LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Clifton County Council at its Meeting yesterday decided to farm out its toll-gate at Waihi for the next twelve months.

During the course of his speech at the luncheon yesterday at Nornianby, Sir •James Alien made the announcement that a. graft had .been approved by Cabinet to provide was'hhouses and baths for school teachers* residences.

Grglish files just to hand contain an account'.of /the. tragic, death on Ben -N'evis of Lieut. A. C. Craig, of Auckland. At. a height of 1000 feet, Lieut. Craig, who was with a brother officer, in attempting to negotiate a snow slide, lost his footing and was hurled down the slope, being killed immediately. He was about il years of age. In the course of his speech at the official opening of the Hoys' High (School on I'liursuay, Jdr VV. H. Mu.ies, principal, in justifying the establisluneut of tho preparatory department of the scJwoi, said it existed for several reasons, among them being the wish of many parents lor their boys to have the advantages of a boarding school at an earlier age than !•*, and also because experience had taught that it was a fpitintiu thing for boys to have a greater number of years at the school than would be possible without tile preparatory department.

Speaking at 'Xormanby yesterday, Sir James Alien referred to some remarks made about the National Cabinet, and said, while there had been differences of opinion amongst the members, there never had been dissentions. In regard to the future he presumed the compact that had been entered into for the duration cf the war would be kept till peace was signed and until the country's leaders returned from Home. In a reference to coming elections he urged wisdom in the choice of the people's representatives during times of stress and the period of the solution of the gTave problems confronting the Dominion. "Everybody's doing it." What? Voting for his country and the child on Thursday, April 10. Strike out the top line. The Waireka Sports Club is holding a long-night dance in the Good Templar Hall o» Monday evening,

Manaia has approved of a proposal to erect a band rotunda as a memorial to the men who hare fallen in the war.

Mr W- H. Moyes, during his speech at the opening of the Boys' High School on Thursday afternoon, made some caustic remarks on the lack of proper equipment for the training of children in some of the State schools. Adverse hygienic conditions prevailed in New Plymouth schools, and the standard of buildings left much to be desired. He did not blame the teachers, who were doing all that was humanly possible and often paced the interests of the State before their own personal interests. The lack of the proper facilities was the fault of the people, and so long as they were content to let such a state of affairs exist the Department would allow them to remain.

In his address on Thursday afternoon at the opening of the new High School buildings Mr W- H. Moyes said the growth of the school during the past six years proved conclusively that the people of Taranaki were in* sympathy with secondary education and schools of the class of New Plymouth. Notwithstanding that, however, there were still some Who were under a misapprehension as to what the school stood for. Ho frequently heard people say it was a class institution run for the benefit of the wealthy farmer. Against such statement he wished to enter an emphatic protest Their aim was, and always had been, to have a democratic school, and no boy would be refused admission provided he was of good character and had an incentive to work. The Star understands that a prop>sal is afoot to establish a Farmers' Institute in Hawera. The idea is to secure or erect suitable buildings on some central site, and provide a good reference library, writing rooms, and' a ball in which meetings could be held. Hawera is apparently becoming the recognised commercial centre for South Taranaki, and farmers frequently meet in conference here. They feel the want, however, of some convenient premises in. which they can meet and transact their business, and it is with a view to endenvo'rintr to meet this want that an effort is being made to establish an up-to-date Institute in Hawera.

A 50-acre farm in the Normanby district recently changed hands at £llO per acre. Some people are making mori!) money on 50-acre farms than others are making on 200-acre farms (saya the Dairyman). The man with 200 acres cannot work his property without employing labor, labor . that only too frequently is costly and incompetent. The 00-acre lot can be intensely cultivated by a very small family without employing outside labor,' and made yield handsome profits, even though capital cost has bean heavy- It is a pity that Taranaki has not more 50-acre farms well cultivated than it at present has. The day of the 50-acre farm is coming for Taranaki, and then the wealth of the province Will become something fabulous.

Speaking at Normanby yesterday, Mr. B. Masters, chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, said that when taking over this part of the district in 1916, the" members of the Taranaki Education Board visited every school in their district, and he remembered that the conditions at the old Normanby school were such that they could not be allowed to continue in such a progressive country as New Zealand. They immediately made representation to the Education Department, and received a grant of £llß9. To this the Education Board added £9OO out of their own rebuilding fund, and the splendid school they were opening that day was the result. The board and the people of the district owed a debt of gratitude to the Education Department for the manner in which they had assisted the board. Criticism had been levelled at this department all over New Zealand, but he was satisfied that a great deal of it was not deserved, and that in most eases those who criticised did not know what they were talking about.

j. he new White dump truck which the Public Works Department Ins purchased for work on Mount Messenger made its first trip over the mountain on Wednesday, when it took some piles for a bridge on' the Okau Road. Though the mountain was bad in one or two places the waggon successfully negotiated it. Another trip was made the next day, but rain had fallen during the night, and, the waggon getting into a bad place, the piles had to be dumped. The wagon left Waitara with further piles yesterday. Speaking at a meeting of the Clifton County Council yesterday, the engineer referred to the matter of this heavy traffic. He stated that the Public Works Department were purchasing another truck, and, no doubt, would wish to keep both busy, with serious results to their roads and bridges, which were not built to stand heavy traffic. He had, he stated, given instructions to the drivers to limit their loads to eight tons, including the lorry, instead of the 11 or 12 tons. Members recognised that the heavy traffic would prove harmful to the roads, but the general feeling was that the position must be faced and roads and bridges constructed that would stand the traffic, which, no doubt, will be very heavy when the road is metalled completely through to Te Kuiti. Mrs Rankin, a lady journalist from Queensland, who has won a fine reputation as a ready and gifted speaker, will address meetings op the prohibition question at Eltliam on Monday night. Manaia on Tuesday afternoon, Tnsrlewood on Tuesday night and New Plymouth on Wednesday evening.

"To Ilea! the broken-hearted and sat at liberty them that are bound" is the purpose of your vote on Thursday, April 10. Strike out the top line. Don't Forget. GERSTENA for Breakfast Land buyers who wish to secure 11 farm on easy terms should read W. IT. and A. McGarry's advertisement on page one. THE PROHIBITION POLL. What about the revenue? How is the million pounds at present received from the liquor traffic to be made up, and where are we to get the £250,000 annual payment involved in the £4,500,000 to be- paid in order to secure immediate Prohibition? The answer is simple. Five million pounds was the amount of last year's drink- bill. If diverted into legitimate trade channels this sum will, on the accredited method of calculation, produce a lot of money. The saving in the annual cost of prisons, police, charitable aid, etc, will be. at least £BIO%O. The loss would thus be £l,250,000, but the gain would be £1,590,000, even without taking into account the admitted fact that the indirect cost of the liquor traffic is at least equal to the direct cost. Add to this the gain in production from increased efficiency and every patriotic New Zealander must come to the conclusion that there is only one course for him to follow on Thursday next, April 10— strike out the top lia»" 4X

A farmer residing at tower Hutt informed the River Board at its meeting on Wednesday night that for the past three years he had employed female labor on his farm, with highly satisfactory results. The women took an interest in the work, were reliable, »x/ he would not consider making a change Mr. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Marine; says that people have been catching a good many salmon in the South Island rivers lately. The fish have given good sport and run up to 161b in weight.

At Hastings on Saturday some 400 acres of the Karamu estate (Ormond's) cut up into small farms, was sold by auction, and realised prices ranging up to £ll4 per acre.

Eleven little epidemic orphans came before the Juvenile Court in Auckland last week as children having no means of subsistence. There were four families concerned (says the Star), and the several children have been thrown suddenly on the goodwill of relatives by the breadwinners of the families being stricken down by influenza. The relatives, having found the added burden too great, applied for relief to the au» thorities, with tho result that these children formally came before the court, and after the circumstances had been stated in evidence, the ohildren were formally committed to industrial schools, but permitted to board, oot with their relatives, who thus become entitled to the State allowance for the keep of epidemic children. i

Meetings in promotion of the cause of; National Efficiency and prohibition wilt, be held on Mondry evening at Oakurai Sell Block, Egmont Village, Carrington Road and Tikorangi. The speakers will be members of the Efficiency XeagUOf and others. j

"An ideal spot for A pionic" has «fts teen tlie remark of visitor! when vie** in 6 Kawaroa Park. Giver a fine dat on Easter Monday, the picnio V> be heM amidst such surrounding* should be ft pleasant diversion for all. Afternoon' tea, competitions, music and watching games of happy children should be a day's programme satisfying to all. On the motion of Mr. Quilliam pro* bate of the will of the late Mr. Henry Old has been granted by the Supreme Court to Mr. Robert George Wells, the executor therein named.

Some Wellington residents hare lately ordered shoes from Dockrltt's, New Plymouth, as they were unable to obtain such high class goods and at such reasonable prices in the Empire city. The Melbourne Clothing Co. are well stocked with the famous Le Roy oily canvas coats for men, youths and boys. These coats have an enviable reputation for wear and are guaranteed absolutely waterprof oby the maker. Prices, boys 33s Gd to 46s Bdj youths', 47s Cd to 52s 6d; men's, 69s Gd to 89s 6d.