LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 173, 1 November 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Auckland has exported 20,363 boxes of butter, compared with 21.728 boxes for the coresponding period of last year. The Rarawa took about fifty horses north last night, mostly good halfdraughts. Their ultimate" destination is said to be Sydney. A seam of coal nearly 30ft through has been struck on the property of Mr. James Duff at Ohinewai, where boring operations have been proceeding for some time Neighbors have temporarily forsaken the plough to delve for black diamonds. The number of applications to the Advances to Settlers Department duriiw the last two years for loans of over £SOO was 795, the total amount of the applications being £832,712. The number of loans granted was 120, and the amount £98,165. _ Constable Leighton, who has just retired after twenty-seven years' in the Hull police force, kept a diary throughout the service, in which it is recorded that he walked up one street 10,447 times, rendered first aid in 121 eases, been called to 124 quarrels between man and wife, received 15 black eves, 13 kicks and six bites.

Under the Factories Act, 9th November is not a general holiday, but that dayis named as a holiday in some industrial awards, whilst others specify that a holiday shall be observed on "the Sovereign's birthday." Where there is no apodal agreement 9th November must legally be observed in industries covered by\i wards which provide for its observance. The Labor Department does not intend taking any action against non-observers where an agreement has been arrived at between the parties concerned to observe another holiday in place of 9th November. A gentleman who takes a considerable interest in the dairying industry and Mho is conversant with the provisions of the regulations which caused umbrage m the Mataura district, and are held to be partly responsible for Mr. McNab's defeat, says that in Denmark and other countries which he has visited, the law is much more stringent, and those concerned accept them as a matter of course (reports the Otago Daily Times). Fc also states that the necessity for measures to ensure untainted milk only lining supplied to the factories no doubt exists, and if one. district more than in another in New Zealand*that is in Mataura. He had seen cows sinkim* to their udders m slush when being taken from and to the byres, and holds that drastic steps should be taken to put a stop to i such a condition of affairs. I

Mr. Newton King has received the following cable from Sydney re hides: ''Eighth higher." The North Taranaki Hunt has a .team of hounds in the dog section at the Manawatu Show this week. The secretary of the Taranaki Agricultural Society (Mr. E. P. Webster) informs us that' train arrangements similar to those carried out last year have been arranged for with the Railway Department. A stock train for llawera will leave on the day (Friday.) following the show. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the collections throughout the Dominion dnring the Salvation Army's self-denial week totalled £13,400, the North Is and contributing £7BOO and the Sout'i Island £s(i(io. Last year's total was £12,480, the North" Island yielding £72:50 and the South Island £5250. The plans for the new Children's Hospital at Wellington have been approved by Dr. Valintine. One member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board said the building would look like "a secondclass barracks of fifty years ago. Another said he "did not want the public to think that it was a private lunatic .asylum." The Board approved the plans. Canon Stuart remarked during a southern lecture that the value of any human gift was the use to .which it was put. Talents were not given to be debased. Just before leaving England he j found one of these God-given gifts, being prostituted to the base use of jangling out cheap tunes in a public-house—a musical .gift that might have helped to uplift and 'comfort the human race. Mr. W T . Burgess, of Hawera, has patented an improved method of earmarking cattle. The invention takes the form of a piece of thin metal bent double, to one end of which a small spike is attached, the other end being pierced by a hole into which the spike locks after being forced through the animal's ear, thus making it impossible to remove the metal tab except by cutting it out. The invention, which is simple and inexpensive, has been favorably commented oti by practical cattlemen.— Star.

Touching the matter of "Greater New Plymouth" and the Fitzroy Town Board, we learn from the clerk (Mr. C. F. Foote) that the position arising from the passing of the resolution therein in committee at the special meeting last week is provided for by the by-laws. Therefore, the matter will not be dealt with until the ordinary meeting of the Board on the 14th inst. Further, it may be mentioned the departure from the district of the chairman (Mr. L. Steele) promises to give additional interest to the question," as will be gathered from the fact that the Board is equally divided against itself, two members favoring and two being antagonistic to the borough being merged into Greater New Plymouth. At the last meeting of the Wellington Land Board a discussion took place concerning the question as to 'whether single women should be allowed to take up bush sections. The matter was brought up by a request from Miss E. Dickson for transfer of such a section near Raetihi. Forfeiture for non-compliance with the residential qualification was suggested. Mr. Wilford, who appeared for the lady, explained that she took it up nine years ago, and had improved and stocked it, but she had been unable to reside upon it latterly owing to ill-health. He asked that her brother, the holder of an adjacent property, be allowed to work the section. "What is the idea," he asked, "of putting single girls on these sections?" If the Board did not give her a transfer, she would live on the section, but that would mean her death. The Commissioner remarked that these eases were very troublesome. At one time these applications could not be refused, but this had been altered since. In too many cases a request for land for a single girl was merely "dummyism." It was decided not to gazette the forfeiture in the meantime, and to permit Miss Dickson to transfer the section to any suitable person other than her brother, Residence on her brother's section will be permitted.