LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 259, 25 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The value of the cargo taken hv the Waimate from Waitara last week was estimated to reach ml her over £2u<J.OIIU.

Eleven thousand people made the famous Waimunga round trip last summer, and this season the total will probably be greater.

The Taranaki Agricultural Society's Winter Show will be held this vear "on Juno 11, 12. 13 and 14. The secretary is already receiving enquiries re exhibits.

It is stilted that sixteen of the butchers who went out on strike at Tonioana (Poverty Bay) have since resumed work.

The Assessment Court opens on Wednesday, April !), at 11 a.m., and as the time is now limited all those wishing to join the recently-formed association of objectors should do so at the very earliest opportunity. The list will be open till this evening, and can be seen at the secretary's office. * School excursion trains will be run to port stations in connection with the visit of the battleship Xew Zealand, and it is desired to ascertain the-number of children likely to avail themselves of-the opportunity. These excursions will be conlined to scholars, teachers and members of school committees. It is not definitely known at which ports the vessel will call, but the excursions will be to the nearest port visited. It is suggested that country schools should combine. At the Prohibition Convention at Palmers ton North it was agreed: "That this convention urges each electorate to push the democratic pledge campaign so as to have at least 1000 (?) pledged voters for the opening of Parliament', and that all the energies of the party should be concentrated upon this issue, as being one of the most urgent and immediately important to the cause."-Press Association. ~ .

A meeting.in connection with Hie entertainment of the 'faranaki War Veterans was lielil on Saturday evening, when it was decided that the proceedings thjp year should take the form of asocial evening a patriotic, picture show to be held from 3 to I) O'clock, and a supper at the Brougham street Hail afterwards. It was decided to invite the Veterans by advertisement, which is ccorlingly done elsewhere hi this issue.

■ Mr. U. S. Taylor, patron of the Waverley A. and P. Association, recently offered a troop horse, valued at thirty guineas, to be awarded to the Territorial who proved himself to be the most efficient in the local corps, B. squadron. The prize was won by Private G. Stewart, Corporal Kobertson being second ami Private Harton third. The two lastnamed received £3 and :t-'2 respectively. The horse was presented to its new owner at the Wavcrley show by Mr. W. Wilson, president, the donor being unfortunately absent owing to illness. At the S.M. Court on.Thursday, 11. M. Bics, of Tatarainiaka, and U. s! Hobb.s, of Inglewood. were charged, at the instance of Mr. If. Munro. Inspector of Stock, with exposing in public yards sheep affected with lice, and each was mulcted in a fine of £2 and costs. Mr. Munro stated that farmers and dealers were repeatedly warned against exposing for sale sheep affected with lice, but as such warnings were found of no avail the Department was now reluctantly compelled to prosecute for all such breaches of the Act. On Thursday at the S.M. Court a resident of Spotswood was charged, at the instance of Mr. If. Munro. Inspector of Stock, with selling milk for human consumption which was not produced at a registered dairy, and was fined CI and costs. Mr. Munro informed the Court that it was important that all premises and cows connected with the town milk supply should be under strict supervision, but that cases of illicit milk selling, such as the present, were hard to detect.

According to figures produced in New York before the commission to investigate the marriage and divorce laws. 1;850,000 divorces have been granted in the United States during the past 40 years. Twenty per cent, of these divorces were effected by changes of residence to States' having easy divorce laws. Vive million husbands, wives and children were concerned in' tiiese proceeding*. During the past year there were l(H).0 n O divorces in America, and 70,000 children were thus deprived of one or both parents.

The Palmerston Flaxmill "Employees' Union passed a strongly-worded resolution protesting against statements made before the Empire Trade Commission hy Mr. Robert Gardner relative to the character of flaxmill employees, and also demanded aiv official denial by the Flaxmillers' Association that Mr. Gardner represented that body when giving evidence. The Flaxniillers' Association has replied stating that Mr. Gardner was not a member of the Association, which could not take any responsibility for his remarks, but that Mr. A. Seifert was its accredited representative to give evidence before the Commission. —Press Association.

A Gisborne paper reports a peculiar accident, which resulted in the death of a horse. It appears that a party in a four-wheeler was turning round a street corner when a motor car went by. The driver of the four-wheeler applied the brakes immediately, but when about to move off a gig following behind the motor car dashed into it. The shaft of the gig struck the horse behind the shoulder, piercing the lungs. Thinking nothing serious was wrong, the driver of the buggy continued his way. but bad not gone far when the horse started to cough, and very soon it began to stagger, and fell forward on to the footpath, dying immediately.

On March 13 a Press Association message was received from I'alnierstou Xorth stating that a body had been found in the Manawatu river, but that there was no identifying who the deceased was or where hi; hailed from. We very much regret (says the Stratford Post) to have to state that now it is practically alined that the remains are those of Mr. William R. Mackay. well known in this district, and son of Mr. Joseph Mackay. M.A.. of New Plymouth. Mr. Charles Mackay. of Wanganui. proceeded to Palmerston. and from evidence adduced were convinced that the remains are tho ; e of his brother William. Mr. Frank Mackay, of Stanley road, another brother of deceased, was also communicated with and left for Palmerston Xorth. From all that can be gathered—although the afl'air must to a large extent remain shrouded in mystery—there is sufficient evidence to convince the members of Mr. Mackay's family that he came by his death in some accidental fashion about three month* ago. Since December last efforts to locate him have been futile. Much sympathy will be extended to Mr. and Mrs. Mackay, senr., and to the members of the family in this further blow which lias befallen them.

\vamen as a rule are me 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 find strong, and of delicious flavour. Sold by all grocers at 2s Is 10d and Is 8d per lb.

The Tataraimaka School will hold its annual picnic on Thursday next, to be followed by a social in the evening.' A cablegram from Sydney states that all phases of the lunar' eclipse were splendidly observed. The Stratford Post tells the following story concerning a Wanganui tradesman upon whom the land fever had settled. Anxious to dispose of his city property, lie turned his attention to a farm in Taranaki, and was shown over the property, not far from Stratf,ord, by a land agent. Pointing to a patch of ragwort, the stranger asked what species of plant they were: "Oh, those are Taranaki carrots; grow wild, you know," was the reply. "And I see there are blackberries on the farm." continued the city innocent. "How nice. They'll come in handy for jam!" The exchange was duly made, but the delight of the purchaser turned to gall and wormwood when a few months later it cost him £25 to eradicate his "carrots" and those "nice blackberries."

W.C.T.U.—The usual meeting of the Union will be postponed to April % when the delegates' report will be received. —Advt.