LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 14 December 1907, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

A consignment of twenty-four desks has arrived at the local school.

The train arrangements for Christmas and New Year appear elsewhere in this issue.

A match is being arranged be-, tween the Foxton and Rougotea Cricket Clubs, to be played at Rongotea on Wednesday next. Mr Thompson, of the firm of Clark and Thompson, sign writers, is at present in Foxton, and publishes a notice elsewhere in this issue.

The contractor (Mr Rimmer) is making a rapid progress with the erection of Mr M. Perreau’s fine two storeyed building in Main St-

Messrs P. Hennessy and Co. have a window display of very choice crockery, which will repay inspection. A replace advertisement also appears in this issue. A special meeting of the local Borough Council will be held on Monday next, at 7.30 p.m., to consider proposed by-laws for the licensing and regulation oflodging houses and billiard saloons. The services in the Methodist church to-morrow will be conducted by the Rev. J. Southern. The evening subject will be “ Christ’s Ideal of our Eife.” The choir will render an anthem. Great interest is being taken in the river social, to the Heads and back, next Wednesday evening. The boat will leave the wharf after the arrival of the train from Palmerston. A musical programme and refreshments will be provided. President Roosevelt is reported to have told the following incident at a dinner of the Gridiron Club. Two women, he said, were discussing some new neighbours, who had moved into one of the most sumptuous houses in their city. “ They seem to be very rich,” said the first. “Oh, they are,” said the second. “Shall you call ? ” “ Decidedly. ” “You are sure, are you, that they are quite correct —quite good form ?” “Oh, my dear, I am quite sure—they have 30 servants, 18 horses, 12 dogs, 11 automobiles, and one child !”

Mr T. Nye, of Sunnyside, advertises for sale green walnuts ready for pickling.

The police at Toronto are protecting several business men from “Black Hand” Society attempts to blackmail them by threats of murder.

Mr S. Hickson, who recently took over the Foxton Family Hotel from Mr Eaiug, has disposed of his interest to Mr Boid, of IfOngburn. The new licensee has entered into possession. On Wednesday afternoon next, at 2.30 p.m., Messrs Rae-Howard and Co. will sell by auction without reserve Messrs Sutherland and Rough’s stock of bicycles, etc. 1 his should be a chance to obtain some bargains.

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.* A Fijian named Chas Abel who had been taking part at a recent tangi at the Moawhango pah went to sleep on a table and fell off dead. At an inquest held a verdict of death caused from hemorrhage of the brain through diseased arteries was returned.

According to recent advices from America, Harry Thaw was said to be actively engaged in preparing for his second trial, which opens next month. A telegram from Pittsburgh said that Thaw had conveyed the whole of his property there to his brothers and sisters as security for a loan of 130,000 dollars wherewith to meet the expense of his defence.

The body of a fourteen-year-old boy named Oswald Barlow was found in the ocean near Manly, Sydney, with a hatpin driven into his heart. The lad had been missing for some days. It is stated he had been depressed through the departure ot his brother to New Zealand a few weeks ago, but the manner of death would indicate foul play rather than suicide. A quantity of linotype metal and nails was found in the pockets. The Rev. John Clifford, the wellknown Nonconformist leader, in a letter to the Times on undenominational training colleges, says that after observing the New Zealand education system on the spot in 1897, he was forced to the conclusion that in the quality of the teaching and its fitness for making good and useful citizens the New Zealand system deserved to rank higher than the English. Although the New Zealand system was perfectly neutral towards all churches and theologies, yet so far as Dr Clifford could judge, the morals of the people were as a whole, in advance of those of the English.

A recent visitor to the North Egmont mountain cottage (says the Taranaki Herald), who may have been imbued with an exaggerated idea of his importance, carved his name on one of the walls, thinking, perhaps, that in time to come it would be read by unborn thousands who would raise their hats in reverence as they passed the spot where once he had carved. His mischief was reported to the committee, and a prosecution might have followed had not the person referred to apologised and paid a sum asked for to repair the damage. Europeans are apt to look upon many Maori customs as peculiar, but they are frequentty very poetic in their significance. As an instance, the Taranaki Herald quotes the mourning wreath of green. This was originally composed of the foliage of two shrubs, one of which is very bitter and the other a species retaining its greenness for a considerable time after being cut from the tree. The former is supposed to signify the bitterness of parting, and the other that the memory of the departed is ever green. The oldest man in New Zealand is said to be a Taranaki native named Tiki Topomuas, who is related to the late prophet Te Whiti, He claims to have seen Captain Cook when the navigator was last in NewZealand —namely, in 1774. This would make him over 133 years—an incredible age. The chivalrous character of the Maori is strikingly illustrated by this man. He was granted an interest in the lands confiscated after the wars in Taranaki, but he positively declined it. He exclaimed that having fought the paheka and lost, it was dishonourable for the Maoris who had taken back what they had fairly lost.

A cablegram recently stated that many people were preparing to leave Thursday Island because they feared it would be swallowed up by an earthquake. Professor David remarked to a Sydney interviewer that there was no justification for this fear. It is quite true that some small islands in the Pacific disappear, and that others develop as the result of the seismic disturbance ; but before Thursday Island would be subjected to such a serious transformation, a long series of sustained and violent shocks would take place. Although the island is within the earthquake zone, the experiences recently were not sufficiently serious to anticipate anything worse. It may be some consolation to the Thursday Islanders to know that portions of the earth’s crust on the mainland are constantly undergoing change. A big movement is taking place at Kosciusko, whether upward or downward is not certain ; but Professor David thinks that some of the surrounding country is suffering a subsidence, whilst the mountain is gradually raising its head higher among the clouds. v

Watchorn, Stiles and .Co. for f ‘ black dress goods. A first-class dressmaker on the premises, satisfaction guaranteed.* This is the law of a good' between two —the one ought " once to forget that it was conferred ■ ■ and the other never to forget that : it was received. ■

The welcome social to the Rev, , and Mrs Young-Woodward been postponed to the week after. - next on account of the rev. ’ man’s unavoidable absence in Wellington for several days next week. 1

The public can send Christmas and New Year greetings by telegram to friends within the dominion, for six pence. The message-; is received on a pictorial card. All post offices have been supplied with large quantities of telegraph greeting cards. The Kaiser has left England on his return to Germany. Before sailing he declared that he had greatly enjoyed his visit to England , and expressed a hope that he would be able to repeat it. His Majesty returns home in much improved health. R. Tressider, who is to row W. Webb, of Wanganui, for the sculling championship of the wptod, will leave Sydney for New Zealand by the first steamer leaving -After ’ Christmas. He is bringing |wo trainers—Fred Food, who will act as pacemaker, and another to rub him down.

The School Committee inspected the local school grounds yesterday afternoon, and decided to ask the Board to erect three chains of 6ft iron fence along Duncan Street, in order to secure shelter for the proposed garden plots. It was also decided to remove the macrocarpa trees, which are becoming a nuisance.

During the past month the at- ; tendance at the local school has & fluctuated from 206 to 212, out of a roll number of 282. Sickness has accounted for a large number of absentees. It is hoped that parents will not allow trivial matters to stand in the way of their children’s education during the coming year. , At the meeting of the School Committee last Frankland, in discussing the Inspectors’ report of the recent examination, stated that on the whole the report could be considered “fairly good.” But, he said, seeing that the children had been put back, they should have passed their standards with "flying colours.” He did not think “ fairly good ” was good enough. At the ordinary meeting of the Wanganui Presbtery held atTurakina on Thursday, intimation was received that Rev. Jas. Duncan, , of Foxton, was in a very feeble state of health, and a minute ex- | pressing the sympathy of „lhe Presbytery with him and his daughter was passed. Mr Duncan is now in his 94th year, and has been in New Zealand since 1844. A father and mother, with six children, spent their holiday at the seaside. Immediately on arrival they set about looking for cheap lodgings. At length they came to a notice ‘ ‘ furnished room to let,” and made inquiries. "Oh, yes,” said the landlady, in answer to the father’s question, “ it’s here ' the room is to let, but there’s only one bed in it.” " Oh, v all right,” replied the father, " we’re used to roughing it. The Wife and bairns, ’ll sleep on the floor.” The Eondon Morning Post expresses'heartfelt sympathy at the destruction of New Zealand’s Parliamentary Building, but is confident that a nobler edifice will arise from its ashes. Much sympathy |is expressed in the English papers for New Zealand in the destruction of the Parliamentary Buildings. The Sydney Daily Telegraph says the disaster will evoke warm sympathy. An unusual accident is reported from Maitland, Sydney. While a team of 12 bullocks was passing over what appeared to be hard ground, the soil suddenly collapsed, sinking to a depth of four feet and landing the cattle in a mass of smouldering fire beneath. Eight - of the bullocks were burned to death, and three of the others were severely injured. In rescmng these, the driver his feet baily scorched. *

Interviewed by a press represen* tative in Western Australia, Mr Keir Hardie, speaking of. his travels in India, minimised reports of recent agitation. Asked about-the-statement that he likened European members of the Indian civil service to Bashibazouks, Mr Keir Hardie smiled, and “You know my opinion when I say that the civil service of the Empire, and that includes India,, is the cement that binds the Em- ' pire together.”

The recent visit of the Dondon slum missioner, the Rev. James Flanagan, to Foxton, has apparently created a topic of conversation in certain circles, jk correspondent informs us that or| female “entertained a circle ti--friends recently with a'dramatic ' impersonation of Flanagan, holding the man aloft on the stick of ■ridicule!” “How amusing!” says our correspondent, “ How edifying! One or two were awfully hurt because he placed a Methodist parson on a higher pedestal for good works in the East End slums than the Archbishop of of Canterbury. Well, sir, all I can say is, that the Rev. Mr Flanigan gave credit to .all slumworkers. I think ’tis a pity, sir, that we have not an ‘afternoon tea missioner ’ to christianise any poor, unfortunate, gering, gossiping souls,. i many of whom are as, far Am the Eight as our unfortunate pothers and sisters in the Londomiiu^'^-.gisi^ ,:v.y' •• - 1 --

• A mar ied man, able to drive two horses for delivery van, is advertised for. Fifty-six civil cases ate set down for hearing at the next sitting of the local S.M. Co art. Mr Reay notifies his intenton to apply for a slaughtering license at > the next meeting of the Mauawatu County Council. From the church notices it will f be observed that the Rev. G. K, Aitken preaches in the Presbyterian Church both morning and evening. The subjects respectively will be: “Seeing Jesus',” and . “ The Church’s First Missionaries. ” A two-year old son of Mr Albert Dudson met with a painful accident on Thursday last. The little fellow was playing on a fence, when a piece of wire penetrated the eye. The child has been taken to Wellington, where a specialist will be consulted. The girl Carroll, who met with the painful accident at Messrs Ross and Son’s works, on Wednesday last, by which she lost her arm, has been removed to the Palmerston Hospital for treatment, . and we are pleased to be able to I,. (state is progressing favourably. urfm Mr Pirani, Chairman of the Wa|nganui Education Board, threw off ; this piece of caustic humour. In introducing the Hon, Dr. Findlay, at the prize-giving ceremony at Wanganui, he pointed out that although he was “ Minister of Internal Affairs,” that had nothing to do with the fact that he held the degree of “ Doctor. ’ ’

Flaxmillers have understood that the Accommodation Bill which affected flaxmillers, absolutely prohibited the use of tents. The Premier states that a misapprehension must have arisen, as the Bill would not operate in that direction at all. Under the Infants Fife Protection Act, which comes into force on the Ist January, 1908, every occupier of a house in a borough or city, in which a child is born, shall give notice in writing of the ♦fact and the name of thft parents, . ]to the Registrar, within 72 hours '/after the birth ; 21 days is allowed to persons living in the outdistricts. For failure, the occupier of the house is liable to a fane of This notification does not do . away with the necessity for registration, but is merely an aid to the protection of infant life, and there- ■ fore to be effected with expedition. The picnic in connection with the breaking up of the Moutoa School took place yesterday and passed off splendidly. Though the weather was somewhat windy, the sheltered spot was chosen. Practically every household in the district was represented. The details '' were well arranged by the teacher, Mr Barroucloujh, and the chairman, Mr A. Saunders. Mr M. Newth also worked with a will. About 100 persons were present, and between ,£B, and £g worth of toys, prizes, fruit, and lollies, were disposed of among the children. At the close of the picnic—one of the best ever held in Moutoa — three hearty cheers were given to Mr F. Gardner, manager for Dr Wall, for the use of the grounds. Cheers were also given for the ladies. y T % As Christmas approaches, sentiJmental feelings steal over almost every person, and one’s thoughts wander to distant parts of the dominion or the Home Land, 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 Heraed 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; 1 doz,, from 4s 6d; 25. 7s 6d; 50, 13s 6d ; Call and inspect samples, and order early to save disappointment.* The New Zealand Flaxmillers

Association have decided to make an exhibit of flax at the Franco--4 .British Exhibition, the GovernAaient to defray the cost of carriage i/,fo London, provide free space and # disposal of the exhibits. It was considered that two bales of each quality, from “superior” to “fair” grades, which could be shown as coming from the association would make a good display. Another suggestion was that the association should supply half a dozen hanks with each grade of fibre for purposes of inspection. The s uggestions have been adopted, and a sub-committee, consisting of the president and Messrs Liggins, Brown, and Cohen, has been set up to arrange for material. This Will be forwarded as soon as possible to the department.