LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 207, 2 March 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A cablegram from Rome states that in order to avoid endangering the Pope's liealth the consistory will be held in Mar.

The Hon. Dr. Pomare, speaking at Waihi, defined a "wowser" as follows:—"A man who wears out the knees of his trousers on Sunday by praying, and the seat of his pants out by backsliding during the six days of the week."

Xt an instance of how necessary the twaluation of Napier property had become, it is interesting to note (says a local journal) that the value of the Criterion Hotel, which belongs to the Council, has been increased by 400 per cent. in the. new valuation. A resident of Hawera, Mr. Zadoni, has an interesting collection of curios, including a plate, which he claims belonged to Lord Nelson on the Victory; \i piece of polished wood from the cabin of the famous shi(p; and a snuffbox made from wood taken from the wreck of the Royal George.

Taranaki old boys of the Nelson College .will be interested in the Old Collegians' Day, which takes place at the College on March 7. The general idea is the reunion of past and present pupils, who will meet each other in cricket, tennis, shooting and fives matches, as well as swimming and track races. The official opening of the new fives court will also take place. The idea is one which might recommend itself to the New Plymouth Boys' High School, as an extension of the' prcsen' annual school sports, at which old boys generally put in an appearance. Prospects along the Wellington waterfront for the coming winter are not very bright at the present time. Even with work in full swing there is a great deal of unemployment as the result of the recent industrial turmoil, and with the natural falling-oil' in work the trouble will be made i.,11 the more acute. Many of the men who were formerly engaged on the wharves have had only very casual employment and some of them (practically "none at alitor the past three months, and it is these men, totally unprepared for the financial strain, who will feel the pinch most severely. Owing to the large importations of overseas coal, much extra work has been provided, but all these cargoes have, now firrivcd, and when they are unloaded there will be a serious shortage of work.

One of the principal features of the East End Bathing' Keservc Committee's levelling carnival to be held on Miirch 5, U and 7, will be a five-men a-sido lutr-of-war, which is already attracting mueii attention in the district. Teams have sent enquiries from Inglewood, Waitara. and sunie of the country districts, and probably 20 teams will compete. Entries strictly close with the secretary at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. This stvle of athletic competition' on a large' scale is a new sporting attraction for New Plymouth, but there is no doubt it will draw well. The competition will lie managed under the latest rules, and will be pulled on battens. ]t is to be hoped that many teams will enter from the factories, wharves, municipal employees and others in New Plymouth, and endeavor not only to enrich themselves, but also the. deserving committee controlling' the carnival

The XL. Regiment Band will play at tile East End Bazaar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday next, the slight friction between the two committees having been amicably overcome.

The East End Bathing Reserve Committee acknowledges with thanks tho following donations.—Mr. W. 11. Minos £-1 is, Mrs. Tabor .CI, Mr. I<\ Cornwall 10s, Mrs. Knu-ny ss, and a quantity of L'arbol disinfectant from Mr. Svkes.

The directors of the Patea Farmers' Co-operative Freezing Company arc meeting with a pleasing re.-ponsr to their appeal for shaves (says the Pi; tea Press). Already soma .C4UOO worth of shares have been taken up, and judging by the enthusiasm shown with regard to the rebuilding of the works, there should be no difficulty in raising at least another .t-IOOA before the canvass of the district is completed. There was a good attendance at the municipal baths on Saturday, when (1. Greiner and B. Kelly, members of the New Plymouth Surf and Life Saving Club, qualified for the bronze medallion, which entails.a severe test in swimming and life-saving methods. The examiners, Messrs. W. Lints and B. Morris, were very pleased with the work of both candidates. It is to be hoped that more will be forthcoming. A little stranger found its way into the wide world under curious circumstances in Wellington on .Friday afternoon. A lady and her husband were walking in Newtown Park between 2 and 3 o'clock, when they became aware that a young woman was in an unfortunate plight. The lady went to her aid, while the husband "sought further assistance. The services of the police matron and Dr. Giescn were secured, and ultimately the young mother and her child, a girl, were accommodated in the public hospital. At Hawera on Friday, Mr. McPhillips brought under the' notice of the Hon. James Allen the urgent necessity for commencing the Opunake railway. He pointed out that the settlers had to cart their stuff to the railway, and in addition had to go through a' toll, and the burden of the upkeep of the roads was becoming a heavy one to the ratepayers. Mr. Allen said he was not conversant with, nor did he wish to be mixed up with the routes; but the matter would shortly come before the Cabinet, and would receive sympathetic consideration.

Much interest is being taken in the five men a side, tug-of-war to be decided on the. East End beach on Thursday evening next. The following team's have already decided to compete: Moon Bros., Eire Brigade (two teams), Borough Council employees (two teams), Swinghammer's, W. Pratt's, Maoris, Francis (Bell Block), Kailwav, West End, Expressmen, and Moturoa Beachcombers. The tug-of-war will be pulled sitting down on four by two planks, these being spread to a width of 4ft. din. to allow ample room for each man.

A group of Hawera townspeople were discussing land values the other day, when one member of the party remarked that he thought the price of land was too high, and that it would have to come down (says the Star). Another said he agreed with this, and went on to explain that people who held land should be able to make something out of it. He had recently leased some property at so much per acre, but thinking it over, considered the price was too high, and reduced it to enable the tenant to get something for himself after paying his rent. Representations were made to the Hon. James Allen on his -way through Hawera on Friday by the chairman of tho Waimatc County Council regarding the abolition of toll-gates. The chairman (Mr. Phillips) said that this country had the reputation of being progressive, but when people came from other parts and .saw the toll gates they came to the conclusion that we were not so progressive as we appear. Air. MePhillips suggested an increased subsidy should be paid by the Government in lieu of tho revenue raised bv the tolls for the upkeep of main roads." The Minister said that the matter would receive the attention of the Cabinet as early as possible. A deputation of Stratford district representatives interviewed the Mini-tor of Railways at Wellington on Friday regarding the shortage of trucks for tho haulage of metal at Whangamomona. The Minister agreed to supply tho trucks if possible. The deputation was promised favorable consideration of a subsidy for the Stanley road bridge. The renewal of other grants on the Estimates will be authorised upon application with the proposals for expenditure from local authorities approved by resident engineer. The Justice Department id a i ß o moving in the matter of obtaining better accommodation for a police station at Whangamomona. The offer of a site and a house under offer has been accepted by the Department.

With reference to the point raised by Mr. D. J. Hughes in connection with »'e Harbors Amendment Act, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., received the following telegram from Mr. G. Allport, Secretary for Marine . „ Re -* >tJl mstant, section 2 Harbors Amendment Act 1912, provides that town districts within Counties which have representation on Harbor Boards are deemed to be within the county for he purpose of electors voting for "members of Harbor Boards. Under this, electors of Manaia town district would vote w,th electors of the county of Hannate West; and if Kaponga town 2»t™t» within the part oithi county of Lltham meluded in the harbor district, town electors would vote with FBI Z* ° f /''T Parts of collnt *« of fJtlmm T : vn 'l -Haweru included in the harbor district."

, Several members of the Waverlev J-own Board have at various time's transacted business with that body this, to their surprise, has been foui'd contrary to the Public Contracts and Local Bodies Act, 11)08. Further, under the town Board Act, 1008, any payment leeeivcd by a member of a town'board tor goods or business services automatically renders his occupation of a seat on such invalid, and thereby creates a vacancy. Members of the Board "ere under the impression that the law H'hich applies to borough councillors applied to them. and. therefore, did not retrain from doing business with the Wavcrley Town Board. It has only just come lo their knowledge that the'municipal law in the matter does not annlv to members of town boards, who are "«t legally allowed to receive a Unlfpemiy from it B 01l ,. (1 ~jl llor f()1 , lrf)o(]s supplied or work done. The position having been clearly defined, the whole of the members of the Board hove, in order to comply willi the law. retired It is understood that all of them wili seek re-election for the completion of the current term, which expires in September. r The Vest-Picket Kodak is the perfect miniature camera. The Daries Pharmacy have them. . , J

. Vita! statistics for Wellington during February were as follow, January figures being shown in parenthesis.—Births ISO (1«2), deaths 81 (till), and marriages 94 (72).—Press win-.

About 100,000 tons of superphosphates for fertilising purposes have been Importi'il into Wellington from Australia during the.ipas.v few months, I in; last shipment anivins,' muiic days ago. It is not likely that any further importations will be made during the present vcar.

Sharks appear to he very numerous in the Auckland harlior at the present time, and bathers at the various beaches have to be, careful. Almost every day sharks, measuring i'.i'ly JOfl in length, have been .seen in (lie vicinity of Hie beaches at Devonport. One was caught on Monday from the east side of the King's Wharf, and measured Oft Uin m length. Under the Land Agents Act it is necessary for every land agent to take out. a lirense before he is legally entitled to buy or sell landed property. So far this year 71SI licenses have been issued throughout the Dominion. They are apportioned as follow:—Auckland', 201; Wellington, 140; liawke's Hay, 42; Taranaki, 42; Canterbury. 83; Utago. 50; Nelson, 15: ■Southland," 35; Westland, 5; Marlborough, 2. , The difficulty that looms aiiead to keep up the world's beef supply is already causing attention to he paid to new countries suited to cattle-raising. Several experts have reported recently upon .Southern Rhodesia as adapted for graziers. An area of 10,000.000 acres of land suited to the growing of cattle is reported as being practically uninhabited. Two other areas mentioned are 3,000,000 ami 3,500,000 acres. These have been reported upon by Texan ranch owners, and also by Professor Wallace, of the faculty of Agriculture, Edinburgh University.

For the sixth year in succession the Raglan County Council has collected all its rates; that is, the amount due bv its European ratepayers. The total of nil rates due by Europeans was £77;!! 10s Hd, for which rate demands wore posled on August 1, 1013, and the last lot of rales paid on February 14. As to the rates due on land occupied and owned by natives, for the same (period the total rales amounted to £llß6 7s sil, and of this a sum of £B7 Is only lias been paid. In the Raglan county alone at the present time there arc some 50,000 or 00,000 •acres of land in the hands of natives, in sections of an area of from 20 acres to 1000, lying unproductive.