LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 115, 8 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho bUsh on the Whangamomona saddle has beea act apart for scenic '.purposes. This is the result of the eUorts of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce and 'Mr. H. G. Ell, M.P. The tost OWoe notifies that the transmission of mails from the Dominion to Austria, Austrian agencies, Gerirany, Gentian agencies and colonies, Hungary and Luxembourg is suspended meantime..

The Marquis of Lincolnshire (better known to Australians/ as Lord Carrin*ton) has given orders (states an English paper) that no rents shall be collected during the war from any of his cottages where any adult member of the family has joined the colors or volunteered for public servicev During the planting season just completed, close on 60,000 troes, shrubs, etc., hare been planted out, and over 00,000 cuttings and seedJing plants lined out by the Forestry Department of the Wallingtoh City Council on the reserves and hills within the city boundaries. A porter at Ngahaufangsi had a somewhat exciting experience on Monday evening. He was adjusting a signalwire, and turned the green light to the signalman. Immediately he was pounced upon by six men from the fort, who alleged that ho had Ibeeri signaling in •the Morso code, and conveyed to the fort. After explanation, and cautions-, the porter was released. The officers and crew of the schooner Eric, which arrived from Columbia River yesterday afternoon, were very astonished to hear on their arrival here that a state of war existed in the Pacific. The vessel loft IW-estport, Columbia Edver, on August 1, and they did not sight another boat till they reached the coast of New Zealand, and the first news that thejyi had received for 67 days was when the officials went on board the schooner yesterday afternoon. Mr. A. T. Chri&tensen, chairman of the Fatea Harbor Board, who arrived from! England by the Ruahine, concluded an interview with the local Press with the significant remark: "There is one thing I ami afraid we do not quite appreciate, and that is the fact that we are living in a paradise compared! tj the rest of the world at the present time. It is time New Zealanders woke uip to the fact and realised this to the full,"

Mr. Philip Snowden, a member of the Independent Lalbor [Party iti. the 'British House of Commons, will be in New Plymouth next week, and will deliver a lecture under tho Auspices of the Taranaki No-license League. The Theatre Royal has boen, engaged for Tuesd-ir night for that lecture, <uut should bo crowded with people to hear so noted a speaker, acknowledged as a fine jouxn.ilist, clever author, and one of England'!' bast platform men. Particulars arc advertised in our columns. Mrs. Snowdaa, scarcely less distinguished than her husband ,accompanies him, and We understand that arrangements are being made for hor to address a meeting of ladios on Tuesday after#oiOß,

At last night's ineetihg of tho I'urk Tennig Club ii member stated that he would back the clulb against any club in New Zealand; for the sumiptuousness of the afternoon teas put on by the lad ins, who vied with one another in preparing the greatest delicacies. These no doubt wera appreciated, ibut they were overdoing things, and he put in a plea for plainer and less refreshments. Other members spoke in a similar strain. One said that the ladies were spoiling the men. The latter played tennis for tho excTcise it afforded and not for the choice and varied edibles the ladies put on so liberally. He counselled them to provide plain biscuits and a cup of tea in future. Another speaker mentioned that it wa« not an uncommon thing to eeo players making healthy afternoon teas late and going straight to the pictures. It was eventually decided to limit the liouru of afternoon tea to from 3.30 to 4.45 (p.m. A trout that has been well j l<nown to local anglers for seivoral seasons was captured in the Waiwakaiho on Tuesdßiy] evening. The pool this famous fisii inhabited is the stretch of line fishing water known as the "abattoirs' pool." Mr. ... Birch was the successful angler. Every year for the past three or four seasons thia angler has hooked) this fish, but after a fight, sometimes lasting for an hour or more, the trout has always made good his escape. Tho trout was a huge brown "Jack" fish, •and on the tape-measure accounted for just on 32 inches. His weight (131bs) was! somewhat disappointing, as a trout of such dimensions should, easily hare scaled up to S&lbs. Anglers wiil be pleased to know that this fish has at last been captureid, it being wellknown that the Mg "Jack" develops cannibalistic tendencies. A fish the size of the one in question would devour every other trout in the vicinity up to one pound in weight. The trout was on view yesterday in Mr. littsc-ll's window, and attention.