LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 165, 12 January 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Egmont County Council has appointed Wednesday a3 the statutory half-holiday within the- county during the ensuing year. A waste of good borough water is going on near the bathing-sheds on the beacli between the Ilcnui and Waiwakailio Hiver. A water-pipe which feeds the shower baths in the sheds has burst, and yesterday a miniature shower-bath coul«t be obtained in the open. The system of ventilation adopted for the Simplon tunnel necessitates the closing of each end. This is effected by huge canvas screens, which work automatically on the passage of a train. Should the mechanism fail to lift the screen, the engine will tear through." it like a circus performer, and no harm can -result.

The Church Chronicle states that it is the desire of the Bishop of the Province of Xew Zealand that no clergyman be married within three years of his ordination to the deaconate. The. Bishop of Wellington also desires that no marriage be celebrated in private houses, except in cases where both parties are living at least six miles from a church or churchroom.

At Bcaconsfiekl station, in Central Otago, where 21,000 sheep were shorn recently, the lead was taken by Maurcr, who competed with Zimmerle for the shearing championship a few years ago. His best) at Beaeonisfield was 210 in one day. At Campoola Park, in the neighborhood, Dan Cooper, who put up a sensational tally some year* ago, was "tlie ringer," with a top score o? 221).

About twenty new unions have been registered in New Zealand by the Labor Department as the result of the strike, and in addition there are several new unions which have not been connected with the industrial trouble. Applications are now coming in from the miners' unions. It is anticipated that when the annual returns are made up they will show a large increase in membership.

• A new system of road designation ■for the convenience of tourists has been adopted in France. Every road in the country will be given a name and a inim- , bor, and these designations will be painted upon direction posts at the road crossings and the one-lmndred-metre posts along the roads. The tourist -starting on a journey will need only a strip of figures, and he will be able to find his way anywhere. Tlie Moa School Committee's Association held its usual meeting at the Inglewood School on Saturday last. Present: Messrs Hood (Inglewood), Codd and Kgan (Dudley), Boldt (Lincoln), Thirkleson (Tariki), and Simpson (Durham). In the unavoidable absence of the president, Mr 0. Boldt occupied the t chair. Apologies were received for the absence of several delegates. A letter from tlie New Plymouth School Committees' Association ancnt a conference on Wednesday next was considered. Tlie opinion was unanimous as to the importance of the subjects for discussion, and Messrs. Boldt (Lincoln) and Baxter (Egmont Village) were appointed delegates to represent the Moa Association. Tlie secretary stated that be had received nothing definite as to train arrangements for the picnic at Moturoa, which is fixed for the fourth Thursday in February (20th). A motion of sympathy with Mr B. Stevens in his recent accident was passed by the meeting, and the secretary was instructed to forward same. There was at least one "welshev" on tho Methven racecourse on New Year's Day, and had he not suddenly cleared out on a motor-cycle the chances are that he would have got himself into serious trouble (states a Christclnireh paper). As it was, he got clear away with dividends which ho was morally, if not legally, entitled to hand over to those who had made bets with him. Another individual left tho course without meeting his engagements, and hurriedly making his way to the railway station,'sought refuge in fl. railway carriage. Wrapping himself in an overcoat, despite the sweltering ■heat, he lay back in the. seat, and, pulling his liat well over his eyes, feigned to be asleep. An irate winning investor

was soon on his trail, and, entering the carriage, wrathfully demanded ,£lr>. An adjournment was made to the platform, ■when a portion of the money was reluctantly handed over to the" claimant, who expressed his determination to have the balance, no mutter what it cast him to get it, or how long he had to wait, Tlie would-be defaulter then made his way back to a seat in the railway carriage, and the train moved off.

Pour footsore, weary travellers arrived in Darfield last week (states the Christchurch Press), armed with it-t-

axes and the usual mountaineering ■gear. Their names were: F. A. Kitchenham (firey mouth). Charles Ward (Wellington), L. Cooch and Hughes (Hokitika). .Leaving Hokitika oil Christmas Eve, they set out on a mountaineering expedition which was to extend over seven or eight days, but owing to Nature's contrariness, the time was lengthened to jnst double as long, and their plant) were upset. From Hokitika they made for Whitcombe Pass, through to Lopers' Peak, which they climbed, meeting many difficulties and a few adventures. As they neared the top of the peak, a huge ■boulder came hurling down the face. There, was no time to get out of the way. and for the moment they wcro paralysed. However, it passed between ■two of them, grazing the shoulder of one man and tearing the foot of the other. They also visited the Bracken snow-fields. One man nearly lost his life in the Wilberfore river. It was in Hood, as most of the rivers were, and while clambering along the bank he lost his footing, fel] in, and narrowly escaped being dashed against a boulder. From there they intended returning to the Coast, but found it impossible to do so owing to the roughness of the country and the floods. Their food supply had long run out, but owing to the opwi-handed hospitality received at all stations, tliey did not suffer from the pangs of hunger more than once or twice. Their plans ehnnscd, they tramped through to' Kisselton,' ■ thence via. Wliitecliffs railway to Darfield, where they parted company, two returning to the West Coast by the express, and the others to Christchurch. Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (First and Second Groups) arc notified that subscriptions will be due and payable today (Monday), at the Secretary's office, Currio Streot, from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.ra to 8 p.m.—Advt. <iet the Habit!— Buy you Photo 'lisoda from the Daviea Pharmacy,

Acres of valuable land are being washed away by the Hutt river in its upper reaches, and the River Board is growing alarmed at this damage which is being caused. Tiie river is under its jurisdiction, but owing to a lack of financial means it has got beyond control. The damage could be checked by protective works, and its next meeting the Hoard will formulate proposals for n loan lo pay foji their construction. There is no denying that one of the plagues of Australia is the mosquito, and particularly in the tropical area it has, until recently, been productive of not only untold misery to the ncw-chum, but tlio instrument of considerable disease, including the dreaded dengue fever and other troubles. Swarming in stagnant water between the city and coast, the mosquito was a pest of the most pronounced order in Brisbane until last year; but, through the labors of Dr. Elkington, assisted by Sir William MneGregor, the Governor, all stagnant water was systematically coated with crude oil, and a by-law passed compelling private householders to screen or allow their tanks to be covered with the fine wire-netting. For a time there was little, show for the work (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph), but tliis year the absence of the. post is remarkable, and if the effect .is continued there seems every likelihood of complete eradication.

Mr. J. S. Fox, successful tenderer for Hie assigned drapery stock of H. Calvert and Co., wishes to apologise to those thousand and one customers who were unable to receive the attention on -Saturday that was their due. The assistants, under trying circumstances, did their very' best, but the crush was too great f«v the floor space and thereby everyone was inconvenienced. The stock has been thoroughly straightened again and hundreds of bargains buried on Saturday will once again sec the light of day,' so that one and all can depend on getting 40s worth for their 20s. Kindlv shop early*