LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 86, 7 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A find of moa bones has been made in a papa cave on Mr. Cowl's property. lluikumu (Waimarino). There is u sutt'icicnt assortment' of bones to indicate that the cave was the last refuge of quite a number of tlie birds.

The Mayor of Gisbonie (Mr W. (1. Shorratt) has informed the Chrislchtirch executive that an cffoit is being' made to get HMWI) sheep from the local sheepfarmers for shipment to England, and the (iisbome freezing works had offered to freeze these free, of charge. The Ashburton Guardian reports that a few days ago a party of ten guns shot i) 6 hares in the Lowelille district, It is estimated that since the beginnim' of the shooting season between* 10,000 and 13,000 hares have been sent awav trom Ashburton and surrounding district. One small party of enthusiasts claim that it has itself sent away over 1100 hares this season.

"I have found that the women teachers in the country do their work more ellieiently than tlie men occupying similar positions," remarked the'chief inspector for the Auckland Education Board, Mr. E. K. Mulgan, at the- last meeting of the Board. "The reason, I think, is that the bettor men are able to leave the small schools, for they have a monopoly over all the best positions in the service." Referring to the, elliciency of male and female teachers generally, Mr. Mulgan expressed the opinion that the older boys progressed better under male teachers, while he felt that the young;:-r children and the girls were better provided for under the care of female teachers.

i The question of substituting electric lighting for gas on tlie main through trains is having consideration, according to the Oeneral Manager's Report. "Electric light," says Mr. lliley, "has obvious advantages,' but its installation on a large scab; in New Zealand pas- ] scnger trains would involve too serious ■ an expenditure to be contemplated at the present time. Jn order to arrive' at the cost of litting the principal exj press trains and deciding on the best .• system to be adopted here, 1 have order- , ed complete electric lighting plans from ] the firms manufacturing the best-known ; hystems. These will be fitted in Xew j Zealand stock for experimental purposes, j so that deliiute data can be obtained as jto first cost of installation, cost of j lighting and upkeep, as compared with I gas lighting."

From time to time reference has been made, without client, to the excessive speed of motor-cycles in the .business streets of New Plymouth. Jt is nothing to their credit that motor-cyclists sometimes race down bill in Devon street and through the town centre at the utmost capacity of their machines, often from thirty to forty miles au hour. Tnat there has not'been a serious sinu.sh-up before now is a. matter for congratulation and surprise, mil bear* striking testimony to the agility of the people, who successfully, uodge the reckio-u traffic. On Saturday a little chap, about seven years of age, a sou of L\lr. Locke, of Barrett road, was struck by 'a motor-cycle riidden by a young i'efiww. Eye-witnesses of "the accident state "that the motorl cycle' was tearing down the hill at a I tremendous rate, with the engine gu!|ing, and there was no chance of checK-j-ing the -machine when the boy liesitaU'd lin crossing the street. The'poor little chap 1 bad hi ls leg broknn and was taken j to the hospital, and the rider and cycle 'sustained minor ihurts.

. .Some few weeks >age<, acting on a | suggestion made 'by the Xews, the BoiI oiigh Council look' in hand tne matter 1 of improving the approach to the town from the railway station. A piece, of public properly at the east end of the Victoria Esplanade, in front cf the Terminus Hotel, hau been enclosed by a feneo of non-pretentious appearance, and, upon the councillors ilicing satis lied that it surrounded' a piece of the public estate, and not a piece of private property, as appeared to be the case, the fence was speedily 'levelled. The , reserves committee of the Borough Council met at the spot on Friday with Mr. W. W. Smith, curator of file Recreation Grounds, to discuss the best means- of making thin one, of the seaIroiit beauty spots, and Mr, Smith will confer with the borough engineer on the matter. Probably the planted area will be enlarged, and iu the place of the i old wooden fence will lie erected a losv stone wall', surmounted by an iron railing. Tho enclosure will be suitaibly planted. There is anotheit eyesore in the. vicinity, a fairly wide strip cf land between the footbath in Queen street and tiie second path along tne frontages of the houses on the hill between Young and St. Aubyn .streets. The section is now used for stacking water pipes, but, with its northern aspect, and its proximity to the railway st-i-I tion, it ought to be beautified. 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, Cu'rrie street, from !) a.m. to P2.30 p.m., from 1 p.m|: to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8 ; p.m.—Ailvt.