Local and General

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 November 1912, Page 2

Local and General

Wo liavo boon reading of the wedding of an American negro at the ago of 111. Curiously enough, although all civilised lands fix on ago below which marriages cannot legally bo contracted, Russia is tho only-coun-try where «i maximum age limit is imposed. The Czar's subjects cannot enter tho bonds of matrimony after attaining their eightieth birthday, We regret to hear that Mr -Hound, who, with his family, wore residents of Levin for many years, is now in the Taumarnnni Hospital. He was, in company with Mr Percy, a. laud agent, using gelignite at Raurimu. While preparing the charge it exploded, with the result that one of Mr Round's hands was blown clean off.

A remarkable story of an adventure with a snako comes from Singleton, in the northern part of New iSouth Wales. AMr Ward was driving into town when he saw a man named lload in a peculiar stooping .attitude near the roadway. Ward pulled up, and the man explained that while he was having a dose under .some oak trees «i snake had got up the log of hi.s trousers, and he hind to cling to it to stop it from biting. Between them they man-aged to disentangle the snake, which was of the black species, almost, three feet long. It had wound itself round FToad's leg when he had gripped it I>v the head. Hoad was not bitten.

A young man, John Diamond, was at Gundagai (New South Wales) last week, lined £9 altogether for firing four shots out of a gun at an elderly man, George Sheather. at AYonga, near Gundagai. The evidence showed that Diamond and his mates decided to play a practical .joke. Diamond pretended to go mad, and .said.

"1 will blow your light out," and rushed for a gun. tShcathcr ran over a mile to get away, and fell exhausted on reaching home. During his flight shoLs were fired. The evidence showed that the cartridges were blank ones. The Bench commented strongly on the dangers of playing practical jokes.

A remarkable occurrence lias been reported to the Federal wireless oxpert- by the ollioials at the Hobart station, says tbe Melbourne Age. ()ik> day there was a faint ticking of tlie recorder, and when communication was finally established it was ascertained that the message was from none ether than the members of the Mawson expedition at Adelic. The message bad apparently missed the station winch was erected at Macquarrie Island, and in tlio hope that it would eventually get in touch with the Antarctic, and had then travelled about 2000 miles further north until it was picked up at Hobart. It was forwarded to the secretary nf the expedition.

On Tuesday afternoon a meeting of farmers and country residents oi llio Stratford district (say.s tbe Post) was held, at which it was decided not to allow .Mr F. \Y. 'Webster, who for so many years has been manager of .Mr Newton King's Stratford branch, to leave lii.s present position without some mark of their esteem and regard. It was resolved to tender Mr AVebster a social in the Foresters' Hall, about the middle of December, on a date to be finally fixed, and to make him a public presentation. In tbe Belfast livening Telegraph, September 2l.ith. the following Irish Peers' pledge was published"ln the event of the passing of the Home Rule Hill without prior reference t othe country, I pledge myself not to accept a seat in cither House of the Irish Legislature." The signatures appended include those of Earl lioberts, Marquis of Dufierin and Ava, the Earl of Bantu rly, .Karl Castlestewarr, Viscount Charlemont, Lord Lurgan, the Earl of Olanwilliam, Lord Ivingsdale, Lord Dora more and Lord Clarina.

When questioned by a Southland Times roportoj - last week, in regard to his attitude towards the proposal to import teachers from England, the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Education, said that the dominion was certainly to .sumo extent short of certificated teachers. The shortage was due to a change of system, whi<-h reduced the number of scholars each teacher had to superintend. and if there was any urgent necessity to relieve, the shortage he would be in favour of it, but he did not know there was any urgent necessity. Personally he was of opinion that a little patience was all that was necessary, and that the difficulty might be overtaken. It

was, moreover, a very awkward thing to import teachers, .'is tliev would not 1)p nt all sure of what they were getting.

The fiaxmills at Karer tire at presont running day and night, and consequently a very largo amount of fibre is sent away weekly. There are three mills within very easy distance of the railway siding, and in addition to these green leaf is being sent to be milled atFoxton, says the Herald. The very wet season experienced lias interfered with tfio industry to a largo extent, the chief troubles being the bloaching fields, which have in some cases been covered with water, thus detrimentally affecting the grade of tlio fibre. The green leaf is particularly good, being very long, and the amount of fibre required to produce a ton is, if anything, slightly less than locally- grown flax. On account of tlic increased traffic in connection with the flaxmills, it has been found that tho railway siding is really too small and recently application w.as made by the residents to havo it enlarged to cope with the traffic., but up to the present nothing has been done. As the summer advances the output of hemp will increase and unless some further facilities are provided at the railway siding the millers and: farmers in tEe district will be greatly inconvenienced.

Save your roses and other plants by spraying them with "Cirengol" which destroys green fly and various other posts. Non-poisonous and most effective. A shilling tube will make 20 gallons in a few minutes. Obtainable from 0. S. Keedwell's Pharmacy.—Advi.