LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81916, 17 January 1907, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

About thirty swimmers a ! i tended the inauguration of night bathing at the Xew' I'lvinoiith baths on Wednesday evening.' The electric lighting arrangements were found to be in every way sufficient.

A correspondent draws attention to the fact that the reading-room in liie proposed new library wi.l be no bigger than the present utterly inadequate room in the old Town j'ltill. In ■ his p'nee,. he says, nearly all the pa pers are "double banked," which points to th<> necessity for a much bigger reading-room. The youngest wool buyer in the col out, if not in tile world, was an op arator at. the Timaru wool sale last week, a lad of nine named Labium bidding for and buying a number of lots. lie was, of course, under the tutorage of his father. Another lad of Kl named Pahner was also a bid ller. Owing to a misunderstanding, for which the deputation was not respon sible, the address of welcome from the New Plymouth .Methodists to the delegates'attending the Primitive Methodist Conference was not presented until Wednesday morning. Messrs C. Carter, W. A. Colli"., and \Y. Ainbury formed the dcputa'iion and extended to tile visitors a heart v welcome.

A porlii f tin' New I'lvnioulh bondi was strewn with wood and logs mi Tuesday. It is suppni'il that most of tin- material came from the Mokau. Wniwnkaiho. and otner rivers, which have Iktii llnodcil us II iv,nli of till' IVfi'iit lii'iivv ruins. .Many ;i local household Ims 'its winter stuck of firewood safely piled in tho backyard in con sequence.

The need for some protective works alomi tj ;( . 1,,,,,!; of 111,! Waiwakniho on (lie Kewa Jtcwa rille range has been emphasised during the recent heavy rains, when tile river was in high Hood. Tlu- erosion has been verv severe, and hug., quantifies of earth have disappeared. The Hal must heeu under water to a verv large extent for the lower portion of the sHii'd. and other debris and the foot bridue over the Maingnone stream has the ell'ecl of a verv poor Christinas do (■oration. It is hoped that tin- report and action of the J'ublic Works Department will not be delayed, or there will be no range left to save.

The superstitious, says the W'airarapa Dailv Times, will probablv at lat'h some n'ignilicunce to the fact'thai at the recent bowling inurim nt the runners up in tiio championship loins! tlmt al tiie score of Hi thev had encountered an insuperable obstacle. The Lillian, team scored their only win in the tournament when their opponents were 1:1; alnd it was at the 1:1 th head that MasVcrtnn (wdio were nwav behind) drew level with the champion

team in Hi- onlv rink the latter lost, after which they never headed their op pollen', s. There were numerous other scoring incidents of less consequent' in

which the number 13 ligured disas irously for several teams.

The Commander -in Chief of the AleililerriMiiai) Nqiiadrou, Admiral Lord Charles lieresford. during the stay of the fleet at Alalia recently organised a most enjoyable paperchase, in which he iiiiiiself acted as "hare" and pevsuna'iv distributed the papar "scei.l"' from the bulky bag he had swung over bis shoulder's. Over sixty junior ollicers responded to the Admiral's invitation to take put in the chase, and he gave them a bard galiop. Over hill and dale, after fair scent and foul scent the hunters went, but never a sign of the hunted did they (hid, so well was the scent 'aid. ;l'i'.ia.i!y, -Ihe thin tine of paper led round l„ the rendezvous Ycrdaln l'a'ace. and here the Admiral was found, delighted al his i-.xploit. .Mr 11. W. ISoml has coinpleled the model pctrol-uin derrick, and this has been shipped to Clirislchurcl, for erection in tiie Taranaki Court ai the New Zealand exhibition. The engine, houge. workshop, driving beams, "tubing, elc, are nl produced in miniature. 'The model is of substantial dimensions, about eight feoljiieh, and Ihe case conlainiiig it measured about iL'lifl. or three tons on ship's measure, nielli In all repeets the model is an excellent one creditable to th ■ lurid or. The cost of the work has been borne bv ihe Taranaki Petroleum

Company, an.] it i's hoped their enterprise will I." rewarded. Ther■• is already in (he court a display of .samp'e products of Taranaki petroleum, and enalvses be colonial analysts. The derrick should liave the cllect of makiuu' the Tai'iinaki provincial court sti'l more attractive.

A Chrislchiirch contemporary says that Sir 11. W. t'eryinan, wno'for ii years wns a member of the Education Jiiinrd. has returned from a visit lo Ij'V'lend. lie visited a number of schools in Wiltshire and Cornwa'l. as well as several in London, covering ordinary public schools and Church schools. He did not see that Unit Xoilh Canterbury and New Zealand were behind in any important particular, and in some respects iliev are distinct,. ly ahead. He saw no school bui'dings thai were better suited for their purpose tiiani ouh buildings. Some of the buildings were right up to dale, bul Hie furniture and interior fit lino;.* werel not up to dale at all. The schools were not using dual desks, and they were behind our schools in the matter of the supp'y of maps and such like appliances for instruction. The methods employed by teachers did not seem to embody any new ideas of value.

The Labour Department is about to institute proceedings against the tramway men over the recent strike in Auckland The case will lie heard at the approaching sitting of the Arbitration Court

• The ventilating arrangements of the New Plymouth Courthouse are not of the best. A sitting of the Supreme Court during December or January, with its usual big crowd of spectators and listeners during- criminal sessions. would render the lieut stilling and almost unbearable. .Some improvement could be clfcctcd by making moveable the sashes of the windows openiii" on to Robe street.

At Rungiora, on Wednesday, a small boy named Ramsay, armed wita. I a gun almost as long as himself. was engaged in scaring birds from a crop with blank cartridge, but eon d not resist the temptation tu take a, shot at a lad named Crcig. with the re suit that the wad anil powder did him much gricvious bodily barm. The. services of Dr. Will had to he sought to relieve the lad's suD'crin".

Mr Devere'l, who carries the mails to Tauraiiga, had a terrible experience on returning from Tauranga on Tuesday lie was crossing a road on horseback with the mails, the road be, ing covehed 'six feet by rushing Hood water When half way across the. horse was carried away 'and the mails washed out to sea Deverell clung to a lnu'bcd wire fence, and crept along, reaching dry land in an exhausted condition with lacerated hands

"ff I go into an auction mart to buy a case of oranges," said Dr. Thackcr, at Christcimreh the other evening, "1 I am glared and scowled at by ali the local fruit vendors. They object to me bulyiiig in the open mmrkci, llll) oranges for hatf-a-crown a dozen. The same thing applies to vegetables. Why should not people, be able to buy a small sack of cabbages, cauliflowers, carrots, and so forth, for a shilling, rather than pay one shilling for three or four cauiillowcrs bought from a cart'.'" Dunedin potato growers expect a big drop in prices this year. They are now r .C!) a ton, but are thougiit likely to come down to till and C-i a ton, when digging becomes genera!. As an instance of the extremely trying time being experienced by dairv farmers just now, owing to the very sult.rv weather, it may'be mentioned that the manager o'f the l!o----ngolea factory had to refuse to accept delivery of no less than tit! cans of mill; at the factory this morning owing to the milk being sour.''—Star.

The extent of the business done by the average friendly society is smrpri's: v tgly large Take the New Ply mouth Foresters for instance Court Uaireka was established in 1807, and since ithal time it's receipt have amounted to .l^uVIOl; the expenditure during this period has bcen-xick pay. .CVw-i funeral money, CI4DU; payments to- doctors, ;Cl'l.!IT0; members' wives. £llO. At present the Court has funds in hand to the amount o( .C 71.31 odd. The Lodge's present membership is 410 It is interesting to note that the secretary, Mr Tunbridge, sen., has held the present position for the past thirty years.

Mr P. Lansduwi'ue llickes. an inspector under the Public Works Department, has recently inspected several schools in the Taranaki district. Al I'renui he found ileal the increasing attendance showed the necessity for an early cnlarfeinent in old r to pro vide sufficient space'. The arrangement of the windows was bad, the afternoon sun being a great trial to tie' teacher. When'he visited the school it gave him an enduring sensation of blindness. At Opuianko the end windows should be made to open, in order to improve the ventiatiou. Itaholu and To Kiri gave the impression that enlargement would be necessary at an early dale.

Japanese adoption of Western methods is now about to assume a new and highly competitive aspect. The Kosctta .Main (former'}' (he P. and 0. s.n. Rosetta, well known in the Australian trade) has been chartered bv several leading manufacturers of Dai Nippon for fitting out as a lioafing exhibition. .Merchandise of all kind's will be takingly displayed under gass eases, and so'arranged a'., to all'ord every lacility for inspection by visit ors. Textile products, raw material's luaiiufactui'od goods, provisions, iiq.ttids of all, kinds, ores, agricultural and horticultural produce, etc., in facial; and everything that Japan could do an export trade in will be <ia show. 'The vessel will call at all Chine.,-., Mnncliurian. and Korean ports and no ..tone will be left unturned to induce the natives to become purchasers of Japanese goods in preference to those of Kurupenn tad Annrican origin.

l-ralhingiy tin: Lyitollou i mics comments on the reported collusion anion;; cnnpetilors in the lioval Knlioid Cup Race at the Christchurch Cycling Cluh's recent meeting. As lue result of evidence hoard at an enquiry lire wel known riders. ,1. Arnst. W'vatt. tinker, Mclirtells. and Campion, were each lined Xo. "if coaip; lilies.'' states the Tillies, "can lix up races as this one appears to have been lixed up and then get oil with a paltry line of .Co, I'yc'ing racing has fallen far too low to deserve the patronage of decent people. The ineinher of the centre who moved that the men should he disquahlied for twe've mouths said teat there was a great deal of collusion going on.' No wonder when the sport is controlled by g-nUcuicn who think Ihc oll'eiii'i! 100 trivial to be pun ished bv disquiiliiicalion. We do not know whether there is a higher miflioriiy than the centre in the management 'of cycle racing. If there is it should inof lose a minute in dissolving teat body and r. viewing its do vision. Nothing less can save the import from public contempt and its promoters from open derision."

The booklet on "laranaKi', the Oarden of New Zealand,' is one of tile most useful ami instructive as well as one of (lie most akraclivc and readable pieces of literature distributed at the International Exhihiiiou. and its distribution is word-wide. Visitors from all parts of the world have Vre come possessed of copies, and nialaV New Zealandeis are now writing enquiring tile cost ami ihe possibility of a further supplv (or sending 'lo friends abroad. 'J ne 'hook is likeiv to fu 111 its mission in advertising lo'lhe world ut large the attractions Unit Turn(iniki oll'ers to hhe farmer of; small; capital. It has been suggested Unit some good migl.t result from ihe distribution of these books oil Home, steamers leaving Jlobnrt for New Zoa lain!. Jibs suggestion is already receiving attention from Mr W. <;" Ala lone, chairman of the Taranaki provineial executive for representation at the Exhibition. Is this not a matter iliaf might very well be laken up by the Taranaki Cnainber of Commerce''; The Chamber might even go further, and endeavour to have a, large parcel of the booklets seal, to the il'im Com missioner's olliee in London for distribution among intending immigrants and loiiris.s. The expense would bso trilling as compared with (lie prospective henelit that the Chamber should readilv adopt the proposal

Not so very Ion:; au;o the minds ol tlio Aew Plymouth pu die wen- exer tlio dill's nlora/vYooleoiube ti'i-rm/.-. A Iconic of acres ul' ground itit^.ij.i.i-;tt-,-<! ill tin: waves., mill the luti- .Mayor, .Mr Cock, ur;;oil some prompt action, IcsV. tin- whole of that pari oi' tm- I own should in lime In- washed ana v. The i'.oi-oiij:li Council deposited c'jui) or inoi-ii in tin- sea, 11 considerable Kiini bol'ip; i-pi'iit ill the orcciion of i.'l-oiiia which \vri-(> to have tin- clfcet or'hiiilil i»K ii]i thi' lioacli oni-i' iiioi-i' for 1 In-' protection of llio dills. These ( |i,| littk' or. no frond, probably because • hey wore nun nut at riiilil angles to Hit- iin'oiiiiin; m'hs. and thus pros,-nlotl no hoKiin- surface. Thru an att"iii|il, was made to persuade the authorities fo use thr headi nra'ie fur the railway donation, kn'owiii" thai; thai would necc-.silato I hi) erection of pro-tct-livi! works to star th-.' gradual en '-roai-hmi'iit of the wen. This faih-il. 'l'hosc who hav.' watched tin- chant;I in.u' of the l),'ai-h for many years past arrived at the conclusion that the ero siou at lliis point was altrihntahli' to the cnslruction of tinbreakwater, and latest dcvolopmivnls s ito support, this view. Tin' sea ward extension of Urn breakwater seems to liuvi. so siir.-c-t.-a Iho currou, Hint Woo!./ 1.,, t.'i-rai-i' is no lomo-r troubled with erosion. On the con trary, tin- -sea now Ihrealoiis to <<n pull' thi' .Mount Jirvon plaulatuJ, reserve, the lnouth ot To lienui rii-.-v. Thr sand now lii-iiif» hcapi.,l up at thf foot of (ho Woo'combo terrace dill's ■ may, of course, !>:■ washed away dmhifr stormy woatlieir. Tnis remains to bo seen. Jinl it is quite apparent that the encroachment of the se.i at this point lias censed..

The teachers' D examinations concluded on Wednesday, and the ma joi'ily of the candidates leave New Plymouth this morning iUi commence the holiday portion of their vacation's.

At the Primitive Methodist Church on Wednesday niglil. Ilex's. (!. ISailov, ,1. Penning, if. J Liddell. 1M „-| ]) Campbell \w\v ordained to tee full ministry The ordination charge was delivered by the Key. W. Laccock. ami Hie charge to the Church bv (he Rev. 10. Drake. Each of Urn ordained ministers brielly (old the story of Ids eonversion and call to the work of God. At the outset of his charge the Key. Liycock congratulated tiiein on pus'sj ing tlieir examinations, and then lie gave a most eloquent and forceful address <»a the glorious privileges of (he minister. The Key. J. Cuv offered a dedieatory prayer. The liev. C. 10. Ward, the President, also delivered an earnest address to the candidates, lb' then present d each of-the candidates with a handsomi'T bound volume of the llolv Iliblc.