LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 18 December 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We have received: a handy wall calendar 'from Mr. J. Paton, local manager of the New ZeaOand Insurance Co., Ltd. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Moa Road district was held on Saturday. In addition to several members of the Moa. Road Board only two ratepayers attended. The only business was the reading of the balance-sheet, which was 'formally adopted. ■At the last meeting of the Parihaka Road Board the foreman reported that the board's tools, consisting of four picks and three shovels, one tor and two hammers, had been stolen out of pits off the Kaweora road, also Waiteika road. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police. For the position of Principal of the New Plymouth High School, .rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. Ernest Pridham, tire Board of Governors has received 49 applications. Of these 40 are from New Zealand, four from Victoria, three from New South Wales, and one each from Queensland and South Australia.

. The Moa Road Board balance-sheet has been returned from the Audit Department free of tags for the second year in succession. As the board deal's with sixty-six special loan accounts in addition to the general account, the result speaks volumes for the administrative qualities of the board', and particularly the ckrk, Mr. W. Ogier.

"Some of them are as big as houses," remarked a member at the meeting of the Moa Road Board on Saturday, when discussing the size 'of boulders delivered on the roadside iby some metal contractors, tit was, he said, distinctly unfair to ask stone-breakers to nap some of them with their ordinary hammers. From his own observations contractors would endeavor to break these boulders in the river with Hflib or 181b hammers. Failing' in the attempt they would, with the assistance of three or four men, load them into their carts, and expect the poor stone-breaker to succeed with his lighter hammers. The chairman pointed out that the contractors were not paid for any stone until such time as it was broken ready for the road, so the stone-breakers could soon remedy matters by refusing to break these monsters. Members were generally of opinion that it was advisable to introduce some regulation as to size of boulder stone in the specifications when calling for future supplies, but nothing definite was arrived at. Members of the Equitable Building Society of Xew Plymouth (First and Second Groups) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable today (Monday), at the Secretary's Office. Curric street, from 9 a.m. to 12.30, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to i) p.m.— Advt. VISITIM* *ARDS.—When yon run out of crds, *end your order for most to tb} I*sly News Printery. 8/6 for M. or «/• ror 100

Some interesting reminiscences of the late Sergeant Duffln are contributed by "Fifty-one" in our Stratford news this morning.

The sound of the squeaker and the toy trumpet in the hands, or, rather, mouth, of the small boy, is suggestive of Christmas. The weather is suggestive of winter.

Hoving completed an extended tour of the King Country, the Anglican Bishop of Auckland (Dr Crossley) is more convinced than ever of the need for more clergymen working in the backblocks.

Some of the European crowned heads are heavily insured. Life policies to the amount of £ 1.800,000 are carried by the Czar of Rusxia, while King George and Kaiser a.re covered for about a million each.

The new Empire Theatre in Devon street is now nearing completion, and will be opened on Saturday next, when pictures will be shown from 11 a.m. till II p.m. The managing director of the Empire Picture Company (Mr. G. H. Saunders), whilst in Wellington last week arranged for the supply of a series of star and exclusive pictures. A full and efficient 'orchestra lias also been engaged. Mr. T. Lindsay Buiek, of Dannevirke, author of "Old Marlborough" and "Old Manawatu," has just had published another historical narrative, entitled, "An Old New Zealander, or Te Rauparaha, the Napoleon of the South.' M. Buick dedicates his latest work to Mr. S. Percy Smith, F.R.G.S., of New Plymouth, whom lie describes as "A well-deserving ! pillar in the Temple of Polynesian learning"

Mr. Okey, M.P., in the course of his remarks at the presentation of the High School prizes on Friday night, remarked that he had never been able to win a prize at school. Someone near by interjected that he had just succeeded in winning a prize. This drew from Mr. Okey the Temark that he did not know so much about that, as one was expected to please everyone, a most difficult task, and one that he did not intend to attempt.

In the Magistrate's Court on Saturday, before Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., a first offending inebriate was convicted and discharged. Selina Kyle was charged with having been found drunk and with having procured liquor during the currency of a. prohibition order. DetectiveSergeant Boddam said that accused had been arrested by Constable Whitehouse, who found her wheeling a perambulator about with a couple of half empty beer bottles in it. She was convicted on the first charge, and fined 10s on the second or 4S hours' imprisonment. | At the annual meeting- of shareholders in the South Taranaki Winter Show Co., Ltd., held on Friday Afternoon, the directors' report stated that the result of last year's operations showed a small lose of £2l. Included' in the expenses, however, were certain amounts reallydue to the previous year, which should have shows an actual profit of £22. The capital of the company stands art £2452 10s. The sum of £312 is due for unpaid calls, and an effort is to be mad* to get this in. By the expenditure on land and buildings of £IOSO during the. future requirements of the company are provided..

The war spirit against Mexico is rising in the United States. It is believed that nothing can prevent an invasion of Mexico by an overwhelming force made up principally of American political adventurers. Texas promises to provide 500,000 men in the event of trouble. Senor Madero's contempt of American interests on the border during the late revolution is the real cause of the present demonstration. The downfall of Madero is everywhere predicted. He has used the machinery of government for his own selfish purposes, and has become intensely unpopular It is general believed that the outcome of the movement will be the annexation by the United States of Sonora, a State in the north-western part of Mexico. Mr. Allan Wallace, of Auckland University College, is the fourth Xew Zealand Rhodes Scholar that Auckland has provided, and is the youngest yet chosen to represent this country. He will be twenty-one in April next.' Mr. Wallace entered Auckland Grammar School as a Foundation Scholar in February, 1903. He had a brilliant career at the" school, winning many prizes, chiefly'in mathematics, science ami languages. At A\ land University College ho won the George Gray scholarship in chemist mathematics and astronomy, and th Senior University Scholarships in p mathematics, mechanics and chemist He took his B.A. in 1010. He represen Auckland province in cricket last s son, and had the second highest batt average in the Auckland district. He also played Association football. He secretary and president of the Stude Association, and president of the M< Common Room Club. Two interesting cases were heard a recent sitting of the Magistea Court at Opunak-e, before Mr. Fitz bert, S.M. The claims were those Buiphemla Dew, of Rahotu, against ward Duggan, of Rahotu, farmer, the same plaintiff against Frank Sole Puniho, fanner. In the former c for damages for conversion of one < and m the latter for conversion of heifers. The s*tock in question were : by Madgwick, an employee of Mrs. De and 1 , (vf'ter passing through several ha were finally purchased by the respec defendants at auction "in the Sto River saluyards. Madgwick was tried' theft of the oattle at the Supreme Co New Plymouth, and acquitted. Deft ants refused to surrender the catth Mrs. Dew, and civil proceedings a taiken as above indicated. Judgment given in the case Dew v. Sole, on Nov ber 2, for £l3, to be reduced to £1 the return of the heifers, with costs £0 7*. and in the case Dew v. Duggan, on 14th December, for £B, with costs £2 Bs. Mr. Crump appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Meßavitt for the defendants.