LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 38, 4 July 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An endeavor is being made to promote a cycle road race in Eltham.

To-day is the Americans' "Glorious Fourth" —Independence Day. The representatives of a number of Taranaki settlers interested in Chilian lands contemplate leaving for Chili on the 16th inst. for the purpose of reporting on the prospects. The number of sheep and lambs ]«it through the Wningawa freezing -works for the past year, says a Mastcrton telegram, was 200,957, which was an increase of about GOOO on the previous year.

The new works contemplated l>y the I'atea Farmers' Co-operative Freezing Company sin™ the late fire will be commenced in ahojit (i fortnighlt'a time and completed within four months from the time of starting. The pllans of the new works show a handsome and up-to-date ferro concrete structure providing fo r the 'killing of some 160 head of cattle and 800 sheep per day. The building will be replete with every iahor saving device that can be in-stalled, and 'ihould prove a boon to farmers in the district.—Press.

The Clifton County Council recently sent a committee of itn members to EltluiM and Hiiwera counties, which have gone in for progressive methods in road-making, ]/articularly in regard to tarred surface. The chairman and Crs. Hicks and Kennington made the trip this week, and were eulogistic of their treatment by the members and ofl'kials of the councils concerned. They were taken all over the roads, and returned with a mass of information, which they wiS compile in a report and Isnhmit to their own Council at its next meeting.

Mr Arthur V. Carbines, who lias established himse'.f locally as a capable musician, some two months ago formed a Musicial Cjniedy Costume Company, with the object of giving entertainments on tihe lines of England's most popular form of entertainment, and keeping .\ T e\v Plyrnoiithities up-to-date wit'hi the latest new music in songs, concerted items, quartette,-", Mketelies, novelties, etc. In many it is years after their first production before many of the musical numbers and novelties are heard here, and this new departure should prove a delightful innovation. The company has 'been busy working up a large repertoire of new numbers, and after a few more ronearsals to er sure good combination and the presentation of programmes worthy of the stronge t sunport, they wit give their opening performance in the Theatre Royal, which is expected to be toward-, the end of Jul v. j

Some expert cracksmen Jiave been recently operating in WeCJingtonj. Mr. Thomas Osborne, Carterton's oldest resident, is 96 years of ago. He is still ha!e and hearty. The Evening Post says it is estimated in some quarters that the 'Religious Instruction in Schools Referendum will be defeated in the House 'by a two to one majority.

A Maori wiinan met foei death at Obakune on Tuesday, through being struck on the head by a flying piece of wood, during blasting 'Operations on the Ohakune-Raetihi branch railway construction works.

The statement of the affairs of the recent Auckland Exhibition has been now almost completed, some secretarial work alone remaining to be dealt with. A further sum of £2300 'has been paid into the bank, making the total amount now on deposit £II,OOO. Some time last year 'William Winter, of Levin, signed a contract to purchase a motor car from the Benson Motor Co. He broke the agreement 'by refusing to take the car when it was ready for delivery, giving as his reason that his crop bad failed. Later, Winter purchased a car from another firm. The Benwon Co. sued Winter for £2O for breach of agreement. The Magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff company for the full amount with £2 12s costs. '

An act of vandalism was perpetrated recently at the Wnihi toll-gate either as a pure piece of larrikinism or else as a protest by some irate travellers against the recent increase in the schedule of toll charges. On Friday evening last the gate was taken from its hinges and removed some two chains away, Whilst on the following svening the lamp was broken. The engineer stated that lie tod plated the matter in the hands of the police, and %\i also taken steps to fix the gate firmly on its- hinges with "dogs," so that it would not be removed without considerable noise, and which would give the toll-kepper warning and an opportunity of recognising, the miscreants. A generous offer waa made ah the annual meetiog of the Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society on Friday last, when Mr. J. H. Coleman stated that he would be pleased to give the Society another £SOO towards the cost of the new showground if the members could raise £IOOO within the next twelve month?. The Society at present owes £2OOO on the property, but they have £SOO in hand, which is to be paid over to Mr. W. Nelson almost invmedSatelv, thus leaving a debt of £ISOO, and' if the Society raise £IOOO in a year the debt will be extinguished by Mr. CoJeman'a offer. Mr, Coleman was thanked for 'his offer, and it was decided that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to consider an appeal to every member for a contribution equal to his current year's subscription.

During a discourse at the Goulburn (N.S.W.) Cathedral last week, Bishop Bartow asked, Was it a crime to be rich? "Not at all," he answered. Nothing was more commonly erroneous than to suppose that it was dnful in itself to have wealth or property. The sin lay in the selfish; misuse of wealth, and in the indifference and hard-heart-edness of many of the rich to the poor. Dives had missed bin opportunity to be kind to Lazfius, who lay at the portals of his mansion. He ('the speaker) pictured the pain of remembering lo>t opportunities. All should haw equal opportunity, certainly, tout as' for attaining equal results, it could not benot while ncn were as they are. To some was yive.i one talent, to some five and to others ten. There could be no such thing as equality in results among men.

A weka, as wicked and as wily as the worst of his species, made its home in a certain suburban area, near Ohnstchurch, a few days ago, with the result that the greatest of bird Uneven lost its head through the agency of an axe, wedded by a very irate individual who complained of having things stolen. The bird, it appears, escaped from captivity some time ago, and ever since many trifles such as food and .ornaments have been reported missing by bewildered housewives, and it is. presumed that tbey were stolen by the now dead weka. One housewife, who has not the reputation for tellin" tall stories said able first discovered the bird helping 'himself to the remains of the morning meal. He refused to budge until she had roundly thrashed 'hSm with a broom, but by that time there was little :ood left on the table.btar.

"I never saw a drunken man all the time I wa S in China and Japan," reto Sydney last week by the Montoro, e.y much anprcsted by the industry tions ''t! 1 th ° «""* East '"'>' ™- .tions The Japanese are a wonderful maT e ', 9 Bn,1 t t,, ? I they have male is astonwh.ng" h 0 lvent on _ J hey are scrupulously clean. There the .narfe of tW r ho US)B ,. One has to take ],» boots off before entering into a house, or even into the better-c lws .tearooms. The dirtiest city I ever saw them to market those things tftev 2 produce, China will become X mercial nation." e m " +l ,'' Pet( i r - : siwl y '•> impulse" will be , s,,b - IMt "< the Rev. A. B. Clappells sermon at Whiffle v Me.mori ] Church to-morrow morning. T Z m«r serv.ee will he conducted bv K(\. t, h. Olds, an,l w 1 ,b 0 f o |inwn,l l>y a communion service. ro " 01^