LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 308, 21 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A very heavy hailstorm, accompanied by thunder and lightning, fell shortly after midnight, in New Plymouth, last night.

It is stated that the whole of the Territorial forces in the Wellington military district will he mobilised next year at one large camp. A New Plymouth chemist stated in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morn■g that (luring the year 1900 he paid nine guineas to a local doctor for commission on prescriptions.

A correspondent telephoned last night to know why, having experienced "all the itinerary of "Trojan' last week, the present climatic disturbance has not been properly christened. He suggests 'that it might be appropriately named Christabel Pankhurst."

The Cabinet yesterday discussed the question of calling tenders for the new Parliament buildings, but some necessary preliminary nutters yet need attention, so that nothing was done. The Minister of Public Works, however, says that tenders will be invited very shortly^ Among the increases in salaries granted on Monday by the Borough Council to its staff were the following:-—Town Clerk (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) £50.; Borough Engineer (Mr. C. Skitrop) £75; Messrs E. Holden £2O, C. Hooker £2fi, R. H. Baily £2l, N. C. Harding £3l, and T. Partington £lB 4s. '

The Minister for Justice was approached last night with a request that he should receive a, deputation to-day with a plea for ( legislation establishing a universal half-holiday, either on the Thursday or the Saturday, as may be deemed advisable. The Minister, if "time will permit, will probably hear the deputation.

Mr. E. Short's dispersal sale commenced at Feildiiig yesterday, when stud Romney rams, owes, and lambs were ofiferedj The (ewes were (offered first, when the sale dragged a little, but brightened up when the rams were offered. There were very good prices over the whole day. The total value of the sale was well oyer £6OOO.

A. detailed statement of the exports from the port of Patea shoivs that the total value of the exports was £540,830 for the. year ending March 31, 1912, as compared with £877,895 for the year ending March 31, 1913, (in increase of £328,065. Of this increase £316,063 is represented by cheese, while on the amount of butter exported there was a small decrease.

It is comforting to know that at least some necessaries of life have not combined to increase the cost of living. A New Plymouth chemist stated in the Court yesterday that during the past six years there had been no tendency for the price of drugs to go up, a.nd prices remained much about the same as in former years. "The discovery of new drugs keeps the old drugs down," .he added.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., judgment by default was entered in the case of John Avery, Ltd. (Mr. H. R. Billing) v. Albert Edward TunniclifTe, claim £2O 18s 3d and costs £2 14s. In the judgment summons case, McLeod and Slade (Mr. Johnstone) v. Joseph Hooker, judgment debtor, who did not appear, was ordered to pay £3 3s before May 27th, in default four days in Wellington prison. "New Plymouth people are too sceptical," remarked Mr. .A. Sorensen, a 'vater diviner, to a News reporter yes'"relay. "They don't believe in the "owcr of locating Tunning streams. Yet. w!vn T offered to sink a well and get v'er, and to sink another well twentyfive feet away and not strike water, they refused to "take me up," although I offered to pay all expenses, should I fail. No, its no good to me, I'm going down to Feilding." "What is a fair price for cotton wool," asked Mr. Hutchen of one of the plaintiffs, a chemist, in a certain action, heaTd in the Court yesterday, in which the solicitor was endeavoring to show that liis client had been' over-charged. "Yon I'hiirsre 3s fid a lb," he continued, "but vvmil;l a nurse pay that?" Witness stated that some nurses would do so, to' which Mr, Hutchen replied. "Not a nurse that knew her business!" Ultimately witness admitted that 2s fid a lb was a fair price. The exports of butter and cheese from New Zealand in the past veaT showed an increase over the quantities for the pre l vious twelve months, though not so large as anticipated owing to unfavourable climatic conditions. The total Quantity of butter shipped awav from Mir.- Ist, 1012, to April 40th. 1013. was 15,280 tons, a increase of fi'/i per cent, on the previous year's figures. The cheese exported iii the same period totalled 32,328 tons, an increase of 28 per cent.

On Wednesday morning last a serious accident befel ' a man named Lagan (says the Patea Press). With a companion, the unfortunate man was shooting near Xgutuwere. Tn attempting to dislodge a refractory cartridge case lie was knocking the stock of his gun on the ground, when the cartridge in the other barrel went off and blew away the first and second fingws of his right hand. Fortunately his companion was an adept at first aid work, and help being summoned. Lagan was driven to the Waitotara station, and thence travelled to Wanganui, where the injured fingers were amputated. A rather interesting case is to be heard in the Napier Magistrate's Court shortly. . It appears that a certain younar man left his lodging without paying all the board fees due;- and subsequently, when a letter came addressed to him, one of the lodgers, who wns not in accord with the action, and knowing the letter to contain money, hit upon the idea of opening it and handing over the money to the fair proprietress. This he did,' never dreaming that the departed boarder would return. However, the latter came back, and now the gallant young man who opened the letter has to toe the mark before the local Stipendiary Magistrate, Despite the inclemency of the weather there was a very fair attendance at the Tukapa First Junior Football Club's euchre party and dance, which was held in the Brougham Street Hall last night. Among the ladies, Mrs. Cock secured the first prize (a box of tea presented by Hawkins & Smith), after a play-off with Miss Franks, who took second prize (a fancy jug presented by the Red Post Furnishing Company). Mr. Knott won the gentlemen's first prize fa hand-bag presented by the Kash), and Mr. T. Marett obtained the second prize (a collar-box presented by Mr. Emenv), after a play-off with Mr. Stains. After supper had been handed round, dancing was indulged in to the strains of Mrs. George's orchestra, comprising Mrs. George (piano), Messrs. Wilev (comet) and Cliong (violin). Mi - . McLean officiated as M.C.

Tor chronic cheat complaints, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, 1/6,2/6. THE QUALITY COUNTS. Crescent Tea is much higher in quality and no higher in price than other teas. It is a scientific blend of the choice teas from Darjeeling and Ceylon. There is a subtle charm about the flavor that gives pleasure to the palate, and that flavor never varies. Three grades, 1/8, 1/10, 2/per Ik