ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81866, 16 October 1906, Page 2

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

s 1; Smokers I To make life happy and -'. worth the living, keep your pouches 1 stocked will) Avery's special mix- - ture. Some very nice goods are being f ,; hown in fancy articles, bric-a-brac, - stationery, books, etc.. at The Dress dec. Piano Buildings. Devon street. Besides being new, the goods are offered at most reasonable figures. Anyone wishing to buy birthday or ' other presents should make an inspec- ', tioii. ■' ' Mr Newton King report having I' disposed of Mr J. Cordon Glas.sford's 200-aerc farm, situated near Ingle- ,' wood, to Mr A. Nisbel, of Silvethope. (iarnlin and Co., butchers, Devon ' street, insert a notice thanking customers for the liberal support accorded > Imm, and notify that lliey have now ' installed the latest machinery for the ' manufacture of small goods/Nothing ' but. the very primest of meat is sold 1 fro"? ' U 'S establishment. r Ai Deare's How *''<'-udc o n c of the 'daintiest displays of footwear evei J, seen on the coast is being shown. The [ large window from'has''been specially draped and filled up with shoe ' stands, and all the best makes of I spring and summer boots and shoes tf-e displayed. Excellent valii" Is | \ guaranteed on every pair sold. A 1 large consignment of sandals for 1 childrens wear lias been opened up. 1 ; also sleek of Bostocks in bar, lace. < and buttons. | An excellent programme has been 1 prepared by the Taranaki Agricul- | tural Society for their annual show i to be held in New Plymouth on the 1 2SIII and 20111 November. C pics of 1 die Schedule (nay now by obtained 1 from the secretary, E. ]>. Webster. 1 Brougham street, who will be pleas- ; cd to forward to anyone requiring t same There are some excellent 1 competitions both days. This Show is fast becoming one of the leading r Shows in the North Island. Breeders 1 <>r dogs will note that the Society is now affiliated with the Kennel Club, I and the mailer ef shelter for these exhibits on the Show ground will re- t ecive the committee's best attention. Morey and Son have impelled some 1 very choice and smart , ohm red I French robes, white musfii 'robes-, a and si,iris. No woman should miss ( the opportunity of seeing'these lines f a! their store in Pevon street. -, g

THE RIFLE RANGE RUINS. INSPECTION BY COLONEL WEBB. Our condemnation of the appoinnents at the Rewa Rewa rifle range las evidently borne fruii. Whilst uitwardly displeased at the unstint■d disapproval of the arrangements nade for arriving at greater profiaency with the rifle, several of the ifiicers commanding the local volunecr companies have been heard admitting that our remarks were quite warranted, and that the range was just as dangerous as we stated. Under these circumstances,, it is pleasing to know that the criticism is being followed by a visit from Col. Webb, Officer Commanding the district. He will arrive in New Plymouth this evening, and to-morrow (Wednesday), will inspect the range, in the evening he will inspect the local volunteer companies on parade. A visit to the range on Sunday revealed the fad thai the place is still in its unsafe and unsatisfactory con- | dition, although class-firing was taken on the day previous. The only difference noted was thai the stone and wood debris on the firing mounds had been cleared away. It is to be hoped that the telephone (?) system will be fully explained to the inspecting officer, and that the New Plymouth shooting enthusiasts will see roam at large while the inspection to it that the cattle are not allowed to proceeds. In connection with those telephones, it is related that one of the officers was showing some visitors over the range not so very long ago, and half cynically remarked that the one under examination was tbe first one Edison made. Another citizen soldier who was standing by, corrected "him, saying, with all deference, "No, sir, begging your pardon; the first one he made is up in the trench." Another hoary-headed story that goes to prove the antiquity ol the so-called telephones is to the effect that an officer who rang up thi markers with an inquiry, received the

startling admonition in reply, "Speak through your ear." Despite hi-- intimate knowledge of the Manual of Infantry Instruction, he did not recognise this command, and ventured to inquire its meaning. "Speak through the piece that you put to your ear," was the explanation. He did, and then he could bo heard—a little. So much for the telephones. Whilst Colonel Webb is here, it might we well to direct his attention to the fact that one end of the drillshed is making an endeavour to bury itself in the Mother Earth. At the seaward end the floor has sunk to such an extent that ordinary drill evolutions there must be an impossibility. Added to this is a fact that in wet weather the surface water from the adjacent property enters the' building without let or hindrance, and, after casually inspecting the old-time armaments there, passes out at the other side. A humorist, "for even the military regulations can't drive all the humour out of a man into pipeclay and red-tape, suggests the formation of an engineers' corps, who might learn pontoon and bridge construction without venturing into the open field. It might also bo a fitting opportunity to request that the armourer might pay his annual visit soon, or else it will not be annual at all. Some »f the rifles will doubtless remain in use after the armourer's next visit. There may be other matters to bring under the notice of the OfficerCommanding, but we can't think of any more at present. Sufficient has been said, however, to show that there is urgent need for the infusion of new life into the dry-as-dust methods for dealing with the volunteers of New Plymouth, in order to retain the present popularity that volunteering- has now achieved here, despite the fact that little encouragement is given.