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Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143766, 15 April 1912, Page 2

The B. Company of the Xlth Regiment will parade this evening instead of Tuesday. Now uniforms will bo issued. On Wednesday tho troops leave for the annual camp at Hawera. “I’ll bet you that tho Taranaki Oil Wells shares are up to £5 before tho end of tho year.” Tho bet was made deliberately, and duly recorded in writing, by a local business man wlio is supposed to know at least as much as anybody about the subject.

A local sharebroker posted up in a conspicuous place outside his office a notice to the effect that he would be in attendance every night between the hours of 7.30 and 10 o’clock for tho convenience of intending applicants for oil shares. A rival broker went one better and notified that his office would" bo open every night from 6 p.m. to 6 a,m, for tho receipt of applications for shares. An occurrence that reveals a rare amount of audacity took place at tho Four Court*, Dublin, recently. At about 1.30 a man, having tho appearance of a tramp, quietly entered the chambers of one of the judges and proceeded to help himself to his lordship’s luncheon. The judge’s attendant, upon going to tho room, found the uninvited guest in the act of pouring out a cup of tea. The attendant seised him and brought him into tho narrow passage adjoining the chamber, where he left him in order to find a policeman. On returning soon afterwards with a constable the mysterious visitor had vanished, and a search Jailed to discover his whereabouts.

Railway employees will bo interested in a now regulation (in terms of last year’s increased rate® of pay) which appears in this week’s Gazette;—“No member who is married, or is a widower with a child or children dependent upon him, shall receive a salary of less than £l4O 17s per annum. No member who is twenty-two years of age or upwards shall receive a salary of less than £IOO per annum. Tho right to such additional s.um shall bo deemed to commence on the date on which the member furnishes to the general manager satisfactory evidence that ho possesses the qualification entitling him thereto; and the first payment shall bo made with the first payment of schedule salary after that date ”

Lovely snow-white table damasks are on offer this week at the Melbourne at Special prices. Lovely lustrous damask Kin. wide snow-white bleach, Is 5d yard; 48in. loom damask. Is yard; pure linen damask, 56ia. wide, only Is 6d yard. Greatest damask bargains ever offered. Askixtoniea -them.*

Two further charges arising from the recent betting raids in Auckland were heard in Court on Saturday, when two men were charged with having, on April 9, been found in a common gaming house. Neither of them was a bookmaker, and they did not make a living by betting. A fine of £l, without costs, was infheted in each case. Grave fears are entertained for the safety of Mr. George Petrie, a Christchurch builder, who is missing from Amberley. The details are meagre at present, and all that is definitely known is that a shirt, said to belong to Petrie, was found on the banks of a lagoon in the vicinity of Amberley, and that a search party has gone out. The Whitoley Sunday School Anniversary Services were hold on Sunday and despite the bad weather there were good congregations. The pulpit was occupied at each service by the Rev. J. W. Burton who preached appropriate sermons. The singing of special hymns by tile scholars under the condnctorship of Mr. H. White was greatly enjoyed. To-night the annual tea and prize distribution will .take place. By request the scholars will repeat their music on Sunday next. The Minister of Internal Affairs states that for the first time in the history of the Dominion a limit is to bo imposed on the number of native game to bo killed per license-holder on any one day. The limits are fixed at 25 head, except in the Manganui and Whangaroa district, where the limit in the case of pigeons will be 10 per diom. An open season 1s declared for opossum in the Wellington, Nelson, Bulier, South Canterbury,' Otago and Southland districts, but the sale* of skins is not permitted. The March number of “The Rudder,” that excellent American yachting journal, is a “fitting out” number;-, consequently largely made up of descriptions of boats for sale. To us, however, the most interesting feature is a description of Block Island, off Rhode Island, a popular fishing resort. Accompanying it are two splendidly printed fin colours) reproductions of oil paintings by Warren Sheppard. “Discovery ot Block Island” and “Battle of Block Island.” Amateur boat-builders will find also iutructions how to build a 9-foot skiff. “The Rudder” is a journal which all interested in yachting and motor-boating should subscribe to.

The annual conference of the Young Maori Party opened on Saturday, the Hon. To Rangihiroa presiding. The Minister, in the course of an address, said that the salvation of the Maori lay in work. The party recognised this fully, but wore seeking a practical scheme by which the energies of the race, which had been lying dormant, could be directed towards the utilisation of their own lands. The party had always urged that the State should assist Maori farmers, both financially and by Instruction, and it was gratifying to note in the Governor’s Speech that steps were being taken towards this end. If this were done the Maori would have an opportunity of showing what he was capable of.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie. Prime Minister, has written to the Taranaki County Council as follows:—“I am in receipt of your letter of March 28th, in which you ask that the commission proposed to take evidence on tho question of a railway to Opunako should also consider tho advisability of constructing an electric tramway or lightrailway from Non - Plymouth to Opunako. In reply I desire to say that your representations are noted. This matter was before the Cabinet some little time ago. but as it was considered that it opened up a very wide question as against other parts of Now Zealand, it cannot bo easily undertaken.”

Mr. George N. Curtis, of Stratford, writes to the Now Zealand Herald as follows-.—•■Qn Saturday. March 23, wkilo_ on the Mangataki Hill, going to To Kuiti, a man working on the road showed to mo the remains of what appeared to bo Bohnapper, that when alive, would each have been about lit. long. They had como out of the high bank on the left-hand side of tile road, and perhaps some 20ft. below the surface ol the ground. A curious circumstance was that only tho skin and the white flesh remained, the scales, bones, and other part* having disappeared. The skin on tho outside had taken tho colour of tho red sand in which the remains were found, but the flesh was ns white as if cooked yesterday, and tho skin and flesh was limp (not petrified). To mo it seems as if at one time tho limestone must have been under tho sea, and owing to some volcanic eruption tho fish swam into tho recesses and pools formed by tho limestone, and then were boiled and mixed up with tho sand.” We recently drew attention to "The Round Table,” a new quarterly review of tiie politics of the British Empire. The March number is now to hand and fully maintains tho high standard of literary merit sot in tho earlier issues. The contents include articles on “The Balkan Danger and Universal Renee,” ‘‘Lombard Street andWar,” “The Declaration of London,” and ‘‘An Early Maritime Confederacy.” Tile political situation of the United Kingdom is dealt with at considerable length and some phases of the Irish Question aro difsusaed. The Now Zealand correspondent touches more or loss briefly on tho neglect of Imperial affairs, tho Into elections, the rise of Labour and tho second ballots, and the compulsory training scheme. At a later dato wo may have occasion to make fuller reference to some of tho articles. For the present we have only to commend ‘‘The Round Table" to tho notice of those who appreciate a high-class review dealing dispassionately with Imperial polities.The question of bringing the Counties Act into force in the Awakino district has attracted considerable attention for some time past, hence the following letter received by Mr. C. Leech from the office of tho Minister for Internal Affairs will be read with interest: — “Office of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Wellington, February 23, 1912. Sir, —With reference to section 2 of the Counties Amendment Act, 1910, in which provision is made for bringing tho Counties Act into force in the counties named therein, I have the honour, by direction of tho Minister of Internal Affaire, to inform yon that such section makes it necessary that any proclamation issued thereunder must apply to all of the counties named in tho section, and for that reason 1 am directed to inform .you that it is intended to introduce a Bill dealing with tho whole question next session.—l have tho honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, 6. Newton, for Under-Secretary. To C. Leech. Esq.. Hon. Sec. Awakino County Committee.”

Among the many things The Kash do so well are men’s slip-on overcoats. They’ve just imported a range of tho famous Gabordoen slip-ons, beautifully out and made in the latest London stylo. Prices from 4Ss. ' Don’t forgot a specialist in clothing sees the garment on you.* Never mind how bad the cold is, a few doses of Tonking’s Linseed Emulsion will euro it. In bottles, la 6d, 25.6d,v»(1&-&L

A telegram from Wairoa reports that a cinematographer, who is getting films of scenery tor a well-known Paris firm, states that the scenery at Waikaremoaua is grander and superior to anything he ms ever seen. He will, he says, take away the beet film material he has ever got. He was charmed with the beauty spots at Waikaromoana and predicts that when it is opened up by the East Coast railway it will nave a great future. The officer commanding the Ilth Regiment, Taranaki Rifles, has written to the Taranaki County Council to the following effect; “On the 17th instant we shall be conveying a number of troops from Warea to New Plymouth, per motor-waggon. According to the regulations troops are exempt from tell charges, and we would be pleased if you would instruct the gatekeeper to that effect.” It is evident from the above that Territorials are exempt from toll gate charges. Mr. O’Malley, Minister of Internal Affairs in the Commonwealth Government, who is so fond of his office that he has the reputation of going thofo before sunrise, has issued an order that in future any clerk who is five minutes late shall 'sign the departmental attendance book in red ink instead of black. The other morning the Minister reached his offios about 8 o’clock. At 9 exactly he rang for some officers. They were not On hand, hence the new regulation. Mr. O’Malley now signs the attendance hook himself, and arrives early, so as to have his name at the head o'f the list.

In connection with the Mayoralty election the borough solicitors (Messrs. Govett and Quilliam) advise that the electors of the new Hurworth Ward cannot be enrolled. The electors’ roil closed on March 26, one month previous to the election according to the new Act, and the new district was not added until March 31. ../Thus the new burgesses and a large number of others whose applications wore made too late, are deprived of the privilege of recording their votes at this election. It certainly seems absurd that in a town of Now Plymouth’s size, where the work of compilation and printing would not occupy more than a week's work at the outside, the roll should be closed a full month before 'election dav.

According to a tabulated statement of the world’s shipping which appears in Lloyd’s Calendar for 1912, the British Empire owns 0901 steamers of over 100 tons register, with an aggregate tonnage Of 18,643,640, the figures for all countries being 22,473, with a tonnage of 38,781,572. In sailing vessels the portion is nearly as great, the Union Jack being flown by 11,442 ships with 19,418,824 tonnage against all countries 30,087 vessels of 43,T47,154 tons. The United States of America own 1770 steamers of 3,962,380 tons and 3466 sailers of 5,158,278 tons. Germany has 1856 steamers of 4,092,015 tons and 2199 sailers of 4,466,880 tens. Vessels not exceeding 100 tons register would in each case make a very large addition to the figures given.

“If wo sock for the main reasons of the increased cost of living in Australia,” says a Sydney paper, “there is no manner of doubt it ie to be found in the Federal legislation of the last few years—the so-called Now Protection policy, ns expounded in the Lyne tariff and emphasised in the Tudor tariff. Instituted with the best of intentions, perhaps, but with a lamentable lack of foresight, ‘to lessen the importing evil and keep the work in the country,’ their actual effect has merely been to pile a staggering burden of taxation on the backs of the people, and especially the wage-earning classes. Imports, so far from diminishing, have actually increased, and are increasing at the rate of £2 per head per annum. At the close of tho present financial year the staggering sum of £15,000,000 will have been dragged from the public jacket in. Customs and excise. revenue. In ten years the revenue from this source has gone up £6,000,000. and it is largely the wage-earners who have to find it.” In the New York Evening Mail, of March 7, there appears a cable dated from 'Wellington the same day, as follows: —“Capt. Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer, said to-day that Capt. Scott, his British rival, had reached tho South Pole. When Capt. Amundson and his party reached Hobart last night nothing was given out as to the success or failure of his expedition. To-day ho admitted that tho Englishman, 'his rival, had reached the goal ami won the prize. With unrivalled generosity tho Norwegian, who has braved cold and starvation in the effort to got farthest south, freely admits that tho honours go to another. The dispatches announcing that Capt. Scott had found tho Polo come -as a startling climax to the race which five explorers of different nationalities have been making to roach this last extremity of the undiscovered portion of tho globe.” A great deal more follows this extract, but it is impossible to say how piuch is pure fiction, manufactured in New York. The actual message from Wellington mo.y have been sent under a genuine misapprehension. The time indicates that it was dispatched in groat haste, without waiting for confirmation. But it shows how news is sometimes made.

An absent-minded dork of tho civil registry entered forty-eight years ago the name of a new-born babe ,who is now M. Blaise, as that of a girl (writes a Paris correspondent). For forty-eight years M. Blaise never knew that he was registered under the female gender. Other equally absent-minded clerks supplied him with a male birth certificate. Ho was called under the flag to serve as a soldier at the ago of 20. He very correctly appeared at the barracks as a male and not a female recruit. Later on he married and had children, who wore all duly inscribed as the children of M. Blaise. Then his wife died and was interred, and tho demise was properly registered. At last M. Blaiso, being still almost in his prime, desired to marry again. Ho had to ■ apply once more for a birth certificate—one’s birth requires such frequent proof in Franco; and ho wrote to Saint Die, his native place, for the first time in forty-eight years. A reply came from a clerk who was not absent-minded. M. Blaiso was told that ho could not marry because he was not born a boy, but a girl. The record on tho registry was plain. M. Blaise could not believe tho joke, for a joke he thought it was. Ho asked to iwe for himself, and he saw that he was still Mdlle. Blaise. The consequence is that his first wife never was his wife, his children are not his children, and ho cannot marry at present; The civil registry in France is a terrible institution. It is kept with such precision that the clerks having once blundered, continue to blunder for generations to come. There is no remedy for M. Blaise except to induce the last clerk to correct the original blunder. With the advent of colder nights, warm bedding claims the attention of capable housewives. White and Sons aro ready with a stock of blankets and quilts, at bed-rock prices. Every blanket we stock is all wool colonial make, and may bo relied upon tor years of satisfactory wear.*

For influenza take Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. Never fails. Is 6d, 25.6 d,

A •warning to "Maori landowners. At the last sittings of tho Opunake Magistrate’s Court the Agricultural Department proceeded against two Natives, Rerekori and Kape Tohu, occupiers of tlie Parihaka block, under the Noxious Weeds Act. In both cases fines of £2 and 12s costs were imposed. At Thursday’s sittings of the Opunake Magistrate’s Court the Inspector of Machinery proceeded against P. Wilcox, of Rahotu, for using a boiler without a certificate. Mr. Wilcox uses his steam in connection with a milking machine, and a fine of £3 and costs was recorded.

The takings at the Palmerston railway station booking office during the Easter holidays constitute a record for Palmerston over any previous year, either Christmas or Easter time. From Thursday afternoon till Tuesday evening over £ISOO was taken for the sale of passenger tickets only.

When Mr. C. S. Lanchu came to New Zealand in September last' as ConsulGeneral for China he brought with him three female domestics, one of whom on arrival in tho Dominion was assigned the duties of housekeeper. On March 24 she died, and Mr. Lanchu, who is revisiting China, is taking her embalmed remains with him, so that the deceased’s husband, who resides in Canton, may be satisfied that his wife is dead. When tho ship reaches China the outer lid will be unscrewed, and tho husband will be afforded an opportunity of looking through a glass inset in the inner lid to assure him of the fact that he has lost his “better half.” We owe to a German professor the' momentous discovery that the ordinary human being has a commercial value. It has been supposed that if there is anything on earth entirely Valueless it is the ordinary human being, but popular belief is once more shown to be wrong. Tho professor says that the average man contains fat worth 10s 6d, enough iron to make a nail, phosphorus enough for tho heads of 2200 matches (the wood could be cut from his head), enough magnesium for some respectable fireworks, albumen equal to a hundred eggs, a teaspoonful of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Altogether the average man or woman is worth about £1 12s at current prices, and, with advancing rates, there is no knowing what he might not go to. Obviously this undeveloped wealth should attract the investor and the speculator, and some way should be found to/make available for public use all this phosphorus fat, magnesium, eggs, sugar, and salt. It has been too long true that “the good is oft interred with our bones.”

Tho opinion—'that nothing blocks Church enterprise more than the constant and uninterrupted collection of money was expressed by Bishop Crossley at the C.E.M.S. Conference during discussion on the question, of “the prevailing indifference of mefi to public'worship.” His Lordship contended that mission services should be held in the churches at night, when there sliould be no distinction of seats and no collection taken. If this were done, he believed that the people of God would rise po the occasion and ensure the financial success of church work, while there would be a general advance in the number of church attendants. “This ridiculous, method of pew-renting,” was the remark of Mr. O. B. W. Seton (Auckland), in passing judgment upon the present system There was, he said, too much comfortable Christianity about it. Bishop Neligan had once declared that New Zealanders were in danger of becoming Pagans, and although the remark raised a storm of protest, it wasabsolutely true.—(Applause.)