LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 20, 11 June 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The grading competition at the Wintor Show has been opened up, and will be made a post entry competition ,to be judged at 11.30 a.m. to-day, not at 2.30 p.m. as was previously intended.

A largo gathering of motor cyclist* representing all the motor clubs in the North Island except one met in Palmcrston North on Saturday evening, when a Motor Cycle Union for ithe North Island was formed. At the annual meeting, of t'lio Hgmont Licensing Committee yesterday, renewals were granted to Alessrs G. Gibba, Middleton's Hotel, upunake, and E. B. .Stohr, Knowles' Hotel, Opimako. Mr 0. L. Kasper was granted a license for the Rahotu Hotel.

In Ashburton at the present time says a, local paper, shooting parties are receiving good remuneration for their, bags of hares, export buyera going as high as 2s 4d a pair. Hare* are very numerous, and the recent heavy falls of snow in the high country (have driven tham towards tfhe seaboard.

Last night there was a good attendance at the Winter Show, and those presenU found much to interest tlieim in the various display* Tlio XI. Regiment Band was present, and played a programme of music. To-day w People's Day, anu, with tne special trains arranged, there should be a record crowd. A novel burglar alarm las been placed on the market in Germany, composed of a small metal disc, circular in shape, which may easily be carried in tho rest pocket It is so arranged that a, detonating cap may be inserted, and, so loaded, it becomes a terror to sneak thieves. Suppose a traveller is staying in a strange- hotel and finds that he cannot lock his door. He places a chair against the dloor, and alips tho disc under one of its legs. Should anyone attempt to enter the room the cWir is forced, out of position, the disc flies open and the cap explodes, awakening the sleeper. The disc may bo used unuer uaggage, in punses, under bicycle or automobile tyres, andi in manj other way*

Though (the Clifton County Council decided at its meeting on' Friday bliat the revised list of toll-gato charges should stand, we are informed' that the settlers 1 at Urenui, Uiuiti' and P.ukearuhe intend mtvking another effort to secure a reduction, particularly in respect to traction engines, motor-cars and trailer. Some of the ratepayers appear to think it might bo tetter if a special rate was substituted!, and, as will be seen from the report of Fnuay's proceedings, Mr. C. Musker then advocated that course. The general "opinion at Wailii is tlnat the gate sh'ould 'bo waved to Onaero, so as to catch all stock moving north or south. If that wero done, the Waihi people believe the charges could foe reduced under some heads, at any rate. —Waitara Mail.

The ovils of the party sysetni ar e increasing in virulence, and not only are tho liberties of the people assailed by it, but their privileges are being filched from them. They are being made the sport of political parties, who regard the electors as mere pawns in tho game. The politicians do not study their interests nor do they place these first, but devote all their tunning and energy to deluding the people. What benefit has the party system, as such, been to .the mass of the people? Cau any reasonable man possibly believe that there would not have been much greater advance in every way, and many more genuine reforms if the will of the people had not been defeated by party strategy or considerations of the political fortunes of leaders or partisans?—Manavvatu Times.

A practical demonstration of tiuj oftrepeated theory that sharks will not at. tack colored men uuleia Uie.y are ravenously hungry was given by Air. 11. ft Murray, the Lieuteiiant-t'oarHor's secretary, in Bipua recently (says -the Sydney Sun). Being a fast swimmer, he had challenged sonic Tort Moresby "boys" to race him for 100 yards The course scleetodi lay between the (,'overnmeut and the Burns Philip wham* at Wort Moresby, in which '-blue noses," rfwim literally in .shoals. Mr. Murray was somewhat trident about swimmin*' there for fear t..at one of the man-eater's might select him for a meal; hut'hid opponent, a strapping' young native, lomaku 'by name, merely said: "Shark no kai-kai. All time. we. pfellers swim here." ("Kai" means "cat.") But, Mr. Murray was taking no chances, and insisted that some means to ensure his safety be adopted. Tomaku went oil" to the village, audi in a very little time a horde of blackfellows descended on the port. They ran to the water and, plunged in fearlessly, making two lines of human forms from one wharf to the other, the space between the lines being about 40.c. Satisfied that the yelling and splashing of the hundreds of natives would shatter the nerves of any decent shark, Mr. Murray consented to'lbe race taking place over the course marked by tne lines of black boys. After all the preparations, there was nothing exciting in the contest. Mr. Murray won easily, and not a shark showed lu'a nose.

"It may surprise you to know that a trust, with a capital of £1O0i,O(K), was formed three yews ago by a few Wellington firms anai one Auckland Jinn with the object of capturing the bacon trade of the North Island," said Mr. ft 0. Bans at t.ie Auckland Fanners* Union Conference, in moving that the Government be urged to carefully watch the operations of the meat and other trusts. Mr. Banks added that the American Meat TniMt bad captilred the Argentine, and was loperating in Queensland, while some people thought that it had come to iM'w Zealand. The trust did not arrive with a blare of trumpet-. I'robably a man would conic along and buy existing works, or start new ones, before anyone bad time to realise licit he was a trust representative. T!i" trust which was formed to capture the bacon trade had, after a year, had enough, but if the American tnut got a footing, it would be so backed by a capital perhaps ten times the extent of Xew Zealand's national debt. It would offer high nriccs for pork, and the farmers would doubtless l desert the local companies, believing they had struck something like a gold mine. He appealed to farmers to elect none jbul honest men to directorate--* and to Par-' liament, lest the American trust should "get at them." Mr. ,T. ft Kakgil! n.d not -ee any barm in the Americans operating in Xew Zealand. Tn fael, their Irade was wanted. At (lie same time, however, the Americans should not be allowd to ge(, control of the local trade. ■Rumour had "t that the trust referred to had within the la=t few months obtained a footing in one of the (south Tslavid freezing works. The remit was carried unanimously.

Tlic North Taranaki Dairy Company have given an order for the delivery of a 1 Va-ton Thornycroft motor waggon, due to arrive about September. The waggon is to lie .used generally for the company's rt'ijuirenicnts.—Waitara correspondent. During the past season a considerable j portion of the chee.-ie. from Mr. McDonald'* factories at li'iingiotu and Bainease wa-; diverted: from the Home marketHo the rapidly increasing, South African trade. 'Practically the whole of the output from these' factories sold nine* April Las gone to fouth Africa et prices that compare more tluin favorably with the existing; rates on the Home market. Mr Kenvicte, S.M., has notified Constable Fitzgibbon that his next Bitting, on the 25th instant, will be, his last appearance on the Inglewood bench, as after that date Inglewood will ba attached to the New Plymouth circuit and will be under the, charge of Mr Crooke. The court days will also bo altered from Thursdays to Fridays.— Inglewood Record.

The- dilftculty of seeing bridges and other fixtures on a road oa dark nights lias always been a source of anxiety and danger to motorist* and others using country roads. Tfoc Wairarapa Automobile Association discussed this matter at a recent meeting and it was. decided to write to all local bodies suggesting that all bridge rails', etc., be painted white. White objects are always moro or less discernible, at night at short distances.