LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3742, 15 January 1907, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Supper rooms are now open at Ranfurly House. Suppers can be supplied at all hours.

Services will be held both morning and evening in the local Presbyterian Church next Sunday. A considerable time had to elapse before the Council could get a quorum together to transact business last night. Copious rains have fallen throughout this district at intervals since Sunday, and household tanks have been replenished. We commend Cr Fraakland for his action in asking the Council to apply to the Government for a grant of L lo ° in order to beautify by planting of trees the favourite local seaside resort.

Mrs Cameron, a pauper living in the hamlet of Balnaut, Rossshire, Scotland, has come into a fortune of ,£20,000 through the death of her brother, who emigrated to New Zealand about sixty years ago. Her first act was to pay the parish authorities all they had expended upon her during the last 20 years. A single woman named Mary Ann Hill, employed at the Albert Hotel, Hastings, has been arrested and remanded in connection with the discovery of the body of an infant in the Hastings racecourse lake. The unfortunate girl is ih very indifferent health, and has been sent to the Napier Hospital for treatment.

Captain Sundberg, piaster of the schooner Jessie Niccol, died very suddenly at Dunedin on Saturday morning. Though he had been ailing he went about his duties as usual, and transacted business on Friday afternoon. At one o’clock on Saturday morning his illness took a serious turn, and he died before medical assistance could be summoned.

“ The last member advocates giving a vote to every person over 21 years of age,” said Mr W. Foster, secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute at the conference. “Well, I am old-fashioned enough to think that people should not be allowed to vote on questions which they do not understand, or in Which they are not particularly interested.”

Mr J. G Cox, ofjFeatherstou, in conversation with an Englishman while on his tour, was ‘ ‘knqcked over” by the latter’s casual remark, ‘‘New Zealand? Oh yes! That’s the place of hasty legislation. By the way is it true they are going to abolish marriage over there ?” Mr Cox gazed mildly at the man, and with an effort remarked calmly that he did not think so. During his 49 years’ residence in New Zealand he had hot heard any mention of that particular kind of legislation. (The Englishman was evidently labouring under an illusion as to our late Premier’s schegi? of “keeping the cradles full.”) \

The growth ot vegetation since the recent rains has been remarkable.

The drought throughout the colony has broken up.

“ Disgusted’s ” letter will appear next issue.

Mr Bert. Shadholt. who has been suffering from the effects of a poisoned foot is making a satisfactory recovery.

Mr P. T. Robinson will act as secretary of the Manawatu Flaxmills Employees Union during Mr Simpson's absence.

Messrs P. H. Rae-Howard and Co., the well-known local land and commission agents, have opened a branch office in .Dannevirke. We wish this enterprising firm success. Cr Gray, at last night’s Council meeting expressed the hope that if any tree planting was to be done at the beach that it be carried out nearer the sea line. A wise suggestion. A poll of the ratepayers in the Johnsonville town district will be taken on the 20th instant bn the proposal of the board to borrow £SOOO for sanitation and drainage purposes. VVell done, Johusonville 1

We understand a well-known coal gas company who have works in different parts of the colony, are prepared to erect works in Foxton. All they ask the Council to do is to grant them permission to break up the streets in order to lay pipes.

The members of the Conciliation Board visited Tokomaru flaxpaiha yesterday and will inspect the local mills to-day. The Board consists of Messrs O’Kegan (chairman), Ennis, employers representative, and Collins and Cooper (employees representatives).

A Councillor asked whether Mr Brewer had made a start to construct his street. The Mayor said he had interviewed Mr Brewer and that a start had been made. The Council expressed.. determination to have this work completed. As the train was leaving Himatangi for Palmerston this morning, Mrs Yankq, had just got aboard and the tmin was moving off, when a man drove up and informed her that he had seen her husband fall-down apparently in a fit. This greatly upset thfe old lady and she got off the train and went back.

W. P. Collins was charged by the police at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with being drunk and disorderly, and was fined xos and ys costs. He was also fined 5s and ys costs for procuring liquor whilst a prohibition order was out against him, and also received a severe reprimand from the Magistrate.

A programme of sacred music was discoursed by the Poxtoa Brass Band in the Church reserve at Moutoa on Sunday last Mr Waldeu invited the members of the Band to an excellent dinner and at the conclusion of the programme, to abundant refreshments. Mr Walden’s kindnesses were heartily appreciated by those whose pleasure it was to partake of his hospitality.

The Conciliation Board will sit at Palmerston to-morrow at 10.30 a.m., to hear the dispute between the flaxmill employees and employers. Messrs Simpson, Cumerford and H. Castle are representing the Employees Union and Mr Prior is leading on behalf of the employers. A meeting of the latter to arrange details was field in Foxtoa last night. A local busy business man was called as a witness at the S.M. Court yesterday morning and after waisting much valuable time finally made his way to the witness box, minus his cons and with his sleeves rolled up. The Magistrate protested against such violation of court: dignity ar 1 the witness to put on I - n-. . clothing. If lookc went .* <>«. •’.n the busy business mai • courts, plaintiffs and de. >■- ' *• place' where the srnsll e i kJi ilUO’-Uli,-prevails. Mr John Stevens, has started right away in reference to the request for a new Post Office at Foxton. He got into communication with the Minister yesterday. The public may rest assured that once the member's hand is at the plough he will not look back. We hope that the old eyesore will in the near future give place to a modern structure in brick—then the Courthouse. In the meantime the Chamber of Commerce can paddle, the Harbour Board canoe.

Plaintiff in a case at the Court yesterday indignantly hurled the following at counsel for the defence : “ Who are you calling a rouseabout ? ” Counsel: “ I object to your impertinence; don’t look at me in such a manner, look at the Magistrate,” Plaintiff: “ Oh, it’s alright, the Magistrate can hear me.” Counsel: “ When did you leave ? ” Plaintiff: “I didn’t leave; I got kicked out.” Counsel: “How many times did you get drunk ? ” Plaintiff: *• Mind your own business.” Counsel: “How many drinks have you had today?” Plaintiff: “How many long beers have you had to-day ? ” The Magistrate remonstrated with plaintiff, who •* beg pardoned ” to the Bench. The plaintiff conducted and won his case-

It is about time country newspaper proprietors united to protect their interests and those of the regular advertisers against encroachments. For instance, large firms in the cities find that better results qan be obtained by circulating insets through country journals than by inserting standing advertisements. It costs these firms less and the results are good. But this dodge is unfair to the regular advertiser. Some Spineless journals will accept anything thrown to them from advertising agents. If the country papers were to unite and fix and adhere to a scale of advertising rates and refuse to accept insets from outside business firms, other than advertisers, unless at a stiff rate, they would thus protect their advertising clientele and block the sharks.

At the local S.M. Court yesterday, F. Easton sought to;Vecover 34s from Messrs Nathan and Co., refund of cable message to London. Plaintiff was represented by Mr Reade and defendant company by Mr Cooper. Plaintiff contracted to supply defendant with certain quantities of hemp and there was a shortage of ten tons. Defendants asked plaintiff to buy the shortage locally. This was not done. Plaintiff said Nathan suggested cabling to London and buying in the shortage there, but they to pay for the cable. Defendants denied this. Evidence was put in from defendants which plaintiff denied. The Magistrate said defendants were entitled to the fulfilment of their Contract and ample time had been given to make up the deficiency. The plaintiff was to blame and could not expect to get out of paying for the cable. Judgment,for defendants with costs 105.