LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Daily News will not be published on Saturday (Christmas or Monday (Boxing Day). The finances of the New, Plymouth High Schools Board, as disclosed by the chairman (Mr. L. C. Sladden) at last night's meeting of the Board, showed a very favorable improvement as compared with last year's figures. The debit balance, in particular, has been greatly reduced.

The siege gun allotted to New Plymouth by ,the committee in charge of the distribution of war trophies arrived yesterday. At last night's meeting of the Borough Council it vras decided that the gun be placed in Kawaroa Park, suibject to the (park committee's acceptance.

Standard VI. pupils of Frankiey School who gained Proficiency Certificates at the recent examination were: Herbert Brown, Jack Harris, Edward Knofl'lock, Frank Sutton, Lila Bullot, May Duncan, Elsie Baker', Matilda Knofflock.

At yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court was the last for this year. His Worship (Mr. T. A. B. Bailey) at the conclusion of 'business, took the opportunity of extending to the members of the Bar, the office staff, the 'police generally, and the Press, the compliments of the season and expressed satisfaction at the conduct of business throughout the year. Messrs. H. Billing (president of the Law Society) and Mr. P. B. Fitzlierbert reciprocated the good wishes conveyed by His Worship. A witness in the Magistrate's Court, New Plymouth, yesterday, who is in business as a carrier, stated that he had a fair number of outstanding account* owing to him, and they led Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., to remark that he did not know firms of that character gave any credit. "There is more cash trading done in New Plymouth," said His Worship, "than in any other place I have lived' in." A member of the Bar remarked that it was a good thing, an opinion with which the Bench concurred.

The Opaku reserve question was before the New Plymouth High Schools Board last night. The chairman reported on the recent conference between Tarnnaki educational authorities and Professor Hunter in regard to the Opaku reserve. As an outcome, Professor Hunter intimated that his executive council did not intend to appropriate the reserve or the accumulated funds, but were concerned only with the spending of the income. For the Board's part the conference was entirely satisfactory. Considerable discussion took place in regard to the reserve fund of the reserve, and Mr. Morton moved that Messrs. Sladden, Smith and Fox be appointed a committee to confer with a committee from the Taranaki Education Board to make provisions for the absorption of the reserve funds of tli" Opaku reserve.

The care bestowed in the upkeep of the graves at Te Henui cemetery has been favorably commented upon by the inspector of soldiers' graves and historical graves (Miss Edith M. Statham), who recently paid a visit to N°ew Plyi(ouih. ,ln a letter, which was read at lust night's meeting of the Borough Council, Miss StaTham expressed appreciation of tlie work of the Council ami sexton ('Mr. R. Bennock)'. "I am mure than satisfied with the work," the writer remarked. "As I travel about 1' often hear your cemetery favorably spoken of in terms of praise, and you may be sure I shall not fail to add ray voice to the chorus." Regarding the soldiers' plot, Miss Statham said «hc understood that the Victoria League, under its president (Mrs. C. H. Burgess), was desirous of beautifying the soldiers' plot, and she expressed the opinion that if the Council granted permission the helpers (under the direction of Mr. Bennock), would no doubt make the plot one of the prettiest corners in the cemetery.

Vain man supposes himself indispensable to women. So in a sense he in. But does he often realise what ehe thinks of him and his indispensabilityt Very charmingly and candidly, a High School girl, quoted by Mr. McCurdy recently, has defined it—and man—in an essay: "Man is what a woman has to marry. That is all. That is quite enough. She would do better if eha could; as she can't, she has to accept this tiresome monkey-like creature who smokes, drinks and never goos to church." Now, we know. We thought she was in love witi us. Instead she is making tho best of a bad job. She recognises, sorrowfully, that there is nothing better going. She marries man simply because she has to!

At last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council permission was granted to New Plymouth picture companies to screen programmes at Everybody's and The People's Theatres on the evening of Saturday, 25tli inst. (Christmas Day), the proceeds from which are to be devoted to the Clarke Memorial Fund. The programme is subject to the approval of the Mayor.

A nice lot of furniture is being submitted to auction to-morrow afternoon by h. A. Nolan and Co.. at the Workers' Social Hall. Particulars are advertised in bur auction columns.

"Fairy Wonder" the marvellous has lightened this year's spring cleaning by 50 per cent. No other household help can "hold a candle" to "Fairy," both for economy and helpfulness. In packets of all grocers and storekeepers.

In a Melbourne, Ltd., suit topped by a smart English velour hat you'll be as well and smartly dressed as the beat. Suits from £6 9s 6d to £0 15b; pure fur felts, best English make, 45s to 70s. The Melbourne's the place.

An accident on (lie Anderson Bay Rosid, Dunedin, about 0 o'clock on Friday evening last, resulted in the smashing of Dr. Truby King's motor-ear and the narrow escape of ihe doctor and his chauffeur. It appears that a lorry suddenly emerging from one of the side streets in tho vicinity of the Drive caused the ear to swerve into the fence of the plantation in the centre of the road. Portion of the fence was torn down, and the ear badly damaged but fortunately neither of the occupants was hurt.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is somewhat of a boxer, though he admitted to a, Melbourne interviewer that his form was only fair. "It is not generally known," he added, "that 1 was asked to referee the Johnson-Jeffries match in America. I considered the proposal carefully, but I did jiot feel inclined to travel thousands of miles and possibly have to face a hostile demonstration from the supporters of the beaten man, whichever it might be. During the war I referee'd a large number of army contests, in which the feelings of the onlookers was always sportsmanlike.'' Apparently he could have won celebrity in first-class cricket, for in the only 'year in which he gave his mind 6erioualy to the game he secured a batting average of 38, and enjoyetl the distinction of taking the wicket of "W. 6."

The committee of the Clarke Memorial Girls' Hostel acknowledge witli thanks 'the sum of' £2O from Mrs. Stuart Russell, being the net proceeds ..I last Thursday's production of "Snow-white." 'j'Jie total takings amounted to £32 0s SKI, the expenses being £l2 0s Od.