LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 18 December 1907, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The warm damp weather is most unfavorable for the spread of potato blight, and this scourge is now making rapid headway in local gardens.

It is the intention oE tlie Central School authorities not to present prizes to the pupils this year, but to treat theni_ to a picnic, probably in the Rocrcation Grounds. Entries for solo items for the Hand Contest in February next are coming in freely. Over 120 have been received to date. Entries close to-morrow night. The Town Eire Mrigailo held a wellattended wet practice last night. After the parade, Firemen J. Sadler and W. .Sadler were presented with their five years' service medals.

The Hand Contest Committee ban' applied to the Education Hoard to have all schools in the district closed during Land contest week lor lour days. The Mayor, as chairman of the executive, will wail upon the Hoard to-day in support of the recpiest. The. secretary of the Caledonian Society acknowledges receipt of a donation of one guinea from ilr W. Kerr, patron of the society, also a special trophy, valued at £3 3s, from E. Reynolds and Co., cycle makers and agents, as an added prize for the cycling events on the programme. The following team lias been chosen from the Taranaki Rides to meet with Mangorei ititle Club on Thursday at Mangorei:— Capl. Okey, Lieut. Humphries, Kergt. Bruce, Corp. Marrett, Privates Marett, Davis mid okey, lion, mem. Willis. The team, in uniform, muster at the Imperial Hotel comer at 1 o'clock sharp. The prize-giving ctncinony at the West End seJiool is fixed for a quarter past six o'clock to-morrow evening. This hour is chosen because the distnbu-

tioii must lie made in the open air, and it is desired to escajie the trying he.it of the afternoon sun. The bazaar in aid of the gymnasium f um | 6 w ,n | JC . opened at three o'clock by Air 11. Okey, iM.P.

That much-vexed Waimanu street, which gives the only public access to the beach between the iiuatoki sueaiii and Te Ucnui, is to be opened up. The Railway Department is to construct a footbridge across the cutting there, and the Borough Council will make the necessary approaches. The street has never been open for trallic, and, owing to the coustaut inroads of the sea at this point, it is doubtful if it will ever be oi any great value to the town.

At. the b.M. (Jourl yesleiuay luuriiiog the Inspector of Factories 'proccedeu against \\. F'raser, chemist, lor Having kept ids shop open alter me hour gazetted alter requisition by the cheimsis. Jtr Kerr appeared lor uie Department, and iir I<\ x.. Wuson tor the ileieiiuunt, who pleaded guilty. _vir Wilson oxplained that the defendant had closed nis premises at the appointed tune, but later in the evening lie. was called to make up a prescription. The door of the shop was left open while he did this, and two customers walked iu to make purchases. The Magistrate inllicted a fine of lUs and £1 1& costs.

Haisl night Uie Education Buard iulormaiiy uiseussed the matter oi taking over the Puuiho native school. The question was introduced in the chairman's report. He had ascertained that there uere nine Maori children attending and 33 European children. Mr. Clemance, the present teacher, has mentioned m corn-creation that the settlers iu some casus send their children to this school rattier than to one of the Board's schools, because at Puniho the compulsory attendance regulations did not apply. Hi last night's discussion it was mentioned that the native committee in charge of the school was very painstaking—more so that most European committees—and kept the grounds in excellent order. The chairman's recommendation to make application to the Department for control of the school was confirmed.

in the .Magistrate s Uouit yesterday, H. ii. Xiuujjci-, manager lor iue i'lymoulh lelroloum company, a jJunediu concern, which mis been uoring at Uni.ua, sued the company tor xim, oi which i,o was lor wages due, and Xio in iieu of live weeks' notice. iUr u. U. ifaloue appeared for the plaintiff, and Jlr U'. .Kerr for the delendant. The latter applied for an adjournment, to allow of important evidence being taken in Christehuich. Air jUuloue strongly opposed the application, and contenued that the company was ueliberately humbugging the delendant. Xliey humbugged him all through in the matter of settlement, and, knowing that he was anxious to return to America, seemed 'to think they could eventually settle lor a much smaller sum than 'even they had offered him. The Magistrate granted the-adjournment until January 14th.

The work of draining uie aw.imp in the Kecrcalion Uruuuds is going on. ji is a duly job, and a slow one. naiefooted Auions wallow knee deep in Uie mud and rotten vegetation, and east out the rubbish upon ihe bank. The oilier workmen, as a matter ol habit, wide in boots, and get their nether clotlimsaturated with mud and slush. Here the Alaoris have another advantage To suit the exigencies of the work they have applied the scissors to their trousers, and now disport knickers. Everv now and again a big eel is espied, and he iiaoris eagerly hunt him out on to he bank, where Uie ,vahines seize him and later on dish hiin up as a toothsome delicacy. J ud g illfer J . progress of the work it Ul b L . months before the new lake and swm mng pond will be an d fact. Aleauwhile portions of the former bottom of the big lake, fern „S he wa er us been forth bright green growth to hide its' muddy ugliness,

■ -.10.1. ui in u workmen engaged on the Caiiiii at uii-ro. l d widening won,, , Ln ,, k i eauTuay iiioruujg lor an iiicrca.-eii u'a-c J-ney iuve been rcceinng per uaV and recently peuiioncd ior L. The waru at us ia,t meeting, whhsi of omu <- una the ueinand\as au orioed ue chairman and engineer to tieai Willi the men. it w . ls ° ri - £lllired <-u) Ihe Board would pay out the biggei wages to ihe nieu whom they con-.-uci-ed worth it, this saving clause not he. ig, o curs, co,.n., ul n,catcd to the »ui the men, however, thought they should receive the lis a day from the start ot the second section of the work oppose .Ur. Blanohell's, about naff a mile beyond the lirst contract It wis thte increased distance that in the main prompted the demand. The Hoard, howe>ei, decided to stick to its ground, ami yesterday morning informed the men that they would- be paid Ss up to next baiurday. Then ih„ „, w tl( j,. u . ~„„.„ their tools and left work. The Board has decided to suspend work until after the holidays. -New goods suitable fur the season u.ue aimed at Dockriil's Bout and Shoe U lu'ekoi;,e, Devon-street Central, and are going oil aL the. w , st il)J( , prices. Jiis well-known brands of reliable imes always in stock ,a bedrock lines A .-mall balance of indent goods can be had at your own priccv-AuYt" if such h„l weather a, w,*uvo' ■'■ perienced during the h,st few jays con-" nines, the best use will be made of our tacilitics lor bathing, ami iho bov ennuicipaicd from school will u 0 Uoubi make a bee-line for the baths, At 11, . time jusl remember White's arc showm- tie. I best Is towel, in both brown and ■■•'. '■' i on the market.—Advt.

thai noted store for liuucl dm-nd-able goods, The Kash, is'siiowing some very nice jjooils in men's ami Im-iT ci.dlim.g. Ili.'ir i'lvstwull suits a re ji" lsl , about pen oction, and very difficult [,., u ,j| r Jx i m the liest ta.lur-made suits. They've a splendid range of tweeds and worked* i« this make, and they range from-Ills (id to (i.j„. They've cheaper suits, too, laiiguig I rum 2js to -17s (id. in vicunas, -ci'-'cs, culunial tweeds, ami worsteds. J'uys ■-. i"l" tliey have in abundance— Conway suits ]2s (i,l to 255, tunic suits ns lid to los (id, and soon, i'nv them I a visit the .Saturday before'chrisiwas.--Advl. •

OTAGO FARMERS ARE WELL SAT. ISFIED WITH SYKES'S DRENCH. It is but human to ask for proof so authoritative testimony will bo found in the following:Robert Weir, Esq., tanner, writes to tun manager, Otago Farmers' Co-op. Association, Diincdin:—«l have great pleasure 111 bearing testimony to the efficacy of Pykes'a Drench, and recommend it to every farmer as a. safe and reliable medicine. I had a number of young pigs very sick, and thought there was no chance of saving them, After using Pykes's Drench according to the directions. I am ploasod to saylhat the-/ began tn improve after tlie' first dose and continued to do Sn, and after b; few days were quite well npiin. I had a cow very bad with milk fever, and ' after giving her a packet or Drench she I was on her feet again. 1 reckon tint ' no farmer should be witliout Svkcs's •' Drench. I would willingly pay 7s fid 1 a packet for it." s Use only Sykes'a Drench, because it ( is the best. Price Is 6d packet, or 18s < the dozen. Better buy It by the Uo« m, J