LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 27, 22 June 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Exception has been Odicn by the New Plymouth Fire Hoard to the practice of smoking in certain public buildings, and Hi. Borough Council will be asked to prohibit it. The Guvenimoiit ha* decided to use th. new petrol-electri,. <-,ir for the Alanawatu suburban service There is an excellent field for such a cur in Taiumiki, where the train m<i vices are scandalously inadequate. The Minister for Railways (the Hon. W. If. Merries) has m.filicd the Turnnaki County Council that ho has instructed tibo district .engineer for railways to report on Din- condition of the Waiwakaiho bridge, ns requested by the Council, as soon as : It ia fairly commonly thought that a h:-rbor dredge must occasionally raise things which it was not built to bring to tiie surface. Thy other day the diedge Whakariri produced fnem one of the berths at Woßinglon a heavy anchor. Luckily, 'the unusual find did not damage tin) niot'bine.ry of the dredge. At the meeting of the Now Plymouth Erobherhood yesterday, the speaker was the Rev. T. 11. Rosevcaie. He delivered ar. address on "Is the Bible the Word t of God," which was published in our columns on i previous occasion, and secured an attentive and 1 appreciative hearing. The New Plymouth Fire BoaTd lhas decided to approach the Borough Council with the object of getting direct telephonic communication with the waterworks, instead of the present unsatisfactory system of telephoning from the electrical 'engineer's residence, whence the missagc Ims to pass through tho power station to the reservoir. We are asked to "stir up" the police regarding the congregating of idlers on the footpath under the Criterion Hotel balcony. Two ladies, who 'have made this request, slate that bhey 'have not been able lately ti> pass this locality without hearing offensive language. The police and tho. hotel owner, concerned may be able to obviate what is a decided nuiaanca.

Tho price of land is rapidly rising, both in town and country. The Aiucklana newspapers give particulars of land recently sold in Queen street, Auckland', for £770 per foot, oar £O4 pox ir.cih'. The purchasers were Mr Felix McGuire, lately residing in Taranaki, and Mr -0. J. Sh'aw, oi Mt, Eden. Mr McGuire has extensive interests in A«cltland city and the Waikato. • Tho Eltham Argus says: "It is rumored that efforts are being made to induce Mr Claudo Weston to stand for the Taramaki seat in the Liberal interest. He is well known, exceedingly popular, has a most courteous and attractive bearing, and if ho should stand the chances a.re that he would win the teat with ease. He has tlhe goodi fortune to be as well liked in the country as he is in tflij town of New Plymouth." Mr Weßton has, we understand, definitely declined nomination.

A motorist called at the News office last evening and said he wished to compliment tho local bodies concerned upon the excellent cond'ukm of the main roads around New Plymouth, and condemn tho Borough Council for w'liat lv> described as the shocking condition of some of the main roads of tihe town. The latter he described as veritable "man traps." Certainly our town roads leave much to be desired at present. S&tec of them have gaping holes in them that spell disaster to anyone unfortunate enough to drive into them.

Mr J. B. Oonnett, chairman of the Harbor Board, wishes us to state tlhat bis reason for recommending the extension of the wharf by 200 feet at the ■tiiwj tho lo.iji versus the short wharf controversy was on somo years agp, was that it wculd have avoided: much of the hard dredging that has tad to be done to provide the present deep water berth. As for bringing the end of the wharf too noir tho breakwater and endangering its stability, :w was feared by other mombefs of the Hoard, be claims this wionld -lot have been the case, as ihe and the then harbormaster took careful measurements, as a result of which it was found the end of the wharf would 'have been well oleiw of the breakwater, and would lm.ve allowed of two good inside berths.

The dispute between the Citizens' Laud Committee and the members ol

the band reacted on Saturday in a third party in a rather unfortunate manner. Tiie cadet band, known as "Dallohey's hand," wlhich las been organised by two officers of the Territorial force, to raise funds for the establishment of bands for tho Senior Cadets, arrived in New Plymouth far the purpose of giving a concert. Sergt.-Major Dalliuger had, previous to the kind's setting out on its tour, circularised the bands in the various towns in Taranaki, asking for support en tho occasion, of this band's visit. The XI. Regiment Band Agreed to help, hut when "Dallohney's" band arrived they were informed that owing to the dispute the New Plymouth band could not play, and consequently the concert tad to be abandoned, as "Oallohney's Band" had depended on their assistance. Scrgt.•Major Dalliuger explained to a News representative that it was no fault of J.-is or his band tb.it the concert did not take plaje, as lie had received no notification of the hitch. At the Kawbia Court on Thursday (states the -Settler), Thomas Francis Howard, Charles McP.obie and Charles Herbert Jackson were, charged "that on the 11th of June they did travel q» the 3j3. Claymore from Waitara to Kawhia without paying tkeir fares and with no inte.it to pav the same." Accused all pleaded guilty to the charge. Mr. A. 12. 1-miglcy, representing the Northern S.S. Co.,' sin ted that there was no wish on the part of the Company to pre*i unduly for the money, and hoped Hie men would have u. chance of paying the Court oqu uses. Howard said lie was a compo'Uor. and regretted having done a foolish action. Mcßobie .■tated flhat he had never bad any difficulty in procuring work., and asked that they might 'have: au opportunity oi earning sufficient money to pay the fine. The Bench ordered the accused to pay fl each for fare-, and a fine, of ss, or in default three dayif imprisonment in Kawhia gaol, Hie warrant being suspended for 21 days. GREAT MIDWIHTER SALE.

From Saturday. June i'X to Saturday, July 11, tho Melbourne, Ltd., will hold their gigantic -Midwinter Tlargain Sale of special clearing and "job" lines purchased at huge reduction?, from Home and colonial manufacturers and warehousemen. Come and sample these extraordinary bargains:-Men's all-wool Crimean shirts, 4/11; lovely silk wideend ties, 1/-; best tapestry carpet bedsides, 1% yards long by %-vajd wide, 3/6; men's flannel undershirts, i/i) wen's winter neglige shirts, 3/6; ladles American shirt Houses, with detachable collars, 2/1.1; ladies' umbrellas, 2/11; men's brown felt hats, fashionable shape, 3/0; men's bordered mercerised handkerchiefs, 3 for 1/3; boys' telegraph coats, 6/11; boys' strong flannelette shirts, 1/5; and a host of other equally , asto-anding bargains. '

There is considerable unemployment in Auckland at present. It Is staled' that ove r HlO men are kc 'ping in daily t«ul: with the O-ovcriiiuciii; labor bureau. To show how quickly the flood waters rose at Makauri, near (Jistfornn, recently, it may be mentioned that a man wan sitting milking cows on one of the dairy farms, when he found the water, which Ue at lirst took to oe surface water, rise over his boots, lie at once gave the alarm, but before the cows could be moved to.higher giuund they were almost up to their shoulders in water. The population of liie four cities :u the end of May is e.-iimatod to be as follow.-,.—Auckland, U;i.;i34; Wellington (not incOiidiiig IVtom-), 74,70*1; Ohristchurch, 8.~),!Md; Duiu-din, (>S,(W4. The honor of being the llfth town of New Zealand is still held lainy comfortably by invercargill with a population of 15,U85. Next in order come: Wangsinui, 13,!)Sa; Timaru, 12575; Palmerston, 11,071; Napier, 11.d.i0; (lisbonie, !)(>0<); Nelson, 8505; New Plymoutn, 7«35; IVtone, 7214.

The tender of Mr. K. A. MacPey (Hawera), of £BSO, for the erection of a pos-t office at Okinawa, has been accepted. Following were the unsuccessful tenders:—Gibb and Mills, 'Kltham, £857; A. 15. Burrcll, Hawem, £!>]!>j Jones Bros., Jlawera, £130; If. E, Lloyd, Manaia, £O6O 12s; 11. W. Lewis, Hawera, f!)!l7; F. Lundon, Wlutngtunomona, £1050; M. A. Hyun, Munaia, fioGG; Ma-ba and Takinga, i'tratfwd, £Hf>o.

Mlasterton youths 'have been making from three to four shillings a day of late by collecting vinegar (!) bottles from public reserves and private houses. It is remarkable how mudhi vinegar finds its way. to tihis town! —Agio. On a recint evening a ro-ident of Sydney street, Petone, hearing a noise in the back yard, investigated and found that some stranger wsis in the act ef dropping over the fence. It transpired after that the intruder had been pilfering coal. This] is ia pceuSia-r worlds One is. struggling for justice, and another w fleeing from it. One man is Having up money to build a house, another is trying to sell his for less than cost 'to get rid of it. One man i<s spending all his surplus cash on the girl ihe hopes to make bis wife, while -his neighbour is giving all tho remaining gold iu ihis possession in endeavouring to secure a divorce. One man escapes all the diseases that fie-sb is heir to, and gets killed in a railway collision. Another passenger ••' recovers hfci equilibrium without a swatch, and diet; from whooping cough. One man stalk off his creditors and goes travelling, while another pays hip debts and stays at home. Just sixty years after her first launch into the waters of the Clyde, the Wanganui trader Stonnbird came off the Wellington patent slip recently after h,er annual overhaul, "ready for another year's work. The S'oormbird has had a nttable career, and is believed to be tho oldest vessel in commission in the world. Built to act with another small steamer, the Wonga, Wonga, as tender to two liners for Sie then projected Melbourne-Panama service, the Stormbiri came out to Melbourne from tho Clyde under sail in 116 days. The Panama project failing, she was ongaged in the Mel'bounie-Wefitwort service, and subsequently entered the New Zealand coastal trade.—Prefia Association.

The Christchnrdi Sun man is ever so unlucky a.-, he Chinks himself. Some days ago a man was arrested for a minor offence. At the cell* tflicy discovered that he was suffering from a poisoned finger, which had been neglected entirely. IHs whole arm was in danger. The po'ice saw that ha received medical attention. Two fingers were amputated, and to-day the man can rejoice in the.-knowledge that his original fat-H saved him his arm, if not 'his life."

The bowlers of Tawmrunui Sudd a ball a few evenings ago, at the tennination of which i'. was found that a large supply of daiuty eatables had not been consumed. These were to have 'been used for a children's fancy dross ball, out in the early bourn of the morning .some uninvited guests found jwre. j » to the deserted banquet hall and cleaned up the dishes* as effectively as an Egyptian swarm of locusts devour every' green thing. Triiles and fruit salad*, cream ciiackers, and ''small gootds," says the local papers, disappeared down tSw capacious gullets iof the nightly marauders, and a box containing twenlc dozen small cakes, which 'had been sent in its a standby, was taken away bodily.

At a meeting of creditor* in Christchurch the other day, not only did the gathering accord its whole-hearted and practical sympathy by presenting the bankrupt with his furniture, but personal tribute was paid to the man. One creditor said Ik; had known the bankrupt for twenty-three years as a man who stuck to his business through thick and thin, another recalling his boyhood iwtociation with the man. Even the Official Assignee temporarily cast aside the yoke of sternness, and gracefully added eulogy. So unusual and warmly appreciated were the proceedings that the bankrupt, at the close, returned his thanks.

Speaking at the Woolen Mill "social" at Pctone, on Friday night, Mr. T. M. Wilford; M.P., veferred to the long hours women had to work in woollen mills, and the low rate of nay that was received by the employees generally.Under present conditions operatives receive £2 5s per week, and it is hh (Mr. Wilford's) intention lo brim; down an amending bill to repeal clause 20 of the Factories Act. A division is to he forced, and the sheep separated from the goats, thus enabling the. workers to see who their friends TeaKy tire. Mr. Wilford further -dated that the Government placed huge coiitr.'.vts with the mills iu the Dominion, -and a clause -should be inserted in each, contract that a living wage was to be paid operatives. The industry was protected by a high duty, and tins, fact .hoiild enable, the employees to demand a living wage.

A correspondent to Hie tVilding Stav wrote:—"Here ia an example of-ollicial Government red-tape as revealed to me by a friend the ot'liec day. He liad occasion to write to t-lie Head of the Agricultural Department in Wellington re certain produce. Hack came a letter a week later, statin}? that the matter had been referred to the olfi-eer in ittmrge of tile division interested. A week later the said "officer in charge" wrote acknowledging receipt of communication from Head of Department, which would be replied to in due crnir-.e.. Still a week later came another letter from the said "officer in charge" stating that the matter was referred to one of the ex-

ports. Another patient, wearisome wait of a fortnight brought the news—tho Department had none in stock. Fancy waiting five weeks to hear that the Government had none in stock!''

AFTER OTHERS FAfLKD. "I use Chamberlain's Pain Halm fw soro throats and find one rubbing relieve it," writes -Mr. T. Dennis, Hihilahi, New, Zealand. "It worked wonders when I sprained my ankle, giving me immediate relief from pain after other

liniments had failed. Chamberlain's Pain Balm has also relieved me many tiinel from rheumatism." Sold by all chenr-

Tlio peculiarities of the complaint known as neurasthenia, which is largely nervousness resulting from accident, was' discussed at the Wellington Supreme Court last week during the hearing of an action for damages brought by an old man who had met with an accident. Medical evidence was called and showed that neurasthenia was affected by pending litigation, and often showed immediate signs of improvement on the conclusion of the action. This was not necessarily due to the happy settlement of an action, but to the consequent worry entailed in remembering the accident. One doctor explained a* case where a man suffeivd ;m accident which it was thought had injured his spine, and would necessitate hii remaining in Ids bed for the rest of his life, lie received compensation as for death, under the Workers' Compensation Act. "And that man," added the doitor, "ten days later bought a business and is conducting it to-day." "That is an instance of a good recovery," observed Mr A. Gray. (Laughter). The discovery of a 'Maori skeleton wag made at the Sandhills, Hiverlands, recently under what are reported to be somewhat remarkable circumstances. A yoling man residing in Blenheim, it is said, related to some friends A vivid dream that he had experienced the previous night, in which it appeared to iftim that human remains were lying at a certain spot in the extensive deposits of sand that are a feature of the locality mentioned. The curin.-ity of his companions were excited, and late in the afternoon (says the Marlborough Express) a party proceeded to Riverlands with a long-handled shove). Directed by the diviner, they dug down at the eastern end of the ridge near the roadway, and at a depth,of about five feet found the skull and bones of a man who, judging from the condition of the teeth, was an old Maori. A Hint adze was also unearthed. Jt is said that many axe-iheads and other evidence of Maori occupation in early years have been picked up in the same locality, and in the vicinity, 'being revealed for the greater pari by ploughing operations, and that there have been not a few discoveries of human bones. The indications are that the place was a burial ground rather than the site of a battle. A few years ago a skeleton was dug out in a garden facing Main street, and, as iu the case of the recent disclosure, it was in a sitting posture.