Cessation of Hostilities.

Manawatu Herald, 6 October 1900, Page 2

Cessation of Hostilities.

! As it has pleased the powers that be ' to make what was originally intended an extra holiday in the year, that for celebrating the conclusion of the war, into a sort of makeshift affair by amalgamating it with one of our many public holidays, we venture to suggest that the proposed proceedings for that day be reconsidered. The Prince of Wales's birthday is generally observed as a day of sports or horse racing which has become a much too serious business to include under the head of sport, and we cannot see why a good athletic programme could not be drawn up into which the extra items for the celebration of peace could be dovetailed. Unless some such precaution is taken the demonstration, so far as this town is concerned, will be a dismal failure. The members of the Borough Council are not altogether the right men in the right place for organising such a programme, therefore we would suggest to the Mayor the calling of a public meeting at which the public could select extra committeemen having a knowledge and experience of the required character. We could make sure, not only of having a good celebration, and not only should we succeed in retaining our own people amongst us, but we should draw visitors for a long distance around. As the night is moonlight, or should be, the fireworks display may not be so satisfactory as anticipated, but if

they were discharged from the opposite side of the river to the wharf, and our river steamers and rowing boats would turn out, we might make the show more attractive than it otherwise may be. We make these suggestions believiug they are worthy of consideration, and would if carried out make a notable and enjoyable day.

Mr Stiles announces that he will be opening up his new goods in a few days. ■•;

The next English and European mail, via San Francisco, will close at the local oflioe ou Friday, 26th Oct., at 8 p.m.

The building next to Mr Easton's butcher's shop has been taken by Mr R. Fraser as an office for the Manawatu River Company. Mr Jenks has the painting, &c, in hand.

On Thursday District Judge Kettle granted probate in the will of Charles Henry Symons, of Foxton, to James Nash Symons, the executor named in the will.

Some sensation was caused in Stratford this week by the arrest of a wellknown storekeeper numed L. Libeau on the charge of setting fire to his premises. He was brought betore the Police Court and remanded, bail being fixed at £500 in all.

After an illness of about six weeks' duration, Mr William Skey, Colonial Analyst, died on Thursday morning at his residence, Turnbull street, Thorndon. The deceased, who had attained the age of sixty-five years, was in constant attendance at his laboratory in the Colonial Museum until he was seized by an attack of paralysis, from which he never recovered.

Mrs Hawkins was arrested by the police on Thursday morning on a charge of alleged ar9on in connection with the recent fire in Main' Street, Pahnerston. She was brought before the Court to answer the charge in the afternoon, and was remanded until ro o'clock on Friday, bail being allowed, accused in one surety of £75 and two sureties of £75 each.

In their advertisement to-day Messrs P. Hennessy & Co. announce the prices at which certain goods are for sale for " strictly cash with order " plan. The public will note the cheapness of the lines and the firm will reap their reward.

The programme of the Foxton Racing Club is advertised to-day and bears out in full the particulars we published a few days ago. The meeting is a two-days one and the races are well arranged and good prizes are given. The total amount given away, free of all charges, is £700.

A company to lend umbrellas has for some time now been "carried on successfully in America. For a small annual payment anyone, upon being suddenly caught in the rain can drop into one of the depots and obtain an umbrella on loan by simply leaving his metal check.

A new pattern field service cap is being tried by the 4th Royal Irish Regt. at Aldershot, which seems to meet all the requirements of head protection from <j|! n -n<3 beat, la shape it is somewhat similar to the ordinary field service cap, but a shade larger. The flaps that let down, however, are totally different. That at the back fails to the nape of the neck, whilst the peak in front comes well down and over the eyes. A leather chin strap keeps it in position on the head. It is of khaki canvas, light and well ventilated, and bids fair to become popular.

A correspondent of " Nature " sends to that journal photographs of hailstones which fell at Northampton on July 2olh. The average circumference of the hail9tones was upwards of five inches. These, it is said, were by no means the largest that tell, according to the statements of trustworthy persons, but were typical of what came under the writer's notice. The majority of the stones were somewhat'flattened, but many were nearly spherical. The stones were extremely dense and well frozen, and buried themselves in the garden soil. Where they fell on hard surfaces, they usually broke into fragments which rebounded to considerable heights, while glass roofs suffered enormous damage all over the area, some twelve miles by six, covered by the storm.

In the House of Representatives last week, Mr Monk suggested that birfhday congratulations should be sent to Lord Roberts, the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in South Africa. As the suggestion met with the general approval of members, the Premier forwarded a cablegram, to which the Field-Marshal has sent the following reply : — " From the bottom of my heart I thank Ministers and members of Parliament for the kind telegrams and good wishes to Lady Roberts and myself. I shall always be proud of having had under my command the brave men New Zealand has sent to South Africa to fight the Empires's battles." News has been received from Rome that thieves forced a sate at the Vatican and stole £14,000 reserved for the maintenance of the Papal palaces and the decorations of St Peter's.

In his first lecture in Sydney Mr A. B. Patterson, war correpsondent, threw a vivid sidelight on the personal character ot Lord Roberts, and compared him with the chief of staff. He is wholesouled in admiration of the great little commander: but of Lord Kitchener he entertains no flattering opinion. In the hospital, the lecturer said, the little hard-face wiry m.-.n, very bustling, came through, asking the men how they were, brightening them up ; a-king the medical officers if they wanted anything, or if he could do anything for them. At Bloemfontein Lord Kitchener of Khartoum paid a visit to the hospital in order to look for a friend. He walked through, but never said a word to anyone, nor did he make any inquiry about the wounded. He walked out of the place, and blamed the sentry for not turning out the guard for him. "That is the difference between the two men. Kitchener," Mr Patterson commented, "is disliked in the Britisy Army for , that kind of conduct."

Our readers will not overlook the " Moonlight and Music " excursion on the river on Monday night.

The officials of St. Paul's Cathedraf have commemorated the visit of her Majesty the Queen to the Cathedral on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in 1897, by a permanent inscription, which is carved at the foot of the steps leading to the west entrance, opposite which the Royal carriage drew up. The full inscription is as follows : — " Here Queen Victoria returned thanks to Almighty God for the sixtieth anniversary of her reign. June 22, 1897." The design of the inscripiion has been carried out by the official architect to the Cathedral.

It is hardly flattering to the Institute of Journalists, says an exchange, to recall the fact that when the City of London last entertained its members the civic accounts for that year contained a small item— the cost of insuring the Corporation plate, &c, on the memorable evening I

Messrs Westwood & Barham had a very successful sale of household furniture and drapery at Shannon yesterday, though the weather was very bad. Owing to the indisposition of Mr Westwood, Mr Barham sold. This firm has opened very successfully and has fully justified them in starting their venture.

Owing to the torrents of rain that fell when the Steele- Payne Family arrived last night they decided not to give a performance, as the expensive machinery connected with the Biograph might have got damaged. The company regret causing any disappointment but trust the reason will be deemed a sufficient excuse. In about a month's time they will return and we trust they will meet with no such hindrance then.

Messrs Hennessy and Co. have received a wire to-day stating that the schooner they are expecting with coal has been detained by bad weather, bnt she will start as soon as weather clears.

burg announces that he will be ready to receive refugees who desire to return to the city at the rate of 3000 or 4000 weekly, beginning on 10th October. ABUSE OF AN ARMISTICE. Commandant Erasmus used the recent armistice for the purpose of removing 50,000 cattle from the Pieters* burg plateau — about 140 miles northeast of Pretoria, whence a railway runs to Pietersburg. DERAILMENT OF A TRAIN. The Boers derailed a train at Pau station, through which five of the Coldstream Guards were killed and nineteen injured.