LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At Monday night's meeting of the works' committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council the Mayor said it would be well if residents were more generally aware that before they could keep pigs within the borough they required a license to do so, and that the places where such Animals were kept must he a specified distance from any dwelling. It was decided that the inspector should rigidly enforce' the by-law. During a discussion at the Palmerston Xorth Dairy Conference on the need far taking steps to raise the standard of our dairy produce, Mr. H. G. Hi!! said: "Why, I know one man in the Wellington province who only cleaned his separator twice a week. When I spoke to him about it he replied that he would never have bought the machine if he knew he hnd to clean it so often. I know another dairyman who used water for his butter that he had previously washed his children in. These are facts."

The Pierrots' concert, which takes place in Everybody's Theatre on Friday, augurs well to be a gigantic success. The committee have been fortunate in securing the services of a clever juvenile prodigy, Miss Jebb, of Htawera, who causd such a furore in the Opera House, Hawera, on the occasion of the Pierrots' big effort in that town last December. This little' lady will prove a big surprise packet and all that miss the concert will regret not seeing this clever little lady. The committee in charge of the Mart last Saturday desire to thank Messrs. Duncan and Bavies for the gift of a Christmas Tree spruce'fir, the Pierrots for the use of Allan's Meat Bazaar, the Mayor and others for subscriptions in money, and all who helped to make the result so satisfactory. There were two competitions, one being to guess the weight of an iced plum cake (the gift of Mrs. Terry), the other to guess ffte number of seeds in a bottle, the prize being an iced cake given by Mrs. MeKcney. The correct weight, of thp cake (fllbs 4oz) was guessed by Mrs. J. E. Wilson and Mrs. Skellon, each receiving one half. Mrs. Millman was the winner of the prize for the guessing bean competition, the correct number being llfl. There are several snms still to come in including tho proceeds of tho sale of a pony.

The Tierrots have been exceedingly fortunate in securing the services -of Mrs. McLaren for their concert on Friday night. As Miss Cissie CKeefe, the posa beautiful contralto voice, this lady has toured the Dominion and Australia with successful concert companies. Miss O'Keefe has studied recenth- in Wellington under Professor Ronald, the great English teacher, and has onlv returned a few months from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, having studied under the celebrated teacher Roland Foster. Miss O'Keefe J'jo defmitelv retired from the stage, having now settled down at Toko, where Mr. McLaren is farming, but has graciously consented to assist the Pierrots in their big patriotic effort, giving her services gratuitously. The announcement of Miss O'Keefe's appearance will undoubtedly create a demand for reserved seats. The Stratford model farm requires a working foreman with family at £4 per week and house. Full particulars at tho A. and P. office, Stratford.

At the Waiwakaiho sale on Friday, Mr. Newton King will offer a low choice Jer«ev cows and heifers on account of Mr. J. H. Street, of Bell Block. Full particulars of pedigrees will be given at the saleyards. Attention is directed to the announcement of the last week of the Melbourne's great reduction sale winch positively ends on Saturday next, the 30th inst. The public will be acting wisely in buying lavishly while reduced prices obtain for startling advances are already impending owing to the enormous increase in the price of raw cotton which is now xmoted at 17 l-4d per pound.

At the SCew Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday, judgment was given by Mr. Crooke, S.M., for the plaintiir ill the ease of Richard Albert Large (Mr. R..C. Hughes) v. Alexander Henry Morrison, £ls lis, costs £1 11b 6d. " Mr. W. C. Noble, who is a farmer bow residing ;it Vogeltown, has been appointed manager of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's farm. There were six other applicants. The Education Board at its meeting yesterday confirmed the following appointments to school committee*:— York, Mr. G. Kdiwardis, in place of Mr. A. Graham (resigned); Mangamingi, Mr. R. Brown, in place of Mr. Red (resigned).

A letter was received from Mr. Herbert R. Button, of Wellington, at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, introducing a scheme for the alleviation of some of the suffering of those unfortunate children who were injured in recent aeroplane raids. Members of the Board considered that this was a matter for the Taranaki Provincial Patriotic Society.

At yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Board of Education it was resolved to hold the next meeting on Tuesday, July '24. The date of meeting will he altered to Tuesdays in future in order to -permit Of Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., attending the meetings during the parliamentary session. The Taranaki Workers' Council ha 9 written to the New Plymouth branch of the Second Division League as follows: "That the Taranaki Workers' Council is in full sympathy with the objects of the Second Division League, and with the provision for the dependents of Bingle men called up for service, and that the cost be defrayed by an increase in the Graduated Land Tax."

Miss Alice Joyce has been away from the screen for twelve months, during which time a small Alice has made her appearance. She selected "The Courage of Silence" for her first appearance, and it is a drama which suits her down to the ground. Her gowns arc a feature of the attraction, particularly a beautiful costume of the convent. Many will remember the sumptuous photograph of her which was taken when she wore a million dollars worth of jewels. This popular star will be featured at the Empire to-morrow night in "The Courage of Silence," Serial stories are quite common, hut it remained for the Education Department to discover something uncommon in the serial line. At yesterday's meeting of t.ie Education Board a circular letter was received from the Department urging the desirability of utilising waste space in rural public school grounds for the growing of "serial" or root crops. This may be an example either of reformed or deformed spelling; .probably the circular meant "cereal." As, however, the Department did not send along any ''serial" seed the Board was not disposed to take any action in the matter. In connection with the supply of reading matter to school children, the Education Department forwarded a circular letter stating that the Wellington Public Library sends to schools in the city collections of books for each standard from the 3rd;to the Oth. There are from 40 to 60 books in a collection, allowing a book for each pupil. The selection of books is made "by the Department, and there were now 400U books in circulation in 15 schools. The experiment is only being tried in the city, where a rate is struck for library purposes, and school libraries come within that scope. Cartage is paid by the school, which also pays for lost books. In addition, children are allowed to take books at half rates. The City Council is allowing an experiment to be made in supplying suburban schools at a stated price per pupil. Mr. White stated that the New Plymouth Library Committee had adopted the Buffalo scheme for some years, and at the present time only the West End School tool: advantages of the facilities nffcred. It was resolved to recommend the scheme inaugurated by the New Plymouth Public Library to school cwuduttecs within the Board's jurisdiction, and that a copy of the circular be forwarded to libraries and to schools and teachers in the main centres.

The Taranaki County Council notifies that the bridge over the Mangania stream, generally known as Whisky Creek, on the Junction Road, between Egmont Village and Inglewood, -will be closed for 24 hours from 8 a.m. on Thursday, 28th inst. The N.Z, Loan and Mercantile Agency draw attention to their Tarata sale on Friday, June 29, at Ip.m. Full particulars on page 8.

The engineer of the Stratford County Council invito tenders for the erection of a concrete bridge and other works. During the absence of Mr. Arthur Humphries, in camp, the business of the firm "of Stacker and Humphries will be conducted as usual in the\ same premises aa at prascnt occupied 1 by them in Currie Street. The principal agencies, comprising the Commercial Union Assnranc9 Company, Ltd., the New Zealand Shipping Co.. Ltd., the Blackball Coal Co., Ltd., and the Canterbury Steamship Co' Ltd., will be under the supervision of Mr. J. E. Cuickshank, who will hold Mr. Humphries' power of attorney. In keeping with the high prices now obtainable for all kinds of dairy produce we find a correspondingly high value on allijpedigroe dairy stock in all parts of the world. While in this Dominion there are fanciers for all the recognised dairy breeds, and in several cases some fairly high prices have been paid for individual beasts, it must be admitted that the average New Zealand farmer does not yet fully, appreciate the true value of utility pedigree dairy cattle. Iu view of the approaching dispersal sale of Mr. E. J. Kirkwood's "Piakau Park" pedigree Jerseys at Stratford on the 28th instant, we would like to point out that Jersey cattle have been selling at higher prices in England. this year than was ever known before. The same remark applies to the United States, for at » recent national dairy show a Jersey bull calf was sold for £IOOO, and the same buyer bought four females at £4OO each and one other young cow at £2OO. The Jersey is at the head of popufar" breeds for dairying purposes in New Zealand, and however spirited the bidding may be at Piakau Park on the 28th, buyers can be assured that they are getting excellent value, for it should be remembered that pedigree Jerseys will never become cheaper in New Zealand. DRINK AND NATIONAL EFFICIENCY. It is now quite easy to quit the drink habit. With "Drinko," a harmless powder which is given secretly if desired, hundreds of patient? have been cured. Treatment is inexpensive and" can be given at home. Write for free particulars. Sent in plain sealed letter. Address in confidence, Lady Manager, Drinko Proprietary, G.P.O, Box 955, Wellington