The Daily News SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 301, 21 December 1907, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21.

A matter of some importance was discussed at the meeting of tile .National I I'ark Board on Thuisdiy, namely, the allowing or facilitating of prospecting for minerals in the mountain reserve. A full report of the proceeding-, appears on the fourth page. U'aica and Koni notes, commercial intelligence, and particulars of the forthcoming Axemen's Carnival at Elthani arc also to be found on page four. The takings at the West End school bazaar were upwards of AMO. The Tarauaki regatta is to be held at Waitara on February (itll. Two pupils of the Central School have established a record. They have not missed a single attendance at school in seven years.

At a meeting ol the School Commissioners yesterday it was decided to abolish the Boards I'eo of ten shillings on transiers of leases. In committee, the Board discussed the matter of reducing the cost oi' leasc«, but no decision was arrived at.

ihe J'ipiriki Block, near Daiumvirke, ha«s been secured by the Covernmeut l'or closer m'U lenient purposes, tt wili nol be po»il)le, however, to place the land on the market before next spring, owing to the existence of certain timber-eut-ting rights. By that time it is anticipated BJjUUU acrerj will be available tor settlement.

Tlie boys of the PianUey school ale taking unusual interest in gardening, which hus become pari of their sciiuul work- Four plots of ground have been laid out, each one containing tlie same crop, and in order to impress upon them the benelits derived from the use of good mamiß'n, in each plot a dillereni manure lias been used. At the present time a mixture of bonedust and superphosphate has produced the best results. At the llarbor Board meeting yesterday a letter was iccened iroin „ur Prod. Mason, of Peterborough, Pngiand, asking for particular* us to the extent and depth oi the "black magnetic" sand, and what terms could be arranged in regard to same; also, whether the Board would make a grant for a smelting process, and whether they thought the same practicable. The applicant will be informed that the Board cannot give Uie I information required, except that the

quantity of sand is unlimited. Cubit; advice lias been received ui' the arrival ol' the first shipment of a North Taranaki factory's butter at Home, and

of its sale at J2tte per cut. This hardly bears out the gloomy predictions of some of the butter buyers when attempting to purchase factory outputs earlier ill Of course, it lias yet to be proved Hint this market price will hold. The latest cable from the

High Commissioner gives 120s as the

selling price of prime New Zealand butter. A meeting of the Taranaki Caledonian Association was held at Stratford on \\ ednesday evening. There were present: Alessr Clarke (in the chair), Hanen, llarr, Stewart, and Jennings. Correspondence was received from Christchurch stating that the conference held there

adopted the remit from the Taranaki Association to the effect that in Highland events the age for juveniles be 1G years, and on no account should juveniles be permitted to compete against adult competitors. It was decided to remove the diajualilication from .Malone (for running at unregistered meetings) 011 his returning to the Association the amount of prize money won at the Auroa Dairymen'* Sports. The next meeting will probably be held at Waitara in January.

The harbormaster reported to the Board yesterday iliat during tlie live weeks ended December 18th, (here had been 1)2 steamer berthings ai the wliarl, the aggregate tonnage being U1,142 tons. The imports amounted to 70U2 tons, including 1021 tons of railway coal and 112S tons of private coal, while the exports were 2007 tons; making a total of cargo handled !ÜB'J tons, this being the record for the port, l'ine clear weather, with light variable winds and moderate seas had been experienced. The dredge had worked 21

days, making 323 trips, and had removed 19,.130 cubic yards from tin; spit. The sand "liad during the lust few months jnade up to a height of Jft irom the root of the breakwater to ".Moon's" reef, lie attributed the alteration of the beach to the breakwater extension having the tendency to cut olf the heavy swell, and thereby allowing the sand to lie dormant.

iIK.- iTunkk'y jjt'lxuoi proacukU u g:iv

appearance yesiciuay uu the occasion ol the breaking-up lor the Christmas vacation. The attendance of bolii parents and. scholars was very large. In tin.' early pari of tfio anemoun the scholars gave a musical entertainment, some of tiie items being particularly interesting. The prizes were then distributed by .Jlr& Winlield amidst applause, and Air il. Ukey, Al.i'., presented a purse containing lii'teeu shillings to .Master C. llooker, who was Hie successful competitor in tlii! Agricultural Society's competition for the best essay on its last Mxnv. Jm-lure adjourning for afternoun tea,. .Mr Okey took the opportunity of thanking those who had so liberally subscribed to the funds for providing the prizes, and stated that with a small

balance in 'hand after their purchase, the muster had procured some additional books for the school library. Cheers were then given for .Mr and -Mrs "Wiufield, after which afternoon tea was dispensed in abundance by the ladies.