LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 194, 14 February 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Bank of .Australasia intend to erect line new brick and stone buildings in Palnicrston. Entries for all classes for the Taranaki! Agricultural show, to held on Febuary.: 25. and .26, close with the secretary, Mr. A. L. Humphries, at 9 p.m. this evening. Good progress is' being made with the Lake Coleridge hydro-electrical scheme, and it is expected that the power will lie supplied in Christchurch somewhere ivbout May or Juno next. A house at Epsom (Auckland) is being built out of timber from motor-ear eases. The Road Board does not approve of this action, and has referred the matter to the Public Health Department. '

, Intending patrons of the Royal Artillery Band's concerts are requested to note, that the evening concert to be held on Thursday next will be in the Theatre Royal, not in the Coronation Hall, ; as previously advertised, and that the prices will be Os, 4s, and 2s. The London Times recently published another special number, this being devoted to the Pacific coast, its past, present and future. Like its othar special numbers, it is a woivierful issue in every way, and as an instance of journalistic enterprise lias probably never been equalled in any part of the world. •■i.'i'.-vLi

The Willard Day picnic in connection with the Women's Christian Temperance Union will be held at Mr Skitrop's (Mill Road) on Tuesday next, wJien all members and friends are cordially invited. Milk, tea and sugar will be provided free. If the weather is unfavorable, the picnic will be held in the Hood Templar Hall. An inquest was opened yesterday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., district coroner, into the circumstances surrounding the death of William Herbert Fenwick, who was drowned while, bathing on the Fitzpoy beach on Thursday. After evidence of identification had been taken, the proceedings were adjourned until 11 ■ a.m. to-day. . As a milk cart from Messrs Marfell Bros.' dairy was rounding the Bank of New South Wales corner into Currio street yesterday morning the axle broke, releasing the left hand wheel.. Luckily the driver was not thrown from his seat and was able to keep control of the horse. Beyond the broken axle no damage was done. A Cambridge resident claims to have a rival—or rivals—to the goose that laid the golden eggs. ; He has kept record of the v egg production of a pen otf eight black Orpington hens for twelve months, from February 3, 1913, to February 13, 1914, and the remarkable aggregate of 2232 eggs is arrived at, giving an average per hen of 279 eggs. These figures show a return, at one penny per egg, of £9 6s for the pen of eight hens.—Waikato Independent. As evidence of his lack of knowledge on the subject of the growth of the moustache, the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, remarked in the Supremo Court at Wellington that he had the unique experience of never having had a razor on his face in his life. According to the foreman of the jury, the rata at which a moustache grew "all depended on the men." Personally he could go...without a shave for a week and would still be termed clean-shaven. In fact he would show no more growth in a week than many other men would show in twelve hours.

A very pleasant gathering took place in the East End Bathing Pavilion oa Thursday night, in honor of Captain Fred Wainhouse, at present a pilot in the *orviee of the Auckland Harbor Board, and in his younger days one of the most popular of the "hoys" of the East End. Mr. P. J. Flannagan took the chair and a pleasant evening was spent in the discussion of a short toast list, reminiscences, and musical items. Mr. W. Hendrichs kindly played the accompaniments, for which he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

The art union organised by Mrs C. W. Grant, of. Hillsborough, w'as drawn last night :iry His Worship the Mayor and, Mr J. It Sinclair, prizes being awarded in the following order of value" V. H. Frost, Westown, 103; Mrs. K. B. Bishop,' Hursthousc Road, 'flaururutangi,,B74; Mrs. 0. Hammosd, Devon Street, New Plymouth, 106; G-: D. iSkclton, Smart Road, Fitzroy, 71; B: Room, Kelson, 309; R. C. Bishop, Hillsborough, 63; Mrs C. Hamblyn, Henwood Road, Bell Block, 933; 0.P.H., 222; Peter Martin. Nile Street, Nelson, 807; F. Thomas Nelson, 413. : '

The parents of the boy scouts whom Major Sandford recently took with him to Auckland assembled in Mr R. J. Deare's premises hut night to make a presentation to tho major, as a slight token of their gratitude for tile enjoyable and instructive holiday which the ! boys have had at his hand's. The pre 1 sentation,. which took the form of a large framed and embossed photograph of the troop as they returned to New Plymouth, was made by Mr H. Smart, with a few appreciative remarks, which' Mr Dearu endorsed. . Major Sandford suitably responded, and also gave some interesting details of the trip and of his ideas on scout work generally. Very few people have taken advantage of the fruit order scheme, introduced by the Postmater-Gcneral on January 1, 1913, by which supplies of fruit may be ordered through the medium of the Post Office by means of an order coupon, the charge for which is 2d. including postage. In mentioning' Ilia scheme to a New Zealand Herald representative, Mr. Rhodes remarked that during the last quarter of 1913, only eight coupons were purchased, three at Wellington and Napier, and one at Nelson and Wanganui. During the three months ending August 31, the number of coupons purchased was twenty-three. Mr, Rhodes said that the Department had made arrangements for the exhibition of fruitgrowers' price lists at post offices, but the growers had not shown any desire to utilise this means of communication with consumers. Although at certain of the larger towns where the Railway Department has a cartage contract orders would he delivered to the residence of the purchaser, the scheme hail not developed as had been anticipated.

Mcssiw. H. Collier and Co. have just received an order from Messrs. John Fuller and Sons, Wellington, for an upright grand lirinsmead piano for use in their new His Majesty'* Theatre, Wanganui.

It is stated that there are at least nine families living in tents at Tauma--I'iiimi, because they are unable to get suitable housing accommodation. The amount to tin- credit of the Civil .Service Superannuation Fund in .laHilary was f584,.->;U lis, an increase during the year of £ll2,3o7.—Press Association.

A fuuetle notice intimates that the Taranaki Letterpress. Lithographers an 1 Machinists' Industrial Union of Workers has applied for cancellation of registration.

The Patea Freezing Works, recently destroyed by lire, are to be rebuilt (if concrete at once, providing arrangement* can be made for obtaining from shareholder* additional capital.

Patea town went solidlv for the £BO,OOO harbor loan on Wednesday, registering Lw votes for and only seven agaiiHt. The poll Was carried by a majority of 15fl votes, so that Patea can almost say "alone I did it." The Emperor of Austra who some years ago sent eight chamois to the New Zealand Government, has noiv further presented one buck and two docs, which left Fiume just before' Christmas in the s.s. Tlniral for New Zetland, via Sydney.

The Wairarapa Age says it is not anticipated that rabbit poisoning operations will bo extensively carried out in the Te Wharau district this season, owing to the growth of grass. The rabbit pest is, however, not nearly so troublesome as in past years.

'i he annual field day of the 50.1,1 Taranaki Bee-keepers' Association wis hi', at the apiary of Mr F. C. Bainex, iV Roti, on Thursday, and was attended by about 70 people. The Government inspector of the Auckland district, Mr O. V. Westbrooke, was present, also the secretary of the National Association of Bee-keepers, Mr Brickell. Mr. F. Pirani, chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, put up a record on Saturday between 2 and 5 p.m. He cycled (push bike) to Hiwinui, some 12 miles from Fcilding, and a considerable part of the way uphill, in 50 minutes, was hospitaly entertained at lunch by the residents, competed in the 100 yards married men's raco from scvat"'i, and only missed first piuee by inches, made a speech on cducut'o.i, prosei'tcl the prizes, had a chat with a number of old friends, cycled back to Fcilding by 5 o'clock, and ended up by playing fives'ts of tennis.

While fishing for eels at the Poknka Falls, Moawhango, on Thursday morning, a Maori named William Kingi received at onco the surprise and shock of his life (says the Taihape Times). His line had been in the water for some time, when a sudden strong tug nearly pulled him ixto the stream. He was frightened, but with determination he hung on like g-rini death, and, after a hard struggle, succeeded in pulling a monster eel on to the bank. The "tuna" turned the scale at 18>41b. It is said to be the largest ever caught in the Moawhango river. A correspondent of the Waikato Times wires from Wellington:—l have been informed to-day upon what may bo considered unimpeachable authority that prior to the meeting of Parliament about the last week in June, the Government will make several appointments t* the legislative Council. Thero will probably be two from Auckland and one from Waikato. The names of the new nominees were given me in confidence, so that I ani not in a position to divulge them, hut so far as thu Auckland province is concerned all are recognised as staunyh supporters of tho Government. A Christchurch medical man said that the public could not realise how very important and serioW » matter infant paralysis was. It was not a notiflabUs disease like scarlet fever, but it was really a far more serious disease than many which were compulsorily notifiable. He would go almost as far as to say that he would prefer a child Btrieken with infantile paralysis to die, because even if it recovered it would be permanently disabled «r crippled. If a single ease were reported, say, in Kaiapoi, it should be isolated; but if two cases occurred, then the schools should be closed at once; and, further, children shonld be absolutely prohibited, in such event, fwm gemg to picture theatres.

The most surprising feature of Shackleton's plan to cross tho South Polar continent, is his proposal to march at least 1000 miles, and possibly 1700, without the aid of depots of food. So daring a scheme has never been attempted before. The usual plan has been' to make a depot every 70 miles or so, and no other polar expedition has ever tried to carry enough food for the whole journey. Shackleton said: "I know thai many people say it is not possible, t say it is, and I am going to show that it is. For the last two years I liave been working it out down to the last ounce of food, and so far as I can sec there is no reason why we should not do it. We will start with 120 dogs and about 12,00011) of food, and as we go along the dogs will eat each other, and by the time we reach the Pole or thereabouts we shall probably be reduced to fifty dogs and six sledges. That equipment will sec us through the 700 miles or so that will be still in front of us. In, working out the equipment I have allowed ten days for delay by blizzards." • •■■ . t7f»>i!