LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Speaking of excessive ocean shipping freights at the Patea Harbor Board's last meeting, Mr. Grainger remarked that calcium purchased at £ll 10s in London cost £27 liis per ton landed in Wellington. Freight, insurance, etc., from London to Wellington cost £lO 5s per ton, against the cost of the article itself in London of £ll 10s. The 3.40 p.m. train to New Plymouth yesterday was well filled with passengers, ihe carriages being crowded. The cause nf this was attributed to the large number of Maoris travelling. At first it was thought a tangi was being held, but it was a case of Native jubilation. The wiihines were comparatively quiet, but not so their dusky brothers, who took turns in delivering harangues to their comrades. Inquiries made elicited the fact that a number of Maori soldiers of the Main Body were travelling to New Plymouth, en route to Parihaka, where they were to be welcomed by tho Taranaki Natives. Farmers whose capital is limited, and who desire to start dairying on a farm of their own, should read W. H. and A. McGarry's fresh advertisement on page one.

Reports already to hand (states the Hawera Star) indicate a very successful shooting season in the Hawera Acclimatisation Society's district. Pheasant and quail are plentiful, and some good bags have been obtained.

What is claimed to be an "unsinkable ship" has been invented by Mr. G. W. Thomas, of Dunedin, and a 10ft. model of this vesesl is at present on view there. The model is a practical example of the inventor's idea—an under&lung ship instead of the present style of block hull. Under this system the floating power comes from tlie surface, the design being to build three ships in one, so that if the underslung portion is damaged the superstructure is capable of floating by itself.

There was a good attendance last night at the meeting called in connection with the proposal to form an astronomical society in New Plymouth. After discussing matters, those present formed themselves into a provisional committee, Mr. A. H. Johnstone acting as secretary. Jt is intended to get into touch with all those in the district who are interested in the subject, with a view to getting them to a subsequent meeting, at which the society will be formed and officers elected. Good prospects are entertained of the society being well established.

The men who returned to New Zealand by the Remuera on Monday were given splendid receptions at the three ports of call on the way out. For three days the totfnspeoplc r>£ 'Newport News entertained them lavishly. During their stay at Jamaica the rankj were welcomed and refreshed at Hope Gardens, while the officers were received at the Liguinna Military and Naval Officers' Club. At Colon they only stayed a night before coming through the Panama Canal, n.nd a brief halt -vas made at Fifccaii-n Island to hand out papers, litcri'.tnvp. and writing materials, ako ? Tramarhone presented by tho Y.M.C.A.

What is claimed as a world's record '.•Ktc.h of fish has 'been roado by the Slate trawler, Brolga, which returned to Sydney a few days ago. from a portion of the southern fishinc grounds, between Haystack Rock and Eden, with u vast catch, aggregating Hl7 baskets, •■qnal to 67,0001b (nearly 30 tons). The fish was captured in waters averaging 3G to 40 fathoms in depth. Of "the catch 50,0001b was flatheaded, the remainder being gurnard, skate, barracoota, and leather-jackets. Mr Stead, manager of the State Fisheries, states that this is the greatest recorded catch for the time occupied—39 hours—in the world's history of deep-sea fishing.

Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, M.P., the newlyelected Mayor of Christchurch, was a visitor to the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting on Thursday, and both by inside and outside enclosure patrons lie was received with great enthusiasm. Acceding to a demand for a speech, he said he was the proudest man in New Zealand to be Mayor, of Christchurch. His first consideration was the soldiers and after them the sportsmen. The Doctor was keenly interested in the racing, and called for a volunteer to make a trip to the totalisator to "put a pound on Gladeye for Mrs Thacker" in the Dasli Handicap. Unfortunately Gladeye failed to perform his part of the contract, and he was beaten for third place.

With the extraordinary advance that is being made in Taranaki in the price of dairying land, there will inevitably be a cry raised for fresh valuations, a cry that the Government will be compelled to listen to. Prices of land are high in places other than Taranaki, so it is quite evident that the Dominion will be reaping an enormously increased land tax< revenue in the near future. Probably the man who will feel the pinch the hardest will be the bona fide farmer —not the speculator—who is content to stay on and work his land. If he is valued at the present time at £4O per acre, and his adjoining neighbor has sold at £BO, what defence is there against a largely increased valuation? Some land has jumped from £6O to £IOO, though valued at only £4O. It is an absolute certainty that heavy increases in land tax are looming ahead.—Eltham Argus.

In his reply to the returned soldiers tit -the reception accorded him at Auokland on Monday, General Richardson said he felt really that praise was due only to those who had sacrificed their lives in the war. Second to these men came those who had been permanently ! disabled. He was sure he and every other officer would do his utmost on their behalf. He hoped that when Sir Andrew Russell and others returned they would be given an equally cordial welcome. As a soldier, he had nothing to do with politics, and he deplored the fact that discharged soldiers in Britain had split themselves up into a number of political organisations. He disapproved of political activities of this kind. Continuing, he said the rest of the New Zealand Forces would be out of England in September. Inquiry had shown that 50 per cent, of those in England had not been guaranteed employment on their return to the Dominion. He hoped, that the men would be assisted to settle in civil life when they returned.

News from North Canterbury is to the effect that the district is passing through one of the worst droughts known for rears, and feed is exceptionally scarce. The store markets there are practically dead, while the demand for fat stock is limited to butchers' requirements. Canterbury, in common with other centres, is- suffering through lack of insulated space to ease the position in the factories and cold stores, and at a meeting of farmers held in Chrhtchurch last week the complaint was made that the district was not getting its fair share of shipping. It was resolved to make an attempt to have the Corinthic reserved for Lyttelton for Lyttelton, to lift about 150.000 carcases, which would relieve the position to a certain extent. It is doubtful, however, if the attempt will be successful, as it had previously been arranged that this boat should load at North Island ports, including Auckland. Although the northern port has got away a good (leal of meat lately, it is not likelv that it will permit the withdrawal of the big White Star liner from that nort altogether. Mid and South Canterbury are holding their own pretty well so far as feed is concerned, 'but'the down lands at the back of Oamaru (North Otago) are exceedingly dry. South of this, however, plenty of rain has fallen; indeed, there lias been so much moisture that in some districts harvesting, which was verv late, has been seriously interfered with. It was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (1) SANDER'S EXTRACT is much more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinary eucalyptus preparations; (2) SANDER'S EXTRACT does not depress the heart like the so-called "extracts" and crude oils; (3) SANDER'S EXTRACT is highly commended by many authorities as a safe, reliable and effective household remedy. Get th« genuine—insist if you have to— and be safe.

Flags on the Government buildings were flown yesterday in honor of the anniversary of the acecssion of King George V 'in 1910. The (Mayoral installation and tho first meeting of the newly-elected New Plymouth Borough Council will take place at 7.30 to-night. It was incorrectly stated in our issue of April 30 that judgment for plaintiff had been given in the Magistrate's Court in the undefended ease of L. W. Balkiud v. A. E. and E. Priest, a claim for £7 10s. The case was adjourned. A sad occurrence took place in New Plymouth yesterday morning, which came as a great shock to the friends of the Rev. J. Napier Milne, who recently came to the pastorate of Whitcley Church, when it became known that Mrs. Milne had taken her own life. It appears that everything had gone on in the house as usual in the morning, and Mr. Milne had been engaged in conversation with one of the church officials in his study- When the visitor left, Mr. Milne missed his wife from the house, and on searching ho discovered her in a trapshed on the manse property, when the tragedy had taken place. He summoned assistance, but when Dr. Blackley arrived he could only pronounce life extinct. Mr. Milne only recently arrived from England, having loft the Old Land for the benefit of his wife's health, which, it is understood, had been greatly impaired through the nervous strain caused by air raids over London. An inquest was opened before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., yesterday aiternoon, when formal evidence of identification was given by Walter Ambury, draper, New Plymouth. The inquiry was then adjourned sine die.