LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 18 February 1902, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tb.3 Land Biar I meets to-day. The annual meeting of the Harbonr Board takes place to-day. ■:Dr Parnate proposes to pay a visit to Tarahaki district short-y, and will visit Parahaka among other places. At the B.M. Court yesterday a tramber of civil cases were down for hearing, but were all struck out, adjourned, or confused. We understaad the railway authorities have decided to run one late train, as far as Stratford, on the occasion of the masted bands performance during the band contest. Tiains leave New Plymouth Btation for the Breakwater to-day, connecting with steamers mentioned below, as follows:—6 a.m., Takapuna (lrom north); 6 a.m., Rotoiti (from south); 11.10 a.m., Takapuna, (for south); J. 20 p.m., Rotoiti, for north). A passenger car will be attached to the goods train leaving for the Breakwater about 8 p.m.

A Master Bakers' Association has been formed at Feuding, inclading the surrounding townships, for mutual protection against bad marks. The price of bread will he raised shortly.

Conditional upon Canada contributing to the coat ef establishing a station, M. Marconi has reduced the rates of wireless telegraphy te ten cents a word. Earthquakes destroyed a town in Transcaucasia. Two hundred bodies have been dug out of the ruins, *nd hundreds m*n perished. Twenty-five tbemandinhabitants are without fool hnd shelter. Shocks constantly recur.

A general strike has occurred amongst workmen at Trieste. Mobs paraded the streets and smashed windows. The military were called out and fired on the rioters, killing eight snd wounding many. Herr H<ttman Surapt, director of the TrelaerTrecKnUng Company, which recently failed with large liabilities, has been' sentenced at Berlin to seven months' imprisonment, and other directors to lesser terms for concealing the state of the affairs ef the company.

At the turning of the first sod ef the Hokitika-Ross railway, the Premier said he hoped the line would be completed in two years.

Mr Browning, Superintendent of the Cable Company, is advised that the cable steamer Scotia is now paying out the final section of the Gape-Australian cable between Fremautla and Adelaide. On Hunday she was in latitude 35.42 8. longitude 116.20 8., and had laid 375 miles of the 1600 miles length. She is due at Adelaide about the 24th, and the final section of the cable should be open for work on the Ist of March. Speaking at Hokitika, the Premier said, with reference to the amy me»t contracts, that arrangements were being made for 20,000 carcases to be drawn from Mew Zealand immediately, Mr Frank Messenger is inviting tenders for re-instatiDg premises in Devon-street, csaseqisent on the late fire. - Donations of produce for the stall at the garden p»rty a*, the Hospital grounds on Thursday.will be thankfully received by the ladies in charge of the arrangements.

A meeting of the Town School Committee waa held on Monday night, when all members wars present, Mr Oollis presiding. It was- decided- that a committee visit the South-road school and inspect the shelter shed erected by Boon Brothers. The account for tarring the Central School yard was passed, and,the committee decided to pay the royalty on the sand used. The question of a school excursion was pestp">ned. It was resolved to thank the County Council for putting in a grossing at the South-road schoel. A committee was appointed to interview the headmaster at the Central school in regard te extending the dinner hour to an hoar and a half, and also in relation to the practice of detaining children oyer the dinner hour on wet days. The headmaster at the Central echool reported the attendance for the past three weaks to be 5609, 571-3, and 6G5-3, an averjage of 566'5. The attendance on Monday |wa» 582, and the number on the roll 622. A swimming carnival had been arranged for 37th February, and an entertainment for 6th March, in aid of the Coartenay-street school sbeltjr eh«d fund.

In the Divorce Court, Wellington, decrees nisi were pronounced in the following eases;— Thomas Montague v. Annie Montague, Margaret Keefe v. John J. Keefe. At the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday, Alice Brown was acquitted on tho charge of arson, a previous jury having failed to agree,

Sir Joseph Ward received a deputation, and paW a visit of inspection to railway workshops at Newmarket yesterday. He leaves for Northern Wairoa this morning, and will deliver a speech at Aratipa tonight.

The sections suggested to be cat up by the School Commissioners in Stratford are these occupied by Captain Smith and KirkpatricV, not Mr Hills, as stated jn our report on Monday.

The Premier was present a a recent production of the Janet Waldorf Company, and is said to have been so delighted with the performance that at the conclu«ion nf the 1 play he went" behind the scenes " and personally congratulated Miss Waldorf on the perfection jshe !had achieved in her art, and wished her every success for the future. Mr Seddon and his family ware present at severe' subsequent performances. The tour of this popular company is under the patronage of both the Premier and Bir Joseph Ward, and in each city visited, the more fashionable class of the community have " taken " Miss Waldorf up enthusiastically, and her success socially has been just as great as on the stage.

[ We have been shown some fine samples of ;the Burbank variety of J*p*nese plums, grown by Mr Rogerj, of Bell Block, which for siz' and flavour would be hard to beat. The trees this yeirare bearing exceptionally well, thus shewing the profitable nature of the variety to orcbi'Hsts >n this district. It has been decided by the citiaens of Blenheim to hold a ca'nival week there commencing on 14th April.

The Premier wan entertained by the elecI tors of his constituency at the Town Hall, HoVitika last night, and was presented by the County Chairman with a haadsome worked address conveying the best wishes of his fellow councillor on the Westlani Council, with whom the Premier was formerly associated, Mr Seddon made a spirited reply. I