Flax fop Chicago.

Manawatu Herald, 16 July 1892, Page 2

Flax fop Chicago.

Our enterprising townsman, Mr J. B. McMillan, has been interesting himself in obtaining exhibits of prepared hemp for the Chicago exhibition, believing that it would be a splendid advertisement for this dis trict and for the colony. Having expended a fair amount of energy in correspondence, from which it appeared that our '• labour", loving Ministry were doing their best to thwart the project, Mr McMillan wisely determined to " beard the lion in his den " in other words to interview {he Minister. Mr J. G. Wilson secured Mr McMillan an interview with the hon. Mr Seddon, to whom he pointed out all the advantages that a good representation at Chicago would be for the colony, and with respect to the flax trade, the great value it was to the unskilled labourer. Bather to Mr McMillan's astonishment the Minister intimated that all the blame rested upon the Chambers of Commerce who wanted the government to purchase the exhibits outright. If the Minister has not spoken hastily, we do not blame his inaction, as it appears to be an absurd request to make, bo absurd that we much doubt its having been made, and that some misunderstanding must have occurred. Th» idea had been that this colony should obtain 50,000 feet- of space, but as the Commissioners of the Exhibition want to make their show pay, they charge three shillinge and sixpence a square foot, and this was thought too much, and the number of feet were to be reduced. Unfortunately it appears that we shall get none, as it is now almost, if not quite, too late to apply to the Commissioners. Mr Wilson here threw out a suggestion, to the purport that as the colony of New South Wales had taken up a number of feet, perhaps some space might be got from there, and the Minister, not very enthusiastically, promised to communicate with that colony. On interviewing the Chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr McMillan obtained a denial of any such proposals having been made* by his chamber, to the government. It almost appears that through some misunderstanding in the Cabinet as to which Minister should represent the Colony at Chicago, not one will go, as there will be no exhibits to look after. It is very evident that the Minister of Public Works doubts being allowed to go, or he would have shown more energy in seeing that exhibitors were assiste4 in every way.

To-bight the Edison Phonograph will be exhibited at the Public tiall: We predict a large and interested audience.

Mr Jonson has made good progress with the new bakehouse which he is erecting for Mr McMillan. He has had rather a difficult job as he has had to remove the old one and erect the new o&e oil the same site and yet keep the building sbmfewhat &l\va.ys BUffieieHtly 66vered to permit of Mr Walls carrying on his business.

The many friends of Mr A. E. Nixon, manager of the Bank of Australasia here, will regret to learn of the death of his mother,- a very old lady, and one of the first settlers at Wanganui, at sea near Aden, on her voyage to England. Nothing but the fact of h«r death has at present reached the family.

The programme for the concert on Tuesday appears in this issue. It is well arranged, and should be the means of drawing a good house for such a deserving object.

There were no tenders received by the Manawatu County Council for working the Tram. The Council intend to call for fresh tenders, and in the meanwhile will run the Tram themselves. Wo almost think it would be the wisest course for the Council to retain possession until after the winter months.

On Thursday the R.M. fined the man Cofigdou, who was charged with disturbing the Salvation Army, forty shillings and costs. It is hoped others will benefit by this caution and understand that they are not at liberty to disturb any congregation, meeting or entertainment, just for their own amusement.

We have to thank the manager for a copy of the Canterbury Times of the 80th June, in which the first print of the old cartoons published in the Canterbury Punch, of 1867, appears. These are to be weekly, and will awaken much interest. To those outside the Province we think it would be an assistance if some explanation of the act illustrated and the names of the caricatured were explained, either on the cartoon, which would be best, or in the paper.

We remind our readers that to-night the Edison Phonograph will be both on view and hearing at the Public Hall. It is a great pity that some arrangement was not made for an afternoon exhibition, as a number would nave liked to have attended who will now be debarred from doing so.

We notice that the Hawera Star records what it terms a somewhat rare occurrence in the way of seoond sight. In this town we are able to name a similar instance in the Eev. James Dunoan, who some years a^o had to use spectacles, but now his eyes are as bright and clear as ever they were in hid youth, though he is a few years past eighty, and he can read the smallest print with the greatest of ease.

At Marton the other day Constable Moon secured a conviotion against the landlord of the Bailway Hotel for permitting drunkenness on his premises, though he was unable to prove the service of any liquor. The constable stated that at 1.20 p.m. he went into the bar and saw a man there drunk, in the bar parlour saw a swagger drunk, in another room saw a man lying drunk, and a man rolling about the same room drunk. The defendant was fined £8 and costs 275.

The public servants of the colony are to be truly pitied, A Labour member in the House the other night alleged that ooeroion was being employed by the Railway Commissioners to get the employees to deny the existence of the • silent Byatem ' at the Hillside railway workshops, even after he had been informed by the Minister that no such system was being carried out !

We. have to thank, the Government Printer for a number of Bills and the first number of JTanaard.

A pleasant placejfor railway travelling is the Manawatu Gorge. The Times says :— A large rock, weighing over ten tons, came down about midway in the Gorge on Tuesday evening shortly before the Danevirke train reached the spot, and effectually blooked the line. A special engine was sent out from Palraerston with men and a supply of dynamite and fuse, as it was found neoessary to split up the mass of rook before it oould be removed The blook was not removed until about two o'olook on Wednesday morning, and the train did not reach its destination until 4 o'clock, muoh to tbe discomfort of the passengers.

Can this be true ? The Pahiatua Star says :— News reached town on Friday night of a most extraordinary outrage at Makuri. It appears that the reoent gang of unemployed escorted to Makuri by the local agent of the Bureau, on arriving at the township broke into Mr Climie's whare and made free with the whole of the provisions and other contents. They then selected bunks for themselves and spent the -night in the place. In the morning, thinking some recompense due to the people whose property they bad-made free with, they annexed all the pannicahs and took their departure, leaving the broken lock unmended and the place open to every passer-by. In the absence of the owner of the property, it is impossible to say whether informations will be sworn against the offenders of not, but the matter cannot be allowed to drop where it is.

There was a brilliant display of tbe aurora australia at , Dunedin at seven o'clock on Wednesday, sight, the southern sky being illuminated as if the sun was rising in that quarter. . . :

A London telegram states that "the the Bank of Australasia proposed ■to ttfe Associated Banks to make cable charges on remittances optional with eaoh bank, but the suggestion was unanimously rejected; and it is expected the bank will withdraw from the Association." When banks fall out honest people will hold their own, and probably save the present extortionate exchanges.

The Advocate says at Bulls, contrary to recent experiences all over the district, the sale of sheep was brisk and the bidding spirited. Some persons who, judging from the tone of the stock market of . late, attended in the expectation of picking up bargains, professed themselves disappointed and went sheepless away.

The following telegram from Wairoa (H. 8.) appears in the Napier Telegraph of Monday, from its own correspondent: — " Considerable sensation was created on Saturday afternoon on its becoming known that the whole of the family, servants, and boarders at Mr Priyzer's Hotel bad been poisoned by arsenic, unwittingly used in* stead of baking powder.. H appears that the cook; a Woman, having found' the tin of baking powder which she' had been using to be empty, took off the shelf another tin containing a white powder, wbioh she took to be baking powder. She used a teaspoonful of it in a Yorkshire pudding, and all who partook of it showed unmistakable signs of arsenical poisoning. Dr Boss was called in, and took steps to counteract the poison. Several of the patients were in a very dangerous condition, but it is believed they are now out of danger."

Not a Yankee, but a man up to business, must be he who Mr Fergus says carried round two opposite petitions at the same • time in Dunedin. Both were signed by tbe same peopje.

In the Victorian Assembly some weeks atfo the following resolution was passed unanimously :— ' This House views with deep sorrow and disapproval the continuance of- the absence of the name of Oar Lord and Saviour from the State school books, and requests the Minister of Public Instruction to provide for the issue in future' of such Books tflth the expunged passages referring to His name restored.'

A big sale of Surplus Winter Stock .will oommenoe on -Fridayj July Ist, at The Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House, Welling >v.

We would earnest' ; v Ivise all country settlers to make sure of this opportunity and try if possible to pay a visit to the Empire City during the continuance of this big sale at Te Aro House, Wellington.

Our Sale Price Lists will, on application, be forwarded postage free from the Big Sale at Te Aro House, Wellington.

We feel sure that the expenses of the trip would be far more than recouped and there would be the additional advantage of choosing from the largest and most varied lot of Bargains in the Province. If this is du'y estimated a trip to the Te Aro House big sale will become a positive necessity.

If unable to come, orders with cash can be sent to us direct and we will guarantee instant attention and prompt despatch from the Big Sale at Te Aro House, Wellington. The annual stock-taking sale at the Bon Mavche, Pahnerston North, is now on. The feature of the annual sales of this Srm is that the whole stock, without any reserve, is offered at greatly reduced prices, every article in stock being subject to reduction as the stock must be reduced at least £2000 previous to the Annual Balance, and purohasers have the benefit of a £6000 stock to select from. — Advt.