LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1928, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Post Office advise that mails which left Wellington on May 22, per s.s. Makura, via San Francisco, arrived in London on June 19. Ten. years and three months at the West End School without missing a single day! That is the record of William J. Baldoek. The Taranaki Education Board yesterday decided io present him with a certificate.

Free conveyance of country school children to dental clinics cannot be granted by the Education Department, in view of the great cost of free treatment. In a letter to the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, with reference to a request from the South Taranaki School Committees’ Association, the department said the question had been before it on several occasions.

“And where have the other children come from?” asked the senior inspector when a deputation from a country school waited on the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. “Oh, we have one family of 16 children,” was the reply. “Is that likely to become general in the district!” said the chairman. “Well, we have some fair families,” was the answer uttered in a tone giving the impression that there were possibilities. Already about £40,000 has been spent upon the Wanganui-Raetihi road. All formation, with the exception of a few miles, has been completed, and arrangements for metalling the completed portion have been made. The Raetihi to Raurimu section is nearly made, ami from Raurimu to Taumarunui the road is being done by the local bodies. Before long the road should be fit for motor traffic in winter.

Resentment and “much displeasure” were expressed by the Tututawa School Committee when it wrote to the Taranaki Education Board yesterday objecting to the remarks of the health officer (Dr. R. J. R. Mecredy) that some committees had foolishly altered the time, thus losing the benefits of the daylightsaving measure. “Just inform Tututawa that Dr. Mecredy is not under the control of this board,” said Mr. S. G. Smith.

A visit to the New Plymouth hydro works at Mangorei was paid yesterday morning by members of the Fire Board, accompanied by the borough engineer (Mr. C. Clarke). After viewing the site of tho recent wash-out, the party inspected the race and the system of the town water supply. Mr. Clarke explained the present hydro system, and the suggested extensions, and was later accorded a vote of thanks through the chairman of the board (Mr. C. H. Wyatt).

’TELL the Grocer you want "Sunshine Packet Soup.” Packet makes 1 quart.

No clearer indication of the interest in the footfall matches in South Africa can be given than the bare record of the rush for seats (states a Capetown correspondent). In Johannesburg, for instance, where the tourists play three matches against the Witwaters-, rand, Transvaal and South Africa, the reserved seats for the three matches, according to the plan, total £lB,OOO. At the moment of writing, 14 days after the public booking opened, the bookings amount to a trifle over £13,000. A meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors is to be held in New Plymouth on August 15 and 16. This is the first occasion New Plymouth has been selected as the place of conference, and about 30 delegates are expected from all parts of New Zealand. Matters of public importance will be discussed, as well as institute matters. On tho afternoon of August 16 it is proposed to take the visitors to the North Egmont hostelry, and the Taranaki Automobile Association has been asked to assist in the matter. The fact that the school committees in Taranaki whose accounts he had audited had raised £3378 15s 5d by their own efforts was favourably commented upon by Mr. H. Goddard in his report to the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. Of this sum £598 16s fld was spent on picnics, prizes and sports material, and £199 on entertainments, leaving £2780 available for 1 school facilities, such as libraries and improvements to grounds. The chairman of the board (Mr. S. G. Smith) said the committees deserved congratulations on their keenness in raising money, this really being an extra tax on the ratepayers. New Zealand's biggest reflecting mirror is being carefully tested by Professor Florance at Victoria College, Wellington. This mirror, whieh is 201 in. in diameter, is used for astronomical purposes, and cost hundreds of pounds to construct. It was made by the late Mr, J. T. Ward, of Wanganui, who ground it carefully to a special shape, accurate to a thousandth part of an inch. If it passes the series of stringent scientific tests now being made it will be resilvered and erected for astronomical telescopic purposes in New Zealand. A set of bowls made from a puriri pile taken from the foundations of the recently demolished Sole’s buildings at the corner of Devon and Currie Streets, New Plymouth, was the interesting present made by Mr. R. Day to the Fitzroy Bowling Club at their annual meeting last night. Though the bowls were perhaps larger than the usual and were a little irregular, they were made of a fine strong timber, and Mr. Day wished them to signify tho good fellowship and the strength of the old Fitzroy Club. The present, which included a glassfronted case, was accepted with thanks. Grant and Co., Hawera, offer for sale 120 acres at Egmont Village at £lO per acre. See advertisement in this issue.

Members of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce are reminded of the annual meeting, which will be held at May’s, Ltd., to-night at 8 p.m. The Clifton Football Club is putting forth a great effort to raise funds for a gymnasium. Towards this end they are holding a mart and “Fun o’ the Fair” on June 30, at*which a mock court and other entertainments are promised.

Hospital Day is to be held in New •■Plymouth on Friday, when a mart will be established in King’s Buildings, Devon Street, for the sale of produce, flowers, cooked meats, cakes, etc. Contributions may bo left at Mr. Hugh Bally’s office, Egmont Street, or at the mart early on Friday morning. The Melbourne, Ltd. are showing a nice little range of children’s check Viyella frocks to fit girls 5 to 10 years, at 12/6 each. Some very smart winter coats, some fur-trimmed are also being shown from 22/6 to 45/-.

A unique opportunity for both ladies and gentlemen to secure high-class clothing at greatly reduced prices is provided by Besleys, Ltd., at their jteat winter eale. The whole of their exclusive stock of ladies’ coats, costumes and frocks; and men’s ready-to-wear suits are being offered at tempting prices. You will find a visit to their shop both interesting and profit-