LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 309, 22 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Austrian mails, ex Moana at Wellington, ; will arrive here to-night, per express train. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning before Mr. A. Crooke.S.M., one first offender for drunkenness was convicted and discharged.

The North Taranaki Hunt was to have met at Ingiewood to-day, but as there is 110 property available to hunt over, the meet has been postponed. The next, sittings of the Supreme Court, which were to have been opened at New Plymouth on June 17th, have been postponed to June 19th, owing to the arrival of H.M.S. New Zealand on the date originally set down. Thomas Percy Snaith, who complained of the "'bullying, blustering* manner" of the Borough Inspector (Mr. Ben Tippins), pleaded "not guilty" at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., to keeping an unregistered dog and stated that the dog belonged to his brother. After hearing evidence, His Worship recorded a conviction and a fine of 5s and 7s costs.

The postponed meeting in connection with the holding of a carnival to be held in aid of the Band, XI. Regiment, Taranaki Rifles will take place to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock. Those interested will please note that the meeting place has been fixed for the Council Chambers . in lieu of the Taranaki County Council offices. It is to be hoped there will be a good attendance, as Professor Cardston, who is addressing the meeting, will give some interesting ideas of raising funds for a worthy object—that of assisting our band'. A jolly little gathering took place in tlii) Te Henui Parish Hall, on Tuesday

"V: ning, when the annual social gatherof parishioners was held. The earlier part of the evening was taken up with an enjoyable musical and vocal programme, and a Dovel guessing competition. Silhouettes of a number of parishioners and local dignitaries were liung on the wall, and a prize awarded for the largest number of correct identifications. Miss, Barbara Currie was the prize winner. After supper, the hall was cleared, and the festivities concluded with a short programme of dances.

A tribute to the business acumen of nurses was paid by a New Plymouth chemist when giving evidence at the Court yesterday. Witness explained that he regarded doctors as belonging "to a kindred profession," and charged them very much less than the general public. "What about nurses?" queried Mr. 1). Hutclien. "Js it the same with them'i" "Certainly not," came the reply. "I never get the opportunity. A nurse always comes to me and dictates her own price." His Worship then took a hand, and asked if the general public might not also dictate their price. "If that was done, sir," answered the chemist, "we should have to shut up our shop, and seek some other 'way of earning a living." The proverbial "bull in a china shop" has at last met his match in "a cow in a draper's shop.' On Tuesday night, just as Mr. Lowers was about to close his establishment in Stratford, lie was astonished to be met in the passage way of the shop by a substantial milch heifer who wandered complacently down a narrow aisle inspecting gloves and ties and lingerie in a casual manner, ■until, after trying the cash register, she was brought up standing by a large dress mirror. Recognising a friend in her reflection, she proceeded to lick its nose in the recognised form of cow salutation. The anxious owner was quickly 011 the scene, and Madame Cow, after showing her contempt for the opposite sex by kicking over a male dummy in an immaculate ulster, as an illustration of her approval of the suffragette movement, and switching down a few bonnet boxes with her tail, was got safely out without having done damage. After all, considering her sex, she was probably only obeying Nature's behest in selecting a draper's emporium rather than a china shop, for her little escapade. Op make's requirements as regards hospital accommodation for its residents were ventilated at the meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday, when two motions from the Egmont County Council were read. The first motion stated "that the Council views with alarm the greatly increased cost of hospital and charitable aid throughout the Dominion," while the second read: "That the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board be requested to add to the levy for constructing the new 1 building, a sum sufficient to erect and equip a cottage hospital at Opunake, especially as the district- is so isolated and distant from a railway that it is impossible to obtain quick medical aid for urgent cases." The chairman (Mr. F. C. Bellringer) stated that lie had been considering the advisability of purchasing a motor ambulance. which would bring Opunake within a few hours' journey of the Hospital. While regretting that it could not accede to the request to add to the loan proposals provision for a cottage hospital nt Opunake, the Board decided to inform the Council that it had under consideration the question of making better accommodation for hospital patients in the outlying districts.

TO MERCHANTS AND SHOPKEEPERS IN TOWN OR OUT OF IT: Do you want a service in Customs, carrying or forwarding that you can rely on implicitly. If so, we have .the resources and equipment to give you the kind of work you want at the very time you want it. Passing entries, shipping goods, forwarding parcels. For anything in this line, see or write us.—The X.Z. Express Coy., Ltd.

According to registered land agentfl a large amount of illicit selling and canvassing is being carried on by unregistered men in .South Taranaki,—Eltliam Argus.

Owing to the film combine squeezing showmen, the latter arc being compelled to increase their prices, Wanganui being the latest place to pass the increase on to the public.

The New Plymouth High School lias offered its buildings to house the country school children unable to return home on the same day in connection with the visit of the warship to New Plymouth.

A Taranaki resident who is building an eight-roomed house with totaru timber in the King Country, informed an Opunake friend that after railing the timber 100 miles, the total cost of timber and labor in erection is under £350.

The fires which took place in the North Island some months ago cost the Government over £IO.OOO in defraying the cost of grass-seed to re-grass Crown lands, and in assistance to Crown tenants. Cabinet passed the accounts yesterday

The new ferro-concrete bridge over the Waitara bridge will be officially opened to traffic this afternoon. In tike absence of Mr.'C. Jv. Wilson, M.C., who is in the back-blocks, Mr. W. T. Jennings, ex-member, will perform the opening ceremony.

The death occurred rather suddenly on Monday night of William Smith, who was employed oil Mr. Rattenbury's launch, Tempest. Tie had not been well for some time, but would not see a doctor, llemorrhagb was the cause of, death.

Mr. J. E. Armstrong, district traffic manager of the New Zealand Railways, remarked to a deputation yesterday that the excursion trains to be run in Taranaki on "Dreadnought Day," would, were they linked together, cover a whole mile. <

Owing to the Auckland-Taranaki foot-, ball match having been fixed for September 4, the date originally set down for the Taranaki circular cycle road race, the executive of the latter have postponed the road race until September 11. h is intended also to hold three motor cycle races on the racecourse the same afternoon They will probably consist of a five-mile novice, five-mile open, and ten-mile open event.

When the divorce case of Thomas Craig v. Zillah-Craig and . Henry Hargreaves (a Sydney bank clerk) was called for rehearing at Auckland yesterday morning, it was intimated (states a Press Association message) that the respondent and co-respondent would not further contest the petition. Mr. •Justice Edwards said he would 1 defer consideration till Friday to decide whether he could give a decision without taking evidence again. \

A party of New Plymouth vocalists on their way out to Waitara on Tuesday night to assist at the Presbyterian concert, had an unpleasant experience through one of their horses out of the pair in the buggy falling, and capsizing the vehicle. The occupants, to the number of five, all came out, but .none were much hurt, though a good deal scared. The Jjorso had its knee iojured. A fresh turn-out was borrowed, and the singers arrived at the hall about 8.45.—Mai1. ' ,

Mr. Pederson, who owns a farm on the Mangamaeho road, and who' has a residence in Waitara, was discovered on the Urenui bridge on Monday in an unconscious state (states the Mail). He was picked up by a motor car, and brought to his home He lias been' unable yet to give a coherent account of what* happened, but it is surmised he was thrown out of his gig. Dr. Campbell, who was called in, found that he was suffering from a slight concussion of the brain.

There seems to be a continual spying going on in the Government departments (says the South Taranaki correspondent of the Wellington Times). If one travels by train from Hawera to New Plymouth one has to produce his ticket nine times to the guard, and threedays out of four another nine times to* an inspector. No wonder there is a shortage of youths for public departments. No* lad of any independence likes to have somebody dogging his; heels and spying on him. The tramp over the hills to the sea. and then along the shore to the stranded Indrabarah has a very encouraging' effect on the appetite. Such must have been the case with at least one party on Sunday, for written 011 a piece of paper attached to a motor-car, was tobe seen the following message to theowners of the car:—"Ladies and gentlemen, having had. a long walk, and being hungry, we looked into your car,, found biscuits, and ate them. Thanks awfully! Indrabarali!

At the last meeting of the Moa Road' Board a letter was received from the Advances to Local Bodies Department in reply to a request for a loan of £3OO, stating that it regretted the loan could not be granted, owing to the tightness of money, and suggestinjg that the Road Board should apply for the loan to the Public Trustee, who had funds for investment. This the Board accordingly did, and in reply received a short note suggesting that the Board should apply to the State Guaranteed Advances Office for the loan required! A curious motor accident happened on Sunday evening in Oxford Terrace, Christchurch. The car was running along the roadway at a smart pace, when suddenly the wheels became locked in some way. the result being that the ear charged through the fence guarding the river bank, down the bank and into the river, By means of a block and tackle and a squad l of men, the ear was hoisted out again. There was only the driver on board when the mishap occurred, and he fell into the water. That was really the only inconvenience he suffered.

The billeting of twelve hundred 1 Dunedin school • children in Christchureft (says the Lvttelton Times) should suggest to the educational authorities i the Adoption of a system of school visits such as has been applied in some parts of America and Europe. Why should not a hand of Christchurch children go to Dunedin, not to see a warship, hut to make the iic<|uaintance of the southern town and enlarge their knowledge of their own country? A weclome would not be lacking. A scheme of this kind might be extended very widelv to the young people of New Zealand. The shield presented bv the Taranaki "District Fire Brigades' Association for competition annually as a points prize is a beautiful piece of work. It consists of a circle of solid silver. On the upper portion of this Ift. Egmont stands very prominently, the snow line being clearly engraved. Below this appears in clear lettering, "Taranaki District F.B. Association," and underneath there is the Dominion Association's badge of shield® containing the national badge, a branch* man hose in hand) and crossed axes, surmounted bv a helmet. A laurel wreath' surrounds it. The whole is mounted o* oak. Medallions are provided on which the names of the successful brigades wilt he inscribed. The first medallion is adorned with the names of the ITnwera, Stratford and Fitzroy brigades, who tied" for the prize at the meeting last year. The shield will he competed for probably, at Waitara next vear, and after that the competitions will he held bienniallv. The shield was designed by MY. T. W. Rol?ton, of Tiurlewood, president of th 4 Taranaki District Fire Brigades' Association. and the workmanship was execntei by Mr. Maetzig.