LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 160, 10 July 1903, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Interesting reading matUr will be found on page four of this issue. The Wellington Harbour Board has offered to sell the "B" dredge complete to the Patea Harbour Board for £6OO.

Mr Clement Wragge predicts that 1904, 1905, 1906. and 1907 will be good years in New South .Wales and Queensland ; but after that he predicts a tapering off until 1911, when there will be a three years' drought, ending in 1913, The Foreman of Works reported to the Patea Harbour Board that the improvement works were progressing vary satisfactory. Work estimated by the en- 1 gineer to coat ±3500 had been done costing less than ±3OO, The work is being carried out by day labour, standings taken show an improvement in the river.

News received at Auckland par the Tavinui states the French warship was to leav# Tahiti on July sth for Noumea, transferring all French soldiers, exoent 35 infantry. Tue teachers' classes at the Central (School commence to-morrow, Saturday at 11 o'clock. '

Tenders are invited by the Public I Works Department for the erection of a Post Office at Eltham in brick. A meeting of creditors in the estate of W. ivi. Woorlhead will bo held at the D.O.A.'a cilice oil Friday, 17t,h inst,, at 11.30 am, on general business.

| The Education Board invites appli* calions tor vacant teacherships Particulars will be found in another column. If jjNothifig fresh has transpired relative to the mysterious death of a yaung womauat Dunedin, or as to the mysterious disappearance of the young man Osmond.

The Canterbury A. and P. Association does not approve of the Stud Bill, which they consider would operate against good horses, unsound in only one respect, while it will not affect ill-bred hortea. A concert and dance will bo held in the Rahotu Hall on August 6th, in aid of the School Organ Fund. Messrs Oarthew, Thompson and Com pany report having sold cn acoount of Mrs Skinner, that valuable freehold quarter acre section situated in Devonstreet, adjoining Mrs Bra water's residence, the purchaser being a local investor, who intends building thereon. A high testimonial to the virtues of the waters of Te Aroha is paid by Dr Schwarzbaeh. He says that he considers the waters there much superior to the waters of Ems or Wiesbaden, both of which he knows well from personal experience and observation.

The proportion of solicitors practising in the colony to the population is one to 1386, and to male adalts 1 to 446. Last year the proportions were 1 to 1377, and 1 to 344.

A petition is being circulated asking! the Premier to introduce a Bill giving compensation to the hotelkeepers of the Ashburton district, who, the petition states, have lost their license through no fault of their own. The petitioners ask the Premier for a Bill on the lines laid down by Mr Austen Chamberlain in the British House of Commons, which means levying a smail tax on the remaining hotelkeepers in New Zealand. Ladies and gentleman will notioe that the new Hairdressing Establishment is conducted by William Mason, late of Auckland. Gents' Shaving Tickets three for Is.—Advt,

A letter Waß received by the Patea Harbour Board at its last meeting from Mr E. Maxwell, Opunake, thanking the Board's secretary for information received regarding quantities of dairy produoe, eto., sent from the port of Patea. The chairman stated that this information had been forwarded. He understood that it was required in view of the proposed loan for extending the New Plymouth Breaks water,

The Opunake Times celebrated its tenth birthday on Friday last. We wish it many happy returns of the day. Mr H. 0. Deane has been appointed one of the Government nominees on the Patea Harbour Board.

A committee of the Wanganui Borough Council is at present engaged in acquiring information as to the practicability, utility, cost, and generally the desirability of instituting a motor 'bus service for Wanganui and suburbs.

| The latest shipment of raspberry pulp from the Motueka Company, sold in the English market, realised £35 per ton, a highly satisfactory result. Ihe latest advices which have reached the Department of Agrioulturo point to even higher prices ruling next season, for the latest frosts hive praottcally ruined certain of the E> glish small fruits, and the stone and pip fruits have been so greatly damaged that there is every prospeot of good prioes for exporters, At the last meeting of the Patea Harbour Board a breeze took plaoe between the Ohairnian and the Secretary, the latter complaining that the Chairman had given instructions that all letters ad* dressed " Chairman " should be put in his the " Chairman's " private box. The secretary claimed he was responsible for all official correspondence, and further that the Chairman's action was a reflection on his honour and integrity. The Chairman said letters had been sent to him on private matters, addressed to him as Chairman, and he objeoted to the secretary opening them and knowing his private business. After some discussion, the matter dropped without any resolution. j

The Rotokare Domain Act Repeal Bill was introduced in the House on Thursday by the Hon. T. Y. Duncan, and read a first time.

In consequence of the indisposition of one of the Jndges on Thursday, further argument in the Newtown licensing case was postponed till to-day (Friday). The Poultry Show which opens to day at the Drill Hall is more than usually attractive, and should be largely patronised by visitors from all pares of the district. The genaral meeting of shareholders of the Equitable Building Society, callod for Wednesday the Bth inst, was adjourned to this (Friday) evening. The meeting will be held at 7.30 in the Counoil Chambers.—Advfc.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of jthe annual report of the Trades and Labour Council, held at Greymouth in April last. The Stratford paper says Messrs Rattenbury and McOluggage were passengers to Wellington on Thursday morn ing on Land Board business.

An Ashburton firm of wine and spirit merchants reports having sold over .£'6oo worth of whiskey for " domestic use" during the last fortnight. A short time since a settler on the Plains refused £2B 10s per acre for a 100 aore farm on the Plains, close to Manaia, on which there were no buildings.

The Committee of the West End School have decided, owing to the measleß being still very prevalent, to keep the school closed for another week. The school will re open on the 20th July. The Catholics have made a very handsome addition to their buildings in New Plymouth, in the shape of a Pariah School. Messis Boon Brothers were the contractors, and have turned out an excellent job. The bell is now hung in a tower above the school.

A Co-operative butchery is starting at Wanganui. The shares are being freely taken up.

Mr F. T. Bellringer was on Wednesday the reoipent of a wedding present from the Committee of Management of the Taranaki Rugby Union. It consisted of a handseme silver tea kettle on a tripod, and was aocorapanied by some very eulogistic references to his services to the Union and to the Star Club.

I The Bowling Club's Social on Thursday evening was a great success.