LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 284, 31 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual meeting of the Taranaki Circular Road Race Committee will be held in the Town Hall .on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. When asked to explain why he had broken off the engagement, the respond-, ent in an alliliation case at the Auckland Magistrate's Court said, "She wanted a live-diamond ring, and I did not like the hat she was wearing." Petitions in favour of Saturday afternoon being observed as the weekly halfholiday have been presented in the cases of New Plymouth, Stratford, Hawera, Inglewood, Waitarn, and Kltham. A poll on the question will be taken, in each town on April 30.

A settler who has lived in the South' Wairarapa for many years, and who is a noted deer-stalker, expressed the opinion the other day that good ''heads" are likely to be very few this season. The red deer, be says, have considerably increased in numbers, while the quality has degenerated.

The Harvest Festival in St. Mary's yesterday drew large congregations. Special services were held, and the preacher both morning and evening was the Rev. Mr. Dent, of Eltham. The church was packed at the latter service. The decorations were very pretty and effective, and were on a comprehensive scale.

A unique occurrence took place at the. Da mil virke bowling green oil Friday. A head in the pairs competition was particularly well contested, there being a cluster of bowls round the jack. A promoting bowl stirred the bunch up, with the result that two bowls —one from each side —rested on kitty, which was firmly jambed between them. None of those present had seen such a happening before.

A despicable act of theft was committed the other day. The committee of the Pioneers' Entertainment Committee had occasion to hire a number of plates, etc. Tlia articles were left in the tent, which was securely fastened overnight on Thursday. In the morning it was discovered flirtt two dozen plates had been stolen, but, worse still, another dozen and three-quarters were broken in getting the plates out from the boxes. This means that the committee has had to compensate the owners'to' the tune of l'Js.

A sacred concert was given in {lie Theatre Royal last night by "The Follies" Company in aid of the Hospital funds. There was a crowded house and much excellent talent was in evidence. The encores were numerous, the items including "The Lost Chord,"

''Hocked i'! the Cradle of the Dee])," and ''The Village Blacksmith." As a result of the entertainment the Hospital will bemTit to the amount of. £2O. exclusive of the Government subsidy. At the eonelusion of the performance Mr. F. 0. J. Bellringer (Chairman of the Hospital Board) (hanked "The Follies" for their generosity.

| At a meeting of the Opunake Harbor [ Board 011 Wednesday one of the members suggested that an early history of the harbor and the events leading up to the constitution of the present Board should he written and inserted as a preface to the official minute book. The chairman, however,- said (according to the. Star) that some of the ancient history would bo better forgotten. When he first came to the locality, Opunake wa.s doing more shipping than Xew Plymouth. They had two boats' crews of young fellows, who received a shilling per ton for handling. Then the schoolmaster came along and said: "Give this work to the farmers who have children to send to sehooV' and the farmers took on the work. After a while they found that they could not always leave their farms when the boats caine in. and eventually the boats got. tired of waiting for the farmers' crews: in fact, they ceased in their regular visits and Opunake's trade dwindled away. Yet when that schoolmaster went away from Opunake they presented him with a purse 0 { sovereigns!'