LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 7 December 1907, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

A branch of the Political Reform league has been formed in Pahiatua.

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

Mr J. W. Rough, architect, has stated his willingness to submit a pencil sketch together with an approxinate cost ot a Town Hall if a public meeting is held to discuss the question at an early date. Residents who rely on tanks for their water supply have been carefully husbanding the precious liquid lately, owing to the recent dry weather. This morning’s downpour should, however, replenish the tanks.

Christmas and New Year holidays will be observed as follows in the Government Offices throughout the dominion : —December 25, 26, 27, and 28, 1907 ; and January 1 and 2, 1907. The Manawatu County Council invite tenders to close on Wednesday, nth inst., for constructing about 26 chains of drain at the Kaikopu Take, Himatangi. We have been requested by “ one who enjoyed the performance” to ask the promoters of the pleasing operetta, ‘‘Flower Queen,” not to forget to reproduce it on New Year’s night. We have pleasure in passing on the reminder.

The Patea Harbour Board, with a view to the further improvement of the harbour, has decided to extend the eastern wall some 200 ft. at a cost of something like .£4OOO- - Board’s revenue last year ex. ceeded the expenditure by This should be interesting to the executive of the local Chamber of Commerce.

A recent Socialistic leader, well dressed and staying at the best hotel in Christchurch, was observed delicately eating olives. In a debate in the House some one asked “What is a Socialist ?’’ Another member gravely replied: “From any personal observation I should say a Socialist is a man who wears a white waistcoat and eats olives ! ’ ’ At a meeting of the Executive of the Wellington No - license Teague, the following resolution was carried: “ This meeting desires to call attention to the fact that several hotels in the city are held by ‘ dummies ’ on behalf of a brewing firm, and calls upon the licensing Committee to prevent, if possible, a system that amounts to a practical defiance of the licensing laws. ’ ’

The reputation ot 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.*

Do not forget the men’s meeting in the Public Hall to-morrow afternoon at 3 o’clock. Mr Flanagan will give an address on “ How I won Jack the Burglar.” This is a story about Jack Gee, a London burglar, who was found in a London “doss-house,” and the story of his reclamation is most interesting.* A special and ordinary meeting of the Foxton Borough Council will be held at the library buildings on Monday next, at 7.30 p.m., to consider and settle the balance-sheet; to make special order authorising payment of interest on Borough Council Chambers out of general fund. At the ordinary meeting tenders for annual services will be received, and general. “I have to report,” said the Secretary of the Wellington Benevolent Trustees, ‘ ; that a certain recipient of charitable aid, who has been on our books for the last five years, is about to be married and has written, to the Board thanking members for their assistance in the past,” “Well, well,” observed the chairman, “I hope she has wisely considered her step.” “I think we ought to congratulate her,” said Mr Robertson, and a ripple of smiles ran round the table.

Sand-drift at Eastbourne has now entirely ceased owing to the scheme adopted by the Eastbourne Borough Council, says the Times. Marram grass was planted on the affected area, and the deep holes in the sand through which the wind went on its damaging mission have been filled up with ti-tree. fences, against which the sand has drifted. On top of these drifts the marram grass has been planted, and the whole is now solid. The public are at present not allowed to walk upon the planted area in order that the grass may get a thorough hold.

With reference to the cricket match, Foxton v. Debaters, played at the Park last Wednesday, a correspondent writes: —’“It is a pity that by too many players, punctuality is regarded merely as a past-time. For this reason play could not be commenced till forty minutes after the appointed time; even then, ‘ substitutes ’ had to be searched for. One of the players strolled on to the ground about two hours late, another two hours and 35 minutes, another , but the subject is too painful! For the present I refrain from mentioning names or clubs, but cricketers, beware !”

Poised on wide pinions over the ocean, the albatross has always been a graceful white mystery. Few knew where it hatched its young, and even now certain sailors believe each albatross to be the reincarnation of a mariner drowned at sea. Dr Marshall told a Dunedin Times reporter that Campbell Island was full of albatrosses nesting. He spoke of them as being most lovable birds ashore. They were seen mingling in the friendliest way with the sheep, and they would let a man come close up to them before they would make an attempt to get out of the way. They were easily captured, and when turned over on their backs could not regain their footing till some one inverted them again.

In his “ Scenes from my Fife,” the Rev. James Flanagan says : ‘ l l was lecturing one evening at a place in the county of Durham, I had for audience about a thousand miners, and they enjoyed themselves greatly. At the close of the lecture the great crowd passed out into the dark street. On leaving the hall for my lodgings, I came up to a collier who stood with his back to the wall. He was groaning, and at first I thought he was unwell. Stopping, I ventured to ask if he was ill. “ 111! Ill!” he exclaimed, and at the same time pressing his cheeks and his chin together, “ ill! I’m ill enow. A hinny, I’m trying to put mi face straight. For, Ha man ! I’ve been to hear Flanagan lecture, an’ I've laughed so much mi face has gan’ wrang an’ I’m afeered I’ll niver get it reight agin,” Everything seems to point to the fact that 1908 will be the year of the small motor-car. In several quarters one hears of important firms which have made a specialty of high-powered cars turning their attention to a smaller class of. vehicle. The demand for powerful machines must be strictly limited, for, apart from the first cost, the expense of running them is a very heavy item, at least to the average motorist, and it is said that some of the manufacturers are finding difficulty in disposing highpowered cars which they have been building. Then, too, the car for the man of moderate means can now be accepted as a thoroughly reliable vehicle, while its usual simplicity and the fact that one can dispense with a chauffeur are additional points in its favour. Hitherto, prospective motorists have been somewhat scared off the small car by the failure of the tricar. The latter form of vehicle, it would seem, ought to be ideal for the man who aspires to something rather more pretentious than the motorcycle. But time and reliability trials have proved that the tricar’s fight for popularity is hopeless, and I (says “ Mercury ” in “ London Sportsman”) have it on the authority of manufacturers that trade in that class of vehicle is practically dead.

A confectionery business and dining rooms are advertised for sale, cheap. Tne ordinary meeting of the Wanganui Education Board will beheld on Wednesday next, nth inst. The Borough Band will play a programme of selections in Main St. at 8 o’clock this evening, weather permitting. Particulars of the river excursion on the evening of Wednesday 18th inst, are advertised elsewhere in this issue. Watchorn, Stiles and Co. for black dress goods. A first-class dressmaker on the premises, satisfaction guaranteed.* Mrs Harris, of Levin, will sing a solo at the Rev. J. Flanagan’s Mission service in the Public Hall tomorrow evening. The services in connection with the Presbyterian Church will be conducted in the morning by the Rev. G. K. Aitken, and in the evening a united service will be held in the Public Hall, the Rev. J. Flanagan officiating. Several prominent citizens, with whom our representative has been in conversation, stated that the erection of a Town Hall for Foxton was an urgent necessity, and ■ promised to give the project their hearty support. It is our intention 1 to obtain the opinion of individual Councillors on the subject, and publish their views. An Edievale settler (writes the Dunedin Star’s Lawrence correspondent) has just netted about in a deal in land. About eight years ago he acquired a tract of 3000 acres of agricultural and pastoral land at £1 an acre, and later on bought an adjoining farm of not less than 700 acres at £6 10s per acre. The other day he got £5 los an acre for the block, and as the buyer does not take possession till February, the settler expects to make £ 1600 out of his wool clip. This must certainly be regarded as good business. A representative of a Christchurch paper set out to ascertain whether street betting was being carried on in Christchurch now, and if so to what extent, succeeded in making one bet with a bookmaker direct, and two others with agents of bookmakers. Two of the bets were made on the street, and the other in an hotel, and the investigator felt convinced that he could have made many more bets had he continued his quest further. Some of the bookmakers approached said that they were waiting for licenses and did not want to bet.

As Christmas approaches, sentimental feelings steal over almost every person, and one’s thoughts wander to distant parts of the dominion or the Home Dand, ■where parents, sweethearts, sisters and brothers, and friends, reside. You desire them to know they are not forgotten, and so send them a little present or token. Personal greetings on specially printed cards conveying you own message, are very fashionable. The Herald printery has laid itself out to fill the bill. We can supply you with printed cards conveying your own message, at the following prices for cash only: i doz., from 4s 6d;' 25, 7s 6d ; 50, 13s 6d ; 100, £ l. Call and inspect samples, and order early to save disappointment.* Unlike other immigrants John Chinaman almost invariably has V an occupation waiting for him to -A step into says the Post. The ' coffers of the Dominion were enriched on Wednesday to the extent of by the advent of three of these gentry. John rarely puts up his own money, but credit as a rule is cabled by his future employer to Hongkong or other port of embarkation. He, therefore, lands in New Zealand with a big debt to wipe off by contract labour. Nothing daunted he sets to work and is said to earn a wage of about 25s per week and is also provided with board and lodging. This rate would not be despised by many of our white immigrants. At least two members of the Wanganui Education Board can lay claim to prowess on the athletic track, in the days that have passed. Would any one pick Chairman Pirani as a mile runner ? yet such was the case. His enthu- / siasm, even now, drives him long -—-J distances in quick time. “Fred” \ always had a hankering for big ' junks, and what’s more, he was capable of masticating them. Board member Alf Fraser, although unknown to the present generation of peds, was in his time, one of the best heel and toe exponents in the dominion. His records only show two defeats in long distance walking, and he is proud of his old colours, blue and gold. He also attempted to cover 100 miles in 24 hours on the boards in the Old Arcade, Wellington. He was well ahead of time when a swelling in the leg caused him to reluctantly retire, after accomplishing seventy odd miles. In view of these facts, it is safe tq say that the physical education of the kiddies attending A Board schools will not be neglected by the members referred to.

A letter from “A Resident ” will appear in our next issue. Mr Meadows advertises pedigree greyhound pups for sale. Mr J. T. Levett has opened up a large stock of Christmas goods for old and young. Cards and post cards in endless variety, The latest game, Diabolo, also to hand. Replace advertisement next issue. The folly of failing to employ counsel by parties charged with assault has been amplified in Foxton recently. A person charged with assault some time since was mulcted in a sum of £“] 9s. A person charged with a similar offence, but ably defended, got off with a£2 fine and 8s costs. Both cases were heard before the same justices.

An extraordinary hoard of a raiser has been discovered at Ahogill, near Ballymena (Ireland). An old woman was knocked down and killed instantly on the roadside by a dray. When the police inspected the wretched dwelling in which the old creature lived, they found it almost packed to the door with branches of trees and wood for winter fuel. Further search revealed a regular hoard of money. Two large buckets and a tin trunk were full to overflowing with all x kinds of current coin, as well as a \ bigger woodden box and about a %■ dozen mugs, and when all the I money was collected and put into a beam and scales the total weight was considerably in excess of a hundred-weight. According to an announcement made at the Congress of Surgeons at Paris, the unpleasant facial disfigurement known as “ port wine stains ” can be cured. Dr. Wickham, visiting physician at St. Lazare Prison, and Dr. Degrais, of the St. Louis Hospital medica staff, say that in a number of cases they had removed the stains with the aid of radium. They submitted a number of photographs showing the various stages of the cures effected. In the last stage the ugly puipie discolouration had completely disappeared, and- the surface of the skin was smooth and white and the tissues themselves supple. The Apia correspondent of the I Auckland Star says: The volcano L on Savii continues to throw out enormous quantities of lava. It is highly probably a large area under the sea is being thurst upwards. A trader wholately passed over this section of the sea bottom was astonished to note that during night time lightnings were apparently playing about on the ocean bottom some 40 fathoms or so beneath his boat. Some of the sea water which came into the boat was so hot as to nearly scald his crew. Apparently the line of volcanic activity runs from west to east, and it is not at all unlikely that a new and perhaps very terrible eruption will break out under the sea at the point indicated.