LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 103, 15 June 1900, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Interesting reading matter will be found on our fourth page. The Harbour Board meets to-day. The death is announced of Mr. Thomas Morrow, near Kahotu, one of the oidesk identities on the coast, aged 77, We desire to call attention to Trinity College advertisement in our columns, announcing that Saturday next is the last day for receiving entries. A first offender for drunkenness was on Thursday lined 5s and costs. The many friends of Lieut-Colonel Stapp will be glad to learn that a marked improvement has taken place in his health. As some misconception prevails as to the duties of the caretaker of the Central Fire Brigade Station, we have been requested to state that during the day time he is not expected to be in attendance at the station. In ease of a fire occurring between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and the Brigade's services being required, persons should ring up telephone subscribers in the vicinity of the station—Mr. F. W. Brooking or Messrs. Ward & Son for preference. The Borough Council invite tenders for erection of portico and iron fencing in front of the Town Hall. Trains will leave for the Breakwater today, connecting with steamers mentioned below, as follow :—5.45 a.m., Rotoiti (from North); 7 a.m., Takapuna (from South); 9.30 am., Rotoiti (for South); 9.30 p.m., Takapuna (for North). A passenger-car will be attached to the goods train leaving about 3 p.m.

We were yesterday shown a piece of very creditable workmanship in the shape of a locally-made gunstock. This was made out of a block of walnut by Mr. J. S. Hart, gunmaker, Devon-street, and looks in every way equal to English work. The stock has a pistol grip, and comes to the shoulder as a gunstock should. The passengers by the omnibus from Fitzroy on Thursday afternoon received rather a severe fright and a slight shaking owing to the nearside hind wheel getting adrift. Fortunately the mishap occurred before coming to the descent to the Hcnui bridge, or serious results might have ensued. The inside passengers had to wait until the 'bus could be raised to its proper level ere the door could be opened, and then continued their journey to town on foot. Mr. H. H. W. Pearson, M.A., continues his fascinating study of the domestic larder of plants, in Knowledge for March. "It found during 1898 that in the air of the Royal Gardens, Kew, at a height of 4 feet 6 inches from the ground there, were from 2.7 to ii parts of carbon dioxide in 10,000 parts of air. Thus although the stock of carbon in the atmosphere taken in the aggrogate is imeasurably large, it is in an extremely diluted condition, and we cannot eafily form any idea of the vast amount of air which must be drained of its carbon in order to supply the needs of the world's green vegetation. It has been calculated that in attaining its full size, a single tree having a dry weight of 11,000 lbs. has abstracted all the carbon from over 15 million cubic yards of air. The carbon , thus taken from the atmosphere is not, however, lost to it, but sooner or later finds it* way back again in the form of carbon dioxide from the lungs of animals from burning or decaying organic substances."

Mrs. ——, an Englishwoman, knocked at a door, which was opened by an old Irish butler, in a very dingy black, and signs of tears in his eyes. " Does Mr. O'Hegan lire here ?" she asked. " He does, ma'am; but | he's dead." " Dear me," she replied ; " I'm truly sorry. "How long has he been Head !" " Faith, ma'am, if me poor master had lived till Wednesday next he'd just be dead a fortnight." An idea of the venturesomeness of the Boers in Natal may be gathered from the fact that two of the enemy, dressed in khaki, »nd wearing hats similar to those of the volunteers, coolly rode right through the camp of the South African Light Horse, took note of all they saw, and trotted away unchallenged. When they had gone about : 500 yards, one of them dismounted and shot at an ambulance man, fortunately without doing any injury. Both of them galloped ' oil'. In another case a man, with his hands ' and face blackened, was found sleeping ' i under a waggon in the camp of the Middle.■.uc Kegiment. i-omc natives gave the | alarm, and the man was secured, "Are you jonrt of books?" he askpd in a I careless way, out watching her narrowly as he spoke. " Oh, yes, I do love books dearly; hut, there—l gel i-o Utile lime for reading," '' .she loplied. "Have you read Scott's ' Miration'?" "Perfectly loiwlij]" "And i his' Lady of the Lake'?" "It is cr-quisite , grand!'' A faint suspicion was dawning ! in his mind. "How do yon like 'Scott's ' i.'mulsiou ' 1" he said, and sin rashly hr.ke i in wiih : "Oh! 1 think it is llu; very lovcli- ' vat Ihimr that ever was written !' [ ] fnteneod todealli! tliodoo i ed man stand,-, j' I'n die in priuie of life, I' No sha lc i;l' i.,-,,10. no outstretched Ir-nd.-, ' .■.oi.,e.. ; l^<M l ,thi.swifo.;' " ' ' ■ ', j.:« invid.id not (lie doctor's u;ice, * ■ .ii. iv.,ng!i would kill him set,,,' > She s.-u ed hi* life, ami did rujuieo, 11 With Woods' tirtjat i'eppermini Ours, !•) ■

At Dr. McCleland's First Aid Class on Thursday evening there was a further addition lo the membership, now numbering 30 Mrs. Serpen was unanimously elected treasurer for the class. The following resolution was also passed, " That the First Aid Class cordially mvite certificated members to attend this course as honorary members, and to assist in the practical work." The lecturer stated that he would esteem it a personal kindness if a few of the senior members would enrol as honorary members. Some remarkable snapshots of the war are being made in Paris. The French photographers have collected some old horses and guns with some supers from one of the fans theatres, who are made up as Boers or Englishmen as occasion demands, the Boers being distinguished by their lone whiskers and the Englishmen by their uniforms. Imitation breast-works have even been built near Paris, and these are stormed by the supers, while the photographer takes his pictures. One single bit of truth is the picture of a ford. It shows a big tree at the left in the foreground, with a shallow river behind, and a few cows and sheep wading to the further shore. Whenever our forces have crossed a river anywhere, this picture has been used to illustrate the exact place of crossing. All these counterfeit pictures are much more dramatic than the real ones which find a far less ready sale. '

You can depend on ridding your children of worms with Wade's Worm Figs, the wonderful Worm Worriers. Price Is.—Advt "He carried a Penang lawyer, Your Honour," con tinned the witness. "A what 1" thundered His Honour, who thought the witness was tampering with the dignity of the Court, " Please explain yourself." " I ■ mean a big stick, Your Honour," gasped the i witness. " And how can a big stick be a I Penang lawyer?" queried His Honour. , " Because the natives of Penang settle their , disputes with them," rejoined the witness. ■ Sykes' Cura Cough is waging battle worse i than a Penang lawyer with coughs, colds, i eto. All Chemists and Storekeepers.—Advt. Wade's Worm Figs, the wonderful Worm i Worriers, never fail for adults or shildren , Priee Is,—Advt

A DAT ae " 'Appy 'Ampstead " is thoroughly enjoyed by the East End poor, as is amply proved by the immense crowds who flock there every Bank Holiday. The pure air and bracing atmosphere to be found on the breezy heights of Highgate and it? neighbourhood cannot fail to benefit those who can only spend a few hours in their midit. Holidays, however, cannot be fully enjoyed by tf.ose persons who are suffering from disease. Hollo way's Pills and Ointment can speedily remove this drawback to pleasure if a fair trial is only afforded them As a cure for rheumatism, gout, fevers, diarrhoea, diseases of the skin, scrofula, ulcers, sores, burns, or old wounds, they are beyond competition.—Advt. Wade's Worm Figs are most effective and not unpleasant; ohildren thrive after taking them. Price Is —Advt.