LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 302, 24 December 1907, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The interest oil the bridge loan in the Taranaki County inn been reduced from -i per cent to 3',i pel' cent. The Education Department will provide for Ihe erecting and furnishing of a school at Okuhc, beyond I'renui, and _CIUO lor additions to the Lincoln school.

A prominent lady landowner in the Wanganui district (says all exchange) luu i ecu approached with a view lo nominating her as a member ot the County Cuiincil. A few mure years and the petticoat will be in Parliament.

Ou the motion of Mr Xownsend, Wailara, probate was granted by the Supreme Court of the will of the late John Kelly, to Mcsar J- i'inuerty and i!. Farmer, tile executors named in the will.

(.hi the day upon which ii was to escape payment of the 10 per cent, penally on rates there was a rush at the IWoiigh Council oilices. and over .C-UUU was received. The borough account this morning shows a credit of JWJUD—a somewhat unusual position. The iii New .Plymouth for the enduing yeai' will he 10s )'or sporting ami 2- (id for working dogs. A determined attempt wa- made last night to reduce the fancy dog fee to ss, Councillor Browne fathering the proposal. Councillor ('ollis headed the ten shillings brigade, with a view of preventing the multiplication of undeniable immigrants in the shape of lialf-slarved <'iirs. New Plymouth people often pride \hem-elves oil tin- line footpaths ahout tin* town. In JTTvon-strtvt thei-e are I(> feet wide, mid now the-e arc found to on-upy too nun-h of ilie -Ueel. It probable thai -tep- will t-horlly be taken to reduce the width to twelve fed. and the ownor- of verandah- spanning the footpath- will liiei; receive notice to make them conform to the new regula lions. T!ie -I reel will then be kwbed and channelled.

From the M January. lliOK. the free delivery of t'-legrain- received for delivery at 1 lie loc.ll telegraph olliee i- to be e\!ej,dr»d ioa di-tance of two miles for all nic—ape-. lodged at any oflice betweeii S a.in .an.l (> p.m. Affer (> p.m. the free delivery will be for a m>tain-e of <ine mile and adialf. Carriage beyond tlie tree delivery up to three mile- will be charged al the rate of sixpence per mile or fraMi'in ihivof. P.cyond three mile- all moneys <1 r-<-([ in -ah fa ret-, efe.. mu-t be paid.

iln- Railway Dcparl nicm form ~nd iiirial Loach -sfreel when tlit*y remove their >lue|)eis i\m\ vails from it? Tin' Impart nieiit 1 <><»U tlu* street '.V> ycnrs :iri(l ItlL- railway line lljMil! it. Fur 2 year- ill'.' unformed tsireef ha--been a di'l riiiu'itf fn thai nan «*l' (he inwit. ami people fronting the lino hive ]);i(I in |>;it up \\ it b i]]c<m\onieiu t'. This \v;i- a lmt that it was thought (he railway am] municipal authorities have vet to jointly ornck, Iml the Borough Council has decided not to urge the point.

The Chief Postmaster advises that the Opunake mail coach will not run on Christmas Day. The Church Berviceß for Christmas Day will be:—Church of England: St.' Mary's 7, 8,11 and 7; Hcnui, 8 and 11; Bell Block, 7; Old People's Home, 0.4, >; Om*ta, 11 (H.C.) and 7. A query: Is there any local body which can "take a division" wiLhout one or two members either voting against, their convictions or explaining their votes, or asking for further information to enable them to east their votesV On Friday, December 211, at the Supreme Court, Auckland, his Honor Alt' Justice Dennistdii granted probate, on the motion of Mr ('. [|. Weston (Weston I and Weston), of the will of the late •Mrs Mary McGrath in favor of the executor aiul executrix named therein. _ Sawmilling in pinus insignns plantations lias been carried on for a few

ycarH in South Canterbury, and the timber finds reaily sale, the best quality bringing from 8s per hundred feet. The timber is being largely used by fanners in the erection of sheds and' outbuildings, and answers the purpose admir-

Ihe High Commissioner reports that tlie butter market is very firm and an active demand continues for (lie Christmas trade, but lower prices are anticipated afterwards. The quality of Xew Zealand butter j, giving satisfaction to buy ers. Choicest Xew Zealand is quoted at I Lib, Australian 117s, Argentine 117s ; Danish Bis. ami Silurian Ills. Saltless , "Utter IS worth 2s less than these price*, rile cheese market is firm, and there is good demand for white at COs Gd, colored at tils fid.

The quarterly meeting of the Loval Egmont Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held last evening, Jiio. A. Hooker, N.G., presiding Owing to tile meeting night being so close to Christmas, there was not a very large attendance. It was de- < ided to form a hospital fund in connection with the Lodge, to pay fees for its members, and n committee was formed to frame rules. The election of officers resulted:— X.G., Past Grand L. F. Webster; V.G., Bro. C. Bond; Elee. Sec., Bro. W. If. Butler; Warden, Bro. 11. Bowen; Guardian, Bro. A. Duller; Bros. A'ewion and Jackson wore elected 8.11. and L.II supporters to the N.C4.; P.R.G.M.'s MeGaliey and Harris Ford were appointed to assist the X.tl. Bros. J. Bennett, C>. H. McGahey and H. Ford were elected auditors for the ensuing year. Bro. H. T. Ainsworth was re-elected per. secretary. It was decided to place P-G. A. Olivers' name on the merit board, and to present him with the usual framed certificate.

Perhaps the most interesting items aL tlie garden party in the Recreation Urouuds on New Year's Day will be those by the Xe liappey iiaud. The | Sports round Committee have made special arrangements for this band u! musician* to appear in Mew Plymouth lor the lirst time with their new instruments. These instruments, which are of the latest pattern, are lioosics, and the members of the band are so taken with them that they have decided to change their name to the Xe liappey Boo*y Hand. Professor Dilanado, the conductor, is one of the world's greatest musicians, and it is said that lie gets so full sometimes, of music, that when lie plays "X'lie Village Blacksmith" you can actually see tlie sparks lly from the instrument. Among the many other artists will be found Signer Caruso, the great Italian singer, who lias 011 more than one occasion appeared before Koyalty. llerr Beimo Shueko is the Siberian virturiso, and plays with such density of volume that one would be forgiven if mistaking it for a volcanic eruption, llerr von Buniinerhauscn is a Herman singer of great repute who warbles love-songs, to the delight of the frauleins of Germany. .Murrain Bidgee Bill, the wild mail from Borneo, is another noted character in this famous band. The education of this interesting gentleman was sadly neglected, and as a youth lie was fed mostly 011 honey and wild berries, but still, it is said that when he gets his hair off he makes things hum. Tlie gentleman who blows the big bass drum is a champion of champions, and when called answers to the name of Signor Bragadoccia. There are many other artists in this famous band, and all have reputations equally as good as those mentioned. The execution of the combination is simply wonderful, and good judges consider it to be better than any execution that has ever taken place in New Zealand. It has been said that one should hear th-> Besses 0' tli' Ham Band and then die, but many who have heard the Te liappey Band play that beautiful selection called "The Howling of the Dingo" have died of hydrophobia. °