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Manawatu Herald, 15 November 1904, Page 2

One ot our borough contractor’s letters to the governing body last night caused great merriment among Councillors. In his correspondence, he frequently spoke of being “ hambugged.” Meaning please ? After weeks of boisterous weather, the wind dropped to a dead calm last night, and to-day we are experiencing beautiful spring weather. At all events, at time of writing. [Ed. —The elements have changed since.] Those who are seeking good Xmas and New Year cards could not -do better than pay a visit to Mr Alf. Fraser’s window in Main Street, where a splendid display is 'being made of up-to-date emblems of Christmas-tide. Progress Foxton I We notice that Main Strfeet bears evidence of progressive times! It has a post and rail erected in front of the Post Office for the convenience of horsemen, presumably. Or maybe a benefit to the unemployed I * Whilst the Borough Ranger’s report was being considered last night by the Council, members complained that more cattle were allowed to stray than should be. “ Yet, and Councillors are the greatest transgressors,” said Cr Coley, “You can’t walk along the street unless you fall over them.” As regards Saturday early closing’, as compelled by the “ Shops and Offices Bill, 1904,” Wellington shopkeepers are grumbling considerably over last Saturday night’s experience. When the Bill has been in operation a little time, these manifestations of disapproval will probably find a deathbed. Foxton Borough Council meetings for Councillors who can grasp the situation instantly. Considerable argument was being indulged in at last night’s meeting as to whether the expense of a street crossing should or should not be borne by the Council, when one of its members, who had been in a dreamy haze the rest of the meeting, broke out with a drawl; “ It’s really not worth bothering about so much—only a matter of twelve or fourteen shillings.” His only speech, but it told its tale 1

“ Let outsiders see we have a live Council in Foxtou I” —The Mayor at last night’s meeting. nr„mwatn A. ft P. Show. Mr fourth lime with his Silver Wyandotte cock in the Poultry Class. •Messrs E, E. Smith (tailor) and T. Betty (bootmaker) have considerably enhanced the appearance of Main Strep! bv nlapinrf nlate-gIaSS in 1 !iv. 1 r Dusiuess-ironts. Rumour has it that a marriage eventuated yesterday in the vicinity cf Foxton in which the bridegroom had seen 80 summers, whilst the bride was a charming idol of “sweet twentytwo,*’ The Agent-General cabled from London yesterday;—“Hemp market is firm. Price of New Zealand hemp good fair Wellington grade dri. spot today T3l; January to March shipments fA O tosi” " Tile lighting, eohfraetbr Barrie in for some warm remarks from Councillors at last night’s meeting.. Speaking, of some of tile lights, members seemed confident many did not have the Inciter attached fur illontOsi A gentleman at the farmers’ conference at Christchurch said that he had recently visited Weber, a village in the Waipawa County, “ the place where the '.vomen wear gum-boots;” Even With these protectors k lady told him that mud had reached her garters; An impounding notice appears in our advertising coin [tins to-day, fe a Briestnut horse, white blaze down face, branded M on off shoulder, and well shod. If not claimed before Saturday abth, (he horse will be “ knocked down ’’ to the highest bldderi

A lesson which might be taken to, Hqart By soiiie of the local ‘‘ bdys is' afforded by a feCent Case at Christchurch. A “ respectably dressed youth was fined 40s and , heavy costs for calling out “ Hello, Sarah ” _to ladies entering the stalls in the Christchurch theatre* rind fdf dock dfoWlngi A motion was put last night at the Gouneih thefe beirijj only one dissentient, That ope wished for a sIiQW of hands. The Mayor accordingly called for a show of hands, with the same result, but the splitary Councillor was not satisfied until all those who voted for the rilotion had their dairies recorded on the back of the paper. What is brewing? As an example of the vast amount of ignorance existing amongst teachers on agricultural subjects* Mr W; Harding told the Farmers’ Union Conference at Christbhdrch that he knew of a Country scho 1 teacher, a farmer's daughter, too, who gravely informed her pupils that lambs were born with short tails. “ Please, Miss," said one of the girls, “ that’s not right, because our father cuts them off.” lough 1 Moynihan’s Club Hotel, Shannon, was totally destroyed by fire at two o’clock on Sunday morning last. Nothing was saved, and the inmate's were fortunate in escaping with their lives. The cause of the outbreak is "wrapt in mystery, though incendiarism is suspected. It is alleged the hotel was previously discovered on fire iri the same room from which started the conflagration of Sunday last. The C Mtunercial Union hold £7OO insurance over the building, and the South British ,£SOO over the furniture. The Moyniban family are heavy losers.

Bravo, fair sex! The remarkable performance of two girls, aged seventeen and'eighteen, in outlasting thirty one men in the swimming race of thirteen miles, from Brooklyn to Coney Island, has started a discussion in American newspapers dealing with the endurance of women. The discussion emphasises the fact that women are more “ viable ’■’ than men. They bear amputation better, resist asphyxiation longer, are, less liable to sudden disease, hnd in savage races carry heavier burdens. Hence, it is argued, longdistance swimming, demanding endurance, vital resistance, and skill as much as muscle, is rather a feminine specialty, Man derives satisfaction from the knowledge that woman cannot compete with him in speed tests. The large gathering of clerics who travelled by the south express (says the Christchurch Press) evidently misled a number of early racegoers, as was evidenced shortly after the train had proceeded on its journey. Two individuals who occupied seats in a carriage that were imagined not to be as comfortable as those of the adjoining one,' thought that a change would do no harm, and one of them, on opening the door, was somewhat taken aback at the magnitude of th£ clerical party in the other compartment. It i 3 difficult to anticipate what would have happened to him if it had no' been for the presence of mind displayed by his mate, who immediately seized him by his coat tails and exclaimed, “ Don’t go in there Bill, yer idiot; they’ll go through yer.” Pretty tall!

The ship of the Otaki water rights action is now well high out.into the legal 'ocean, and bdwlinjg along merrily under full cairns. Breezy occasionally sepd fitfuj } gusts across the dancing waters, >yhich threaten (o blow the canyas-Aut.qf the-bolt ropes, but the skipper,; unbeaten - in ; all weathers, meets the gale vvith a knowing smile and deftly guides the ship for the yet distant port of justice. The new • crew," which has been selected with more care since the last mutinied, are all willing tars--down to “ BTly ” the greaser, who was the last to join. Sailing under the New Zealand flag, however, is responsible for a claim by the crew that they are morally bound by the (B)arbitration Act, not to be on duty more than eight hours, with intervals for smoke oh ! Yesterday the skipper hinted the log line was not twisting fast enough, but the men of the foc’sle grinned placidly, and the greaser was heard to hum the classic air “ I’ve worked eight hours this .day.” Meanwhile the voyage drags its dreary length, and the two passengers who are waiting the verdict, which will determine who is to pay the fare, daily sit on either deck and gaze gloomily out upon the illimitable waters of the unfathomable sea.— Saturday’s Manawatu Times.

The steamers Himatangi and Queen of the South have been detained in port since Saturday last owing to the gale which has been raging. , weight of whitebait was canned at one of the preserving factories. Where are the Foxton bait this season ?

Figures supplied at the Christchurch railway office show that there was a taning on u; the number of people who went to sec the Cup run this year. Mr H. Nelson, of Nelson, Moate & Co, Ltd,, returned to Wellington on Wednesday from London and Ceylon. During his stay in Ceylon he opened a branch office there for the purpose of baying and shipping teas. Mr Nelson spent some time in the tea-growing districts.

One of Foittoil’s prominent citizen’s, who is noted as pOSSedsirig si tltlge of humour, got rid of a telling remark the other day.- Whilst one or two local .sports - were engaged in conversation re backing horses, the said humourist politely left with the ejaculation I never back horses, but I have a farm up, cobntry." Needless to say, the point aitiled at left its “ sting” behind, At the Masterton bolide! CoUrt Frederick William Beazer, was sentenced to one month’s hard labour for obtaining £1 from a livery-stable keeper on falsa pretenses. Accused represented that he had been employed to search for Ellis. In addition to hiring a gig oil various occasions, he borrowed money td fadlp hinl out of a temporary difficulty. A story is told of a German, a Scotchman and an Irishman who were together*, whefl Sawney said to Hans, “ If ye .couldj.na be a German, wjiat ?" y-A Scotfchmkdj’’was the prompt and Scotchman ?’ ‘ A German, Of course.’ Then both turning to Pat, demanded what he would choose to be if he could not be an Irishman. ‘ Faith,’ answered •Pat, ‘if I could not be a Oirishman I’d be ashamed of myself,”