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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144134, 2 July 1913, Page 2

At the meeting of the National Park Board on Tuesday, there was a long discussion with reference to tho Stratford house and its unsatisfactory financial position, and members expressed the opinion that unless there was a very material improvement during the coming season the house should bo abandoned.

At Christchurch on Tuesday, before Mr.’H. W. Bishop, SAL, the claim of Mrs. Steeds, wife of A. H. Steeds, of New Plymouth, for maintenance, was heard. * The defendant’s evidence was hoard hero last week. _ An order was made for separation, 35s a week maintenance to be allowed by defendant to complainant, the latter to have custody of the child. The effort of Christchurch retailers to popularise Friday night and make it as luring to siioppers aud pedestrians as its predecessor of long association— Saturday night—is having a very successful result apparently. , Last Friday night the streets were quite busy, and the shops were as gay as ever they were on Saturday, and many of those who declined to open for business kept their, fronts lighted for the exhibition of their iVires. The crowds were not very dense and the trams were not doing a Saturday business, but it seems probable that Friday and Saturday will bo much busier in the aggregate now than formerly.

A foreign railway company has solved the plan of getting good shaped trees in a short time, though they are small. Those trees after two years givo as much shade as trees planted in the ordinary way when they are fifteen or twenty "years old. The company gets a small elm tree preferably, digging this, roots and all, from the ground. The tree is then replanted, the top part being set in the ground and the roots left in the air. The tree then grows, forms roots on what was originally' the top of the tree, and the original roots that now take the place of the branches begin to form foliage very quickly. Beautiful specimens of snch inverted trees are to bo seen near the fountains in tho Kensington Gardens. An amusing story from the divorce courts, in which a wife'claimed to have her marriage annulled because her husband never kissed her is going the rounds. Tho latter, ■in a speech of over an hour's duration, which contained many ingenious arguments against the practice of kissing, said he did not deny that he never now kissed his wife. He had an aversion against kissing, he explained, because it was tho hypocrite’s chief weapon. He prefei red. to show his love by de<als; by tender indulgence towards ins wife, but chiefly by liberality in iter dress allowance. lie was prepared, he said, to produce married women of repute who woidd aver their preference' for marital conditions such as ho offered; for generous cheques rather than generous kisses. His chief argument, however, was on hygienic grounds. Ho quoted many eminent scientists who have condemned the ancient but unhygienic habit,'and thofe was applause in court as he finished speaking. Counsel for Mrs. Macfarland asked permission to produce three witnesses. Then, while the court rocked with laughter, threo attractive actresses followed each other into the witness-box and swore that Mr, Macfarland had quite recently kissed them repeatedly. This decided tho case in favour of tho unkissed lady. The story of Samson and Delilah is tamo compared with that of Miss Susan van Wert, of New York, and the burglar. Miss van Wert did not shear tho burglar of his hair, but she wiled several hundred pounds’ worth of jewellery out of him with a smile. Sho found him in her room in tho early evening ransacking her dressing table. “Well, aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” sho asked coolly. “You ought to Im.” Tho young man swung round on his heel. Then ho advanced towards her with a jemmy in his hand. “I’ll kill you if you say a word or make a noise,” he hissed. Miss van Wert sat down on i|Ue bed and laughed. “Now don’t you scream,” commanded the burglar. Miss van Wert played another card. “You look too decent a young man to bo a burglar,” she said, sweetly. Tho flattery worked. The young man said he was stealing to get money to go West and start an honest life. Miss ran Wort kept on smiling. “Don’t you think you’d bettvr give mo my things back?” she said. Tho burglar took out jewellery from his pockets and .laid it on the bed beside her. Then he took out some money, about £3 in all. Miss van Wert looked at it scornfully. “Keep it,” she said. Then she smiled again. “This is tho way to the door,” she said, and the burglar wont quietly away. Miss van Wert is still smiling. For frosty weather tho “Prestwcll” overcoat is a necessity. Made in tho latest stylo, in colonial and English tweeds, thoy are tho finest overcoats sold in Taranaki., Tho low prices usually prevailing at Tho Kash apply to these overcoats too. Commencing at 255, thoy range up to tho highest grade at Css. CalLround and see our- outside

Captain Halsey has conveyed his thanks to the Taranaki Agricultural Society for its geenrous gift of vegetables to Now Zealand.

For tho quarter ending June 30, the total Customs duties collected at tho port of New Plymouth by the Collector of Customs (Mr. J. H. Hempton) amounted to £12,407 os 2d, consisting principally of general tariff £12,282 8s Id, and preferential tariff £122 3s 3d. Tho amount for tho corresponding period of last year was £12,070 2s lid, made up of general tariff £11.8i5 19s 7d, and preferential tariff £194 3s 4d. The excise duty on beer was this quarter £l9l 18s, compared with £147 3s for last year’s period.

"With tho current issue the “Journal of Agriculture” has entered upon the fourth year of its existence. It is now (says n editorial note) a firmly established and effective link between tho department and tho farmers of tho Dominion. That it is appreciated by those in whoso benefit it is issued is proved by the fact that there are now 10,618 subscribers, while 1050 copies go to reading-rooms and libraries,' foreign Departments of Agriculture, experimental stations, and investigators of agricultural science in all parts of the civilised world. The present satisfactory position of tho “Journal” is said to bo duo principally to the splendid co-operation of tho different divisions of the department, tho leading members of which have liberally contributed to its pages. Tho present issue is a particularly good one and contains many special articles of great value to the farming community. Tho Auckland public did not appreciate being unable to hoard the New Zealand during her last visit, although it had been fully understood from tho outset that they would bo debarred from so doing. Throughout the week throngs of people congregated at tho various points from which the warship might bo viewed, and many stood gazing at her for long hours at a time. A rather seedy-looking individual attempted tho other day to pass the sailor-warden of one of the barricade gates. On being prevented from passing his indignation knew no bouneu. Lifting an arm, the sleeve on which was sadly frayed, he thus anathematised the bluejacket, “You, sir,” quoth lie, “I would have you know that I am part owner of that ship. But for me, aud the other inhabitants of this country, you would ho looking for work.” Whereon he strode away, with tho air of one who possessed a grievance for the term ’of his natural life. Much amusement was caused at the New Y T ork immigration station at Ellis Island by the urgent petition of two pretty blue-eyed Danish girls, Alfild Anderson and Ingeborg Jansen, of Copenhagen, for permission to depart immediately for Winona (Minnesota). They aro tho cheerful victims of an eccentric will made by their grandfather, who bequeathed them each a half-share of 600 acres of fiiio farm lands on rendition that they marry within thirty days of their arrival in New York. By the terms of tho will, which the two fair cousins explained to an interpreter, title to the lands will not be finally vested with either of them until they became mothers. If at the end of five years one of the cousins has a child and the other has not, the motherless one will lose half her land to the other. If neither has children at the end of five years the entire property is to revert to a male cousin in Denmark. Both girls departed for Minnesota, confidently declaring in broken English that they would find good husbands within tho stipulated term.

The feelings of Captain Halsey and tho Prince of Battonburg, his lieutenant, upon being kissed by the -Maori maidens at Russell, says Mercurio in the Auckland Herald, may bo supposed to have been slightly ruffled at tho time, notwithstanding that they faced tlie ordeal like true gallants. Tho amorous onslaught upon tho two officers highly amused all the others who were looking on, but they do say aboard tho battleship that none dared openly to give wav to mirth lest ho himself might he next selected for a caress. Tho valedictory address presented to tho ship’s officers last "Wednesday recalled the kissing incident naively enough. “May the caresses of our people showered' upon you at Russell,” ran tho words of the address, “linger in your memories, aud remain fttr ever in your hearts, as being a spontaneous manifestation of the lovo and affection wo bear you.” Our Maoryfriends need have no fear. The caresses in question will nob bo permitted to perish from tlie memories of the captain and the Prince. The navy will see to that.

Tho pacifist sentiments expressed by Mr. Bryan, United States Secretary cf State, have provoked the Daily Mail to caustic comment. “Mr. Bryan has a fine plan for tho settlement of all international disputes,” says that journal, “but in the meantime some of his own countrymen are hinting that pending the arrangement of universal peace .Mr. Bryan might see whether lie cannot keep tlie United States out of a whole series of quarrels and misunderstandings and breaches of international p morality into which it seems to be drifting.” “There is in tho first place tho trouble over the Panama Canal and tho flagrant violation of the Hay-Paunce-foto treaty. Then there is tho new tariff, which has elicited protests not only from Downing Street, -but also from Franco and other Powers, as an infringement of "the ‘inost-favonred-na-tion’ or equality-of-treatnient clauses m a whole, batch of treaties. And then there is tho Californian anti-Japanese legislation, which quits a pacifist State Secretary in a very awkward situation indeed.”

A correspondent writing to the Sydney Morning Herald from Calgary, Canada, says that tho cost of living there has become so prohibitive that the ladies of that city have formed a committee, called tho Housewives’ League, and already over 3000 women have joined. Meetings are held weekly, and reports are read giving tho prices of commodities in the. wholesale, and in the retail markets. Where the retail price is considered excessive an embargo is placed on tho article, and tho goods are then purchased in the wholesale market and distributed at a price to cover the cost of distribution. All vegetables and fruits are dealt with in this way. Dealers in Calgary who insist in keeping the price of commodities beyond reason arc reported to the league, which promptly orders that such dealers bo not patronised by the members.- Tho members have also pledged themselves not to buy any article which, because of its price, is not in the reach of the housewife with an ordinary income. A daily list of the wholesale and retail prices of commodities is kept at the offices of the league, where housewives may consult before purchasing for the day. The plan is meeting with huge success, and other towns in Canada are considering tho advisability of following the exam-ple-set by tho housewives of Calgary.” Tho American-made oilskin enjoys an enviable reputation in Taranaki, where it knows how to bo wet. The secret of this popularity lies in tho fact that the' Yankee-made article keeps dry under the worst conditions and never goes ‘‘sticky.” The Melbourne specialises in these guaranteed coats, and' the prices are moderate. Slickers 17s (xL and 19s 6d, boys’ colonial coats 8s ild, men’s riding,coats „I2s ..OcU* ,

A slight earthquake shock was felt at 6.39 last night, and this morning Waipawa reports a heavy earthquake at 4.40 a.ra.

By the Arawa, which is due in Wellington next Tuesday, 373 immigrants are expected, including 134 assisted by the Government. There are 35 domestics and 29 farmers.

Miss Lawrence and Mr. Sutcliffe, the victims of the sensational cliff accident on Saturday evening, are, we were informed this afternoon, improving slowly.

Authority has been given to the Chief Librarian by the Wellington City Council to expend the sum of £250 (provided'on the estimates) for the extension of school libraries to such schools as he considers necessary, giving preference to the smaller schools. The late Professor TMackio had a reputation for illegible writing. There used to bo an elderly Highland compositor on an Edinburgh journal who was said to be the only man to set up the professor’s scrawl, but even be was “floored” on one occasion. “I canna set her,” he said, after piizling over the manuscript, “but if I ! had my pipes I could play her!”

Fifty years ago to-day the Omaranni engagement, which practically saved Napier from attack daring the Maori War, took place and a handful of survivors assembled on the historical ground to-day to celebrate the occasion. A roll was called, the Last Post sounded and a short address given by the Hon. J. D. Ormond. The party then returned to Napier and participated in a dinner.—Press Association!

Shortly before 8 o’clock on Tuesday evening a motor accident happened at the corner of Devon and Liardet Streets, which might have been attended with much more serious results than was the case. One of Mr. Newton King’s motor-cars was turning the corner after climbing the Devon Street lull. A motor-cyclist named A. Clair (who was “double-banking” a young lady) was about to negotiate the corner from the southern end of Liardet St. On seeing the car the cyclist veered over to the right in an endeavour to avoid it. However, a collision was inevitable, and the cycle was struck nearly broadside on, and was badly wrecked. The youn- lady was thrown clear of the car, but Clair was not so fortunate. One of the wheels of the car passed over his body. Ho is suffering severely from shock.

A hint to prospective bridegrooms was given recently by an English vicar, the Rev. A. J. Waldron, who addressed a large crowd in Brockwell Park. “Whatever you do,” said the vicar, “don’t spoil everything on the wedding day by telling your wife what ripping tarts your mother makes. Swallow the bride’s pie; tell her it’s a dream of delight, and then take a pill on the sly.” “When yoirmarry a woman don’t imagine that you/know her. You’d be a fool if you did. She knows you right enough, or she wouldn’t marry you. Judge a person by intellect rather than .bulk. I’d back Disraeli any day against Jack Johnson. Because a woman is well dressed it doesn’t follow that she is clever; somo stylishly dressed women are fools. Don’t judge her by her lips or nose, or the quality, of her dimples, but by intelligence and goodness.”

It seems too bad (writes an American paper) that the perfect baby discovered in New York, after so much patient and expert search, should have been produced -in defiance of eugenic law. The infant is called Abe Idolowitz, and this in itself is a serious handicap. It was born, on the East Side amid unhygienic and uneugenic conditions, and its mother was an immigrant, who married at the ago of 15 years. In fact this misguided baby seems to have made itself perversely acquainted with all the eugenic laws for the purpose of isolating them. In fact, there seems to be some evidence of a criminal conspiracy among the unborn, seeing that the mother of the second best baby is undersized and a cripple, and, therefore, ought to have been forbidden to have any babies at all. Here we have another evidence of tho lawlessness of the day and of a youthful depravity that begins in pre-natal days. It ought to be seen to.