LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 448, 9 January 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Plnm.s are being sold in the War rarapa at 2d per lb.

An English squire was examining an Irishman on his talenls for (he position of gamekeeper. At last he asked how Pat would fell an old bird from another of later birth. “By the teeth, sorr! ” But partridge have no teeth.” “ Begerra, I have.”

A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held on Monday evening next at 7.30 o’clock, for the purpose of fixing the weekly half-holiday, after whic{i the ordinary meeting will be held, when tenders for sinking the artesian well will be received.

Mr Edward Newman M.P., has ar s ranged to meet members of the local Chamber of Commerce and delegates from adjoining districts interested in the Foxton Harbour Board, on Monday next, with a view .of discussing preliminaries prior to the first election of the Board, next month.

Sir Joseph Ward has asked his Excellency the Governor to convey to Admiral Sir R. Poore the sympathy of the Government and people of New Zealand in connection with the disaster at Sydney, where so many brave men belonging to the warship Encounter lost their lives.

Sea-siders have put in a most trying week at the beach. Nearly every day a gale has been blowing from the sea, accompanied of rain. The first glimpse of the sun was obtained during the recent boisterous period, yesterday. The dwellers in tents were forced to strike camp after wailing in vain for the weather to hold up.

Great dissolution sale at Watchorn Stiles’ and Co.'s on Saturday, January Kith. Do not fail to secure the bargains.*

While-reading a Bible which he had bought in a second-hand shop, a Herne Hill gardener named Wallace, recently thrown out of work, came upon two £5 notes, and the following inscription ; —“ I gathered this money with very great difficulty, but having no relative whomsoever in absolute need I make thee, whomsoever shall read this Bible, to he my heir.” One of the leading bakers in Invercargill says that since starting the coupon system of paying lor bread there has been a falling-off of about 2200 loaves per week in the consumption of bread in the districts supplied by the carts of the Invercargill bakers. The estimate has been carefully compiled from the returns of the associated bakers, and is equivalent to over three tons of flour per week. Patrons of cinematograph entertainments often notice a curious lack of sympathy between the picture being tiirown upon the screen and the accompanying music. At a recent exhibition a film was shown graphically depicting the heroine being driven from holne by a relentless grandfather to the strains of “ Swing me higher, Obadiah.” The combination of picture and music was hardly a happy one.

Questioned as to his opinion of lawn tennis in New Zealand, Mr Wilding said to a pressman : “ From what I have seen, I should say that lawn tennis in this country would be materially improved if matches were more frequently arranged between the pro vinces. The material is good, and the Dominion players have got the strokes, but they lack the accuracv which more match play would probably bring about.”

A man had arrived at a Massachusetts summer report. In (he afternoon he was sitting on the verandah when a handsome young woman and her six-year-old son came out. The lit tie fellow at once made friends with the latest arrival. “ What is your name?” he asked. Then, when this information had been given, he added, “ Are you married ?” “I am not married,” responded the man, with a smile. At this the child paused a moment and, turning to his mother, said: “ What else was it, mamma, you wanted me to ask him ?”

The Japanese dentist does not frighten his patient with an army of steel instruments. All his operations in tooth - drawing are performed by the forefinger and thumb of one hand. The skill necessary to do this is acquired only after long practice, but when once it is obtained the operator is able to extract half-a-dozen teeth in about thirty seconds without once removing his fingers from the patient’s mouth. The dentist’s education commences with the pulling out of pegs which have been pressed into soft wood; it ends with the drawing of hard pegs which have been driven into an oak plank with a mallet.

A leading Dunedin representative o the employers’ organisation says that the employers are very dissatisfied with Mr Hogg's appointment to the Labour portfolio on account of his Socialistic proclivities, which are extreme. At a time which is most critical in the annals of industrial conciliation the De partment requires a man with force of character, strength of mind and common sense. The general opinion among employers is that unless Mr Hogg modifies his views considerably he will fall foul of (he employers and be between two fires. In local labour circles there is a strong feeling of disappointment at Mr Millar relinquishing the Labour portfolio.

The Review of Reviews for Australasia for January contains an unusually large amount of general reading in the shape of reviews of the leading magazines, but in addition to this, the quantity and character of the other matter is exceedingly readable and interesting. The Interviews deal with the Indian question, which is so much in prominence just now, with modern politics and social reform ; and the triumphs of Nitro-Bacteriue, by Professor Bottomley. The character sketch is of the Marquess of Ripon, and is illustrated by several excellent photographs. The history of the month is dealt with in the usual comprehensive fashion, and the whole forms a compendium which is most suitable for holiday digest.

There still continues to be misunderstanding in regard to the three days’ residence required under the Marriage Act. The definition of the residence clause by the RegistrarGeneral is that fractions of a day do not count, the complete day being computed from midnight to midnight. In the case ot a young Lochenvar arriving, say, at mid-day on Monday to claim his “ ladye faire,” his first day’s residence would not be completed, according to the Act, until midnight on Tuesday, consequently legal ownership could only be established on the following Friday. A disappointing bridegroom is now in our midst waiting for Friday, says the Dunedin Star. It is sad thus to see youthful aspiration disconcerted, but the law was ever a slow-moving, cold-blooded ihachine.

A skilful piece of work in (be way of house-shifting Ims been carried out in Gisborne. The object of operations was a fine nine-roomed dwelling, which had been bodily moved forward towards another street. About eight thousand feet of scantling and two hundred six-inch rollers were used in connection with the work, which was carried out without a mishap and without any daniage being done either inside or out. The special feature of the undertaking was (he shifting of (he chimneys, one double and three singles, along with the building, but this was accomplished most successfully. So complete were the arrangements, and so evenly balanced and well-set was (lie building, that the occupants were able to carry out their every-day duties as if nothing was happening. Even while the house and chimneys were on the move, cooking was in pro--gress in the range, and so steadily did (he work proceed that not even the vases and ornaments about the house were moved out of position.

A very pleasant ceremony took place in the mail room at the local post office on Tuesday evening last, on the eve of the departure of Mr H. Johnston, who has been transferred to the Palmerston Telegraph Office. The staff, on hearing of Mr Johnston’s transfer, immediately took steps to give him some little memento ot their regard. The presentation consisted of a very handsome pocket book and a greenstone tiki. Mr Clemett made the presentation in a warm and complimentary speech, eulogising Mr Johnston both as an officer and a very exemplary yotttig man, and expressed his regret at losing such a good reliable clerk. Mr Clemett then presented Mr Johnston with a handsome cigarette, card and stanlf} case combined from# himself. Mr Johnston suitably replied, thanking the staff for their kind present and especially Mr Clemett for his handsome little present, which would ever remind him of the pleasant and happy relations that always existed between himself and the Poxtoa staff.

~~y • —rrr~vr Great dissolution s»la|kt Wafehorn' -/--'-s and Stiles', on Saturday, swu<i*y;i6fcli; Stock 'Jo be sacrificed regSSfMoes, of price.*’ 1 -' ’’

Mr P. M. Page notifies that, haviUg _ given up business in Foxton, all out" standing accounts mast be paid - seven days from dale. /■ The Treasurer of the Edward Scanlon Assistance Fund would be greatly ‘ obliged if those gentlemen who promised subscriptions would forward same as early as possible as Mr Scanlon wishes to sail early next week for England,

The British the Canadian (Jov. ernments are considering the question of instituting an Atlantic cable rgsSilSP 2d a word, beginning in July, if' the cable companies agree; and later, if necessary to lay an Imperial cable across the Atlantic,

The Secretary lor Agriculture, Mr J, D. Bitcbie, has just recevived a communication from a gentleman in London largely interested in the hemp business, in which he says that Manila hemp is likely to continue plentiful and cheap, and, he fears, will largely deplace New Zealand hemp in the now year.—. New Zealand Times.

A Blenheim flaxrr.iller (J. Bell, of Hillesden), some weeks before Christmas, when the ma ket rate was £22, is reported to have closed with an Amtralian offer at £27 10s for fine, and £25 for “good fair,” thus having his mill kept steadily and profitably running purely upon the reputation for quality and reliability he h id already won.

“ Burns was not half so badly beaten as people think,” an eye-witness of the rec at fight told a Post reporter. “ The white man got a severe handling in the first and second rounds and had hi.? ankle tw.sted, when Johnson fell on him in the fifth, but his wind was holding out far better than the black’s. At the fourteenth round when the police stepped in, Johnson was panting hard, while Burhs still kept his wind comfortably.”

Strange and remote are the countries where camels come from, but the camel in the Wellington “Zoo” seems to have dropped his “ strangeness and fallen into line with our hudmrum industrialism. plot working under any award worth speaking of, he nevertheless earned over £2 10s by carrying Xmas visitors from the country about the enclosure at Newtown Park, The proceeds are to go towards buying more “ prisoners ” lor the “ Zoo.”

His Grace, Archbishop Redwood, accompanied by Father Costello, of Palmerston North, paid a flying visit to Foxton per motor car yesterday for the purpose of inspecting the local church and presbytery, also with a view to appointing a resident priest for Foxton and district. His Grace expressed surprise and pleasure with the presbytery. The new parish, we understand, will include Shannon, Foxton, Orouoa Downs and Bridge, and as far as Fitzberbert Bridge. A parish priest has been selected but his name will not be divulged until a later date.

A passenger who recently travelled to Auckland on the through excursion train complains that the journey was unnecessarily prolonged. “ From station to station,” he says, “ the time occupied was 20 hours and 17 minutes. We were scheduled to stop only at Palmerston North, Feild* ing, Marton, Frankton Junction, and Newmarket, but as a matter of fact* the train stopped at almost every station and for no apparent reason. At least two hours must hayciJ&i .consumed in this way, and the journey could have been easily done in ,x 8 hours. \

The remo val of .Lionel Terry tfo'ra Lyttelton Gaol to the Sunny side. Mental Hospital was carried out on Tuesday night very quietly. That be was to go last night at all was known to a very few, and he was quietly conveyed to the station in a dray, man, bags, and baggage. At midnight, the warders who had charge of him waited till there was scarcely anyone about, and then placed him in a first-class carriage and pulled down the blinds to stop the curious gaze of the railway porters and the night owls. Terry went quietly, and utterly discounted the preparations that had been made for any showy beha viour he might indulge in.

An extraordinary report as t# the swallowing capacity of a patient was made at a meeting of the Richmond Lunatic Asylum, by -Dr. Donelan, the resident medical superintendent. The patient had complained of a pain, and stated he had swallowed a knife and fork. On examination the presence of a foreigh substance was detected in his stomach, and to clear up all doubt Dr. Donelan had the patient brought into the hospital to be “ X-rayed.” This confirmed the first diagnosis, and when the stomach was opened a knife, a fork, some rags, and a woollen muffler were recovered. The patient has made a good recovery. Whilst pulling up the flooring boards in one of the front rooms at “The Cedars," the old historic residence of the late Rev. Samuel Marsden, at Par. ramatta (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph) the contractor (Mr Wain wright) for demolishing the mansion came across what looked like an ordinary baking powder tin, • which, on being opened, was found to contain severeigns, but how many is only known to the lucky finder. How long it had been hidden away is not known, but Mr Wainwright is satisfied that it must have been a great-many years. Several tenants have occupied “ The Cedars ” since the Rev. Samuel Marsdeu’s time, and it seems rather strange that the plant was not discovered before, as the flooring board (a short-length one) covering the tin was loose.

Ten iooo-tranc banknotes, representing the savings of a woman who lived at Nanterre, near Paris, were hidden by her in an old envelope, which was placed in an old drawer. In a moment of forgetfulness the envelope (the Chronicle says) found its way into a dustbin. In the morning the rag-pickers turned out the bin, but tossed aside the tattered envelop# without inspection. Some carters happened to pass that way. They picked up the now mud-splashed piece of paper, one remarking to the other, “ Perhaps there is a fortune inside.” They drew out the notes. “This'tS some fool’s pleasantry,” they said; so by way of revenging themselves on the unknown joker, and not believing the notes were genuine, they tore them to pieces and threw them aside. Two market-women came along shortly afterwards. With the shrewdness of . their class they recognised the scattered pieces of paper arifl gathgfed them up and took them to the Cora- J missary of Police. There they were pieced together, and it was found that none was missing. Two hours later the notes so-curiously discovered were restored to their owner,

Great dissolution sale at Watohora* J Stiles’ and Co.’s on Saturday, January Ifeth, Bemember, for 14 days only.?

WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS stands pre' dmincnt among stimulants and hoc* dials.

’ '-, Jiiv ■' l l >/■ ~,^ow P. J. y Heoaessvifc making certain'arrange- , order to enable him to take a trip through the United States and the Old Country- about April next. Mr * Hennassy will be accompanied by his eldest daughter. . The services at the local Presbyter- ‘ lan Church will be conducted in the morning by the Rev. G. K. Aitken. The Rev. W Ritchie M.A., late of Edendale, Southland Presbyterian Church, who isjon a visit to the district ■will conduct the service in the evening. A meeting of the Manawatu Rowing Club was held last night. Present: — Messrs B; G. Gower (chairman), HenX nessy, Hornblow, W. J. White and "Wlxibley (secretary). It was decided to ascertain the cost of overhauling the pleasure boats and a sub-committee was appointed to carry out the work. Barrow-loads of peaches are the staple of the street vendors in Wellington just now, and buying is brisk. Permils were granted by the City Council to twenty-two street-hawkers, who drew lots for the sites which they shall ■ occupy during the ensuing month. This is the largest number of applications for fruit-vending stands received since last summer. Compulsory arbitration in New Zealand did not favourably impress Colonel Denny, of snipbuilding fame, who was a recent visitor to this country. He said on his return to the Old Country that the law relating to arbitration was of little use, because the only people it could get at when disobeyed wego the employers ; as ior the workmen, they simply defied the law, and refused to pay the fines, and called upon the Government to imprison them.

A young fellow marched into a local public house the other day (says the King Country Chronicle), and asked for a glass ot beer. After being served he looked critically at the beverage, then proceeded to fill his pipe. The barman was shortly afterwards called

from the room, and on his return was astonished to find all the blinds drawn down. “Who’s drawn them blinds

down he inquired. “I did,” replied the customer. ", What did you do that for ? ” demanded the irate barman. “ Silence, man 1 ” was the response. “ Speak gently, the beer’s dead I ”

The Post Office officials have not delivered a couple of important Christmas letters posted within the past few days (says the Sydney Morning Herald). One is addressed to “ Santa Claus, Greenland,” and from the oaligraphy the writer is evidently a child. When the great belief children have in the great toy distributor is remembered, it is not difficult to guess the nature of the contents. The second letter is even more remarkable, and is also apparently from a little child. It is addressed to God, and has affixed to the envelope a haltpenny New South Wales stamp. It is easy to guess some poor little soul having sent the epistle, but its purpose is more difficult to conjecture. Possibly it is merely a request to be remembered at this season, but there is a chance that some imaginatinc little one has seized upon what it believes to be the one opportunity of communication with a dead mother or brother or sister.