ARBOR DAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13482, 23 July 1907, Page 4

ARBOR DAY.

For some reason or other the people of this town — we might almost say pf New Zealand generally — have never imported much enthusiasm into the observance of Arbour Day. Year after year a few, perhaps half a dozen, members of the Scenery Preservation Society devoted the day to tree-planting operations in the Recreation Grounds or somo other public reserve, but their example was not catching. Their enthusiasm for beautifying the reserves is as great as ever, though they ignore Arbour Day, or perhaps we should say they have many Arbotir Days, planting and beautifying as much as the means at their disposal permit. Others there are who thankfully accept the holiday the Government prescribes for them, and have a real good day on the golf links, or in pursuing some other favourite hobby or amusement. But Arbour Day as a national festival for .the purpose of tree planting is a dead failure in New Plymouth, whatever it may be elsewhere, Its object is an excellent one, as most people will readily admit. Before the end of the twentieth . century timber supply will be one of the greatest and most difficult problems facing New Zea • landers, who will hav.e practically exhausted their own forests and be compelled to find local substitutes for timber or depend upon other countries for most of their supplies. Americans long ago foresaw that the day will come when the primeval forests of even that great continent will be cut out or destroyed, and instituted Arbour Day to impress upon the people the necessity for making provision ' for the future. Other countries are making similar provision, and our own Government" «a endeavouring in a small way to, replace the waste which is daily going on. But the little that is being done now in the way of afforestation in New Zealand will not appreciably affect the situation half a century hence. Nor do we profess to believe that any planning that could possibly be done on Arbour Day, even if the whole population turned out on the occasion, would prevent a timber famine in future years. It is, however, for its educative influence that Arbour Day ought to be observed, especially in the sohools. The practical planting of a tree is an object lesson to a child of far more value than a lecture on the subject within the school walls. It is a pity that the ground on St. Michael's Square is not fenced and ready for planting, so that the children of the Central School might have a practical observance of the day on Thursday. It is with the children that the future lies and it is to them we look with most hope to remedy the shortsightedness of those who have been destroying the forests with both hands and have done nothing, to re-plant the denuded land. Their elders may help by providing the children with the means to celebrate Arbour Day..

Mrs. Messenger forwards a parcel of " Books for Bushmen." The New Zealand Herald's Parliamentary reporter says there is every indication of a long and arduous session. Members may get away for the "Christchurch week," but, if so, they certainly will have to come back again.

Mr. Moritzson, a large grain merchant of Dunedin, says that altering the potato duty from 2Q per cent, to 2Qs a ton puts potatoes up to the extent of 12s a ton,, and a corresponding rise in values may be expected in a few days. He suggests that the tariff should be 20 per cent, up to the invoice of £5, and when that figure is reached the duty to remain at £1. This would protect the grower when the prices .were . low, and would protect the consumer when the prices were high.

The Postmaster-General (says a Wellington paper) does not think it advisable that boys- of tender age should be engaged for night duty, as telegraph mesesnger boys if it can be prev.ented, as he does not consider "it in the interests of the boys to be on the streets up till all hours of the night. As a practical way of effecting a change, a number of young men of about twenty years of age were advertised for, one qualification being that they /must possess at least a Fifth Standard certificate — wages, 80s a week. Quite a number of likely young men applied for the poßitions, and the department had no difficulty in selecting the number of v night messengers required.

Some of the tourists who come out here to shoot our antlered deer are, apparently, somewhat- "slim," states a Wellington paper. This point was referred to at the Acclimatisation Societies' Conference at Wellington by a delegate, who moved that not more than two deer-shooting licenses should be granted to one stalker. "Some of the tourists who come out here are not sportsmen, I am sorry to say," he said ; " they take out more licenses than they should, and then go out pot-hunting." Another delegate instanced the case of a tourist who came out here with hi« wife and daughter. He took out licenses for the family, but did all the shooting himself. A deer license, it should be mentioned, allows the holdor to shoot a certain number of deer, and is not for a fixed period.

The constant recurrence of injury to the cables connecting the North and South Islands make it necessary for the Telegraph Department at a not distant date v (says the New Zealand Times) , to undertake the laying of a new connection by a less troubled submarine route. The Lyell Bay and Terawhiti cables both lie across rocky ledges' some distance out, and the rocks and tide rip are jointly responsible for causing frequent injury to the cables. Though the line will necessarily be longer, it will probably be considered advisable to take the cable from Paekakariki or some point along the Mahawatu coast across the wider part of the Strait to the South Island, avoiding entirely the troubled waters of the "rip." It is worth remarking' that the WanganuiWakapuaka cable, 'which was laid twenty-six years ago, is still almost as good as the day it was laid. The only repairs it has ever required was five years ago, when a flaw in the cable itself was cut out. This line lies on a

good sound clay bottdra.

The new Customs tariff imposes a preferential duty on greenstone, which is peculiar to New Zealand. At the end of March last there were 17,403 telephone connections in the colony, an increase of 2070 during the year. To connect all these 15,076 miles of wire were required. Under the new duty of twopence per pound on tinned fish, fresh herrings and herrings in tomato, in lib tins, will pay 75 per cent., while kippered herrings will pay 50 per cent. "She lives just anywhere," said SubInspector Gordon at the Police Court (says the Auckland Star), in reply to a question as to the residence of a street waif. "Oh, don't say that," protested the "lydy" ; "I've been in gaol nearly all the last two years, one twelve months, and two three 'monthses.' " Mr Andrew Collins, a member of the Wellington Conciliation Board, in the spring-time, intends to vigorously organise the farm labourers of the Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki districts. We wonder whether the Minister of Labour is still giving consideration to the matter. It is a singular fact (says the Masterton Times), that while butter of tbe best quality — factory made— is at present retailed in Wellington at lOd and lid per lb., the same article in the townships adjacent to where the 'factories t ro at work, such as Pahiatua and Masterton, is retailed at Is to Is 2d. A peculiar and serious accident happened to a Greymouth lad. He was watching the' progress of a football match and had his back turned to the hockey ground. He had his hands behind, his back and a hockey ball flew out and struck him on the hand breaking his wrist. The reason for admitting British motor cars free of duty is explained by the Premier to be that under the present tariff it is impossible for the average person to import cars, which are therefore available only to the rich or ihose who are comparatively well off. With the duty taken off we shall, of course; all be able to own our motor car. A wail of a mud-locked villager comes in from Ohakune. It is complained that while the Government took £3246 at the last sale of township sections, there are some ten chains of the township three feet deep in mud. Residents, more particularly the women and children, cannot get outside their doors, and the settlers generally regard the state of things as shameful. Main coal has been reached at a depth of 1321 feet in Lord Londonderry's new colliery at Seaham Harbour, after a remarkable engineering feet. Owing to the presence of enormous quantities of water, forming a quicksand, it was found necessary to freeze the ground to a depth of nearly 500 feet: Twentyeight holes were bored in a circle about the shaft to a depth of feet, and freezing tubes were inserted. Brine was the medium used to extract the heat from the strata. The length of time required to form a wall of ice was 185 days, the wall being maintained for 353 days. In the shaft bottom the frozen sand was so hard that "it could be' penetrated only by blasting. The Wanganui Herald after eulogising the action of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, in arranging for lectures on agriculture says: "The example set by the northern society is one which might well be taken up by the local association for it would then be helping the farmers in a practical manner, and the association* would undoubtedly reap a benefit from ( their efforts in future. It should not be a difficult matter to secure the services of several of our leading Wanganui agriculturists, and perhaps our district stock or veterinary inspectors, to co-operate and see if thejf could not do something in the manner described to improve the pastoral knowledge of settlers in country districts on this coast, to whom an hour's practical talk would be of infinitely greater service than* plodding through batches of pamphlets and-pther written articles. We throw out the suggestion as a practical one and one : that might well be taken* up- by the Wanganui* Agricultural Association." Councillor Browne, as Chairman of the Western Park Board, had a complaint to make aiUhe Council meeting last night. In the work of widening the Victoria Road at its junoture with the Carrington Road it was necessary that the small plantation at the corner and near the Recreation Grounds entrance should be removed. He had -applied for some of the plants for use in Western Park. The Chairman of the Works Committee (Councillor Bellringer) very readily agreed, being under the impression that the plants were the property of the borough. It afterwards transpired that the trees and shrubs had been planted by the Recreation Grounds Board and they laid first- claim to them. Councillor Bellringer therefore had to withdraw his promise. Councillor Browne now complained that the flax plants had gone to private property along the road and others had been tipped over the bank and covered with'the"«oil-that was- -be* ing removed. The. members thought a public pleasure ground should have had preference but they could do nothing' in. the matter. Two New Zealand boys were amongst the performers at the Royal Academy Students' Chamber Concert at Queen 1 .? Hall on 31st May. They were Master Victor Harris (Palmerston), violinist,* and Master Frank Hutchens (Hawera) > pianist. Master ' Harris played excellently, and the- lad's mother has received several press clippings and letters,' in all of which reference is made to the favourable impression created by her son. The Daily Times stated it was quite refreshing to find such a promis-. ing boy student, as it was usually girls who were most in evidence. Master Frank Hutchens, who played three Chopin studies, was specially complimented by Professor Matthay on his performance, which, he said, was the performance of an artist. Master Hutchen's musical talent being recognised by some enthusiasts and friends, efforts were made in Hawera to assist him in his studies and so well did the public respond to the appeals that sufficient was raised to send him to England to study under the best masters. Since he commenced his studies he has won numerous prizes of value and has thus been enabled to prolong his stay in the Old Country and continue his studies. Unlike other headache medicines, Steams' Headache Cure does not cause that stupid druggy feeling. It always cures headaches, and is as refreshing as a good night's sleep. i

The amount of rates collected by the Elliot Road Board for the year ending Jane 30th last was £159 Is Bd. Henceforward Mr A. H. Kendall will be known as the Borough Engineer and not Sanitary Engineer as in the past. This was a decision arrived at by the Borough Council last evening. "Anybody want any wives?" called out a passenger as the lonic came in to Wellington the other day, says the VVellington correspondent of the Press. Tin steamer brought fourteen domestic servants under the care of a matron, Mrs Christie. , The total number of officers on the Post and Telegraph staff on March 31st was 5192, as against 4929 for the previous year. Of these 3147 are on the classified staff, the remainder not being, on the permanent staff. The classified staff received in salaries £-329,220, and the unclassified £44,488. The Hon. R. McNab (Minister for Lands) has notified Mr W. A. Collw (president of the Taranaki Scenery Preservation Society) that the letter addressed to the Premier relative to the preservation of the scenic portions of the Mokati lands of J. Jones had now been forwarded to his Department ana was under the consideration of the Government. The New Zealand Times has often sneered at 'the soup kitchens which were established for the benefit of the unemployed of Wellington before the advent of the gr^at Liberal party to power brought prosperity and plenty to the colony. Now it has started * "Poor Relief Fund,'" and is collecting shillings and even pence for purposes similar to those of the old soup kitchens. The Hawera County Council is contemplatihg borrowing for an electrical tramway. Messrs Goodland (chairman) and Budge (clerk), while itt Wellington recently, made enquiries as to raising the money. They were asstfred by the Public Trust Office that there would De no difficulty in obtaining £60,000 if ;t was required, the interest on whicn would not exceed 44 per cent., and would most likely be 4 per cent. Something like a bombshell fell among those present at a temperance conference of the Manchester District United Methodist Free Churches at Blackburn, when the Rev. W. Faulkner, of Blackburn, declared that trade unionism had done more for working men in the way of cleaner lives and creating a true temperance sentiment than all the Bands of Hope and temperance societies put together. In this respect the work of the best Labour leaders was better than the preaching of nine out of every ten ministers. ( Reporting to the Borough Council oh Monday evening the Engineer stated that he had made several enquiries regarding a destructor. He submittedplans and prices. The one which in his opinion was the most suitable was that tendered for by Messrs Horsfall Bros., who had 'agents in the Dominion. His estimate of £2500 might be rather high. If .the Council had definitely decided to erect a destructor the consideration jf a suitable site could be proceeded with. After some discussion the whole question was referred to the Works Committee. A Christchuroh dentist,' who has 1 had a great deal of experience in hia profession, states that there is no doubt whatever of the deplorable condition of the teeth of native-born New Zealanders. He says that several theories have been put forward to account for this, but that none of them are entirely satisfactory. He describes the lime theory as nonsense, and says the most; feasible -explanation may probably be found in the fact that, parents are not nearly as strict ip the colonies as in the Old Country, and do not make their children devote nearly sufficient attention to their teeth. The Education Committee wrote to Borough Council last evening expressing their thanks for the latter's vote of £50 for technical education purposes and asking that the cheque be forwarded as soon as possible. The Council was somewhat amused at the request. The Mayor said they could not deal with the matter at that time as the 'Earliest convenience" had yet to be definitely decided. He had seen their member of Parliament in reference to the Council's Bill dealing with finance, and Mr • Okey had informed him that the Chairman of the Local Bills Committee had perused the Bill with him and that he could see nothing to prevent it going through. He understood the Bill would be submitted to the Committee on Wednesday morning. Fears entertained by those concerned ih the dairying industry that the time is within measurable distance when all the white pine forests will be used up were brought under the notice of the Minister of Agriculture at Gore. In replying to representations made, the Minister said this raised a very difficult question tl because it was not as though wiiite pine bush "wad found pure in it- ; self. If the millers were not allowed to cut out -the pine, .it would simply mean that the bush, would. Jae left, and the pine itself would bo gradually destroy,ed. > -His,town impression as to the manner jn which difficulty would have to be dealt with was that instead of attempting jjresexjratjp^ they would have to go m for planting. He had come to the> Qonplusjipn that it was absolutely impossible' in a new colony to protect J&e^iiaturajhforests. By the co-operation of the Board of School Commissioners and the Committees of the Central ; and Technical Schools, a great improvement is about to be effected at Sti Michael's Square, more, familiarly known as . "Poverty; Flat." The Commissioners have arranged to remove some 1300 yards of earth from along the Lemon St. frontage of the Square, using this spoil to fill up the frontage of one of their reserves in the immediate vicinity. The removal of this earth will enable the two Committees to erect a substantial fence along Lemon Street/ on the street level, and to plant a live hedge inside. On the Pendarves St. /frontage the fencing will have to be erected on the higher level, on account of the considerable quantity of earth lying between the boundary of the Square and the present formation of the street. Both the Committees intend to do some further planting during this winter and their efforts will do away with much that is at present unsightly and add beauty to ' the surroundings of both the schools. The Board is also helping by providing the material for the fencing. The four bodies are to be congratulated on their public spiritedness. *

It has been estimated there are at loast 30,000 unemployed in the two states oi" New South Wales and Victoria. There is an epidemic of typhoid fever in the Hokianga district. The outbreak is said to prevail most in those districts where, natives are the must numerous. Messrs L. Pattio'A C 0.., land and stock agents, report having sold a valuable- property of 573 acres at Brunswick. Captain Edwin telegraphed the following forecast at 12.55 p.m.: — Northerly winds, strong ,to gale. After 20 hours glass will fall. Tides high. Sea heavy. Rain probable. A " simple life " hotel has been opened at the Garden City of Letchworth 1 , England. Fruit and vegetables are the main articles of diet, and the butter' supplied is made of nuts. - The weekly meeting of the Egmont Lodge, No. 112, 1.0. G.T., was held in the Queen Street School-room on Monday evening. Bro. J. C. Legg, C.T., presided. Ther6 was a large attend-, ance of members. It was decided by a large majority, in view of the growth of the lodge membership, to move to St. Mary's Hall. The programme for ;the evening was "Maiden Speeches." A number of the younger members made their 1 debut on the platform. The subject was "My Favourite Hobby." The prize was won by Sister Beale, her hobby being "Good Templar Mutual Improvement Society." Bros.. Cock and Hartnell acted as judges. The story comes from America — from, Port Townsend, Washington. The steamer. Oanf a, arrived there on. a recent afternoou from Yokohama, and next morning the health officer proceeded to > fumigate the, vessel. Whjle this process was .going on t the officials heard sneezing, repeai^~many , times, apparently ''among; the cargo. Investigation was Tirade, and six largo packing-cases were discovered, to contain eacn a, Japanese girl. They were amply supplied with food and water for the voyage, and, beyond being a little cramped for room, fairly comfortable. The cases had been placed on the main deck, where plenty of air was circulating, and some of- those connected with the vessel must have been in the secret. They were consigned to a Japanese merchant at Seattle. The women were ordered to be deported, the steamship company being obliged to give bonds of £200 for caeli girl until she is sent back. The Australasian woodcutter appearing in -the Old Country, are greatly admired for their prowess with the axe and saw, but a London paper says: ; — "More sensational in its way, and a worthy accompaniment of the marvellous work of the Australian wotfdciitA ters, is the manipulation of a stockwhip by Mr Fred. Uindsay. To see the long thong twisting its way and' that, swinging through tire 'air and carrying out the wish of the. holder, as though it'wero a thing alive, is to marvel at the accu-. racy achieved. At one'moment the ash. is 'delicately flicked from the end ©fa cigar, &t andther a revolver is knocked from a man's hand, and with the samo movement the lash twists about his legs and pulls him to the ground., A bottle held on the hand of an attendant is neatly cut in two, while the same lash cuxJjs. again around the bare artn of a woman avithout 'tlic'slfgn'tesV injury "be* ing done. It is a perform ance^rich afc 1 has not previously been seen in London.", ' A meeting of local officers of the Civil Service is tb.be held to-morrow evening at the Court-House at 8 o'clock. Court Pride of New Plymouth hold, their annual social- on Thursday night in the. Foresters' Hall, Gill Street. Absolutely without reserve Morey & Son are going tp sell all their trimmed and untrimmed Tiats during the last few days of their sale. We give a final reminder of the clearing sale of furniture and sundries ot the Old Curiosity Shop to-morrow. Mr; Nolan will start to sefhat 3 p.m. sharp, as there is a big number of lots to get through before dark. In another column Mr Newton King advertises fresh shipments just to hand of Fison's potato manure, and vortnorite for spraying. Orchardists should spray their fruit trees now, particularly peach trees which are subject to leaf curl. Few realise that Messrs Murton & Company,- ironmongers, are selling off and going out of business. Their almost new stock is being rapidly realised at cut prices and housekeepers and others now have a good chance to furnish at the lowest rates. Anyone wanting really g6od furniture should attend the unreserved sale to be held on Friday near the Recreation Grounds by Mr Newton King on account of Mrs Hy. Gray, who is leaving New Plymouth. The furniture will be on view on Thursday afternoon and the morning of the sale, and is well worth inspection being in good order and of first-class manufacture. Particulars are advertised in another column. Anyone wanting to jnvest in a firstclaps dairy, farm cannot do much better; than attend Mr Newton King's sal# at.RahotU on Thursday next, when Mr 8; Tyrrell's nice farm of 100. acres wiU be s.ald/by auction at 2 o'clock. This is' one 'of the best sheltered farms on the coast, |s only li miles ~from Rahotu, and is being sold only on account of ill-health -of '.the occupier.. Particulars will be found ott reference to adver tisement. Miss Bedford's Cinderella dance for Wednesday next, 24th inst., has been postponed on account of the Hockey dance on the 25th, but will be continued from Wednesday fortnight, August 7th. —Advt. Zymole Trokeys strengthen the voice, preventing the irritation which follows a long strain on the vocal .cords. They are invaluable to public speakers and singers. . 6