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Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143787, 10 May 1912, Page 2

Wandering dogs aro causing trouble again among sheep on farms near town. Owners’who value their dogs should take stops to see that they do not go out on hunting expeditions of thenown at nigiit, otherwise they may lose them, for farmers arc on the look-out with guns.

A meeting of parishioners of the St. Peter’s Church, Palmerston North, has pledged itself to proceed with a scheme for the erection of a new church at a cost of £BOOO. A sum of £4OOO is at present in hand, and an active canvass is to be made to raise the balance. It is hoped to have the necessary funds to commence the work iu a couple of years.

The second of a series of dances, held in aid of the Garrison Band’s luuds, was held in the Good Templar Hall last evening. Mr. G. Bolens, the secretary, with the help of the ladies, had the arrangements for the evening complete, and their efforts were crowned with success. During the evening members of the hand rendered several instrumental items, and .Mrs. Geonge’s orchestra was also present. An excellent supper was provided, and dancing was kept up till a late hour. Mes.-rs. W. Way and J Bray were efficient Jl.G.’s.

The havoc played by ill.* grat* grub last, season nnisi I.• sldl Iresh in the minds of tanners, ami n-p..:i.- * i the reap]H*aranee ot the p.-M iia*. e lately been published in nit ions ijiian- is. .1 A\ illowby I Asblnir.on I t ; ,i m. - stales that there are inde ,i.i I. its in many parts of the district of ihe ael nit i... ol ihe grub, alt iiuiigh tip ui i lie jn •-• -nt 1 lie pi a. lia., not been .-a. dest J mi [v ,■ u, it u.i.last year, it is to be l..<| ■*l tliat the eommissiiiiiers who have la . n inquiring into the gruh plague will be aWe to advance some cure or eln-ek l.eletv the pest does the damage of last year.

There an- more dorks in China than in all the. world outside it. They are kept on every farm, on the private roads, and email the lakes, rivers and smaller streams. There nro many boats in which as many as two thousand are kept. Their eggs constitute one of the most important articles of food. They arc hatched ii) establishments fitted up for the purpose. Some of these establishments turn out us many as fifty thousand young ducks every vear. Salted and smoked ducks are "sold in all the towns, and many of them are exported to countries where Chinamen reside.

During tho hearing in the Perth Arbitration Court of tho bread carters’ citation of the employers, counsel for tho latter said if further burdens were imposed on the master bakers they would have to raise the price of bread. Wages wore going up in every industry, and prices of materials increasing all round. Mr. Justice Booth, President of tho Court, observed; “It appears to mo that wo aro living in a series of vicious circles. Every time there is a rise in wages, up go prices, and when there is another application for an increase in wages, another rise in commodities takes place. It can’t go on like this indefinitely. The crash must come sooner or later.” The attention of tho Federal Minister for Customs (Mr. Tudor) was recently drawn to an attempt made to import into tho Commonwealth a patent medicine which it was claimed on the label was a positive and certain cure for all diseases and could be taken in any quantity without danger. It was to bo sold at a high price. Tho Minister caused a simple to bo tested, and tho analyst reported that tho’medicine consisted of sulphurous and sulphuric acids in water. Ho at ouco ordered the destruction of the misleading literature accompanying the consignment. Hr. Tudor took similar action recently with regard to an alleged euro for consumption, large quantities of which were being imported into the Commonwealth.

At the last meeting of tho Ashburton County Ministers’ Association a resolution was passed objecting to band concerts being given.on Sunday afternoon, as they interfered with the work of the Sunday schools. At' the last meeting of the Borough Council a deputation from the Ministers’ Association waited on the council in siipx»rt of the resolution. with tho result that the Mayor gave notice to move at the next inoet„,g ol Clio council that permission for Sunday concerts should not bo granted in future. A petition to the Mayor and borough councillors is being numerously signed, by the Ashburton residents and ratepayers, asking that bands should bo permitted to play sacrod music in Ashburton on Sundays.

A good warm raincoat and a good pair of hoots for the cold weather, and there you are, detydng the elements. At The Kash thoy’vo a splendid lot of tweed overcoats from 23s 9d to 59s (3d, raincoats (grey) 39s 6d, boys’ overcoats from 6s 6d, men’s famous “Troad-aloug” boots 16s Gd. Best lino in Taranaki for the money.*

The Wellington office reports that the Makura, Navua, ffammoo, Ulimama, Victoria and Wimmera will probably he within wireless range to’-night.

Passengers travelling by tlie mail train last night had, a weary journey from Stratford to Sew Plymouth. There wore long stoppages at Tariki, Inglewood, agid Lc-pperton Junction, apparently whilst the race train cleared these sections. Dio result was that the mail was thirty-five minutes late. Such experiences make “express” travelling a farce.

Members of tho South Canterbury Board of Education had a decided innovation at their meeting this week (says tho Timaru Herald), and ouo vyith which they were very pleased. Tho morning was a bitterly cold one, and on arrival at tho board room they found awaiting them, as the first business on tho agenda' paper, eight steaming bowls of soup—ono for each member—and a woll-donc piece of toast for each. The soup quickly disappeared, and appreciation was expressed of the action of the lady responsible—Miss Wilson, tho cookery instructress.

Die (enterprising manager of a leading mtisic hall, realising what a star attraction the chairman of the Senatorial Committee el Inquiry would be, cabled to that gentleman on tho subject. The message (states a press cablegram published m .Sydney) was in the lorni of an invitation to Senator Smith to visit London and deliver a lecture, or scries of lectures, on “Navigation, and the Safety of Liners at Sea.” The seriousness with which the offer was treated was evidently greater tlian that with which it was made, lor the gentleman who has made himself so unonyiably conspicuous in the Titanic inquiry replied stating that acceptance of the oiler would be inconsistent with his [KJsition as a Senator. It was, in fact, impossible for him to comply with the request. A corkscrew is a new thing to uso for the purpose of righting a cart ami horse capsized over an embankment, hut it would appear that it is sometimes used iu tho back-blocks. A settlor not a hundred miles from Whangamomoiia was returning from town with his cart and horse, along a road which was dangerous in many places. Ho was in a happy state of mind, and, it may be added, carried something in his coat pocket to provide against a possible “thirst” the next morning—or that night. Ho was fortunate enough to got within a mile of his home before tho inevitable capsize took place. Though cart and horse landed at tho bottom of the filling, tho driver had the good luck to escape unhurt. Having cleared himself and climbed up on to die road, ho called out to his nearest neighbour, “Hoy, Jock! Como and gi’ us a ban’ to got my curt up—and bring a corkscrew wi’ you.”

"When speaking of the value of money investment institutions as a means of making young men and women frugal and industrious, a shareholder at the annual mooting of tho Ashburton Loan and investment Society and Bank of Deposit on Tuesday evening said that ton years ago ho was wortli “a brass farthing.” Ho had been induced to become a shareholder in the society', and to-day he was pleased to say that he had thereby saved sufficient money to make his property free-bold. He added that if young men and women would ho induced to pay a portion of their earnings into such institutions instead of frittering tho money away on Unnecessary pleasures, tho day would collie when they would not regret the stop they had taken. The same principle is applicable to all money saving institutions and investment societies, which have much to commend them.

The exact mode of procedure in connection with the erection of the wireless telegraph station at Bluff has not been clearly defined,- but it is stated, says tlm Southland Times, that the installation will probably be commenced at an early date. Already one hundred and twenty eases of material required lor the station are to hand, tho latest eonsignment of forty cases having arrived at Bluff by the Moeraki on Monday. This is said tc comprise the bulk of the material to oe used, and qnly another small consignment is necessary to complete the outfit. It is understud that a start will bo made on tho installation of the plant directly on tho completion of the Auckland station. In this connection the explanation is put forward that a targe number of the men employed on tho Auckland installation, moulding tho exports, will of necessity have to be present at the erection ot tho Bluff station. A woman boot-black will shortly start in business at one of tho street corners in the busiest part of the West End of London, where she will do for women, says tho Bally Express, the work that tho boy boot-black has so long done for .men. In an interview with an Express representative this pioneer said: ‘T think it is high time that women should be ®blo to got a quick shine in the street. As things are now, unless women resort to the usual trick of cleaning the toecaps of their shoes by friction on their stockings, they are often compelled to go about with muddy shoes. I have already bought my outfit, and shall begin work very soon. I shall wear no uniform, but a long Holland overall to preserve uiy dross, a pair of gloves, and a becoming toque. Of course, 1 shall not accept men customers, so that those who are already in tho business need not be afraid of my competition. I shall only work for women, children, and boys up to tho age of ten, if they are with their mother, of their nurse. It will bo an honest, clean, and useful career, which should be gradually taken up in time ; in fact, 1 think its development will entitle me to bo considered a public benefactress.”

jM. and Madamo Lebrun were divorced eight years ago (writes the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph). Mile. Bebrun, now seventeen, was entrusted to her mother’s-care, and she has Just got engaged to a clerk ton years her senior., Her mother gave her consent. Her father refused his, on tin* ground that she is over-young to marry yet. The result was a lawsuit. What could the Judge do bettor than interview the girl. Ho did so, and this is the paternal report; “Whereas the information concerning the prospective bridegroom, as regards his constitution, his morals, and his worldly position is excellent; whereas the information regarding the prospective bride is equally comforting; whereas the Court has been enabled by a personal interview with the latter in Chambers to ascertain that the prospective bride possesses every 7 appearance of robust health, as also a maturity of mind quite exceptional for her ago; whereas, finally, in these circumstances the father's scrap!to, however worthy of respect they may he, are not Justified, his opposition must, ho rejected.” Therefore, the Court having satisfied itself that Mile. Itolnnn is not overyonug to marry, Mile. Lebrun may marry her sweetheart forthwith. During the past few days AVhite and Sons have opened several now patterns in dress tweeds. The keen demands for a stout tweed for knock-about skirts is well met by a very fine material the firm are showing at 2s lid per yard. It is 54 inches wide, and can bo done in four different shades.*

As each succeeding shipment of German Owls has been imported for .the destruction of the small birds which play havoc with tho orchard and grain crops, the virtues of tho little owl, have been proclaimed broadcast. Periodically some mention has been made of the work the owls are doing-, and now* serious complaint has been made against them. Now, however, Mr. A. J. Keith, of Ashburton, whoso property adjoins that in which soinc of the birds were liberated, has informed a local reporter that he has been closely watching the habits of the owls, and he has oorae to tho conclusion that they are utterly useless as exterminators of small birds. According to Mr. Keith, several of the owls had remained in tho trees around his residence since they were liberated, and although he made close and continuous inspections ho had never seen any feathers under the trees, which would indicate that small birds had been killed by their alleged natural enemies. It would bo interesting to hear what orchardists and farmers about Hastings have to say regarding the usefulness or otherwise of the owls liberated in their district. It may not be good news for the ladies'of Now South Wales, who are most intimately concerned in his welfare (says tho Sydney paily Telegraph), that the opossum is in such grave danger of extinction that tho Government have found it necessary to extend the period of his protection to the end of the year, and there is every reason to assume that the little animal whose fur is so much in demand will he a privileged resident in New South AVales long after the year has turned. The eastern slopes of tho State are tho only districts where tho ’possum is now to be found in any numbers, and there have been such onslaughts upon the animal during the past few years that the recent rate of destruction only needed to be carried on a little longer for tho result indicated to happen. A great ground of complaint is that you,ng animals have been recklessly slaughtered, and on representations being made to the Government it was decided that tho slaughtering of opossum should for the time being be absolutely prohibited. In this connection it may bo observed that both tho police and museum, authorities declare that the second half of tho year is the best period for tho close season in ordinary circumstances.

Low prices on rugs are’ announced by the Melbourne. Bush rugs, 60in by 64in, 5s lid ; striped reversible bush rugs 70in by SOin, 10s 6d; reversible check rugs, SOin by lOOin, 15s 6d; all-wool fringed rugs, 10s 6d; Kaiapoi travelling rugs, wonderful value,' 15s 6d.*