The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1902.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 11890, 12 February 1902, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1902.

th the course of an interview with a New Zealand Times representative at Wellington a few days ago, Mr R. Cock drew attention' to a danger, the gravity of which he did not exaggregate and which seems to be scar cely realised except by a very few, which threatens the Taranaki district. He referred to the spread of noxiouq weeds, principally blackberry and ragwort, and he asserted that unless this iss stopped the weeds will drive the people out of the district in less than twenty-five years. He jnstanced that a little paddock at Inglewood which was infested with ragwort has been the means of covering hundreds of acres of lahd with the pest, which is worse than blackberry, bad as that is. His object in mentioning the matter was to draw the attention of the' Government to it, in order that some action may be promptly taken. We liave said taht Mr Cock did not exaggerate tho evil. As a matter of fact it is impossible to exaggerate it, and, 1 as he says, local bodies' cannot be trusted to get rid of the weeds;; sympathy and influence are brought to bear on the members 1 of such bodies, and landowners; are, for various reasons, excused from cleaning their ground. If the truth were known it is possible members of loca, bodies which have adopted the Acfc and declared ragwort a noxious weed' under the Act would be found to have the weed on their own properties, and if such is the case, of what avail is it to adopt a special order ? It is necessary, asi Mr Cock says, that some strong, and superior authority should at once take the matter in hand. We understand that advantage will be taken of Sir Joseph Ward's presence at Inglewood on Thursday to give the Minister ocular demonstration of tho mischief being done, and itc is intended also to hold a meeting at~ Inglewood on Saturday to discuss measures 1 for combating the evil. As matters stand, instead of the Noxious Weeds Act having a good effect, it is practically inoperative. We venture to say that few formers are aware of the risk they are running of having their farms infested with ragwort from seeds blown or carried from properties perhaps miles away from them. If they did realsie. it they would join in demanding that stern measures be taken to keep the nuisance in check. According* to people who have had to deal with! it, its eradication, or at any rate its check, is not so difficult a matter if taken in time. Sheep will keep it down, but we do not want Taranaki elairy farms turned into sheep runs. Ragwort is not . the only weed that is injuring the dairy pastures. In some parts of the district hawk weed plays 1 the very mischief with cheese. At a certain season tof the year,' where hawkweed flourishes, it is Jmposwible to make cheese without a distinct taint from the weed,, though, curiously enough, butter does not seem to be similarly affected. This matter of noxious weoels brings us to the highly important question of improving the pastures. The time is coining when the progress of Tai'anuki as 1 a dairying district will depend entirely- upon what can bo done in the direction of improving the elairy stock and tho pastures. At, present more land is every year being devoted to dairying, and every year seest improved methods and greator skill applied to the manufacture of butter and cheese, .but the day will como when to increase and improve our output it will be necessary to grow succulent grasses where weeds now flourish, and to raise the standard of tho dairy stock to a much higher level. The sooner this is systematically done the better. When the district is overrun with noxious weeds it will bs a much more difficult task to bring it back then now, for at present it is only in more or v less scattered parts- that weeds are really rampant. Anyhpw, it is urgent that some comfbindtf action should bo taken to,, checfk the ragwort. ' ; r Nominations for tho Tariki Caledonian Sports close on Thursday next, February 13th. The programme ia published in this issue. ' Messrs Callaghan & Coy report the silo of tho following sections :— At Ahuroi, Ko. 33 to Mr Christinson, ai.d No. 34 to Mr Coburn. Tho London Dental Company, w'soae rooms were- burnt out on .Thursday hint, wiM reopen in a day or trwo iv premisvs to be notified,

Sporting ne\V3 and correspondence will bs found on the front page td-day.

The sitting of thg District Court in Bankruptcy fixed for td-diy was adjourned till May 21gii

At the j^.crough Council meeting on Tue^3,iy night the .Health Committee's recommendation, %< That tha emptying of dust and rubbish boxes bo included in the next night-soil contract," was adopted.

Tha proposal of the Borough Council to clear aw ry rubbish, etc.; at 8d a week was referred to at the Council raaeting on Tuesday night. The Mayor said that many ratepayers oonsidsred the charge would be an additional tax of 26s a year.

There was a very large attendance at the Gill-street Baptist Church oa Tuesday evening to welcome the Rev W. R. Woolley and Mrs Woolley. Ministers of the various denominations were .present and addressed words of welcome to the new pastor. During the evening vocal selections wore given by Mis 3 and Mr .Ymbury, and Mr C. H. White, and a recitation by Mrs Bigelow. Refreshments were served in the course of the evening and altogether a very pleasant tim was spent.

A correspondent assures the North Otago Times that the plan of hanging pieces of mirror glass in his garden is the best scare for small birds he has ever tried. Ho hangs the mirror on an arm extending from a piece of stick stuck in the ground, and with every puff of wind the glass revolves, flashing in every direc tion. The birds will not Stay near the flashing gkssl Even ia dull weatlier the glass is able to scare the birds, as there is a flash from it as it turns on the hanging string.

A discussion took place at the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday night on the question of the failure of getting a telephone connection with the Fire Brigade station dm ing the recent fire. Mr Connet said that when he was President of tho Chamber of Commerce he spoke to Mr Holdsworth, the Postmaster, on the Bubject of laxity, at the telephone exchange, and Mr Holdsworth replie > that when complaiuts were made the time of failure to get connection should be noted so that the laxity (if any) could be sheeted home to the person on duty.

At the Borough Council meeting lasi night Mr Colhs brought up the question of giving people notice when water was to be shut off. Yesterday water was shut off from the west end near mid-day [Mr Webster: And washing day, too], and great inconvenience was occasioned. Ho considered due notioe should be given householders when water was to be shut off . He added that two self-acting boilers were nearly burst through the water being shut off without nptice. Tho Mayor said it was difficult to lay down any rule in shutting off the water.

The efficiency oE the Fire Brigade at ths recent fire was the subject d£ laudatory remarks at the Borough Council meeting on Tuosdiy night. The Mayor moved a hearty vote of thanks to tho officers and men of the Brigade for their services on that occasion. Mr Tisch seconded the motion, referring to t'ue smartness, of the Brigade. Mr Coilis remarked that the Brigade was efficient on all' occasions. Mr Carter suggested the Couacil might make some more substantial recognition of the Brigade's efforts. The motion was.then carried.

The Melbourne City Coroneclast week, in reviewing the evidence tendered at the inquest concerning tho death of a person under chloroform, drew attention to the fact that such oases were increasing at an alarming rate. The State SolicitorGeneral, Mr .A gar Wynne, has since gone into the subjeot, and he has found, he 9ays, that the number of deaths from chloroform in Victoria is far above the average in English hospitals. He himself attributes the cause to the use of masks charged with anaesthetic, and he feels so strongly on the subject that he has.nrranged in future to have the Government representtd by a competent medical man at all inquests."

Vegetarianism has been blamed for n.u3h. Tho charges brought against it by a " Lady Journalist " in a London paper would seem to be new. This lady sa yg : — «« From personal experience I can testify that my hair turns grey, and I grow rapidly older, on vegetarian foods. White or grey hair and prematurely old looks are a common feature among vegetarans." The Westminster Budget, commenting on the foregoin?, says that the •' personal experience " no one would be ungallant enough to dispute, but vege tarians will probably question the statement that " white or grey hair and prematurely old looks are a common feature" among taem. It can at least bo said with truth that both the " grey hair " and thn • l 'bld looks " are by no means confined to tho vegetarians.

One day in the rue di Rivoli, in Paris, (says a theatrical writer in a Home paper) I encountered one -of the9e bedizened old dames walking with a young and handsome man, tall, slim and welldressed. She was a little woman, and walked stiffly, as though . her boots were too tight. She was radiantly dressed in white, a white parasol was spread over her head, on. which was perched an elaborate white hat. Her face was richly painted, with a- pair of crimson lips, as the deepest note of colour, and a fringe of "auburn curls, was on her forehead. She looted haggard and aged,. There was something curiously familiar about her face, and, as she spoke, I suddenly saw who it was — Adelina Patti aud her young husband ! It 1 was a shock. This was what "the last of the great prima donnas" had come. to.

The question of: how far a person is 1 responsible for allowing a dog' belonging to another man to remain about his promises was discussed at Palmers ton South recently before Major Keddell, SIM.", in fin action brought by David Ross against Samuel Woolley. The claim was for £25 for injuries to plaintiff's sheep, inflicted by two dogs, tho alleged property of the defendant.- Mr Fraser, who appeared for the plaintiff, relied upon the interpretation of "owner" contained in " The Dog Registration Act, 1880," and upon the authority o£ a case — M'Kone v. Wood, 8 Car., p. 1, — and contended it was tho defendant's duty either to have destroyed the dog or to have sent it away, .and as he did nob elect to do either, but .'ilUowod the dog to remain on his premises, he was liable for damago done by tht do«. Judgment was given in favour of plaintiff for £15 2s, with costs (£5 13s).

Mr T. Shaw Fitchett, managing direc tor of the Review of Reviews for Australia, forwards us a copy of a letter which he hus sent to Mr Seddon in reference to the much-talk«d-of transaction between the raagaziue and the New Zealand Government. Mr Fitchett states that tho cheque for ♦ 260 sent by Mr Stead to the New Zealand Government was Mr Sfead's own private , money, and was in no sense a return of the bum paid by the Govern men fc. That amount was paid to the Review of Reviews for Australia, and it returns nothing. Mr Stend sends hits cheque lo' relieve his feelings, but ii is bi» own money he Bends. It is true that Mr > : .tcad owns a little over half the shares in the Australian Review, but, says Mr "FitcheW, he has no more direct and .personal share in its management that Mr Seddon himself bar. Even before tho cbnnge in the ownership there was absolute liberty conceded to the Australian management. Mr Fichett feels Btire that New Zealanders are generous enough to understand^ the chivalrous spirit Mr Stead has showu on this poinv. On no other terras, concludes the' writer, would he and the present editor be responsible for the magazine. As tho shop for engagement rings, wedding rings, high-class watches at moderate prices, wedding presents, and in fact a thoroughly up-to-date stock of jewellery, electro, plated rmtl silver go.ods wo recommend J. H. Parker's, next railway crossing, Devon-street, New Plymouth.' N.B. —Please note n. few of tho leading lines and prices in aclvortisejtucn* elsewfcerej* , , „.> <

Whilst bathing at the' Te Afo Baths, on Saturday afternoon, a little girl named Lita Mar3li got out of her depth. Bui for the prompt action of Mr Walter E. Rawson, of the firm of Messrs Bunny and Itawsofl, solicitors, who dived in to the rescue with all bis elotbea on, she would most likely have been drowned. - Post.

The "Government Insurance Recorder" for January states that a curiosity in insurance literature has just been issued by the department, in ilia shape of a pamphlet for distribution among the Italia.ii and Austrian workers in the colony. It is entitled "Unica Rpeculazione Sicura" : or, " Jediria Sigiirria Speku'lacija." Mr G. A. Hiirley, of Wellington, is organising an excursion trip to Mount Egmorit. It is intended to leave Wellington by the mail train on Thursday morning, 27th instant, reaching Elbham the same night, and leave Eltham by drags on Friday morning, reaching the Falls Mountain Bouse at Dawson's Falls on the same day. ( There ia, says tHe Ne\v Zealand Times, a growing feeling among business men tint the trade, with South Africa will not imount to very much. A city man told 1 Times reporter that "th 1 market for our produce is the London market. Tt is doubtful' if South Africa will provide a permanent outlet at maximum prices for the quality of material which we produce. On the othar hand, the rush which is being made by our trade rivals to force themselves into South Africa will probably, ease the London market to some slight extent. If our people will ret member — and if our Government will encourage tfteni td remember — that thers is always room di {he" tap,- we I shall always have an assured market in London, especially if Mr Seddon manages I to bring off his preferential tariff pro- ; posals. Ido not think the South African market is now all it is craoked up {0 b?, j except for certain capitalistic adepts in j exploitation. Further than that, lam positive that immediately the war is over thero_wiU-be-ati -enormous development in the immense agricultural md pastoral distriats of South Africa, with the result that before many years are past the people will become exporters instead of remaining importers. That is why I say there ,isr nothing in it for for New Zealand." Which are our sentiments, expressed a fortnight ago.

Cordiality of Anglo -Russian trading j rala ions is doubtless to be counted a-noag the factors that tend to modify German hostility to Great Britain. The St. Petersburg Novosti, of recent date, giys :__" Any serious attempt to develop Russia's commercial relation with Great ! Britain is a matter for congratulation, as being both desirablo and opportune. At present the annuil exports of Russian goqcls to Great Britain do not exceed in value £20,000,000, while the exports to Great Britain of American goods amount to £125,Q00,p00,- arid of French goods to* £53,000,00 d. da the other hand, the iiriport* of British goods into Russia in 1890 only reached the fi^urs of £11,000,000. In the event of a Castoms war breaking dnt between -Russia and Germany, the British market would become of the highest importance to Russia. British goods could take the place to a considerable extent of what Russia has hitherto received from Germany. Great Britain, indeed, appears disposed to develop her commercial re; lations with Russia. At any rate, the representatives of the Society of Russian Agriculturists have ju3t b3en honoured with a very sympathetic and frioarliy welcome by the Lord Mayor of London, a welcome which may even bs described asa demonstration of goodwill towards Russia, and which constitutes an event as happy as it is in accord with the desires of the two nations."