LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 183, 20 December 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are requested to state that the rooms of the Technical College will be open for inspection by the public this afternoon. A distribution of prizes will take place in the board room at the Education Office at 2.30 o'clock. Friends of the school are cordially invited to attend. A cup of tea will be provided. Between thirty and forty- suppliers of the Midhirst Dairy Company met at the Town Hal), Midhirst on Wednesday eveningl to hear the objoets of the proposed Farmers' Co-operative Organisation Society explained by Mr. Buckeridge, the Society's organiser. An attentive hearing was accorded him. Mr. Buckeridge has been asked to again address a meeting of the Midhirst farmers early in the New Year.—Contributed. In inflicting a fine of as and costs on Edgar Cole, who made no appearance for having cycled on the footpath, Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., remarked in the Magistrate's Court yesterday that a fine of that amount did not seem to act 1 as a deterrent. In future lie would have to increase the fine to 12s, which would more likely have the desired effect. Henry Pote, whose offence was that he had left his horse and trap unattended in Devon street on December 13, was fined 5s and costs 7s. The Borough Inspector (Mr. B. Tippins) prosecuted in each instance.

In the course of his annual report, Sir. Johnson,, headmaster of the Fitzroy School, remarked: "A matter engaging the attention of a large section of our community is the Bible-in-Schools question. J lf the instruction is tq be confined to an exposition of the scriptures, I have no objection to offer. But I understand it is not the intention to let it remain at that. That being the case, I should say let well alone. We have an educa-. tion System that will compare favourably with any system in the world, and we do not want to stir up strife." John ITenry William Gilbanks, who nvade no appearance, was charged in the Magistrate's Co.urt yesterday with having, a's .a Territorial, failed to attend parade. * The case was partially heard last week, when an adjournment was granted to enable the accused to bring proof of his having been unable to attend a certain parade on account of his employer's intervention in detaining him at work. Commenting on his non-appear-ance, Mr. C'rooke, S.M., said that Oilbanks was evidently one of those who did not intend to attend parades. A fine of £1 and costs 7s was imposed.

Residents who billeted the Canadian Cadets have each received a card from the Commanding Officer (Captain R. N. Davy), dated E.M.S. Zealjandia at sea, December, 1912, sending kind regards and many thanks to the citizens of 'New Plymouth for their generous hospitality. The card was printed 011 board the Zealandia on the cadets' homeward journey and posted at' Honolulu, and it bears the following inscription:—"The members of the Canadian Cadet Corps, No. 101, M.D. No. 11 (homeward bound from their glorious tour of Australia and New Zealand), extend, Christmas and New Yeai| greetings to their many friends beneath the Southern Cross."

At a special meeting of the High School Board on Wednesday, a letter was read from the Education Department Agreeing to set aside a site for the proposed Girls' High School, A motion was passed adopting the recommendation of the principal as contained in his report of August last with reference to the removal of the Girls' School provided that he still carries out the supervision- of the school as during the year, and that during his absence from the school the senior teacher take charge. It was decided to get a tennis court made and arrange for a hockey ground and horse paddock for the Girls' School if possible. The Principal was asked to consult with the board's architect regarding the cost of fitting up the agricultural laboratory in the girls' sixth form room, and lie was authorised to proceed with the work'at a cost not exceeding £4O. "A matter of regret," remarked the headmaster of the Fitzroy School at the breaking-up function yesterday, "is the fact that the authorities have seen fit to demilitarise the cadets. All agree that that it is not right to encourage a warlike spirit among boys, but surely the possession of a rifle and the fact that a boy knows its parts, and knows how to use it, are not going to make him aggressive. We read a good deal about hand and eye training and recognise how important such training is. What better training of this kind can there be than rifle-shooting? Does it not teach a bov that he must have control over himself, that he must concentrate his mind upon what lie does, that the hand, eye, and brain must act in co-ordination with each other? I trust the time is not far distant when the authorities will accept to re-instate rifle shooting as part of the school carriculum, and that parents will give it their practical support." Touthing 011 swimming and life-savin" in the course of his report, read at the breaking-up ceremony of the Central School, Mr. Dempsey, the headmaster, remarked:—"The school is placed at a great disadvantage in not havinc any convenience for learning swimming. The matter of constructing a swimming bath on St. Michael's Square was mooted some time ago, but the prohibitive charge for water proposed to be levied by the Borough Council completely smothered the ardour of the promoters, and the preparations came to a standstill. The municipal baths are too far away to be taken any advantage of for school classes, and the beach near the school is unsuitable for the purpose. Something might be done by utilising the lake in Pukekura Park, and it is'my intention after the holidays to get in a short course of swimming and life-saving practice. T know I can rely on several gentlemen in the. town to lend a hand in t)he instruction of the pupils." Speaking at the breaking-up function in connection with the Central School yesterday, Mr. F. P. Corkill said that from the New Year thev were faced with an alteration in the .state of things educationally in the town. The High School was establishing a preparatory school for boys. The main object of this wag to prevent our New Plymouth boys being sent out of the town to receive an education they could not hitherto get at the High School—owing to the limitation in age—in the form of a preparatory class. He hoped, however, that parents would seriously consider what they were 1 doing. For very young boys he was convinced that it 'would be far bet-" ter for them to continue at the Central School for some time to come. He thought parents should keep their children at this school until they hud passed, say, the fourth standard. * He did not say this in any spirit of antagonism to the High School, for he also had the interests of that school at heart, but he regarded it as a secondary school, where the boys would receive an education following on that received at tin; primary schools. Archdeacon Evans: "Hear, hear!"

HOLIDAYS ARE COMING! IP TRAVELLING, CHECK YOUR BAGGAGE Through us. Baggage is a bother at any time, but especially during the holiday rush. Check through us," and save all trouble. We collect, "hcclc on, receive and deliver immediately at your stopping place. The cost? Simply a cartage fee.—The New Zealand fxpress; Co., Ltd,—Advt.

Tin: case of Smith v. the Jnvercargill Corporation, a claim for £SOOO damages in respect to the death of plaintiff's husband, who was killed by a tramcar, has keen settled in the Invercargill Supreme Court. It is understood that plaintiff receives £SOO, without costs.

The Opunake Times states that a hagshead of beer and a barrel of tar, which were landed ou the wharf from the boat on Sunday last wandered away down on the rocks and were found in a burst and empty condition next morning. The police are trying to-solve the problem of how they got there. The Stratford Co-operative Dairy Company is turning out a half or three-quar-ters of a ton more butter per day jiist now than at the corresponding period last year, says the Post. The increase is attributed largely to the better season, though a slight increase in the number of suppliers, better cows, etc., are also determining factors. All the way down the line the railway station staffs are being kept busy handling sheep and wool. Feilding, during the past four weeks, has handled 1550 bales of wool, valued at over £23,000; in the live stock department 5310 heart of sheep, 175 pigs, and 378 head of cattle have been sent away. The aggregate value of these exportation is in the vicinity of £30,000. The Wellington Land Board had before it yesterday the first application for the postponement of payment of rent, and it was decided to recommend the Minister to grant the application. This was under section 13 of the new Act, which provides for such relief as has been stated 1 subject to the approval of the Minister, when the rent cannot be paid when due through "natural disaster or other sufficient cause,"

"Rain fell yesterday morning, causing the postponement of the Maori Sports meeting until Thursday, January 2. By the irony of fate by the time midday had been weathered, the sun came out in all its glory, and ideal conditions prevailed. during the whole of the afternoon. Additional interest will now he lent to the Maori events on account of the fact that a number of prominent liaka and poi dancers, who would not have competed yesterday owing to the unsuitability of the dav, will now be able to to take part. The meeting will be held as originally arranged on the Recreation Ground. An enjoyable social was held in the Good Templar Hall li\st night in connection with the meeting. "Your finger-print, please," is the novel demand now being made by clerks in increasing numbers in New York banks of all ladies and gentlemen desirous of cashing cheques. The customer, soys the correspondent of the Daily Mail, is given an ink-pad and a card. On this he or she is directed to place three fingers and th" first joint of each thumb. The clerk compares the impressions with records in the cashier's office, and presents the customer with a little bpttle of spirits of turpentine and a piece of cotton wool for the removal of the inkstains. Only after this ordeal has been successfully accomplished may the customer receive cash for his or her cheque According to the Evening Post, the leading linancial newspaper in New York, the new system of finger-prints is rapidly growing in favor with bankers who have been victimised by swindlers and forgers. The Williamsburg Savings Bank was the first institution to adopt the system. Other banks, finding that it entailed much delay, appointed special clerks, whose duty it is to persuade ladies to remove their gloves and to Submit to the inky operation.