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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144085, 2 May 1913, Page 2

A London cablegram states that the Peninsular and Oriental Company has declared a dividend of 7 per cent. The English Butterfly Company will appear in the Theatre Royal for two nights at the end of the month. The girls in Dunedin who are collecting for, the' Y.W.C.A. building fund had raised £2026 by last Saturday. This week an attempt is being made to reach the £SOOO required. There is evidently a very fair demand in New Plymouth at the present time for houses to let, for an advertisement appearing in the Herald'on Wednesday night, announcing a 4-roomed cottage to let, brought forth 19 urgent inquiries. One of the land marks of early Now Plymouth disappeared this, morning when the stone parapet on the south side of the culvert which spans the Huatoki Stream in Devon Street, was dismantled. The wall was erected, together with the culvert, in 1575 by the late Mr. Henry Hooker, and the marble tablet which gave this information will, it is understood, be forwarded to the relatives of Mr. Hooker. Warm shirts for’boys at the Melbourne—Just arrived a big shipment of warm dark union shirts, sizes 2 to 9, prices 2s 4d to 2s lid; also in stock, plenty of warm worsted jerseys with button shoulders, 3s 6d to 4s lid, and. heavy ali-ccok saddlo knickers, Sdb U>rrf&-fQd£> .1

It was stated at a meeting of the Ho«se of Charity for Distressed Persons in London, Soho, that a poorlyclad woman had called and handed to the warden a bag containing 100 sovereigns. Fity years ago, the woman said, she received great kindness when an inmate of the institution, and had saved tho money since that time, in order to make the present.

The Public Service /Commissioner gazettes a notice that the public service entrance examination, formerly known as the Civil Service Junior Ex'amination, will be held on or about November 18 and following days. The public service senior examinations, formerly the Civil Service Senior Examinations, will be held about January 5 and following days. A Nelson strawberry grower, Mr. W. S. Mears, who has a hillside section on Montreal Road, off Toi Toi Valley, has had a lengthy season of-picking. He cultivates several thousand plants, and commenced picking in October, and over since has been able to gather berries in lalrge quantities. Last week he had a heavy picking, the berries, Melbas and Beauty of Kent, being still firm, and the quality excellent. It surely says something for the suitableness of the district for strawberry culture (remarks tho Mail) when tho ripe Lorries can bo gathered for at least seven months in tho year.

Tho experiment in the matter of distributing fish like post cards has not been successful- Tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Postmaster-General, confessed that fact on Friday afternoon when speaking at Ravensbourno. The same -story hod to bo told of the reduction in book postage, whicli had been introduced for tho benefit of country libraries. Ho had had to close down on that scheme. The fruit post was another experiment that had not come up to expectations, but he intended to keep it going, because lie believed that when it was better known tho townspeople would take advantage of it. The fruit-growers themselves were somewhat lax in tho matter, and lie proposed to assist them by allowing them to place in the post offices a list of their prices, so that people on going to a post office to forward an order, would know exactly what they were' giving for their fruit. . f The Legislative Committee which is inquiring into the management of the charity of tho city of Chicago has disclosed- further extraordinary trade in infants. It was found that an understood arrangement existed between doctors and maternity " homos. Chicago was practically the clearing-house for tho supply of babies to childless people in tho middle-west-ern States. Tho demand was principally for orphan babies, and three times the number could bo placed in comfortable homos. Dr. Brincy, head ofone sanitorium, the committee learned, used to contract with unmarried patients so that after their children were born the mothers were hired out as ivet-nurscs in wealthy families. Meanwhile, their own children, deprived of their natural food, were brought up on. artificial foodp.' Dr. Wood, principal of a maternity institution, eafd that friendless girls were made to sign a; contract giving up all rights to their babies.

A man was picked up recently by the Sydney police, who seemed to bo suffering from mental aberration, but on recovery gave this account of himself; — When he left his happy homo early in the morning, his wife kissed him goodbye, as she was accustomed to do when sho wanted any errand performed, and then asked him to “go to the dressmaker’s and tell her that she (Ins wife) had changed her mind, and would have the watered silk made up instead of the poplin; and be sure and tell her, dear,” said his wife, “that if she thinks it would look better with ten bias flounces without puffing and pleated below the equator, which should be gathered in hom-stitchod gudgeons np and down the seams, with a gusset between, she can make it np in that way, instead of fluting tho bobinette insertion, and piercing out with point applique, as I suggested yesterday.” At latest advices the husband was still suffering from a form of insanity brought about by shock.

Durban has a bar harbour, and tho residents were not at all sure that H.M.S. New Zealand would go inside., From the report in the Cape Times, wo learn that the weather was rough when the warship reached tho heads, and it was with considerable difficulty that, tho pilot boarded her. The question of entering was put to Captan Halsey, who, after learning that tho Medio, which has a greater draught, had entered the day before, placed himself' entirely in the hands of the port au- ; thorities. Captain Young, the chief pilot, at once said to Captain Halsey: “Give me 12 knots, please,” and the cruiser entered at 15 miles an hour, performing; the passage “like a swallow.” The local writer says it was considered a splendid feat of seamanship to navigate tho cruiser into port. Captain Halsey complimented the port' authorities on bringing his ship inside after such a heavy storm, stating that of nil the harbours he knew none had such a difficult bar as Durban. When the cruiser wont out of Durban she was drawing 29ft. Bin., and there was 35ft. on the bar.

“Have you been reading books?” was the question put by a solicitor to a small boy who appeared at the Invercargill Police Court on Friday, charged with theft. “No,” remarked the delinquent, “but I have been to the pictures.” This was a case in which two boys, aged ten and eleven years respectively, and who appeared at the Court some time ago in connection with a fire at the Middle School, wore charged with the theft of various articles. Mr. Russell, who appeared for the offenders, said that the theft took - place cm Good Friday, and, unknown to their parents, who had sine© severely chastised them for it, one of them still bearing marks of a dogging. Thepicturesmd evidently fired TOiotr imagination. When questioned by~ Detec 6ivO'Cameroa, the tads stated that they had intended to build a hut on ort© of the reserves, with a view, no doubt, to setting up a supposed Red Indian camp. They were convicted and discharged, the Magistrate stating that if they again appeared before the Court they would be immediately despatched to the Industrial School. The children’s practises for the Fire Brigade Ball will commence to-morrow (Saturday) in the Good Templars’ Hall, at 2.30 p^m. T. Petty’s Great Reduction Furniture Sale commences on .Saturday, May 3. The premises are full of wellmade furniture, and has been reduced to the lowest possible price. There must be some article of furniture you require in the house, so get in early and inspect the stock.* Although the price of leather has advanced considerably during the last two months, the quality of the 16s 6d boots at The Kash remains the same. They were fortunate enough to place their orders seven months ago at firm prices. This 16s 6d men’s boot can bo had in seven- distinct shapes and weights, and every month sees a great advance in ’the number of. boots-sold. Get a pair. You’ll bu-perfertly~eatisficd-.vufhZ.tliO,.‘ weaaj?- I-A

In the Supreme Court, on the motion of Mr. Quilliam (Govett and Quilliam), probate of the will of the late James Provo Millar has boon granted to Mr. J. P. Millar (junr.), tho .executor named in tho will. ,

An extraordinary incident was witnessed at a funeral in Hampstead, England, last week. One of tho horses drawing the hcarsa was attacked in a most ferocious fashion by a brindlo bulldog. All attempts to beat the dog off failed, the savage brute persisting in the attack until it had killed the horse.

The bright days of Hokitika seem further back than oyer now, and soon the Borough Council will be able to take “Icfiabod” for its This week the headquarters of the Westland Law Society have been moved to Groymoutl\, and half the books in the law library sent there, and, the other half to Westport.

Tho Electric Lighting Committee of the Cardiff Council have boon informed bv tho engineer that the reason for tho city being plunged into darkness one night recently was that tho works cat found its way to the high tension gear, and walked across the cables. The cat was killed, copper wires were burned, and the connections cut. On a previous occasion, a similar accident occurred because, of a mouse getting in the gear.

The Irish supplement which The Times published recently contained tho following;—A labourer who fell off a building and fractured his ribs was awarded £25 compensation by tho 'Court. But his solicitor kept £ls for professional services. Tho labourer gazed at the ten sovereigns that were banded to him in great surprise. “What are you looking at?” asked the solicitor. '“Well, as you asked me, air,” replied the workman, “I was ]ust wonderin’ which of us it was that fell off the buildin’ and broke his ribs. Tho Sydney Beferee, in an article on fishing, refers to tho prolific manner m which tho brown trout has bred in 9 ur rivers. The author’s idea of fly fishing in the Dominion, however, is somewhat amusing. “Pacific” writeq thus;—Our English brown trout, however, have flourished amazingly in New Zealand. Al! its inland waters now teem with trout, and, thanks to the abundance of'small fry, these "Fario attain to aldermanio proportions. They have been taken in numbers from lolb. to 201 b. , apiece, and - the most attractive ‘fly’ is : said to be a lump of salt pork. The lithofalt blocks used for the paving of Newmarket’s main thoroughfare, Broadway, hare apparently given rise to contentious argument as to their wearing qualities. In reassuring rate,payers on this point dn'Monday night, the Mayor (Mr. D. Teed) remarked tliat a prominent resident had told him that lie had bet a new hat that the ■blocks would not survive twelve months’ wear. “Ho only has a fortnight to go, and he’s going to lose that hat,” added the Mayor, a a he displayed one of the blocks that had been taken up after being down eleven months and two ' weeks.

At the annual meeting of householders in Huntly, the Socialists of .Huntly were represented, -and took great exception to the school grounds ’being granted for military training purposes. It was moved: “That this meeting of householders instruct its, School Committee that, pending the repeal of the compulsory danse of the Defence Act, and the substituting of a clause adequately guarding against tha, use of the military during industrial strife, the use of the school buildings or grounds be on no account granted to the Defence authorities/’ On the motion being put to the meeting, it was ■declared lost. ,

Mount Ngauruhoe was in a state of unusual activity on Sunday morning, says the Taihape Times. Prom the Raurimu side the sight was exceptionally grand; as the dense volume of smoke which issued from tho crater was coloured crimson by the rising sun. Passengers by the Main Trunk express wore fortunate enough to behold the unusual spectacle of a volcano in full blast. From Waiouru an excellent view was obtained, as the morning was beautifully clear. The eruption continued for several hours, and dense volumes of black smoko issued from the •crater during the greater part of the morning.

“When I came to this country first I would not sleep in a match-lined vroom,” said Mr, M . T. Lill, at a meetring of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union in tho course of remarks relative to what he considered the excessively elaborate quarters provided for'farm labourers in proposed Government regulations. “I wanted to see the stars ’at night,” continued Mr. Lill, “and in a room without any mich little means of ventilation I wouiu nave felt suffocated. That is why we old settlers are living till to-day. That is why we have the lungs we have. Some of the present men die before they have lived at all.”

Mr. A. Joyce writes to the Christchurch Press:—“After considerable study of the question I havp come to the conclusion that there is an immense undeveloped oilfield in Canterbury, parallel with the Southern Alps. , This field'extends from the Orari, near Tim-, aru, to the Ashley. ,If my conclusion is correct, the field is 150 miles long by 30 miles wide, and from the unbroken character of the country, will probably bo found a very valuable one. It is, of course, impossible to estimate the production of oil, but should the people of Canterbury possess sufficient enter-, prise to tost the matter by sinking a few wells, I am convinced the result will bo the opening up of an immense field.”

Berlin has a new skating -rink, which will remain open most of the year, since through a new invention a supply of artificial ice can be obtained which .will not molt even in high temperatures. The substance is. dissolved l in pails of warm water, and then sprayed on the ordinary floor. It dries in the course of a few hours, and then new coats are added until finally it is a third of an inch thick. An excellent skating surface is obtained, and the only effect of heat is to “dry” the ice. The remaining substance can bo re-dissolved and used again. A big store at Cologne has already installed a rink with this artificial ice on one of its upper, floors. It is intended to place the produce on the market, so that all can have their own rink and practise figures of eight and the outside edge at any time of the year.

The loyalty of the Thames natives §ave rise, to a somewhat unusual indent at the sitting of the Native Land Court, vdiich opened on Tuesday morning, presided over by Judge Holland. The natives present announced that they could not remain to attend the sitting of the Court, which would have to be adjourned owing to the fact that they intended to proceed to Auckland to honour the arrival of the battleship New Zealand in that port. His Honounr pointed out that such a proceeding could not be allowed to interfere with the business of the Court, but the natives stated that they could not postpone thou- visit to the battleship, as it was one of great importance from their point of view. Eventually His Honour' had to jxistpone the sitting.for.

Mr. G. B. Shaw has entered the lists against Sir Arthur Pinero, the wellknown playwright. Last week the latter put forward the assertion that the falling-off in the attendances at theatres was because'patrons were not allowed to smoke while the play was on, whereas at the music-halls they were, and the music-halls were successful. Mr. Shaw, in his reply, says that smoking is an utterly filthy and detestable habit. People who smoke should not ho allowed to go to theatres or anywhere else, or even to exist.

An apple-packing match for £2O aside and the championship of the Huon was decided at Huonville, Tasmania, recently, the competitors being Richard Leitch, of Franklin, and Walter Page, of Huonville. They had to wrap and pack fifty cases of apples. Some hundreds of people were present to see the match. Page won by about 16 minutes 25 seconds. His times were: Ten cases, 20rain. XOsec.; 20 cases, 41min. 23sec.; 30 cases, 61min. 42sec.; 40 cases, 79min. 40sec.; 50 cases, 98min. 16soc. This is believed to be a record, being a little under two minutes per case.

Though the Federal Government has no time to devote to any scheme for peopling the Northern Territory, it has apparently time to devote to a project for changing the Territory s name (says a Sydney paper). This important subject is understood to have been discussed when the Administrator was last in Melbourne. The ■proposal is to call the Territory “Kingsland.” It seems that the. Administrator has written to the High Commissioner suggesting that' if the King should come to Australia he should travel by way of Darwin, and calling there give it (the Territory) the name that has been proposed.

The young turbot that , reached Dunedin *by the steamer Waimana from England recently are thriving splendidly in the fish hatchery ; at Portobello. They have . almost doubled in size since their arrival. The crabs and lobsters which came out on the same steamer as the young turbot are taking kindly to the new clime. In previous winters at Portobello fish-hatchery many fish have been killed by the frost, even blue cod being unable to withstand the low temperature to which the frost reduced the shallow water in the ponds. To overcome that a warm circulation is being established at the hatchery in order to i keep the water in the ponds at a livable temperature throughout the winter. A movement of money out of the Post Office Savings Bank, which may be stopped by the recent increase in the rate of interest to 3J per cent., is shown in the figures for the quarter ended March 31. Apparently this is usually a period of heavy deposits; in fact,. during the first quarter of last -year the deposits exceeded withdrawals to the extent of £205,789. This year the position is reversed, withdrawals exceeding deposits by £57,092. The withdrawal movement showed its greatest strength in Christchurch and Dunedin, the excess oyer deposits in each city being over £2400. Auckland participated in the movement with a modest £736, but Wellington showed an excess of £969 in its deposits. Wanganui deposits made the biggest upward move, the increases having exceeded £19,000. i, '