LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Melbourne cable states that the Victorian Government has decided not to introduce the totalisator.

Yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Education Board must have constituted a record both for length of sitting and dispatch of business. Members wore engaged on committee work from 9 a.m. The Board meeting itself commenced at 1 p.m., by which time over SO resolutions had been dealt with.

The truant inspector (H. T. Ainsworth) reported to the Taranaki Education Board yesterday having visited 3!) schools and found the attendance satisfactory and in most cases good reasons for non-attendance. Notices bad been sent to the parents of GO children in respect of irregular attendance.—Received.

Owing to the Anzac Day celebrations being fixed for April 23, the date which the Taranaki Education Board had set down for the annual meeting of householders throughout the district, the Board at its meeting last night decided to alter the date of the meetings to Monday, April 30.

The Taranaki Education Board yesterday decided that the following holidays should be observed: —Easter, April 5 to April 11; winter, June 1 to 12; spring, August 17 to 2S; summer, December 21 to February 5. Mr. Dixon advocated more unanimity with regard to holidays in the various educational districts.

At "esterday's meeting of the Taranaki Education Board a letter was read from the chairman of the executive of the Taranaki branch of the Educational Institute, setting forth reasons why the Board should, in filling the position of headmaster at the Central School, give preference to a teacher in the Board's service. The letter was received.

In conformity with the recommendation of the Teachers' Selection Committee, the Education Board yesterday made the following appointments:—Elthaiu (first assistant), Miss N. Beetham; Maugatoki (first assistant), Miss McGregor; York (sole teacher), Mrs. G. Burfitt; Marokopa (sole teacher), Miss M. White; Oeo (sole teacher), Miss Barkla; Taliora (assistant), Miss A. Tobin; Otakeho (second assistant), Miss M. Thomson.

A soldier at the front writes: "To form an idea of what cue feels like after a few days of wet weather fighting on the Somme, just think of a Taranaki coWyard at its worst, after, say, six weeks' rain. Multiply the result eleven times, then, roll in it, taking special care to rub it well into your hair, eyes, cars, mouth and rifle. Take a day's rations and stamp them well into the mixture also, and use a newly-emptied benzine tin for drinking purposes. Carry a nice hefty load—for instance a bag of potatoes—through it all day, being sure to fall down every minute and a half, and consider yourself buried several times by shells that are too close l'or comfort. Continue treatment for some days, being careiul not to wash or shave during the period. You can then realise what the cablegram means when it is reported that 'the weather Interfered wilih it? onaratioM.'"

A letter from Corporal Erio Lord to Mrs. Hopkins acknowledging receipt of Christmas cakes shows that the ease sent by the Rahotu ladies reached Its destination.

In the bnttle of the Somme, Artillery Sergeant W. J. Wright, of liahotu, had two heavy great coats cut to pieces and his watch shot away, but escaped unhurt. His description is that it was "hell." Ancthor gunner writing says of this fight that of forty in his battery thirty three were knocked out.

Motor waggons are giving Egmont County bridges a bad rim. They have knocked tb > sides out of Warea and Opua (concrete). One went through the Pohena, while "the bottom dropped out" of Middleton's just as an Eltham waggon crossed. The Hoard of Education at its meeting yesterday decided to call the Department's attention to the fact that residences are not supplied with either coppers or wash-tubs, and, as these are necessary, tliat tile Department be asked to make a grant for same.

A "guarantor" writes: "I regretted not to see any wounded soldiers at the Waiwera luncheon. It was all right having directors of companies (including myself) and members of public bodies but why omit the saviours of the country ?" Catterpillars have not troubled farmers in Turanaki for many years, but the other day a huge army of the vermin suddenly emerged and 'made a descent upon a fine paddock of maize just out of New Plymouth. When they had finished their operations nothing but the stalks were left.

What a little care and taste can do in beautifying the surroundings of even ft railway station is evidenced at liltham. where the lawns, in which are set beds of seasonable flowers, have been laid out in what were once waste patches. Everything about the station is in harmonj tidiness and order from the yards to the railway platforms. The Borough Council is also doing its part by tarviating the roads leading from the station to the town. Altogether tlx; station affords a pleasant picture and in its way is a model for the rest of the statio'ns 011 the line. The stationmaster and stall are to be congratulated upon the excellent efi'ect obtained from their industry and care.

Mr. P. Wells, of Pukearuhe, who. with his wife and Messrs J. Phillips and W. J. Frecth, motored through to Hawera yesterday, had rather a thrilling conclusion to their journey. They hail just rounded the station corner into Princes Street when a horse drawing a trap, in which were seated two ladies, collided with the car. The horse by some means got across the bonnet of the car, which was considerably bent, whilst the wind-screen was smashed, the horse being a little cut by tile broken glass. One of the occupant.? of the gig was thrown out, but escaped injury, and the horse was checked by a bystander as it was about to bolt after having extricated itself from its uncomfortable position. The occupants iof the car also were unhurt, and the car itself was able to. complete the journey.

One of the features at Everybody's to-night and to-morrow night will be the motor car climbing contest up Pike's Peak, in America, one of the etifiest road grades in the world. After an exciting and strenuous contest, Ralph 'Mvilford. in a Hudson Super-six, proved to be the winner.

The report of Mr. \V. P.. Ttovidge, chairman of the executive of the Garden Cities' Association, London which- was published in these columns, was perused with interest by our renders. Mr. Davidge laid great stress on the importance of improving our sea front. Nowhere has snicit improvement taken place as at Ivnwaroa- Park. This reserve, beautiful as it now is, has indeed a great future. The extensive area of native trees, the spacious lawns, the view of the ocean, with the northern coß«t-lino afar off, and the Sugar Loaves, port and shipping for a nearer perspective, together make a rendezvous in which thousands of visitors have found, during the excessive heat of summer, a veritable boon. The committee in charge of Kawaroa Park are anxious to further beautify the grounds. Their annual seaside fete and picnic on Easter Monday will, they hope, be largely attended by people from town and country alike. They are offering a day's genuine entertainment of a novel and unique character for a seaside fete. Country people are asked to note that no other reserve adjacent to the beach contains the number of trees that are found in Kawaroa Park.