LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 447, 7 January 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

News has been received by cable from England of the death of Mr John Alfred Hives, a well-known Mastertou sheep-farmer. Oil has been flowing freely from No. 2 bore, Petroleum Works, New Plymouth, since work was resumed after the holidays. Close on fifty barrels have been collected and it is stated the oil is remaining about the same level in the bore, despite the large quantity drawn off.

An owner of house property complains that certain, boys for lack of something better to do, take a delight in throwing stones through the windows bfdlmfpfy bouses. He has laid a complaint to the police.

Mr Moore, representing the Ridgwvay First Aid Society, is canvassing Foxton and district with an accident outfit, which should find a place in every home. If sufficient subscribers are obU.ined the outfit will be supplied at a reduced rate.

Generally speaking, writes Uie Ashburton] correspondent of the Dyltelton Times, the Christmas trade in Ashburton during the pasj; fortnight has been better than that for similar periods for some years past.

Conch, a horse-trainer, committed suicide at Kxeter. He was disappointed at the non-suCcess of his racehorse Mercutio, which he expected to win the Derby and other big events. A draft of throronghbreds, whereof he had charge, were consigned to Couch's old employer in Australia. A rather virulent form of dysentery has attacked numerous people in the Masterton district lately, says the Age. Infants have been subject to it, several deaths having been due to this cause. Two years ago the infantile mortality was heavy in Masterton through the ravages of dysentery at that time, a very bad form of the malady being epidemic. The decree dismissing Yuan Shaikai is cold and callous, and has created a great sensation at Pekin. The representatives of the great Powers ask their respective Governments’ permission to express regret and a hope that the dismissed statesman, whose presence in the Government inspired confidence abroad for its stability, dees not imply a reversal of his policy. Three generations in a shearing shed is not a common occurence, but it happened at Kekeranga (Marlborough) at the shearing just ended. Mr Tom Norton (who has been for 40 years a knight of the blades) was on the hoards, accompanied by his son Mr Harry Norton; while the latter’s son, Henry, was engaged in fleecepicking.

The Dnneclin Star is one ot the best-informed political journals in the Dominion, so far as matters pertaining to the present Government is concerned. Its Christchurch correspondent, who is also persona grata with the Premier, telegraphed to the Star the other day:—“l have very good grounds for believing that Mr George Daurenson will be one of the new members of the Ministry. ” But George didn’t get there!

At Wellington on Tuesday three charges of uttering valueless cheques we-e preferred against a young man named David Henry Carvasso, alias Carver, The frauds, it was alleged, were perpetrated at Mauriceville, Palmerston North and Martinborough. On each of two charges accused was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent. On the Martinborough charge he was remanded to Mastertou.

When asked in the Christchurch Court by Mr Bishop, S.M., for information as to the calling he pursued, a man charged with having used language of a lurid character, stated that he was a station cook. “ Well,” remarked the Magistrate, ‘‘if you use language in your cook house similar to that on the charge sheet before me, you ought not to require much culinary fuel—the language is sultry enough !”

Recent robberies in Wellington, says the Dominion, bad evidently upset the nervous system of an elderly lady, who was transacting some business in the Post Office Savings Bank yesterday morning. She was filling in a deposit slip, and bad laid her purse on the desk in front of her. A gentleman, who happened to be writing at the desk alongside, picked up his pass book and walked out, when the lady immediately uttered a scream and followed him into the street, A crowd immediately gathered, and the gentleman w T as accused of purloining the elderly lady’s purse. After vainly protesting his innocence, be walked back into the Savings Bank, and there the lady’s purse was, still lying where she had set it on the desk.

The January number of the Rone Hand contains the announcement that the editor lias secured Madame Melba’s in--moirs, an 1 these are to be prefaced by, two specid articles, the first of which, “ The Science of Singing,” appears in this month’s number. In this the famous cantalricc says something about inept executants and ignorant professors. The article is a valuable contribution to the literature of music. On the cover of the magazine is a charming picture of Melba. There are also contributions from numerous Australian writers, and the readers of the Lone Hand will be pleased to hear that a programme has been mapped out for 1909, which should be the means of raising the standard of this popular Australian magazine.

An Auckland photographer has received the following charmingly simple letter from a little girl in San Francisco: “ Dear Sir,—l was reading in the paper about the nice welcome you gave our fleet. I have a brother who is a petty officer on the New Jersey and he sent a lot of postals and curios to my big sister and the girl next door. So I thought if there was a kind person who goes in your store who can speak American would send me some little curios made by the natives or a postal I would be very much obliged, and would send some American thing in exchange. I saw your name on m3 r sister's postals, so I thought you wouldn’t mind telling somebody. P.S. Please do not think I am bold, because our house was burned down in the big earthquake and fire, and I haven’t any more toys, so I would like to put some interesting things in my room. I am sending you four postals to selMn your store for your trouble. Ihe lace is for your little girl.”

A purse containing money awaits an owner at the police station.

A Taranaki farmer, Mr D. Kemp, of Patea, who dehorns all his cows, is enthusiastic in praise of the principle. He dehorned over a hundred head last season, and does not know of a single instance where there has been any ill-effects as to the result. On the contrary the cattle do not knock each other about or stab each other, they feed better, and a child can go among them without danger.

The Chess Championship of New Zealand recently concluded at Dunedin resulted as follows : Kelling, Wellington, 6 wins, 2 draws, 1 ; Barnes, Wellington, 5 wins, x draw, 2 losses, 2 ; Davies, Wellington, 4 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses, 3 ; Mason, Wellington, 4 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses, 4 ; Edwards, Dunedin, 4 wins, 4 losses, 5; Grierson, Auckland, 3 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses, 6 ; Dodds, 3 wins, 3 losses, 7 ; Forsyth, Dunedin, 2 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses, 8 ; Fox, Temnka, 1 win, 7 losses, 9.

A remand to the nth instant was granted at Wellington on Tuesday on the application of Chief Detective M’Grath, in the case of Chas. George Breen, a young man, who had pleaded guilty to the theft of a bicycle at Foxlon on the 28th December, It was necessary to communicate with Foxton, said the Chief Detective, to get particulars of another charge pending against the accused. The other charge referred to was the theft of a suit of clothes, the property of Ernest Harper, from Bird’s Hotel, on December 28th.

About the end of August last an old blind man, who may be seen daily playing an organ at the Octagon, Dunedin, had collected coppers to the amount of £5, and desiring to convert the money into notes or gold, sent a youth with it to the bank for that purpose. The youth did not return, although it was discovered he had received gold for the coppers at the bank. The police were communicated with, but nothing could be heard of the missing youth, until he was arrested at Christchurch, on Sunday, on three charges of theft. He appeared at the Christchurch Court, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each charge.

A very heavy stock which musj; be turned into money.—Can tha r be done ? Yes ; if you are pre' pared to give it away at a big sacrifice. The same applies to any property. Collinson and Cunninghame, who have been so favourably known in Palmerston North for their excellent values and low prices, have now determined to hold a big sale of all their stock, commencing 011 Thursday, 7th January, when they invite one and all to pay them a visit. They intend to make this a record clearance sale—no half measures. The stock will be be marked at prices to clear. Now, be well advised; \vc know money is scarce, so be sure and get to this big clearance sale at Collinson 'and Cunninghame’s Ltd., Broad St., The Square, Palmerston North, where your money will do its best.* ■

The Sydney Daily Telegraph thus reports a tragedy : “ Shortly after daybreak yesterday morning a young woman made a rush from the scrub at Beu Buckler Point, Bondi, and leaped to death over the precipice. Mr Thos. Rose, residing at Roseville, Bondi Road, witnessed the tragedy through a pair of strong field-glasses which he was using to locate a vessel at sea. He saw a womau stand on the cliffs and look over. She then retired to the scrub, and almost immediately rushed towards the brink and hurled herself over. Mr Rose communicated with the Waverley police, and Constable Stokes went to the point to investigate. Peering over at the spot indicated by Mr Rose, which is 150 ft above the sea, the constable saw a woman’s body jammed between two rocks about 40ft below. After a dangerous scramble he reached the place, and with the assistance of a couple of fishermen, succeeded in taking the body around the rocks to Bondi. It was then taken to the morgue, where it was identified as that of Olive Wilson, aged 17 years and eight months, a single girl, residing with her stepfather (John Simpson) at 556, Castlereaghstreet, City. The body was terribly mutilated, and the skull smashed.

A drunken swagger made a sensation at Timaru on Tuesday morning, states the Timaru Herald. He said to a number of men at Caroline Bay : “ Good-bye, boys, I’m tired of this world,” and having thrown off his coat, walked down to the sea, and lay down in the water. The man was about thirty years of age, and had apparently been drinking heavily. He was observed going on to the bay below the railway viaduct, where he put down his swag, had a drink from his billy, and then made the above remark. He was too drunk to wade out into deep water, but was quite far enough from the shore for the waves to roll him about, and must have been drowned had he not been observed. The caretaker of the bay and another man named Evans, at once went down and pulled the hypochondriac out of the waves. The police were telephoned for, and took the man, who was quite helpless from the effects of alcohol and water, to-the safety of a police cell, where he was provided with blankets until his own clothes had recovered from the soaking to which he had subjected them.

The following testimony in favour of molasses as a live-stock food is gived by an American farmer:—“ Wheal was farming some years ago, a young cow had twins, I had them taken away to raise by baud, and fed them on a mixture of skim-milk and molasses. In a few weeks they were the finest calves I ever raised, and I brought the top of the market !”

At Masterton a man left his bicycle inside a fence and told his dog to watch it, says the Wairarapa Daily Times. Unfortunately, a lady had left her bicycle in the same spot, and when she went for it the dog went for her, and she fled. In vain she called in the aid of a constable. The dog challenged the officer of the law, and he advised the lady to wait till the owner of the faithful animal arrived and relieved the situation. A well-known resident of Marton, Mr Wiight Harrison, died on Sunday. Referring to the deceased, the Advocate states :: “ An old soldier, he served under Gieneral Chute in the Indian Mutiny and portion of the Maori war. He leaves a wife and eight sous and daughters and a sister to mourn their loss. The deceased was the recipient of a handsome pension from the Admiralty for his fuelsaving devices and other engineroom improvements first applied to H.M.S. Minotaur. He was formerly Paymaster - sergeant of the 70111 Regiment, Indian and New Ztaland.’ ’