NEW PLYMOUTH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1687, 29 June 1904, Page 29

NEW PLYMOUTH

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A very satisfactory meeting of delegates from factories who used the Motarca freezing works to store butter and cheese was held here last Saturday, and it was unanimously decided to approve the directors' action to take immediate steps to reinstate the works. Subsequently the directors received the following tenders for erecting the works: —Pikett and Spennaki v. the British team, to be played ao A. Cliff, £7400; Jamieson, £8218; Newsome and Colson (Wanganui), £7228; Boon Bros., £7250; 'W. Smith (Invercargill/, £7122 10s; A. Reyn ell, £8568. The Engineer's estimate was £7200. Mr Panton. of' Napier, who prepared i the plans and specifications, will also superioter d the erection 'of the ivorks, part of which will be ready for storing about the end of next September. Boon Bros’, tender of £419 has been accepted by the Education Board for renewing the Central School, which was badly damaged by fire on the night of May 30th. Tfie racing scandal has been all the talk here and elsewhere in Taranaki this week. The matter will, no doubt, receive full attention in your sporting columns. A gentleman of travel, Donald McLeod, was fined £5, and costs £2 15s here today, on account of objectionable conduct in a railway carriage on April 9th last. He did not appear, but; sent a letter from Hastings admitting the charge. He waa also convicted on twl» other charges ax-ising on the same occasion. We have been experiencing sharp, bracing weather of late, with occasional skowei’y days. All arrangements for the match, Taranaki v. the Britsk team, to be played at New Plymouth, are now well in hand. There is every promise pf a l'ecord gate on the occasion.

TEe Town Band lias taken a new lease of life since Mr G. 'Garry returned here and resumed control. Last Sunday and the 'Sunday before the Band gave concerns in the afternoon in the Recreatioa Grpunds, and the music was much appreciated by a large concourse of people. The several committees was have charg© of the Xmas carnival matters here ar© still pegging along, and seem determine® to make the carnival a huge success. Mr J. Mackenzie, late Commissioner of Crown Lands here, was formally farewelled by the members of the Land Board and the officers of the Land andi Survey Department on Tuesday last. He was presented with a massive gold watch guard with greenstone pendant. Mr Simpson, his successor here, was welcomed.

Several believers in “spiritualism” have recently formed a Psychological Society here, and hold seances evei'y Sunday night. There are about 30 attenders afc the sittings, and if all reports are true the “spirits” unfold some wondrous tales to the credulous members of the “circle.” Some of the local clergy have recently denounced the practice of sp called spiritualism, in some instances fi-om the pulpit. Messrs E. M. Smith and W. T. Jennings, Ms.H.R., are metaphorically getting int® their political armour in view of the near approach of the session. Mr G. Fair's petroleum prospecting bore at Moturoa is now down over 509 feet, and so far some very good indications have been struck.

There has been no definite intelligence received so far as to the success of Mr Farmer King’s efforts to float a big company in Loudon to work mineral deposits in certain parts of New Zealand. Mr Smith, a few weeks back, got Mr King’s report on. his tour inserted in the local press, but the report did r«at give us any information that we ditf not know beforehand. As a report on such a large order. I thought it rather colourless. . *