LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8039, 29 January 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho mail steamer Sierra left Sun Francisco on Wednesday. A meeting of the ladies' committee of the Rccreatien Sports Ground movment will be held to-night in 100 Mayor's room, in the Borough Couurii Chambers. The silver challenge cup, present f, to the Stratford Caledonian Society h • Messrs E. C. Atkins and Company. Indianopolis, U.S.A., and compel..' for as a points prize at the sports ci Thursday, was won by L. Stohr, :.i' New Plymouth. On Salurdity afternoon, at the Ne/v Plymouth municipal 'baths, severe' swimming races [for girls were c■: - tested, as follows: —33 yards, for g..\ i under 11 j four starters: L. Eraser '-, Z. Bayley 2. 33 yards, for girls in- rr 12; four starters : K. Ray 1, H. IWo 2. 15 vards, for girls under 10; three . starters": E. White 1, P Bayley 2.

Several private installations of the, electric light arc now being made In New Plymouth. A few business places used the illuminaut on Saturday night, for the first time, and tho new light attracted much attention. A New Plymouth resident has a fairly hcalthy-lookiug patch of potatoes, which seem to have shaken off an attack'of blight, and arc recovering their strength, and nuking good progress. In the same garden are some potatoes of the Northern Star variety, and these have, so far, resisted the blmht.

At St, Mary's Church, New Plymouth, ou Sunday night, the choir sang the anthem, "Crossing the Bar," in memory of the late Mrs Bannister. Tennyson's beautiful words were most impressively sung to Woodward's setting, and the whole service was rendered with great feeling and expression by the choir.

The Defence Department at present is offering encouragement to volunteer chaplains to remain in the force. A recent amendment of the regulations provides that chaplains will be allowed to count their services towards the earning of the long and efficient service medals. This they can do if returned as having performed " (lie duties of their office in an efficient manner."

There is no limit to (he audacity of thieves, as a well-known member of the New Plymouth police force discovered to his cost at Hnwcra on Tluu'sibiv. On going in to lunch at a leading hotel he left his expensive Pain, n hanging in the hall,but it did not lung long. In its place was left a disrep.liable straw that had long since parsed its period of usefulness. In the absence of linger-prints, the identity of the Panama's new owner is likely hi remain a police mysteiy.

Mr Chamberlain's message '•'Wc arc seven," as cabled the other day. is I lias explained l>y a Diincdin Star correspondent :—At the first general eloc'.i 11 after the redistribution of seats at Glasgow in Mr Gladstone's day. the Liberals captured all seven seats, and wired to Mr Gladstone i "We are seven." At the hist- election but one the Unionists in that city hold ::ll seven seats, and again, on their \r:.r':, wired to Mr Balfour: "We are sewn." Once again. Mr Chamberlain rpp/ats the now famous message : "We :;r .■ seven." There seems to be a curse on fie Tyson money. Tyson was an An:'. "- Han squatter millionaire, a mis.v'.y bachelor, who died intestate, and w:.:-.:■? money was consequently divided a.:,;; a large number of relatives. On ..'. the legatees has suicided, one \c.'. a child under tragic circumstr. • v;, several have been involved in court cases, and the twelfth additi., ':? the family trouble is the sliootinf; i : . sister by her brother, Poor old '1 .. ,u himself was novel' known to comii?''. :i offence of any description. " 1 i . er stole in my life, not even a kiss," .r. was once heard to remark.

A Toronto message states thai a terrible description of the condition of flic Esquimaux is brought by Mrs Moodic, who has just returned with her husband, Major Moodic, from a visit to the Arctic regions with the Dominion Government's Hudson B.iy expedition, She was the only white woman who had been so far north iif that region and was regarded by f.)o natives with the greatest curiosity. "The Esquimaux race is decreasing rapidly," she said, " owing to starvation, and will soon become extinct unless the Government come to their aid with food. The children have been dying off fast, a fact which may be due 0 the custom of their mothers of nlfowuig them to play about naked, only 1 skins being spread for thorn on the floors of the igloos or Ice houses,"

The amazing number of suicides in America, especially among rich men and women, has so shocked America that an Anti-suicide Commission has been appointed. Dr. Cooley, of Cleveland, Ohio, one of the physicians of the Commission, has already saved several men and women from suicide, and made them pledse their word not to kill themselves until the Commission shall have had mi opportunity to see hjw their lives can be rendered move tolerable and more cheerful. "If you have no friends," the Commission says, '■ we will try to find some for yon ; if you arc penniless, we will try to gel yon work j aml we want you to forget yourself by living for the good friends we will provide you,

ft would be hypocritical to pretend that while each day brings its talc of horrors from Russia, the British people are going Id form with the representatives of the Czar's Government the close friendship which they rejoice to feel for the French people.' With the people of Russia, yes; Iml while Ihe people of Kussia is voiceless, semianimate, while the only hand stretched out for us lo lake drips with the blood of the lhissian artisan and peasant, no. It is as well that this should be understood. An agreement with ltu:ia would be welcomed here with satisfaction as a good stroke of national poll.w. but not with the enthusiasm which marks the union of Britons wilh Frenchmen, eager to go forward logclhcr for the civilisation of the world. If we, as a nation, like the little we know of the Russian people. we abhor the Russian Government; no: till people and Government are one > .;i

wc Hud in liussia the friend we cloni.v, —" St, .James' Gazette,"

A purse continuing £!2, lias power '0 purchase but £2 worth of goods. I'.ir one month, however, Mr J. H. Parker, '':= noted Jeweller and Optician, of I), .vn St., will sell any article from his eh .',co and valuable stock for 25 per cent 1 \; than the marked original price, so £11; ;s really the purchasing power of £1 Cs, or IBs can secure £1 worth of goods. The trade will bo supplied on the same tar:.; J. Many articles are lo go at less than e si Adveiliseinent, gives further infonua;l.,u The store is next to the railway crossing.

We would lilfe |o draw the attention of the ladies of New Plymouth and surrounding districts lo the beautiful display of art needle work exhibited by the Singer Sewing Machine Co. at their shop in Devon street. The most sinking among their exhibits are beautiful Ljmerick lace, Aplique. work, study of pictures, as well as drawn thread work. It is surprising how simple this work is done on the Singer machines The Company have now a lady expert, Miss Morris, giving free lessons to all who have Singer machines. No lady ought to miss the opportunity of getting free instructions in this class of work. Mr F. McCarthy, Inspector for Ihc Coy., is visiting the district in charge of ihe exhibit, and has a large staff of men with him who will he pleased to show prospective buyers how- easily Ihe machines are manipulated. Mr.J.Waughis well known as the local agent, unit during his lengthy connection with the linn, has never yoi failed to make suitable terms to plea:.' his prospective customers. The Singer holds 1)5 per cent, of the world's sewing machine trade. A record such a ; this is based on pure merit alone. An open invitation is given to ladies of Taranaki who sew, to inspect the exhibit, and participate in the classes, On no oilier machine can this eautiful work he done.—Akvi.

Messrs. Bewley & Griffiths advertise an important auction sale of land on February 17th. Hi j Lordship the Bishop of AunlI'.nd, wiili Captain Sinker, R.N.R . will deliver addresses on Wednesday evening in St. Mary's Hall, at a meeting to raise funds for the Church ;nisi.ms. Admission is free. 'i'.ie Corinna is expected to load !'. .New Plymouth to-day, for Wellington. Sl.'U'J tloxes of butler and about 80i, crates of cheese. TheOamaru Mail says:—ln these iimes, when the mention of the word ;k)1.'.'.0 conjures up mehielioly fe.irs o.' blight, it is a plcasui'c.to note the particularly healthy appearance of the poL'avo crops throughout the district-, •.:J, as there are at present no sign:; oil i.'.e ])est in the country, we hope. te-.: we are not over-sanguine in stating t.iat with the continuance of the dry weather which has prevailed during the past week, North Otago holds out prospects of preserving its tubers bliihtless this season.

The annual meeting of .subscribers to the New Plymouth Public Library is to be held to-night in the Town Hall. The annual report, which is published in another part of this issue, reveals a position of affairs, that while not by any means desperate, is yet not creditable to a town of the size, importance, aud acknowledged cnlightement of New Plymouth. It is to be hoped that there will be a large attendance of the general public at the meeting to-night, and that means will bo adopted that will have the effect of making this valuable institution more ;. .pular with the public at large.

A great deal ot trouble was very nearly caused by a puff of wind at Auckland the other day. A member of the staff of one of the suburban branch hanks was coming into the city on a tramcar, with a bag containing between £BOO and £9OO in goid and notes, the money being intended for deposit, when a gust of wind caught his hat, and carried it overboard. He went after his hat, and the ear continued on its way to town. Fortunately, the conductor noticed the bag, and, on lifting it, heard the click of coin. Opening it he was surprissd to see a mass of gold and notes which he later discovered amounted to nearly £IOOO. At his journey's end the precious bag was handed in at the tramway ollice, aud, as may be imagined, was not handed out again until the bank manager in person had testified to its ownership.

The iiuestion of closer settlement, says the Sydney Telegraph, is occupying the mind of the State Government a good deal, aud the Minister of Lands, who has left Sydney on a visit lo Lake Entrance, Victoria, will subsequent ly , journey to New Zealand to inquire into the settlement there. The colony of New Zealand has been einiwtut.lv successful, adds the "Telegraph," in promoting settlement, and it is the intention of Mr Ashtou to ascertain whether the methods that have been so efficacious there eiui be adopted in New South Wales with advantage.

The roecntly-))ul>lishc(l memoirs of I In' late Sir Harry Kt-ppcl, Admiral of llu- Fleet, contain many good stories of one of tlte most popular modern liriti.jli naval men. Admiral Keppel had a stirring and adventurous iil'e, and lie was a typical sniior, bluff, Uot-tempeivd and ehivalrous. Sir Algernon West, who lias published the memoirs, tells how, when walking with a mceo, v'le Admiral met two young ladies, v.-lio bowed t) him. He seized them by lUc Ii .:)<!, saying how kind they were J .'ccotfuise an old fellow, and ki: jo.'l th 3.11 both, His niece remonstrat.d, —it ho said : " I thought they we.'e more nieces—at any rate, tlioy wer:' dev'lish pretty girls!"

It !n not often that modern wills eontain s/j singular a provision as is con-. tntnsd in iho last testament of Mr Thomas Hayes, of Stillorgan, Dublin. Ho was a member of a firm of drapes, and left £52,H75. In default of ::> pointments by his daughter, Mrs Gertrude Frances Power, the sum of I'UJ 18s is to be paid to his said daughirr on the first day after his death (slio..ld she so long survive him), £199 19s a the second day after his death (shoud she so long survive him). This phrue is repeated throughout the will far each day until the 250 th. day after his death is reached, Mr Allwood Cooper, State Commisiiiissioner of Horticulture! u California, 111s advised the Government Biologist in regard to experiments made rcla. five to the natural enemy of the codlin moth, that in the orchards where the parasite wiis distributed wonderful progress ha,s been mado jn dooroasing the ravages of the moth, and in another season it is hoped to prevent much of the serious loss that now takes place. Preparations have been made for propagating a sufficient number of the parasites to supply growers, and arrangements will then be made to supply them to foreign countries as well should the experiments of next season, prove really successful. "No doubt," says Mr Kirk, ( ' when the elKcacy of the parasites has been thoroughly proved, the New Zealand Government will get some for this colony, but at present the matter is still in its experimental stage."

Mr M. Murphy, F.L.S.. Christchurch, has carried out further experiments for the destruction of the potato aphis, which is working liavoe, now among luhiu's in many districts of (ho colony. The result of his experiments leads him to believe Hurt theveis very liltlo fear from ihe Illicit if treated i'n time. Mr Murphy lias used kerosene emulsion, Little's dip, Bordeaux mixture, and Mc.Dmigall's insectitudc. All are very effective, he says, if used in proper proportions, but the one most destructive to the blight is McDougall's insectitudc, because it is so easily mixed, ami is more suitable for fine sprays, the other mixtures tending |o block the holes, For the potato disease, however, it is useless to mixin a less 'jroporlion than one pint and a half of insectitudc lo twelve gallons of water. One pint will only kill ■'onie of Hie aphides, but Hie larger proportion kills the whole of tlicr.i. The aphis, Mr Murphy says, is nui'e as had as the Irish blight, although there is nothing worse than Ih.u Another potato scourge is the early blight (Maerosporium solani), in win. h the leaves curl, although there is ..<> insect,

shewing the influence' of l':e ; ;.".v Zeal.-nd football team's woiul.vj;u:ly sueeessful tour of (lie Uni,.' . i'.ig'oin on the Bugby game, I :e --■:i:..-.:;ig is nn Associated Piy,:i "K'.:s:i;;c from Xew York to a Cmcia- '...: aper : "English Kugby, not as is ._'.'.;, vd in Fnglaud or in Canada, bat ine K.ylo of game adopted by the exjiOiio.iU of tlie s]iort in New Zealan', is ii aibstitutc for the game of Am..:.' c.u football ii) a letter addressed .; P.ofessor Woodman, of Dalluni ' University, Halifax, N.S., to I v conferences of colleges now conside •- ing the revision of Ihe game. Th .• New Zealand game, Professor Woe. - man declares, while devoid practical / of all the objectionable features wliie.i have brought, the American game in!.) disfavor, possesses much of what, is good in nearly all forms of the sport. lie directs attention particularly to the absence of what he calls ■•mobtackling," wi(U (he coiiscipienf mod instinct which it arouses among the spectators. The game also would, lie s.ys, give liveliness, grcaler variety of possible plays, and strategic silnutioiis, and few delays by reason of injury lo players."

For the "shady nook," or a quiet read during the evening, much pleasure is provided by well-selccted books, „|' the deeply interesting kind. When once you pick up stories such ns Ihe following, you absolutely cannot put them down until finished : " Beverley of Granslark/'by McCutcheon, "The Pillar of Light," by Louis Tracy; "The Princess Pusses," a delightful novel by C, X. and A. M. Williamson ; or "1.N.H.1." by Peter Kosscger. These are but a few of Mr T, 1!, ll.id. dor's selections; bookseller, of Devon street, These books make pleasing ■ gifts al any time,—Advt,