LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3733, 20 December 1906, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

We acknowledge receipt of a neat wall calendar from Messrs T. C. Fowler and Co., cycle agents and importers (Mr E. A. Howe local agent). We acknowledge with thanks receipt ol a nicely printed card conveying the compliments of the season from the local telegraph messengers. We reciprocate the good wishes.

The Christmas number of the Free Dance is to hand. It contains some well-written and interesting stories, clever barricatures by “Bio” and numerous Christmas jokes. It provides a couple of hours real enjoyment and we recommend its perusal. The local State school broke up for the summer holidays yesterday when the usual prize-giving ceremony took place. Houdan’s Entertainers appear in the Public Hall this evening and their attractive entertainment should draw a large audience. Two men, Culshaw and O’Brien, were fined £lO and £5 respectively and 38s costs, at Napier on Monday for drunken conduct and assaulting a constable. The Chinese at Singapore, numbering 180,000, have resolved to discontinue public ancestor worship and devote the ,£20,000 thus saved to education.

A meeting of the Foxton Borough Council will be held tomorrow (Friday) evening at 7.30 o’clock, to receive tenders for services for next year and general.

To show the value of some subscribers to a newspaper, a wellknown business man entered this office and intimated he wanted to discontinue the paper for a few weeks as his wife was away and and he could read the paper in the library.—Feildiug Star. Christmas greetings telegrams with text as follows : —“Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year,’’ may be sent for sixpence, provided the address and signature does not contain more than eleven words. If the text is altered or other words added, the message will be treated as an ordinary one. Greetings telegrams may be sent between the 18th and 24th, and the 27th and 31st of December.

Mr Felix Tanner, who for some mouths has been engaged at Wakefield in the construction ot an “ ark,” has launched the craft, and on Sunday sailed her to the French Pass and back. Mr Tanner, when through the Customs will set out for Wellington, afterwards proceeding to Sumner (Canterbury) where the “ark” will be exhibited. With the exception that a heavier foremast is required, Mr Tanner is quite satisfied with his craft. The “ark,” it may be mentioned is the shape of a barrel, —Golden Bay News. “ On December the 12th (says the Taranaki Herald), Mr Nicholas Golding celebrated the eightyninth anniversary of his birth, he having been born on December the 12th, iBiB. He has been fifty-one years in New Zealand, and came to Taranaki from Auckland with a detachment of the 65th Regiment, sent to relieve the 58th regiment here. Notwithstanding his great age Mr Golding is hearty and well, and we hope he may yet have many happy returns of his birthday.”

Captain .Spencer, of the English Church Army, tells this incident. He asked a convict what he did for a living when he left prison. “ Well, in spring I does a bit 0’ pea picking, and in summer I does a bit 0’ fruit picking, and in the autumn I does bit o’ ’oppicking.” “Yes,” said the captain, “and what do you do in the winter ?” “ Well, mister, i may as well be honest with yer. In the winter I does a bit o’ pocket picking !’ Captain Spencer next asked “ And’ what happens then?” The convict replied, “Why, I comes ’ere and does a bit 0’ oakum picking!” Ex-Wairarapa residents will appreciate the following from the Wairarapa News;—“ln mythological history Ajax is set down as having defied the lightning. His wooden counterfeit on the Moroa plains, kept watch and ward over his owner’s inanimate menagerie for many years. Night and day Ajax’s ligneus has towered gigantic, defying the lightning and all other elements. But the other night Ajax of Moroa was smitten by the power he had defied. He was struck by forked lightning and was ignominiously hurled from his pedestal. Now he lies a pathetic figure, the lowliest of all in the garden of his former greatness. His mighty thigh has been fractured, and the limb once thrown out in magnificent challenge, points skyward, a broken stump. The other arm has also gone by the board, and an ear has been smashed to smithereens, Ajax .is a wreck.”

Mr Alf. Fraser inserts an interesting replace in this issue. Mr Barnard has a splendid stock of silver and electro-plated goods in stock suitable for Christmas gifts. Messrs Watchorn, Stiles aud Co. have now commenced the Christmas Fair. The firm will celebrate the festive season by offering bargains in all departments. Inspection invited.

Mr E. Ball, hairdresser and tobacconist, has a large assortment of smokers requisites tor the holiday season. Pipes, cigars and cigarette holders in great variety to suit all tastes. All brands of tobaccos. We call the attention of the Borough Council to the tact that there are a number of dwellinghouses in the borough which should be condemned or put in order by the owners. We hope the council will look into this matter without delay. A Coroner’s inquiry at Wellington into the death of Dora Florence, who was killed by being run down by a locomotive last Friday, the jury found that death was accidental, but added a rider expressing the opinion that no greater speed than four miles an hour should be attained by a locomotive passing a level crossing in any town.

At Wellington on Tuesday Alexander Wait Purvis, the late secretary and treasurer to the Wellington Benevolent Trustees, and manager of the Ohiro Home, was arrested for theft at a boarding house, in Constable - street, Wellington, where he had been lodging. At half-past two o’clock the accused was brought before Dr A. McArthur, S.M., and charged (1) with having, on January sth, stolen £33 12s, the money of the Wellington Benevolent Society, aud (2) with having obtained a cheque for £33 12s from the Wellington Benevolent Society bymeans of false pretences. A remand was granted till Friday bail was allowed in self (£200) and two sureties in £2OO each. The necessary sureties were forthcoming.

Mr M. Perrean has four wedding cakes on order which will be exhibited in his window on Saturday evening. Several weddings are to be celebrated locally at an early date. The contracting parties are well-known young people. The quarterly meeting of the M.U.1.0.0.F. Loyal Foxton Lodge was held last Tuesday evening when there were over 80 members present. The election of officers took place and several matters pertaining to the welfare of Ihe order were discussed.

Mr I. J. Fake, builder and contractor of Palmerston North, is at present engaged in Foxton carrying out sewerage and concrete work. Ho is prepared to undertake all classes of work in this line and orders left with Mr Alf. Fraser will receive prompt attention. His business notice will appear in out next issue. ‘

The services in the Methodist Church will be conducted by the EeV. J. Southern. In the evening at 2.30 the postponed service of the children’s anniversary will be held. At the evening service the choir will render several Christmas carols and anthems.

Misses D. and L. Laing, who recently returned from St. Francis Xavier School at Wellington, carried off several prizes as a result of competitions. Our representative has been shown the carvings, paintings and fancy-work executed by the Misses Laing which reflects the greatest credit on both the pupils and teachers. Recently a day was made memorable by a baptism in a little Buckinghamshire village. Thd parson had a fancy to expound upon what the child might become. “No one,” he said, “ can fortell the future of this little chap; who knows but that he may grow up to be a great astronomer, like Sir Isaac Newton, a great sailor like Nelson, or a preacher like myself ?” •Turning to the mother he inquired, “ What is the name of the child “ Matilda Mary Ann,” was the reply. To cure rheumatism, gout, sciatica or lumbago you must treat the blood The best remedy is Rheumo, which has cured thousands of sufferers. From all stores and chemists at 2s 6d and 4s 6d. Give it a fair trial. 12