LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 September 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Taurangn Electric Power Board is taking steps to raise £100,009 to permit of the commencement of the Board’s operations.

Eight applications were received by the Park Bowling Club for the position of caretaker, that of Mr Joseph Parkinson being accepted. If is' reported that shearing operations have been commenced on several small holdings in the district surrounding Wanganui. It, is expected that shearing will be general next month.

A fairly heavy mortality among breeding ewes has been reported in North Otago, as a result of the protracted drought,- which has now fortunately broken.

New legislation is planned by the Labour Government in victoria to prohibit the use of . slot machines. All coin-operated machines will come under the ban. There are over 1500 slot machines in Melbourne.

A number of men engaged in Pieton demolishing ah old boarding-house made an interesting discovery. They found a. whisky still built into a fireplace at the back of the house, with an arrangement made to carry the fumes up into the chimney.

“If you get into larrikinism vou must expect to puffer for it, ” said‘Mr Wilson, S.M., in refusing an application by two young men in the Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, to have their names suppressed from publication.

„ The number of petrol-driven vehicles for road traffic imported into-. New Zeahnd for the month of July'amounted 1688 j the value of same being: £359,917. Of this number only 126 the United Kingdom, valued at £54,792. America - seems to be still securing an undue portion of the business in this lien.

We have to thank Messrs W. D. and H. O. Wills (N.Z.) Ltd. for one of their photogravures of the present All Black football team. The proprietors of “Three Castles Cigarettes” are to be complimented on the very fine specimen of the printers’ art. they are issuing, and one that ought to be in the possession of every enthusiast in the Dominion.

Local playgoers will be interested to learn that the popular Nellie Bramley Company will pay a visit, to Hnwera on Wednesday, October 8, when they will stage their great, comedy success “Fair and Warmer,” which has made a big hit. everywhere. The Company have had a remarkable series of triumphs in the south, and are just concluding a West Coast tour following a record season in Christchurch. Mr William' Russell is personally directing the tour.

“I found the Chilian people evidently possessed of enterprise and great activity,” said Judge Stark, of the- Unit, ed States, who is visiting Wellington in the course of a world tour. “But, taking them all in all, I was much more impressed by the Argentine people. I was more favourably impressed with Argentina, and Chile ’than with Brazil. The Portuguese, outside of Rio, did not seem to have the same grip or ' progressive spirit. They coptain more of the negro element racially. In Peru a great majority of the people are Indians, but after you get down to Chile and across the Andes to Argentina you find more of the Caucasian, the Latin type. In Chile a great many are of Germanic and Scandinavian race extraction.”

The kite-flying season is an anxious time tor those concerned with the management of the; Lake Coleridge power supply. Kites that become entangled with transmission lines are a source of danger to those who are flying them and also to the electrical department’s workmen who have to remove them. In some instances it has been found necessary to shut off power from feeders in order to remove kites from transmission lines. If a kite is allowed to remain, on the wires and rain conies, there is a likelihood of a dead sliort taking place, necessitating the shutting down of the .whole system (states the Christchurch Press). The resident electrical engineer. Public Works Department. has issued a warning to parents and guardians regarding the danger, inconvenience and expense connected with kite-flying in the vicinity of power lines, and it has been suggested that school teachers should impress on their charges the danger cf flying kites near live wires. “Are there any fresh developments in cancer research at FTome?” was a question asked of Dr. Miller of Palmerston North, who recently returned from a twelve months’ visit to Great Britain. by a. Standard reporter. “Well, they seem to get getting on the right; track of solving the problem,’’ replied the doctor. “They have introduced a new ray treatment known as the Erlanghen ray, which has great penetrative power. While this ray is not curative, it has been found to he very beneficial, and the best results have been obtained from this treatment in conjunction with surgery. There are possibilities for the future that a cure might be found, not necessarily by the use of the ray, but it might lead to something else.” The doctor add.M that, with regard to tuberculosis, patients were now being treated by electricity and the sun’s rays. They had a special electric bath and with regard to the sun ray treatment, patients were exposed to the direct rays of the sun. This method had proved beneficial. BU CKRELIi ’ S. A very wide selection of all classes of ladies’ wear is now showing at 3 Union Btreet, Hawera. Fuji silk frocks at 39/6 and all linen frocks at 29/6 are special value. Costumes, jumpers, hosiery, and undervests are all the very last word in their respective sections. Taranaki distributors of the Treo allelastic corsets, the most comfortable corset ever made. —Advt.

'‘Education is not a profession; it is a form of middle-class casual labour.”—Mr Frank Boseoe.

‘‘Hospitals are not satisfied with simply'making both ends meet,” —The Prince of Wales.

German goods, of the variety suitable for Christmas trade, have reached Mastei ton. The quality is of a high order.

Roses of 450 different varieties, collected from all over the world,’ are grown in the experimental garden of the Royal Horticultural Society At the end of last month there were 147,204 carcases of wether mutton, 265,926 of ewe mutton, and 117,789 of lamb in the freezing works of New Zealand.

‘‘We shall take away with us an abiding memory of venerable institutions and inexhaustible kindness. ’’ — Mr Chas. E. Hughes (after the visit of the American Law Soeietv to England). '

On a question of equipment Ashford fire brigade has resigned (savs Punch iii Charivaria). It is not known yet whether local fires will go out in sympathy with the brigade. By a majority of 777 out of 1802 votes recorded, Mr. W. W. Thomson defeated the Labour Party candidate, Mr. J. Jemison, in the by-eleetion held yesterday to fill the vacancv on the New Plymouth Borough Council caused by the retirement of Mr. R. A. Large. The Wellington branch of the S.P.C.A. has interested itself in the matter of bird liming, and has instructed its inspector to confer with headmasters of the various schools in an endeavour to stop the use of this unpleasant form of trap for the taking of wild birds.

There is a Bill at present before the United States Congress to provide , for all new-born babies having their finger and toe prints taken. It is urged by those responsible for the Bill that such prints should be taken and filed with the proper authorities in order to guard against accidental exchanges of babies, in hospitals, and to make identification certain when the child grows up. It is said that the police authorities favour the measure, but so fqr the mothers have not spoken.

An unusual appreciation of the good roads in the Stratford County came before the notice of the chairman of the County Council recently. A party of touring motorists from' the Te Aroha district did not recognise the Waipuku toll-gate and passed through without stopping. The toll-gate keeper took their number and the tourists subset quently received a. demand for toll. In reply, the driver of the party expressed his regret, and forwarded double the amount, saying he paid up with the greatest willingness as he had greatly enjoyed traversing the fine tarred roads.

New Zealand is being well -advertised as far as its meat is concerned, according to Mr. A, E. Harding', a member of the Meat Board (stares the Auckland Star). He stated at a Fanners’ Union meeting in Auckland that an extensive campaign to bring the superior qualities before overseas consumers was being conducted. An arrangement had been made by the board for fat lambs to be* sent "Home cheaply as a propaganda move. Shops in England -also exhibited the sign, “New Zealand meat sold here,’’ which was generally admitted to be a “draw.’’ To grow old in China must be a very much more pleasurable experience than it is in the Western world, says the New Zealand Herald. Miss Martha. Root, a visitor from America, informed members of the Auckland Lyceum Club that age was held in highest honour in the Celestial kingdom. “People do not have to disguise their age,’’ she said. “Everyone, men and women alike, tell their ages with pride, and every year that is added brings them more respect and honour. A man who does not take good care of his aged mother or father is hunted down and put in prison. The old people are cherished and held in highest esteem in all classes of the community. That is one of the things that 5000 years ~of national life and culture have done for China.” The dogged determination of the average Scot was forcibly brought home to an' Aucklander, who (states the Auckland Star) recently received a letter from a Presbyterian minister lately retired from a South Canterbury charge through his throat giving out, who stated that although he had reached the allotted span of life he had commenced the study of Italian to keep him from rusting. After a few months’ study and close application he was able to get through two chapters of the New Testament a week, and he hoped he would he spared long enough to read Dante in the original before he died. The old student is living in a secluded and ruggy hilly district on the east coast of the South Island. He says he can study better when he looks out from his window and sees the snow on the ranges, for it reminds him of his student days in his old Scottish home amongst the hills, and makes him feel the vigour of youth again, and spurs him on at his new task. Surely here is something for vouth to emulate.

According to an article in the Grey River Argus, Open Bay Island, off the Westland coast, near Okura, contains the only remaining large colony of wekas in the South Island. On the mainland these birds are still to be found, but their numbers are fast diminishing, owing in great measure, it is believed, to the attacks of ground vermin. The weka itself is a sworn enemy of the rat, and where there are many wekas the rats are few. Thus the weka contributes much to the protection of smaller birds. But the weka itself is unable to stand up to the large ground vermin. On Open Bay Island the birds, originally placed there by seamen of a coastal steamer, have thriven wonderfully; so much so that there is now insufficient food for them. The Native Birds’ Protection Society is „ interesting itseslf in. the subject, and is endeavouring to arrange that the birds shall be fed so that the colony may be preserved. A strong colony of wekas is not only of great value for observation bv ornithologists, but may provide birds to recruit the weka colonies on the mainland, or in bird sanctuaries.

Some sheep in the Ida Valley district have gone “cogly,” to use a shepherd’s expression. If moved to activity by a dog they -stagger and fall; then, if left alone, they get up and “run like mad” till they are again taken with the staggers (states the Dunedin Star). The heads of on,e or two were split to try to discover the cause, and in each case it was found that a fly had deposited its eggs in the upper part of the nostril, causing extensive inflammation. Whence comes this fly? Nobody seems to know. The attention of the Stock Department is to be, or has been, called to the occurrence. The symptoms re-ad like those that come from tutu, but the local people, who should knoiw if there is tutu on the un-, nloughed iridges, have a suspicion that irrigation may have something to do with the trouble, because it is noticed that the sheep so affected are on irrigated pastures.

The Patea Sports Ground Committee, owing to lack of support, will consider at its next meeting the question of disbanding.

A record run from Southampton to Wellington was accomplished by the New Zealand Shipping Company’s oilburning liner Rotorua last week; the journey occupying only 33 days 6£ hours. The usual time occupied is at least 35 days. The exact origin of slavery cannot be traced. It probably arose at an early period of the world’s history out of the accident of capture in war. All the an?ient Oriental nations of whom there are records, including the Jews, had their slaves.

An event unique in the annals of Masonic history, is claimed ,by Rangitikei Lodge, Bulls (states an exchange). Its meeting last week was conducted by Te Aw T ahou Lodge, Foxton, under H .M. Joe Marumaru. This is the first occasion on which a Maori Mason has raised a brother Maori Mason. While visiting the vicinity of the Hawera lakes on Sunday a party, who were ..just on an outing, were surprised to find two young men shooting at grey ducks, which were seen to be in fairly large numbers on the lakes. The matter of shooting out of season, especially during breeding seasons, is likely to prove expensive practice, and they would lie well> advised to take warning. Some lady members of the Tararua Tramping Club, rock climbing at Titahi Bay, witnessed a fight between a shag and a ewe, the latter defending its lamb against an onslaught of the bird. It is quite unusual for a shag to attack a lamb. When it. approached the mother dashed at it several times. The shag tried to get at the lamb, only to find the mother interposing. At. last the ewe managed to strike the bird and partially disabled it. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, . stated at Carterton that there were only 40.000,000 acres of land in New Zealand occupied by sheep or cattle or under grain. Yet last year, over and above feeding every man, woman, and child t in the Dominion, we sent overseas primary products valued at £50,000,000, or 25s ner acre for every acre of occupied land. That showed what a wonderful countrv New Zealand was. ,

As a Wellington man >vas preparing toi bieakfast the other morning, a startled exclamation from his wife took him into, the kitchen, whejre'he found her in' great excitement over the frying pan. The cause was an egg within an egg. The inner egg was soft-shelled and had no yoke, but it was undoubtedly the foundation of a second egg. The whole egg was a par tic ula rly large ,one, the product of a White Leghorn. A judgment debtor at the Hawera Magistrate’s Court, when asked by Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., why he had not \paid a certain debt at a time when he was in a. position, to do so naively replied: “I did not know they wanted it.” His Worship said that that was hardly, a sufficient excuse', arid he ordered the payment of the debt in l monthly instalments of £5. Addressing a large audience at the opening of the competitions at Wanganui, the patron of the society, Mr. L. Cohen, said that the society on ed a lot to the late Mr. Harry Dqigan, who, as the president, had la,id the. foundation of a. wonderful organisation. The late Mr.' Duigan was a. Wanganui boy who had been so busy in doing kind things for other people that he had hardly time to do anything for himself. If everyone to whom he had done an act of kindness had brought a blossom to his grave he would he sleeping beneath a wilderness of flowers.

When two more defendants appeared before Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M>, this morning charged with driving motor cars without rear lights, His Worship intimated that in future he would make the fines for this offence much heavier. Sergeant Henry said that 20 per cent, of the- motorists interviewed by the police gave reasonable excuses, and consequently cases veto not brought. His Worship said he had not been aware of this, and he had consequently been making a second thinning out. 4 However he would 'know how to act in the future. ‘ ‘lt is remarkable what small maintenance orders women are generally contented with,” said Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch, when dealing with a maintenance case. Time and again women had come before him applying for 10s a week maintenance.

A most interesting and probably little-known fact in connection with St. Matthew’s Church, Auckland, was mentioned by the vicar, the Rev. C. 11. Grant Gowen, on Sunday (states the Wellington Post’s correspondent). Although the present church was comparatively a new one, said the preacher it was in one sense an extremely old one, for the consecration stone upon which the tower rested was the oldest stone in New Zealand or England. It originally formed part of a monastery in Canterbury, Kent, erected by St. Augustine in 597 A.D., when Christianity was reintroduced to that part of England. The abbey was demolished in the course of time, ‘and about thirty years ago the stone was found hearing the sign of the cross, the work of ancient monks/ When the authorities of St. Augustine College, Canterbury, heard that St. Matthew’s was being built, they sent this stone, 1400 years of age, out across the sea to be the foundation-stone of a church in a far new land. This fact spoke eloquently of the continuity of the Church, linking up the present with the early days of Christianity in England.

A notable touring party left Hawera by this morning’s express" after a short stay in the town and district. Their mission in the Dominion ha§ been the filming of scenic resorts. The company comprises Messrs Penrod and Clifton, of New York, accompanied by Mrs. Penrod and Mrs. Reilev. They are representing an American cinema company, who are anxious to obtain firsthand views of New Zealand tourist resorts. This is the second trip of the company to this part of the province, and they have twice visited Mt. Egmont, hut on each occasion the conditions have been unsuitable for getting good views. They have, however, left 1000 feet of film with the New Zealand Publicity Department, who will get the desired views and forward on to them. They were shown around Hawera by Mr L. O. Hooker du.ing their short stay, and saw the Hawera Dairy Company’s factory under working conditions, and also the acclimatisation society’s hatcheries and other places of interest. They expressed regret that more New Zealand produce was not obtainable abroad, as they experienced great difficulty in getting any New Zealand produce under its own brand in America. The party expect to leave New Zealand in about a week’s time for China, in quest of more scenic resorts in that country.

The young w:fe wishing to economise should always use a small packet of *‘No-Rubbing” Laundry Heir. It makes a little bit of soap go a very long way. Is only for n weekly washings. Carter bnd Co. —Advt