The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 29.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8071, 29 March 1906, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 29.

Our views on Borough matters arc held over. The matron of the New Plymouth Hospital wishes to acknowledge with thanks a donation of fruit and vegetables from the Oinata Church. A musical gem from Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.U.: "If a man has 110 music in his soul he is as well dead as living." " A lot of the grounds around schoolhouses are a positive disgrace to the teachers. They don't try to make them look decent."—Mr Paul), at the Education Board meeting.

The accounts passed by the Tnranak Education Board 011 Wednesday amounted to £2724 16s Id, which included £1425 Us 8d for teachers' salaries, committees' capitation £153 13s 3d, scholarships £94 5s 3d. There was a splendid practice of the choruses last night, preparing for the sacred concert to be given 011 Friday night in aid of the Recreation Sport's ground funds. The concert promises to be of undoubted excellence,

The special 'Frisco mail train had a game struggle with, the town incline at an early liotir this morning. The train won, but the engine seemed to be sorely taxed to draw its freight and passenger vehicles up the hill,

■]®Some startling developments 111 New Plymouth municipal affairs are expected in the course of the next day or two. The Mayo#il contest seems to have fairly begun, and all kinds of ammunition are being fired by tho supporters and detractors of the rival parties.

The Takapuna with the 'Frisco mail, which arrived at Auckland at noon on Tuesday, reached New Plymouth shortly before eleven o'clock 011 Wednesday night. A special train, with the mails aud passengers left for Wellington shortly after midnight.

"What are these buildings like?" "They arc the same buildings that I advised the Board to burn down three years ago," replied Mr Morton, at the Education Board yesterday. The places referred to were 'the outbuildings at the Inglewood school.

The Earawa and Takapuna both berthed at the New Plyonth breakwater on Wednesday night, after rough passages from Onehunga. The Manakau bar, which was not navigable for some days, and kept the vessels imprisoned in harbor, gave the passengers a rare tossing.

A young man named J. Casey, from the Mo'at district, was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday evening, suffering from severe bruises to his legs, sustained by a bullock-waggon passing over them between the kneo and foot. Cowing to the softness of the road he escaped broken legs, a remarkably lucky escape,

At the opening of the Garrison Band Bazaar on Wednesday night, Mrs E. M. Smith was presented with a beautiful bouquet of white llowers. tied with amber and black ribbons, the colours of the band. Little Miss McCleland made the presentation, whilst the bouquet itself was made by Miss Foote, and was much admired.

" But the library is here only as long as-you arc here, Mr Smith," said Mr Spencer to the President of the Polynesian [Society, when the Society's library was being discussed at the Education Board. " Weil, I hope to live a good many years yet and as long as I live the library will remain in New Plymouth," was the reply, amidst must laughter.

The committee of llie West End School has had the schoolground levelled in front of the school, and is desirous of asphalting it, as in winter this is simply a pool of water. The Education Board has decided to grant u subsidy, not to exceed £l4, for the work, and will, as asked, supply a length of hose,

A wharc which was once occupied by the great lighting chief Te Rauparuha was discovered the other day in a secret recess of the forest in the Waitomo country. The building, though DO years old, is in a good state of preservation. It was built by Te Rauparaha as a secret retreat from his enemies. The wlnuv should be reserved as au ancient historic relic of decided inter-

"You can't very easily stow a big drum away in a drawer," was a remark made by Mr Monkhouse in moving that the Salvation Army bepaid fifteen sliil lings for damage to the Army drum whilst the Stratford Barracks were being occupied as a temporary class room. The Stratford headmaster considered the Army guilty of contributory negligence in leaving the drum about. Mr Monkhouse was of opinion that the Board had been treated very well by the Armv people, and it would be hardly fair to refuse to pay for damage done. The account was passed.

An interesting example of the value of tree-planting on waste laud is afforded by the demand for piles for the new railway station at Dunedin, says the Otago Daify Times. In order lo guard againt any possibility of sagging after the main platform and the massive verandah are erected, it wi)s deemed necessary to put down piles owing to the soft nature of the reclaimed ground on which they are being erected—a work necessitating the driving of upwards of 800 piles. The piles used are being obtained from plaufatious o.f bluegums at Pukeuri and Waiapakarua, which were planted by the Railway Department about twenty years ago. Their market value, it may be added, is stated lo be from from 20s to 25s each, and an acre of land closjly planted with bluegums of a similar size would be worth about £ISOO at the present market rates.

At I lie February meeting of the Taranaki Education Board, it was decided tliat the chairman should make progress payments to contractors on the architect's certificate being received. Mr Faull, a member of the Board, has taken exception to this, deeming it an alteration of the financial arrangements of the Board. At Tuesday's meeting lis contended that no payments could be made, except on the express authority given at a meeting (if the Board. Mr Wade considered tkat Mr Faull was opening the door wider for mistakes to creep in, whilst still allowing the architect lo recommend progress payment. Mr Faull spoke for about twenty minutes, in sections, and accused the chairman of " traducing Ills character.' The Board divided on a motion by Mr Faull, thai " payments recommended by the architect be paid by the chairman on the nn-liilri'l,: certificate, namely. Stratford. Urcnui. Mahoe, and Mr Hall's painting conIrarl." The lapse IVom tl|c usual laws of debate was eagerly seized by members, who discussed the entangled situation with some close attention to detail. Mr Sanderson, the architect, at the invitation of the chairman; gave the Board his reasons for advocating progress payments on certificate between mectijigs, ami said that the contractors could claim 5 per cent, oil contract price if moneys were not paid immediately after the architect had given his certificate. Mr Faull said he had taken advice from Mr 0. Samuel, who Ip'ld lold lni|i definitely that no chairman could pay out n local body's funds, without authority li'oiii a meeting of that Board, and that no architect's report was of any value until adopted by the Board. The chairman suggestoit that Mr Faull had imt Korrcclly submitted the facts (,o counsel, for Mr Samuel appoared lo be 1 unaware of the resolution passed at last meeting. Eventually, the matter, which appeared at first to be a mere splitting of straws, assumed bigger proportions, and words of warmth passed between the chairman and Mr Faull. The meeting aot" i(o for'aider/ and so the Board's solicitor will be eon ; suited. Mr Faull's nution was negatived.