LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8017, 2 January 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

" New Year Kesolves " is the title of a short story on our fourth page. Other interesting matter also appears there. The Taranaki County Clerk lias received intimation that the Government grant for the Mangorei and Frankley lioads was forwarded to the Council by mistake. It should have been addressed to the Mangorei lioad Board. The windy weather of the past weekhas interfered considerably with haymaking operations. Fanners complain that by the hay being exposed to the sun and wind for a long period owing to the difficulty of carting, il is becoming deficient, in nihility. Sidelights on library matters show that there is an absolute lack of interest in the institution. In the past three years 110 meeting has been attended by more than half a dozen people. At the last annual meeting, some gentlemen had to be com landecred from another meeting in the same building in order to make up a i|Uoruin, and the committee is therefore virtually self-appointed. The Mayor informs us that the most cnthuiastic workers are Kev. Woolley and Messrs Collis and Kclscy. Surely someone will help them to bring ow public, reading-room up-to-date. The water-cart growl published in Saturday's issue seemed to set the whole town by the ears. When the beautiful dust-clouds rose again, the subject was uppermost in all business people's minds. His Worship the Mayor was not disposed to accept the statement that a new cart could be proceed in a fortnight, so lie wired to li"ins in Chnstchuvch and Palmerston North, receiving replies to the effect that six weeks or two mouths would be required. Saturday was another wjiidy aud dusty day, but the mtisancii tyas somewhat lessened by the authorities directing that the streets to the windward of the centre of the town should be liberally soaked. The Taranaki County Council received the following tenders for supplying stone on the Main South lioad :—Contrad No. 7, Okato lo Katakara: M. Julian, 2s !)d a yard; H. Kendall, 3s 3d; F. W. 'h 7d; J. C. Monlefiore, 2s 7d j Contract No. 7 b, Petone Hill to Hauhau : H. Julian, 3s 5d a yard ; F. Kendall, 3s tid ; H. Kendall, 3s; F. W. Carrington, 2s yd; J. C.'.Montcliore, 2s 3d; Contract No. 7a, Oakura to Hauhau: H. Kendall, 3s a yard;; JVW. Carrington, 2s lid; J. mm

The steamer Rosamund picked up nil oil launch with disabled engines oif Cape Palliser on Monday. Four iisherincn were taken off and the derelict taken in tow, but she broke loose during the night, and probably sank. There was a big attendance at the Floral Fete in the Theatre Royal last night, when the full two nights' programme of dancing and singing was splendidly rendered to a most appreciative house. All previous commendatory remarks are hereby repeated, with interest. Owing to all rallies not having taken place, it lias been decided to have a wind-up this evening. Police raided the premises, at Christ church, of Barnett and Grant, J. Ross, and M. Livingston, well-known bookmakers, on Monday afternoon. Nine men at Ross's were taken to the lockup for being in a common gaming house. Ross was absent, but the other men were arrested and released on bail. They come up for trial this morning for keeping common gaminghouses. His [Worship the Mayor of ( New Plymouth, on behalf of the Borough Council and staff, telegraphed Christmas greetings to the Right Hon. the Premier. On Saturday he received the following mcssatfe: " His Worship the Mayor, New Plymouth.—Please convey to your staff, and accept the same yourself, my sincere thanks for Christmastidc greetings, which arc much appreciated. Kindest regards and bes„ wishes for a prosperous New Year.— R. J. Seddon." At Mr Newton King's Haymarket yards on Saturday, Mr A. Standish's thoroughbred racing marc Marvia, by Sylvia Park—Maritau, was .submitted j to auction. Mr S. Shaw wielded the hammer, and gave some particulars of the racing career of the mare and her progenitors. The bidding opened at £lO, and advanced slowly to £lti, at which remarkably low figure Mama changed owners, the purchaser being Mr C. Moss. Mr Standish said his 1 sole reason for selling was that he was • disgusted with the manner in which short races were given away by faulty starting. His Worship the Mayor, Mr It. Cock, is perfectly in accord with the strictures passed on the New Plymouth reading-room arrangements. At the same time he informs us that proper ' reading desks have been ordered for the ; systematic filing of Turanaki news- , papers. A double reading desk is to be pfaced down the centre of the room ' at present occupied by the reading i table. 15y this means it. will be posj sible to have papers kept for a reasonable length of titiie instead of there In - ' ing only one, two, or three copies of ' each paper obtainable. It is satisfac- . Tory to learn that there is at leas, some small idea of considering the convenience of the very large section of ; the public who use the reading-room. ) The committee should now take into . consideration the matter of providing a file for every paper received. The ' cost should not be an insuperable bari rier, but the convenience almost inestimable.