LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 318, 6 July 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In anticipation of a division being reached on the No-confidence debate this morning, the telegraph offices were kept open until 2.30 o'clock, at which hour the House was still sitting, and as there was a prospect of the debate continuing for some hours, the telegraph operators were released. Mails for Wellington and south close Saturday, July G, at 2 p.m., per Corinna. Inward Australian and Suez mails arrived at Auckland per Marama to-day. Mails arrive at New Plymouth by the mail train to-night. Excerpt from the Clifton County foreman's report:—"l have not been able to get any one to cart metal to do up the Main road, and if I could have got any one I should not have been able to do it for the bad weather." In the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Mr. A. Crooke, S.M.', ordered William Wilson Johnson to pay 5s weekly to the Education Department towards the maintenance of his illegitil mate child. Defendant was also ordered to pay, within six months, back maintenance, expenses and costs aggregating £lO ss. At a meeting of a Taranaki local body, there was a vacancy in the road staff, and simultaneously with the resignation an application was received for the position. "I told him to apply; I know he's a good man," enthusiastically remarked the member for the locality, and in response to a query as to whether there were any further applications, the same member's naive reply. "Several more wanted to apply, but I told them it was no use." evoked much hilarity from his confreres. A unique and interesting ceremony took place at the office of Mr. Newton King yesterday, in the shape of a presentation of a cradle to one of the members of the staff. Some years ago this little piece of domestic furniture came into the possession of the donors, who there and then decided that it should become the property of the first one of their number to establish a bona fide claim to it. This week one of the staff duly qualified for the honored trophy. Hence the presentation. Giving evidence in support of his professed inability to meet a certain liability, a defendant in the Magistrate's Court yesterday stated that his express and team -of four' horses were worth onlv £3O. "That's a cheap team," commented the opposing counsel, to which the defendant rejoined that he bought the vehicle for £l/i, while the horses could be picked up for £2 each. Counsel still appeared to be unconvinced, whereupon the defendant added that they "were only bits of ponies."

The Clifton County Council yesterday received the . following sarcastic letter from an indignant ratepayer:—"As it is quite evident you object to do anything to the road north of Mimi bridge (the old Main North road), I write to ask .permission to use a small boat to negotiate a lagoon or young canal which we have had for so many years in the winter months. The road from the end of the metal is in a disgustingly neglected state. "P.S.—T consider your deviation at Wai-iti a fool's game." The concluding remark evoked laughter. Cr. Rower considered that the road was not so bad, though perhaps as regards the Wai-iti deviation the writer might not be far wrong. It was resolved to inform the ratepayer (Mr. 0. Glassford) that the council had not neglected the Main Uruli road, as it had received its fair share of expenditure. There was a happy termination to a case in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, iu which a wife proceeded against her husband, both parties agreeing at the eleventh hour to forego law proceedings, and to "live happily ever afterwards." The case arose out of charges of having failed to provide for his wife (Ellen Mary Twyman) and of having failed to provide for his child, which were preferred against a young man named John Tywman. At a previous sitting of the court the case was adjourned until yesterday. Mr. C. IT. Weston appeared for the complainant, and Mr. A. H. Johnstone defended. The defendant entered pleas of not guilty to both charges. Before the case w - as proceeded with, Mr. Weston intimated that he had been instructed by his client that she and her husband had arranged to live together again. In stating that the defendant hail instructed him that he agreed to take his wife back again, Mr. Johnstone said that, personally, he had recommended him not to take this step. Defendant, however, did it of his own free will. Councel added that he had warned his client that by falling in with his wife's wishes he gave up certain rights in another direction. The Magistrate signifying his consent, Mr. Weston then formally asked that the case be withdrawn, and stated that his client had intimated her intention of doing her best to make her husband's life a happv one. "A very satisfactory conclusion," commented his Worship, and husband and wife, re-united, filed out of court together. The debating society in connection with the New Plymouth Brotherhood was put on an established basis last night, when officers were elected as follows:—President, Rev. J. W. Burton; vice-presidents, Messrs. Dolby and Snowhall; committee, Messrs. M. Praser and Armitage; secretary and treasurer, Mr. IT. B. Reid. An interesting syllabus! covering a wide range, of subjects, was adopted. The session was inaugurated with a debate on compulsory military training, in which a number of speakers participated. The affirmative was taken by Mr. S. Smith, and the negative by Mr. IT. Goodacre. Mr. 11. B. Reid seconded the motion. Points brought out in favor of the system were: The necessity for being in a state of preparedness against invasion; the failure of the volunteer system; the necessity of submitting the youths of the Dominion to some form of discipline; the beneficial effects likely to accrue from the point of view of physique. The system was opposed under various heads, some of which were ps follows: The enormous cost; the infringing on the liberty of the subject; the starving of the volunteer system; the lack of practical training; the fact, that it was simply the action of the bogey of militarism; and on certain moral grounds. The debate, which served to show that there is much latent forensic ability amongst members of the society, ended in seventeen voting for the proposal and seven against. At the conclusion of the debate, which was presided over by the Rev. J. W. Burton, quite a number of new. members were enrolled.

Tlio services in tlie.Wbiteley Memorial nun-Mi to-morrow ■will be- conducted by tlie Bev. .1. W. Burton. Th* m l ..ninVr subject will be. "Tlic Cramped Life," and in the evening (lie sermon will lie on "Never too late to mend—ls tbat true?"

The Wellington Synod last night rejected; the proopsal to give women, votes at parish meetings, and in the election of the Synodsmen. The shareholders of the Oka to Dairy Company met yesterday afternoon and decided, by a big majority to continue manufacturing butter in preference to cheese. The Dominion states that it is understood that the report of the Commission appointed to deal with the recent petition regarding the West Coast Native Reserves in the Taranaki district is against the petitioners and in favor of the Maoris. Fifteen old-age pensions were granted, fifty-six renewed, and six refused at New Plymouth during the quarter ended June 30. Under the new Widows' Pensions Act, thirteen pensions were granted, and two refused. Two military pensions were also granted. In all,' since the Widows' Pensions Act came into force twenty-five claims have been made in the district, twenty of which have been granted and five rejected. A very successful euchre party and dance took -place in the Fitzroy Hall last evening, in aid of funds for the Taranaki Circular Road Race. Prizes were won as follows:—Ladies, first, Mrs. P. Johnston; second. Miss .Taker. Gentlemen, first, Mr. N. Eva; second, Mr. Bellringer. Excellent music was provided for the dance by Mrs. George's orchestra (five), while Mr. Julian made a capable M.C. The next social will be held at Westown on Tuesday evening next. The North Taranaki Hunt Club's weekly meet was held at Mr. G. Foreman's property, Tikorangi, on Thursday afternoon. The outing proved most enjoyable, and those participating included Messrs. Scholam and Buchanan, of the Waikato Hunt. Shortly after four o'clock, the hunt adjourned' to the homestead, and partook of the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Foreman. Mr. J. Cole's property, AVaihi, will be the venue of the next meet, which will be roundedoff in the evening by a social at Waitara in aid of the club's funds. At the meeting of the Clifton County Council yesterday the question of the removal of the Waihi toll-gate to a point north of its present site, with a view to catching cattle traffic, which, it is alleged, use the by-roads and make a detour in order to escape the toll, was further discussed. A deputation consisting of Messrs. McKenzio and Jupp, I representing Uruti residents, appeared to protest against the removal, whilst Messrs. T. Buchanan, Graham, Topliss, Harris and Rook appeared in support. After a long argument,' when the pros and cons were thrashed out by the deputation, the council decided, owing to the absence of Cr. Gleeson, to defer consideration until next meeting of the council, when it was hoped there would be a full attendance of councillors.