LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 4 February 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

One hundred and fifty summonses have been issued by the Masterton Borough Council for the recovery of overdue rates. There are more to follow.

In the list of quittances at a recent wool sale at Auckland is the following: “On account of Salvation Army inebriates’ retreat, nine bales of crossbred, fine, at It is said that not one per cent, of codlin moth can be found in the apple trees of commercial orchards in the Palmerston district this year, owing to persistent spraying.

“ Long prayers must be killed ; they are unscriptural, and there is no prayer in the Bible of a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes duration,” said Dr. Townsend, Presisident of the National Free Church Council, speaking at Newcastle. The vitality of the snail is remarkable. One that was glued to a card in a museum for four years came to life on being immersed in warm water. Some specimens in the collection of a naturalist revived after they apparently had been dead for fifteen years. A well-known peeres not long ago, calling for the second time at a furnitnreshop, asked if she might seethe “person” who bad attended to her on the previous occasion. “Is it the gentleman over there with the fair moustouche ? ” was the bland inquiry. “No,” replied the irritated aristocrat, “it is the nobleman next to him with the bald head.”

There has just been imported by Messrs McLeod and Son., the enterprising proprietors of “Radium,” a boot polish tin-filling machine —the first to reach New Zealand. This exceedingly ingenious contrivance, Roberts’ Patent, was ordered direct from the makers in London. It fills 1000 tins of Radium per hour in perfect manner.

Mr Edward M.P., made the most of his lim’e while in P'oxton yesterday. Besides interviewing several local citizens, he visited the State School, opened the Garden Fete and judged the potato exhibits, and presented the prizes to the Methodist Sunday school children. Mr Newman intends to revisit Foxton for a few days at an early date.

During last month the estates of xii deceased persons were finally certified for stamp duty. Those in the Wellington district were as follows:—Cecilia F. Hives, ,£8245; Wickham Flower, ; Robert Roger, ; William Hole, Michael J. Murray, ,£1275 ; Agnes Boyd, ,£1214; Alice J. Frethey, ,£IOOB ; Charles E. Howe, £ 779.

New Zealand timber is likely to have another competitor besides Oregon pine. It is reported that an Australian syndicate has purchased timber rights in Manchuria and they propose to open up relations with users in the Dominion. The limber can be' worked at a price, it is said, that no white miller could look at. Consignments of timber have already arrived in Victoria.

A number of sweet pea enthusiasts met at the Stratford Borough Council Chambers, when it was decided to form a society to be known as the New Zealand Sweet Pea Society. The objects of the society are the cultivation of this well-known flower, and it is intended to hold exhibitions at which the New Zealand championships will be competed for and awarded.

A chain-letter, purporting to raise subscriptions on behalf of Dr. Baruardo’s Home for Waifs and Strays, is in circulation in New Zealand. A Palmerston North resident, who had some doubts as to whether the appeal was authorised, communicated with the Loudon Truth, and has received a reply from the editor to the effect that it has been repudiated by the Barnardo people, and that the matter has been dealt with on many occasions in the cloumns of his paper.

A witness subpoenaed in a case heard at the Eketahuna Magistrrte’s Court last week forwarded a doctor’s certificate showing that he was suffering from “fibrocitis.” Counsel for plaintiff said he had looked up a dictionary but had failed to ascertain the nature of the complaint. His Worship said that he had not previously heard of such a malady, but supposed it was “inflammation of fibs.” The court smiled and was left in a state of uncertainty as to the symptoms of “fibrocitis.” —Express.

Wolfe’s Schnapps —A tonic that has stood the test of years,

Attractive money values at the clearance of summer stock at the Bon Marche sale to-day. C. M. Ross and Coy. mean a clean sweep of all seasonable goods. Somebody will get the benefit—why not you ?* Mr T, J. Levett has been appointed local for the South British Fire and Accident and the Colonial Mutual Life Insurance Companies. Miss Jamieson, who was to have taken up an assistantship at the Moutoa State School’ has obtained a position under the Wellington Board. The vacancy has been filled by Miss M. Lynch. “ Why, Johnny,” said Mrs Muggins, “what are you doing here ? Is Willie’s party over ?” “ No,’’ blubbered Johnny. “But the minute I got inside the house Willie’s father told me to make myself at home, and 1 came.” Harold Barrowclough, son of the late headmaster of Moutoa, was the winner of the Palmerston High School Board of Governors’ Scholarship. The sucessful lad was a student of the High School, and is now entitled to a year’s free board and tuition at the High School.

On leaving his study, which is in the rear of the church, the pastor of a district in Birmingham, saw a little boy, a friend of his, talking to a stranger. “ What was he saying to you, Dick?’’ asked the divine, as he came up to the youngster. “He just wanted to know whether Dr. Blank was the preacher of this church.” “And what did yon tell him ? ” “I told him,” responded the lad with dignity, “ that you were the present encumbrance.

Recently a paragraph appeared in the Wanganui Herald concerning the cattle-driving feats of an elderly lady, from Halcombe, who, by the assistance of a dog only, drove a mob of close on fifty cattle to Wanganui from Halcombe. On Thursday morning, at the Police Court, the woman, who is a cattle dealer, was fined 50s and 17s costs, for failing to provide sufficient food and water for one of the herd, which, straying from its drover, had become bogged, and after being rescued had eventually died from starvation. The defendant said she had taken the animal grass, and a drink, but, having to attend to the remainder of the herd, and for several days having trouble in getting them together, she had been unable to give it proper attention. A tragic story comes from Harbin of the suicide of a young Chinese actress. Si Tsay, al-though only sixteen years of age, was the “ star ” in a large company which was on tour in the Russian frontier towns. She had scored great triumphs wherever she appeared, when suddenly the Emperor’s death interrupted her career. The mourning decree issued throughout the empire forbade any theatrical performance during the next three years, but the prospect of giving up her art for that period was so unbearable to Si Tsay that she resolved to die. She swallowed a phial of opium, but a doctor having been summoned, she was rescued from death. She theu succeeded in securing a revolver, and during the night shot herself.

A lather extraordinary case occupied the attention of the court at Rotorua for the better part of two days. A Maori named Galvin visited the Sanatorium, and insisted on taking away a child he had earlier brought to the place suffering from pneumonia. The child’s state was critical, and Dr. Bertram refused to let it be moved. Galvin pressed his point to the extent of trying to forcibly take the child. A scuffle with the doctor ensued, during which the two men fell on the bed of a female patient. The case came before the court as a charge of assault against Galvin. Evidence was given that it was customary for the Maoris to take sick people home to die among their friends. The bench, in fining the defendant with costs £6 18s, pointed out that the sanctity of the hospital ward must be maintained, and custom could not be allowed to overide the rules of the hospital or the orders of skilled medical men.

Wandering Syrians have been for some time diligently collecting money in New Zealand for churches and schools in Khurdistan, and this fact has caused the organising secretary of the Anglican Mission to the Syrian Christians, to write to the Christchurch Star under date, London, December sth. He says: These men sometimes represent themselves to collect funds for our work, which is not the case. These beggars find no difficulty in changing their role to suit the tastes of the charitable public. The same men style themselves “ priest” or “ deacon ” as may be most convenient. They are either “ Armenian ”or “Syrian ” as may best suit their purpose. During the last six mouths I have received letters from all parts of the world inquiring as to the bona fides of these men. It would therefore be kind if you would allow me, through your columns, to warn the public not to give the money to them, I know them very well and have lived among them. They are all from one particular tribe of East Syrians, who live in the mountains of Jiiu, Turkey-in-Asia, and have long been known as notorious beggars. Needless to say, not a penny subscribed to these people benefits the East Syrian Church, and the cause which this mission has at heart.

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

An advertiser want? to buy-a quiet Jersey cow. Edward McMahon, of McMahon’s circus, cut his" throat with a razor at the Feilding Show yesterday afternoon, and now lies in a precarious condition. Dr Goode was charged at the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday, with the murder of Mrs Klennar. The trial is proceeding, and it is expected will occupy several days.

Great dissolution sale at Watcliom Stiles’ and Co.’s on Saturday, January Ibth. Remember, for 14 days only.*

At the Methodist Church tomorrow evening a feast of good things is promised by way of a recital by Rev, Mr Thompson, ot Auckland, interspersed with vocal items. Mr Thompson has won a wide reputation as an elocutionist, and his repertoire will include pathetic, heroic and amusing recitations by popular authors, the whole of which are entirely new to Foxton. Prices of admission are: Adults is, children half price.

There is something very pathetic about the dissolution of an old ship which has worked her life out till decieplilude compels some form of despatch in the interests of safety and economy (says the Lyttelton Times,). The last years of many an old ship are spent quietly in port, performing passive service as a coal hulk, and such ships have to be destroyed or got rid of somehow-, One of the oldest hulks in Lyttelton, the Marie, was put quietly out of the way the other day. She had performed the simple duties of a coal hulk for about twenty years, and had been in Lyttelton for seven or eight years. Some time ago she was ordered out of service, and was bought by Mr J. M. Miller, who expected to find something of value in the form of metal work in her frame. As much as possible ot the negotiable material was taken out while she lay at the skeleton wharf, and she was then towed over to Purau Harbour and beached. On Wednesday afternoon she was set on fire, and burned away throughout the evening and night, ending her years of quiet in a blaze of glory. The Otago Daily Times says : —“ It is not often that reporters of the daily press are subject to the insult of being offered a bribe in consideration of their betraying confidential information. Such an offer was made to a member of the reporting staff of this journal by a person named Chrystall, an exdetective, who recently commenced a private detective agency in Christchurch. Assuming the r name of Graham, he represented himself as a friend of an employee of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Flour Millers’ Association, who, Chrystall alleged, was under suspicion of having divulged certain intelligence pertaining to the association, which appeared in the Otago Daily Times recently. Chrystall had the effrontery to offer our reporter a bribe of £5 if he would ascertain the source from which the information emanated —a contemptible overture which was indignantly rejected. We cannot believe the Flour Millers’ Association, who, apparently, are Chrystall’s employers in this matter, approve of their agent’s methods.” The Railway Review, the official organ of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, has the following reference to the Hon. J. A. Millar, the Minister of Railways : —“ The appointment of Mr Millar will bring about a refreshing change in administrative methods. It is our firm belief that the exasperating delays and uncertainties of the previous regime have departed. While we may not always be successful in our claims, we can at least hope to secure a definite and prompt answer from the new Minister. When he examines our list of requests, he may be somewhat surprised at its length, but closer inquiry will reveal that the A.S.R.S. has been for years advocating reforms which could be granted without much expense, if any, by a strong administrator who ha§ initiative. Time and again our officers have urged the remedy of grievances in terras ’ which, by reason of repetition, have sounded like stale formula, and time and again have they been faced with a regulation—not always a sound one —which seemed to be the final word to the official mind. However, the new Minister’s history, to which we referred in our .previous issue, proves that he is too full of energy and courage to be bound up in precedent or regulation, and that he is quite capable of making precedents. for himself when they are justified.”