LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 134, 5 July 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Taranaki County Council meets to-day. Tlie ordinary monthly meeting of the Recreation Grounds Board is to be held this evening. It is stated that during May and June about 300 men, mostly young, left Timaru for Australia. These men are members of large parties who work year in and year out in Australia aud New Zealand. , Clement Wragge's "Davenport" disturbance is a wet one. Yesterday's showers were short, but they were exceptionally, heavy. That which occurred about (i.30 last evening was perhaps the heaviest experienced here for some time, and depressed paddocks were soon awash.

'!%« following letters received from places beyond the Dominion are lying at the cliief post office, New Plymouth: Mr. Bert, James E. Birch, Angus Camphell, George Campbell, H. Colitis, Miss E. Divine, D. (iilmour, D. D. Gillies, Bit-hard Gilbert, Mrs. 11. Hawkins, 11. J. Henn, D. Jones, C. Silvcrton. A short time ago a proposal was mooted at Hastings to start u company and carry on the business of meat curing, or "dry" pickling, especially in relation to beef. The idea was taken up with enthusiasm, a company formed, shares rapidly taken up, and now the Hawku's Bay Heat Curing Company has started work. A delightful photographic group graces the front page of " Good Cheer,' New Zealand's Home Journal, a copy of tin July issue of wliich has reached us This bright and wholesome journal which is sent post free to an) address for Imlf-a-crown a year, i: particularly entertaining this month We notice that the proprietors are nov giving their readers their own choice o free patterns instead of sending one on free as before. This should prove a ven popular feature to ladies. "Satan finds some mischief still fo idle hands to ilo." Larrikins have turn ed their energies to the peacock's pel in the New Plymouth Heereatioi Grounds, ripping the wire-netting int< great gaping holes. Is it not possibl for some of those interested in tli> grounds to band themselves into a Yigi lance Association with a view to bring ing one or two of these scamps to thei senses? Mr. Smith, the curator, i ever on the watcii, but the vandal soon get to know where he is stationei and betake themselves off elsewhere. Constable Wilson, of Waitotara, lui: the very agreeable task of handling tin men who are being put to the hush felling in the district (says the Waver Ivy correspondent of the I'atcu Press) On Monday next lie expects to liavi put JOO men at the work. He speak: pleasingly of the class of men beinj sent, but would offer no opinion as ti whether the scheme would be success fill or not. Those in <.narj;e. ne naiil were thoroughly capable, having liai long liiitli-felling experience and liem; used to handling large bodies of men Seventy men are already at work Thirty more arrived on Kridav night and Kill are to follow shortly.' At this time of the year, when dis tress exists in many nuances, the hell unostentatiously give,. ■>/ such oniinisii tions us the London Slum and Missiov Society goes a long way to provide com forts for unfortunates. The mission ex ists, not alone for relieving distress ii tile metropolis of the Empire, but r-Hst of all provides for local needs, and despatching surplus clothing, etc., to the Loudon shuns. A meeting of the local 'branch of the mission is to be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 odoek, in the Town Hall, at which the Mayoress will preside. Persons having serviceable k'ft-oir clothing, rugs, etc., are askvdto assist the society,by donations, etc. Tile llawera Star expresses satisfaction that better counsels have prevailed with respect to Moumahaki, and that the Government has found the experimental station too valuable for conversion into a prison farm. That decision will give general satisfaction throughout Southern Taranaki. But whilst we are pleased that Moumahaki lias been saved from the. fate proposed hy Dr. Kindlay, we trust that the suggested extension of the functions of the State farm will not h e lost sight of. We have already gone so fully into the plea for the establishment of an agricultural college at Moumahaki that there is no need to repeat the arguments at this juncture. It is only necessary to add that the State farm might be made infinitely more valuable as "an vduiational institution than it is today without adding to the cost of working. The whole district will await the ■Government's next step with interest. A very pleasant evening was npent with the children at St. Andrew's Simday School on Friday, when their annual tea and entertainment took place. About 150 children, with parents and friends, partook of a first-class tea, which, judging from appearances, each and every one thoroughly enjoyed. After the tables had been cleared, 'an entertainment was held, the following programme being given by the scholars: ■ Pianoforte soli), " Under the Double Eagle," Miss tllaelys Doile; recitation, "Ena's Bide," liita Martin; recitation, "The Kitten's Lesson." .Master Millie Elliot; chorus. "Hazel Grove,- eight scholars; recitation, "The Cat's TeaParty," Muster Karena Elliot; recitation, "Suppose," Miss Mary Bacon; song. " The Swance niver," Miss Miro lilyth; recitation. "Greedy Twister," Miss Evelyn Martin; chorus, "Steadily on we go," eight scholars; tenor horn ! solo, Master Hoy Blanchett (encore); recitation, " Home' Attractions," Miss Gertrude Martin; recitation, "Advice to Boys," Master Norman Way; song, 1 " Peek-a-Boo," Miss Ivy Speed; pianoforte solo, " llonnie "Scotland," Miss Gladys Way; recitation, "Two Little Stockings," Miss Ailsa Ewing; recitation, "Why Cats Wash after Eating,'' Master Harold Elliot; chorus, " Spring-1 elill'e," eight scholars; recitation, " .'. j Gentleman," Miss Maud Way; son",; "The Gift," Miss Kose Kea (encore):: recitation, " The Mice and the Cheese. ' Master Nelson Winter; song, "I can't: fink oli nutliin' else but you, Lulu.": Miss Dorothy Blanchett (encore): r> ; citation, "William Tell," Master ' Her-' nard Sinclair; recitation, "A Puzzling, Word," Miss Violet Martin; chorus,' "The Glory Song," eight scholars, II' 1 . N. K. MacDiarniid, ex-superintendent of the Sunday school, called for a hearty | vote of thanks to the chairman. Ta ■ ■ T!ev. S. S. Osborne (superintendent),! who, in acknowledging the compliment, ■ asked the children to show their grati- j ficaliou of the efforts that had been j put forth that evening by the teachers p and friends to make the gathering an I'njoya'ble one, after which the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" brought to a close a «ost enjoyable evening. j