The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1900 LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 170, 29 June 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1900 LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to pressure on our space, letters to the editor and other matter are held over. Messrs. Newton King and J. B. Cormett, who recently went to Wellington on matters in connection with the harbour, have, it is understood, been entirely successful in their mission, and the concessions asked for have been granted. Returns show that 844 persons arrived and 1076 left the colony last mouth, against 1261 and 1643 in 1899. The passenger accommodation on the Mapourika is being increased by the provision of 34 additional berths in the fore-cabin. Trains will leave for the Breakwater today, connecting with steamers mentioned below, as f0110w:—5.45 a.m., Rotoiti (from North); 8 am., Takapuna (from South) ; 9.30 a.m., 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. The Hon. J. McKenzie has wired the Premier acknowledging the request of the Government Party to re-consider his resignation, but stating that it is quite impossible to do so. He says that if he gets better he must have complete rest, which he could not get while holding so responsible a position. Mr J. Parker, of the Herald staff, received a wire on Thursday announcing the death of his brother, Mr. W. Parker, which occurred at Gisborne that morning. Mr. Parker, who was 36 years o£ age, was for a number o£ years in the Post and Telegraph Office here, and had been 22 years in the service. He had been for some time stationed at Gisborne, in the position of senior clerk. He leaves a widow and one child. We join with the many friends of deceased in expressing heartfelt sympathy with the relatives. Mr. Herbert Ford, son of Mr. Harris Ford, of New Plymouth, who has been stationmaster at Turakinafor the past ten years, has, his many friends in New Plymouth will be pleased to learn, been transferred to Waipawa, a much larger station. The rank and file on the Modder River were a short time ago temporarily forbidden to bathe, and sentinels were posted on the banks to look for surreptitious swimmers, says the Daily Chronicle. One of tne sentinels caught sight of a swimmer, who persistently igriored his summons to surrender to arrest. At last the bather emerged from the river; the furious sentinel advanced upon the dripping figure and claimed a prisoner. " Confound you!" was the reply, " can't you see I'm an officer I" A Coromandel correspondent wires to the New Zealand Herald: —The secretary of the Royal Hauraki Lodge has received a tisaely letter from Mr. Jas. Mathieson, late of Coromandel, who writes:—" I am sorry to say I find things in a very bad way in South Africa. There are hundreds of people here (Durban) doing nothing, and tb» relief committee are otfming tbem 2s per day, sq that will show you wnat state the country is in. I would advise no one to come out here, as New Zealand is better at 8s than Africa at 16s per day, living is very dear, and sometimes not very good. If anyone should think of coming 1 would advise them not to come for at least three montbs after the war is finished, for it will be at least thiee or four months after the war is over before there will be any work doing in the mines in Johaimesbuig, and do not think of coming unless you have a good bit of money, as there is nothing for nothing here, and very little for Cd. This is not a white man's country, as all the labour is done by blacks, and unless a man is a good tradesman he had better keep away from South Africa." Mr. Mathieson mentions the fact that the Oddfellows at Durban gave him a hearty reception, and he is hopeful of getting in the Natal Government railway sheds. Board and residence runs from 25s to 70s per week in Durban.

Commenting upon the love of the playgoing public for quasi-religious drama the London Times makes the following caustic remarks:—" It is as well to face disagreeable facts with equanimity. There is a very numerous body of playgoers in this couutry to whom such productions as " Quo Vadh " offer ap irresistible attraction .The success of " The feign of the Cross " revealed the prevalence and strength of the public taste —or perhaps it would be doing less violence to the English language to say the public playa compounded of crude sensationalism and quasi-religious sentiment. However the judicious may grieve at the spectacle of " conversions " brought about under the influence of sexual passion, of Christian humility, and even the recital of sacred texts employed to mere ingredients in a theatrical hodge-podge, the fact remains that this spectacle excites not disgust but delight among a large section of tho public, and that, human nature being what it is, this section of the imblic may reckon on getting what it wants from one playhouse caterer or another. Facts of this order, of course, are to be considered by the sociologist and the statistician rather than . the critic of dramas and art. Indeed, art has nothing to do with the matter. It may be that Henryk Siunkiewicz's novel is a work of art; it is certain that the play founded on the novel for the Adelplii by Mr. Stanislaus Stange is not."

j Santlom's Ma-i/mine contains some striking hints as to the manner in which some of the most popular men of the day reveal the secret of their strength, Colonel Baden-Powell has a wide, massive chin, which projects in front; his under-lip also projects. From the massiveness we deduce determination ; from the projection, fore* of character; while the width shows strength of purpose, faithfulness, and power; the projecting lip shows lore of popularity. Mr Hedvei'is Uuller's chin is som. what similar, but it is even wide!' and more massive; it is also doubled. Tliu tsilra width shows fcliu determination and own obstinacy wilh which he carries out hi- plans, the doubling showing an appreciation of good living which would recent a straitened commissariat. Lord Kitchener, too, has the prominent and broad chin which seems a necessary feature of all great miliiary leaders. The indentation below the underlip gives him an unusual power of attracting the loving and unquestioning fidelity of his followers; the somewhat indrawn lower lip shows him to bo singularly regardless of public favour, and more likely to shirk than enjoy the worship of the muitiimk-. Kipling's chin luoks like that oL a military chief, for it is broad, massive, and projecting; but it is short, and there is a cliftat the point. The shortness shows a want off physical force, and the dent shows his literary power, so the resultant of the whole chin is that of one who oar. most successfully marshal his ppldiers upon paper. j

In the" London Notes" Mr. W. H. Luoy writing, in the Sydney Horning Etrald< says:—The body known as the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ii as quaint in action as it is obscure. Its local habitation is in a room off Downing-street. It is about the size of an ordinary dining-room, but quite large enough for the throng frequenting it. There are usually found seated at the table three to five elderly gentlemen, at least one of whom is asleep. Very recently, according to the testimony of a member of the House of Commons who, in his legal capacity, was engaged before the committee, something like open scandal occurred. A case of supreme importance to one of the colonies was before the Committee on Appeal. All went well up to luncheon time. After the meal the leading counsel for the colony rose to reply. Of the five judges seated to hear the case two were presently sound asleep. The late Lord Coleridge, amongst other claims to eminence, was recognised as the cleverest sleeper on the Judicial Bench. It was his custom of an afternoon to drop off, whatever might be the importance of the case proceeding, but he did not scandalise the Ooart and bring his estate into disrepute by admitting frailty. His nap was not of excessive duration. When it was over he did; not, as persons of less artistic temperament j would have done, wake with a start and fussily make notes. He did not even open his eyes. Intently looking, he caught at some phrase in the speech of theoounsel addressing the Court, or some remark by the witness in the box, and studiously preserving the attitude in which he had slept, uplifted his silvery voice in soft inquiry or comment. Eude juniors or envious Q.O.'s might have suspected he was asleep because his eyes were closed. But, look jou, that was merely his habit of attention. His remarks showed how closely he was following the case. The two Judges in the case before the Privy Council alluded to were not such masters of the art of sleep. Their somnolence was so obvious that the counsel stopped abruptly short. The sudden silence had the designed effect of waking them, and the counsel repeated the portion of the j argument they had lost. The learned Lords had not even the excuse of the weight of wig and gown, for in this, the highest Court in the land, neither Bench nor Bar are so adorned. A reward is offered for a lost gold curb bangle. Mr. W. J. Freeth, district representative of the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, is prepared to quote exceptionally low rates for Accident Insurance. Contractors for bush felling for the next few months should ask for quotations at the office New Zealand Express Co., Brougham-street.—Ad. Wade's Worm Figs are most effective and not unpleasant; children thrive after taking them. Price 1»{ —Advt Wonders will never cease we are told; but it cannot be denied that Holloway's Pills are the greatest wonder of modern times. They correct bile, prevent flatulency, cleanse the liver, and purify the system, strengthen the stomach, increase the appetite, invigorate the nerves, promote health, and reinstate the weak to an ardour of feeling never before experienced. The sale of these Pills throughout the globe astonishes everybody, convincing the most sceptical that there is no medicine equal to Holloway's Pills for removing the complaints incidental to the human race. They are indeed a blessing to the afflicted, and a boon to those who suffer from disorders, internal or external. Thousands of persons have testified that by their use alone they have been restored to health, after other remedies had proved unsuccessful. —Advt. Wage's Worm Figs, the wonderful Worm Worriers, never fail for adults or children Price Is.—Advt When a notorious robber was run to earth some years ago, he told the two detectives that he would point out where he had hidden most of the money in boxes in a river. One detective went in the boat with him, while the other sat on the bank. When the fishers thought they had heoked a box the robher obligingly butted the detective in the wind, jumped over, swam to the opposite bank, and made his escape. The detective, who was once a smart runner, had his organs in bad condition for sprinting, and he lost his man. Had he used Sykes' Cura Cough he would have retained his wind and his reputation. All Chemists and Storekeepers.—Advt. You can depend on ridding yeur children of worms with Wade's Worn Figs, tte wonderful Worm Worriers. Price Is.—Advt New Zealand's athletes at the front In cricket, football or the hunt; He shines in any sport or game, His prowess has a world wide fame. But training has its usual ills, As over heat that causes chills; Then don't delay, but health secure, By taking Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.