LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 383, 9 May 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A very severe storm broke over this district yesterday. A movement is on foot in Hastings to instal an electric lighting scheme at a cost of ,£12,292. The works will be controlled by the municipality. The death is announced at Waipukurau of an old Hawkes’s Bay resident, named John Merrylees, who saw active service in connection with the pursuit of Te Kooti. Messrs J. A. Nash and Co have disposed of their Palmerston business to Mr J. H. Gilchrist. We understand Mr L. W. Wilson, the well-known manager of the local branch, has purchased the Foxton business. A Wairarapa housewife forwarded a pressman a piece of bread with a trouser-button embedded therein, and asked if that were the coupon system ? The newspaper man replied that had it been a “ thrum,” he would have said it was the cash system ! The evening service in the Methodist Church to-morrow will be conducted by the Rev. P. JMairs, his subject being ‘‘The danger of playing with tempation.” Miss A. Symons will render a violin solo, ‘‘The Rost Chord,” with organ accompaniment. On Tuesday night Mr Gerald Bell, carrying on business in Karangahape road, Auckland, had a sensational encounter with a man in his bedroom. Pie was awakened by the Hashing of a bull's-ej’e lantern, and immediately grappled with the burglar.. In a pocket-book on the dressingtable was ,£27 in notes, and some gold in a coat pocket, and the quantity of silver in a vest. The man had taken ,£37 in the pocketbook, and after an exciting struggle escaped through the window.

The Grand Lodge of Freemasons, after a lengthy debate, carried resolutions repealing clause 48 of the book of constitution and substituting a clause providing that every application for a warrant to hold a new lodge shall be by petition to the Grandmaster, and signed b}' at least seven master masons, regularly registered under tne constitution. A motion to alter the system of voting in Grand Lodge was negatived. The following questions have been agreed upon to be discussed at a conference ot School Committees and others interested, to be held on May 25: —(1) The desirableness of introducing single desks ; (2) medical examination of schools and overcrowding ; (3) election of members of Boards of Education; (4) provision 01 free school books by the Education Department; (5) staffing of schools and teachers’ salaries. Other matters of general interest that may arise will also be discussed.

A Maori waited on a local lady resident recently, and askedwhether she wanted to buy some potatoes. “How much?’’ said the good housewife. “Seven and six te pag,’’ replied the Maori. “What are they?’’ queried the mistress of the household, with an eye to business, knowing that the market value of tubers was in the vicinity of 17s 6d per bag. “ Up-to-lates and Early Rose,” came the quick rejoinder. “Alright, you see my husband,” and off he went and laid the matter before the other half. “ Where are the potatoes ?” asked the husband. “ Cross the river; but you give me half-crown now, I want to buy two bottle painkiller!” The spuds, like the half-crown, never turned up. The death of Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman is not without certain melancholy interest of almost personal character to lesidents of this Slate (writes the Perth correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald), from the fact that his brother, the late Mr John Campbell, of Tnllechewan, Scotland, is buried in tlie old cemetery at Fremantle. Mr John Campbell was engaged in business in Calcutta, being a partner of Sir Lyon Playfair, and was stricken with dysentery. Four years ago he was ordered ao remove to Hobart as the only chance of saving his life, lie travelled by the mail steamer Australian, birt had to leave the vessel at Fremantle, and died a few hours after being put ashore. At the Anti-gambling open-air meeting held at noon at the Queen’s Statue, Wellington, on Tuesday, things were lively for quite a while. One man got up and offered to give to any charitable institution if the Rev. Mr North could prove certain statements he had made in a letter to the City Council. Then a lumper mounted the lorry to defend Mr North. “They all knew Mr North,” said he, “ but this man is a nobody- ’ ’ Hereupon the man so slightingly referred to, pulled out his card-case and offered the lumper his card. With a melodramatic wave of the arm the lumper cried : “ Keep your card. That proves nothing. The biggest scoundrels nowadays carry their card-case.” The laughter that followed this was so loud and prolonged that Mr North decided, to desist from his efforts to address the crowd, and with a “ See you to-morrow,” he descended from the lorry and retired.

At a meeting of the Wairarapa Bakers’ Association on Thursday, it was decided not to adopt the cash and coupon system, except at Masterton, where the new method will be enforced from the nth. A Masterton resident has still in his possession a lair sized piece of wedding cake, made in Masterton just 19 years ago, by Mr J. Wickens. On Wednesday, the anniversary of bis wedding, he cut a slice of the cake, and found it almost as fresh and tasty as when it was made. —Age. Professor Kernot reports that the brakes of the Bendigo train were feeble and most unsatisfactory. Driver Milburn’s report has been published. He states he applied the brakes, but they failed. He then reversed the engine, but the trian rushed past the home signal and crashed into the Ballarat train. The Rev. G. K. Aitken, Presbyterian minister, leaves Foxton on Monday next for a fortnight’s holiday, which will be spent in the Poverty Bay district. Mr Aitken will also officiate at his son’s wedding, which takes place at Gisborne, on the 14th inst. Mrs Aitken will accompany her husband. During Mr Aitken’s absence, the local pulpit will be filled by Messrs L,owe and Billens, of Palmerston North. Mr Bartlett, the well - known Auckland photographer, after four years’ study and experiment, hasbrought coloured photography into the practical realm of his art, lie announces that he is now prepared to take colour portraits that faithfully produce every natural shade peculiar to the eyes, hair, complexion, dress, etc., of his sitters. To those interested, he will be pleased to demonstrate by colour portraits already taken, the fidelity of colour as applied to the process he has made “commercial” in photography.

A delegate who visited Broken Hill, gave the Presbyterian Assembly at Sydney, this week, lurid pictures of the irreligious condition of Broken Hill. There, forces were organised against Christianity as in no other city in the Commonwealth. They had aggressive and almost triumphant Socialism that made scorn of sacred things, Children were gathered into schools on Monday and taught to beware of the Church and Ministers, while meetings of labour unions were held on Sunday. At a Victorian church on Kaster Sunday evening the preacher based his sermon on the text, “ Who is this that cometh from Bozrah ?” During his address he made seveial references to “dyed garments,” and this caused a number of ladies in the congregation to accept the text as a tip for the Sydney Cup. Accordingly they telegraphed to Sydney next morning hacking Dyed Garments at three to one. In the afternoon they received word that Dyed Garments had w6n.

Aii interesting illustration of the unabated power of old-time superstition upon the mind of the present-day Maori is afforded in the death of a young Maori at Whakahi. He was a strapping, stalwart young fellow, on a visit to Gisborne, having just finished a bush-felling contract. He unwittingly trespassed on a wahi tapu, or sacred ground, which means death to the trespasser. In a fortnight, influenced by his own fatalism, and the unconscious hypnotism of his friends, he sure enough gave up the ghost, and a tangihanga is now going on over him. That dainty little piece of femininity, the handkerchief, is the subject of an advertisement by the Te Aro House Drapery Company, Limited, Wellington. You can generally judge a woman by her handkerchief —it may be the stern and sensible Irish linen, or it may be the cobweb-spun with a delicate tracery of flowers. There is an unending supply at the Te Aro House stores, and to suit all tastes, whether modest or lavish. You should read this announcement and then write to them. There is not the slightest doubt but that you will be delighted with the beauty and quality of your purchase.

Mr Ziman ot Auckland, the Dominion’s Rhodes scholar for 1908, was entertained by his co-religion-ists in Wellington on Wednesday night. The Rev. Van Staveren (tabbi), Messrs M. Myers. F. E. Baume, M.P., and Hislop(Mayor), were among those who congratulated Mr. Ziman, Mr. Baume stating that the selection of a Jew was a source of gratification. No distinction of religion was made by the late Cecil Rhodes, but, from one portion of the Empire to the to the other, search was made for good men, whether Jews, Protestants, or Catholics. Mr. Ziman, replying, hoped that he would not disappoint the expectations which had been formed for his career.

This week’s Gazette contains an announcement of the cancellation of ten'iudustrial unions. The list includes the following Unions of employers ; —Napier General Carriers, Timber and Coal Merchants, Dunedin Furnitureraakers, Hawke’s Bay Master Painters, Wairarapa and Manawatu Sawmillers. The six workers’ Unions whose registration is cancelled are as follow : Lyttelton Seamen, Wellington Aerated Water Workers and other Bottlers, Wanganui Meat Works, Manawatu Rope and Twine Mills Employees (Foxton), the Danuevirke branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, Wellington Industrial Workers. Tvyo other Unions of Workers, the South Canterbury Tallow and Manure Hands and General -Labourers’ Union and the North Canterbury Manure, Tallow, Oleo, and Freezing Works Labourers’ Union, have applied tor cancellation.

Mr G. Coley is laying '‘the gas pipes in position in the various streets. The ratepayers of Taihape have sanctioned a loan of for municipal buildings and a library. The Presbyterian Sale of Work was brought to a close on Thursday evening, when the balance of goods were disposed of by Mr Page, auctioneer. Several competitions were got off. - A meeting of sympathisers with the No-license movement was held in the Good Templars Hall last night, presided over by Mr Ritchie, organiser for the Manawatu electorate. It was decided to form a local league, and to hold periodical meetings. After several matters of minor importance had been discussed, it was decided to adjourn the meeting to a future date. Winter “ mud ” stories are already commencing up north. The Mangaweka Settler has the following: - Staled that up \V aiouru way recently a settler was picking his way across a swampy piece of road when he saw the bowl of a pi; e slicking out of the mud. He seired it, lut it would not come out. On releasing his hold to get a fiesh grip of the pipe, he was stnitkd to hear a voice from the slimy depths say, “Don’t take that, it’s the only thing I’ve got to breathe through!’’ A big sli nv of Eiderdown quilts and blankets in 1 lic windows of the Bon .Maivlie, Palmerston. This stock and value is unsurpassed. Ross and Co. invite inspection.— Advt

Ask to see onr new snmples of linoleums and floorcloths—a lovely range direct from the manufacturers, at Watchorn, Stiles and Co.’s.— Advt. Onr new season’s dress goods have now arrived, and samples of same will he posted on application to Watchorn, Stiles ntul Co.—Anvx.

Never buy your prints, flannelettes, damask', sliced..gs, and calicos, outside Foxton, as Watchorn, Stiles and Co. import these goods direct, and their values are household words.— Advt. Ternhje explosion down at Gardner’s. Cartridges going ofl’all over the shop. No wonder. Look at the prices: Cluhs, 10s 3d per 100; Univcrs.al, 10s 3d per 100; Bonax, 13s per 100; and Rugby, 13s per hundred. Do not forget the address: Centre of Commerce Buildings Main Street.— •Advt. For Bronchial Coughs take Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, is 6d and 2s 6d. Mr. W. Robinson, Grocer, Mornington, N.Z., not only sells Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy but uses it. He says : —“ I have been troubled several times with influenza, and the only cough medicine that has ever done me any good was Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy. Innumerable times I have recommended it to ray customers and they were more than pleased with the result. I have customers that always keep a bottle of Chamberlain’s CoughRemedy in their hons», and won’t use anything else for (heir children.” For sale by W. J. Gardner, grocer.— Advt. WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS has stimu la t ing properties possessed by no other spirit.