INTERESTING ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 306, 22 December 1908, Page 3

INTERESTING ITEMS.

A new timetable for the New iPly-mouth-Opunake coach service is advertised to-j|ay. This will enable country people to catch the 12.50 p.m. train from New Plymouth. Once again "The People's Grocer" is. to tlie torefront in catering for the needs of the people, and it is impossible ~ to find a store where a higher grade quality and more varied choice can be oMained than in Mr. Carter's store, ' either in grocery, Italian goods, crockery, or glassware. Our readers are directed to the new advertisement in our columns this morning. The Carrington Road Board invites tenders, to close on January 4th, for forming and metalling on. the Upper Carrington Road. - The Borough Council give notice of dates and times .when the borough office*, public library, public baths, and reading-room will be. open during the Christmas holidays. Owing to the Christmas holidays the Borough Council notifies that the la3t day tor discount for electric lighting will be to-morrow (Wednesday). , ' The Gas Company notify that the last day for discount will be Wednesday, '23 rd instant, up to i pjn. The diffifcultiea of keeping meat Bweet v and cool during the present weather m ■ well known to every housewife. In anticipation of a ho* summer Mr. Walter Scott, pork butcher, Devon-street, h»3 just installed an up-to-date ice-chamber in lib shop. The chamber is built on natural lines, the ice being placed on top. It is a well-known fact that hot - air rises and cool air strikes down. The ice-chest is capable of holding 3001b of meat and small goods, and with the low temperature meat will keep pure and sweet for four or five days. The chamber in which the meat is stored is perfectly dry, and there is no trace of smell. AU the goods made at Scott's are stored in the ioe-chaml>er, and come out in almost- a frozen condition. It will save a lot of trouble to shop at Scott's for the festive season. Ambury Bros.' windows and store are now fill of dainty holiday apparel and seasonable furnishings, men's and boys' holiday suits, hats, etc. Customers are invited to inspect same. Style and value light.—Advt. Curtain values are telling at White's this week. The" firm have opened a number of lines which have been bought at big discount | rates, and this advantage is being given the public. Several expressions of appreciation of i the cheapness of some of the numbers sold, have been overheard, and news of this sort Bpreads. Another new line at 13s fid per pair was opened on Friday.

NEPTUNE AT MOTUROA. A very strange experience befel u party of picnickers who spent the day on Moturoa augarloaf on Sunday last. "Whilst patiently fishing, their attention wan suddealv drawn to a low mysterious rumbling which appeared to. emanate from the bowels of the rock. After these subterranean noises had continued for some little time the water in the vicinity of the rock became greatly disturbed, just as though a submarine eruption had taken place. Such was not the case, however, as was seen in a few moments. The agitation of the waters hiving subsided, the mute watchers were astounded to behold the war chariot of King Neptune emerge, on the crest of a wave, from his palace of coral and seaweed. After shaking the crystal drops from his shaggy mane and picking the barnacles from his teeth with his trident, it was observed that !his most sublime majesty was attired in his scales of state. Raising his majestic head and expanding his gills, in a mighty voice he commanded that the chief spirit of Moturoa appear. The rumbling was again heard, and a sound as oflhe rending of granite drew the attention of the party to the summit of the island, where a most fascinating light met their gaze. Princess Motnmi, tile spirit of Moturoa, had appeared decorated in peerless gems. Ha earrings were petroleum drops fresh from the Birthday bore, and she wore an ironsand gauze costume which showed to perfection the beautiful outline of her fairy-like figure. Old, Neptune's eyes glistened as he gazen on the entrancing loveliness. Then, he spoke: '"Salutations, O mighty Princess! By I these presents know ye the will of the King of the Deep and his commands to the people of Taranaki corcerning a monster demonstration, arranged by our subjects for the seaside picnic on New Year's Day. We shall hold high revel and all the mighty denizens of the dec? will participate. On that auspicious day the rising of the sun will be th-j signal for our subjects in the Pacific to assemble under the lee of the sugarloaves. Our special carnival chariot, drawn by Pelorus Jack and his team of twentj four doughty dolphjns, will form the grand procession round the harbor. The marshal of the parade is the great Taniwlia of Taranaki whose fiery eye hath been burnished like a furnace. During the afternoon shall be produced an iten that shall astound all people—a race tlree times round the warship Amokura and Moturoa inland. ~ The participants will be the worldrenowned Bea-serpent (half a mile in length) and the gigantic sperm whale who rules the Antarctic, and whose •weight is 307 tons y>lb (weighed by his own scales). The winner is to have the satisfaction of devouring his vanquished opponent in sight of all. We also intend to place on view tUie veteran whale that swallowed Jonah. These any many more entertaining items will - be given. Princess, I bow before you and entreat you to make known to all men, women, and children, that no su%fi glorious marine'pageant has ever beer held before, and, further, I reapectfullj invite you to accompany me in m) chariot in our triumphant parade.' Princess Moturina gracefully bowed he! acceptance of. the commands, and the spoke in reply: "Your Gracious Majesty I will convey thy Boval commands t' the people of Taranaki, and I can as eure you of their appreciation of you noble intentions; and I take this oppor tnnity of extending to you on their 1)5 half a cordial invitation to attend th performance in the Recreation Sport Ground on Wednesday evening, 30tl jnst., where the whole of the town; people-will be congregated for the pus pose of enjoying the excellent pr< gramme to be submitted, and also t follow your noble example of assistin the Seaside Improvement Committee t carry out such improvements to the ses shore as to have, it recognised as tl watering-place of the West Coast."