LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 241, 1 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

.'■You cannot compare London with New Plymouth. - ' (Laughter). Cr. Clarke at the ratepayers meeting last night. A good omen. The Theatre .Royal "Mascot." a black cat. wns an interested occupant of the stage for a while last night during the discussion of the Joan scheme. The danger of turning cows on a crop of turnips was clearly demonstrated on a South Taranaki farm the other day, when a farmer lost four valuable cows through indiscriminate feeding. The annual Grand Irish National Concert (under the auspices of the Hiberian Society) will be held in the Thearte Royal on Monday, March 17. The Society will be assisted by a number of popular stars, and the concert promises to be even better than those of previous years. The full programme will be advertised in a future issue. '

Following' are additional New Plymouth passes in the teachers' examinations held recently:—Passed in five subjects ' fov Class' C'., Edith Aylesbere Arthur; passed in two subjects for Class 0, Mary Klleu O'Rorke. James Arthur Thomas and Kathleen Tobin; obtained partial success towards the first section of Class D, Gladys Bayly and Dorothy Gilliver.

Nelson is always given credit for possessing a remarkably healthy climate, and a recent issue of the Xelson Colonist though it records no fewer than fifteen deaths during the course of a few days, supports this claim. Two of the deceased persons were 84 years of age, three were over seventy, and seven were sixty or over. In one case the age was not given, and there was but one death which might be termed premature, the age being 48. In the Irish Terrier classes at the Show the Limit dog section resulted: Mrs G. H. Saunders' Pukekura Ginna 1. Ron aid Paul's Ponsonby Postboy 2, F. W. Sandford's Pukekura Pat a and open dogs resulted W. J. Harper's (Auckland) Champion Lurgan Teefy 1, -Mrs. G. H. Saunders' Pukekura Ginna 2, Ronald Paul's Ponsonby Postboy 3. These were incorrectly placed in yesterday's paper. Special for best dog was awarded to W. J. Harper (Auckland) Champion Lurgan Teefy. For best bitch Robert 11. Sheppanl (Devonport), Champion Yardley Little Demon, and for best dog or bitch, \V. J. Harper's Champion Lurgan Teefy. A very striking feature of the year on which we have just entered is the early occurrence of Easter (says the London Observer). It has not been dated so early for fifty-seven years. Of course, as everybody knows, the moon is responsible, and also an Act of Parliament, which prescribes that Easter Day shall always fall upon the first Sunday after the full moon which happens upon or next after March 21. So it comes about that Good Friday this year is, on March 21 and Easter Sunday on the 23rd. It is not likely that many would favor the suggestion now being made of a fixed Easter. These fluctuations of date help to furnish that interest of change and variety which redeems 'to some extent the worser aspects of our northern clime.

Some practical hint of the immense sum of money winch the new Federal capital is to cost Australia can he gained from the-fact that, though a commencement has barely been made, the total expenditure has reached already over a quarter of a million (says the Argus). What the total outlay upon the project will be can scarcely even be guessed at. So far little more than preliminary survey work has been undertaken, and the actual plan of the city, though decided upon, has not yet been laid out. Plans and sections are now being prepared for the road from Captain's Bay. Jervois Point, to connect with the main road to Nowra, and it is intended to make an early commencement with the new railway to be built between the city and Queanheyan. A trial location survey is now being carried out in connection with the proposed railway from Jervis Bay to the capital. Considering the extent to whieb bovine worship is carried on in New Zealand, especially in Taranaki, one would think that a plague of serpents would be the natural sequence, as in the case of the ancient people who worshipped the golden calf. But Mr. Primrose MeConnell. of the Agricultural Department, shows that the «ow is not always humanely well cared for, even if she is idolised. In the Department's Journal, Mr. McConnell finds it necessary to point out: "The very best feeding, if accompanied by a kick or a growl, will not induce a cow to yield to her utmost capacity. As a matter of fact, a cow that is abused in any shape or form will yield milk of less quantity and poorer quality than if she were treated with gentleness. The man who kicks or otherwise ill-treats a cow should be flogged without mercy. Liberal winter feeding of the dairy cow is undoubtedly of the utmost importance, and it is a deplorable fact that a number of cows in New Zealand die in winter through starvation."

On Sunday evening the service at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church will he conducted by the Rev. W. D. Tittle, who is visitinjr this town on hchnlf of Ihe Bible in State Schools League. MONSTER REDUCTION SALE • AT THE MELBOURNE. LTD. The Melbourne's annual reduction sale is now on. The richness and magnitude of the bargains simply beggar description. Everything in stock reduced for this great annual event—the greatest bargain sale of the season. Read here of a few of the bargains. Ladies' serge costume skirts, 3/11; boys' tweed Norfolk suits, 13/6; men's flannel shirts, 2/3: men's wire cord trousers. 5/11; men's Kaiapoi socks; 3 pairs for 2/3; men's fine cashmere socks, 3 pairs for 2/0; lovely toilet soap, 3d tablet; boys' all-wool 'Varsity suits, 9/11: men's merino pants, 2/D: men's indigo Venetian suits, a!)/(i; men's Roslyn boxed suits, 32/(i; men's Roslyn all-wool saddle trousers S/fi; men's large red handkerchiefs, 3 for 1/-; men's honeycomb tennis shirts, S/fhifinn ndigo costume serge. sfi inches wide. 7/(5 yard, worth 10/01 Welsh flannel, 10d yard; boys' Norfolk suits, sizes 8 to 14, 13/0: marvellous value; ladies' umbrellas, serviceable and smart. 3/6'. Hundreds of other money-saving bargains.

With a view to refuting the charge promulgated from time to time that Lincoln College was the resort of the sons of the aristocracy, if such a term coiihl be used in New Zealand, the director of 'tlie college laid before the board on Tuesday a list of the students and their parentage. The report (the Lyttclton Times states) showed that the students were drawn from various useful classes of the community, and the board unanimously agreed that it was a sufficient reply to the charge that the institution wa* a class one.

"I am always.very careful not to reflect upon the police," remarked .Mr. Justice, Edwards at the. Auckland Supreme Court last week. "On the whole I'.hey are a strong, respectable, and reliable body of men. Some are 'better Mian others, for some are too keen to secure convictions." lie went on to say that in the case that had just been before him a policeman had spoken of the industrial school to a girl. That was wrong, for there should never he any rruggestion of intimidation on the part of the police. Every serious matter has its humorous side. At the Clear works the other (lay a new-chum slaughterman complained to the manager that he could not keep his knife sharp. "Come over here." said the boss, "and T'll teach you." After ten minuteß' tuition the slaughterman returned with a grin, hut could do no better. The manager considered him a dunderhead, and expressed himself in very severe, language. It now turns out that the man in question was an expert slaughterman, and could do his twelve sheep an hour. He is still laughIng at the instruction given him by the Jloss, which he asserts would not sharpen a pocket knife —Petone Chronicle.