LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 21, 12 June 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A special train will leave the New Plymouth station at 11 a.m. to-day, returning at 1 p.m. This will afford visitors and others a chance of visiting the s;s. Walkure,

The Government has awarded £SOO compensation and £2O as expenses to the widow of uic late Constable Dennis Mahoney, who was amongst the victims of the Upper Hutt disaster. The farm laborers in the Manawatu district are being organised into a union. The work is being carried out by a unionist from Wellington and in due course an-award wul oe applied for.

A Press telegram states that the Timja.ru Herald celebrated its jubilee yesterday, issuing a special supplement and reproductions of the first number, and an ilteutrated collection of reminiscences of the early days. Congratulations !

There was a considerable gathering of church members and others on Wednesday afternoon on the occasion of tQie laying of the foundation stone of the Presbyterian Church in Waitara. The site of the new place of worship is in Grey street, a very convenient locality. Eightwa thousand rats 1 have been examined by the bacteriologist of the Northern District Health Office since the last cave of plague was discovered in Auckland, on May 31, 1011, and not one of them has been found to be inflicted with the disease (says the Herald).

Nine more clergymen and two laymen are needed by the Anglican bishop of Nelson for his diocese, and he cannot obtain them in Australasia. He has therefore arranged to start ion. a visit to England on August 20, hoping that the necessary workers may be available there.

For the convenience of visitors from the souUi to New Plymouth by the morning train to-day to attend the function in connection ■with the arrival of the steamer Walkure, a special train will connect at New Plymouth for the Breakwater, to enable those who care to do so to look over the Walkure before the luncheon.

D. Swanston, of Tirau, rail out of benzine when motoring about three miles from the township on Monday evening (reports the Auckland Star), and sent back for some. When it arrived and was being put into the car, a lamp was held too near, with tihe result that the oil caught fire, and the car was destroyed. The London Chronicle says, in reference to the Anti-Vivisection Bill debate. "Another remarkable utterance was that of Dx. Chappie, who gave the House the benefit of his experiences as a medical practitioner. Dr. Chappie has never spoken with more force. The wide knowledge, the eloquence, and the fire of his speedfo made a great impressoon on the House."

Sheep worrying was mentioned at the Farmers' Union meeting on Saturday morning. One member said that when in Taranaki years ag» the ihnd been troubled Iby dozens of Maori dogs worrying his sheep. He had, however, got rid of the lot by laying poisoned meat in his paddocks. Practically all the doga died off his land. He considered poison was the only quick way of getting rid ol dogs which, worried sheep. Whilst riding in a trial run of n motor-lorry on Tuesday, three of the occupants, Messrs. G. AV. llolgors, J Huso and Dcnham, were thrown out, owing to the eargo of flour shifUiur when the lorry was turning a sharp corner a couple of miles out from Waitara. Beyond a severe shaking, and .some, bruising, the men very fortunately escaped what could easily have been a serious accident, as in the ca,sc of the two latter gentlemen two sacks of flour fell on each of them.

At a committee meeting of the ladies of the Vogeltown branch of St. Mary's Sunday School, held recently, it was decided to hold a sale of work later in tho year in aid of the School Buildimr Fund, and for Un purpose a gift afternoon is to be held at Mrs. 0. Ncal's residence, Vogeitown>, on Thursday, June 18. when the ladies of the parish and their friends are invited to attend. Giffa of material or goods of any kind suitable for the sale will be gladly received. Afternoon tea will be ' provided from 2 to 5. Any visitors unable to attend in the afternoon will be welcome in the evening from 7 to 9.

The worst enemy of the native birdi; in Australia is the domestic cat that has gone wild, according to Mr. Gregory Mathews, (.he well-known ornithologist. Mr. Mathews told a Sydney interviewer that cats were spreading well over Australia, particularly AVcstem Australia, and had already made seriousi inroad|s on some of tin. most interesting of the native fauna.' "One of my collectors found cats als far out -as Tanami.

about 500 miles from the Western Australian coast,'' Mi'. Mathews said. "They are |probably taken out from settlements as kittens <by blacks, 'and when tlioy beoome well-grown tliey leave the 'Hacks' oampp and take to the bush. Tn olJher oases cats have been introduced into certain localities by whites in the vain ihopc that they would exterminate rabbits. They grow larger than the house oat. and very ferocious The Sox ia a bad enough enemy of lb,. birds, but the cat is ten times worse."

The Official Assignee held at meeting of creditors in the Courthouse at Waverley on the Oth instant, in the estate of Arthur Willis WackweH, alias Arthur Jones, farmer, Waverley, adjudicated a Dan'lu'upt. Counsel stated that Piercy Bros, had purchased Mr Jones' farm, stock, implements', etc., in February lust for £I4OO. They had paid down £3OO cash to the agent, Mr ((reaves, and 'be had sent the agreement to Air Adams, solicitor, of Paten, with his cheque for £230, and received the balance as commission. Piercy Bros, bad been given possession of the farm (a leasehold) together with the stock and implements, which were mortgaged to Mr McKcnna, but the transaction had never been completed and Piercy Bros, bad not yet obtained their title to the land from Jones. It appeared' al.-o that :i quantity of the chattel*, including mower, L.TC.C. milking machine, plontrli' harrows, drills siml other articles, were

now claimed iby third parties; a„ owners under 'bailments l or moitoage*. Jones'had apparently pjnt'pi:.-,-essinn'ofthe cheque for £230 and disappeared, his whereabouts being at present unknown, and lie was subsequently on 'March 11 last, adjudicated a bankrupt on the petition of the Stanley Park Dairy Company. Mr Sellar stated that ' Pierev Bros, now required their twin-faction completed, with due allowance to thmn for any chattels of which Jones was not the owner. The meeting wa« adjourned sine die.

Fanners wanting a separator are in■viited to inspect the "Molotte" sit the Winter Show to-day, where Mr 'Newton King, who has been appointed Bole agent for Taranald; hap a sample machine on view.