LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 September 1911, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlu, W.C.T. U. mot on Friday afternoon a" the home of the president, .Mrs minglon. The most important subject discussed was the coming No-license workers' tea. Afternoon to-i was kindly provided by Mrs Rem .12-ton. The union resolved to urge all to work for the coming election, i iking ,as their motto-, "For God, f-Joine and Humanity." The W.C IJ. meets on the second Friday of each month. Badges are obtainable from tho secretary, Mrs Gib so Levin.

j At a recent meeting the Auckland Lane Boa rd considered a. petition signet 1 by -some thirty settlers of the Hauraki Plains, who asked l for a year's remission, of rent in con.si derating lof the grievous loss th-e-y sustaine; from crickets, whicilv had practically destroyed all their grass seed The area of petitioners' land s-n affected was given as 1410 acres, ■and tlio value of seed destroyed £/ o0: Members of the Board exnre<sed sympathv with the settlei-s in their loss, and it was pointed out tliat other settlers who expected the c-r.ii'k-pt'; sowed their seed at a different time and so escaped. Th.e requrist fo.r a wir's remission of rent was considered to b-> imnr-actieable, "s th< Government had spent a lariro amount of loan monov in makmf - tlie sections habitable, and Imve to spend more in the ""'T . r ' lf l "-"7- The Commissioner r-pinni Ked that the rent was regarded a-sj'Dtp,rest; a-nd could not* be t -' , area -bpsides .wliicli tkey did not want to- make a precedent in such enspp; it was decided to inform th.p " t,,r, ' nr, ' s no action e-omld be uillc-G .

A special meeting of the Levin Borough Council will he hold tins oveirng, when important mattcis connected with the new baths and the library will be discussed. - An extra attraction which is ti<> heput on at the Fancy Dress Carnival at tiu- Levin Rink, on the 20th, will, be an exhibition of fancy skating by Mr James Carson, who holds the championship n Palmcrston North ■and district. New Zealand is not the only conntry where fat sheen and cattle are scarce and dear. At Buenos Ayres market on June Ist the rise in the Srice of wethers and ewes was sensnoiiiil Prices ranged from 18s to 28,s per head.—N.Z. Times. A Levin citizen who left his bicycle on tlve verandah of his house yesterday missed it when he returned •home.' In its place, was a. note which nvid as follows:—•"'Desire Sei\— Juste bored yor 'hike Pot the day. Pawelka." The bicycle, however, was brought hack the same even mi g, and it is fair to presume that tine notorious escapee had nothing to do with the occurrence. The Shell Picture Company will agaii: appeal' at the Levin Town Hall this evening, and s'ome most interesting films will lie shown,. On the past two occasions the Town Hall has been crowded with delighted audioiu.es, .and those who intend to witness to-night's performance shriiil roll up early. The star film to-nigh I is " The. Masrot." This pictnn illustrates quite a miniature pantomime with a plot easily understood by the spectator. "Fighting the Sea " is a. very fascinating subject. while a w'ihl West drama is replete with sensational incidents. Jmpromptu .speeches (competitive) are to lie held in the Century Hall this evening, under the auspices of the Levin Literary and Debating Society A good' entry of orators and speech-makers is expected, and .some amusing sallies may he made by the various aspirants. After the competitive event has been gone through there will be a general test, wherein the speakers will draw subjects of speeches from a hat, and he required to speak impromptu on whatever theme, luck may send them. The public is invited to attend. No adimVion charge and no collection will h made.

Popularisation, of sculling in Levin i.s being worked for by some local enthusiasts, and it is hoped to get oil some sculling races during the. forthcoming season, on Horowhcnua Lake Air Xevin, of tlie lake domain boatslied, is now completing two amateur outriggers, complete with up-to-date appliances, and it is his intention to call a meeting of all interested in the sport of sculling to devise means of popularising the sport The meeting will take place at Mr X evin's sheds on Friday next, at 7.;3t' p.in., and it,is hoped that a club will he started, and an. "oldtimers' race" arranged as tho opening event.

A Philadelphia!! has invented a. pneumatic boxing glove that some expert.- believe will cause the old "pillow" type to be discarded. The inventor, a trainer of pugulilsts and. light referee, evolved the new glove from his many years experience in the prize-ring. lie was spurred to the realisation of his idea of a perfect glove by reason of the fact that ill training it was desirable to avoid injuries, a.nd the old padded, glove, no matter how carefully it was used, was never a sure protection. AVit'h the pneumatic glove, with its cushion of air, it is. says Popular Mechanics, impossible to cut or bruise an opponent in boxing practice. For this reason the glove would seem to be a good thing for gvnmasiums and for all friendly bouts where, it is the object of the opponents to sc-"i'e points without hurling each other.

Xal-ura lists employ an interesting method to preserve all kinds of spirers' we'b.s. The webs are lirst' sprayed with an atomiser with artists' shellac, and then, should they lie ill' the oi'il,!! -iry geometric ibnu, the-.\ -arc pressed carefully against a glass plate, the .supporting strands ■at the same time severed. Alter the shellac has dried the plate carrying tlve webs c-an he stored away in a cabinet. Even rloivio-sl 1 ape-fl webs can lie. preserved in their original form .by spraying them with .shellac, and then allowing t'hem to dry 'before their removal I'ro.m their supports. Main spiders' webs are very beautiful. a-nc: all are c.haractcristic of the specie, to wliich they belong, ho that, from a. scientific standpoint., their permanent pre-sei ration is very desirable

Mons. Leon Bergniollo, a coinmereial traveller living in the lino Monge, Paris. whose wife- is a dressmaker, had a somewhat unpleasant experience. Ho returned from a journey. anrl. aft or ringing wvora I tim.es, n-nonp.l dorr of his -a.parlment. wit-h iis latch key. Tfo «nv a-t-a.ll iiLCiiiv in the ball. Hp t n 1 lo'l out a. i ■;•!pi; of times "Wllm is there?" I\oooiving no reply, and convinced tliat ho was in the presence -of a burglar. ho dmv his ro'volvcr and fired. T!h'o figure, limvever, did lint move. mid. tlvo terrified commercial travel lor emptied all the oih'nninors of his revolver. Tlii.s scomo'l to Ibav-o no off cot on the snnnoxed burglar, hut mused the whole house. Half a diozon policemen wore soon on the scene, rmd Mods. Bergniollo was arrested. "When a light. was brought it was found, tllwt tho figuro in question was a- lnan.nikin bought hv -his wife a. few davs hoforo, clothed -in a dross she had just. made for a customer. As Moms. Gergniolle- had, carefully fired six- bullets throng]) it. the commercial value of the jrarmonfc was pr.'.-hr.bly somewhat dctcrioratod.

A v t-vting of the Levin Egg Circle was held in cho Oddfellows' Hall on Wedr'-.vJ'Uy evening last. Several new ni.mbers were proposed and arlmitto - members of the circle. The quest' of affiliating with the New Zealand Poultry Association was tiheii discussed at some length. Members •■onorally wero in favour of .affiliation, hut thought it would be battel policy to make individual circle.-: -strong before attempting n-ny-thini- great in the way of combining the whole of the circles. Mr .Power moved that, tho matter be left oyer for a month, further information to 'he obtained from the secretary of the. New Zealand Poultry Association bef-ur-e next meeting. The sec-rotary -stated that lie had writ l-ei- to Mr Merrittfc.r in formation oi tho proposed rules, and as to the freedom of action of circles in the event of affiliation, hut had not yet received a reply. Mr Darragli mOvoc: -n.':an amendment to Mr Bowmotion 'That the question of affiliation be deferred fo* twelve months." This was lost, and th-e motion-was earner! on the motion of Mr Leger, seconded bv Mr Hart, the secretary (Mr T. R. Hall) was instructed to write to the secretary of the Fell ding Circle a.ncl inquire ,b-O'W matters were progressing with them Tlie secretary mentioned that he had obtained: a quotation for printing, credit notes n eorssarv to cai ry on the work of the circle. Mr Bower moved, and Mr Darragh .seconded,, that it be left to the seeictary to'Het ".vlvat is reouired. On the motion of ?v[r McDonald. the secretary -was instructed to write to the' committee who are buying the- books for. J 'he public library ancl request them to consider the advisability of 'nlacinrc some books on poultry in the reference' department of tho library. - ;

At Bergen, in Norway, there is a church 'built of paper, capable of. accommodating 1000 people. Paper sails have boon mado to work, and paper bicycles liavo been mado to ride. At iSavinowka, in Podfdia, a Russian nobleman has a. liOnsc of sixtcer rooms, all built of paper, at a cost of 80,000 roubles. With the introduction of pasteurisation in the factories, sutfli crops. as rape mangolds, and other roots, which previously wore barred becauso they tainted the mil,k are nlow lipinc, looked to to supplement the other crops. There is a. keen demand for fond dairying land in the. district, the present high prices ruling for butter-fat offering tempting inducements to beginners. This year the calves generally are "being kept farmers remembering the demom last voar. According to Friday night's Budget. speech of the Colonial Treasurer, a Royal Commission will heappointed to inquire into the posibilit\ of successfully establishing an in oinployinent insurance, scheme associated with tho Friendly Societies in New Zealand and. the causer* of the increase in tho cost .of living. Sir Joseph Wardalso announced that long distance railway fares are to be reduced. They will he 1-Jd instead of Ud per mile first-class, and 3d instead of Id per mile second-class. In a question which lie is to address to tho Prime Minister, Mr Field refers to a reported intention to remove from the doctoral rolls the names of all electors, whether properly on the rolls or not, whose name* do not appear on the electoral census of July last. Mr Field states that, if this is the actual position many electors duly enrolled, at the present time will inevitably lie disfranchised. He suggests that ar. amending .measure should, be brought down this session to romed'y any such injustice.

On .Inly 7tJh, the Japanese Ghronielo reports, Count Okuma, chairman of tlie .association backing the Sharase Antarctic expedition, called, a meeting at liis residence of newspaper representatives in Tokio, and spoke at some length about the experiences of the expedition. The Count said that the Japanese Government had decided not to grantany sn'hsidy to the expedition, and the Kainan Afaru, the expedition ship was now docked .at .Sydney, with 27 members of the expedition on.rnpi.ng out under canvas. <Tt was a sili'ame that the Japanese people shouh leave the«e men unaided. The Count asked the .iorirralists to lend their influence in order to raise a public subscription to tlie amount of 70,000 yen. Afterwards Captain Xanrirn. of tlie Kainan Maru addressed the journalists and •related some of his experiences on the voyage to the Antarctic. Yung Liang Hwang, the Chinese Consul said at Melbourne the. other day:—"Our people are different from the Europeans—chiefly in colomr. A few years later we may be able to say different only in colour. Our people have physical and mental activity. Our people have some of thc greatest qualifications the best civilised men of tho world have The Chinese have brains also. They can study out things just as well as anyone else. Tliev have big ambition. ambition for education, for good homes, for wealth, for comfort for luxury for pleasure. just .as much as tlife' white man of an-v nation. T do not know whether the Peace Society will help us to the time when we shall uixl.vstnnd each other and there will be no war. but T dio know what will help us. Unless we have the spirit of. Christianity and learn to return gor I for evil, peace among the nations is onlv a dream."

Away up north of Auckland, in a little out-of-the-way locality, an amusing incident occurred. One of the inspectors wa.s round on an official visit, and took ■exception to the way in which the post office was being conducted. Tlie autocratic official thought to strike terror into the lioart of the offending local agent % remarking, in a sev-e.ro tone:—"Yoiu will hear from me, sir, ■when I return to Auckland." The acting-postmaster was, however, not so easily intimidated, and having disappeared for .a brief space returned with candle-box under his arm which contained two hooks and a feu shillings' worth of postage stamps Holding the .box out at arm's length towards tlio irate official. he remarked: '"Ere yor are, boss take yer bloonp'ng post office out o l ' this. I'm done with it from mow!" The incident is reminiscent of one that occurred at Foxton away back in the seventies. A stationmnster had been guilty of some trifling dereliction of duty, and wis informed hv memo, that he was lined 7s (id. He turned down the mh'ik'i of the official document, with wlii-h he pik-Vo'T the penalty that had been inincsed. and wrote bis reply. couched as follows: "Take my m-'U'v but *-;pare my life!" Tt was nloii-i' before he was permanently relieved of duty. Size does not always count with nills. and some of the biggest are the most worthless now-a-days. For torpid liver and stomach troubles the most effective pill is the vegetable Little Liver. Obtainablo from C. S. Tveed well's Pharmacy, in bottles oi forty for one shilling.—Advt.