A PROSPEROUS PORT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143786, 9 May 1912, Page 2

A PROSPEROUS PORT.

Tho report of tbo Timaru Harbour Board for the past year, for a copy of which we have to thank the courteous secretary, Mr. AY. ,J. Bardsley, shows that tho port is still travelling along Hie way of prosperity, and proving tho wisdom of the people of South Canterbury in providing themselves, even at great cost, with a harbour of their own. The trade handled, 185,■132 tons, constitutes a record lor the port, though tho exports were slightly greater in IDOL In the matter of imports Timaru is not a great way ahead of New Plymouth, their figures being 89,963 tons against our 71,675 tons, hut Timaru has tho advantage of direct imports and lower freights from Loudon. Last your tho direct imports amounted to 12,328 tons arriving in seven steamers, while in the nine years since tho inauguration of direct importing they have received 74,954 tons in tho original bottoms. This means a very substantial gain to the district and fully warrants the expenditure incurred in giving accommodation for direct steamers. In the matter of _ oxports Timaru is a long way ahead of Now Plymouth, the total last year being 95,409 tons against our 15,510 tons but Taranaki's exports are shipped through three jiorts at present. AVhen they are concentrated at Moturoa they will make a more respectable showing, exceeding in value, though not in bulk, those from Timaru. During last year no less than forty-eight largo steamers visited Timaru cither to discharge from or load cargo tor the United Kingdom and foreign ports, tho total cargo handled bv them being 50,647 tons. And yet the deepest draught was no more than 24 feet and 3 inches, which dispels the idea that Now Plymouth will not be able to accommodate the large steamers, for wo have 33 feet of water at low water with a rise of tide of nearly twelve feet, making about 45 feet at high water. It. is absurd to say that the steamers will not bo able to come in hero. Equally absurd is it to say that the trade here is not sufficient to attract the largo steamers, for several of the steamers visiting Timaru did so to handle less than 500 tons of cargo, while at least half of thorn handled less than 1000 tons per trip. The experience of Timaru, as a matter of fact, amply confirjns tho belief that Now Plymouth will be able to obtain equally efficient communication with tho United Kingdom when the improvements now in hand are a little further advanced.

Tho 'Wellington office reports that the Corinthic, Zoalandia, Makura, AVimmcra, Ulimaroa, Tallinn and Warriraoo will probably bo within wireless range to-night. There is a boom in onions, the wholesale price in Dunedin being £lO 10s per ton. There is a big demand from Sydney, and tons of onions are bomg shipped to that port from Canterbury. At this time lust year the price, was only a little more than half of the present rate.

Patrick Doyle (28), an A.B. on H.M.S. Fantome, was killed whilst playing football at Cockatoo Dock, Sydney, on Saturday, April 27. It appeal’s 1 that ho overran himself, and fell a. dis.ta.nco of 20ft. to tho bottom of the dock, sustaining a fractured skull. Ho was conveyed by his companions to tho Balmain Hospital, but died before the institution was reached.

Andrew Carnegie, on the occasion of his 74th birthday, told a group of New York reporters a Scotch story. The story, which arose out of an inquiry about Mr. Carnegie’s health, runs thus; “A Scottish rocruit stood on guard before a colonel’s tent, when the colonel, putting out his head, said sternly to tho new soldier; ‘AA 7 ho arc you?’ The recruit grinned and answcied: ’Fine! Hoe’s vorsel’ ?’ ”

Few persons have probably any idea of the enormous quantity of food consumed annually at a large institution like a hospital. In the Wellington Hospital no less than £IOOO is set aside for moat, and £I4OO for milk, that being the biggest item on tho food bill. Groceries will cost about £llOO, butter and eggs close on £IOO3, fish and poultry nearly £4OO, vegetables and fruit £6OO, not to speak of wines and spirits, bread, flour, etc. Salaries and wages total about £II,OOO.

An anonymous donor has offered to give £6OOO with tho object of raising the income of tho Nelson episcopate provided a further sum of £2OOO is forthcoming. Towards tho latter sum Air. James Alarsdcn, of Stoke, has promised £SOO to the fund, provided that five other gifts of £IOO each arc forthcoming, and Airs. Hunter-Brown offers to donate £3OO after tho sum of £I,OOO lias been raised. In addition, Air. Thos, Cawthron has donated £2OO unconditionally. There is thus £I,OOO of the £2,000 required iu sight.

According to tho Auckland Star, it is the intention of tho Northern Steamsliip Company to take the s.s. Rarawa away from this coast and place her in the Whangarei service, where the trade is becoming too great forvtho Ngapuhi to cope with. The Ngapnhi is to bo transferred to the Tauranga trade. Arrangements are being made to replace tho Rarawa on this coast by a suitable steamer, but what particular boat it will bo has not yet been decided upon. Tho local agent of the Northern Company, Air. AVebster, has, however, no knowledge of any impending changes.

An interesting relic of the old volunteering days is on view in the A.B.C. Boot Company’s shop in Devon Street. It runs as follows; —“Appointment of Volunteer Officer.—His Excellency the Governor has boon pleased to make the undermentioned appointment and accepted services Now Plymouth Guards K-ifle Volunteers. Francis Peacock Corkill to be Lieutenant. Date of Commission, Bth October, 1881, (sgd.) Win, Polios ton. It’s bona fides is assured by an inset in one corner “True extract, Stapp, Major commanding district.” The envelope which enclosed this interesting document is placed alongside and both have been mounted and framed and presented to B Company, formerly the Guards. Sir Kenneth Anderson, chairman of directors of tho Orient lino of royal mail steamers, who is at present on a visit to Australia, will pass through Auckland on the Maknra next week on his way back to England. Ho says it is easy to exaggerate the future of tho influence of Panama Canal on Australian trade with Europe. Judged by distance only the route has no advantages to offer, being, roughly speaking, IUOO miles longer to Sydney and IbUO miles longer to Melbourne from a United Kingdom port. For express traffic, therefore, it will, he says, be unable to compote with either the Suez or the Vancouver route, though there are oilier considerations which ho has no doubt will cause it to bo used as an alternative.

Times out of number (says the Sydney Morning Herald) the judges have warned people against their penchant for rushing to the courts to dual with matters that friendly negotiation might settle. Tho costliness of litigation and tho law’s delays do not seem to be an effective bar. Judge lingers, sitting in the District Court, spent a considerable portion of a day in hearing a dispute about some second-hand furniture, the total value of which was only a few jininds. His Honour earnestly pressed the parties to come to a settlement, hut lus efforts were unavailing, although, singular to relate, the litigants were relatives. Finally the judge, with some little warmth, exclaimed, “Those people come here and spend their money in law when they should be living happily at homo.”

In the course of a sermon to men in All Saints’ Cathedral last week, Dr. Long, Bishop of Bathurst, remarked that the church of to-day was suffering from dry-rot. The church was passing over her desert. She was beset by evils on every side, and the enemy Inrkod round tho mountain paths. Tho Church of England had boon content to rest upon her respectability too long. She had been thought to ho a comfortable place, without too much work to bo done, hut she was not dealing in first-class tickets to heaven, as so many people thought. The Church of England, however, was only issuing a thirdclass ticket to those who were going to get out and shove. The day for that action had come, and the church’s greatest need to-day was that men should be with her heart and soul.

Police Officer Egan, who is inspector of explosives in Kew York, had his hand blown off on March 15 while opening an infernal machine which had been sent to Justice liosalsky, the Judge who tried the case of the Swedish valet Brandt in 1907, and whose sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment for alleged theft has recently been taken up by the District Attorney, and Brandt granted a new trial. Various threats had been made against tho Judge, and on receipt of the parcel, which come through tho post, he called in the inspector, as he feared to open the package himself. The instant the inspector too,k the cover off there was a loud explosion, and the inspector was hurled to the floor, his right hand blown off, and tho maimed arm was bleeding profusely. The library in which the explosion occurred was wholly wrecked. Judge Rosalsky escaped unhurt. There is no clue to the perpetrator of tho outrage.

During tho past few days White and Sons have opened several new patterns in dress tweeds. The keen demands for a stout tweed for knock-nhont skirts is well met by a very fine material tho firm are showing at 2s lid per yard. It is 54 inches wide, and can bo dono in four different shades.*

A resident of Hawke’s Bay has no.coived a return from Home, showing tho increase in the weight of sheep and cattle that has taken place during the last century and a half. In 1762 the average weight of cattle was 370fb., while nowadays a beast of 10001 b. is not considered anything extra special. TRo average weight of sheep and lambs in tbo olden days was 81b., and is now anything from 561 b. to BMb.

A dispatch from Philadelphia printed in a Now York newspaper states, on the authority of the agent of Messrs. Cramp and Sons, shipbuilder® of that city, that Russia lias practically decided to have built at the Cramp shipyard two of the f our 30,000-ton Dreadnoughts', vessels exceeding in tonnage and armament any warship now afloat or in course of construction, with which she plans to rehabilitate tho navy which Japan crushed a few years ago. According to the report Russia is now negotiating a loan with French interests for enough money for four of the greatest fighting machines ever put to sea. It is understood that tho other two Dreadnoughts will bo built at Messrs. Vickers’s works, Barrow-in-Furness, Each of Hie contemplated battleships, including guns and armour, will cost Ruacsia £2,400,000. A petrol-electric railway car ran a jrial tyip 011 the Great Central Railway tjist month from Marylebono to South Harrow and back. The car—a combined engine and carriage—was built by tho AVestinghouse Company, of Manchester, and provides accommodation for fifty passengers, who sit cross-wise. Tho lighting is by electricity, generated by a small dynamo from tho ailes of the vehicle. Tho motive power of tho carriage is also electric, a petrol engine driving tho dynamo for the necessary current. Recently a speed of fifty miles per hour was attained; and the time occupied on tho journey, a distance of 8) miles, was minutes. This included stops at Wembley, Sudbury, and Harrow Road. The time was a minute and a half less than that now taken by some of tho steamdriven trains for tho same journey. AVhen tho tanks of tho engine are filled with petrol, the car will run for a distance of 150 miles; but it is stated that the company do not at present contemplate using tho now system of engine and car for long-distance journeys. A Huiakama correspondent writes;— “It speaks well for tho good feeling that has existed when settlers turn out as they did on Saturday, April 27, to a social in tho Huiakama School. The settlors having taken the opportunity of presenting Miss D. Hoby (lady assistant at the school) with a gold watch in appreciation of her efforts, especially in works outside of her official duties in connection with the school children. Considering that it was only on Friday morning that it was officially notified that a change was in the air, the response was spontaneous, every one assisting to their utmost. After an interval for refreshments, in a neat speech Mr. MTllhone presented Miss Hoby with tho watch, and wished her every success in her now sphere, stating that she had the best wishes of all the settlors and that she had not one enemy in tho district. Miss Hoby feelingly replied, dancing then being resumed till nearly midnight.” No fewer than 86 boys and girls have appeared before the Sydney Children’s Court during the last three weeks for offences ranging from breaking and entering, embezzlement, or assault, to riotous behaviour or cruelty to animals. One child actually appeared on ten charges of stealing, while tiftcou other children were fined for minor offences. For a three weeks’ category this record is (says the Herald) little short of appalling, particularly when it is remembered that, as the authorities are continually and vainly proclaiming, tho fault lies entirely with the parents. It is easy to repress a fault in a child when it is committed for the first time, but when, owing to tho culpable neglect of the father or tho sentimental weakness of tho mother, tho fault has become. a habit, it is difficult, if not actually impossible, to repair tiio harm which lias been effected both to tho child and to society. Under tho circumstances it is not surprising that tho labours of tho Children’s Court show no* signs of abating.

A commercial traveller from Dunedin got a wholesome scare recently in a small town up-country (says the Mar taura Ensign). Ho placed his pocketbook, containing £6t) odd, under his pillow. The following day. having occasion to give change to a customer, he found that lie had forgotten to remove the pocket-book from under his pillow. On returning to the hotel the bedclothes and pocket-book had disappeared. Ho consulted the landlady, who at once showed him where the bedding had boon removed to, and on a search being made tho traveller was gratified to imd his pocket-book intact. Tho Marten correspondent of the New Zealand Times telegraphed on Friday; “This morning George Phippen returned to Crofton from work in tho country and went to his bedroom, stating that ho was going to change his socks. Almost immediately afterwards his sister was startled by hearing a gunshot, and on entering tho room found him lying across the bed with a gun between Ids legs. The gun appeared to have been placed in his month, as the side of Ids head was blown away. A doctor who was at once called in found that death must have been almost instantaneous. Deceased had been an inmate of a mental hospital some time ago. Cablegrams from all tea markets, states the New Zealand Herald, report a continued firmness of prices, and there seems to he no.possibility of any reduction from tho enhanced rates which have been ruling for some few months past. On the other hand, it is expected that there will be further advances, for the estimated shortage in China, tho output of which represents at least 20 per cent, of the world’s production, must considerably affect the Condon market. Although, comparatively speaking, very little Chhia tea is used in New Zealand, practically the whole oi the tea consumed being Indian and Ceylon, this market will feel the effect of a shortage of the China variety as readily as any other, for prices aro ruled by the London market, and as the decrease in tho supply of China tea must necessarily enhance tho values of other teas, by reason of a greater demand, wholesale rates for tho class of tea sold on the New Zealand market will in all probability see a sharp advance. Tho position, as summed up by one of the largest teabroking houses, which does business in the country', is as follows:— : “In our opinion, taking into consideration tho estimated shortage of the China crop, it is possible that if the Indian tea crop should only reach the normal estimate wo may see such a rise as has not been seen for a lone time. AVc consider that the wholesale values will increase so much that the retail prices may advance as much as from 3d to 4d per pound.”

Comfortable ward shoes with rubber hcols are advertised at 5s lid by tho Melbourne Clothing Company. Those shoes aro Dominion made therefore all leather and aro guaranteed to out livo two pairs of any imported lino similarly priced.*

Sir Donald Mann announces that the Canadian Northern will build over 1000 miles of railway this year, and employ 25,000 men during tho summer. “Inquirer” sends us tho following: “Editors are credited with knowing most things. If you, sir, know the oldest inhabitant of this district, will you favour by ascertaining when the mail train last reached New Plymouth on schedule time ” On Saturday night the train was right up to time. Tho County Council has been commendably prompt in attending to the Old Hospital Road. Two men with a horso and cart during the past two days have mended the most broken parts of the road as far as Cassel Hill, which still remains a hindrance to those wishing to make the round trip. It is understood, however, that the council propose to attend to this in tho near future.

It is reported that robberies are of frequent occurrence on passenger steamers running between Australian ports and New Zealand. A lady passenger from Auckland, Miss Edith Wood, who arrived in Sydney by the Mahono on her last trip, reported to the police the loss of jewellery valued at £6O. When the lady opened her trunk, shortly after arrival,'she w\as surprised to find that her valuables had been stolon. The lock of the trunk had evidently not been tampered with, ,but the case containing diamond rings, brooches, and other jewellery had disappeared. A Christchurch resident who has just returned from a visit to Sydney states that the prices of fruit and vegetables in that city arc by no moans as moderate as one would expect. Ho visited tho Sydney market on Friday of last week, and found that cauliflowers were fetching 15s per dozen. Tho wholesale price of the best grapes was 8d per pound, and they were being retailed at Is per pound. The best apples, pears, and tomatoes were Is 6d per dozen retail, and anything extra in size meant 3d extra- per dozen. He paid Is 6d per dozen for Sydney rock oysters, which the Australian, in his blindness, persists in declaring are superior to the Stewart Maud article.

There is a climbing plant, commonly known as Ampelopais Hoggii, correctly Rhus Toxicodrendron, or American Toxicodrendron. A Wairarapa resident had occasion to root out one of these plants, and promises to give them a wide berth in future. It appears that this plant is a very dangerous one. and should on no account bo handled, as anyone so doing is liable to contract blood-poisoning. A Masterton medical ftian has had two or throe cases of blood-poisoning from this cause of late, .and he states that it is not necessary for the hand to bo out to contract blood-poisoning from the plant. The latter exudes an oily substance, which enters the pores of the skin, and does its work. The public, therefore, should bo. careful to guard against the plant.

The meeting of the committee of the Society for the Health of Women and Children was, as usual, held on the first Monday in the month, in the Town Hall, with a good attendance. The Plunket Nurse gave a satisfactory report of the cases she had had during the month of April, and also reported that, she had had a request from Stratford to attend a meeting of ladies there shortly. The committee were glad to learn that a supply of a small edition of Dr. Truby King’s “Caro of the Baby” would soon bo in the hands of the booksellers in New Plymouth for sale. ' After discussing the best means to take to make the work of the Plunket Nurse more widely known among the mothers, and some other matters, the meeting closed. The nurse is to be seen in the Town Hall in a room next electric light office, from 2 to 4 p.rn., every Wednesday.

There was a good attendance of members at Wednesday's meeting of the W.C.T.U., and much .interest _ was shown in tho coming jumble fair on May 23. A charge of sixpencq will be made at the door, which will include tea in tho afternoon. Donations may be left at Miss Lewis’s fancy goods shop, or at Dallas’ sweet shop. The Rest Room Committee reported that the room was used and appreciated as much as ever. This was proved by the constant stream of visitors that wont in and out. The contributions placed in the boxes however, wore very meagre indeed, averaging about one penny from one generous visitor in every two hundred of careless ones. Tho committee was not quite able to pay its way from this source. If the public wore a little more generous, the committee would be much relieved in mind, and be able to do more for the comfort of the public.

Probably as a warning to others, the quarantine authorities on a Sunday recently vaccinated a party of boaters who had 'sought shelter within the prohibited area at Quarantine Head (says a Sydney,paper). The party, comprising a number of residents of Balmain, having been caught in tho squalls off the Heads, had put into Green Point for shelter. After bailing out their boat, and getting her into sailing trim, they were preparing to depart, when they wore ordered to land by the quarantine officials, owing to their being inside the buoys, and consequently breaking tho quarantine regulations. After landing they wore informed they had been trespassing, and, as a safeguard, owing to quarantined passengers being detained at tho station, it was desirable that they should be vaccinated. This having been done they were allowed to depart, determined in future to keep strictly without tho prescribed area.

The evidence adduced at the hearing of a charge of breaking and entering and theft, which was investigated at the Dunedin Juvenile Court, revealed some strange features in the conduct of tho accused, aged 15 and 17 respectively. It appeared that on Easter Monday the younger boy was out of cigarette tobacco, and broke a shop window to get some, Probably frightened for the consequences, having admitted the theft on being taxed by the police with it, they left their homes, and, subsisting on turnips and biscuits, trudged as far as Oamaru, about SO miles, sleeping under stacks. They had also subsequently annexed at Seacliff a boot brush and a cake of soap, with the intention of cleaning themselves up and getting billets. They had actually started work at a mill in Oamaru when traced and brought back. Both lads were given good characters, tho younger boy having won a junior free place, and was attending the technical school. Tho Magistrate said the worst feature of the whole ease, to his mind, was the theft of wine from an Oamaru church, The father of the younger boy undertook to bring the matter home to the errant one by a sound thrashing, the elder lad to be sent to the country, the father to enter into recognisances for his good behaviour for twelve months.