LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 150, 20 November 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There is a bread war at Okato at present. Bread is being retailed there at 7d cash and Sd booked for the four pound loaf.

A resident of Gisborne, who made reference to the late Lord Roberts in a derogatory manner recently in the ■ttroet, was promptly knocked'down, by a bystander.

In the Supreme Court, on the motion of Mr. Quilliam (Govctt and Quilliam) probate of the will of the late Walter ' Black lias been granted to Mrs Elizabeth Black, the executrix named in the will.

''l believe that for cheapne33, .quality of food, attendance and all round I efficiency, the hotels of Nevr Zealand 'cannot be beaten, indeed, equalled." So | said Dr. Leatham at the New Plymouth I Tourist and Expansion League meeting len Wednesday night. He added that New Zealanders had to travel to appreciate this fact.

An Australian, who has returned to Sydney after three years' service with American Bureau of Agriculture at Manila, declared that Japan was getting a large amount of trade which Germany formerly had with Russia, and also with China, and not only that, Japan, was fully cognisant of the German trade which she might pick up in Australia. She has already patterns of German manufactures sold in the Commonwealth, and she was already receiving some good orders. "But in the eastern seas," said he, "Japan has dealt the German trade a terrific facer."

I "For sporting facilities we in New I Plymouth are wonderfully we'll off," re- ! marked Dr Leatham on Wednesday I evening, at the Tourist and Expansion [ League meeting. He contrasted them I with those in England. He knew a man in London who to play golf had first to pay £35 subscription, travel a good distance- and pay all etcetras. Last year he. calculated his golf cost him over £5 a game. In New 'Plymouth they could get their golf very cheaply indeed. In other sporting respects' too, the town was wonderfully well off, and for the holiday maker it could not be beaten.

' Mr. ,C. Jury ; of Tikorangi, had the misfortune tj low a horse on Tuesday in rather a remarkable manner. T'he Waitara Mail states that lie had tetheied tho animal near a few hives of bees, and afte>- it had heon there some time it was worried by the bees. The result was that the horse made frantic efforts to get clear, and in doing so upset a number of hives. Then the attack began in earnest, practically the iwhole colony setting on to the horse. Several neighbors endeavored to do what they could to get the victim of Hie bees away, but they, too, were attacked. The final result of the occurrence was that I the poor animal wafe so much stung by I the bees that it died.

I "It was difficult to obtain a passage from London to New York after the war broke out, as there was- about 100,000 Americans stranded in London," remarked Colonel Charles Evans, C.M.G., ComImisioner of Railways in Queensland, to a n Auckland pressman on Sunday. Colonel (Evans arrived by the Niagara from Vancouver, after having been engaged in the study of several railway systems of England and tiho Continent. Millionaires, ne said, were reported to have paid high [figures for steerage passages from England tothe United States. Three special trains, crowded with passengers, were utilised to convey people from London to Liverpool, to join the Olympic. (The scene on the arrival at the wharf a Liverpool was almost indescribable. The steamer was moored in the Mersey, and ! the passengers were taken out to her in lighters. 'Most communities suffer more or less from the affliction of a certain proportion of undesirables, and New Plymouth is among the number. There are some i of the meanest of petty thieves and I wasters in our midst, and as a consequence cricket balls, cricketing joots «iid running shoes have been abstracted from the New Plymouth club's locker I at the Pukekura Park shed; the rosebed ] ' at the park lias been robbed and damaged, and depredations committed at Aotca, where considerable damage was ■done. The, detection! of the oulprits. may be difficult, but it is only a gucsj&fflLftl, time, .and then a severe .penalty '

I A large number of German merchant J steaaiora luvo bean interned at various ■Australian porta,'by the Commonwealth ; | authorities, and it has ibeeu proposed ! tkat toas of these vessels be maimed fcy Bntiak officers a»d crowo and used to earry e»rg)e3 from Australian to •tier ports. One captured steamer »«m.;d tlfe Turai will shortly visit New j Zealand. This vessel is at presemt »t J Sydßey, where she was detained on Au!gast 16th, and ahe is now loading j trushipment -3argo iron* tho Common,we«Uh and Dominion liner Port Macfluarie,, from London, for Auckland, Najpier, »»d "Wellington. The Port Alae- • quarie was to have com o on to the ports named, but was taUccn over by the authorities for other purposes. Her cargo for tlie three ports amounts to about | MOO tons. Tho Turul is expected to j arrive at Auckland early next week. "For all tho years I have been here I have never seen things so dry for this time of the year," remarked a proj'Cninent dairy farmer, of Gisbome, to a reporter. "If we do not get rain soon, I believe the dairying season will be ■closed down at th? end of the year." j He went on to say that water and feed were very scarce, and the crops were j poor. In many instances the oats were 'about eight inches high, and vet the j heads had formed. ,Of course they woub i get the oats all right hut there wouid jbe a scarcity of chaff. In his own case, |«at crops which were 4 feet 0 inches -high at this time last year, are only ! about 18 inches 'nigh this year. He | <nd not think it would be worth the expense of cutting, so would turn the K'ows on to it and get what benefit waß to be derived out of butter. A sitting of the Arbitration Court [was held in New Plymouth yesterday, 'composed of Mr. Justice tStr'inger, Mr. W. Scott (Employers' representative) and Mr. J. A. IMcCullough (employees' representative) who heard the case in which. James Eielly (hotel porter) claimed damages against Mrs. Abbott in respect of injuries sustained while working on her farm at Whangamomona, which resulted in Siis right leg siavin.» jto be amputated. Mr. Johnstone appeared for the plaintiff, and Mt. Blair j (with him Mr. E. S. Rutherford) for j the defendant. The defence wa,s a total |' denial that plaintiff had ever been cnj Raged to work on the farm, and that | he had gone- there with a son of the- | | defendant and that they were merely • filling in time waiting for a contract. It was also denied that it was at the behest of Harold Abbott that plaintiff submitted to medical treatment, or that Abbott had ever said anything to Oiim ahout insurance. In summing up, Mr. r Justice stringer said it wa9 one of the f/most unsatisfactory cases so far as the j evidence of both plaintiff and defenI dant was concerned, that the court liad ■ 1-ad to deal with. Tho court held that plaintiff had failed to establish em-

plovment by defendant, and therefore | judgment was entered for defendant. i', "Where is "Aotea?" It is, one of the most i charming pieces of native bush within easy reach of New Plymouth people. It is a valley, protected from inroads of stock, sheltered, absolutely from the winds; a restful spot, clothed with verdure of all kinds and «ontaining wondrous specimens of fern and other growth. In and out and round 'about the shady dells wind many pretty pathways, here dipping deep into the shadows Vhicfo throw into relief the goldfish in sequestered pools, there- emersring upon a tiny headland which affords a charming vista across tho top 3 of fern and tree and flower. Follow the paths to the brink of the Henui river, {and there opens up one of the prettiest I sylvan scenes that eter delighted the | eye. There are seats in plenty in shady j nooks; tiny waterfalls and millet's which .meander through the undergrowth jand in odd places catch and reflect the j lays of the afternoon sun. There i 3 the Maori whare, nestled amongst glorious pungas; and there are beds of sweet-smelling flowers. "Aotea" is not far distant. It is in the borough, on the Avenue road just beyond the racecourse sine! is owned by Messrs Sole j Bros. These gentlemen have kindly offered to throw these 'beautiful grounds j cpen to the public on Sunday afternoon. ' and the visitors will he treated to music by Mrs. Woods' orchestra and the citizens' band. 'Ladies will take up a collection, and the proceeds are to be handed over to the East and West End beach improvement societies. It is expected that there will be a large gathering at "Aotea" on Sunday.