LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 97, 21 May 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The X'ew Plymouth "iSjiccer" Club was tile only one of the New Plymouth teams to score a win yesterday. There was a contingent of prisoners on board last night's express, en route "" to the Waiotapu tree-planting station. I A house occupied by Mrs. Webby on the Hastings road, Mangatoki, was delistroycd by lire on Wednesday night dur- ' ing the owner's absence from home. The building was insured in the State Fire ■ Office for £IOO. There is a report that Amy Boek is to write the story of her stay at Nugget Bay and the circumstances' leading up to the wedding, the proceeds of the sale §of the pamphlet going to make up the Jill she borrowed from .Miss Henderson. During the morning service at the Presbyterian Church at Methvenon Sunday (says the Press) the Rev. B. J. Wostbrookc announced to the congregation that Mrs). Cameron, of Springheld, ilethven, had donated .CIOUO to the church, tliv interest on which was to be given to the stipend fund, and had also made a gift of £SOO to the minister himself.

An elderly man, of foreign nationality, is making a house-to-house call in New Plymouth in quest of pecuniary assistance. We know nothing 0 f tlie bona fides of this individual, but as we have a constituted body in the Charitable Aid Board, whose function it is to enquire Into ami, deal with nil cases of indigence, no reason exists for encouraging this kind of mendicancy.

Speaking nt the farmers' Union Conference in Stratford on Wednesday with regard to the labor dillicnlty, one delegate K aid it appeared to him to be a case of the bigger the pay the less work done, and the trouble was that, unlike the manufacturer, (he farmer could not get rid of the added burden by passing the enhanced price on to the consumer of his products.—Post. On Wednesday evening Constables Mcivor and McLeod, acting under a warrant issued at Danucvirke, arrested a man named liolierl Graham l'auersoii on a charge thai on March 10, 11)00, at Ohakiuic, he did fraudulently' omit to pay the sum of .ClO to E. Pawson. Patterson was brought before Mr. H. S. Fitzherhcrt, S.M., yesterday morning, and remanded to appear at 'Danucvirke. It is understood that the charge arises ont of matters in connection with a saw mill.

The New Plymouth High School Board on Wednesday considered a letter addressed to Mr. Pridham, the principal, by the Australian Students' Christian Union, asking that its travelling representative be allowed to visit the school. The matter was referred to Mr. Pridham to deal with, Mr. Eraser, chairman of the Board,sti'ongl.v objected to the request being complied with, He considered that as the Government had d :- eided that the education system of N. v Zealand should-be nlniig 'secular lines, and il w.is simply smuggling to attempt to introduce religious teaching in this wav.

The euchre parte and dance, promoted by the Egiuont Lodge of Oddfellows, *as held last evening, and. although the uttendaiue was not up to expectations, (he evening was most enjoyable. A good working committee of the sisters' and brethren of the Lodge had worked hard to ensure success. The lady's prize was one by Miss I'earcc. after an exciting play-ofl' w-it.li .Mrs. Joe West, both ladies hiving scored 13 games each. The gentleman's prize was won by Mr. Norman West, with 14 ..auies. After the euchre was' finished, a sumptuous supper (provided by the ladies) -was (lisposed of. and the remainder of the evening was devoted to dancing, interspersed with vocal items by Miss Lneseh. recitations by Miss Oliver (encored), and a mouth organ solo by Bro. Robson (encored) ,

The Central School Committee, met. on Tuesday evening, Mr. F. P. Corkill (chairman). Revs. F. G. Evans and S. S. Osborne, and Messrs. iludd. Harvey, MeGahey, Way, and Grant attending. An apology for absence was received from Mr. Kenand. The inspectors reported having visited the u-ntrnl School on April Miami lh> C'ourtenay Street Schoo. on May IS. Hep.,its of the visits were attached. The headmaster reported tluit the average at tendance had b.'en 527.3. the number on the roll being :,<M. The Education Board f, rwarded a list of applications for the position of third lady assistant, recommending two for selection. It was resolved to recommend the appointment of Miss Rountrce. A linancial report of the committee as compiled by the chairman and secretary was read. The chairman was empowered to take what action ho considered ■necessary to procure the balance of the increased capitation grant from the Education Board. It wits decided that (ne ceremony of hoisting the Hag presented by the children of Plymouth, England, should lake place at 2 p.m. on .Monday next (Empire Hay). An invitation is extended to parents and the general public, also to the earlv settlers. The children will sing the National Anthem and liule Britannia, and speeches will be delivered l,v the chairman of the committee (Mr. V. V. Corkill) and the Mavor (Mr. O. Tiseh).