Mt. Benger Mail. BE JUST AND FEAR NOT. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 1914. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mt Benger Mail, 18 March 1914, Page 2

Mt. Benger Mail. BE JUST AND FEAR NOT. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 1914. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The headmaster of a small country school, writing to the Taranaki Education Board, complained of the very irregular attendance of one girl pupil, and the fact that she had no readers and refused to get any. "Her attendance without books is only thwarting the work of the school," wrote the teacher. "If her parents were not able to get the books I should make her a present of them, as I have always done, but I cannot make a present of books to children whose parents are better off than I am. It is my opinion that 6uch children should be brought before the court and sent to an industrial school. What am I to do in the interest of this school?'' The Board referred the matter to the truant inspector.

The Borough Council invite tenders for 35 chains of gravelling in Scotland street. Specifications can be seen with tVie Aairman of works, Mj- W. Kinaston, from whom tender f«rms may be obtained. Tenders close at 7 p.m. on Wedaesday next, 25th inst.

The monthly sitting of the local S.M. and Warden's Courts will beheld in the courthouse to-morrow. Mr E. W. Burton, the recently appointed magistrate in Mr Bartholomew's stead, will preside on the Bench for the first time.

Local cricket has been pretty dead of late, but it will receive a bit of a lift between this and Easter. There is a big probability of a combined team paving a visit to the P.lurt .before the ead of the season for the purpose of playing a' return match with that team. A visit of a Dunedin team takes place at Easter, when a two day's match will be played on the local pitch. Players should get as much practice as possible in vitiw of these games.

We object to the suggestion that Parliament should superimpose the volunteer system upon compulsory training. We are confident that ' uder the existing Administratioa, this counVry is not getting the best results from the compulsory system. That, however. is a matter for ..he investigation' of a Parliamentary Committee. On the other hand, it would be fatal to allow the pressure of a few a»ei-everything extremists to be instrumental in bringing two systems into force neither of which would be effective *>r satisfactory. Compulsory training is entitled, like every other local institution, to a full trial.— Chrintchurch Star.

What is to bo trumps tor Central Otago ? We notice that Mr J. T. Johnson is spoken oi as the Opposition candidate for Chalmers. Wekcow* of no man on the Liberal s'de who would be as suitable an opponent for the »itting member for the Central as Mr Johnson would be. We also know that there is a strong desire on the part ot a aood many Liberals that he should contest this seat. If they want that desire to materialise they should be up and doing. One gentledw in Otago at least will not, we think, be sorry if the Central tan induce Mr Johnson to try conclusions with Mr Scott—to wit, the sitting , member for Chalmers, the redoubtable " Teddv."—Alexandra Herald.

Some we»\*g ago a British paper announced that the " largest apple in the world " was grown last summer at Kind's Acre, Hereford. The variety was Gloria Mundi, and the specimen weighed 32Aoz. " The 1 above claim," writes the Sydney Morning Herald, " will not stand. Two years ago an apple was shown in Sydney which was grown by Mr Frank Clarke, Wood-side, Rylstone. It was a Lord Russel Variety, and weigned oz., or an ounce more than the apple referred to above At the time it was claimed to be the heaviest apple ever grown, and apparently it still holds the record."

Prior to the commencement of the business at the Magistrate's Court at Cromwell on Wednesday* last Mr A. M. Broderick, on behalf of the members of the Bar practising in the district, extended a cordial welcome to Mr E. W. Burton, the recently appointed Stipendiary Magistrate and Warden. Mr Burton, in replying, stated that he had been a member of the profession for 30 years, and therefore k*ew a good deal about its requirements. It would be his endeavour to lecilitate the business of the court as far as he possibly could, and he hoped thai all would be able to work together for the proper administration •f justice and the good of the public.

A local fruitgrower, who recently made a trip to Wellington, has some vefy uncomplimentary remarks in regard to the manner in which the fruit for export is handled on the wharves ht that city. The occasion referred to was the shipment by the s.s. lonic of »ome three thousand cases of export apples from the Nelson district fcr Monte Video, a»d our informant characterises the method of handling as disgracefully rough. The cases of fruit were simply thrown from the top of tlio railway trucks on to a couple of cases placed on the wharf as a duffee and every case was strained almost t 0 breaking point. When such a method of loading is permitted it would seem certaim that the very best efforts of the growers in regard to careful packing must be nullified. The export fruit is all packed and graded under the supervision of Government experts, but their care apparently ends when the fruit leaves the packing sheds. If results are to be satisfactory to growers it would seem that the supervision would fee extended a little f*rlihw.

Harvest thanksgiving services were held in the Presb\ terian Church at Roxburgh and Millers Flat on Sunday, there Uing large congregations present. The churches were nicely decorated for the occasion with flowers and produce, aPP'opiate sermons being preached by the Rev. J. T. Gunn and Mr llalt'ord (student). A v?am of Dunedifi joanis players —six men and four ladies, will pay a visit to Roxburgh on Saturday next and play a match with the local club. The event is one of more than parting interest as it is the first occasion on which a Dunedin team has visited this district. The team will include such well-known players as R. S. Browne who hold the championship of Otago. and Stuart Nicholson, of the Moana Club. Given fine weather a good display of tennis should be wit aessod and the secretary of the local Club wishes us to state that all visitors will be welcomed at the courts to watch the game. Considerable local interest attach#* to the next sitting of the Magistrate » Court at Whangarei (.says the correspondent of the 'Auckland Herald when the Auditor-General will proceed against a member and an ex-member <?i the Whangarei County Council tor "the recovery in each instance ot tills Sd. This is a sequel to the banqueting of Ia) rd Islington and Hon. 'I. Mackenzie on the occasion of their respective visits to Whangarei. On this occas on the local body expended over £IOO in excess ot the amount available tor unauthorised expenditure —an action which led to the Anditor-Geneta! insisting that the amount in excess ot that authorised should be refunded, llie matter was shelved trom time to time by the councillors, but eventually and in consequence of a threat ot legal proceed ngs seven councillors complied with the request and paid their respective shares ot the amount. The remaining two members, however, invited legal j proceedings, and the request has now j been complied with FOR £o 1 CAN GIVE VOL" MAGNIFICENT PRISM BINOCI LARS. These " (Tearvue " prism binoculars are far superior to the ordinary lield j glass. They are latest and l>est glasses. Magnify eightfold, and give a magnificent range of vision. Add ! greatly to the charm of a holiday, i Shepherds, rabbiters will tind them j most valufble fnr long-di-tamv view ing. Great vplie «u fii. Write or call Hugh .Neill, '2\J B-uiedin. The l'cnjerlmrn Jockey I lut.' races »v.ere h- Id \estcrda> in beautiful weather. Tic re \ca> a larcc attendaance ami a good nfteruoon's sport iv j suited. A full i' port will api>ear next . issuo.