LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 6 April 1907, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waitara is herself again, or nearly so. The Waitara Hotel, on the site of ihe old building destroyed In' lire, is now open for business.' The' Bridge Hotel, also jn the site of an hotel destroyed by lire, is Hearing completion. Departmental ollicers are aware of the practice, and recognise the gravity of the position. The Clifton County Council has now officially drawn their attention to it, and asked' them to take steps to prevent a recurrence of the practice. Messrs Borthwick and Co. slate that three years ago they only slaughtered 17 pigs at their works at"Waitara. In the following year the number was 1200. Last year it was 30U0. This year the firm anticipate an output of: close on 10,000.

The Hawera District High School reopened on Tuesday, after being closed for four weeks on account of an epidemic of measles. The school was, however, immediately closed down again for a few days to allow of thorough disinfection being carried out. The balance-sheet of the Wellington City Council for the year ended Slst March shows receipt* £170,827, expenditure £108,057, balance £2170. The municipal tramways for the same period show a profit of £14,300, or nine per cent on the capital invested. After setting aside £10,500 for depreciation, etc., a- net profit of £3BOO is shown. Many settlers in the northern portion' of the Clifton County have been clearing their lands of noxious weeds. With a persistency that proves that the farmers in many cases can't see a yard beyond their individual noses, they have rooted out the. ragwort plants in full bloom, and cast them out on the roads, where every passing beast and vehicle can assist in the spread of the nuisance. The Travellers by road between Waitara and New Plymouth keenly appreciate the improvement made and" the greater safety provided by widening U* roadway at the point where the Devon road crosses the railway Mae at the ton of Big Jim's Hill. Jt is now to see a railway engine for a few seconds before it dashes into (he middle of the road. A little more excavation would do no harm.

Tk' gross toll takings at the Main North road toll-gate in the Clil'ton County amounted to £507 2s 3d for the year ending April I. This was only about half the amount estimated when the gate was'erected. Uinnually ]ar"e numbers of sheep travelled northwards through the gate during March, and drojei-s and owners more than once approached the collector lor a reduction ol' the toll; bj.il', of course, without, express authority, this could not he entertained. The county engineer recommended (he Council oil Friday In inainliini the present rale ol' a I'ailliin- per head foi ICKIO sheep, and to charge any number above I hill, at the rate of ail eighth of a penny per head. (V. .101 l moved, and O. Wright seconded, that the charge be a farthing a head on mobs up to 01)1) and an eighth of a penny per head lor lots above that number. The chairman moved an amendment Hint the charge be an eighth ~r a penny all round, urging that this year had been an abnormal one for sheep (ravelling through the district. Future sheep trallie would probably be in small mnl.s coming in to the freezing works. To prevent, (he drovers going in a roundabout way to dodge the 1011, they must reduce the fee. The motion was witli.lrnwii. and (he snaeeslion adopted.

A public inecliug is (n lie held in coilneotin/i with the National League of [ .Vow Zealand at the you- Plymoutli I'l'nwn liall on Wednesday evening next. All interoslcd—and wlin 'is not iiilcrestod in tlio defence of ono's country—arc invited to all end. We liopo to'sec a largo and. enthusiastic mootm"-.

"The Kash" has liad made to their special order about 50 suits in good heavy tweeds. Just the thing for conn try wear, will stand (ho rough and tumble wear that's lvtpiivod of (hem. They're strongly made, well lined, and well out, and the price is a very derate one considering the tweed. They are 209 in all sizes.---Advt. Bovs' Clothing receives distinct attention at White and Sons. At the present moment some nice shapely tailor-cut •Overcoat.! and Mackintoshes are being shown. Being direct from the makers, enables this firm to supply you with them at the jiifuimiim of expense in addition to giving the maximum, of quality. ,—Advt.

The cross-country race in connection with the New Plymouth High Schools sports was run on Friday afternoon, and resulted:—A. Osborne (Omin) 1. P. Ambiiry (liniin) 2, E. Daily (U'/„min) 3. The winner's time was 48min 27sec, but J. Sinclair, starting from scratch, covered the distance of about seven miles in -11 minutes, a fine performance. The Home liner Opawa lias been loading hi the Waitara roadstead for the past few days, and should complete her loading 10-dav. The shipment establishes'a record, being the largest shipment of moat that"his ever left the port of Wailara. Approximately, her cargo is as follows:—8450 quarters beef, Mill) ci'leases mutton, 1750 lamb, ilOOo ca»cs bief, mutton, and sundries. IS7O barrels tallow, oleo, and pelts. IKIII bales wool.

The quarterly moet'ng of the Coast circuit of the Methodist Church was held at Okato on Thursday. The liev. Mr Brooke and Mr C. Carter were present from the Whiteley Church, and delegates were also present from Okato. Tataraimaka, I'uniho, Warea, Pungarehu and llahotu. The ordinary husino-s was transacted durin» the afternoon, alfd in the. evening a farewell social to mark the establishment of the Coast circuit (now to be known as the (lape Kginont circuit) apart from the parent church was held. The Cape Kgiiumi circuit, which will include Opunako, comes into operation on Tuesday next, and has been apportioned two clergymen.