LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 26 July 1907, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Captain Edwin wired yesterday:—Moderate to strong westerly winds; glass rise; tides good, sea considerable. -Mr Coghlan's statistics show that Australia spends £15,000,000 a year on drink, .£4,500,000 on amusements, £3,500,000 on tobacco, but only £2,000,000,, or a little over 1 per ceut of its income' on all religious and charitable works combined.

The Musical Society which was formed about three weeks ago has held twb rchcarsali for a concert to be held this season. A strong and representative committee is going carefully into ■Jhe organisation of the society. anoT will indeavor to ensure its success. The rehearsals have been well attended, but more alto and tenor vocalists arc required. The hon. secretary, Mr Bannister, will be pleased to receive the names of persons desiring to be enrolled as members of the society.

A team from the TarauaUi Ride,, fired a match against the Mangorei Hide Club yesterday on the club's range, th<latter winning by the respectable margin of 57 points. The top scorers were Jiillemau T. Marett (!)!)) for the club, and Private Bauks (!)5) for the losers. The match was finished almost in t,hc dark. Tile uicmSiers of the town team speak highly of the nirangementsmadc and of the hospitality extended, the visitors being entertained at tea at Mr Smith's residence. A return match is lo be fired shortly.

ill- .). Sexton, of Stratford, lias obtained a permit from the Xew Plymouth Boxing Association to conduct a much between Billy Murphy, the world's oxoliampinn feather-weight, and T. Tuohy, of Xew Plymouth, for a £2O purse, the winner taking -Cls and the loser £5, and a side wager of £lO. The match will eventuate at New Plymouth in about a fortnight's time. 'Both men have been in training for some we?ks in anticipation of the event, so it, good contest may be expected. Exact date and place will lie notified later.

The "Chicago Tribune/' in a went article on what medical science has been aMc to accomplish for the benefit of humanity, drew particular attention to the one great fact that stands pre-emi-nent in the light of reliable statistics, viz., that the death-rate of the worid has, through its agency, been positiv-sly decreased. One of the chief factors in this decrease is the marvellous sneers which is nowadays attained in trie treatment of that fatal type of disease classified under the heading of "Lung Troubles." This is accomplished by the use of Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery fir Coughs, Colds, and Consumption. Modern medicine can point to no more marvellous achievement than the perfecting of this grand, unfailing, specific cure, which can be relied on to save the lives of all who take it in time. Guaranteed to cure, or money bach. Price Is Cd

The total amount subscribed to duto for the memorial on Marsland Hill to soldiers who fell in the Taranuki .Maori war now amounts to £248 14s 6d.

The annual meeting of the Punewhakau Co-operative Dairy Company was held at Tatutawa Hall on Tuesday, with ;t good attendance of members. Mr Hodgkinson, ciiairman of directors, presided. The directors reported that the output for the year liMHi-7 >va« nearly double that of the previous year. Messrs Foley, Xally, "Worthington, and Houlihan were elected to fill vxaneies on tile directorate, and Mr H. N. Liardet was iv-appoint'd auditor. Mr Hodgkinson was elected chairman of diruclors.

The ladies of Court Pride of New Plymouth held their annual social last night, when there was a good gathering. The duties of MX', were capably carried out by Messrs W. Butler ?.aA Malison, and the music was supplied by Miss Lnveridge, extras being played by. Misses I'crcc. Wells, Josephs, and Godikird. The supper arrangements were in the hands of Misses Wells. Ponrce anil .(• and 11. Puttier, and was fully appreciated. During the evening Mr'A. Courtenay contributed a vocal . item.

The Postmaster-General docs not think it advisable that bo\s of tender age should be engaged ior night duty as telegraph messenger boys if it can be prevented, as he does not consider it in the interests of the boys to be on the streets up till all hours of the night. As a practical way of effecting a change a number of young men of about 20 years of age were required in Wellington, one qualification being that they must possess at least a Fifth Standard certificate —wages, 30s a week. Quite a number of likely young men applied for the positions, and the Department had no difficulty in selecting the number of night messengers require!.

The tentaelea ol the octupus extend. It is reported that a departure of the highest interest to the varnishing and allied trades all the world over is to be made by the Standard Oil Company which is investing an initial sum of £5,000,000 in the purchase of turpentine and timber lands in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and the Mississippi Valley, thus abolishing completely the small farmer, who hitherto has handled the product at first hand. It is further stated that henceforward the Standard oil Trust will be the leading interest in the turpentine, and resin trades of the United Stales, whence Europe draws practically all its supplies.

A Wanganui tradesman was fined 5s and costs for carrying" through the street a parcel of meat not protected from dust. Mr Treadwell,who appeared for the prosecution, stated that the information had been laid under part 21 «jf the borough by-laws, which provided thai no person shall carry or allow to be caivied through any part of the borough in any cart or vehicle, any butcher's meat, unless the seme is covered with a clean covering, so »8 to protect the meat thoroughly from the' dust. In this instance the meat was on top of the cart, and therefore exposed to the dust, etc As defendants had pleaded guilty, and it was a first offence, a heavy penalty was not asked for.

With a view to shortening the distance to New Plymouth the settlers at the top end of the Mangorel road are again endeavoring to have a road made to connect with the Carrington road. These two roads are separated by a very narrow etrip of country, and the proposal Is to use the Old Junction, which would strike the Carrington road a little afbove the Ra.tanui hill. The formation of the road would be a considerable convenience to local business men as well as to the residents, for it would greatly simplify the matter of (Wivering goods. The Mangorei Bond Board has been naked by a representative ratepayers' meeting to have a survey made of tho Old Junction, used only as a horse track now, and to take into s/'rious consideration the matter <f opening the cross road, giving the top settlers access to New Plymouth by way of Carrington road.

A case of some interest to local bodies and settlers was heard at Waitara on Wednesday by his Worship, Mr H. S. Fitzherbert, sitting as an Ascssment Court, under the provisions of the Local Bodies' Loans Acts. The Clifton County Council proposes, in accordance with the general wish of the ratepayers thereon, to raise a special loan to metal the Oapui Road near Tarata, and accordingly prepared a special roll showing the'lands that will be burdened with any rate that may be struck to secure the loan. Under the provisions of the Local Loans Act Amendment Act, 1003, two of the settlers on the road, Messrs Drmnmond anil Jensen, applied to have their lands taken off the roll on the ground that, being corner sections abutting on the Oapui and Junction roads, of which the latter is already metalled, they would not be benefited by (he loan. The applicants appeared in person, Mr J. C. Nicholson (Roy and Wilson) for the Council, and Mr C. H. Weston (Weston and Weston) for the other ratepayers on the special roll. Evidence was called by the parties to show to what extent a corner section is benefited by the bye road being meailed.- and at the conclusion of the case the Court held that the sections would be benefited and dismissed the applications. " r

Reporting on the conditions of labor anil employment in\the New Plymouth district, this month's Journal of the Department of Labor states ;-There is no material alteration in trade gen?r----«I1J-, m so far as the town is concerned, since last report. The building trades are still fairly busy, ani thpre is con . siderab e activity in and about the town in road formation, bridge building, and drainage work. The country on the other hand is very quiet, dairy work being practically concluded for the season. Some of the farming community are taking advantage of the quietlness find are indulging j„ a littlc relaxation

by attending the various winter shows ami Government farms. There is a scarcity of grass, ml many farmers are -x----penenemg considerable ,]iflieiity in feeing their stock; inrtocd n number are disposing of their surplus herds as rapidly as possible. There have been very tew applications for employment during the month. Men are required in the country f or luislifelling, but it would be unwise for „,en to com- here in anticipation of obtaining work in th« town. Building trades: Carpenters, joiners, and plumbers are all working ful tune. ,U1 hands are employed, but althougn all local labor is absorbed tlicro is no apparent likelihood of there being any more bands required from on side._ Rash and ,] oo r factories we still fairly busy, all ua „a s |, eln „ f „, lv employed. Engineering trade continues Imsy; all hands are employed, but local

, supply is quite equal to the demand. - T!!^^»ntl IS : Hot), K( , nora , rop . lir i n „ e <™d horse-shoring arc doing steady busil( "oss. Boot, trade (factories): There is ;. no alteration since last report. Tile • \,."™ e of ''"'iness is" fullv maintained. , All tee ronairin;; shops a- doing a , (rood, steady business. Cl»'Mii« trade , (taetori,s) ; AH the tailoring establish- , meats are doing ?0(1( ] uuslnoSß . soim , , are working overtime. Retail trad:': Trade in groceries is satisfactory and fairly regular. The elothing trade is not «, active as last month. In boots business is fully maintained. ConchlmihWs are very busy; indeed, considerable diffienlty has been experienced by some employers in obtaining sufficient hands io meet requirements. Butter-box factories are at .1 standstill. No alteration can be expected until next milking season. Dressmaking: All dressmakers are and in some cases arc working overtime. Saddle and harness makers

are very busy right through the district. Unskilled labor: A large number of men are employed, more ptrticula;ly in the outskirts of the borough and [country districts, upon road formation and bridge construction. There is,however, very little work doing In town. Men for fbnshfclling are required in the hack country.