LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 177, 19 August 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The I'uniho toll-gate revenue, despite the fact that this is the ''"off" season, is at tlie rate of over £1 per day. A petition is being circulated with the object of abolishing the Egmont Road Board and ' merging tin; district into the county. The Rev. S. S. Osborne last night referred to the " deplorable fact" that church attendance throughout the Dominion was falling off very seriously. The St. Aubyu town district will, it is understood, he gazetted to-day. Upon this being done, steps will be taken to merge the remainder of the Barrett Road district into the county. New Zealanders must be " hai'd cases," and Taranaki folk the hardest of all. A Salvation Anny officer of world-wide experience informed lb., lie,-. S. Osborne recently that New Zealand was about tile hardest ground the Army liad to work, and Taranaki was about the hardest ground of the Dominion.

In the Police Court yesterday morn* ing T. Falconer was charged with procuring liquor during tiie currency of a prohibition order. Robert Wright was charged with having been found on licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order. Iloth were remanded until the 25th inst. Tlie Taranaki County Council is now getting along in a fairly friendly fashion, and the fightable qualities which members used to display at the monthly meetings ai> being transferred to the employees. A couple of exciting "mills" took place near the town the other day, and the council will have an opportunity of talking about it shortly.

11l the Police Court yesterday morning, upon the information of the borough inspector, Gordon Addenbrookc, Antonic. llartlelt, and T. Buxton pleaded guilty to bicycle-riding on borough footpaths without lights, and were lined 5s and costs 7s. A similar penalty was imposed oil J. C. Monteliorc for driving without lights. Allan Veale, charged with riding a bicycle without n light pleaded "not guilty," his lamp having just gone out. He was convicted and discharged. !

There would seem to be need for the creation of a fresli set of justices of the pence in New Plymouth, either by adding to the number at present on tiic list of the "great unpaid," or by rephirini; some of them with men who <'Mii be depended upon to takft tfieir share of tiie work for which their ap-, |)oiulments were made. The court officials find the utmost difficulty in securing justices to take seats on the bench, tile majority of those approached appearing to have convenient appointments liiiide. which put attendance at court quite out of the. question. The keenness of the borough inspector's chase after offenders against the borough by-laws is becoming n by-word. Some good tales are going the round. The other day he entered a local place of business 11 ml tackled the proprietor about a bicycle standing under his shop verandah, with no bell or other alarm attached. The business man seemed to resent the interference of the inspector, and after a good dear of conversation practically defied the inspector to compel him to bell the bike. The inspector was on his mettlp at once, afnd gave the other to understand that he would soon see about that. "It isn't my bike, you .see," replied the business man. The official left hurriedly. On another occasion, it is stated, the inspector look the names of a bevy of boys whose bikes were apparently innocent of bells. Then, as they mounted the machines, they tinkled' the bells which they had fastened under the bicycle saddles. /Honeycomb silk knitted tics—the very

At the annual meeting of the congregation of Kaox Church, Dunedin, last might, tho question of selecting a pastor in succession to Rev. W. ilewiison was considered. It was decidedto insert the name of Rev. R. I3avies, M.A., of Petersham, Syuney, i;i the call. After the termination of the We*t End euchre party las't evening, Mr. H., J. Gilbert, on behalf of the West End School and Western Park Committees, presented Mr, Atua with a gold-mounted greenstone pendant in recognition of his services in training the "AJaori boys! who took part in the recent school concerts.

The tenth of the series of West End | euchre parties and dances was held las't night. Despite the very cold weather | there was a good attendance, twentythree tables being occupied, exclusive ot juvenile tables. When the count took place it was found that the successiul ladies were Alius' Kew lirst and Miss E. Stewart second. The successful gentlemen were Mr. Bland first and Jlr. Bocock second. The winners of the juvenile prizes were Aliss 1!. Thompson (lirs't) and Miss A. Trigger (booby's)'. After supper, the lloor was cleared for dancing, which was indulged in till the early hours of the morning to capital music supplied by Miss' Loveridge. Messrs McLean and A. Wilson were M.C.'s.

The difficulties of floating the Eliot road loan of £1001), initiated by til'-' late Eliot Road Board, are not yet over. Mr. R. J. Collins, Secretary to the Treasury, has written to the County Council to the effect that the first special order made by the Board striking a special rate of o-32d in the pound sterling, can apparently be accepted as the security tor a loan of Cilli'.l only, as the fresh special order which lias since been made increases the ra tc to 11-Gld in the pound, which is contrary to the proposal as set out in the voting paper. Mr. Collins also asks the county clerk to forward a draft Order-in-Council to validate the voting-paper, wliic'n was not in the form as required by the schedule to the Local Bodies Loans Act, IDOB. The form used was that contained in the Local Elections and Polls' Act, 1908, Instead of the. schedule in the Local Bodies Loans Act. ' -

A meeting was held after parade on Monday evening of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers to elect a captain and lieutenant. Lieutenant Fletcher was unanimously elected captain in place of Captain Bellringer, who has been promoted to the staff. Mr. Fletcher has had considerable experience as a volunteer, hav. ing been connected with the volunteers for the las't 15 years. He served in South Africa with the Fifth New Zealand Contingent, and holds the Queen's medal aiul'four bars (South Africa, Rhodesia, Transvaal and Cape Colony), and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Mr. Willis was elected lieutenant. Mr. Willis has also had considerable experience as a volunteer, having held a com-m-iss'ion in the Dunedin Rifles for some time. Private T. Buxton was elected secretary. The second lieutenancy remains to foe filled. Lieutenant C. B. Lever, who has been senior lieutenant for some years, declined' to stand for the captaincy, having definitely decided to retire from his dual position of lieutenant and secretary, offices which lie has occupied with conspicuous ability for a long time past.