LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 205, 27 February 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. <l. V. Tate, of Waitara, one of the competitors at the recent Agricultural show, was a competitor at the first show held under the auspices of the Taranaki A. and P. Association thirtynine years ago. We learn, on good authority, that Messrs. Borthwick and Sons contemplate making extensive additions to their Waitara Freezing Works before next season to enable them to deal with greater numbers of cattle, sheep, etfl. In answer to an enquiry; the Education department has informed the Taranaki Education Board that it is not desirable to allow children to be absent from school while attending confirmation classes, especially as there could be no attendance for any form of religious instruction if held at the school itself. Thus Mr. Trimble at the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board on Wednesday: "Many teachers would be. glad to see the education boards all abolished, on the assumption that they would then gain more rapid promotion, but if they had their wish I think they would be disappointed, as the majority of them would have no opportunity of rising beyond a grade IV. school." A very pleasing feature of the inspection of the New Plymouth Boys' High School by the Hon. .las. Allen yesterday, was the smart and orderly appearance of the boys, who were drawn up to receive the Minister on the playing fields. The double line of uniformed boys presented a pleasing appearance and the steadiness of even the youngest !boys while on parade was most noticeable.

A too close inspection of the inner workings -of the gas-consuming furnace at the rotary bore at Moturoa yesterday resulted in singed eye-brows for Mr. H. Okey, M.P. ,who was demonstrating the power of the gas to the Hon. Jas. Allen. The gag flamed out unexpectedly and it was fortunate that Mr. Qkey esuaped so lighttly, and that the Minister for Defence, Finance, and Education did not receive a unpleasant memento of his visit to the Moturoa oil fields.

As an excuse for having failed to hold school on one day in the week, a teacher in the country wroto to the Taranaki Education Board as follows: "I was unable to hold school owing tq the shock I received in connection wittf the sudden aiid tragic circumstances surrounding the death of my faithful watch-dog, who was both my companion and protector where I am otherwise alone. I returned from an outing and found hit faithful friend dead on his chain. I trust this will be sufficient excuse."

In conversation with the lion. Jas. Allen on educational matters yesterday, Mr. E. Dockrill, chairman of the New Plymouth High School Board, referred to the advisability of amtnding the regulations-regarding Taranaki scolarships so as to allow of more than one scholarship being allotted to any one school. The Minister promised to look into the matter. Mr. Dockrill also expressed the opinion that the allowance of £OO per annum to holders of scholarships was not sufficient to allow a working man k son to go through the university. Mr. Allen, however, pointed out that the university Fees were only £l3 per annum, and the balance should be sufficient to keep a thrifty student. This was the first complaint he had received regarding the allowance.

A deputation from the, Tarauaki Agricultural Society, Messrs. 11. Okey, M.P., (i. W. Browne, and ,f. S. Counctt! accompanied the Hon. Jas. Allen, Minister for Defence, with Captain Stevens of the Defence Staff, to tlie Coronation Hull yesterday in order to discuss proposals for leasing or selling the liall i ( , the Defence Department for use as a drill hall. After going fully into details, the Minister said that' while the hall would be very suitable for a drill hall, it was more elaborate than the Department would itself have built, and lie thought the rental asked by the Agricultural Society rather high. If they would lower the rent the Department might take over the hall on lease, giving the Society the right to hold its winter show there. Ou the oilier hand, it might, 'be possible to negotiate an exchange of the property 0 for land at the Rewa Rewa rifle range on a valuation basis. Now that he had seen the hall, he would be glad to go into any proposal which the Society might make. The deputation intimated that it would place the whole position before the Society and communicate later with tho Minister. Ensign and Kodak fihnj, all gizes at toe Da vies Pharmacy,

The Pukekura Park Board has just received a donation of two Mexican ducks from Mrs Corbett, of Okato. Mrs W. A. Monk, and Messrs. L. llusling and 11. Linn each guessed the correct weight of the cake (31'/,lbs) on exhibition at the A. and P. Show yesterday. The s.s. Harawa was innbli l to cross tho Manukau Bar yester lay, hut it is hoped that the vessel will' be able to leave for New Plymouth at 0 a.m. today. Tier return to Onehunga has accordingly been po.-tponed until to-mor-row evening, wimp rlic will leave the Breakwater at time. Two of the llailway Department's officers are now engaged in making an inspection of the working railway services on the Taranaki section, with a view of reporting to the general manager as to tho best means of accelerating the time-table. If tlie travelling public is to get justice, the Ball Koad, Mokoia, and Manutalu stopping-places will be cut out of the express train service.

New Plymouth is evidently just now receiving the attentions of that stamp or hooligan who is usually conspicuous at show and carnival time. A young lady visitor had « rather unpleasant experience on Wednesday night. She had retired to her room" shortly before midnight, and was just about to enjoy her slumber, when she heard the window of "ie bedroom being lifted >.p from the outside. Quietly, but quickly, she rose and switched on the electric light, evidently to the surprise of the would■be intruder, who, on being questioned iy tho }oung tady anil told to £o away, persisted that sue was a lady he knew. A call to other male members of the household, however, had its effect, and the intruder jumped from the window and decamped, a continued search failing to trace his whereabouts. A regrettable incident occurred s>t the Show Grounds yesterday, just at the close of the day, whereby a lad was rather seriously injured. It anpeara that the proprietor of tiie buck-jumping show had been rather annoyed hv bovs endeavoring to lower the ropes of his tent. This would have perhaps caused a dangerous stampede within the tent, ami he chased the boys, clad in his red tights and with vengeance bent. The boys eluded 'him easily. A moment later, however, one of his assistants rushed out among the boys and overtook a lad some distance from the tent, and it is stated, threw him to the ground, with the result that the lad received slight concussion of the brain and was a good de-tl bruised about the lace. The lad whose name is C. McDonnell, and who is employed by Mr. O'Neill, was nicked up in a semi-unconscious state, and at onee taken to a doctor.