LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 June 1911, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Hastings telegram received by •ns last Wednesday notified us tlhat the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase was "a good race; won by twenty leno-ths: thirty lengths between second and third." Humph! Friday. 14th July, is fixed as the date of" the Levin Volunteer Fire Brigade's annual dance and concert. An'"advertisement on the subject appears to-day. "The Law of Service" was an address given by Mr T. G. Vincent at a meeting of the Endeavour Societv held at the Methodist Church, Levin, on Monday evening. Mr D. C. Braid presided over a good attendance. Quite a heated local discussion has been going on in Levin during the last few days on the. action of the Council in regard: to the question of public baths for Levin. Tho feeling was general that promises made before the election had been broken, one person saying "The present council is worse than the last."

Sister Moody Bell, of Shannon, who has been connected with the local Primitive Methodist Church, for ah out a. year last past, will bo holding her last service in Shannon —as in charge of the little church — on 2nd July. After that date sho will he free for other work, but not having made any plans far the future, as yet, may stay on in the township for the present.

Territorial soldiers are now required to desist from shaving the upper lip. The order was passed on by the Staff sergeant-major at last Wednesday's battalion parade. This is in conformity with the usage of the British Army, and is merely by way of an insistence of uniformity. The army fashion of wearing a moustache bad its genesis in sound medical opinion, Nature's clothing of the upper lip being the only real protection for the mouth and the bronchial passages. Tho smart person immediately ask why women don't grow whiskers — the answer being that Nature did. not intend women to undertake jlourneys "by field and flood" in pursuit of'the family breakfast.

A resident of Levin who has been actively associated with football in this- district for many years, has been offered, and has accepted, an important appointment further north. He will bo leaving Levin in the course of the next six -months, and hopes to take a keen interest in B'Ugby in his new locality. The enthusiast in question is one of tue most popular personages in. this district, and his departure will be much felt, especially by footballers.

A gathering of Levin Rocha bites was held at the Tomperajien Hall on Monday evening. Bro. J. Harvey, C.R.. presided, and Mr Bayfield played a number of items at the piano, and accompanied throughout. Supper was dispensed and" a very pleasant evening was ended by the singing of " Auld Lang Syne."

It is expected that at the next meeting of the Levin Borough Council a reply will be received as to whether the Department is prepared to accept the council's offer with regard to supplying the Boys' Training Farm with water.-- tt is. we understand, the intention of the council to supply water on. a sliding scale of charges in quantities of over 2,000,000 gallons in future. The opinion- has been expressed by some townspeople that if when negotiations wore proceeding with Foxton in. the matter of n water supply the sliding scale had been offered that town the question would have been settled to the material advantage of both places. This is a point the Mayor commented upon at Monday's council meeting, when he said he regretted the action the council had taken.

Notwithstanding the wet weather, last night, there l was a large attendance of dancers at tho ..eu-aroa Town Hall, on the occasion of the Weraroa Football Club's plain and •fancy dress ball. The floor was in splendid condition, and the hall had been most tastefully decorated by tho bard-working committee Tho waltzing competition was won by Mr Mai-ton Winiata and Miss Wilson with Mr W. H. Wilson and Mrs Jenkins second. The Mayoress and Mr J. S. Fowler acted as judges. A splendid supper was provided by the committee (Mrs Higgins, Messrs J. Hankins (presidents V. Hitchings, J. W. Procter. R. H. Moore and S. C. Gascoigno (hon. see), who arc to be heartily congratulated upon a most successful function. The Mayor (Mr B. R. Gardener) Mas present during the proceedings. Mr J. Kearsley provided tuneful music.

Local option was established in i "Western Australia by an Art passed last year. The measure is a curions one. It is provided that a poll is to be taken in every district in. or before April. 1911. and in every third year thereafter (1920 excepted). The resolutions to be. submitted are : (a) That the number of licenses existing in the district continue. (i>) That the number of licenses existing in the district be increased, .(e) That the. number of licenses existing in the district bo reduced. (d) That no licenses be granted or renewed in the district. If resolution (d) has been previously carried and is in force in the district, the resolution submitted skill be: (e) That licenses be restored, in the district. The resolutions, (a), (<•), aiul (d) are not to be submitted to the electors until after December 21, 1920. At the taking of every local option vote, fho following questions will also be put before the electors: (1) Do you vote that all .new publican's general licenses in tbe district shall bo held 'by the State? and (2) Are you in favour of State management throughout the district? Resolutions (a), (!>)._ and (c) .are deemed to be carried if a 'majority in lwinvber of the votes given is in favour of amy such resolution, provided that if resolution (b) hlas not been carried, tbe votes given in favor of that resolution skill, if resolution fa) has been submitted at the same time, be added to til© votes .given for resolution (a), and skill be deemed to 'have been given in favor of resolution (a), liesolution (d) is carried if three-fifths at least in number of the votes are in favor of. that resolution, provided that 'where it liias not been carried, the votes given for it shall be added to those given for resolution (c). Resolution (e) is carried if three-fifths at least in number of the votes given are in favor of it. Tt is also provided that resolution (d) or (e) shall not be carried unless 30 per cent, or more of tho number of electors in tho licensing district vote for such resolution.

Basic Slag in Is bags for yonr.lawn at Gibson's. Advt. The latest in handbags, purses, wallets, etc., from Is to 30s. at Thompson's Arcade, Lnvin.—Advt. An Rider-down bed quilt is a great comfort these cold nights. CI arks hare a fine stock of anilts ranging from 29s Od to 84s each, all warranted real down.—Advt.

The bell of the Levin Roman. Catholic Church was rung Inst night to synchronise in time with the no--tual* crowning of King George \.

The Mayor hnd a strenuous tliay yesterday in connection with the ■functions held to ctlebrate the Coronation.- In the morning he was busy with tlVe public service, at o o'clock he attended the Salvation Army tea, amd at 8 o'clock lie spoke at the Y.M.C.A.; ami later he attended the Weraroa ball.

" Very unjustly treated" is the general verdict in Levin regarding }he Racing Commission's action in striking out of the Horowhenua Rac ng Club. Its course is conceded to [>e better and- faster tflian either Foxton's or Otaki's, and the plantations around it are second to lone. The committee of the club ivill consider the matter at a meeting to be held early next week. That Otaki should be left with four full days' racing, and Levin robbed af its two days, is considered to be highly unfair.