Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, DEC. 29, 1904.

Manawatu Herald, 29 December 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, DEC. 29, 1904.

The Foxton horse Haerere ran a good race at Palmerston on Tuesday. The local Telegraph staff were kept very busy on Xmas Eve despatching and receiving telegrams. There were some “ hot ” things at Ashurst yesterday. Followers of form must have come out on the right side. Over £IBOO was invested on Savoury in the Railway Handicap at Auckland. “ Gee Gee ” Stead got beat, and the punters were left lamenting. The hospital-boxes were taken round ; by several young ladies at Ashurst yesterday. We understood a fair sum was collected. The music supplied by the Military Band at Palmerston races ojaTuesday { was exceptionally good and brought forth much applause ; from spectators. The way Probable finished at Awapuni both days proves that there are few two-year-olds in the colony this season his master. He may beat Stead’s best if he bumps ’em. At Feilding Sports on Monday, j>. Nicholson won the Sheffield Handicap, whilst A. W. Hall secured the Bracelet. Foxton presented a gay appearance on Christmas Eve, though tradesmen aver that from a financial point ot view it did not come up to previous years. That the Manavvatu Racing Club will be the leading sporting body in the North Island within a few years there seems little doubt. The recent meeting bespeaks that fact. The thousands of contented-looking faces who viewed the races, and the thousands of pounds which passed through the machines made the stewards wear a happy smile. An unusually large crowd flocked into Palmerston North on Monday with the result that many were compelled to walk the streets all night, no accommodation being available. Some < amusing stories are told of how the night was spent. Several Foxtonians were among the unfortunates who put *• the night in under the trees,

Mr Seddon, with great solemnity: ‘f Throughout my life my chief drawback has been my inherent modesty.” A very big pig, a Berkshire boar, at the Hastings show, weighed iooßlh. The boar turned the scale at 6501 b when only 18 months old. The Agricultural’ Department has decided to procure specimens of the best Continental grape vines for the Government viticultural stations in the North Island. Visitors to the Bulls races on Monday and Tuesday next will be pleased to learn suitable trams will run from Himatangi each day. A glance at the advertisement in another column will suffice.

Foxton sports who imagined Johnny Armstrong has held the ribbons on Whakawhei for two or three meetings lately, got a good win off that prad. at Ashurst yesterday. It won a double fairly easy.

Had Lord Sonlt won the Maiden at Ashurst yesterday-, sonic of the metallicians would have worn a dismal look. But the track-smasker was beaten out of a place. The rain may have upset things somewhat.

• Wirth Bros, have Unearthed a new strong than, stronger than Herr Pagel. Herr Goth, as he is called, lifts a full grown bull by the horns and throws the animahover'his shoulder on to its back. SeXt '

One of the applicants fot the position of assistant secretary to (he Gisborne Harbour Board-, announced the fact, in his hlipport of his claim for the billet, that he was “ about to wed a young lady well-known in Gisborne.” The Christchurch Press says by a careful computation it is estimated that the Government would lose £ r /000 per annum in duty if the recentlygazetted regulations with respect to patent medicines Were enforced.

“ Let me kiss gome of you 1" ex* claimed Ambrose Addison, in affectionate tones to the Ashton (England) magistrates when they fined him for being drunk. The constable who charged him said he was discovered kissing a wall. Our Carterton Correspondent writes The sad news Wag received here recently of the death, at Manaia, Masterton, of Mrs W. A. Haxton, previously 1 of Belvedere. The deceased was very popular here, and her husband and family have , the deepest sympathy of a large circle of friends.— Greytown Standard. Philadelphians were amazed the other day to see a goat dashing through the streets bleating out. the first notes of the ” Star-Spangled Banner.” As it appeared to he in pain, the animal was stopped, and was found to have swallowed an automatic month-organ which had stuck in its windpipe.

Beautiful weather prevailed yesterday morning, which enticed many of the fair sex to visit Ashurst in their best. Needless to say, the heavy downpour experienced in the afternoon played havoc with their attractive silks and ribbons. Wearers of straw hats got a very bad time, whilst many women folk must have wished for shorter skirts. Guide Warbrick, reporting to the Auckland Tourist Department, on the I new geyser at Lake Rotomahana, says:—“ The new geyser is the Otukapurangi cauldron, which has burst out in a lovely geyser, throwing out stones and mud to about 150 ft to 200 ft. The geyser is continuously working, throwing stones and mud, and is a veritable miniature Waimangu. I am of opinion that it will become a big geyser in a few days.” Prohibition has now been in force -ip Mataura for almost 18 months, during which time residents of the place have evidently been very temperate, j A case of drunkenness was brought before the Court on Monday, December 12, for the tint time since the abolition of licenses. The accused, Who was fined ios for being drunk and 'for resisting the police, admitted having gone to Woodlands on Friday for drink, and having sent for it on Saturday. The luck of a Chinaman was again exemplified near Wellington recently, when an elderly member of that ancient race was in a pretty tight place. Travelling on the WellingtonManawatu mail train, he was carried past his station, and jumped from the car while the train was going at full speed down the Porirua Incline. An engine, with a doctor on board, was sent from town to pick him up, and he was tound to have been scratched and bruised, but no serious injuries were sustained. Houdini, the handcuff king, has just emerged triumphant from the handyman’s ordeal. At, Liyprpopl Hippodrome Houdini accepted jth.e.challenge of bVlonglqg tb, HsM.S. * Eagle t'b Vdlease himself from ship irons that are used when seamen turn mutinous? • Lying on his back Houdini was placed in the ship irons, which jvere manacled to his knees, and a staff was placed between his knees and arms. In 21 minutes Houdini had succeeded in releasing himself from a neck iron, and at the expiration of 38 minutes he had completely freed himself from the comprehensive manacling 'operation. Dr Symes, a Christchurch medico, expressed his regret while lecturing that the British race had taken long backward strides in the matter of beer. In the “ good old days,” he said, beer had been made of malt, and it had been a very valuable drink, nourishing and not conducive to drunkenness. The degenerate modern brewer, however, had taken to making his beer ot sugar, and the result was in every way regrettable. The beer had practically no food value, and its percentage of alcohol was much greater than it had been in the old malt beer. People now bought their malt extract from the chemist instead of in beer. The use of sugar instead of malt in the manufacture of beer was a sin, and one of the greatest injuries ever inflicted upon ihe community. The use of good beer in place of the poisonous stuff sold in Christchurch and other towns, would do very mqcb to check drunkenness,

At Wellington last week, a corner site in Willis-street, midway between Manners street and Lambton-quay, was sold for a price equivalent to £250 per toot. An unusual find has been made on the seashore of the Island of Sylt—a barnacle-encrusted iSo gallon Darrel of claret. The inhabitants are still making merry, and report the wine in excellent condition. The Clutha Leader understands that the legal costs on the publican’s side in connection with the upsetting of the licensing poll and restoration of licenses in BruCe amount to about £IOOO. A country correspondent of a contemporary " writes :—“ Rabbits are very plentiful) I notice some of our farmers have started shearing! Apparently* southern farmers are scoring off the pests.” Chicago will shortly be in possession ,of the biggest liptol on earth) It will be 22 stories high, and will cost two millions sterling. It is almost unnecessary to add that it will surpass in magnificence any structure of the kind ever erected*' ThCy always do in America. Canada has swept the board at St. Louis Fair, taking the grand prizes in agriculture and live stocky and thejgold, ntedals tor wheat; IVs is a repetition of the events at Buffalo, and proves that Canada’s prptjucts ate among the best in the world; The awards are especially significant, because the judges were chiefly Americans. An American visitor remarks, in pained surprise : “ Gee whiz, stranger I’ve h-’en travelling this hyar mudheap of yonrs fer six albfired weeks, and blame me ef t've seen King Dick, or been shook up with an airthquaks yet. I’m sliding out of this right quick 1”