LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 438, 8 October 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual meeting of the Debater Cricket Club is to be held in Perreau’s Rooms to-morrow night at 8 o’clock. We direct attention to Messrs Collinson and Son, ironmongers of Palmerston, replace advt. They are offering choice lines in brushes and brooms.

The annual meeting of the Rowing Club, advertised to be held on Monday next, is, on account of other meetings and attractions, postponed until Wednesday, 14th inst.

Elsewhere in this issue the committee of the Rowing Club insert an advertisement thanking ladies and others for the self-sacrificing efforts made by them in making the recent bazaar a success.

He watched his wife “doing up ” her hair, and his face grew stern. “ Why do you put the hair of another woman on your head ?” he asked severely. “Why do you,” she replied, sweetly, looking at his feet, “put the skin of another calf on your feet ?” Speaking at the opening of the gas works yesterday, Mr J. J. K. Powell, of Wellington, said it was only right that he should be connected with the installation of gas in Foxlon, because coal gas was first manufactured in his native town, Redruth, in the West of England. It is said that there are 2,784,270 hens in New Zealand, of which 1,670,560 lay eggs ; and that there are also 282,000 ducks, of which 170,000 are layers. The laying hens and ducks produce about 80 eggs per annum on an average so that the total egg output consists of about 133,644,800 hen eggs and 13,600,000 duck eggs. The turbine steamer Ben-:x • Chree, claimed to be the swiftest passenger boat in the world, did her speed tria’s between the Clyde and the Irish coast on July 15th. She maintained an average speed of 25.33 1-3 knots for a distance of x6o nautical miles. For nearly two hours a speed of 26.83 knots was kept up. The Ben-my-Chree was built ‘by Vickers, Son, and Maxim for the trade between Eiverpool and the Isle of Man. It has been pointed out that if she were employed in the EytteltonWellington service she would do the trip between the two points in about six hours.

The Native Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives reporting on numerous petitions presented to Parliament praying that the supply of liquor to Maoris should be prohibited, or in the alternative that the right be given to Maoris in the Maori electoral districts or Maori Council districts, to vote on the question of whether liquor shall be supplied to Maoris, states that as a question of policy is involved, the committee has no recommendation to make.

Mr Perreau advertises for a youth, good billet.

We would remind those of our readers who are in favour of establishing the new “ Card Club ” advertised in our last and present issue of the meeting to-night at 7,30, at the Family Hotel.

Mr Edward Newman, Opposition candidate, addressed the electors in the Himatangi school last evening. There was an overflow attendance and the candidate received a splendid hearing. The report is unavoidably crowded out of this issue.

With regard to the commercial law classes, which Mr W. E- Barnard offered to conduct in connectionwith the local Technical School and which the Education Board deputed Mr Fraser to arrange, we now learn that Mr Barnard has written to the Board, withdrawing his offer.

Mr Byron Brown, who is contesting the Otaki seat against Mr Field, at the forthcoming election, will address the electors at Shannon on Thursday, October 15 th at 8 p.tn. Mr Brown is a racy speaker and an experienced cambaigner, and electors should not lose an opportunity of hearing his views.

All desirous of attending the re" lief-carving classes at the loca* technical school, are requested to send in their names to Mr Adams on or before Saturday. Mr Andrews will conduct the class cu Tuesday afternoons between 1.30 and 3.30 o’clock. Unless five hand in their names the class will have to be abandoned.

Marriages in. France last year numbered 314,903, a figure not attained since 1872-3, when many of the marriages delayed by the Franco-Prussian war took place. This sudden growth in number is explained by a law passed early last year relaxing the stringency of the legal formalities required before a marriage certificate could be issued and consequently lessening the cost. The following were the total takings at the recent Rowing Club Bazaar : —Mrs Gower, The White Stall, 18s rod ; Mrs Phillips, The Stall, 2s 3d ; Mrs Rough (flowers), £lO 14s ; Mrs Stewart (refreshments), £g 3s qd; Mrs Hooker (produce), £5 7s ; Mrs E. Healey (sweets), £3 18s id; Mrs Wright (bran tubs), £$ 4s 2d; shooting gallery, £1 lis ; telegraph, 6s id ; Miss Collins, 11s 6d; door, 13s 3d. Total, It is always a pleasure to note the progress made by Foxton boys in any walk of life, and in this connection we learn with pleasure the progress being made at the Wanganui Collegiate School by Master Roy Herrington Robinson. Fast year he succeeded in winning a scholarship at the Palmerston High School, and decided to continue his studies at Wanganui, where he is making excellent headway. Roy is a son of Mr and Mrs J. H. Robinson, and an exlocal State School pupil.

The Manawatu Kennel Club have secured the following judges : Mr G. R. Hutchinson, ot Auckland, for all the terrier classes ; Mr A. T. Moore, for the bull and sporting dog classes; and the collie judge, Mr G. Harrison, of Pousonby, Auckland, who is an English specialist in this breed. The show is to be held at the Mauawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association’s Agricultural Show, on November 4th, sth, and 6th next. Prize money of ,£1 (first), 7s 6d (second), and 5s (third), is allotted to each class, besides several special prizes from the the New Zealand Irish and Fox Terriers’ Clubs, respectively, and a gold medal for the best collie at the show. Promises of support have been received from all parts of the Dominion, and a big entry is expected. Entries close on the 16th inst.

What was described on the programme as a “ grand vocal and instrumental concert ” was given at the Opera House, Wellington, the other evening (says the Post). By whom, and for what purpose, did not transpire until late in the entertainment, when the chairman declared the concert was the forerunner of others for the purpose ot raising funds for the Eabour candidates now standing for Parliament. The promise of the description of the concert was not fulfilled. The performance was mediocre, and the audience, after giving a patient hearing to the items at the start, became restive and'* rather demonstrative, augmenting the funds by throwing coins on the stage. After the chairman had sung “ Nil Desperandum,” the entertainment came to an untimely end. A large audience had dwindled away rapidly during the performance, and the latter part of the programme was omitted.

The Keegan-Nightengale Dramatic Co. appeared in the Public Hall on Tuesday and last evenings and were greeted by bumper houses on both occasions. Both pieces were excellently staged and the various artists did full justice to their parts. The announcement that the company would pay a return visit in December was greeted with a hearty outburst of applause.

Some weeks ago the Post stated its belief that the Hon. W. Hall-Jones would succeed the Hon. W. P, Reeves as High Commissioner for New Zealand, and though of late the political atmosphere has been thick with rumours of other names, more or less distinguished, in connection with the office, the Post has no reason to change the opinion recently expressed.

In the current number of the Done Hand magazine, Mr Louis Esson contributes an interesting article on Japanese Imperialism. He points out with truth that the new factor in world politics is the aggressive foreign policy of Japan. At the present time her navy is almost three times as strong and efficient as when it defeated Russia ; and systematically and continually enormous vessels are being added. Her army, which numbers already two million men, has been improved out ot recognition. In order to maintain these forces, Japan, which is a poor country, groans under taxation, and is threatened with financial ruin. These measures are not taken for defence. Russia is crippled for some years, and no Power is a meuance to the Island Empire. Japan has ulterior motives. Her policy can be summed up in one word—Expansion.