Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 1904.

Manawatu Herald, 9 February 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 1904.

The new business written by the Australian Mutual Provident Society for the past year amounts to £3,744,489, shewing a substantial increase over the business of the previous year. This is regarded as a very satisfactory result.

The attention of Good Templars and all friends of the Temperance cause is directed to the notice in our advertising columns. However opinions may differ as to Mr Isitt’s opinions—and they do differ very strongly—it is generally admitted that he is "one of the foremost speakers and debaters in the colony, and those who go to hear him on Thursday evening will undoubtedly have a good time.

Dresden, of street, Mayfair, has bequeathed a quarter of a million to the London hospital. A contract has been let to extend the Cape to Cairo railway to Broken Hill Mine, 350 miles beyond Victoria Falls. SMB*

TnfonrnHon’Mias been received, in Wellington (says the Post) that two or three mining experts are on their way from Home to report to some London capitalists upon the extent of the deposits of limestone, iron ore, coal, etc., in certain parts of the Auckland district.

A farmer on the Waimakariri recently lost two three-year old draught fillies, worth about £3O each, and being unable to account for their death, called in Mr Robinson, Government veterinary surgeon, who stated that the cause of death was inflammation, pro; duced by too much dry feed. A number of cattle, it is reported, have died from a similar cause.

The export of kauri gum from New Zealand for the past twelve months was a large one, the actual production being 8887 tons, while the export reached 9375 tons, as against 7911 tons in 1902. The exports to America in 1903 totalled 5257 tons, as compared with 53x2 tons the previous year, a decrease of nearly 45 tons, whereas the increase in exports to Europe amounted to 1319 tons. The total ex ports to Europe for 1903 reached 41x8 tons, as compared with 2799 tons in igoa. The value of the year’s output is £500,000. “ I do not consider it proper to have Government servants On a criminal jnry," said the Chief Justice at Wei lington, and he excused several persons in Government employ who had been summoned for jury service. Civil servants, he added, ought to give notice to the Sheriff when they see their names on the jury list. It wag not the rule in England, and he thought that it ought not to be the rule here. An employee of the Harbour Board was also excused on the ground that he was a special constable. The Melbourne “Age” states that confirmation is not wanting on the statement that as a rule the mention of the fact that one is an . Australian or a New Zealander is sufficient to disqualify an applicant for employment in South Africa. The hostility, it Is stated, is due entirely to the recollection of the conduct during the war of a number of troopers from the Colonies who apparently thought that pillage and reck less destruction of property were their mission in life for the time being.

The Post Office Savings Bankretnrns for the last quarter of 1903 are interesting, in that they disclose an excess of withdrawals over deposits of £5845. whereas for the same period of 1903 the deposits exceeded the withdrawals by no less than £70,299. It would appear from the returns that Wellington is by far the thriftiest place in the colony—or was during that three months, at any rate —as the deposits in this district were £14,474 excess of the withdrawals. N apier came next with a balance on the right side of £8457, Wanganui follows with a credit of i‘5459, and Auckland was £2716 to the good. Thames had a credit balance of £385, and Hokitika of £329. Of the districts where the withdrawals exceeded the deposits, Christchurch easily led with an overdraft of £23,257, Westport being a very poor second with £3307, and Gisborne coming in third with £2533. Dunedin was only overdrawn to the extent of £531. Thomas Ramsay, alias Pender and Philips, now serving a 12 years’ sen tence in Mount Eden gaol for robbery with violence in Dunedin last year, and who recently attempted to escape from his cell at night, was sentenced to a further term of three months last week for the latest offence. The Governor of the gaol described Ramsay as a dangerous criminal, who had escaped from Wellington and had attempted to break out of Dunedin and Lyttelton gaols. Bludgeons weighted with lead were discovered in another cell and in a corridor outside Ramsay’s cell, at Mount Eden, points to the fact that other prisoners were connected with the present attempt. He considered that what would have been a serious outrage bad been nipped in the bud. A party of five ladies, assembled one afternoon in December at a Bond-street tea-shop, decided in solemn conclave that the word “ spinster " should be eliminated from the English language. It was offensive, it suggested age and dessication, and the male equivalent of “ bachelor ” was a flattering and coveted contrast. It was therefore decided to start a club. The “ Lady Bachelors" is the provisional title, pending the discovery of something more original. The rules are to be as follows That members of the club shall consist of girls who are not single by reason of the fact that they had never received a proposal; girls who have never had the opportunity of rejecting an offer of marriage ; and engaged girls. That when a member of the club is married no fine be imposed; on the contrary, the bride will be asked to accept congratulations and a charming present. That such a bride, however, cease to be a member of the club.

It is announced by the master butchers of Auckland that a reduction in the price of meat has been decided upon, and that it will take effect from to-day (says the N .Z. Herald of the rst inst.) The reduction, it is learned on inquiry, is not an all-round one, the principal alteration being in respect to beef, which comes down id per lb, with the exception of rump steak and fillet, which remain at the same price as at present. The prices of mutton, with the exception of fore-quarters (on which there is a slight reduction) remain as at present. It is stated by the butchers that when the prices of mutton were raised in October last they were increased in full proportion to the cost of sheep, and that as sheep (although lower) are still very dear, a further fall must take place befor ■ the prices to the consumers can b? reduced. There is no alteration i > the price of veal and pork, but in lamb a slight reduction has already taken place during the past two or three weeks.

A meeting of the Foxton School Committee will be held at the Library Buildings to-morrow night at 8 o’clock. Mr H. BaylySiggs has now gone into very convenient rooms in Austin’s Buildings where he will continue the practice of bis profession as a dental orreron.

The Town Clerk gives notice that an order has been made by the Stipendiary Magistrate confirming the decision of the electors re closing Gray street.

The Govenor will leave Wellington to-day-for Hastings. Lord Ranfurly, accompanied by the Premier, will leave Wellington on the 13th instant, on an official visit to the Chatham Islands. It is said- that the Makerua Estate Company has lost a considerable quantity of green flax by the fire which has been raging in their swamp for some few days past. According to the . Dunedin “ Star " Sir Joseph Ward believes that the postponement of the Postal Conference at Rome is due to coming international complications.

An unusual treat is promised playgoers next Thursday evening when the Woods-Williamson Dramatic Company will produce for the first time in Foxton the nautical drama “ Hands Across the Sea.”

The Railway Department advertise the'issue of excursion tickets on 15th and x6th inst. from Foxton to Masterton in , connection with the Show. Tickets are available for return till 23rd February. The local Te Awahou Lodge of Masons expect a large number of their fraternity to be present at the consecration and installation ceremony on Thursday, 18th inst. A special train will bring the visitors from other parts. The surveyors have how Completed their work of surveying Messrs Riddi--1 ford and Austin’s property at Pending, and the whole area, which will comprise lots of 50 up to 300 acres, and eminently suited for dairy farms, will be submitted to auction Shortly. Messrs P. Hennessy & Co. give their debtors who have long overdue accounts a note of warning to the effect that all debts ndt paid or arranged for by the 16th inst., will be placed in the hands of their solicitor for collection. Thomas F. Nolan and. Geo. W. Shrimpton, who pleaded guilty to con spiring to defraud bookmakers by means of anti-timed telegrams; came up for sentence at Wellington yesterday and were admitted to probation by the Chief Justice,

R. J. Thompson’s store was totally destroyed by fire at Feilding yesterday morning. The loss Is estimated at £I3OO. The building was insured for £4OO and the stock for £550 in the Imperial. The opposite buildings were scorched. There was no wind, and a serious conflagration was thus averted,

Bathers beware ! It has been reported that a monster shark of considerable length was seen in the bend at the Maori Pah one day last week. Although it is unusual for sharks to venture so far up the river, the high tides and brackish water perhaps gave this unwelcome visitor an opportunity of travelling over unexplored ground. A meeting of delegates from the various local bodies interested in the election of a country member to the Wellington Harbour Board was held at the Palmerston Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. The election was confined to Messrs W. T. Wood and J. Vile, M’s.H.R. and the voting resulted in 19 votes being cast for Mr Wood and ten for Mr Vile. Mr Wood was declared duly elected. Foxton was unrepresented. Apropos of the vigilance of the Petone Inspector in regard to bicycle fiends, it was rather amusing to notice a lady riding along Nelson-street, Petone the other evening, while a lad who ran alongside carried a lighted lamp. The inspector asked the reason of the strange sight, and the lady explained that she had no lantern bracket on her bicycle.—This has not happened in Foxton yet. We trust to see a big attendance at the meeting to-night at Mr Levett's Manawatu Hotel, when it is hoped that a strong committee will be formed and arrangements made to hold sports in Victoria Park on the 17th March. Already a fair amount of subscription money has been promised, and there is every indication of the gathering being brought to a successful issue. Mr R. Noonan, who was a considerable loser by the fire some few months ago in Main-street when the whole of his stock was consumed by the flames, has again “ bobbed up serenely,” and is now located in a shop in the buildings just erected by the Messrs Austin. Mr Noonan has on hand a new stock of paperhangings, picture mouldings, etc., etc., and further supplies are expected. He will also give estimates tor all painting work and house decorating, and is in fact prepared to give prices for all classes of work in connection with the trade.

A reward is offered by Mr J. Symons for the recovery of a horse that has now been missing for some time. There are many complaints of late ot horses going astray, and it is to be hoped that an example will be made of the first individual who is found to be in possession of animals of which the)'’ are not the owner. As an instance only the other day a horse, saddle and bridle disappeared mysteriously from Foxton, and on the police - instituting enquiries the horse was found to have turned up at Levin, having been ridden there and then turned adrift.

That Mr James Ingram is a successful grower of tomatoes can not be disputed, but this year’s crop of this favourite vegetable has been most prolific, and his garden at the present time is well worth a visit. The large quantity, running into hundredweights, that has already been taken fromthe plants do not seem to make any diminution, and they have the appearance of still showing a record supply. The tomatos are of large size, well-formed, and free from blight. The damson trees are also a picture to see, the branches literally bending to the ground by the weight of the fruit.

A Catholic concert will probably be held in the Public Hall on the evening of xyth March next. The Council did not get through a record amount of business last night. The Councillors are evidently.holding themselves in reserve for the improvement in lighting and water supply question which is to come up for discussion in a fortnight’s time. A man named Wolferstan, a son of General Wolferston, was arrested by Constable Gray at Otaki yesterday for the theft of a black and white collie dog from Mr Lennox, of Foxton. He was brought before A. Fraser, Esq., J.P., this morning, and remanded for three days.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report having sold Messrs Mackersay Bros.’ Lake Station property, comprising 13,710 acres freehold and about 2000 acres leasehold, with the stock thereon, to Messrs W. J. and A. F. Douglas, of Te Mahanga, at a satisfactory figure. While dismounting from the box seat on one of the Newtown buses on Saturday, a man wearing a heavy gold ring allowed the ring to get caught by a screw with the result that when he jumped down the ring took the whole weight of his body. The finger was torn from its socket, and was afterwards picked up on the bus. The injured man fainted while trying to reach a doctor.

A Wellington dentist is in luck. When the discovery of radium was first made, he wrote to the discoverer, and for a few pounds secured nearly a quarter of an ounce of radium, which be kept for experimental purposes. Lately the price of radium, in view of its value lor medicinal purposes, has gone up to £25,000 per ounce, and a corner appears to have been estab lished in the London market, where it is said to be practically unobtainable.. The local holder has been offered £2OOO for his sample, but, under the advice of a wholesale firm of chemists, proposes sending it to London, where he is assured it will sell for something like £6OOO. The work of an incendiary, so our : Fire Inspector informs us, was the cause of an incipient fire which took place at an early hour this morning. Mrs Currie, ail occupant of one of Mr B. Spelman’s cottages in Thynne-st. detected the smell of fire, and aroused the occupants of the adjoining dwellings, when a few buckets of water, (rather a scarce commodity at the present time), was sufficient to extinguish the flames. From an examination made there is every appearance ot a fire having been started at one corner of the outside of the building, _ Perhaps more developments will arise in connection with the matter, when it is hoped such a malicious proceeding will be brought to light. Two excursionists by boat from Palmerston arrived here last night, and had a somewhat adventurous trip. Putting their beat into the water at Hokowhitu, just above the Fitzherbert Bridge, with a plentiful supply of eatables etc,, for the journey down, everything went merrily until one of the reaches where the current was unusually strong, had to be passed. The boat behaved admirably until a sunken snag in the stream loomed into view. Every effort was made to prevent a contact with the obstacle, but without avail, and when the bump came it was consequently disastrous. The occupants were thrown into the water, and everything moveable also was emptied into the stream. The boat was again righted, but they found that two suits of clothes, three pairs of boots, and other articles were missing. Nothing daunted, however, the journey down was continued, and an arrival was made as stated without further mishap. A camera that was in the boat also suffered some damage by water. The trip down the river was otherwise much enjoyed, but we are told that the dry weather has been the means of keeping the river at present very low, and confining the volume of water into smaller spaces, which then become more rapid in their flow. The boat is at present down at the Manawatu Rowing Club’s Shed, and a buyer is wanted.