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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144297, 12 January 1914, Page 2

A sharp earthquake was felt hero on Saturday night just as the town clock was striking 10 o’clock. From papers to hand to-day, it still appears that C. A. Lawn (Stratford) has won tho Bayly Scholarship for 1913. H. Hammond (Hawcra) is third with 669 points, but there is no monlion at all of Carmichael (Patea), who scored 200 points in the. athletic contests.

Tho Oamaru Mail says that excellent authority is given for tho statement that Sir Joseph Ward, whilst in England recently, was offered by tho British Government a high official position. Sir Joseph, whose loyalty to New Zealand is a matter of common knowledge, rose above the temptations of a highly lucrative position and social eminence, and firmly declined tho offer; in deference apparently of his well-known desire to return to and help the country that ho loves so well.

A fine lino of fat wethers, to the number of 1427, from Mr. Newton King’s Nukubakari property, arrived at the Waitara Freezing Works on Wednesday, says tho Mail. Tho sheep came through in tho best of condition in charge of Mr. Jas. Edwin. • Ho left with the mob ou December 30, being nine days on tho journey, There was some rough country to negotiate, but despite that and the fact that the weather was hot and trying, only three of tho animals were lest, which is a testimony to tho care taken .by tho drover. Some credit is also dim to Mr. L. Rogers, who had the sltuep under his charge at Nukuhakari.

An instructive leaflet has just been issued by the Timaru Harbour Board, showing the revenue and trade of the port for, tho year just ended, together with comparisons dating back to 1893. The figures show that in the .ten years from 1903 to 1913 the harbour revenue has increased front ,€31,278 to £41,990. the latter being a record for tho port. Tho value of imports and exports (foreign and intercolonial trade only) in 1903 was £1.056,102, while in 1913 it was £1,606,587 —another record. The shipping (inwards) in 1903 totalled 382,090 tons, while in 1913 it was 419.200 tons. Tho imports in 1903 amounted to 61.448 tons, and last year they reached a total of 98,299 tons. The exports in 1903 amounted to 81,251 tons, while last year they reached the respectable total' of 101,513 tons, thereby establishing another record for tho port. Another great business absorption is being discussed in New York. This time it is the. case of the big tobacco company which controls nearly a thousand retail tobacco shops in tho United States securing a one-half interest in a dnif-yist concern which controls 93 stores. Tobacco and medicine are regarded bore as a queer combination, but it is only one of many developments of America’s new economic age. It is known that the tobacco magnates wanted to control the druggist business root and branch, but tho larger stock holders in the latter were unwilling to sell at any price, so the Tobacco ’Trust rests content for the moment with a half victory. The tobacco pepple propose to extend their now selling methods to tho chemists’ business, which means a distribution of coupons to purchasers, redeemable in any article desired. By this means it is predicted that tho druggist concern in question will take' over the counter during the first year of the new business organisation £4,000,000 instead of £3,000,000 of last year. In tho meantime, Washington proposes to investigate tho tobacco concern, which trades as tho United Cigar Stores Company, to ascertain whether it is a trade monopoly. Tobacco magnates ridicule the idea, and explain that their company has less than one-eighth of 1 per cent, of the retail stores in America. The. average American, though thundering against trusts in. theory, recognises clearly that the “trust idea,” as illustrated in tho tobacco and druggist shops, has been followed by cheaper prices aud superior goods. Tho same may bo said of tbs restaurant business in most of the big American cities. There’s a boom in tho men’s suit trade at “Tho Kasb.” This firm handles the largest number of men’s roady-to-woar suits of any firm in Taranaki. They not only see that you get good, honest tweeds in your suits, but they insist on giving you a good fit, aud they'do all alterations free of charge. Get your Christmas suit there; they havo a fine variety of suits to select from.*

White and Sons advertise on page 6 six items of special merit which will be offered for the second week of their sale, commencing to-morrow morning. Needless to say, as tho sale proceeds, there are quantities of other lines and odd items which are priced at very attractive rates.

Miss Coral Barnes, a pupil of the West End School, has been forwarded a cheque for, £3 3s. and a gold medal, sho haring won tho first-prize for the essay on the life of Sir IVm. Wallace. Miss Ida Thomas, of the same school, won the second prize and has received a cheque for £2 2s. The prizes were presented by the Taranaki Provincial .Scottish Society, under whoso auspices the essay competition was held. No. 35 St. Martin Street, Leicester Square, is now being demolished. Isaac Newton lived there from 1720 to 1725, and used to say that the happiest years of his life were spent in an observatory on tho roof. Dr. Burney, the musician, friend of Dr. Johnson, afterwards lived in tho house, and in it was born his daughter Fanny, afterwards Mme. d’Arbiay, who wrote her first novel, ‘‘Evelina," in the house. Much of tho internal work has been saved, but the London County Council found it impossible to preserve the house. Sunday was a glorious day at the North Egmont Mountain Hostelry, and tho largo number of visitors spent a most enjoyable time. Tho sky was almost cloudless and a fine view of the surrounding country was obtainable. A party of eleven, mostly New Plymouth men, left tho house early in the morning and all succeeded in reaching tho summit after a bard climb. They spent half an hour glissading over the fine stretch, of snow oa the return trip. Tho houses are well occupied by visitors, and over 80 people sat clown to dinner on Sunday. Through tho generosity of Mr. S. Teed the hostelry lias been provided with a First Aid outfit. It was on the. Auguste Victoria, homeward, bound (says the Argonaut),, that two Americans, a Frenchman) and an Englishman wore discussing tho relative value of European and American waiters, with the balance much in favour of tho transatlantic variety. To,illustrate his point, the American related tho experience of a Now Vorker in a Broadway cafe, whose bill of fare afforded a choice of mince pie, cherry pie. custard pic, and apple pio. "You may bring me,” said the guest, "a piece of apple, of cherry, and of custard pie." ‘‘Well,’’ ejaculated the waiter, "what is tho matter with tiro mince pio, sir?” After tho laugh had subsided tho Englishman leaned across tho table, "Beg pardon. Dr. Smith, but what was the. matter with tho mince pio?" During the American War (relates General Bengough, in his lately-pub-lished "Memoirs of a Soldier's Life”) General Grant bad some censorious critics, and .several of them asked President Lincoln, for an audience to report to him on an important matter connected with the Commander-in-Chief of tho Federal armies. Their request was granted. “Well, gentlemen,” said tho President, “what is this you wish to speak to me about General Grant?” “Well, sir,” said the spokesman, "we are sorry to toll you what wo think you ought to know, that General Grant is in the habit of drinking, spirits to a considerable extent, and, indeed, that ho has been known to go into action, wall, not quite sober.” "Indeed," said the President, “is it so? And can you tell me what it is that General Grant drinks?” “We have some reason, sir, to believe that he drinks whisky.” “Really, gentlemen, and could you tell me the brand of the whisky that he drinks?” “No, sir, we have not inquired into such details.” “That is very important,’ gentlemen,” said the President, “for if I knew the brand of whisky that General Grant drinks I’would send a dozen of it to each of ray generals. Good morning, gentlemen.” Tfao foremost woollen mills in the Dominion contribute to the- Melbourne’s superb stock of men’s saddle tweed trousers—the finest in Taranaki. In addition to the firm’s well-known lino at 8s Gd, tho following makes are stocked: Rostyn saddle tweeds, 10s Gd and 11s 6d; Kaiapoi and Pctone saddle tweeds, 10s Gd; Oamaru saddle tweeds, 13s 6d and 18s Gd.*