LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Nominations for four members of the Taranaki Education Board are called for, to be received up to Wednesday, 25th inst. Particulars are given by advertisement in this"issue. A peculiarity about the quinnat salman, says the North Otago Times, is that they do not feed in the fresh water. When they go up the river for spawning, both the male and female fish die. A showman in France has been arrested for torturing his 10-tfear-eld daughter. He was coining money at a side-show by compelling the child to walk barefoot on red-hot iron bars. Although her feet were smeared with grease, she was bally burned. The sale is reported of the 60-acre farm on the Opunake Road, well-known as- being occupied by- the late Colonel Malone. and at present-occupied by Mr F. Ranford. to Messrs Cleland Bros. A case of diphtheria was reported from Nolantown during the week-end. It was found on inspection of the house that the sewerage was blocked, and that the conditions were most insanitary, despite the fact that the building is practically new and is provided with that kind of septic tank so much favoured in Nolantown. An old gentleman who "lives a quiet and secluded life in Nolantown is almost charmed at the prospects of being engulfed in the ways of modern civilisation by an extension of the borough boundaries so as to include his cottage. "I have never lived in a borough m my life," he said, "and if Nolantown goes into the borough then I will shift further back." When Mr Cameron, of Stratford, a member of a bridge gang employed on the railway north of Patea, was rounding a corner on a "jigger" the other day he came face to face with the oncoming engme of a goods train. Jumping off the jigger, Mr Cameron endeavoured to remove the vehicle from tbe line, but it was struck by the engine and smashed, and Mr Cameron sustained severe cuts and bruises in the; leg. He was attended by a doctor at Patea, the leg having to" be stitched. A Wanganui business man mentioned to a Herald reporter that seeing that cement is being more extensively used in this district, and even among farmers for making", fencing posts, it was time that steps were taken to have the landing cost of the New Zealand product here put on a par with New Plymouth and Wellington. At Wellington, for instance, it was £4 15s, and W anganui £7 4s, a matter of 30s clearer. Even Palmerston North users could buy their cement cheaper than in Wanganui, with all the extra railage included. The slippery nature of the bitumen roads m parts of the district is a continual nightmare to travellers by horse vehicles. On Thursday evening (says the Stratford Post), 'in Regan Street, a horse in a gig fell and the occupants were thrown on to the road. Fortunately no one was injured and the animal was held down by passers-by until the harness, which 'was slightly damaged, was released. In another case, it is authoritatively stated, the wife of a settler received such a severe shock on a recent Sunday evening when the horse in tho gig slipped on the bitu-' , men and an accident was narrowly averted that she vowed she would ! never drive a horse on the road again. Her husband has since bought a motor car I Some discussion took place at the Dairy Factory Managers' Association at Hamilton in regard to trophies which tlie association should present for competition, and to which shows they should be given. Palmerston North, New Plymouth, aix.l Hawera were at present being assisted by the association in this connection. Several factory managers contended that AVaikato and Auckland should also have the same privilege. There were other speakers, again, who held the opinion that the trophies should be deleted altogeter. The voting was even, and the President (Mr. J. G. Ward) gave his cast-ing-vote in favour of deleting trophies The secretary (Mr. A. F. Neilson) then gave notice to the effect that the resolution be rescinded. Mr J. Murray seconded, and the motion will come up for discussion at the next annual . meeting.

The Stratford district agency of the Public ll"*ust is now installed in the fine new /erro-eoncrete buildings in north Broad,V ( y. There appears' £& be a good demand for small cottage^ %. x Hawera, and provided the rent is f<?dirplaces of ancient design and wholly "Qy^ing what are known as modern <*tSrt»yemences are keenly sought. A sirMf four-roomed olaoe in Nolantown was" a&yertised to let in the Star, and there' we>;e no less' than ten applicants. Many people are no doubt finding the rents' which owners are now obliged to as"fe in'order to meet charges on the capital outlay too high. Formerly it. was cofistdered that i^he weekly rent should nerer exceed one day's wages, but it is .*f?fe to say that most people to-day are payinf. considerably more than that. The heavy outgo in this connection is leaving the worker too narrow a margin, and it must be very difficult for the less fortunately situated to provide for the future, or any.emergency that may arise as a result of illness or unempolvment. J