LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 290, 30 April 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are asked to state that Mr. Short was not a candidate for re-eleetion to the Central School Committee. Mr. George Tabor announces elsewhere that he is a candidate for municipal honors at to-day's election, and that he is prepared to place the experience of wide travel at the disposal of the burgesssa.

Messrs. R. Triggs and A. W. Thomson, members of the Civil Service Commission, are in New Plymouth. Yesterday they interviewed officers of the various Government departments. They will 'eave at mid-day to-day for Wan«aaui. °

The Wellington City Council lias resolved to bring under the notice of the Municipal Association the difficulties involved in having several local issues aettled on one election day, with a view to having some of the elections held on a different day. Members of the Royal Forestry Commission inspected various reserves in the district yesterday, returning to New Plymouth iu the evening. The Commissioners will sit in the Borough Council Chambers at 10 o'clock this morning for the purpose of taking evidence.. Arrangements have been definitely made for playing an Association football match at New Plymouth, Taranaki versus the crew of H.M.S. New Zealand, on the visit of the battle ship to New Plymouth on June 17. The match will probably be played on the Recreation Grounds.

A gentleman who returned from the West Coast told a Christehurch Press representative that matters were not very good there at present. A number of sawmills had had to shut down temporarily, owing to lack of orders, and the consequent depression was reflected upon the whole commerce of the Coast.

An Okaiawa (South Taranaki) settler wrote to a well-known Auckland firm about some machinery obtained through them which was not working satisfactorily. The reply came that the firm had some engineers working at Waitara, and if the settler would just drive over one day for one of them he would attend to the matter free of charge. Evidently Okaiawa occupies a very small spot on the map (says the Hawera Star.) A young lad named Hagan, son of Mr. Hagan, a "resident of Thames Road, Paeroa, met with a rather unpleasant accident last week. He was playing round an open fire with another boy, when the two hoys collided, and both were stunned. The lad Hagan fell on the fire, and was there some time before the other lad came to. The latter immediately pulled the unfortunate boy out of the (lames. Dr. Smith was called, and attended to the sufferer, who had his, legs very severely burnt. According to one of the lonic's immigrants who arrived at Auckland last week, newcomers to New Zealand from the big English cities find that eye trouble is one of the greatest drawbacks which they have to contend with. Before one family had been in the North Island three months they found that the whole family had had to seek the aid of various types of spectacles. "I have heard of other eases," said the immigrant. "I suppose it is your bright blue sky, and the contrast it makes to working in dark factories in dull cities. But I think that if our eyes suffer through too much sunlight, we would sooner have the sunlight than perfect eyes." The usualy weekly session of the Egmont Lodge of Good Templars, No. 112, was held on Monday evening. C.T. G. W. Hartnell presided over a large attendance of officers and members. The secretary of the Grand Lodge Reception Committee reported a credit balance on the recent sessions. The Democratic voters' campaign met with excellent support from the voters. Mr. G. H. Maunder, secretary of the Hall Committee, handed in his resignation, which was received with regret. The election of officers was deferred until next meeting. A social evening has been arranged and invitations are to be extended to friends and an opportunity afforded to members to hid farewell to Bro. G. A. Hayden, who is leaving New Plymouth to take up a position in Feilding. Bro. Hayden has ably filled the positions of C.T., See., P.C.T., and other minor offices This brother filled the position of secretary to the Hall Committee for twelve months. He also undertook the responsible position of secretary to the Grand Lodge Reception Committee, and it was to some great extent through his efforts that the recent sessions were such a success. The following programme was submitted;— Pianoforte solos, Sisters A. and B. Legg; recitations, Sisters B. Connett, L. Lanferton and A. Legg; Bros. G. W. Hartnel, J. Liddle, G. 11. Maunder and Sister Mrs. Douglas made brief speeches. Refreshments wore then handed round.

Week-enders! Always keep a bottle of "Camp" Coffee in your crib. Saves time in the morning preparing breakfast. Add boiling water to a teaspoonful, and "Camp" is ready. You'll find "Camp" as economical as it is expeditious. 12

Electors are reminded that the muni* cipal elections take place to-day.

It is reported that the whole of the Eltham Dairy Company's factories will commence butter-making on the first* of next month. j

As a result, of the prolonged strike, accompanied by riots and bloodshed, the International Harvester Company haa closed down its New York factory, and has Bhipped its machinery to Cologne, in Germany, where it hopes to make a fresh start.

On April 21 the New Zealand Dairy Association, Ltd., distributed amongst its suppliers the sum of £36,356 Os sd. This payment covered butter-fat supplied during the month of March. The corresponding payment last year was £33,952 18s 4d. Thus the increase for the month ,as compared with last year, is £2403 2s Id.

A Paris message of February 13 states:—"The Governor-General of IndoChina reports that De Tham, the notori- r ous pirate chief, was killed near Kep, in* the Jen district, on February 11. De Tham has given the French authorities an enormous amount of trouble. He was as elusive as De Wet in the South African war, and on account of his many appearances after most definite reports of his death he was known as the 'phantom pirate.' This time there seems to be no doubt that he is dead, for both the local native authorities and the French Government Official in the district have identified the body."

According to advices received from Noumea a company has been formed for the purpose of exploring the large forests of valuable timber which exist in the inland parts of the island. The local press, in commenting on the company's prospects, which are regarded as favorable, congratulate the directors of the syndicate upon their enterprise. New Caledonia, one journal states, possesses vast varieties, olivewood, wattle, kauri and blackwood. Hitherto, however, the possibilities of a timber export trade do not appear to have dawned on anyone. On the contrary, New Caledonia has been importing, at a great expense, wood for building purposes, and which is inferior in grade to that of which she has abundance. In 1912 two prospectors, Messrs Pierre Verier and Alfred Rigaut, visited the country through which run the rivers Ouine, Yate and Piorgues. They were beset with great difficulties during their trip, but nevertheless managed to make a comprehensive survey of the district. On their return they presented a report to the Governor of the island, which was transmitted to Paris, The outcome of this report lias been the formation of the present company.