LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 276, 14 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Land and Income Tax Department gives notice that returns of land must he furnished not later than Ist May. The Postal Department advise that the English and Australian mails, <x Makura at Auckland, will arrive here this evening. The secretary of the local branch of the Social Democratic Party has received word that Professor Mills will be in New Plymouth on Wednesday next, and will deliver an address that night, particulars of which will be advertised later.

The proposal that local bodies should subsidise the proposed Taranaki court at the Auckland Exhibition received short shrift at the hands of the Egmont County Council on Friday. In less than two minutes the matter was disposed of. Councillors unanimously agreeing that the Council could spend the £SO required to much better advantage. "Let Auckland pay for its own exhibition," remarked one Councillor.

It is interesting to note i'hit the report of the Works Committee <,i the New Plymouth Borough Council includes the following recommendation:—"That the previous resolution referring the question of a contribution to the proposed Taranaki court at the Auckland Exhibition be rescinded .and that the Council contribute the sum of £4O. as requested by the committee promoting the proposal."

Arrangements are well in hand for a systematic canvass of the various districts in Greater Xew Plymouth, in connection with the Park Saturday campaign. At a meeting of the committee which has the matter in hand the list of ladies who are to take part in the street collection was settled as far as possible. A meeting of the committee will be held on Friday to finally arrange matters.

One hundred and five cows, 00 bullocks, 9 calves, C 39 sheep, 15!) lambs and 10!) pigs were slaughtered for local consumption at the Municipal Abattoirs during March. Compared with the corresponding month of last year these figures show an increase of 2 calves, (il sheep and 10 pigs, and a decrease of !) cattle and fl lambs. Three cows, 4 bullocks. 4 pigs and 1 sheep were condemned. Twelve were slaughtered for export, a decrease of 27. "The Seventh Commandment in Public Life," was the subject of the first of the series of addresses to men given by the Vicar of St. Mary's Church yesterday afternoon. There was an attendance of about 150. Mr. Colvile handled what is an admittedly difficult subject with circumspection and force, and his remarks profoundly impressed those present, lie intimated that the next address would be given on the third Sunday of next month, and every third Sunday in the ensuing winter months. The depredations of wood borers in St. Mary's Church are thus referred to in the Vestry's annual report:—"The Vestry view with some apprehension the damage being done in the Church by wood borers. A number of the seats are badly affected and must be seen to at an early date. The Vestry will, no doubt, be faced with the question of re-flooring a portion of the building in the near future, as the joists are being attacked by borers, and it will be a matter for verv serious consideration whether this work should then be done in concrete, asphalt or some other material of a lasting nature."

SYKES'S ShOFPtXG BY i,iA\ Remember, the malt makes • s all neighbors, and you are no further from us than the near- ' est letter-box. You can shop with us by letter just as safely and satisfactorily as if you were here in person, for our Mailing Department is thoroughly equipped, ana our facilities for the execution of orders unsurpassed. Send to us for anything a CHEMIST should keep. SYKES'S MODERX PHARMACY. Devon Street, New Plymouth. Wholesale and Factory, King StreetNew Plymouth, alia: Whole«»ie< 350 Sussex SW-N

j During their stay iu Wellington, the I members of the battleship New Zeai land's crew will be granted free rides in \ the city trams, except during rush I hours.

The anxiety felt, concerning the whereabouts of (ieorge Shirley and Frank Levey, who left Karitane on Friday on a fishing trip, and who had not returned, was relieved on Saturday by the news that they had put into Mocraki.

The Wyiidhain Herald has been informed on good authority that in the course of seven months recently two oppossum trappers made the tidy sum of £7OO from skins of the nocturnal marsupials caught within 20 miles of Wyndliam.

Dozens of applications have already been received by the Government (says the Dominion) from settlers desirous of taking np the 25-acre sections of kauri gum lands which are to be thrown open forthwith in the Auckland district. Regulations governing this class of settlement were gazetted a week or so ago. The representative of the "Hawera Star," at Opunake was last week shown the last portion of one or the very first buildings erected in that township. It was originally built near the old redoubt, and was used for the officers' quarters. This must have been upwards of half a century ago, and in examining the timber as the old building was Ibeing broken up for firewood, all the (totara was apparently as sound as the day it was put in.

"I. say it with certainty that when the time comes—you know the ' time, I don't—South Africa will come forward, and in the way she thinks fit, will increase her contribution in some ■ wav or other to help the Empire," said Captain Halsey, of H.M.S. New Zealand, at one of the ceremonies at Capetown. "I feel sure of it. General Smuts has J said what an object-lesson the New I Zealand is. I hope and trust that the J thousands of people who already on two days have been aboard our ship will realise what the sea power of the Empire is."

Tliß Gore •Ensign" describes a flood incident:—"Mr. K. Stevenson, with his wife and voting family of sin, came 'through a- rather trying time. His cottage is situated on the Invcrcargill side of the Jlataura river hank and he was forced to leave it on Saturday night, and enter a boat in which he and his family spent two nights and over u day and a half, during which' time they ivere cruising about among tk. logs and stumps with no dry land in sight. Fortunately they had'some food and their blankets with them; and they are now safe back home.

Arthur T. Firth, who has discovered a method for replating metal which has completely upset the old iijeas of electroplating, and is backed y American financiers, is a Xew Zealander (nays the Sun Francisco "Argonaut"). Tit* spent years in working out a formula, only to see it fail utterly when put to a practical test. Xothing dismayed, he went back to experimenting, knowing that he had the right idea, and in the end perfected a system which did good work, quickly and cheaply. He brought it to this country, demonstrated his achievement, convinced doubting scientists, and obtained the financial backing to promote this new business.

The erection of rural telephone lines, privately owned, is a great boon to the settlers "in the north (say* the Auckland Herald), and there are now veryfew districts where the farms are not linked up amongst themselves, and in I'iny cases connected up with the (\o- ; rnment lines. The system is also • ;iwing in favor in the south of the pro- \ ice. The annual report of the Mata-

=ii -ta branch of the Farmers' Union contains reference to the fact that .three, and -probably- four, lines will shortly be erected in that district. The report incidentally extends the thanks of farmers to the postal authorities for the help the latter have given in establishing the system.

Last year the New Plymouth Borough Council' appointed a separate building inspector, whose Jutjes included the supervision of lire escapes. His work, however, was limited to a certain specified list of buildings, which consisted almost entirely of boarding-houses. "It must, however, be recognised," was the Town Clerk's annual report, "that something more is required of the Council that what is now being dom\ and at the least an inspection should be made of all buildings over one storey in height. These remarks, of cows* do not apply to those public buildings, the duty of inspection of which is by Section 51 of 'The Fire Brigades Act 1008' placed upon the SuperiiitendeH of Fire Brigades."

1 The work of preparing plans in connection with the systematic numbering of all the houses in the. Xew Plymouth llorough is being proceeded with as time permit*. Plans of Devon street from the Waiwakaiho bridge to its western terminus, and of Courtenay street and Powderbani street, have been completed and the actual numbering has commenced. Other' streets will .be taken in hand immediately, and the work carried on to completion as rapidly as possible. In mentioning this fact in his annual review, the Town Clerk states that, as recommended in a previous report, ample provision is heing made for all vacant allotments, and.it is anticipated that no change will be necesoary for many years, no matter how many new buildings may be erected. The following three interesting recommendations are included in the report of the Works Committee of the Borough Council: "That. Dr. McCleland and others be informed that the Council has been informed that a resident custodian has been appointed for the Brougham street Flail, and that under these circumstances the Council hope, no further annoyance will be caused to the neighbouring residents; that Mr. Creagh's application, for the position of constructing ('ngineer for the tramways installation be referred to the incoming Tramways Committee; that the Woodville Borough Council be informed that whilst this Council is in favour of the owners of motor cars being taxed for the purpose of maintaining and improving the roads a fleeted bv motor traffic, it is of opinion the position would he better met by a collection by the Government of a tax upon benzine, the proceeds of the ta.v (o he distributed amongst the local aiillmrities affected on a valuation basis."

Ratepayers, with pardonable curiosity, would doubtless bo interested to find those of our civic fathers who have qualified for good attendance certificates. Excluding the meetings of all those hoards on which councillors have been appointed to represent the Council, one hundred and fourteen meetings have been held during the year. These meetings are in addition to numerous inspections and other engagements which devolve upon councillors, and a perusal of the schedule will enable ratepayers to appreciate the great tax which it must ho upon business men to set apart so much of their time for municipal affairs. The schedule of attendances is as follow. the number of meetings to which councilloi's have actually been summoned being set, out in parentheses: The Mavnr (100) JOS: f'r. Buttimore (04) 8-2; Or. •Tacksoji (S4> SO: Cr, 7(i»hv (82) 78, Or. Clarke (04) 73: Cr .Amburv (77) 72; Cr. Ruxtmi (04) fiS. Cr. Hnrtuell (03) 01Or. O.ilhert (03) 01. Cr .Mannix (81) 70; Cr. Morov (87) 74 • Cr. Stocker (0->) fi 3: and Cr. Wilson, who was elected in Xovember last, (3o) 28,

Tin. VVhangavci -Mail, hitherto published as an I'vcning paper, has ceasdft publication and become incorporated ut the Northern Advocate. |

The Klthain Co-operative Dairy Com* pany will pay out £8843 18s 5d for but* ter-'fat supplied in March. Butter-fat fo» cheese will be paid at the rate of Is peßlb, and for butter, liy 2 d. The amount of butter manufactured from wliojf cream lust month was 12051b. The, aver* age test for the month was 4.07.

The first batch of local Territorial* for the annual training camp at Oringi will leave by special train this morning at 0 o'clock*. These are the "long sentence" men, those who have to put in an extra four days' trainnig in lieu of the full quota of weekly parades, in order to to be classed as efficient for the year. The remainder of the local Territorials will leave for camp on Friday morning, returning home on the Saturday in the following week. A visit of the officers of De Burghi Adams Lodge. I.C. (New Plymouth-) of Freemasons is taking place in Auckland. The following comprise the party:—Bro. W ,F. Brooking. P.P.D.G.M.. T.C., Bro. E. Whittle, P.P.J.W., Bro. It. O .Ellis, W.M., Bro. D .J .Dear, S.W., Bro. J. W. Hnydcn, J.W., Mro. Henrv M. Southaro,. S.D., Bro. J .Toms, J.D., Bro! 11. M. Smith (organist), Bro. It. M .Corncy, P.M., anil Bros. Carter, Cutler, and Hoskin. The Auckland Star states that the brethren were met on arrival of the ».s. Rnrawa by the W.M. and brethren of Ara Lodge,"34B, T.C., and conveyed to town, paying a visit to One-Tree Hill and Remuera en route. They expressed plasure at the splendid views obtained' from the various points of vantage, and were then conveyed to the Waverley / Hotel, where they stop during • their visit. A motor-launch trip round theharbor was arranged for yesterday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the evening the meeting at Lodge Ara took place. This; afternoon the visitors will be taken toTakapuna, and have afternoon tea at Mont Desir. A trip to Titlrnngi has been arranged for Sundav, and the visitors arc to leave for home on Monday.—Auckland Star.

Commenting on tt.c (election and storage of potatoes from which next season's crop will be raised, Mr. T. W,. Tjonsdale, of Moumohaki State Farm, says that many growers lift and cart the whole of the crop direct to theshed, the tubers being afterwards sorted as time permits.' When stored in this, promiscuous way the tubers heat, thus causing them to send out long, spindly shoots which are easily broken off. These shoots, being the first, should alsobe the strongest; later shoots will not produce good plants. Moreover, by allowing the clamp to heat, a great many potatoes fail to germinate, with the result that, instead of an even crop, numerous blank places occur. When lifting the crop, selections of seed Rliouli receive immediate attention. This is best done by observing which plants* produce the most marketable tubers, and if these are true to type of their variety, select seed from these plants ami discard those which give an uneven lieht vield. The tubers should then he placed in shallow boxes where the light and air can freely reach them. The eves start into growth,, slowly, and the shoots themselves are short and not easilv broken. When planted they ,<rrow away without anv check, and tim» is sived which, in a season of srowtfr as short as that of the potato, is most important.