LOCAL & GENERAL

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 June 1916, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL

Subscriptions for the relief of the widows ,orphans and dependents of the British sailors who have lost their lives in naval engagements and casualties during the present war, aj*e being received in Levin. The list now that is lying iat the Levin municipal chambers has on it the following names:—- Mrs ■U. S. Mackenzie lUs; ir*. Bartholomew 10s; W. Bull ss; H. T. Stealey, 10s; N. Kirkcaldie, £10 IGs; H. Denton, £1 la.

The poll to decide whether Palmerston North should raise a loan for trams or not was taken yesterday, when the proposal was carried by a majority or 27G. Votes in favour of the proposal number 972 and votes against 726.

The bicycle thieves that live nereabout, after a 6hort period of enforced honesty ,eitlier by gaol walls or lack ol opportunity, have laddedi another theft to their iist. Last night a bicycle was taken from the Post Office corner while the owner was standing in the street a few yards off and, Constable Bagrie in the Post Office porch. The missing bicycle, a "Governor" is a compart ively new mlachine, fitted with "racing" handles. Any information regarding it should be communicated to the police or to the Post Office.

An attack which is said to have been made upon the Rev. H. T. Stealey 'ast Sunday morning, at 'a reiigious service in this township is the talk of the district at the present time. People auturally wish to know whether it was justified or not. The vicar of Levin will throw light upon the subject at both services on Sunday next. iio advises his people to keep an open mind on the subject until they hear the true facte of the case.

A young soldier who went troui Xbw Zelaland to Egypt relied for his correspondence on two anxious and loving iadies—his mother and sweetheart. The mothers's letters reached him reg-„ ularly (at the rate of one a week, but by the end of the year lie had received only one from his fiancee. slany a thought this cost him. Was she growing cold towards him? At last die doubt was solved; On returning to camp after a speil at a distance, the mailman brought in a bag-of letters audi parceis, The fellows crowded round -expectantly, and, amidst general laughter that concealed the general disappointment, the whole mail was for the loved trom his loved one ■ —11V letters andi packets in a batch.

That one can 'become (accustomed to anything has been shown, states a Gisboroe paper, by the experiences of the dredge master on the Maui. To />et the silt out of the river at Gisb'orne the dredger has' been working continuous twenty-four hour shifts the diredgemasfer sleeping while the dredge is at. work, ia;nd navigating all trips to sea. A member of the harbour board asked how could he get to sleep, but the chairman pointed out that the dredgemaster had agreed to .this system. "A sailor," he added, "can snatch sleep anywhere. In fact, he told me he was eoundi asleep the other day wlien tlie dredge was working and "he woke up when it stopped."

Levin's Patriotic Society's executive committee met on Monday night to discuss various mlatters. The Red Cross Ladies' Committee reported on the work done, and submitted accounts for goods purchased (to .be made up) amounting to £16. Theae were passed for payment. Threo local case® for assistance were dealt with, and helpful grants were made in each case. The president" (Mr C. JBlenkhorn) reported that he had taken steps to give the people of Levin and; district an opportunity of contributing to the lund for relief of the dependents of sailors who were wounded or killed in the empire's - naval engagements. The proposed new County inmd was liscussed, /and the appointment of trustees as suggested was decided upon. It order to get the scheme on a proper footing Messrs Blenkhorn, Goldsmith and >&e®dwe]J. were constitute a committee to draft regulations, etc., for submission to. the executive'® ne*t meeting.

A writer in a Home paper says:— "When I heard' thiat Sir Rider Haggard was soing to- Australia, „\ew Zealand, Canada and Capetown to ae<r"Vrhas opportunities there are tor the settlement of soldiers and sailors who aiay desire to make their homes thero alter the war, I was reminded oi' a certain incident 'lie related to me on his eturn From a. cattle show (Sir Eider is 'almost as famous for liis .knowledge of things agricultural as Jie is for his writing. Coming upon a particularly fine beast, he rashly undertook to guess it weight correctly. immediately a little Cockney, who waa standing near, said, "Bet you a sovereign 1 can guess as ra&r as you oanl" "Done!" replied the author. "I guess a hundred and seventy stone," went .on Sir Eider alter a pause. "How much do you eay?" "I guess the same," answeredl th© Cockney. "Now 'and over your money." "Why, what do you mean?'' exclaimed Sir Eider. "Well, I said I'd guess as neiar as you, and I've ' done. I guessed exactly the same." J Sir Rider wtas so amused at the joke that ho handed over the sovereign . without another word. !

Another candidate for gao) [honour* has made his appearance in' this district He "has startedl to make good his claim by stealing (Jibs of butter from Cinau railway •'station. . Xiie matter is in the hands of uie police.

A. shelter shed is to be erected at Ohau public school. Tenders for the work are invited By the Wellington Education Board. Specifications inlay 1)-* seen at The Chronicle office.

The explanation now given in regard to the article which appeared in the Thames "Star," and which wias indignantly referred to in Parliament recently, is that there was not the remotest intention oi, its being p"ro-(j firman. As a matter of fact, the whole policy of the paper hadi been violently fcinti-Gernvan, as the liles will prove. The writer of the article v suys the Manawatu Times) was suffering trom "nerves," and was in a ht of despondency at the terrible news as at tirst received, and he was not alone in tne dominion in this respect, It is admitted that the article was indiscreat, and regret is expresed that it appeired. The Thames' Star is' owned by Mr. \V. McCuJlougn. Its editor, Mr. J. A. Shand, is now at the war, and he lias two sons there.

Captain Davis, commander of H.-VI.S. Tiger, tho first vessel to open fire on the enemy in the naval battlo off the Jutland coast is a cousin of Mrs H. T. Stealey, of Levin.

Major Ashwortb, of the Headquarters Staff, Palmei-uton North, was preante at last night's parades of the Levin territorials and cadets.

iftnormous cattle • purchases are being mlade in Jutland by Uerman buyers, the reason assigned being that ;ho farmers in Germany audi Austria .have slaughtered all their horned cattle on account of the lack ot fodder.

Extract from a book ot reminiscences of Lady Poore, wife of a British Admy-al:—A Sydney doctor told her of a Scottish immigrant maid who had been remonstrated with by her mistress for having so many followers. "Weel, mum;' she protested, "V buddiy 'ies their hobbies; mine's men." * At" the Lower Hutt Borough Council meeting, Sir R. iF. Martin, counsel to the Municipal Association, gave his opinion that the council is, in law, a continuous body notwithstanding general elections or other changes in the personnel, therefore resolutions passed by one council is binding on its successors until rescinded. —Petone Chronicle.

The Rev. G. 'Williams, M.A. (assistant superintendent of the Maori Mission in the diocese of Wellington) held two services on Sunday last for the Maoris in Werarola. lie also preached at St. Mary's Church, Levin, in the erening.

The Rev. H. T. Stealey gave a lecture on Pompeii in the school,"at Mu : hunoa East, on Friday night last. The building was full, and the audience thoroughly appreciated the lecturo and the slides which were ehown. A man's bicyile picked up by tlie police a few days 'ago in BristtVstreet awaits a claimant- at the police • tion : .