LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 94, 2 May 1900, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wo are desi* ed to state that the Education Board propose to close the subscription lists at the schools for the Patriotic I'uud. Any teachers who have not sent in their lists are requested to do so as soon as possible. Instead of holding a social, as previously announced, the Taranaki Guards propose to give a ball some time in June. J£The entries forthe Royal Academy of Music and Uoyal College of Music local examinations have been received in considerable numbers during the last few days, and will be forwarded to Sydney by the next outgoing mail. The Board is very well pleased with the number of names already sent in, being more than double that of "last year, and there is every prospect of the coming examination being the most successful un record. Mr. Richmond, the local superintendent, will be pleased to give to intending candidates particulars that may be required. Three grain graders have been appointed for Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, and Bluff, the cost to be borne by shippers.

TJie Taranaki Guards are daily expecting the uecstsary papers from the Government. As soon as these arrive the " swearing-in " formality will take place, and within a fortnight of that time the public Will be favoured with the sight of our latest voluntcer company apparelled in khaki. Most satisfactory progress is being made in drilling, so Hilton their tirsfc appearance in J uniform the men oughjj to create a inostj favourable impression. j A.adc.- Worm tf.gs art; moht effi.-Olive and not „up.ea.-.aui; children thxin; Ui.ec tai'j.jj' chew, Pricu le,—4dvt, J

'llia Wellington City Council baa been recommended by its Public Works Committee to go on with the erection of a Town Hall and municipal offices as soon as possible. It is calculated that the interest on cost will be more than covered by receipts from the Hall and the present buildings, which could be let. The cost of the new building is estimated at £30,000.

Instances of the kindly contribution of " the widow's mite " are rarely chronicled, though often met with. It is, however, with much pleasure we heard from Mr. E. M. Smith that Mrs. McKoy, the widow of an old soldier, and fast approaching the age of four score years, has made an effort to bene&t the Patriotic Fund. Having nothing to give but the fruit of her own handiwork, the good lady has patiently plodded away at knitting two small woolwork mats, fancifully divided into four squares, a which gives them a very creditable appearance, These she has handed to Mr. Smith in the hope that they will be sold, and the proceeds, small as they may be, devoted to the Patriotic Jfuad. Such a signal and praiseworthy effort deserves to meet with success, and anyone desiring to purchase the mats can do so on application to Mrs. E. M. Smith.

As there is no end to patriotism, an enterprising enthusiast at Pleasant Point (l'imaru; has hit on an expedient for ensuring a beginning of that soul-stirring sentiment. During the progress of the annual householders meeting the individual referred to (Mr, Kay) started a subscription towards the cost ot a Union Jack to be placed in the school and saluted each morning by the children on entering. A sum of 15s was raised, but there is still a chauce for loyal parents to contribute, as it is a case of ten shillings more, and up goes the flag. More power to the dazzling Rays of Pleasant Point 1

The Omette notifies the acceptance of complete specifications for letters patent from Robero Wessley Manning, of Awatuna, near Eltham, farmer, for an improvement in hand sheep-shears. Major Robin, commanding the first New Zealand Contingent, writing to his father at Dunedin, from Ximberley under date March 2nd, says :-—•' My horae, good old Kony, is standing splendidly, but the rainy season is now on, and they say the horse sickness soon starts; but if it is as much exaggerated as all else is here, it won't much matter. This Africa is a fearful place for what we term ' South African facts,' because you cannot believe one word of them. Now, dear people, keep up your spirits, and pray for the boys in this hard and stern war, and look hopefully to the time, through the mercy of God, to bear them back again. Oh, we are so ragged and tattered and torn; but lam promised 90 new jackets and pants to-day, and I hope they will soon arrive. We start off on Monday morning for a march somewhere, and hope that the result of it will be to finish off the Free Staters. . . . People said, before they started, that there would be no need of colonials, but now the expert' people here say that if it had not been for the colonials the war would have made much j sadder reading. However, pleas* tell ourj friends that the contingents from the colonics are still in it, but that now, as we have j to take a place in big brigades and divisions, the possibility of hearing about them will be less, as the honor goes to the brigade or to the division. ... I make a point of writing this long letter, because from now there may be no post-office for some time." Lord Durham, who has hitherto been looked upon as one of the strongest supporters of the Unionist cause in the North of England, has sent a letter to the secretary of the Durham and North Riding Liberal Unionist Association declining to support certain appeals to the electors. "These appeals, he says, are intended to maintain in office after the General Election a Government which has, iu my opinion, neglected its duties, thrown away its opportunities, and ignored the temper of the nation. The present Ministers have brought in drastic and Socialistic measures without consulting those whom they most nearly affected. They have promoted ill-considered legislation, which they have had to withdraw owing to its impracticability. They have tried to be all things to all men, and have signally failed in retaining the confidence of any. Their light-hearted manner of drifting into war, and of initiating the conduct of the war, and their apparent inability to embody the feeling of the nation in its patriotic desire to bring this war to a speedy and successful conclusion, have cenvinced me that they have neither the capacity nor the vigour which are required to place our Empire in that condition ot security which its position demands. I thought I was supporting a strong Government. I find it is the weakest Government with the largest majority of modem times. I must therefore request you to accept rny resignation as president of the Durham and North Riding Liberal Unionist Association."

The recent rise in prices for shoeing horses has caused some dissatisfaction in this district, but it appears that the charges current here are from Is to 2s below those advertised in the Wellington Post by twentysix members of the Horseshoem Union of that city. The rates there are:—Hacks and light harness horses, 6s; light draughts, Is ; heavy draughts, 8s; polo ponies and doctors, 7s; first shoeing, young light 8s and young draughts 10s; trotting (with weight bars), 10s; stallions (in season), light 10s, draught 15s; removes or slippers, Is; leather soles, Is.—Advt.

» You can depend on ridding your children of worms with Wade's Worm Figs, the wonderful Worm Worriers. Price Is,—Advt. Sentenced to death I the doomed man stands, To die in prime of life, No shade of hope, no outstretched hands, i No friend except his wife; She heeded not the doctor's voice, " His cough would kill him sure," She saved his life, and did rejoice, With Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. 13 Wade's Worm Figs, the wonderful Worm Worriers, never fail for adults or shildren. jrce Is.—Advt.

Commerce, with its Spreading Wings, has traversed the globe many times, and binds nations together with the strong ties of mutual self-interest. Through its influence London has become the metropolis of the world, and her merchants have amassed wealth sufficient to make them the envy of princes. Holloway's Pills and Ointment have now become essential articles of commerce I with all parts of the, world. They have effected cures which have seemßd miraculous, and given relief in complaints when all hope had been lost. In all.known diseases their success has at all times been wonderful. In cases of disorders of the stomach, bile, liver complaint, indigestion, fevers, ague, Sec, they act like a charm, as the cure is speedy and certain.—Advt.

The question of sending a team of footballers to England, under the auspices of the New Zealand Rugby Union, is likely to be raised again this season, and towards the close of the period will probably be carried into effect. The matter of selecting the players will be a ticklish job for the selectors, as there are so many good men in the colony. It behoves all exponents of the game to keep themselves in good buckle, as the selection will be on the form shown. Keep clear of all colds, coughs, and chills by using no other rumedy than ijykes' Cura Oough. All Chemists and Storekeepers.—Advt.