. 57 bullocks, Ifl calves, 561 sheep. 429 lambs and 112 pigs were slaughtered at the municipal abattoirs for local consumption during the past month. Compared with the corresponding month of last year these figures show an increase of 14 cattle. 83 sheep, 61 lambs and a decrease of 20 pigs and 1 sucker. One cow, 1 bullock, 7 sheep and 7 pigs wore condemned. There was slaughtered for export 1 cow, 31 bullocks and 131 calves, an increase of 11 cattle and I'll calves. Five bullocks and 2 calves were condemned.

Pimming coals to Newcastle would appear t.o be hardly "in it" with taking sand from Wanga'nui to New Plymouth (remarks the Stratford Post); still, the fact remains that there were two trucks of river sand en route for New Plymouth hv the enrlv train on Thursday, and these were labelled Wangamri. A railway olV'-ial stated the sand was screened at New Plvmouth, and then utilised by drivers of' locomotives for the sanding apparatus when the rails are slippery. A tri>l run has been made at Oisbornc of one of the new storage battery cars. The car. it is claimed, ran quite satisfactorily the (itting-up apparently having been done thoroughly. Tt is reported that previously a number of nocturnal trials nave been made.

A \vr!!-:>.t!ended meeting of Veterans on Saturday afternoon, over which Col. J .Ellis presided, had before it the question of making arrangements to suitably commemorate' the anniversary of the Battle of Wairfka. on March 28. The Mavor (Mr. 0. W. Browne) attended, and n«ked the Veterans to co-operate with the Tlarlv "Records Committee, and make, tin- proposed picnic a joint affair --for pioneWs'as well as Veterans. H was dicided to hold a combined picnic. on the r.ccrealiou ("ii'mind on March-27, and a sub-committee comprising Messrs. Adlam. H. Cock, .T. Walker. P. Wells, and TCenvon. was deputed to meet a subcommittee from the Pioneers' Association to arranae d'dails. Tt was mentioned at fee iixo;ii!-' (hat Hie vnnnj men Oi |Be iovm intend entertaining the Veterans on the ii'-.!i,-t of the anniversary.

Over jIJIMJ telephones arc in use is Auckland.

A gale, has proved disastrous to the* Tasmanian fruit, ci'oj), doing thousands of pounds' worth of damage. Wild pigs have not yot boon driven out of Southland (says the Western Star), for one day recently two young fellows killed 17"in one day up the Waiau district. t

It is slated that as a result of Mr. Massey's visit to the North Auckland district it is probable that an area of ten thousand acres will be opened let settlement.

Forty-seven pages of the last New Zealand Gazette am taken up with the publication of the registers of medical practitioners and dentists in the Dominion, •id pages being devoted to the former an 4 the remainder to the latter.

It is understood, on good authority, says the Marlborough Express, that a* interesting action will be tried in the Supreme Court at Blenheim next month, in which two prominent members of the local Reform Party will be proceeded against for a large sum of money in connection with the late election petition.

Five patent pistols for killing injured animals have been ordered from Home by the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The weapon, which is placed against the animal's hoad, instead of liring bullets, is fitted with a steel rod or bolt, and this, when the trigger is pulled, penetrates the skull. As soon as the animal is dealt with the rod is easily placed in position again, and is ready for further use.

Among the many Christmas novelties shown in the London shops was an elefr" trie light umbrella—a smart article, silkcovered, that shows, when needed, the belated wayfarer his road home. Theprogress of a number of electric umbrellas, after a late night at the club, would be fraught with intense interest. A further electric novelty is a pencil that has a tiny battery affixed so that notea may bo taken at night.

Yesterday was one of the busiest daysyet experienced at the North Egmont Mountain House. The day was gloriously fine, and fully 120 persons, including a party of 20 tennis players brought upby Dr. Leatham and Mr. Stocker (president and lion, secretary respectively of the New Plymouth Lawn Tennis Club), visited the hostel. A number climbed the mountain, about a score reaching - the top. The hostelry continues to be crowded.

In the course of a speech in the North, Mr. Massey said his ambition was to set on the lands of New Zealand a strong: and independent yeomanry, possessing their freehold, and outnumbering the dwellerg in the city. There should be a majority of producers over and above consumers. He predicted that the dairycow and fruit trees would do more towards the prosperity of the north than. the timber and kauri gum industry had done in the past.

Fears of 1 a beef famine in New Zealand were raised by a member of a northern deputation to the Prime Minister last week. The speaker was Mr. Alf. Harding, a well-known landholder, and he asked that a more effective record of cattle should be provided for the next census or for the Year Book, if possible. Mr. Massey said he was already having the matter seen to, and remarked that he was inclined to agree with Mr. Harding in connection with the possibility of a shortage of beef. It was his desire that complete stock statistics should be made available.

Writing of the recent very wet summer in England to a Palmerstonian, an English lady states that acres upon acres in the low-lying counties have been inundated. The hay and corn in some parts could not be harvested, and hundreds of small farmers had been ruined. At Norwich the. floods were very bad, and many lives were lost, while 'others lost practically all belongings. In Huntingdonshire flood water, at the time of writing, was lying on the ground, and wild fowl and birds had made settlements there, such as formerly existed in England. Even sea birds were arriving there in large numbers.