LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 4, 23 May 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A street corner orator was recently holding forth as follows: "I want land reform; I want education reform; I want " "chloroform!" interjected a bored voice.

One of the oldest Wanganui veterans, who saw a great real of service, is bedridden, and General Hamilton hearing of this called on the old gentleman with whom he chatted for a long time.

On the motion of 'Messrs Weston and Weston the Honorable Mr Justice- Edwards, on the 20th inst., granted kilters of administration in the estate of the late S. F. Griffiths' ,to the deceased's father.

The Southland l Times states that the builders are busy in that town. Contracts are in hand for six buildings in tho business centre for a total of £33,000, and others are contemplated worth £7OOO more. Building is also going ahead in the suburbs.

An up country woman going recently into Clvristohurch saw for the first time an electric tram worked by the overhead system. "Well," she said in her amazement, "I've seen them worked by horses and I've seen them worked by engines, but I've never seen them drawn by a clothes prop before." At Whiteley Churcfi to-morrow, evening the Rev. A. B. Ohappell will preach on "What is Religion?" The choir will render Novello's anthem, "Call to Remembrance," the soprano solo in which will be taken by Mm okey. Graham Harvey's vsacred solo, "Crossing the Bar," will be sung by Mrs l Ohappell. "When I entered Parliament in 1894," said tho Right Hon. W.F. Massey at the farewell gathering to Mr J. Strauchon, of the Lands Department in Wellington on Monday evening, "people said I (had the blush of innocence on my cheeks. (Laughter.) Now they say I have the cheek without the innocence." (Laughter). There were over 100 farmers present at a meeting to receive uhe report o]

the provisional directors in connection with the proposed establishment 6* freezing works at Taihape. A motion to the effect that a company bo registered for the purpose of erecting a freezing works at a cost of £30,000 was carried unanimously (Bays the Post.) The clang of the firebell at about 8.30 last night was responsible for the gathering of a large crowd of ure-aeekers and two fire engines outside ,ft bouse in Cover street, occupied by a man named Martin. The only blaze was in a chimney, and the fire-caters dispersed with some celerity. The house was uf to a few weeks ago occupied by a chimney sweep. Three celebrated old-time amateur athletic champions, whose names were household words in Australasian athletic circles in the 'nineties, foregathered in New Plymouth yesterday. They were Messrs J. 11. Hempton and L. B. Webster, well-kmown townsmen, and W. A. Low, the popular theatrical advance agent. They had quite an interesting conversation on okUtime contests on the I running track. N v

Dr Paul Klager, a famous Viennese physician, declares tihat tho fashion of shaving one's moustache is responsible for the growing number of patients suffering from headaches and diseases of the respiratory organs. Among 500 cases of serious headaches and disease Of the nose he had counted 420 patients who had their moustaches shaved off

The moustache is a natural protection for the nose against thu*invasion of cold

air, dust and microbes. When riding down the coast on Sunday week a traveller observed a boat stranded on the Tapunae rocks, (says the New Zealand Herald). A closer in-

spcction revealed tho fact that it was a lifeboat about 30ft long, but there was no name visible. The harbor authorities were informed, and inquiries wero made of the s.s. Tokoma.ru as to whether that steamer "had lost a. boat when she put to sea on Saturday night, but a reply was received in the negative. Greymouth people aro grumbling at the price of meat. Rump steak is now at 9d cash, Meet Bteak lOd, roast sirloin Sd, corned mutton 7d, and. so on. Hie butchers say they cannot Qielp it; they can hardly get fat stock at all. They tell their customers that there is not sufficient fat cattle in the country to supply requirements. Formerly the Coa-Tt was able to draw upon Foxton and Wnnganui for supplies, but now, owing

to the advance in dairying, even store cattle cannot be procured from the North Island to fatten on coaat pastures. As Mr A. Peters, of Lower Hutt, was returning from Orongorongo on Sunday, driving a six-horse timber waggon, a motor car suddenly appeared before the leaders, causing them -plunge and kick the hordes behind them.The latter jumpover a seven wired protecting fence, dragging the waggon and remaining IhorseH after them. Mr Peters and a friend managed to get clear, and, fortunately, found, rnther to -their amazement, that, instead of tho whole concern rolling down the Waimii Hill into .the gully below, a frendly stump checked the fore-carriage of the waggon, and held it Past, while the six horses were partially suspended by their traces from the vehicle. Mr PeteTs immediately cut the horses from their peculiar predicament, and, obtaining assistance, the waggon and the animals were 'hauled back on to the road. With the exception of one horss gettingly slightly staked on a sharp stump, no real damage was done, but it was a close call to a very serious mishap.

There is a surplus of .labor in the market in Wellington at present, am the men out of work lire for the most part anxious to take any work that i

offering. An official of the Labour Department informed a Dominion reporter that 'lk; would be exceedingly glad l< liear of work offering in the country. Applications were bong mac to .the Department by men used to country laobr for employment of any sort, and the

men were of very good class indeed. Amongst the number were twelve dairy factory hands, thrown out of work by

he closing, of the factories for the win-

ter. Pick and shove! men for work in the <-ity were hopelessly in over-supply —three men for every vacancy—and in any case the Department ahvay.-i endeavoured to place married men resident i:i Wellington in these jobs. About twenty men had been calling at the Labor Pureau daily, and the fact of their culling regularly could he taken as evidence that they were in pretty sure straits. lie hoped to get authority shortly to send a draft of 20 men to Government works in the country.