LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 5 December 1907, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

The long spell of dry weather is having the effect of breaking up the roads throughout the district. A concert is being arranged by Mr Berthold’s pupils, assisted by a few friends, to take place on the 20th inst, in the Public Hall. A first-class musical event is promised. Full particulars will appear later. The reputation of the Economic dressmaking department is too well known to need comment. Mrs Hamer has made arrangements which will enable her to favourably supervise this department during the coming season.*

The Sandon tramshed had a narrow escape from being burned down yesterday morning. It was on fire on top when Mr Drew, county clerk, had his attention drawn to it. He got a hose to work, and soon put the fire out. Only for his promptitude, the whole shed would have been destroyed.—Star.

The Italian consul at Wellington is advised that His Royal Highness Prince Augusta Ruspoli has left Italy on a tour to New Zealand.

Watchorn & Stiles have just received a direct shipment of Panama bats bought at job prices. These will be offered while they last at from 12s 6d to 21s.*

A telegram from the Postmaster at Takaka says that the yacht Mapu, which was reported on Monday to be missing, with all her passengers aboard, has arrived at Collingwood, The safety of all concerned is thus assured.

The Marine Department has received no official report that the Government provision stores at Auckland islands had been plundered, as reported by one of the barque Dundonald’s survivors. The Department states that if the story is true, it suggests that seal poaching goes on more or less. It is reported at Hamilton, Auckland, that aflaxmiller has perfected an invention which will revolutionise the flax industry and reduce’ the number of hands in his mill from twenty to three. Particulars of machinery are not to hand, but it is claimed that from the time the leaf goes into the stripper until it is ready to go into the drying fields it is handled automatically. The invention has been patented, and from this week machinery will be at work.

The following figures of the number of homesteads taken up in Western Canada during July will give an idea of how settlement is progressing in that dominion. It is curious to note that residents of the United States head the list of immigrants. The numbers were: Americans, 1,032 ; English, 583 ; Scottish, 93 ; Irish, 28 ; AustroHungarians, 386; Russians, 121 ; French, 39; Germans, 66 ; and 58 Canadians who returned from the U.S.

One result of the coming into force of the provisions of the new Gaming Act was very noticeable on Friday, says the Wanganui Herald, when the crowd which formerly assembled at the corners in the vicinity of the Post Office was conspicuous only by its absence. Although an important race meeting such as Feilding was in progress, the small army of “bookies” and their harpies which was wont to infest the locality above mentioned had entirely disappeared having, like the Arabs, apparently “ silently folded up their tents and stolen away.”

We received a letter from Mr W. Ross, on Tuesday, who is at present on a periodical business visit to Sydney. Referring to the recent coal strike, Mr Ross states that the dislocation of the coal trade caused great consternation, and the price went up to per ton, but since the settlement of the trouble prices are falling to their normal level as supplies come in. He states that great dissatisfaction exists in Sydney in regard to the Arbitration Court and its administration. The tariff question has disorganised business, but the Government are pushing the proposal through. Mr Ross concludes by stating that good rains have fallen throughout nearly the whole State, and the prospects generally are very bright.

‘ ‘ This is the last meeting I shall address for many years,” said General Booth, speaking at a meeting held at Chicago recently. The general announced that his successor had been chosen, but did not name him. His associates in salvation work at Chicago state that they have had private intimations that the General intended his Chicago meeting to be his last public appearances. His remarks therefore are interpreted as announcing his definite retirement. Though nothing definite appears to be known at the headquarters of the army in England, there are good grounds for believing that some arrangement of the kind has been come to. The General will, it is believed, be succeeded by Mr Bramwell Booth, his eldest son. The old chief’s resignation will not, however, take place for some time to come.

The decorum of both morning and evening services in a Carterton church last Sunday was violated by the antics of some mice which have taken up their abode in the organ, says the local paper. During the morning address one of the diminutive rodents crept out and solemnly seated itself on the vacant stool of the organist, where it remained in an attitude of attention, until the hymn was announced. It disappeared at the approach of the rightful occupant, who, summoning up courage, gave the cushion a shake. During the evening’s devotions four mice crept hither and thither, to the great consternation of the feminine choristers who, to the unsuspecting congregation, appeared to have developed 1 an alarming restlessness.

Work on the Main Trunk Line continues to progress rapidly, and the gap between the railheads is now only some 20 miles, the principal amount of work now being concentrated on the three big viaducts, and the spiral near Raurimu. There is already quite an amount of through traffic, many people appearing to prefer even the incomplete overland route between Wellington and Auckland to the sea . journey. Most of these have used Waiouri as their ‘'stop over” station when travelling northwards but Taihape will, in future, receive the benefit of these, and already work is to be undertaken for greatly increasing the capacity of the Taihape Station yard to accommodate the increased amount of rolling stock which the change will necessitate room being found for.

Social gossips announce the engagements of several local couples. A cottage in Union St. is adver tised to let.

There is a flutter in the local cycle camp. Messrs Watson and Neville publish an advertisement reply to Mr G. S. Fowler elsewhere in this issue.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of a very handsome wall calendar from Mr R. O. Clark, of Auckland, the largest glazed pipe manufacturer in the southern hemisphere. The noxious weeds Inspector is giving final notice to a number of Borough residents to eradicate lupin, etc., otherwise legal proceedings are to follow. The scarcity of carpenters is causing much delay in completing buildings being erected by local contractors.

A number of enquiries for houses at the beach have been received from Feilding and Palmerston residents. A large percentage of houses at the beach are owned by Palmerstonians. Mr Baillie, Mr Chisholm’s successor as manager of the local branch of the Bank of New, Zealand, is now domiciled in the bank’s premises. A welcome social and presentation is to be made to the popular vicar of All Saints’ by his parishioners, at an early date, to commemorate his joining the ranks of the benedicts.

All the local stores are busy unpacking and displaying goods suitable for the Christmas trade, so that heads of families have no excuse to send their Christmas orders to outside houses.

Mr M. Perreau is erecting tea rooms at the beach, which will be open to the public in about a fortnight’s time. We feel certain that Mr Perreau’s enterprise will be much appreciated by the numbers that visit our favourite seaside resort.

Mr Byron Brown, a candidate for Otaki at the last Parliamentary election, has practically bought the whole of the business premises in Manakau, besides a few town sections. The place, commonly known as “ Bevan town,” will probably soon possess the name of “ Brown town.”

Young men, do not fail to hear the Rev. J. Flanagan on Sunday afternoon tell the story of “ How I won Jack the London burglar for Jesus Christ.” Jack Gie was found in a London “ doss ” house, and the story of how he was reclaimed, is full of thrilling interest.

Not the least interesting of the scenes on the Feilding racecourse on Saturday afternoon was a group of eight men, comprising Mr W. L. Bailey, of Taonui—and his seven sons, says the Star. The whole eight men were over 6ft. in height, and the seven young Baileys are products of New Zealand. There are giants in these days as well as in the olden times.

The services in the Methodist Church on Sunday next will be conducted by the Rev. J. Flanagan, the noted English evangelist. The service in the morning at ix o’clock will be held in the Methodist Church. In the afternoon at 3 o’clock Mr Flaiiagan will give an address to men onlv on “ How I won Jack the burglar for Jesus Christ.” In the evening at seven o’clock, a great mass meeting and united service will be held in the Public Hall. Mr Flanagan will deliver an address at this service. Sankey’s hymns will be used. A petition has been circulated and signed by almost every shopkeeper and tradesman in the town, asking Messrs Levin and Co. to place local importers on the same footing as those in other districts in regard to freights. At present goods consigned per steamer from Wellington to places other than Foxton are charged at 7s 6d per ton while Foxton pays xos. Local people cannot understand why they are penalised. A man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court at Thames the other day, before two Justices of the Peace, with having used obscene language. His counsel stated that while the loading of a boat was going on someone smacked accused over the face with a string of sausages. This angered accused, who made use of some language, but exactly what he said he didn’t know. He was sorry for what he had done, and asked that a fine be inflicted, and that he might not be sent to gaol. A fine of £5, with costs, was imposed.

Rory MacSnory was the village blacksmith, and one of the most powerful singers in the choir of the kirk at Auchleucheries. To show off his voice to full advantage he would vary his style from bass'to alto, and from alto to treble in the same hymn. The minister had long observed that Rory’s methods were upsetting the general melody of the congregation’s singing. At length he resolved to bring the culprit to book. ‘ ‘ Hymn 24,” he announced, “ a’ thegither ! And, Mr MacSnory, if ye’re tae sing tenor, sing tenor, and if ye’re tae sing bass, sing bass ; but we’ll hae nae mair o’ year shandygaff?” The Standard’s Tangier correspondent reports that the British Government has agresd to pay Raisuli ,£20,000 to secure the release of Kaid Sir Harry Maclean and his imprisoned friends. The Government agreed to afford Raisuli and the immediate members of his family protection and to condone their past misdeeds. Five thousand pounds will be paid immediately Sir Harry Maclean is released, and the balance invested for three years, the income to be paid to Raisuli. ’ s ‘ O-i r .. ‘i? V M

The Magisterial inquiry into the loss of the barque Dundonald opened at the Bluff yesterday. The Wellington Garrison Band has, principally owing to its financial position, decided not to compete at the New Plymouth contest in February next. It has recently incurred heavy liabilities in purchasing a new set of instruments. The new Auckland Post-office will be erected on the railway station site. It will be an imposing building with 212 ft. frontage to Queen-street and 150 ft. depth. The estimated cost is ,£85,000. Provision will be made for a new railway station immediately behind the post-office. One result of the passing of the Tariff Act will probably be additions to the number of works and factories in the Dominion. Writing on the subject, says the Dominion, a Victorian manufacturer hints that works (representing a gain of £150,000 per annum) will ere long be established either in Auckland or in Wellington.

Captain Dorrien-Smith, one of the sub - Antarctic expedition, accompanies Dr Cockayne in the Queen of the South this afternoon from Wellington to Kapiti Island, where the birds caught at the Antipodes Islands are to be liberated.

The lonic arrived at Wellington yesterday from London with' 687 passengers, the largest number brought to New Zealand. Of that number six hundred are immigrants consisting of labourers and tradesmen. There are also twentyeight domestic servants, who have come out under the auspices of the Girls’ Friendly Society and Women’s Immigration Society. It is understood that a leading Wellington solicitor has given it as his opinion that in the event of Court proceedings, it would in all probability be held that the more drastic provisions of the Gaming Act are practically The matters in question have, it is further stated, been referred to the Crown Law officers.

At the Napier wool sales, on Tuesday, the top price, rajd, was realised for a fine sample of Corriedale wool. Fine crossbreds sold up to medium crossbred lip to 8-fd, and coarse up to gd. Best halfbred brought to nd. These was a drop from twopence to threepence all round.

The Professorial Board of Otago University has nominated Mr Alexander Moncrieff Finlayson, M.Sc., with first-class honours in physical science (electricity and magnetism), also in natural science (geology), as candidate for the Rhodes Scholarship of 1908. A Leeston ploughman, giving evidence in the farm labourers’ dispute, stated that he had worked as ploughman for 10s a week, and did as much work as the man on the other side of the fence, who got 30s. “Was the man who paid 30s a week ruined ? ” Mr Thorn inquired. “No,” but the man I worked for went bung,” said the witness, amid roars of laughter.

We have received the first issue of the Taihape Daily Times, a journal which has absorbed the two rival papers, the Post and News, which slang-banged each other in journalistic cnnflict for so long. The amalgamated paper is controlled by a company, and is published under the title of the “ Taihape Daily Times and Waimarino Advocate, with which is incorporated the Taihape Post and Waimarino News.” In politics it will support the present administration. We wish the paper a long and useful career.

An accident which has had a fatal ending occurred at Palmerston to a girl named Lucy Goldfinch, aged 12 years, on Monday evening last. Deceased and a companion named Alice Stubbs accepted the offer of a ride on a horse. By some means the horse became frightened and bolted, and the two girls fell off. Alice Stubbs escaped with a sprained wrist, but Lucy Goldfinch struck her head on the road and fractured her skull. She was picked up in an unconscious condition, and removed to her home. She was practically unconscious the whole of the night, but rallied on the following morning and remained conscious nearly all the day following. On Tuesday night, however, she again became unconscious and died eaxly yesterday morning.