LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 245, 6 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tim Postal Department advise that Australian mails, ex .Mucraki at Wellington, will arrive here this afternoon. Saturday was established as the statutory half-holiday at Wuverley last week, and a majority of the shopkeepers are said to express themselves satisfied that the change will prove a good move. A company is being formed in Petoue for tlie purpose of procuring motorbuses, to run in the borough. The capital of the company is to be £SOOO. Of this amount £IOOO is to be called up, and a 'bus procured at once, and further vehicles a3 the passenger traffic warrants. An exceptionally sharp shock of earthquake was experienced at Westport at 9.40 a.m. yesterday, according to a Press Association telegram. Many people left their houses hurriedly, but no damage resulted. A sharp shock of short duration was also felt at New Plymouth at about .5.1.) a.m. yesterday. The committee that have in hand the arranging of the programme for the National Concert on St. Patrick's night are leaving no stone unturned to assure its success, lieeollcetions of previous National Concerts recall pleasant memories, and it is stated that the forthcoming concert will eclipse all its predecessors.

To-day _ the combined Ingiewood schools picnic will be held at the West End Tieach. Special trains will convey about 1200 children and adults from the inland city and surrounding country. The West End Committee Sire making arrangements to cater for the visitors' comfort. The East End donkeys will .journey down to Motorua for the delectation of the Ingiewood small fry. A first offender charged with drunkeness in the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. A. Crooke, jS.M., yesterday, pleaded not guilty. Constables McLean and O'Neill, who gave evidence, did not state positively that he was drunk. "Detective Sergeant Boddam stated that he only saw defendant for a few minutes in the watch house. He was then in his opinion apparently half drunk, mad. or suffering from the effects of drink, but certainly not in a fit condition to be. at large. As the witnesses could not positively state whether the man was drunk or not, the Magistrate said he would have to dismiss the ease, which was accordingly done. "Will you allow me to pay you a compliment," remarked Mr. A. 11." Johnstone to a constable who was appearing as a witness in a Supreme Court action yesterday. "Your evidence is almost word for word the same as you gave in the Lower Court. You must have a good memory!" "Will you allow mo in turn to make an observation," interupted His Honor. "You have no right to make such a statement, Mr. Johnstone., You have no right to know anything of' the contents of the depositions until they have been formally approved, and put in." "It was so well done, Your Honor, and I could not resist the temptation." "Ah," was the rejoiner, "but temptations are made to be resisted!"

The Supreme Court continued its sittings yesterday when the two remaining cases on the criminal callondar were disposed of. Frank White was found guilty of fraudulently converting money to his own use and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Edward Wm. Stockman was convicted of breaking and entering and theft, and sentenced to four months' imprisonment". The civil list will bo entered upon at 10 o'clock this morning. The first case set down for hearing is that of Arthur Howard Plavle v. the lliverdale Co-oper-ative Dairy Factory Company, Limited, involving a claim for f-")01 for alleged libel. It is expected that the case, which will lie heard before a special jury of twelve, will last several hours. The Bell Block Dairy Company are at present erecting u building alongside their main factory for the purpose of installing _a plant' for the manufacture of casein, which is at present being produced at their Hillsborough Creamery.

Passersby, anil they were very numerous last night, took great interest in the appearance of Jlr. ('. Cartel's window, which, almost simultaneously with the declaration of the poll, was dressed to represent "a N«S\v Plymouth"street a year or two ahead. In the centre a tram car with overhead gear complete, attached to poles made out of the latest delicacies, could be seen oil rails, whilst on either side were other forms of traction .apparently not having such rosy times. A large placard, "All trams stop at Carter's for provisions," provided the necessary letterpress. The window presented a very unique and attractive appearance, which cannot fail to enhance the firm's already widespread reputation. Drunkenness and the "wife and hi'/ family" are two favourite pegs with solicitors 011 which to 'hang a plea for leniency when pleading on a prisoner's behalf. The first of these "stand-bves" was tenderly cast before His Honor in the Supreme Court yesterday, and it led His Honor to remark: "If a jury can be allowed to hold that a man can receive another man's money—knowing that it is tn be accounted for—keep it for several months without explaining it, and then escape liability by simply saying that he got drunk and lost it. then it is going to be a serious matter." The. "wife and children" were also brought to bear upon the tender susceptibilities of the jury by defending counsel whose flood of sentiment was interrupted by the Judge. His Honor remarked: '"What! I stopped a witness from mentioning their existence, and now you tell it to the jury." "You can now," concluded His Honor, "consider the fact of the wife and children proved."

Now Zealand publications which circulate world-widelv sivo few and far between. especially those whose policy it is to promote the external trade of the Dominion as ;t whole and advance in overv possible manner the interests of the various districts with their primary industries. We are in receipt of a very interesting and handsomely got up publication, the New Zealand Shipping and Commerce Annual "Review, which contains articles on all the Dominion's industries, as well as making known the harbor facilities prevailing in this Dominion. The man the other side of the world who receives this publication has all the statistical and other information before him as regards our exports, etc., to prove to him that New Zealand is playing a big part in commercial activities. A future production will contain lengthy articles on the butter and cheese industries and the oil industry. Mr. 0. W. Smith, editor of the journal, is at present in town for the purpose of endeavouring to enlist the sympathies of local institutions in order to advertise the district.

Wamen as a rule are tile most consistent tea drinkers, and the multiplication of tea-rooms and tea kiosks throughout the Dominion affords striking evidence of the increasing popularity of tea. The women of New Zealand may be classed as tea connoisseurs, as they show a decided preference for Crescent Tea. which is rich and strong, and of delicious flavour. Sold by all grocers at. 2s Is lOd and Is 8d per lb. Warner's Rust-proof Corsets. In the latest models the bust is low and full. Flexible corsetting above the waist is the result—the newest figure fashion. Perfect comfort with figure elegance.

A half-caste named Jack Fox died at Whakatane last week as the result of eating wild honey. Probably the heaviest man in the Dominion is Mr. Charles King, of Pataligata, Hawke's Bay, who turns the scale at 2()st cSlbs. Tt is slated that fully thirty residents of Masterton have undergone operations I'm' appendicitis during the past twelve months. Good lines of potatoes have been selling at from £l2 to £];j per ion in Wellington during the last few days. A pronounced drop in the price is expected shortly. The inoculating season in Taranaki' against blackleg is about finished. Tri the Hawera district the stock inspector has put through between 14,000 and 15.000 calves, which is about the same number as in the previous season. Mr. Robert McNab expects to publish in April or Mav next his new book entitled "The Old Whaling Days," on which he has been engaged since the publication of "Murihiku" four years ago. "Home separation is booming," remarked the manager of the Mangatainoka butter factory to a Pahiatua Herald representative. More than half the cream separated at his factory is homeseparated. An Auckland resident, who is in a good position to form an opinion, says matters financially had been considerably brighter in that city since news had arrived of the assured flotation of the loan as arranged by the Hon. J. Allen. Applications for workers' homes .are said to be coming in very freely, and the Department is negotiating for the purchase of several blocks of land. Up to the present about £30,000 has been spent on workers' homes during the financial year. The Poverty Bay Herald gives currency to a rnmor that recently an oceangoing steamer approaching Gisborne during a thick haze caused by bush fires got into close proximity to the reef off Tuahine. Point, but was fortunately warned of her danger by a fishing smack. Ee big onions: Mr. G. V. Tate, of Waitara West, grew in 1911 twelve onions which weighed four pounds each when taken up. They secured first and second prizes at the Palinerston Show. These onions were considered to be among the finest, if not actually the finest, grown in the Dominion. It is reported that timber milling operations along the Main Trunk line continue to be brisk, and a number of orders are coming in from Australia. Although the spell of dry weather is favorable to sawmilling operations, water is . scarce just now, and rain would be welcome.

On (lit: That Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., when passing through Stratford a few days ago on his wav to New Plymouth on business connected with the Supremo Court session, took occasion to personally inspect the section recently purchased 'by the Government from Mr. Henry Brown, and which has been prominently in the public eye owing to newspaper statements. —Stratford Post.

Touching on evidence as to identification in the Supreme Court, yesterday, Mr. A. H. Johnstone remarked: ''Footprints! One hears of finger-prints as a method of identification, but footprints are something new!" "One of the oldest methods of identification." corrected His Honor. Counsel rejoined that they were not to be considered from the point of view of scientific accuracy and exactitude.

The Opunake Times understands that there is likely to be a considerable increase in the cargo received at the port of Opunake this year, especially in heavy goods. Mr. Newton King is at present arranging to land some wo hundred tons of slag and other manures if suitable arrangements can be made; and it is likely that a large proportion of this trade up the coast will conic in over the Opunake wharf.

It is stated that an enormous area of potatoes is being cultivated in the Lower Waikato this year, and according to latest reports the crops have come through the recent bad weather well, and have so far escaped the Irish blight. The general absence of blight is ;> 1 ■ ributed largely to the fact that ant.i ingrown seed has been used almost exclusively by growers, who state that plots planted with other seed have been badly affected with blight.

Wielders of the cue will be interested to hear that the Criterion Billiard Parlours —a new establishment —will open to-day. The saloon, which is comfortably housed in Cock's buildings, next to Avery's, is luxuriously furnished and is up-to-date and well-appointed in every respect. Two first-class tables will be available :'or play and an efficient marker will ilwavs be in attendance. The excel' :it lighting and ventilation of the room are quite a feature, and patrons are provided with all conveniences. The owner of a motor car has asked' the Masterton Age to draw attention to the thoughtlessness of some people in striking matches on cars, particularly when they are left in the garage. He states that this habit is common to every town in New Zealand, and if people only realised the extent to which the appearance of a car could be damaged bv matches, they would finfl a more suitable spot for a "strike" than the, highly-finished surface of a motor ear. The motorist in question considers that this newly-purchased car has already been damaged to the extent of £OO by this practice. The Poverty Bay Herald says considerable dissatisfaction is expressed at f4isborne among the civil servants at the impost of four shillings in the hundred pounds of their salary, which is being deducted to pay for the defalcation of two officers of the Public Works Department to the extent of some £3OOO. They point out that the State, whose loose supervision of the employees was the opportunity of the dishonest clerks, is only finding some £75, while the civil servants, many of whom never saw £3OOO at one time, have to pay the tax by which the balance of £-2925 is raised. They point out that there must be great carelessness somewhere to allow such a large sum to be embezzled, and that probably if they were dealing with a private fidelity company the latter would be able to urge this as a defence, but that the civil servant .can do nothing but pay (since it is deducted from his salary), look pleasant, and be thankful for the £75 assistance from the Government.