LOCAL & GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 January 1917, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

An erstwhile Leviin lad.—•Alexander Gray, stepson of .Mr R.. G. iMalvin— lias won liouoi on the field in France. Deitaiks are given in. a letter received by Mr T. Broome, this week, from Private Fred iHaste, of the Fifth -New Zealand contingent. Young Gray is in charge of a machine-gun section, ■aniJ during a recent attack on the Soramc by the Germans he worked his gun so well that the German attack Mas beaten back though for a while oirsumsitianjces favoured lilt. Gray a.ho showed great gallantry in carrying up ammunition under a heavy fire, and his conduct generally was of such a quality that at a recent church parade he was called up and presentel with the military medal. .Gray enlisted in New (Zealand when only seventeen years of age, and he has seen active service in Samoa, Giallipoli and France.

Xi!K? members of a family named Jenkiijoon were washed away, clinging to a house, in the floods at Hughenden. Queensland. Four were rescued flifte'i' sixteen, hours' exposure; five were drowned when the house struck a tree ;uid capsized.

A report from the Wairarapa states that -a- difficulty is being experienced in i>rocuring the services of drovers in the Masterton district. As high as 30s per d-av is being paid to gcod men with dogs.

In accord with the recently-expressed wish. Jack London's remains were cremated at Oakland. Neither min-

ister in© priest pronounced a benediction over -hint; no prayers were said', and no choir sang a requiem. "Jack" London often declared that wlien he died lie wished to be buried without ostentation of any kind, as -lie believed that death ended all things. He has lea-rued better bv now.

il.r George Huteheson, who is appearing dor -Sample, Cook, leaser, Brindle and 1 lioinn in the sedition appeals, lias adv.'sed Mr McOoin-bs, M.P. that ho intends to raise the question as to the competency of Parliament to pass the Conscription Act.

Two volunteers 110111 Levin were accepted, t'.iis week, for active service, at Ba-lmerston, North headquarters. One is 'I h-onias Fred Pettman, farmer; tlie ether Henry Arthur Dean,- insurance agent. Hiram Diggs writes thus to the fraction Bulletin:—"l have received the book you sent me which is named 'What makes tlie gasoline engine go.' 1 ain't read it yet because what's tlie use reading it 'when 1 don't care what makes tlie gasoline engine go as long as it goes which mine don't only occasionally. \\ hat I want to know is 'What makes -the gasoline -engine slop?' If you've got a book called that send me one. I want to know v.'liat makes the gasoline engine .stop v.hen everything is ok and nothing ia the matter." In regard to the proposed change in tlie .stamping of Jfigy.ptia.il coinage tlie British Uovernment has expressed the opinion that it would be. mtWfc natural to substitute' the monogram of the Sultein Hussein of Egypt for tlie monogram of the Sultan oi Turkey. Hie Government also> suggests the employment oi the' English language side by side with the Arabic language on the coins. Says .a .recent American paper:— '•i-leJen Keller, the famous deaf, dumb and blind girl, whose .intehle-ct-ual powers, despite her handicaps has astonished the world, has abandoned, a matrimonial career for the sake of the woman who has enabled her to talk and offset her innate infirmities, Mis John A. Macy. Miss Keller was engaged to Peter Eagan, a young Socialist, who became acquainted with her while reported' for a Boston newspaper, and was employed by her as secretary. But romance came into her life much against the wishes of liar mentor, Mrs Macy, upon whom she is absolutely dependent for communication with the world, for tlie development ot heir powers of .speech and observation, and to whom she is indebted practically for her life. Mrs Macy's opposition to> lier pupil's marriage was based not upon selfishness, but on realization that it would hinder the f-iirthfcii- development of a

marvellous girl, and eo the romance has been shattered. Fagan sailed lor Tampa, Florida. Kecenitly 'Fagan took into his confidence the editor of a Boston paper. Ho told the editor that he and his employer were madly in love w:ith each other, and that they desired toi be married in eearet. They planned a literary career, and Miss Keller was to abandon the lecture field, in which Mrs Macy was lier necessary interpreter. Miss Keller, it is said, will leave for the Adirondacks shortly.

A poll of Otaki Totvn Board ratepay el's is to be taken on 31st January on a proposal to raise a loan of £9500 for purposes of installing an electric light plant in Otaki.

The Horowhenua Lake Domain Board, Levin, held a special meeting cin Tuesday night, for the, purpose of considering a communication from tho County Engineer regarding the drainage of the lake. The maltter was discussal, and a committee was appointed to meet Mr. 'Malcolm and, if possible., agree, upow< a permanent level to which tho water ,would be lowered an mi ally. A com ink.tec also was appointed to report as to the advisableness of devising a scheme for the inducement of some person to run a motor launch (for hire) on Lake Horowhwiun, to provide refreshments to purchasers, and by other .necessary means to make the lake attractive to townspeople as well as visitors. "Would you strike a man if he attempted to take a pound note from your pocket?" asked Mir D. McLaren •of an appellant at the sitting of tlio Military >'of the Military Service ' Hoard in Masterou, "No, I would let him take it." Captain Walker: "Have you amy about your clothes now?"—a remark hat produced such laufihtcr that the orderly had to call "Order!" A Press Association message from Wellington to-day .states that Colonel Cody (Buffalo" Bill) is dead'. Cabled advices received by Mv A. Gray, of Levin*, state that his sen, 1/iLMit. Alt'. Gray, is in hospital' at Urockenhurst 'England, suffeung from peritonitis. An O taki soldier, who has been stationed at Salisbury Plains for many weeks, complains that he has received no letters or papers for some considerable time, despite the fact that huge budgets have been sent regularly ea.ch mail. Another Otaki-ite, 'who is in the thick of * the fighting, ••aye that the mails reach him regu-larly.-Mail. At Addington stock sales held on Wednesday, a linn market was experiienced'. Recent rains hare enabled farmers to hold their fat cattle and sheep longer than usual, and prices raised in consequence both for "fats" and stores.