LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 443, 8 December 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Education Board meet on Thursday next. Mr Walton, rabbit and noxious weed inspector, returned from headquarters’ on Saturday last.

Railway holiday excursions are advertised elsewhere In this issue. With this issue is circulated an inset from Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame, drapers, of Palmerston N.

The following are the vital statistics for Foxton for November :—Births, 6 ; marriages, I ; deaths 3.

“The Otago Daily Times hopes that the present Parliament will take the whole question of Maori representation seriously into consideration, with a view to the removal of such a distinct auacronism.’’

Messrs C. M. Ross and Co., of the Bon Marche, Palmerston, are now showing a magnificent range of new summer dress fabrics, in their centre window, which is attracting much favourable comment among the ladies of Palmerston. — Advt.

The official recount of the Local Option Poll in the Waitemata Electorate was concluded recently, with the following result: — Continuance, 2471 ; Reduction, 2967 ; No-License, 3369. The valid votes were 5941. These figures show that continuance has been carried by 3% votes over reduction.

There are twenty-five women sitting in the Finland Parliament, re presenting every party in the country. Nine of them are married ■; the others are single or widows. There are six school teachers, one doctor’s wife, one clergyman’s wife, two editors of women’s papers, one factory inspector, two dressmakers, two peasants’ wives, one workman’s wife, four organisers of political parties, and one doctor of philosophy, We remind our readers of the Christmas fair, concert and coffee supper, which takes place tomorrow evening, in the Masonic Hall. Final arrangements have been made to receive Santa Claus about 8.30. A large and varied assortment of toys will adorn the Christmas Tree, and the ladies have been busy for the last few days, dressing dolls, which will appear in the latest fashion. The concert programme will be brief, but promises to be good. Among contributors are Messrs Earrowdough (of Moutoa) and H. Signal.

The wife of Mr Robert Taylor, of the Watakarapa pah, gave birth to twins yesterday.

Welcome rain commenced to throughout this district yesterday morning.

Messrs Cooper and Son are making good progress with the erection of the new Post Office.

A youth named Podmore fell on a pitchfdtk last week, and one of the prongs penetrated the upper alrta. He is progressing satisfactorily. Mr J. D. Archbold, vice-presi-dent of the Standard Oil Trust, testified, in the Court at Missouri, that the trust owns or controls companies with a capital of Great prices were realised at the sale of Lord Amherst’s library. A copy of the first volume of the Mazarin Bible fetched It is believed that Mr Pierpont Morgan, the American millionaire, bought the famous sixteen Amherst Caxtons.

The “Wallabies” defeated the Anglo-Welsh team, that toured the Dominion and Australia last winter, by 3 goals and 3 tries to nil. The Anglo-Welsh team had a strong lot of forwards but several of the best outsiders were absent, owing to the County championship. The twenty Chinese stowaways discovered on the steamer Eastern, which arrived at Sydney from Hongkong and Japanese ports, on Saturday, had formed a cavity beneath three hundred tons of cat go consigned to Melbourne. All their faces were covered with revolting sores.

Sir E. Grey, in opening the International Naval Conference in London, stated that its object was to assure the success of the Prize Court Convention drafted at The Hague, which, if firmly established, would remove many difficulties and hitherto potential causes of international differences. The agreement would also do something to draw the nations closer. Details of the report of Lord Rosebery’s committee of enquiry into the suggested reform of the House of Eords include a proposal that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa should be represented in the deliberation of the House of Lords by nominees of the respective Governments, and suggests that the views of the latter should be ascertained regarding the manner of securing some such arrangement.

An interesting race is about to commence from Melbourne, where four of the Craig line ships, viz., the barques Louisa Craig, Joseph Craig, and Jessie Craig, and the barqueutine Selwyn Craig, are now taking in ballast, afterwards proceeding to Newcastle to load coal for Auckland. At Newcastle the fleet will be increased by the barque Marjorie Craig, and an exciting race across the Tasman Sea should eventuate. In the last run across to Melbourne, from the Kaipara, all the vessels made excellent passages, several taking under eleven days.

Mr Wesley Woolhouse wishes to notify the residents of this district that he is compelled to close the local branch, owing to pressure of business in Palmerston requiring the full staff’s attention, at the end of this week. Anyone desirous of obtaining a musical instrument of first-rate make, at the lowest possible price, is advised to call not later than Saturday next. Piano and organ tuning is under Mr Wesley Woolhouse’s supervision and all orders left at the shop next Mr Patterson’s, chemist, will be promptly attended to, and thoroughly guaranteed. Avail yourself of this unique opportunity before it is too late.*

An ingenious New York lady clerk, Miss Sophie Heilbrun, has devised a kind of mechanical junior clerk to open 400 or 500 letters a minute. The inventor, though only 20, has a salary of £I2OO a year, and has charge of one of the most important mail departments in the city, and about 10,000 letters pass through the department each day. Boxes containing the letters are passed under a roller, which grinds just the barest edge off the tops, and leaves them ready for their contents to be picked out. The regular two-days’ service between Wellington and Auckland will, during the holidays, be supplemented by a night express from Wellington, leaving Wellington at 7.30 p.m., and arriving at Ohakune at 6 a.m M thus connecting there with the train to Auckland, which stopped over from the previous night. This will give holidaymakers from the South an opportunity of spending the day in Wellington, and also enable local passengers a chance to get to Auckland in the one day by merely undergoing the trouble of an allnight journey. The officers of the Malaita, which reached Sydney recently frotn the New Hebrides Group, reports that recently a new island sprang up ! in the night off the coast of Satoto. The natives were venturesome enough tp pay a visit to the new land, and subsequently commenced to cultivate it. Several hundreds ;of cocoanut trees were planted, and just as the natives were congratulating themselves on the acquisition of new territory without cost, the island disappeared as quickly as it pame. It is presumed that the. land was thrown up by W submarine volcanic eruption, n»d that ijts disappearan.ee was due to the same cause. ?he island remained for about a month, apd there is now an extensive spbmergedyeef at the spot.

Wolfes Schnapps— A tonic that has stood the test of years.

We are glad to learn that the Advances to Settlers Department is once more in funds, and that those whose applications for advances have been approved are now getting the money.

There are 46,000 acres of Crown lands now in the market for close settlement, mostly in the Auck| land, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington districts. The whole of the recent Maori land purchases in Auckland, Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay are being surveyed, and will be avai'able for selection as soon as possible. They comprise nearly 300,000 acres.

Never before have we shown such a splendid assortment of useful goods suitable for ’Xmas gifts. It will pay you to come and look around our useful departments before deciding what you going to buy, in fact, it will save you a lot,of worry, and help you to choose some present that will be appreciated. Prices are exceptionally lew, goods being marked at special discount prices. —C. Smith, Ltd., near Post Office, Palmerston N.*

One of the biggest attractions in Palmerston North during December will be the price of draper J in every department at Collins J and Cunuinghame’s big Chris i*l fair. Having taken ovBrown’s business next door, «

intend clearing all his toy£ fancy goods at any price, as E lines are entirely outside | i business. It will pay you i come in and call on Collinson r Cuaninghame, 1 & 3, Br Street, The Square, Palmerstc

Brigands kidnapped Mr Hern- ’ Neufeld, a wealthy German r J deit of Holbstadt, in the Can I sn c , and conveyed him to the -f lage Petrovsk. He refused ■-i give demanded as a and the brigands then demant a double that sum. Mounted poll j equipped with a couple of machij guns, bombarded the gang, a’j killed the ringleaders. Mr Nt> feld threw himself on the grom when the attack began, and w uninjured when rescued.

It may interest potato grow to know that an English fa- j has discovered that when poe J have bloomed freely there ha€ j ho sign of disease. Asstfr j (says an exchange) that an a 1 dance of blossom indicates** | dom from disease, the pofe J whether it is the disease wl 1 same seasons prevents the r ,/ 3 flowering freely, or J flowering has any check ■ ; ■ appearance of the disease. '.M latter is the rase, then it wor}J pear as if a very free-bh c . J vaiiety of potato would to being a disease resister.

At the Invercargill on Friday, Bridget Dugganof 18, who had been arn connection with the d c ad baby near Wray’s Sunday week last, pleade . to concealment of birth, . committed for sentence. police explained that the her story very She said she bad 'been company with a youth Willie Crow, with whom teen intimate on the wa> from dances. The child v. in a shed. She let it fall, £ iwas too weak to pick it up at When she did lift it it was dead. Afterwards she concealed the body. Medical evidence was to the effect that the fall described by the accused was consistent with the injut ies found on the body. Th 1 charge was therefore reduced to concealment of birth. Accused was put on probation for si 3 months.

Mr John Searle, a resident of Hamilton, celebrated his 101st birthday last Tuesday. He is still hale and hearty, and his physical faculties are almost unimpaired. His grandfather attained the age of [O3, and his grandmother 99. Mr Searle enlisted in the 58th Regiment, which was ordered to Australia, and shortly after arrival at Sydney was despatched to the Bay of Islands, in order to check Hone Heke. The regiment lauded at Russell on New Year’s Day, 1840. He served throughout the Waikato and Taranaki wars, and although frequently engaged, escaped without a wound, notwithstanding the fact that he had one very narrow escape—he hau strapped a pair of boots to his belt, and a bullet cut the strap. For the .past 40 years Mr Searle has been a resident of the Waikato. On the institution of the old age pensions -Mr Searle was successful in securing one. He determined to again enter into the bonds df matrimony; he courted an o’ i lady who was also a recipient * | the pension, and this union of r 1 sources enables the old couple l ■ live in passable comfort. J

That it is not always discree pass disparaging remarks Parliamentary candidates was proved at Hastings on Tuesday week. A man and his wife were standing in the srteet listening Jo a candidate’s speech, yrhen the isat} remarked that the candidate was something pr other and those whp voted for him were about as bad. A woman pf portly figure standing near by overheard the remark, and stepping towards the man said: “I voted for Mr K —. What have you got to say about him ? ” Evidently the answer she received was not tp her satisfaction,* for, (juipk as lighting, the, man received a blow in the face* from a hand closely' sembled in size a' pr}me ham. “ Take tljat now,” said the woman, and he did, and but fyr wisely deciding that “discretion was the better part of valour,” and leaving that spot in a hurry, he would probably have taken more away with him.

To celebrate the return of Mr Edward Newman as member for Manawatu, a complimentary diu ;er will be tendered in the Op ra House Marton, on Friday, Dec jber 18th. Particulars are advertised elsewhere in this issue.

“Prisoner at the bar,” said a judge in a recent case, “before evidence is heard, do you wish to challenge the jury !” “ Well,” replied the prisoner, “ I aint in exactly wot you’d call ’ard traiuin, me Lord, but I don’t mind ’aving a round or two with the fat chap in the corner.”

The local Rowing Club Committee paid a visit of inspection to the boating sheds on Saturday afternoon, and decided to obtain an estimate of cost for overhauling and repairing pleasure boats, and also to ascertain the cost of erecting a staging or tramway for launching and bringing in the boats.

A lady, calling at a house, inquired bow the patient and her baby were. “ Progressing favourably,” said the buttons. “Isit a boy?” asked the lady. “No, ma’am.” “Is it a girl, then ? ” “No,” was again the answer. “Oh,” said the lady, impatiently, “it must be a boy ora girl.” “I heard the doctor say it was a ‘ heir,” replied the buttons.

The totalisator (says the New Zealand Times) has lost two staunch supporters in the House by the rejection at the ballot box of Messrs A. 1,. D. Fraser (owner of Kurawaka), and C. E. Major (who also has -frequently something going, Mr David Buick (owner of Tangimoanaand Rangipapa), who replaces Mr W. T. Wood as Palmerston North’s representative, • may be relied upon to fill part of the breach. Mr J. Vigor Brown, who defeated Mr Fraser, is treasurer of the Napier Park Racing Club.

The Government took over the business of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company yesterday. The only two officers of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company who do not pass over to the Government railway service are the general manager (Mr W. M. Hannay) and the chief engineer (Mr James Marchbanks). In Wellington on Friday afternoon they were presented by the Chairman of directors (Mr John Kirkcaldie), with souvenirs of their long service, from the company and the staff.

Owing to the petition for a magisterial recount in connection with the Wellington Suburbs local option poll not having been lodged within seven days after the published declaration of the official figures, Dr M’Arthur has ruled that the petition cannot be considered, and it has in consequence been withdrawn. The result of the poll was declared on November 24, and the petition was lodged on December 3 —two days late. The necessary majority was secured with 260 odd votes to spare. Both scrutineers expressed themselves to the Returning Officer as perfectly satisfied with the official count and the polling arrangements.

As an example of what tfe pioneers were made of, Dunedin possesses an early settler whose record should take a deal of beating . In the first place this lady is 68 years old, and has never had a day’s illness. She has reared and seen married 14 children. She never takes a tram “ on principle,” because it is healthier* to walk. Five o’clock in the morning never finds her abed, and she works all day through as though toil was the chief delight of existence. She scored another point on the younger generation last night (says the Qtagq Daily Times of November 28th) by winping the ladies’ wood sawipg competition at the 3a?rly Settlers’ Hall. A few minutes after the arrival at Mosgiel of the train which left Dppedin at 1.5 p.m., on Saturday the epgipe-driver, John Major, walked into an outhouse and shot himself through the Read. Depth wps instantaneous. Deceased was about fifty two years of age, and had beep jn the railway service for thirty years. Insomnia had troubled him lately, and he had been unwell. He was relieved of his usual express duty and put to much easier work on short journeys. In one of deceased’s pockets was a note containing this message : “ Give my watch to Tom McConnell, my old mate, Who looked after me in my trouble.” At the inquest held yesterday on the body of. John Major, the engine driver who committed suicide at Mosgiel railway station on Saturday, the evidece showed that deceased suffered keenly from domestic troubles. On a piece of paper found in deceased’s pocket was written “ good-bye Ellen, I hope God will forgive you as I have forgiven you. I still love you with all your faults. I will end this life on arrival at Mosgiel to-day. I am quite sape.” Letters setting forth deceased’s troubles were addressed tq Mr Widdowsoh, S.M. The jury returned a verdict of death from a bullet-wound self-in-flicted, while temporarily insane.