Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1897.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 11101, 16 December 1897, Page 2

Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1897.

. », . We cannot allow the occasion of tho retirement of Mr Roy from the chief magistracy of the town to pass without adding a word to tbo many complimentary references which have been made to his services. With the exception of Mi' W. Bayly, who also occupied the civic chair for livo years, Mr Roy has been Mayor of the borough longer than any occupant of the office^ and lie has invariably discharged tho duties of the position with dignity and ability. lie haß freely and ungrudgingly dev«fccl his time to the service of the burgesses, whose interests he has always carefully studied and safeguarded. The position, though an honorable one, indeed the highest honor it is in tho power of the burgeeses to confer upon a fellow citizen, is not by any means a sinecure, and to carry out the duties thoroughly entails considerable personal sacrifice. It is therefore fortunate that we have nlen of Mr Roy's stamp able and willing to devote themselves so freely to the duties, and the best thanks of the burgesses arc due to Mr Roy, as well as to former occupants of (ho chair, for what they havo done. It is not fair, however, and perhaps not desirable, that the duties should be imposed year after year upon the same individual. Others should take a share of tho responsibilities and honor attache! to the position, aud we have no doubt that Mr Dockrill, tho new Mayor, will worthily uphold tho dignity of the office, to which he has fully entitled himself by his long services in the Council. The annual distribution of prizes at tho High School will take placo tomorrow afternoon. The dischargo from bankruptcy of Win, Dingle was suspended for six months by District Judge Kettle iv the District Court to-day (.Thursday). Rusaii has convened the Government of Caucasia in order to make arrangements to meet an alarming increase of Moslem fanaticism. Mr John Roberts, of Dunedin, brought out with him on tho Gochic two English robins (redbreasts). They arere the only survivors of seven which commenced the voyage. The Now Zealand Times regrets to hear that tho Hon J. MclConzie is down with infiucnz'i, and that his condition ia causing his fi iends some anxiety. The French Government intend to ask tho Chamber of Deputies to prevent the publication of statements asserting the iunocence of Captain Dreyfus*, on the ground that they are inventions: Largo bush fires aro raging near Pabiatua, tho township of Scarborough being iv groat danger. Parties are being organised to render assistance in keeping back rhe fires from settlers' houses. The school is threatened. During the month of November 2301 persons arrived in the colony, and the departures were 077, there being thus a gain of 132-1 to New Zealand. Tug figures for November, 1896, were: — Arrivals, 1895 ; departures, 814. In a hailstorm at Emmaville, 403 miles north of Sydney, the stoneß were veritable lumps of ice, and fall ng upon iron roofs penetrated then. Poultry, and even sheep, were killed, and the crops in tho orchards aud tho vineyards were destroyed. ' ' v The Wellington Post Office authorities havo received advice from the Union S.S. Co. that the R.M.S. Mariposa, with the London mails of the 27th ult., left San Francisco at two o'clock on the afternoon of the 9th inst., due date. In another column will be found a notico from Mr Walton drawing attentieu to his Xtnas parcel, and as this is without doubt one of tbe best yet offered, the fruit being all new and cleaned, no doubt the public will tako advantage of this offer and secure them without delay. Pictorial calendars denote the near approach of Christmas. Mr L. Marks forwards one representing Napoleon's first sight of Moscow, on September 14tb, 1812. The calendar, which is quits of a .superior character, is accompanied by a description of the invasion of Russia by the great General. After many yeara of business, says tho Evening Post, Mr John Duthie is about to retire from active connection with tho well-known firm of John Duthie and Co., Limited. Mr Edward Honey, for some years general manager of the old-Btanding firm of M'Lean l'.ros and Rigg, of ■ Melbourne, and who has also represented that firm in Now Zealand, will replace Mr Dathie ,who will, however, retain the position of Chahin>in of Directors of tho company, and he contemplates a business trip to Vngland soou after thd new manager it installed. A man of many parts is an ex-Victorian bank clerk now located on the Wostralian goldfields. Hu had a "book" on tho A.J.C. Derby, and, while waitiug for wires with result* of race, he was asked to read the burial service on a justdeceased woman. He did it. Then, after attending to his "book," he acted ns chairman at a nigger-minstrel show; then ho referced a fight-and fell in himself. Bookmaker, parson, minstrel and referee. A good all-round man. — Bulletin. The height of luxurious travelling has been reached by the Czar and Czariua, of Russia. Tho Empress's private car ia upholstered in palo blue satin. The o ectric lamps are all in the form of lilies, and it contains writing and tea tablos made of mother o' pearl. The nursery is the next apartment, and is as comfortable and handsome aa the same rconiß iv any of. the Czar's palacos. Thero are dining-rooms and drawing-rooms and several sleeping apartments ; iv lact, this train is a miniature palace. Tho wheels arc covered with iudiarubbor tyres. In his speech at Edinburgh the Marquis of Lansduwue, Secretary of (State for War, said tho Government intended to adopted measures with a viow to improving the condition of the soldiers. They would bu paid Is per day, toiuoreaso with the length of service, and deductions fium pay would alto bt remitted. Civil crnj.loymout would be found lor soldiers upon thuir retirement from the army. The urtilluiy would be largoly increased, and big guns supplied to the militia and voluntoer forces. Threo array corps would bo maintained in Great Britain, with power to mobilise two army corps tor offensive purposes. Ho was opposed to the conscriptiou. Ifcia customary as Christmas approaches for ihoKgnoul Boot aud Shou Factory to bo k«pt unusually Ousy, and tho present ytar is no exception to the rule ; in fact there aro t>o many orders to bo executed that the hands aro now working overtime ovcry night. It has been frouly stated, nob perhaps with tho intention oi" rloiug any huj-in, thut tho fino display of hoots and shoes oxhibiloii by tl'ia company in the Inhibition last week wore mostly imported goods?, and it in out} fair to (»jO of our most ini|uirtauD loe.il iihlii >- tries to htito ih.tt tvery bout and :->huu chilli ted was made at L.gnioiiL Boot »nd hhoo factory ; and auoihur iivjt worthy •if notu is that will) one; or L»vo exceptions tho goods weio made wholly by Taiaiir.ki I boys T«ho havo learnt their liado under Mr Hal. Uoodacre,

The Waitotara Oountv Council invite tenders for tho erection of a b:iJge. Since the Turkish victories over tho Greets tho Georgians have been extremoly hostile, and an Armenian revolt is feared. An addition to tho Taranaki Bacon Factory advertisomont notifies thut trotter*, tongue») etc.) may be obtained at the JFactdry. k The Northern Co.'s steamer Gieuotg will make a special trip from the breakwater to Onehunga on Thursday next, leaving on arrival of special train from Wanganui on that day. Mr A. H. Whitohouso will arrive from Auckland to morrow morning, aud will opeuiug the same evening at the Theatre Royil with a Kinematoßfaph and Phonograph entertainment. Tho pictures are shown by means of the electric light, which brings oat tbe details with wonderful distinctness. His Honor District Judge Kettle, while reviewing tho evidenbe in tho indecent assault case this (Thursday) morning, remarked that ha regretted to say that what is commonly known as " hard sweariDg " was altogether too prevalent in this colony. Cases of gross perjury were by far ttfo rife, and it was most extraordinary how many men would swear falsely even ou very trivial matters. Harry Pitcher, alias the Earl of Hardwicke, has been sentenced at Sydney to 12 months' imprisonment for jewellery frauds. Several firms refused to prose cute the prisoner. Accused,had prepared a lengthy statement to the effect that ho was led into his present position by people persisting that ho was the Earl o( Hardwicke travelling under an assumed name. He pleaded to bo allowed to pay for tho jewellery, and said he would roturn to England. An interesting insurance case was begun in the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Wednesday, before Justice Edwards and a jury of 12. The plaintiffs are the Bank of Australasia and O. W. Oldham, Patea, and the defendant is tho North German Fire Insurance Company. Oldbam owned extensve slaughtering and moat canning works at Canville, near Pate a, of the value, it is stated, of over £1,000. In 1889 he insured the building for £350 and tbe policy was transferred to tho Bank aa a mortgage. Subsequently iv 1890 a further policy of £SUO was taken out, and this also was transferred to the Bank, whicli paid the premium. Last June a fire occurred at tho woiks, destroying several of tho buildiugs and damaging other?, and as the Company refused to pay tho insurance the present action is brought to recover £250 iv respect of the first policy and £500 under the second one, together with interest at the rate of 8 per oent. from the date of the fire. The defence set up i», in the first place, a denial that the buildings were of tho value btated, or that tho plaintiffs had any insuiablo interest whatever in tbe policies at the time of tho fire ; or, if any buildings were covered, they were still standing uninjured. The Company) among other things, claims that thero has been no compliance with the conditions of the policies, particularly iv regard to the erection of heat generating appliances, the detachment of buildiugs and their desciiption, and it alleges misrepresentation in soveral important particulars both before and since the fire. Tho case was not concluded when the Court roao for tho day. Ranking among the very best of the local establishments where board and lodging may be obtained comes the large building in Powderham-streot known a* Chatsworlh House. There most comfortable apartments are obtainable, tbe place is centrally situated, and altnough really iv the heart of tho town, yet reuioved from a great- deal of tho bustle and confusion of tha busyiitieuta. Under the most capable management of Mrs IC Douglass, Chatsworth llousu has increased iv popularity every month, and now that numerous improvements and extensions have been made in the place, there ia little doubt the establishment will in future be even more largely patronised. Among tho most prominent of the many improvements just completed is a new balcony, 70£t. long by 6ft. wide, extending round the back and Bide of the house, aud from which is an outside fire escape. Two new bedrooms have been addad, and if. is intended to add twelve more i o the rear portion of the building. A wollturnished drawing room containing a first-class piano is another feature, while the smoking room haa been rofurnishsiJ, and a small sitting room adjoining bids fair to be well patronised. 111 1 would take up too much spitco to particularism all thu iiopanvemonts, but among the remainder might be mentioned that tho bedrooms have all br>en renovated and tha houae .newly paiutnd throughout ; hot and cold water baths are provided ; and a splendid new range has been placed in th« kitoheu. Another fact worthy of note is that good stabling may be obtained. However, as already stated Mrs Douglass has not yet completed her intended alterations, &c., aud theiois one proposal that will doubtless meet with much approval, and that is the formation of a tennis lawn. It is to be hoped that the energy and enterprise shown by Mrs Douglass will meet with its reward.