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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144197, 13 September 1913, Page 2

The West End Foreshore Improvement Society acknowledges with thanks donations of trees and shrubs from Messrs. Duncan and Davis. MessrsDavis and Lee, Mr, J. Reven and Mr. O. Deacon; also £1 10s from Mr. AStaodish, senr.

"How do you feel after tho race?” was a question put to Snell, tho Australian cyclist just before ho started on his 30-mile journey this afternoon. "Oh, a bit stiff after climbing tho hill (Mt. Egmont) yesterday, but I’ll soon work that off. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything to equal tho pretty scenery up there. It’s just beautiful, and is alone worth making tho trip lor.”

A process of waterproofing likely to bo of great value to the financial world has been introduced by Mrs. Kmcet Hart, tho first woman to matriculate no a medical student, and tho first to weave ramie with linen. It was during her travels in Asia that she discovered the commtiocial value of ramie, and subsequently sucoedod in waterproofing the material. Sirs. Hart’s process has berm applied in a novel way. Tho material, after being rendered waterproof, was utilised m the manufacture of bank noted for an Egyptian bank, and by this means hygienic money has been made a possibility, for the notes may bo washed and disinfected. Further, it is claimed that the very treatment of tho fabric makes forgery an impossibility. Tho State of Victoria has an interesting method of dealing with congee ted schools. In overcrowded areas canvas schools are erected at a cost of £3 per student, compared with a cost of £7 to £l2 if erected in brick or wood. Tho students, says Mr. F. Hagelthom, the Victorian Minister, who is at present in Auckland, much appreciate these schools. Male teachers are scarce in Victoria, as they are in New Zealand, but the Government has recently voted tho sum of £70,000 for an increase in salaries, in order to attract bettor men. “Female teachers,” says Mr, Hagelthom, "are not so satisfactory as men, as they get married and go, whereas a male teacher, if ho gets married, often becomes of greater value to the State, as ho retains, his position and has his wife to help him.’’ Mr. P. P. Burrows will (weather permitting) have his telescope available in Devon Street on Monday nightj the 15th instant, when all those desirous of viewing the eclipse of the moon should seize this opportunity. The small sum of 6d will be charged.—Advt.

Sport suits are going to bo “all the rage” this season. The Kash, the great outfitters, is to the front,, as nsual. with a splendid range of these suits in all the newest colourings. They are priced a little lower just now for the sale, so it will pay you to buy now. Prices range from 4os to Sss.*

The Garrison Band will hold its ■second municipal concert at Fitzroy to-morrow afternoon.

Mr. E. J. Broad, of Urenui, has just imported from Scotland a valuable working collie. Mr. Broad is at present an inmate of the hospital and until ho is able to get about again the dog will be in charge of Mr. W. Grant, of Wostown. The latter speaks very highly of the dog as a worker.

In the course of a heated discussion at a bankruptcy meeting in Timaru on Monday, the bankrupt, in explaining several details in connection with tho illness of his wife, stated that at one time she seemed to be going quite blind. 1 ‘ Perhaps,” remarked one of the creditors coolly, “that would bo with seeing so many bills rolling in.” A peculiar claim was received by the Patea County Council - when an erstwhile employee asked for remuneration for time during which ho was incapitated. Claimant was bitten by a spider three years age, and when a claim for compensation was made to the insurance company it refused to consider it. Tlio council decided that it could not entertain the claim.

Thors is some profit in oyster picking. Last year tho State picked, in the Auckland and, Bay of Islands beds, 7728 sacks, which wore sold for £5212, and left a profit, after paying interest and sinking fund on oil launches and other plant of the oyster picking department, of £1146 17s 2d. From the beds in the Foveaux Straits 1,522,133 were picked.

Mr. E. Griffiths has purchased a young Jersey bull Goddmgton Noble 9th from the well-known English breeder. Mr. Alexander Millar Hallot, of Goddiugton, Kent. Goddington Noble 9th is on board the Pakeha which is duo to arrive at Auckland on tho 17th. inet. He is a particularly well brod animal, being by Goddington Noble out' of Petune’s Baby, a dairy cow with an exceptionally good record.

Reporting on a visitation to a country cliargo at tho Presbytery in. Christchurch on Wednesday, one of tho commission stated, .regarding tho state of religion in the district, tiiut some were optimistic and others pessimistic. “But,” ho added, “the optimists agree that there is room for improvement, whilst the pessimists agreed that things might bo worse.” A smile went round tho Presbytery at this presentation of the case.

Tho local manager of tho Union Company has been advised that it has boon agreed to take butter from Wellington via San Francisco without extra freight to Vancouver to tho extent of space not required for San Francisco shipments. All cold storage in San Francisco steamers to be held for San Francisco shipments until 56 days before sailing date from Wellington, and whatever portion not then booked for Sau Francisco will then be available for Vancouver.

Tho Education Board’s inspectors will pay their annual examination visit io the Central School on Monday and Tuesday next, and the West End on Wednesday and Thursday. Tho aim of {llia examination is simply to test the children’s knowledge of the work already done, and not for passes, as so many erroneously think. Tho pass examination is hold .by tho head teacher, and takes place in December, when in deciding the promotions the child’s work for tho whole year is taken into consideration. The passes in Standard VI. only are awarded by the inspectors. At fihe hearing of a truancy case at the Takata Court recently, the Magistrate (Mr. J. S. Evans) said "it was a nufflt unreasonable thing to expect a parent to obtain a medical certificate of illness in eases where children are kept at home for that reason.” His Worship went on to say that such requirement might involve poor parents in heavy expenses in country districts (which they octold ill afford), while teachers'or members of school committees could just as easily satisfy themselves of the bona fidcs of parents claiming exemption from the attendance at school of children said to be sick.

In referring to the slaughtermen’s strike during tho last meat-freezing season, tho chairman of the Wanganui Freezing Company stated at Tuesday's annual meeting that ho would not say he regretted that the strike had taken place. He thought all shareholders would agree that it was better for the company to go through it than submit to such demands as were made upon it. The companies bad won, but all such experiences cost money, and the Wanganui Freezing Company had had to pay for losing time during tho busy season. There was now a new Slaughtermen’s Union, and no further trouble was expected. The thanks of the company were due to the other unions who had stood by them, and the chairman specially mentioned tho work of sonfe of the older hands in responsible positions who had taken their coats off and gone back to tho work of their younger days in order to keep things going.

Tho establishment of a farmers’ bank was proposed at a meeting of the Farmers’ Union Executive on Tuesday afternoon by Captain Colbeck. His idea, ho explained, was that such a bank would prove useful to farmers, in the case of small sums of money which under present conditions remained idle in the bank. Other farmers might be' short of money while holding solid security in the nature of stock, growing crops, etc- which they could offer for short-dated loans. A system of cooperation between these two classes would prove beneficial to both. Advances could b© limited to a email amonn-t, say £IOO. In some European countries such’ banks restricted advances to £IOO. A draft proposal of a working scheme drawn up by Captain Colbeck was referred to a sub-commit-tee consisting of Captain Colbeck, Messrs. M-‘Gregor t Magill, Roes, and the chairman (Major Lnsk) and secretary (Mr. A. Schmitt) ox-officio. That the compulsory service conditions of tho Defence Act are not ploying irksome to the youth of Australia is shown by the latest training figures, which were made available by the military authority last week, ’these show that of the 18-year-old boys who were duo to join tho citizens' soldiers’ ranks at tho beginning of July, 16,849 out of 17,194 responded to the call to arms. In Queensland only 46 lads failed to come forward for training; in Now South AVales, 43 shirked their duty; in Victoria, 79; in South Australia, 81; in West Australia, 96; while in Tasmania every boy eligible to join the fighting line took his place for service. In senior cadets, 144,536 bows between 14 and 17 years of age registered their names and 99,624 were medically examined, 91 per cent, proving medically fit for service. Out of 90,674 liable for service, only 2937 failed to respond to the call to arms. In Queensland 290 sliirked duty; in New South Wales, 1114; in Victoria, 623; in South Australia, ISO; in West Australia, 107; and in Tasmania, 614.

The vogue of tho rough felt hat for men is very extensive this season, and is almost sure to vie with the everpopulor straw boater for pride of place tor spring and summer wear. The Melbourne is showing a fine assortment of all tho latest felt hate at prices ranging from 6s 6d to 11s 6d.*

The services in the Wlnteley Memorial Church to-morrow will be conducted in the morning by the Rev. H. T. Peat and in the evening by the Rev, J. «. Burton, The evening subject will bo, “The Larger Universe: A Discussion of Sir Oliver Lodge’s Recent Statements regarding the Spiritual.”*

A house on Mr. A. Alexander’s property at Ratapiko was destroyed by fire about two o’clock on Thursday morning. The house, which was valued at about £4OO, was insured for £226 in the Phoenix Office, but Mr. Hair, the occupier, had no insurance on his furniture, most of which was destroyed. On Friday next the second of. the series of literary lectures arranged for by the Library Committee will bo given by the Rev. A. H. Colvil© on “Romance in Modern English Literature.” The Council Chamber having proved' too small to accommodate the audience at the first lecture it has been decided to hold Friday’s lecture in the Good Templar Hall, which it is hoped will bo well filled.

Tho British Weekly lately offered prizes for the best lists of the ten’ men m the country who would be most missed. The result was published recently, the names appearing in the order given:—Mr. Lloyd George, the Prime Minister, Sir Edward Grey, Mr. A. J. Balfour, Dr. Clifford, Viscount Kitchener, Earl Roberts, Dr. Meyer, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, and Dr. Campbell Morgan. Tho first three—Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Asquith, and Sir Edward Grey—far outdistance all others on the lists^

The tuatara lizard has disappeared from all parts of New Zealand except the unfreouented islands round 9m* coasts, and it is rapidly disappearing from there also. Mr. W. H. D. Bell recently tabled a question in tho House of Representatives asking the Government whether they would take steps to ensure tho adequate protection of tuatara lizards on the mutton-bird islands. It was understood, he said, that visitors to tho mutton-bird islands—more especially Natives—were in the habit of thoughtlessly killing tuatara lizards in considerable numbers, and he suggested that effective steps should be taken to prevent such killing. The reply which the Prime Minister gave to the question was not encouraging. “It is feared,” said Mr. Massey, “that the expense of attempting to protect' the tuatara on islands frequented by muttonbirds would be prohibitive. It is an offence to take ov destroy the tuatara, but it is practically impossible to prove offences by those who visit the islands to take piutton-bircls. The Government is informed, however, that so far as the Maoris arc concerned, there is little danger of interference with, these reptiles.”