LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 389, 14 March 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

•A howling gale is raging at present throughout this district. Mr Jas. Allardice, a well-known Dannevirke settler, and hotel proprietor, is dead.

The Gas Engineering Company of Wellington have entered into a contract with the Foxtou Gas Proprietary to erect complete plant and lay mains in connection with the local gas installation. Operations will commence within a few weeks. It is expected to ha/e the town lit by the end of June, By advertisement Mr Thomas Rimmer notifies that during his absence from Foxtou contracts will bi fulfilled and undertaken by Messrs W. Rimmerand P- Sheratt. All woik will receive the same careful supervision as heretofore, and estimates will be submitted.

Mr L,. Seifert’s flax mill, at Rangitane, narrowly escaped deduction by fire on Thursday afternoon. It appears that a fife stalled (cause unknown) in the tow hole, which quickly spread to the lop of the scutcher. A kero-sene-tin brigade fought strenuously for three-quarters of an hour, before the fine was got under. The damage done was very slight. So far there has been no appreciable decrease in the quantity of hemp passing through the graders’ hands at Auckland, 240 tons having come forward since the beginning of the month. Questioned as to the extent of the damage done by fire to the flaxgrowing area«, Mr Johnston, the Auckland grader, said the reports had been much exaggerated, judging from what millers had informed him.

In conversation with a' local flaxmiller, yesterday, we were informed that it takes at least S)4 to nine tons of green leaf to produce a ton of fibre. He Jurther stated that the average age of the leaf milled from the Moutoa estate was three years, which would tally with the figures above quoted. If the millers were fortunate enough to be cutting four-year-old leaf, by careful dressing, the above figures could be reduced to eight and aquarter tons.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council the following resolution was passed, on themotiomofCrs McKenzie and Masters, in reference to rivers conference ; —“That provided a resolution is passed by the Conference at its meeting on March the 19th, that all lands within the district shall be classified in accordance with the Land Drainage Act 1904, this Council has no objection to Royal Commission being set up to enquire into the whole question of the protection and conservation of the land contiguous to the rivers. It is complained that Lionel Terry is a “ costly luxury ” to the Dominion. A Southern exchange says he is located in a comfortably furnished room with a fireplace, and has three warders appointed to look after him, two In the day time, and one at night. A doctor from Sunnyside Asylum is to visit him at regular intervals. “This pampered lunatic —if he is a luna-tic-must be costing the Dominion .something like a year,” says a Wellington contemporary. “There is about worth of warder in attendance, rent, fuel, and firing will cost another £SO, and the medical attendance and other etceteras half a hundred more.”

The dress department of the Bon Marche, Palmerston North, is now showing an unique assortment of latest fabrics for gowns for all occasions. Orders for autumn and winter dresses should be placed early.—Advt, • '

Anli-Asiatic meeting in the Public Hall to-morrow night.

At the Miranni flaxmill this week a number of employees were dispensed with. It is anticipated that about 80 will be put off at this mill shortly.

At the Palmerston S.M. Court yesterday, Duke Ward was fined jCs, and costs, for using obscene language within the hearing of a. number of boys.

A drag to convey passengers to the Catholic Bazaar at Shannon, is advertised to leave Whyte’s Hotel, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Return fare 2s. The wharf labourers’ strike at Sydney is extending to other Australian ports, and shipping is being held up, and great inconvenience caused,

A special meeting of the local School Committee will be held on Monday evening next at 8.10 o’clock, to confer with Mr Grant, technical director to the Education Board.

At the ordinary meeting of the School Committee on Thursday evening last, certain matters were discussed in camera, and a spirit of brotherly love did not predominate. We are not in a position to say what transpired.

At the recent meeting of the Flaxraillers Association it was estimated that a royalty of 7s 6d represents 5 per cent on a land value of ,£2O per acre. One of the owners, Mr Akers, of Dinton, has a percentage scale, he receiving 20 per cent of the market price of the fibre for the raw material.

Captain Preece, one of tbe deputation which waited on the Manawatu County Council at its last meeting, referred to the unformed and unmetalled portion of the road at Himalangi, from the main road to the railway crossing as the 4 ‘missing link.” The Council hopes to have this portion of the road formed and metalled before the winter sets in, which fact will gladden the hearts of settlers and travellers.

The following resolution was passed at the recent meeting of the N.Z. Flaxmillers Association held at Palmerston :—“ Notwithstanding the tact that the cost of production of hemp is altogether out of proportion to the ruling prices, that the overtures of the Union re the alteration of labour conditions have proved fruieless, and that the continuation of work will probably entail heavy loss in the majority of cases, nevertheless this Association is of opinion that the concerted actions is inadvisable, and that each individual miller should decide on his own initiative as to the advisability of continuing operations under present conditions.”

A public meeting was held at Shannon on Thursday night for the purpose of urging upon the Government the necessity for erecting a more up-to-date Post Office. It was argued that the population of Shannon was nearly double that of Bulls which had been given a ,£2OOO building and that Shannon’s postal and money order business was far in excess of Bulls'. A better site was asked for, also an evening counter delivery between the hours of 8.30 and 9 p.ra, also that a letter carrier be appointed. A deputation was seFup to wait upon the Minister in conjunction with Messrs Stevens and Field M’s.P. It was also decided to ask for more adequate police quarters and the erection of a Court House. It was also decided to seek Government assistance with the object of erecting a public reading room towards which had already been raised. Mr Field, who was present,stated that he and Mr Stevens would do all they could to have Shannon’s wants attended to.

At the Holy Trinity Church at Nathalia, Victoria, on Sunday evening a few weeks back, the Rev. George Gladstone painted a vivid word picture of “The triumph rejoicing of the ungodly,” which he said would occur when he was compelled to resign the iucurabency of his parish. The reverend gentleman said he was glad that in the past, although he had often preached to empty seats, all the sinners, dancers, drink traffickers, etc., had been “ scorched ” out of the church. Word would fly around that there was no “fanatic” in the church of England to condemn sin now, and the Sabbath-breaker, drunkard, dancer, publican, and drinks-seller would all flock back to the church. Bazaars, meadow fetes, concerts, etc., would be held ; money would be raised, and “ the ungodly would rejoice in their triumph.”

Messrs Watchorn Stiles & Co. announce in another column the arrival of their first shipment of new season’s millinery, of which a display is being made to-night. A shipment of jackets is also being shown. As the choice is now a good one it would be advisable to call and make a purchase early;— A DVT.

Have you tried Wolfe’s Schnapps for kiduey ailments.

WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS is absolutely invaluable to the traveller. WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS.—A tonic that has stood the test of years.