LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A. sharp shock of earthquake was foit in Now Plymouth at 12.44 p.m. ves--1 eniay. Mails which left Now Zealand on October 2(1, via Suez, arrived in London on the evening of the 10th inst. Mr. A. Gray, Director of Technical Education, i* meeting the members of the Olcato School Cn'vmiltoe to-night in connection v.'itli his proposed "Round the Mountain Scheme" for woodwork. A London cable states that a deputation from the Highland Land League asked Mr. Massey to thank Xew Zealanders for contributing to the relief funds of the distressed .people cf the Highlands of Scotland. With the approach of Christmas, the public are invited to remember those who will spend the Yuletide in the hospital or the Old People's Home. It has been the custom for years past to give additional comforts to those in the institutions mentioned. Donations may be left at the News Office, or at the office cf the secretary of the Hospital Board, in Brougham Street. „ By tile mail train last night a consignment of four boxes of gold and silver arrived for the Bank of New Zealand. The coin, which is to meet the usual Christmas rush, was brought up from Wellington by two bank oilioials in a reserved, compartment of a first-class carriage. Consignments were also unloaded at various centres along the line.

Everybody's Theatre was thrown open for inspection last niglitj and a short picture programme was submitted. Subsequently the christening of the new building took place, in the presence of a- gathering of representative citizens. The public opening has been postponed from to-night to to-morrow night, on account of the clashing with the fie'd Cross Fete at "Aotca." i The annual concert in connection with the Technical College is advertised in this issue. The College Operatic Company had the misfortune to have an opera almost reildy when the Theatre Royal was destroyed. As there was no other hall in the town with a stage suitable for such a production, it -was. necessary to abandon the performance for this year. It has now been decided to give a concert, consisting mainly of the good old songs of long ago. In addition to the items by the. pupils. Mr. W. Lints will put on a turn ciuircly new to this district. These ' combined efforts should produce something beyond' the average, and a good .house is assured.

"Tiie necessity for the thorough education of girls is becoming more and move recognised," said Miss Barr;- Principal of the New Plymouth Girls' High School, in the course of her report at the broaking-up ceremony iafci evening, ";tnd events are showing that women will be given the opportunity of filling important positions such as have, up till 'now, been filled by men. It is the duty of all girls, then, who have the ambition to become tiscful. successful citi::ens to seize every opportunity to equip themselves by making the most of the cx v -. oellent educational advantages offered to them. Of course, there are many cases where it is impossible, for nnaneial reasons, to keep a girl for more than two years at a High School, biY: there are also many cases where girls are all.iwcd to leave owing mainly to* the indifference of their parents in the matter."

Presence of mind and unerring judgment on the part of a tramway motorman, and the prompt action and pluck on the part of a policeman, resulted in the savi-ig of the life of -a child In Devon Street on Tuesday afternoon. A little f-irl was standing on the roadway near the vomer of Devon and Brougham Streeta, and her mother was just outside Messrs, Ambury's establishment. The child commenced to run across the road to her mother just as a tramear, travelling in the direction of the Post Office approached the .'orner at full speed. Constable Parkinson, who was on duty in Devon Street, saw the child's danger, and ran to her assistance. He reached the rails, and was picking up the child when Motorman Allsop, with promptitude ahd skill, applied the brakes, and brought car to a standstill just as it- touched the 'constable and child. The sudden application of the brakes might have thrown the car off the rails and strained it, but Motorman Allsop was able to prevent this, and to prove the effective nature of the brakes. 'Passersby who witnessed the occurrence speak in terms of high admiration of the actions of both the constable and the motorman. As there arc only a few days to Christmas, it is a request* by the Melbourne Clothing Company that patrons endeavor to transact as much of theirshopping as possible during the next few days ill order to relieve the Christmas week rush.