LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 272, 27 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

My. S. stated at the Pukekura Park Board meeting last night that he had discovered in the park near the two pools a variegated kawakawa, than which there was not such another in New Zealand.

The. Secretary of State for the Colonies advises the Governor that it is the King's wish that on the occasion of his Majesty's birthday this year flags should be flown, but no dinners, reviews, or 1 other celebrations should take place.

The Minister of Defence contradicts the published statement that the seventh reinforcements will be the last to go from New Zealand. He adds that there will be no last until the war ends or until the Imperial authorities say they jeijuire 110 more to be sent.

The Xew 'Plymouth Band concert at Inglewood on Surtdav; afternoon was largely attended, and the programme provided found an appreciative audience. The collection taken up in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund totalled £l7. During the afternoon the members of the band were entertained at tea.

Ths ijew Plymouth Hospital will benefit from the new 'Government' valuation of the borough of New Plymouth. Last year, under the old valuation, the Borough Council contribution to the Hospital Board was £769, but next year, under the revised' valuation, the Council will pay the Hospital Board $990.

On the 21st inst. the New Zealand Dairy Association, Ltd., distributed amongst its suppliers the sum of fil.-j,-■lls !)s Sd. Tins covered 785,1-Mtlbs' of butter-fat supplied during the mouth of March. 'The amount distributed for the corresponding month last year was £3' i- , as !)d, thus the increase for the month was £2305 5s lid.

Tile New Plymouth Agricultural Society's annual show will' be 'ield at the Good Templars' Hall to-morrow. The exhibition promises/to be a very successful one. There will be interesting competitions for table decorations, which will be judged by public vote. The gejitlemeu of the committee are arranging the afternoon tea.

The expansion of the West End school is calling for more accommodation. At last night's meeting of householders a resolution was carried urging the Education Department to take up the Brooking estate (next to the West End school), or at least half of it, as the attendance at the school had increased so much that a new infants' school was required and more playing grounds were necessary,

A suggestion that the Borough Council should place a levy of £1 a year 011 every motor car in New Plymouth was made by Mr. li. Cock at the, meeting of ratepayers at the Town Hall last night. By such a levy, .Air. Cock said, the Council would receive £SOO to £tfoo a year in reVenue, and .he thought every motor-car owner could well afford it. The Mayor (Mr. J. E. Wilson) agreeo that the suggestion was a good one.

The stands for taxi-cabs ami express carts in New Plymouth were trauslerred to Ourrie Street a few days ago, but the alteration has not proved a popular one. The Borough Council has received a petition from the taxi-cab owners requesting that their stand should be placed in Brougham Street, while a petition from the express owners asks that their stand should be moved from Currie Street to Currie Lane.

New Plymouth will shortly have one or more slot telephones for t'lie use of the public. The president of the Chamber. of_ Commerce (Mr. J. Paton) has written" to tilf> Borough Council stating that the Government are willing to erect one or more slot telephones ill New Plymouth; and the Chamber suggests that one should be placed in Brougham Street, opposite the National Bank. There are two kindß of telephone boxes in use. One is octagonal, about 4ft. by 4ft., and the other is oblong, about 4ft. by -2ft., and it is considered the latter could be used unless the box. could protrude, over the gutter. It is suggested that the letter-box should be placed alongside the telephone ''box, The matter lias not been brought before the Council yet. / "

To-morrow is an important day for the people of New Plymouth, for the election of mayor and the election of some members of tile Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board will take place, while the public will be called on to decide to-morrow whether the weekly 'half-holi-day will be on Thursday afternoon or Saturday afternoon. It has been the custom in the past to Juive the principal polling-booth at the Town Hall, but on this occasion it will be at the old Drill Ilall in ICawau Street. The announcement of the result of the mayoral election will be made from the Drill Hall to-morrow evening.

For discussion at the conference of New Zealand teachers at Wellington in July the Taranaki Teachers' Institute has forwarded the following remits:— (1) That the Department 'be risked to institute a Dominion promotion scheme; (2) that a special grant' be made by the Department to the (boards for the purpose of defraying the expenses of a teacher transferred from one position to another; (3) that a practical certificate lie •essential, as in the case of science, before a pass in school method he granted to a, teacher. The Taranaki delegates are Mrs. Dowling, 'Mr. I!. L. Mellroy, and Mr. J. Thomas.

■ Another "signature" quilt for disposal at the Winter Show 'has been decided upon by the lady supporters of the Taranaki Agricultural Society. It will bo, in the nature of a "military"' quilt, the centre being set aside for the signatures of soldiers. Generals .Sir lan Hamilton and Sir Alexander Godley have consented to their names toeing inscribed, and the principal officers of the New Zealand forces are being approached on the question. In addition it is proposed to allow the names of Taranaki men who have joined the expeditionary force to ■be inscribed on payment of a shilling. Parents and friends o,f any of tile men who will send t'le full name and rank of men, accompanied with a shilling, may have the names inscribed on the quilt, the proceeds going to the society's funds. The names should be sent in during the next fortnight to the secretary of the sociotjt, Mr. A. L. Humphries.

An amusing story of tlio old days was told by Mr. W. K.Howitt, who is* a candidate for the Devonport (Auckland) .Borough Council, at a meeting of his supporters one nif>'ht last week. In tin: Provincial Council days in Taranaki one of tin- country members, who was noted as a brainy man, .but who, like many oE tin; early settlers, was not fitted with too much of Wiis world's goods, decided to move a no-confidence motion in tie; tUoorehouse or Atkinson Ministries, lit had a very limited wardrobe, but, wishing to present as important an appearance aa possible -when he moved his hostile motion, he went to a neighbor's place and 'borrowed a l>ob-tnil<!(l coat, which he tied up and carried oil t'.ie front of his saddle, donning it after a ride of l(i miles to New Plymouth. Ilis motion was carried, and ever afterwards in that locality a bob-tailed coat was known as a "no-confidence" coat. 1 don't setany no-confidence coats here to-night, said the candidate, so I feci safe.

In our advertising columns will be found an advertisements relative to lectures on agriculture tliis week at Gmata, Oakuraj and Oka to.