LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 69, 4 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The death occurred at Makoetahi yesterday of Mr. John Honda!!, at cho ago of Go years.

It is stated, says the Waitara “Mail,” that one of the first acts of the new Clifton County Council will be the ohlition of the Waihi toll gate. III s New Plymouth last month rain fell on 15 days, and the total rainfall was 3.Tin. In October, 1910, rain fell on 18 days, and the total fall was o.7*2in. It Avas' rather colder this year than last, the mean temperature Doing 58.8 degrees and G 0.4.5 for the respective Octobers. No frosts were recorded in their months. In reply to the circular issued by the Stratford Chamber of Commerce. the Inglewood Borough Council replies that it has passed a resolution expressing its approval of_ a universal half-holiday for 'Taranaki, ml the 'Tradesmen’s Association is being asked for its opinion concerning Saturday half-holiday. One of the beauty spots in Washington is the water lily farm conducted by a woman who as a clerk in the Treasury Department lost her health. Starting a.s an amateur cultivator of lilies, she has become one of the most prosperous producers of the flowers. She purchased a few acres on the Potomac, and caused, an artificial lake to ho made on her land hy piping in the water. She became fascinated with the work, and willingly gave np her (lovernmont position so tliat she could devote her attention to theflowers. Now she has ponds which cover five acres in which she is raising the flowers, for which she has purchasers galore. President Taft is one of her host customers.

II:;ill fell at Ohav.e in October on 12 days, a total of 8.98 inches, says the Rawer;; “Star.” The month last year gave 8.00 inches on 11 (lays, 1909,'12 wet days with 8.70 inches. In October, 1897, the rainfall was over seven inches, says a well-inlormecl correspondent, who makes a study of this interesting and important subject. “It is a disgraceful thing,” said Mr Hi no last night, “to think that rises in wages for Government employees should lie announced on the eve of an election.” “We don’t mind,” said one of the audience, “when it comes, so long as we get if.” “8 hat,” said Mr Hine, “is perhaps only human nature; hut there arc times when 1 am almost sorry for human nature.”

A correspondent writes:—A large and enthusiastic meeting of the combined Liberal Committees was, held in Inglewood last night, the committeerooms being crowded to the doors. The reports received were of a very encouraging character, and the opinion is expressed that both Messrs Bellringer and DlcCluggago will receive solid support in Inglewood and district.

Guy Fawkes Ray is apparently a moveable feast, for the juveniles of Stratford were to-day busy hanking “guys” about and appealing for donations to the squib ami cracker fund. To-morrow is the actual day on which the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot should bo commemorated, but the juveniles apparently do not desire to miss the commemoration—or the contributions to the squib and cracker fund—neither of which would be quite in place on a Sunday.

All those electors who have not lodged application for enrolment with the Registrar should take an early opportunity of doing so, in order to avoid the disappointment on polling day of finding their names are not on the roll. A copy of the main roll for the electoral district of Stratford has been deposited at all the post offices in the electorate for inspection. Claims for enrolment can also be had on application to any post office. A supplementary roll will shortly lie printed, giving the names of all persons enrolled since the printing of the main roll.

To-day, on retiring from the Clifton County Council, Dir J. W. Foreman severs his-Jjconnection with local bodies in Taranaki, says yesterday’s “Mail.” His has been a long and honourable service. It was ISS9 when ho first joined the Clifton local body, then through illness he went out in 1897 for two years, and was elected again in 1899, having been a member continuously since, the last seven years as chairman. Mr Foreman has never stinted his time, and his practical knowledge, as well as his good common sense, has been of much value to the County. Says the Waitara “Mail” : —Mr. R. Spence having put in a claim of £lls 19s for his costs in connection with fighting the Spiral Steel Pips Company’s claim against the Borough, and the Council having refused to pay the amount, the matter came before the Council again on Wednesday evening through a letter from Mr. J. B. Roy, acting for the Council, who said the minimum amount Mr. Spence was willing to take was £9O. The Mayor said the position was that Mr. Roy, who engaged Dir. Spence, was personally liable for the latter’s fee. Tiao

Council decided that it would stick to its decision, not to pay more than £52 10s. unless it was compelled by Jaw, to do so.

Of gas patents there is no end. Mechanics are for ever experimenting' and putting forth somecning newer and cheaper. Mr. H. Wiliiden, of Dunedin, is amongst the number, says tiie “Star." tie has taken our patent rights in Australasia, and is applying for them in England andother countries, in respect to a new method of producing air-gas. It is claimed for his patent that it makes gas at about a fifth the cost of acetylene, that the light is a third cheaper than kerosene, and that his machine is about half the price of the ordinary air-gas producer. Ono and eightpence worth of petrol will make 1000 feet of gas. Nor do the advantages stop at the reduction of cost. Mr. Williden’s machine cuts itself off automatically, and as to safety he showed in a demonstration this morning that; Ids air-gas will not light from a leak or any simple hole, but must go through gauze. Another point about it is tiie absence of noxious fumes, so that the machine is adapted for green-houses or for cooking. Already the patentee has one large order for installation in business premises, and we may report as a matter of fact that tiie demonstration was quite convincing and satisfactory. The pathetic story of an American wife’s four thousand-mile quest for a lost husband, only to find him insane in a London asylum, was made public in London last month. Early this year tiie husband, who was the manager of an important watch factory in Atlanta, U.S.A., was advised by his doctor to go on a voyage to England, and ho left with the intention of paying a visit to a sister who lives in Yorkshire. Some time passed, and as he did not arrive the sister communicated with the wife, who, becoming alarmed for bis safety, shortly afterwards started on her long journey in search of him. In the meantime the husband, who had landed in Liverpool, found himself in Loudon during the early part of May. Ho was arrested one night ou a charge of drunkenness and was sent to prison. At Pentonville, however, the doctor found that his illness was not_ due to drink, hut to mental paralysis. He was transferred to the Poland Street Workhouse, W., on 20th May, and six days later, having heoim certified as insane, lie was removed to Cano Hill Asylum. 'When Ids wife arrived in England and could find no trace of him, she inserted a detailed description of him, together with a photograph, in several newspapers, and through this means lie was traced to Cane Hill Asylum. After certain legal formalities had been gone through, the wife had the sad privilege ou Ist September of removing him from the asvlum to take him home to America.