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Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8638, 26 November 1889, Page 2

The Shaw Savill and Albion Company's Arawa left Capetown for Wellington, via Hobart, on Saturday last, shortly after 6 o'clock.

The Wanganui Herald hears a rumour that Colonel Stapp is likely to resign his post in March of next year, the new regulations requiring the resignation of all officers over 65 yeaas of age.

We have received several letters on the "Half -holiday Question," but as the matter is beginning to assume one of personal nature we feel it would not be wise publishing the communications.

At the Borough Council on Monday night, Mr Small gave notice of motion that he intended to move to rescind a resolution of October 14th giving a reduction of 25 per cent, on extraordinary supply of water to Mi J. Ward and the Sash and Door Factory. He also gave notice to rescind Waterworks By-law 19, and that By-law 19 read as follows: — "Any consumer of water for manufacturing, hydraulic, lift power, or any purpose other than ordinary supply who may be desirous of paying for said water by measure or meter, shall be at liberty to do so by having it measured by tho Waterworks Engineer, or procuring an approved meter at his own cost, and paying for every 1000 gallons ninepence."

The cantata " Under the Palms " promises to be a great success ; and those who like good music are sure to be pleased. The music of this cantata, while being first-class, is not of that high class that so many people do not appreciate, but is composed in what is decidedly the popular style, the choruses especially being of that brisk, marching stamp that immediately brings the audience into appreciating what is going on before them. Several of the solos also are really beautiful pieces of composition, and are in the hands of soloists who will do them full justice. We have seen the programme, and can safely say that a really good evening's entertainment is in store for those who attend tho hall on Monday. The prices for admission are low (as per advertisement), and those who do not wish to be disappointed had better secure their tickets beforehand, as there is sure to be a full house.

A remarkable man is now staying temporarily in this town — Mr Alexander, nearly related to a family who, not long since, came to sottlo here. This gentleman has spent, we learn, no loss than forty years of his life in travelling almost entirely on foot, and with no other company than himself, his tont, and artiste' requisites, over a large part of the globe. He has twice visited the Yellowstono regions — the first time before, the socond timo subsequently, to that district of hot springs being opened up to travellers ; has sojourned with Indians in the wild North Wost ; explored no unconsiderable part of Wyoming and Colorado ; and penetrated as far north as the shores of Hudson's Bay. Mr Alexander has lately found Ihh way back to Now Zealand, where, twenty years ago, he was a resident and familiar with Taranaki province, from South Africa, whore ho has boon tramping through Natal and tho Karoo desert, among other spots. He will, in a short time, bo on his way, folded tont on his back, to Wellington, whither, we bolievo, ho intends to proceed to Melbourne, and then ultimately to South America. His tours are profusely illustrated by watercolour sketches taken by himself.

A correspondent, who takes a lively interest in tho flax trade, although not now engaged in it, informs a Southern paper that intelligence has received him that several capitalists in Melbourne arc turning their attention to tho manufacture of cornsacks and woolpacks in this colony from tho low of New Zealand hemp ; also the coarser kinds of twine, so largely used, from tho prepared (ibrc. It is said that the data collected is highly encouraging, and the projectors only wait further advices from Calcutta and Dundeo, when matters may bo expected to take a practical turn. This (the correspondent says) would prove a great boon to the ila.\ dressers, as they could thereby get rid of thoir tow off hand, and a large quantity of the prepared fibre would also be used ia the colony,