LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 260, 26 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

EnglMi and American mails, via San Francisco, will arrive here to-morrow (Thursday) evening'. The total rateable -value of the Taranaki Comity, after excluding those portions merged in the JioroiHi of New Fiymotuh, is €2,015,730.

At a meeting of Taranaki operative bakers this week the question of forming a union was considered, and after somo discussion the meeting adjourned until this afternoon.

ft is estimated by .Mr. W. D. S. MaeDonald, M.P., that there is more timber in sight in the Motu district than can be got out. even under most favorable conditions, during the next 13 years.

I he i'<>:»i;iittfe of yonng men of the town v, lio eye entertaining the Taranaki War \ derails on Thurs.diiv evening desire to thank Mrs. Tabr.y ami Mr. T. Furlong, juur.. for oii'er.j of a guinea each towards their funds,

Commenting upon the condition o.f the money market the current issue of the Trade Review remarks:—"The supply of money is still far from plentiful,'and there is not much indication of easier times coming for the present. The volume of our exports is keeping up well, and prices are satisfactory generally, hut -<uit. imports nliow Little sign ,of any reduction. We are getting near the end of the quarter, and the returns will be looked for with interest for a definite showing as to the, position."

A feature of the recent meeting of the \\ aitomo County Council was tlie iiuintier of applicatums for road access from settlers on native-owned land. A great amount of native land has been taken up without any provision having been made lor road-,, and the position has become serious. The settlers are now realising that the responsibility for roading rests upon themselves, and the cost is very great. With the cost of roading addeil to the price of land, people who considered they were getting in cheaply have come to alter their views. Representations on the question are to be made to the Government by the Backblocks Local Bodies' Association. Particularly sad circumstances surround the death of the wife and infant daughter of Mr. E. G. Jltfpkinson, of Onehuiiga (says the Auckland Herald). On Monday the child was taken to the hospital, and on Tuesday morning the father was called to the institution, as the child was worse. Mr. TTopkinson went to the hospital and remained there until noon, but meantime another message was sent to his home, the authoriliee apparently being unaware of the father's presence. This message, which came to the ears of the mother, stated that the baby was growing steadily worse. The shock was too much for Mrs. ITopkinsoii, who fainted, and died without regaining consciousness. During the same day the baby died at the hospital.

Much interest was evinced in the competition iti connection with the Foreshore Improvement Society's picnic, which involved the guessing of the name of a doll. There were a large number of entrants,. and the name was chosen by Lady Liverpool.- Isabella was the choice, and at the Society's benefit picture entertainment in the Theatre Royal on Monday night Mr. TL Okey, M.P., disclosed this fact by reading the following note: —'"(.'oveniment House, Auckland, Xcw Zealand. —Isabella, which is the name of my favorite pony, which came, out with us from England.—Annette Liverpool." The envelope bore Lady Liverpool's private seal, and this was not broken until Mr. Okey made the announcement. Mrs. F. Hoiv.isell guessed tlio correct name.

A London correspondent, writing under date January :!1, says: —This week, Colonel Seely,(Minister for War, accepted from the students of the International Correspondence Schools an aeroplane, which has been subscribed for by students in Kngland, New Zealand, and other purls of the Empire. Sir Joseph Ward (president of the International Correspondence Schools in Xew Zealand) and iiie lion. T. Mackenzie (High Commissioner for Xew Zealand) were present at the function. Sir Joseph Ward said the gift was the first voluntary and private aeroplane oil'ered to the Government, lie expressed the •pinion that the example that had been set might induce other disiinct branches of people to act similarly. There was no reason why professional men —commercial, financial, agricultural or working men—should not separately provide an aeroplane for use in time of war should necessity arise. Lord Deshorough mentioned that the aeroplane (Bleriot) was used bv a student in an aerial tour of Great Britain in .Time last. Mr. Slack flew 1700 miles without a mishap.

In Kngla-iiiT'tho use of the motor waggon in country districts is common. Xo doubt the admirably made, admirably gratlcj. roads lend themselves to it thei'e, but mechanical genius is continually improving and adding to the adaptability of liie motor, and roads which were impossible a few years ago are now negotiable It is true that, to come to our own district, tho result of the experiment between Xew Plymouth and Opunnkg is nut altogether encouraging, but though uioneer efforts are often unlucky, such failures usually are necessary. stepping slows to suives-. Five years ago even in London the motor 'bus was an object, of jibe and derision: to-iTav almost every horse-drawn public passenger vehicle has disappeared, and the. motor 'bus, by its greater adaptability to the needs of trallic. is on manv routes challenging the supremacy of the tramway. The change is due to the rapid improvement of the nioi or'lius -the reduction of unnecessary weight, and the perfecting of the engines —and we believe that the failure of the local experiment of three years ago is but a false guide as to the possibilities of to-dav in respect both of passenger and freight motor vehicles.— Hawera Star. MONSTER REDUCTION SALE AT TOE MELBOUEXE, LTD.

[ The Melbourne's annual reduction sale [is now on. The richness and magnitude : of the bargains dimply beggar description. Everything in stock reduced for I this great annual event—the greatest bargain sale of the season. Road here of a few of the bargains. Ladies' serge costume skirts. 3/11; boys' tweed Norfolk suits, 13/(1; men's flannel shirts, 2/3: men's wire cord trousers. 5/11; men's Kai;>poi socks. 3 pairs for 2/3; men's fine cashmere socks. 3 pairs for 2/G; lovely toilet soap, 3d tablet; boys' all-wool 'Varsity suits, 9/11; men's merino pants. 2/!)-, men's indigo Venetian suits, 50/6; men's Roslyn boxed suits, 32/6; men's Roslyis all-wool saddle trousers S/6; men's large red handkerchiefs, 3 for 1/-; men's honeycomb tennis shirts, 3/9; ifine ndigo costume serge, sfi inches wide. 7/G yard, worth 10/fi; Velsh flannel, 10d yard: hoys' Norfolk suits, sizes S to 14, 13/6; marvellous value; ladies' umbrellas, serviceable and smaTt, 3/6. Hundreds of other money-saving bargains.