LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It was reported in Eltham last evening that there had been a cloud burst in the Mangamingi district, which had caused considerable damage by slips.

The usual examinations for teachers’ certificates are at present being held in New Plymouth, about 77 candidates being concerned. They include teachers from the Taranaki education district and from some other parts of New Zealand, a number of teachers on holiday having chosen to sit at New Plymouth. The examinations are being held in the Technical College buildings, under the supervision of Mr. H. Dempsey.

The latest report of the Horticultural Department, Auckland, concerning fireblight is that the disease is still prevalent in districts where local bodies have failed to declare hawthorn a noxious weed. In general respects, however, the blight is under control. It has not affected well-con-ducted orchards, but there are reports that some owners of private fruit gardens could give, with advantage, much more attention towards suppressing traces of the blight.

The Metropolitan Railway have 20 travelling inspectors “'working” their trains to catch “free travellers-.” They collect about £lOOO every month. One in every 360 people who travel on the Underground Railway is caught by a travelling inspector for not having paid part or &U of kia fare.

A first-class literary quarrel has broken out over a book just published in England by one of the younger school of novelists, in which some lady journalists are drawn from life. There’s a dispute about “who’s who,” and there are whispers of a retaliatory novel. New York boasts a 1 policeman who has six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He is John Cope. Each of his children has seven fingers on each hand and seven toes on each foot. No one in the town of Bandera, Texas, would consider this anything unusual. Every member of more than a dozen families of the hilly district round Bandera is equipped with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. The matter has been the subject of much discussion and investigation on the part of anthropologists. Perhaps the sharpest contrast offered by the slump in sheep is that provided by last week’s sales at Levin, says an exchange. Ducks realised from 4s to 5s per head, whilst some fairly good lines of mixed sex hoggets changed hands at ss. Only Is difference between a duck and a sheep for eating purposes. In Wanganui, at the mart, turkeys were a much better proposition than sheep, and sold up to 16s 6d each.

Sir William Sutherland’s researches into the hard times which followed the Napoleonic wars prove them to have been worse, if more sadly picturesque, than our own, says a Home paper. In some cases, Sir William tells us in the new number of the Lloyd George Liberal Magazine, the colliers harnessed themselves to loaded waggons of coal and hawked them over the country. Men who had fought at Waterloo were starving. In Birmingham nearly a third of the population were paupers. Men of Essex could earn only 6d a day, with wheat from £4 to £5 a quarter. From Mr. J. R. Cruickshank, of Collett and Co., we have received a copy of the London Times’ special trade supplement, dealing chiefly with industrial Wales. It is an interesting number, and shows what a hive of industry Wales is, and the importance of Cardiff, its chief port. Cardiff is the' headquarters of no fewer than 122 shipping firms owning 423 vessels, the deadweight tonnage of which is 1,533,000. The water area of the docks is 165 acres, and the warehouses can deal with 100,000 tons of goods. Ten lines of railways enter Cardiff, and the pictures of the operations in connection with the loading of coal convey an idea of the immensity of the Welsh coal trade. Wales is a wonderful little country, and the Times’ supplement shows that its people are as enterprising as they are industrious.

The population of Hamilton has grown from a little over 3000 ten years ago, to 13,798, according to the latest Gazette notice. Not only has the town showed progress in this direction, but has also created records in other respects. The building figures for the past twelve months are a very healthy indication of the progress and prosperity of the town, for no less than £186,150 was spent on the erection of dwellings and business premises, despite the restrictions which were placed on the building trade, and the difficulty of obtaining supplies. Altogether 218 dwellings were erected in the borough during the period, at a total cost of £136,845, while 72 permits were issued for business premises, at a cost of £36,708, the additions working out at £12,597. Last week (says the Dannevirke News) it was reported* that W. Higgins, of WiaitotaraP. had recently broken the world’s shearing record by putting through 372 sheep in 8 hours 24 minutes at Mr. Moore’s station at Maxwelltown. This, however, is incorrect, as Johnnie Ftoppy, a Dannevirke native, when shearing at Waewaepa station a couple of seasons back, put through 373 sheep—ews and lambs —for under nine hours’ work, but we are at present unable to give the exact time. It will thus be seen that lie beat the Higgins figures by one. On the same day as Hoppy put up his record other shearers in the gang had tallies as follows:—S. Patterson, 311; K. Hotereni, 309; R. Chase, 303; the total for the day’s work being 1296. We overlooked Hoppy’s record in the previous reference to Higgins’ performance, crediting the prior record to W. Vella, of Matamau, with 361 for nine hours’ work. He was the champion until Hoppy superseded him. The public are promised a musical treat on Saturday, January 28, when a concert will take place at the Empire Theatre for the benefit of the New Plymouth Beautifying Society. In addition to local artists, Mr. William Hay, of Victoria, has kindly promised his assistance. As he is an all-round performer lie will probably take a leading part. He is a fine tenor singer. He has lately resided in the South Island, but has been recommended for health reasons to seek a warmer climate. He may settle in New Plymouth. \

Owing to heavy rain the condition of the road will not permit of the proposed excursion to Mokau on Sunday next. The trip will be made as soon as circumstances permit, and particulars of it will be advertised. The Melbourne, Ltd., having established their own work-rooms, are now able to undertake orders for special work such as making blouses of customers’ own material, hem-stitching, and shirts, pyjamas, and ladies’ underwear, etc., to customers’ own specifications. Quality of work is guaranteed, and prices are right. "Fairy I Wonder” Dry Soap washes everything washable and cleans everything cleanable. The “Fairy Wonder” way saves coal, saves labor, saves money and saves wash wear of clothes. All grocers and storekeepers.

When Sir Walter Raleigh first introduced tobacco into England he brought from Virginia a very high-class article. To-day the high-grade tobaccos are even better in flavor, and fragrant and cool. There is not a big difference in price between special and ordinary grades of tobacco, but the difference to the smoker from a flavor point of view is most marked. We are now offering some very special mixtures for particular smokers, and wo want you to try them. You will appreciate being able to secure these high-grade brands.-—W. H. Preece, Devon Street Central. .

That corn! It aches and throbs this hot weather, and irritates you greatly. Get rid of it now. There is a whole lot of hot weather ahead, and you want foot ease/ Sore feet, because of corns, make life almost unbearable. A couple of days’ painless treatment with “Nipsem will “settle” any corn. Try it to-day. Procurable all chemists and stores, or 2/- post free from 8.A.8. Co., Box 219, New Plymouth.

Pain is an effect, and can only be banished bv up-rooting the cause. Rheumo banishes Rheumatic pains because it ousts the causative uric acid from the blood. ‘ Pain-killing preparations” cannot cure the pain—they only deaden it. Get Rheumo —2/6 and 4/6.

65. Lavender water, all sizes, still sellin«- at the old prices at H. J. Abram, the “MAIL ORDER” Chemist, New Plymouth*