Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, AUG. 18, 1898.

Manawatu Herald, 18 August 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, AUG. 18, 1898.

The Agent-General cabled to the Department of Agriculture as follows : —Hemp £22, nominal Manila expected to improve ; New Zealand reviving. General Booth intends visiting New Zealand again in January next. He has already made two tours of the colonies. It is generally admitted that Mr J. G. Ward is one of the most rapid speakers who have ever sat in the House, and this fact was exemplified a few nights ago on the Imprest Supply Bill. Mr Ward on that occasion, spoke tor his full half-hour with extraordinary rapidity, and during the last ten minutes of his speech he actually delivered 2271 words, being an average of 227 words per minute. When it is explained that an ordinary speaker is credited with an average of 140 words per minute, and some even less than that, Mr Ward's fluency can be readily understood. All search made for the body of the 'young man Bowater has proved unavailing. No trace of him has been discovered. We hear that his life was insured, but the Company refuse to pay up until the body is recovered. Mr and Mrs Grace, -of Sanson, are leaving shortly for a trip to the Old Country. In a Wanganui church not five miles from the Avenue, on Sunday, the preacher was giving a very interesting sermon, but a male member of the choir evidently thought it was rather long-drawn out, and wishing to express his disapproval, pulled out his watch, looked at it, and then closed the case with a loud snap. The preacher paused in his peroration, looked at his own watch, and quietly remarked, " I hope your watch gives the same time as mine," and then proceeded with his sermon. It is thought that next time the gentleman wishes to close his watch in church he will not use the full force of his strong arm. It is freely reported that Mr F. Bradey, Chairman of the Hutt County Council, will be asked to become a candidate at the next election for the Otaki seat in the Opposition interest. Mr Bradey is a well-known sheepfarmer of over 40 years' standing in the Pahautanui district, and now spends a portion of his time at -his town house in Wellington in consequence oi the many duties he has to attend to in connection with a number of local bodies. He has always taken a deep interest in public affairs, and has been and still is an energetic member of the various local institutions with which he is identified. — Post. The Hermit of Island Bay is still in the Hospital, but the Benevolent Institution this afternoon resolved to offer him a place in the Ohiro Home when he is convalescent. It was stated that he has a 42 years' lease of his cave on the Queen's Drive at a rental of is a year. Mr H. E. A. Cameron has established a factory in Palmerston North for the manufacture of his prize starch gloss, and also •' Willshine " for polishing purposes, and a reliable boot blacking. In regard to the recently-published report of the Flax Commission that was set up to examine and report upon the various machines or processes for preparing flax, Mr Adolphus Bergin informs us that the Commission did not examine into his new processes for preparing the fibre, though his name is mentioned in the list of the 17 claimants of the first bonus (£1750) and in the list of the seven claimants of the second bonus (£250). Mr Bergin has declined to disclose his processes, giving as his reason that two of the Commssioners had flaxmills of their own. The mail trains between New Plymouth and Palmerston are now lighted with gas. The installation is said to be a great success. Mr J. R. Macdonald, the owner of the well-known hurdlers, Opai and Toriki, has sold both horses to Mr J. Hickey, the latter having bought them on behalf of Mr S. H. Gollan. The breakdown of the gigantic cruiser Terrible on her voyage Home from Gibraltar is a serious matter (says the London " Daily Mail "). Here is a ship which cost £700,000, and which we were -told was going to "lick creation," but which, all the same, cannot be trusted to steam 19 knots. Her theoretical speed is 22 knots. What is even more disconcerting is that the big Russian cruiser Rossiya, which she was expressly built to watch, has been in service for just a year, and has proved wholly satisfactory and very nearly as fast — in real fact, if not on paper. The Powerful and Terrible must, we fear, be written down failures. The children's dance is to take place to-night at the Public Hall, and a large number will be present. Messrs Abraham and Williams hold a sale at Palmerston next Saturday. The Premier has promised Mr Hunter to place £2000 on the Estimates for country libraries. If the amount goes through, what assistance will our library get to replenish its stock of books. The number of totalisator permits granted to racing clubs last year was 155, for 268 days, and the total amount of revenue received was £13,297 10s 6d. Last year's Financial Statement contained 21,600 words, this year's 6,700. If 'tis true that brevity is wit, 'tis folly to indulge in words.

References were made by the Poxton deputation yesterday to Mr John Holmes and his mission to Europe. The Premier said, wi:h a smile, that Mr Holmes had boomed himself and New Zealand, and the flux indastry. The £250 of the colony's money contributed towards Mt dolm ■■&' expenses was w^-11 spent; and it would lo a pi y if that gentleman came back to find there was no flax left in too country.— Times. On Tuesday last the usual meeting of me: ibers of the Mutual Improvement Society took place. In the absence of the president (Rev. Mr Woollass), Mr Alf Morgan was voted to the chair. Owing to the leaders in the debate that was to be discussed "Is Machinery Beneficial to the Masses," being present with the deputation at Wellington, the time was enjoyably passed in parlour games. At a meeting of ladies on Wednesday afternoon at All Saints' Church it was decided to open the new and commodious schoolroom which has just been completed with a sale of work on the afternoon of Wednesday, 31st inst. In, the evening there is to be a social and concert, and Mr England was deputed to arrange the programme for the concert. Rongotea is at last to have a post office. The duties have been for a number of years carried out by a local storekeeper. The Mayor ot Palmerston intends to give the annual Mayor's Dinner probably on Friday, the 26th inst. Colonel Gorton has left for Honolulu on a two month's holiday. At the meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Trustees the other day, Mr Lancaster brought up the matter of the great increase in the number of illegitimate children thrown on the trustee's hands, and said he thought something should be done by the Government to provide some means, by which the men who brought these girls into trouble should be punished. Messrs Browne, Thompson and Bradey also expressed strong views on the question, pointing out the great increase in immorality in the city. The Rev. Van Staveren said that as the magistrates would not do their duty, the matter should be made public. Immorality was increasing to such an alarming extent that unless public opinion was raised against it there was no knowing where it might lead to. The majority of the deputationists who have been to the Empire City returned to-day. The next Brass Band Contest is to be held at Palmerston North on February 21st, in the Theatre Royal ; the solo contest will be held on February 22nd. On *he afternoon of the 23rd the whole of the bands will assemble in the Square and form one huge band, marching from the Square to the show ground, where a quickstep contest will be held. The Military Judges are Colonel Pole-Penton, LieutenantColonel Newall, and Captains Hall, Dunk and Fitzherbert. The judge of music will be elected by the competing bands." Our local bandsmen have the opportunity in taking part also. The Palmerston Borough Council have an idea of purchasing the Gas Works. It has been decided to send the Town Clerk to Wellington to interview Sir Robert Stout on the matter. In the case McLean v. Bank of New South Wales, at Gisborne, the evidence failed to support the allegation of the statement of claim, and plaintiff elected to take a non-suit, which was granted, costs being on the highest scale. Mr G. S. Cooper, formerly Undersecretary for the colony, has died at Wellington, aged 73. He had long been a victim to bronchitis, the disease attaining the critical stage a few days ago. He entered the New Zealand Civil Service in 1841 and retired in 1892. A large number of informations have been laid against country settlers in some parts of this Island for failing to send in their sheep returns. A peculiar incident occurred on j Lambton Quay the other morning. A certain gentleman noticed an elderly individual suddenly stoop down and pick up a handsome gold: and greenstone brooch, which he hurriedly slipped into his pocket and then made off. The looker-on, seeing in front of him two ladies who had just passed the spot, hastened after them, and, on their attention being directed to the incident, one of them discovered that her brooch was miscing. The elderly individual had not yet got out of sight, so haste was made after him and he was eventually persuaded to give up his find, which was at once restored to its rightful owner. She, feeling grateful, offered the gentleman who had brought the matter under her notice a monetary recompense. That showed her gratitude. He refused it, which showed he was disinterested. What was said by the individual who found the brooch is not recorded. Rather a complicated state of affairs was shown to be existing in a certain family or families in Wellington according to statements made in Court on Friday morning. One woman interested had married a man (called 11 Jones " for convenience), and some time later found he was married to another woman and so left him. He nothing daunted attached himself to a third woman, and there were accordingly "three Mrs Jones knocking about " (said counsel), and each hated the other. The second Mrs Jones, it was mentioned, en passant, had 17 children, and had been married two or three times. Counsel got completely mixed after vainly attempting to explain how matters stood, and at length gave up in despair. His Worship remarking that he was still "fogged." Yesterday afternoon a deputation 1 consisting of Messrs Foster, manager Assets Co. ; Fraser, M.H.R., member of Assets Board ; Smith, M.H.R., and also the Mayor of Foxton, E. S. Thynne, Alf. Fraser, and J. McQueen waited on the Hon. Mr Cadman and pointed out the necessity of clearing away the sand banks in the Manawatu River, which interfered with the port's shipping, and to also erect a shed on the wharf. The Minister, in replying, promised to consider the matter. Mr Poynton, S.Mi held a Court to-day, only one civil case being on the calendar.

Last evening the bachelor's and spinsters' social in aid of the P.M. Ladies' Sewing Guild was held, Mr A. Saunders being chairman. Musical and other items were rendered. Misses Osborne and £. Spring opened the evening's amusement with a nicelyexecuted pianoforte duet. Other items were contributed by Miss Newth, who sang •' I Wont be a Nun," and also another solo. Mr Wm. How an and Mr A. Saunders both contributed solos, the last gentleman singing " Ben Bolt," and was encored. Miss E. Spring's rendition of " Fioa6 " was also nicely given. Mr Alt Morgan recited, and Miss L. Austin's recitation " Aunt Tabitha"' was applauded. The evening's entertainment was divided by parlour games, and a plenteous supply of refreshments was handed round. The Mayor of Foxton, at a deputation yesterday, asked the Minister for Lands to appoint a flax grader. Mr McKeozie pointed oat that the proposed legislation on the subject had been strongly opposed. He was in favour of the grading of all New Zealand products, and if it were shown to him that the flax millers of the colony were in favour of the appointment of a flax grader he would try to get one appointed. — Times. A statement was made by the Mayor of Foxton (Mr Stansell), at the flax deputation yesterday, that do European quotations of the price of New Zealand flax had appeared in the daily papers during a recent period in whioh toe fibre made a considerate upward movement. This was one reason urged in support of a request to the Minister for Lands that the Government should obtain, quotations by cable and make them public. Mr Stanseil more than hinted that influence had been used in some quarter to keep the quotations from reaching the colonial press. The request was not favourably entertained by Mr McEenzie who pointed out that the Government might be deceived as to quotations. If that occurred, and misleading quotations were published by the Government, man would be a great howl. He did not know that the Government could get better quo- , tations than commercial firms got Times. i At the social last night the presence of a dog in the company was the cause of much interference with the even* ing's enjoyment. However, the animal was quicky pounced upon, and just as quickly ejected.