The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1901. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 269, 14 November 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1901. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

While dealing with a question of removal of a teacher who had become unpopular at a certain country school, members of the Education Board spoke strongly on the subject of teachers writing to or interviewing members with a view of influencing their actions. The opinion was expressed that the Board should intimate that any teachers offending in the same way in future would be severely dealt with.

The number of newspapers posted insufficiently prepaid for the United Kingdom is still abnormally large, and such papers are taxed double the deficient postage. The postage on each newspaper for the United Kingdom is one penny for the first 4ozs. and a half-penny for each additional 2ozs or fraction thereof.

The Nelson Diamond Jubilee committee has definitely fixed a programme for a carnival and celebrations, to occupy six days, commencing on February 2nd next. Private advices received at Auckland state that the barque Criffel whilst loading at New York for Dunedin and Wellington caught fire at her berth and was sunk. The cargo will practically be a total loss, but the vessel is not much damaged. News from Fiji states that the schooner Lurline was wrecked on the coast of Taviuni, and sank in deep water. Consequent on the Federal tariff the regular trading steamer Bingsgate, whioh usually conveyed fruit to Sydney, left for her destination in ballast.

The Premier visits the Palmerston Show on Friday. The Native Minister has left tor (Jisborne to see his wife, who is seriously ill The Ministers for Education and Public Works will return from the South on Sunday. The Minister for Lands leaves for Oamaru at the end of the week.

Mr Symons, the Health Officer at Bath, i shows that the infant mortality at Birkenhead, Salford, and Manchester during the summer quarter is greater than in the Boer concentration camps. To the- King, who is Oolonel-in-Ohief of the Gordon Highlanders, Lord, Kitchener recently wired " that Commandant De Villiers, who was present, and has just surrendered, informs me that on the attaok on the train on the 4th July, at Naboonsproit, the guard of Gordon Highlanders, under Lieutenant Best, who was killed, behaved with the utmost gallantry after the train had been captured by 150 Boers, The last four men, though completely surrounded, and with no cover, continued to fire until three were killed and the fourth wounded. On the Boers asking the survivor the reasoa they had not surrendered, he replied: " Why, man, we are Gordon Highlanders." This telegram and the King's reply, " De- : lighted to hear of gallant conduct of Gordon I Highlanders; proud to be their colonel-ia-chief," were lately included in the battalion orders by Oolonel Forbes Macbean, commanding the Ist Battalion Gordon Highlanders in Pretoria. Gallant Gordons 1 The Department of Agriculture has sent an order to England for sixty purebred fowls of various breeds. I

Mr. E. M. Smith, M.H 8., has been elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain This is a distinct recognition of his intimate knowledge of metallurgy. The Seamen's Union beiDg desirous of obtaining an award applicable all over the colony with special local conditions to meet purely local circumstanes, will probably take their dispute direct to the Arbitration Court.

| The Auckland Fruit Growers Union propose that growers should join the Farmers Co-operative Society who offer speci&l facilities to growers.

Several deaths amongst Europeans are reported from f-'amoa, the most noticeable being the sudden death of the United States Consul-General, Mr. Osborne, and Herr Bause, Impe'ini German Colonial Secretary. The latter died from the result of a buggy accident.

At a meeting of the Management Committee of the Hawke's Bay R'gby Union the financial statement showed that the "outhern tour of the representatives cost £.150, The Union realised £2OO from a bazaar and will start next season with a credit balance of over £l6O.

The total population of the colony in March 1901, including 43,101 natives, was 815,820, the proportion of female* to males having risen from 71 to 90. Ihe North Island population was 433,867 and the South 384,144. Taranaki stands first for rate of i progress, the percentage being 2) 42; then comes Wellington with 16, followed by Auckland with 14*57, after which comes a larpe drop, the next being Marlborough with 6-75. Of the Maoris 40,665 and 2491 halfcastes live in the North Island, and 1916 with 567 half-castes in the South.

A very fine and extensive stock of Engagements Rings, Wedding E ngs, Keepers and Dress Kings, new century Watches, in gold silver, genuine rolled gold and nickel cases Clocks. Spectacles and Electro plate at J. H. Paskbb's, Watchmaker, Jeweller and Optician next Bailway Crossing, Devon strepf, !Oent. N?w Plymouth.—Ad