LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 12 February 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

_ Hop-picking is expected to commence in tlio Nelson district at the end this month. The crop is light. The State Fire Insurance Detirtment has made a profit for the year of £ls- - as against £14,023 for 101-2. At a committee meeting of the North Taranaki Hunt Club Mr. N. C. Pepper*!, of Urenui, was appointed to the position of huntsman. The Mail says it is rumored in Wupawa that a wealthy resident who keeps a large sum of money in house in preference to hanking it, has been robbed of between £I4OO and £IBOO. At tho East End Pavilion to-night the East End old boys are holding a reunion and .smoke-concert in honor of Captain Fu-d Wainhouse. who is pa.ing a snort visit to New Plymouth.

An outside engineer (Mr. Chenerv Suggate) has reported on the Haweri water-tower, thrown out of plumb by an earthqimko recently. He considers that when all the concrete is in position and properly "set," the tower will be sufficiently strong to withstand all constant and ordinary strains. Hawera breathes freely again.

Paul Dufault first saw the light in a little town called Bagot, some forty miles from Montreal, the Canadian metropolis, and at a very early age developed a marvellous voice. There is no need to relate how he gradually but easily sang his way into fame. It is enough for the music-lovers of this side of the world to recall that on the evening of June 22, 1912,. ho sang his way into the hearts of a large Australian audience in the Sydney Town Hall, and the place he won then has never been lost, but has become more firmly entrenched by each succeeding appearance.

Whilst bathing in the surf in the vicinity of the Municipal Baths- at Napier the other day, Captain Cardale, of the permanent staff of the Defence Force, had a narrow escape from drowning. There was a very heavy sea on, and he was unable to get back on account of tho strong backwash. On an alarm being raised, Edgar Berry, a youth who was inside tho baths, rushed to Captain Cardalc's help. Berry went in fully dressed, and with the assistance of the life-Baving reel brought the distressed bather to shore after using considerable effort. The captain was completely exhausted (says the Herald), and artificial methods of respiration had to be used for about fifteen minutes to restore animation.

It is pleasing to note that there i* .nothing in the form of an accident to chronicle in connection with the race traffic yesterday, in which motor-car*, motor-cycles, and horse-drawn vehicles of every description participated. The systematic route regulation adopted by the Borough Council and enforced by its officials was undoubtedly in a great mea.Mire responsible for this'happy state of affairs. The only mishap occurred in the evening, and was not connected with tho race traffic Mr C. 11. Drew, when turning into Currie Street from Devon Street on his motor-cycle, collided with a motor-car. He escaped uninjurel, but the front wheel and lamp of his cycle were considerably damaged.

A correspondent of a South Taranaki contemporary states that a most daring •attempt to steal a mob of cattlo was made a few days ago. A settler had some property some distance from his homestead, in one paddock of which he tuns his dry and young stock. The animate were principally yearling heifers, and on a certain day lately were seen at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when •everything was all right. At 8 o'clock, •just as darkness was coming on, a small son of the owner chanced to be on the road, when he saw a person driving tho animals down the road. The boy recognised some of the animals, and the driver, upon being accosted, made off, leaving the cattle. Upon investigation, it was found that the gate, which was kept locked, had been remov, t ed from its hinges.

Lovers' of New Zealand literature will be pleased to learn that we are sliortl.r to. have another book from the pen of Mr. T. Lindsay Buick, whose previous works on New Zealand history have been so widely read and favorably reviewed. '*e purport of the new'bookis sufficiently indicated by the title, "The Treaty of Waitangi," and will t.ell in interesting fashion the story of hbw New Zealand became a British colony The complete details of this important negotiation between Captain Hobson, as the. representative of the Queen, and the Maori chief*, has not previously been recorded and therefore Mr. Buick's narrative of how British sovereignty was secured over these Islands should be awaited with considerable interest. The book, which will be freely illustrated, will'be published by Messrs S. and W. Mackay, of Lambto'n Quay, Wellington, and will be available about the eritt oi •March. , ,'!s,i.

The police do not often arrest a man by mistake, but such a case has occurred at Wanganui. A man was arrested on. September 14, at Wanganui, and charged with forgery. The adjourned case came on last week, when Detective Siddells appeared for the police, and stated that a mistake had been made, and he had no evidence to offer against accused. The accused appeared in person, and expressed his objection to the course that had been taken. He had been falsely arrested and detained, causing considerable loss and inconvenience to his business, and he resented the stigma put upon him. He did not blame the police in the matter, but the person who bad given thflm the initial information without thus beng able to substantiate it. The case was dismissed, the Magistrate, remarking that if the defendant were positive that the information given against him to the police were false, he should see a solicitor and obtain redress from (he instigator of the allegations. The last meeting of the Patea Harbor Board resembled a bear garden. The chairman and some of the other members of the Bourd were evidently laboring under the opinion that one of their members (Mr Barton) had gone back on them. The chairman, according to the Havvera Star, made use of language quite out of place in a public body towards Mr Barton. It was evident lie was carried away in a passionate outburst; but Mr Barton took matters mow calmly and thus avoided what might have easily ended in a regrettable incident. For a few minutes bitter recriminations were the order. Mr Barton was hotly nccusod of disloyalty to the Board and the loan proposal, and of attempting to defeat the poll. In his defence be was given a great deal of indulgence by the chairman, but members ultimately declined to hear anything further, and the sorry spectable finally came to a close after an houi' and a-half bad been occupied in a most undignified manner.