LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 22, 20 July 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

No trace has yet been found of the Akitio postmaster, Mr. Marsh, who has been missing since Monday of last week, and it is thought to have lost his life in the Aohanga river.

A telephone that can be carried in the waistcoat pocket is the latest invention of an American millionaire inventor. It is for people who are hard of hearing. Even breathing against it sounds very loud. It has not yet been placed on the market.

Dr Tanner, the famous fasting man, celebrated Ills 81st birthday by beginning a fast which he will endeavor to continue for 80 consieoutive days; Since he first began fasting, he says, the practice has become quite fashionable, and he declares that there is no better way of fighting the beef trust.

Wellington is the dearest port in Australasia. The manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company has addressed a letter to the Wellington Harbor Board showing that in the case of the Paparoa the charges at Wellington were £323 7s 3d, whilst the charges at Auckland for precisely the same service were £172 3a 9d.

There was probably no more delighted person over the Poverty Bay footballers' win than a certain Maori at Tolaga Bay, who, after the match, came over to the team, and in characteristic Maori fashion, exclaimed: "Py korry, te close go; before you score that last try, I the poor man; after you score the win, py .korry, I all the same Rockefeller. I win the two quid. Have a drink. I shout. Poverty Bay every time!" An expert in banking procedure maintains that the only safe way of "crossing" a cheque is to write across the f'ce of it "not negotiable." He maintains that making out a cheque to "order," in lieu of "bearer," is of no earthly protection, aa should the cheque fall into the hands' of an unauthorised person, he can make the required endorsement, and can get it cashed at the bank in which it is drawn without having to furnish any evidence as to the correctness of the endorsement.

What were referred to as typical examples of local houses of the "jerrybuilt" type were reported upon by the borough engineer at the last meeting of the Ilutt Borough Council (says a Wellington corrasopndent). The report stated, inter alia, that "The floor joists, studs, ceiling joists and rafters were quite 75 per cent, sap, 'bark shows on almost every piece in the building. Many of the scantlings are short lengths nailed together. The rough lining is full of knots and holes . The rusticating alone is of fair 0.8. timber, but this is mostly in short lengths. No sanitary conveniences and no water laid on." After some comments had been passed, the Council decided to ask the district health officer to report upon th" Vmses in question under section 201 of the Municipal Corporations .Act. in to whether the buildings were lit for occupation, also that the builder be proceeded against for breaches of the by-law, as disclosed in the engineer's report.

Yesterday was observed by some of the Government offices as Arbor day. The Taranaki Garrison Band played some capital selections at the Drill Hall last evening.

Four members of the crew of the barque Margit were reported yesterday to 'have deserted from the vessel.

The Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers Co., after going thoroughly into the matter, has to increase its capital, and to erect cool stores with a 10,000 bushel carrying capacity, with provision for cooling 1000 cases daily. At a meeting of the New Plymouth Fire Brigade on Tuesday, might two years' service bars of tie United Fire Brigade Association! were presented to Firemen S. Roberts (who completes thirteen years? service) and W. Hardwick (who completes seven years' service).

The first annual social, of tilie Park Lawn Tennis and Croquet Olub, which is to be held to-morrow evening, promises to be a well-attended and successful function. The ladies' committee will see to the decoration, of the 'hall, and are providing a set supper. Songs aire to be interspersed with the dances, and card tables provided for noii-dancers. Amongst the exhibits of particular interest at the poultry show is that of the Taranaki Technical Schools. This comprises a collection of good specimens' of the work of the woodwork and metalwork classes, comprising a ladder, kitchen table, garden gate, bookstand, bookrest, two sets of shelves, a boot-rack, j set of metal-work, set of models (comt petitive), ndne models, and eleven sheets of mechanical drawings. Good progress is* being made towards the erection of the new mountain hostelry. The site ha* been cleared, and a contract has been let to clear out the foundations. Fortunately a good supply of the best quality of gravel will be saved from this wort, and will be used for the cement work. Tenders for the erection of the house close on Friday, July 28. A canvass for subscriptions is being commenced, and those who have already promised donations are asked to kindly forward same to Mr. A. It. Humphries, hon. secretary. The plan of the new building cam. be seen in Mr. T. Avery's window.

The factory manager's house at Tututawa was burnt down on Tuesday night. Mrs. Simpson, at the Post Office, was just about to retire for the night when she happened to look out of her door, and saw the house in flames. She gave the alarm, but the fire had too good a hold, and nothing was saved. Much sym-1 pathy is expressed with Mr. and Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Stanton being absent in Opunake on a fortnight's holiday. She • was expected back at any time to pack up for removal to Stratford, where Mr. Stanton intends to start farming. Mr. Stanton was in Stratford at the time, and he returned home just in time to see the roof of his house fall in.—Post. ■Speaking at Inglewood' on Tuesday evening, Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., referred to the "juggling of electoral boundaries" which was alleged to be under contemjplation, and hoped that Inglewood would not be cut out of his electorate. If one were to believe all one heard, he (Mr. Hine) would be left without an electorate. He was told that Inglewood, Kaimata, and all the places which had stood to him best were to be cut out of the Stratford electorate. Presumably, the people who made these remarks knew something about the matter. If they did not know, they should not say these things. If they did know something about it, that amounted to a. disgrace to the political system of New Zealand 1 . The birth-rate and the question of population generally seem to be agitating the minds of title Inglewood people. At the conclusion of Mr. Hine's meeting on Tuesday, Mr. James made a speech on the desirableness of abolishing or greatly reducing the cost of the marriage license, urging that cheapening this must increase the number of marriages and have the effect of bringing about an increase in the population of the Dominion. Mr. Hine, who had to wait till the laughter subsided, said it was the first time he had heard it suggested that the license fee of a guinea was an effective bar to marriage. But, if the question were serious, he saw no reason why the whole business of tieing the nuptial knot could be done with-

out charge. Mr. H. Curtis then pointed out that every child cost the parent £ls in customs duties every year. The Government professed l to want children, but taxed the father and mother for having them (laughter). To avoid race decadence they must encourage large families. Mr. Hine said the Reform Party was out to reduce the cost of living, but he did not believe it practicable to adopt Mr. Curtis' suggestion to give a preferential customs tariff to people earning £2 a. week or under, or to give a bonus for every child after the fifth in the family, but he promised to 'think the matter out and give an answer before the general election.