GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8012, 26 December 1905, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

in the development of (the motoroinnibus is -being daily made mora evident on London thoroughfares. In October, 1904, there -were only som« five or six motor plying foi hire in the streets of London! In the same tuorrth this year there were about 152, and the number was beeverything in first rate arder for the companies wtio have adopted motor weekly—as fast as deliveries could be made. The following are among, the mile run, and including in the con'buses n London' —Tho London Motor Omnibus Company, 43 ; London 1 load-car Company, 34 j London General Omnibus Company, 26 ; Thomas Tilling, 12'; London Power Omnibus Company, 10 ; and fourteen other proprietors, running from one to four 'buses each. There .arc some fifteen makers of motor omnibuses represented among the number, but tho Strakcr petrol 'bus .and the Chelmsford steam, ''bus have made rapid advance in popularity among omnibus proprietors. The (question of repairs and maintenance, of which so much is made 'by those opposed to this system of traction, is !>eiug met by several of tho manufacturing companies! entering intc| contracts to maintain in working order any 'buses they supply for a stated sum per'carmile run,, and including in the contract the maintenance of the tyres, supply of lubricating oil, lamps, and lamp oil, any other (necessary repairs, and cleaning. The 'buses are required to run from 100 to 13(1 miles per day. Tho advent of the motor omnibus threatens disaster to many tramway systems operating in districts that cannot profitahjy maintain the more cxpemsivd method of transit.

It is not often such' a sensation occurs as that anyone should "forbid the banns" on the occasion of a wedding announcement in a church (says tho Westport Times). On Wednesday last a still more striking oocurrcnce happened, a n objector in the person of a member of the fair sex actually appearing at the altar rails as the 'marriage ceremony was about to be performed'.! The Anglican Church was crowded with expectant onlookers, ajid the clergyman had asked "if anyone present has aught to say why these two people should not be wodded, let them speak now or forever hold : their peace." After a pause the congregation were electrified by a woman's voice calling out, "Sir, I forbid the marriage/' To say that the effect was sensational docs not descriln: -the excitement. I "Come forth and give proof." said the minister, in replyto which the woman rose and went forward. A U'et itvment, .was made to the vestry by the clergyman, the ob-

jeetor, the 'bridegroom, and a Kuniara justice of thy peace, and after an absence of some 20 minutes they re-

turned, t h.- minister |stating that after full inquiries harl •ta>n made, he was satisfied that the objection

could not be upheld. The announcement was received with popular applause, whioh was promptly suppressed. The ceremony was then proceed with, and all went smoothly, the nuptial knot toein-g tied without further interruption.

The members of the Masterton A. and I'. Association were discussing at their meeting) on Saturday the question of allowing (the Coursing Club thij use of their grounds, and the matter of bookmakers being allowed on the ground was the chief adverse point, when one memher remarked : "Couldn't the bookmakers be kept in a room or yard by themselves ?" f '"Ales," added} another, "yard thein up and label them '■dangerous.' "