LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3737, 27 December 1906, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

A large number of local residenst attended the Manawatu Races to-day. Most of the business premises in town were adorned with evergreens for the festive season.

The weather throughout the colony was almost perfect for the Christmas holidays.

Dr Alva Jones, of Louisville, has solved the problem of maintaining telephonic communication between moving trains.

Mr Labatt H 11, dentist, late of Foxton, has commenced the prac tice of his profession on the Great North Road, Arch Hill, Auckland. The local band played a programme of Christmas carols on Christmas eve which were much appreciated by townspeople. Season’s greetings are to hand from “The Opunake! Times,” “ Picton Press,” “Woodville Examiner.” We reciprocate the good wishes. Farmers in the Hawkes Bay, and Wellington districts are crying out for rain, In the former district the weather has been extremely sultry for the past three weeks and vegetation is drying up. The railway officials on this section are to be commended for the ample carriage accommodation provided for passengers and the courtesy shown to the holiday makers.

Good business was reported by local tradespeople on Christmas eve, and the main thoroughfare presented a very lively appearance. The strains of the local band helped to enliven matters. The Manawatu Gorge presented quite a lively appearance yesterday. Numbers of picnic parties were located and spent a most enjoyable time in that beautiful spot. Lord Selbourne, High Commissioner of South Africa, in congratulating the South African team of footballers on their victories in England, suggests that the New Zealand 1905 team should be invited to visit the Cape.

We are informed that the new totalisator used at the Manawatu Racing Club’s meeting yesterday did not meet with general satisfaction by the crowd. It is alleged that a number of tickets were “rung on” the winning horse in the last race after the horses had got away. The Eketahuua Band serenaded a resident of the bush towns hip. He didn’t come to light in the orthodox manner, the bandsmen then assembled on the verandah and poured forth the mournful strains ol the Dead March. This had the desired effect and the funds immediately increased by half a sovereign.

The Spo/ts held by the natives at Moutoa on Christmas Day were attended by about 500 people. In the morning canoe races were held on the river and the afternoon was devoted to horse events, a most enjoyable time was spent. Mr Joseph Devlin, Irish Envoy, addressed a crowded meeting on Irish Home Rule at Wellington on Friday. Resolutions in support of the movement were carried by acclamation. At the close of the meeting Sir Joseph Ward made a speech, in which he expressed appreciation of the splendid work being done by Mr Devlin. At a meeting of creditors in the estate of Joseph Edward Montgomerie, a tailor, who had disappeared, his brother said he did not think his brother diauk or gambled, but he had lately been disappointed in love. It was agreed that the deputy official assignee sell bankrupt’s shop for the benefit of the estate.

Wi Rangi Rangi, of Havelock North, intends to do the honors of the New Year in right royal fashion. Having built for himself a modern up-to-date dwelling he invites the Maoris of Hawke’s Bay and their pakeha friends to a grand housewarming on New Year’s Day. The invitation extends to everybody, and dinner will be on from 10 to 12 o’clock. Mr Wi Manauariki entertained about 200 Natives and Europeans at the beach on Christmas Day. A sumptuous feast was partaken of beneath the shelter of a large marquee. In the afternoon races and games were indulged in. The evening was spent in dancing hakas, etc. Messrs Senior and C. Dahl assisted to make the gathering enjoyable. We learn that owing to the fac that his borough duties now practically take up the whole of his time Mr Alf. Fraser has decided to part with his stationery and fancy goods business, he has also resigned the agency of the State Fire Insurance Office, the auditorship of the Rope Works, the agency of the New Zealand Accident Insurance Coy. and the auditorship ofthe. Awahou Flaxmill Coy. for, the same reasou. -

Two inebriates were dealt with at the local Court for over-indul-gence.

Mrs Hazlett, ladies nurse, is open tor engagement in Foxton or district.

Foxton presents quite a deserted appearance to-day and business is very dull. By climbing a waterpipe and forcing a skylight, burglars obtained entrance to the premises of the London Goldsmiths’ Company, Oxiord street, and carried off jewellery valued at President Roosevelt has opened a fund in aid of famine-stricken Chinese, and proposes that Government transports should convey food supplies to China.

Because tlie stones used by the Fijian fire walkers were brought with them from the Island of Bega, it was alleged in Christchurch that some quality of these stones had something to do with the ease with which the natives walked upon them bare-footed. The troupe, however, demonstrated that “ all stones felt alike to them” by using heated boulders for the act, and when they appear in Wellington the stones are to be locally procured.—N.Z. Times.

A six-year-old child described how his brother was burned to death at the inquest at the Poplar Coroner’s Court, on Percy Lowe, four years’ old. ‘‘ My little brother ran about and made the flames jump higher,” he said. “Then he ran down the passage all alight, and tumbled down in the kitchen, Mr Brown came in and put out the light and then mother came home. ’ ’ “ If you ever catch fire mind you lie down and roll on the floor and squeeze the flames out,” said the coroner. “Yes, sir, I will,” the boy replied. A slight sensation was caused at Christchurch on Thursday, when a Wanganui College boy, Ratu Sakuna, a Fijian, and a well known footballer, walked barelooted into the pit of burning stones just vacated by the fire-walkers. Ratu has been wearing boots for the last five years, and his feet are as tender as any European’s. He said the stones felt intensely hot, but did not burn his feet. He could not explain the matter at all, and told an interviewer it seemed a matter of faith more than any thing else. All the same it was at very mysterious thing. A splendid stock of ladies and gents underwear bought at a sacrifice (travellers’ samples) will be almost given away at the Economic. Call and inspect.’" Entertaining an Enemy. Don’t entertain a chronic running sore or wounds. Cure it with Dr Sheldon’s Magnetic Liniment. Price is fid and 3s. Obtainable at E. Healey’s, chemist, agerit. Eiteujio has cured thousands of .sufferers from rheumatism, gout, sciatica, lumbago, it: will cure you. Try it. All stores and chemists, 2s fid and Is fid. A positive curer 9