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Manawatu Herald, 29 August 1899, Page 2

The often postponed Lawn Tennis Club's general meeting will be held tonight. The Moros tribe has acknowledged the sovereignty of the United States in the Philippines. The beds in the northern oysterfishery are in good condition but not quite fit for picking. Applications have been made for the lease of a sponge-bed at the Chatham Islands. Fish hatcheries are undertaken by the State on a very extensive scale on the continent of Europe. General Otis, Commander of the American forces, has enforced an order for the exclusion of Chinese from the Philippine Islands. Sir James Hector has reported that the N.Z. Native Oyster- Fisheries Company's work at the Porirua Harbour has not so far been successful. Mr A. Henderson, our new saddler secured prizes at Wellington and Hawera for harness work. This shows that he is an experienced tradesman and therefore a useful citizen. Pending further experience of Slaughert's Cotton-powder fog-signal at Pencarrow Head, the Marine Department proposes to supply the most important lighthouses witfe rockets for use in foggy weather. The Session does not promise to conclude its discussions for some weeks yet, more's the pity, as little good is being done. We are all getting anxious to know how many candidates aspire to represent us. The committee of the Racing Club met last night and let the levelling of the lawn to Mr R. Gray. They also decided to repair the training track and to-day invite tenders, which close on Friday next. The Marine Department has under consideration the alteration of the sizes at which flat fish should be taken, by increasing it to eleven inches for soles and ten inches for flounders, instead of nine inches for both fish as atjpresent.

The annual general meeting of the Manawatu Rowing Club will be held at Whyts's Hotel on Friday. The Tovn Clerk notifies that the Wirokino Ferry is closed until Friday, and that an election for three Councillor s will be held on 14th September. His Worship the Mayor announces that a meeting of the Borough Council will be held next Thursday evening to amend the burgess-list. Mr Bridge's representative will be at Mr Hamer's on Thursday. Dr. Dalzell has determined to sever his connection with Foxton, and leaves soon for the North, Mr E. Osborne's replace advertisement will appear in our next issue. It refers to the date of the commencement of the usual half-yearly clearance sale at the Centre of Commerce, and something about ' Tohunga ' ointment. Mr Eddie Osborne will be leaving Foxton almost at once, having secured a position in Mr C. Smith's draper's shop in Wellington, so that he can acquire further knowledge of the business. Some little light is thrown on the effect of Imperial Penny Post by the Consular Report from Brindisi. During the months of January to April of the present year, the number of British mail bags at Brindisi has increased by 9200, as compared with the same months of the preceding year. What used to be known as " gorse farm " up the Avenue has now been converted into a valuable property by Mr A. Speirs, and he deserves the thanks of the community for his enterprise. He has it all under the plough and had just got his oats sown before the rain set in, therefore has a promise of a capital crop, which he deserves. Those runholders who have been laying poison, both Toxa and phosphorus for rabbits have experienced the misfortune of finding that sheep rather enjoy, temporarily, the same sort of feed, with the same results as with rabbits. One gentleman informed us that he found 13 dead one morning in a paddock from this cause. Others have told us the same. Mr A. Speirs announces that he is prepared to erect a flaxmill complete and hand the same over in first-class working order, on contract. He is a thoroughly competent man and has had great experience in this class of work, and flaxmillers needing any gear, such as scutchers, californian pumps, pulleys, &c, could not do better than by entrusting Mr Speirs with an order. Mr Blackmore, Government pomologist. considers the statements about the alarming spread of codlin moth in Central Otago and Ashburton districts much exaggerated. He says there is no increase of the moth. It has been stationary for several years, and other pests are decreasing. Representatives of persons who desire to leave Finland are proceeding to Australia to select land for the main body of emigrants. The universal lock-out in the building trades of Denmark, which has been in operation since May, continues, and 80,000 workmen are now involved. The Federated Employers demand that future agreements with the workmen shall be of a national instead of a local character, A team from the Foxton Debating Society, consisting of Rev. W. Woollass, W. Johnston, H. S. Baker and G. Simpson, journeyed to Rongotea last evening for the purpose of holding a public debate with four members of the Rongotea Society. The subject chosen was, " Which has the greater influence the Press or the Pulpit." j The Foxton team taking the affirmative in favour of the pulpit. A very lively I and interesting debate ensued, the members of both sides doing their I level best to prove the superiority of his side. Mr Bircham, of Halcombe, acted as judge for both sides, and paid a very high compliment to them, and congratulated the two places in having societies with men capable of taking up different questions and discussing them for the public good. He awarded the victory to the Rongotea Society, giving them four more points than the Foxton team. The speakers for Rongotea were Messrs Anderson, Sanson, Ransom and Croucher. The Rev. W. Woollass moved a hearty vote of thanks to the judge, which was seconded by Mr Anderson and carried unanimously. Mr Bowater acted most efficiently as chairman and there was a large attendance of the public.