LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 23 November 1907, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

“The Tailor” publishes a wanted in this- issue.

Mr W. Fraser, M.HR., is of opinion that bookmakers are a worse evil than the double totalisator.

In the Presbyterian Church tomorrow, services, it will be noted, will be held in the morning bv Mr Huntly and in the evening the Rev. G. K. Aitken will take for his subject the “Church’s work in the world.” A vocal duet, “ Consider the IffHes ” will be rendered at the evening service.

Mr E. J. Martin notifies, per advertisement, that he is prepared to bore artesian wells with the latest appliances. Hydraulic rams, tanks and pumps fixed and repaired. Pump wells bored into the gravel and guaranteed to give satisfaction. Mr Martin has devoted thirty-five years to this particular class of work and an}' one requiring his services can rest assured that the work will be skilfully carried out. Once more we draw attention of the public in general to the fact that Messrs Watson and Neville, of Feilding, are commencing business here for a few weeks only, opening to-night. Those in need of a good cj'de will be rewarded in paying them a visit. Their cycles are really first-class, and are guaranteed for two years (in writing) the price is £lO 10s, whereas they are 18s elsewhere. They will sell any English cycle made to order for £lO 10s. Call and inspect to-night in Council Chambers. —Advt.

The Warwick Bioscope Companjr appeared before a very fair audience at the Public Hall on Thursday evening. The company threw on to the screen some of the best pictures yet seen at Foxton, possibly the best and most realistic being “ animal life,” “Barcelona Park,” and “ Saluting the Flag.” There were numerous interesting and edifying pictures pourtraying scenes in all parts of the world. Several illustrated songs were sung, also a mandoline duet, and a turn of humorous songs. The Company appeared again last evening, when they gave an almost entire change of programme. The pictures displayed by this company compare more than favourably with those that have previously been seen here.

Eketahuna ratepayers by 100 votes to 61, have sanctioned a loan of for the installation of ekclric lighting in the borough. An advertiser, female, is prepared to undertake washing and cleaning by the day. Address at this office.

Archbishop of Bruchesi, of Montreal, at the Pope’* instance, has directed that no dispensations shall be granted enabling Catholics to marry Protestants.

Fruit farms in full bearing are now selling at up to per acre in the Nelson District, owing' to pulp factories having been established there.

Mr Setou, the Canadian naturalist and explorer, reports that the so-called baren lands extending to the Arctic circle are full of game, well watered, and fit for cultivation for a distance very far north. On Wednesday afternoon the Minister for Justice, in reply to Mr T. Mackenzie, stated in Parliament, that during the recess he will look into the subject of the production of plays that have a pernicious and degrading influence on the rising generation. The Union Company’s Taviuni will make a special trip to Rarotonga and Tahiti in December. A party of Home scientists will leave Auckland in the steamer, and on arrival at Tahiti the vessel will take them to Flint Island, where they will remain for seven days, in order to make astronomical observations.

While Blake, a farmer, was leaving chapel at Kilconerian, Galway, Ireland, after mass, under the'police escort, he was thrice shot at from a thicket and wounded in the hip and head. The outrage is attributed to the refusal to surrender to the Irish League a grass farm held under Lord Ardilaun. The pellet also wounded Blake’s mother, who was accompanying him.

Local bodies along the coast anticipate a serious loss of revenue when the Government acquires the Manawatu Railway line, as they will then be unable to collect rates from the property now held by the company. The Horowhenua Countv Council will lose -£623 per annum in this way. The Hutt County Council, and the Otaki Road Board will also suffer to an extent that is not ascertainable.

Mr Sam Saunders, vegetarian, of Mark Davington, Wiltshire, recently passed his 94th year. One of his admirers sent to an English paper a copy of his life history. The old man seems to have made a careful study of himself from all points of view. “ Phrenologically,” he tells the World,' “my brain is large, my moral sentiments and reflective faculties are fully developed, benevolence the largest sentiment; my perceptive faculties are moderately developed.” It is Mr Saunders’ pride that he has never touched tobacco nor pipe, nor taken a meal of meat since 1840. “I have never made a bet nor played a game for money, neither have I ever uttered an oath. ... I

have never had a headache, very rarely any other other ache. ’ ’ And so on.

In the Magistrate’s Court, Dunedin, the other day, a man was charged with deserting his wife. The facts, as stated by defendant’s solicitor, are that the plaintiff, who was a widow with five young children, applied through the newspaper columns for a husband. Defendant, a bachelor, thus got into communication with her, and after a courtship of four weeks they were married. Four weeks later they found that their temperaments were uncongenial, and patted. Defendant went to work in another part of the colony, and on a warrant issued by his wife was brought back to Dunedin to answer a charge of desertion.

The report of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into the Nightcaps colliery disaster, which occurred on June 21st, and resulted in three miners losing their lives, has been presented to Parliament. The Commission finds that there was considerable laxity in the management and general discipline of the mine. The mining inspector had a competent knowledge of his duties, but he was lax in enforcing compliance with the requirements of the Act, and the stoppings in the mine were not efficient stoppings for isolating the fire which led to the disaster. No order is made as to the costs of the enquiry. Benjamin Curtis, a Dunedin tobacconist, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to three charges of “tote” betting. The evidence for the prosecution was that a man named Geddes sent telegrams to Curtis from Wellington and Riccarton races in August backing certain horses, the arrangement being that he was to be paid at “ tote ” odds if he won. Geddes won 14s, and in settlement Curtis sent him a cheque signed bj r his son, and which was dishonoured. Geddes instituted civil proceedings for the recovery of the money, but was non-suited. The defence was that the bets were not made with Curtis himself, who was lying in a semi-conscious condition at the time. The Magistrate held the case proven, and said this system of gambling was the most pernicious in existence. It was quite clear defendant was a bookmaker in the habit of making bets, and on this occasion he was dishonourable enough not to pay the debts owing by him. He thought it was a mean, despicable act, and he did not intend to take a lenient view of it. He would fine defendant £2O on each of the three charges, with us 6d costs in each instance.

A small farm changed hands at Aorangi, Feildiug the other day, at jC4S per acre. A,leasehold in the same district, having a capital value of per acre, was sold at per acre to the same purchaser.

Evangelistic services will be conducted by the Rev. J. Flanagan, the noted slum evangelist from London, from Sunday, December Bth, to the nth. On the Wednesday evening Mr Flanagan will lecture on “Fourteen years in darkest London.’’ A sale of work in connection with the Methodist Church, will be held in the schoolroom on Wednesday next. There will be a very nice display of plain and fancy goods, and toys and lollies for the children. Refreshments will be served, and a short musical programme will be given, also competitions of various kinds will take place. Admission is. At the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday, Edward Murtagh, jockey, was charged with wounding his illegitimate child, two years old, and assaulting Frances Leigh, mother of the child. During evidence it was stated that a summons had been issued against Leigh, charging her with perjury in connection with the case. The evidence was not finished when the Court rose for the day.

Dr Potnare, of the Health Department, tells a characteristic story of Te Whiti’s desire for peace. Titokowaru, the great fighting chief, tried to persuade Te Whiti to join with him in an insurrection, remarking “ If the mosquito bites my leg, I slap it. ’ ’ Te Whiti replied, “If you fight with fire weapons, might not your ears be singed ?” As Titokowaru had one of his ears shot away in a previous campaign, the home truth was unanswerable.

Many people have regretted that the removal of the duty from cotton and linen piece goods or materials did not come now at the beginning of the season, instead of in January, when they will probably have bought all that they will require in these goods for some months to come. These ladies will be pleased to hear that Sterling House, Palmerston, is meeting the case by holding a tariff discount sale of these particular lines, for 14 days. A substantial discount is given for cash off all goods affected by the new tariff. It will pay everyone to take advantage of this special big discount off the splendid assortment of new, reliable cotton fabrics and fine linen goods. For particulars, see advertisement.*

A remarkable incident occurred in SurCsness, a suburb of Paris. Paul Reigner, a young artist, who was penniless was unable to secure employment, decided to drown himself. While he was standing on the bridge which crosses the Seine he saw a young girl who had been walking in front of him suddenly throw herself into the river. Reigner at once jumped after her, and, after a desperate struggle, succeeded in bringing her safe but unconscious to the bank. When she recovered, the girl, who gave her name as Elsie Fabre, declared that she was aii orphan, andafter fruitless attempts to find work she resolved to kill herself. The couple walked back to Paris together, and they promised each other not to attempt suicide again.

Many stories are told by the members of the bar of the neat wiles devised by the sport loving Judge to enable him to attend important race medtings. Once he was sitting at the Lincoln Assize Court on the morning of of the day on which the popular Lincoln Handicap was ot run. At the close of a case he turned to the jury and blandly addressed them as follows : “ Gentlemen of the jury, it has been brought to my notice that there is an event of some local importance to come off this afternoon. I should be very loth to stand for a moment between you gentlemen and your participation in your local celebration. Any expression of opinion, therefore, will receive my most serious consideration.” But the jurymen did not take the hint. They wished only to get back to their respective businesses as soon as possible ; so after a few minutes consideration the foreman rose and announced that they had no expression of opinion to offer. Off came the velvet glove. “I thank you for your communication, gentlemen,” said Hawkins, “the Court is adjourned until eleven o’clock to-morrow morning.”