LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 285, 25 April 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Members of the Harbor Board yesterday expressed the opinion that very satisfactory progress was being made with the dredging operations at the harbor. At yesterday's meeting of the Harbor Board, the harbormaster (Captain Newton) reported that for the five weeks ending the loth inst., there had been 47 steamer berthings at the port inwards and outwards, representing an aggregate tonnage of 38,749 tons. The total imports for the same period amounted to 7088 tons, of which 2284 were coal, 533 tons for the railway and 1751 for private use. During the'same time the reports of general produce and sundries amounted to 1458 tons. A meeting of the guarantors to the proposed North Egmont Hostelry was held in Messrs, Webster and McKellar's office yesterday afternoon to consider competitive designs for the building. Mr. G. Tiseh presided. Five designs were received, and it was resolved to submit them to a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. Tiseh, Newton King, Avery, E. Griffiths and W. A. Collis, who' will bring down a report to a general meeting called for the purpose. The same committee was appointed to deal with the draft lease from the National Park Board to the committee. The school cadet organisation for many yea re regarded as a leading feature in our school system, and one of which the committee, teachers and parents were justly proud, continues to exist, but can no longer be described as an object of solicitude. Interest in the cadets has been pointedly discouraged, and the esprit de corps which so long animated both officers and boys appears to have practically disappeared. This is no fault of those who command and are enrolled in our Central School companies, but of the controllers of the movement.—Extract from the report of the outgoing Central School committee. The outgoing committee of the Central School, in the course of its report, made the following reference to school baths:—Believing that cleanliness in body and the art of swimming are important factors in the training oi youth, Mr. Dempsey intimated to the committee his willingness to take steps for the raising of about £3OO, to be expended in the construction of a commodious swimming bath, with necessary dressing sheds, on St. Michael's Square, at the rear of the school buildings. The scheme met with the hearty approval of te committee and also of the Education Board, but upon approaching the Borough Council on the subject of the water supply, Mr. Dempsey was informed that the price would be Ad per 1000 gallons, the regulation charge for services of an industrial character. As the proposed bath, for the comfort and instruction of 000 children of the burgesses of this town, would hold 08,000 gallons, it goes without saying that the demand of our City Fathers will prevent its being gone on with just now. Tt may be mentioned that other boroughs even in Tnranaki, deal much more liberally with school baths, free water being the rule, and in some cases an annual subsidy is given. W.O.T.r.—The monthly meeting of Ihe Women's Christian Temperance Fnion will be held in the Baptist Church on Wednesday next. 2l!th inst.. at 3 p.m. Executive nice! at 2.30. Delegates' report.—Advt.

The Mayoral inHlullation will lake place on Wednesday, May 3rd next. A grand Coronation bull is to be held in the Theatre lloyul on Coronation night in June. Commenting on the poor attendance at the FiUroy householders' meeting last night the chairman, Mr. J. Tiscli, remarked that the people seemed to prefer reading the reports of the meetings in the newspapers ly attending meetings. For the past live years there had never been what he considered a satisfactory attendance. On this occasion those who attended were not seeking election, and the Education Hoard will be asked to call a further meeting. The following lenders for the right to keep railway bookstalls for three yeara have been accepted by the Railway Department:—Auckland, Ohakune and Palmerston North, Hooka and Papers, Ltd., £280; Taihupe, L. B. Finch, £3; Marton, C. H. Brewer, £4tt; Feilding, A. H. Maclean, £8; Levin, J. W. Thompson, £0; Wellington (Thorndon), D. A. Kberlet, £182; Wellington (Lambton), D. A. Kberlet, £BS; Masterton, J. L. Dew, £l2 10s; Woodvillc, Grant and Connop, £ls; Dannevirkc, Thomas Bain, £(i 10s; Waipukmau, David Annand, £5; Hastings, Mary Jane Hall and Son., £l3; Napier, G. Scnrfc, £4O; New Plymouth, C. O. Hawkc, £8 4»; Stratford, H. J. Hopkins, £lO 2s <ld; Hawera, F. H. Boase, £5 ss; Aramoho, C. L. Bridges, £7; Wanganui, G. L. Bridges, £2O 3s. For some time past a rise in the price of tea has been expected in Auckland. says the Star. Extensive areas, formerly planted in tea, are now growing rubber, and the Russians and Americans have taken more to tea drinking. These are amongst the causes that have led to the present position of the world's demand almost overtaking the supply. In consequence the tea merchants in Auckland have found it necessary to increase the prices of the lower grades by about a penny a pound, and the retailers will follow their lead as soon as their present supplies are exhausted. Speaking of the rise, a local merchant said that it would affect the Auckland people more than those of the other centres, since Aueklanders drank verypoor brands of tea. When asked how he accounted for this, he said: "Oh, Aueklanders will take anything as long as it's cheap." At the Police Gourt yesterday morning a young man, aged about 20, pleaded guilty to a eharge of having absconded on May 10, 1910, from employment to which he had been licensed out by the authorities of the Weraroa training school. Sergeant Dart explained that the police had been asked to locate the prisoner, but riot to arrest him until further instructions. However, the youth was found wandering about the streets at midnight on Saturday, with I no .money and no place to go to, and it was 1 deemed advisable to take charge dl him. The Sergeant added that on Sunday he had gone out to see a farmer who needed labor, to see if the boy could be given employment, and he was to receive an answer in the afternoon. He had also telegraphed to the manager of the Weraroa training scliodl. At Sergeant Dart's, request the prisoner was remanded until the afternoon. He was then brought up and committed to the Weraroa training school, to which institution he will be conveyed by Constable Boulton, of Fitzfoy.