LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 25 February 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr M. Perreau advertises for the return of a lost parrot. Special attractive programme at the Methodist Sale of Work tonight. Admission fid only.* Ice creams and refreshments, also amusing competitions at the Methodist Sale of Work to-night.*

The Chairman of the local School Committee is in receipt of ros <>d from Mr K. Newman M.P., towards the picnic and prize fund. The following have been nominated tor the Palmerston Licensing Committee: —Messrs C. Dunk, H. T. Palmer, S. W. Lux ford, W. Beck and J. M. Johnston. Great bargains in drapery, millinery, and sunshades are announced for this week at the Bon March;, Palmerston. It will pay buyers to see these parting prices, *

Two pairs of canaries are advertised for sale.

Mr C. Johanson inserts a thanks notice elsewhere in this issue.

The London Operascope will be shown in the Public Hall to-night.

At Pahiatua S.M. Court yesterday morning, Frank Leslie Fulcher, a stock-dealer, was sentenced to rq. days’ imprisonment, with hard labour, in Palmerston Gaol, for failing to keep proper books of accounts during a period of three years immediately preceding his bankruptcy. At Wellington yesterday Mr J. Wakelin, a sawmill owner at Taiaroa, near Taihape, attempted to get off a car before it stopped, the result being that he fell heavily on his head and died at 2 o’clock this morning. He was a married man, about 34 years of age, and his -wife is at present spending a holiday with her people at Lyttelton, It is stated that Mr Wakelin was on his way to join his wife, and he was apparently going down to the wharf when the accident happened. About 7 p.m. ou Saturday the engine shed at Higginson’s flaxmill, at Koputaroa, took fire and was totally destroyed. Owing to the prompt action of a bucket brigade of some 20 men employed at the mill, a scutcher and three tons of tow were saved. While assisting in quenching the fire, a man named William Whitecburch severely injured his knee. He was brought in late at night to Dr Mackenzie, who ordered the man’s removal to the Otaki Hospital.

Mr R. Waldron, of Nireaha, near liketahuna, advertises for sale lirst-class totara fencing posts, well split, at 10s per 100 on rail at Newman, also battens at 17s per 1 uo. See advt. In our report of the case Sklenars v, Robinson, appearing in Tuesday’s issue, it was stated that Constable Woods, in crossexamination by Mr Wilford, said that defendant had a small conviction against him. It should have read “ plaintiff had a small conviction against him.”

The funeral of the late Mrs Johansen took place yesterday afternoon. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. G. K. Aitkin. Among the floral tributes was Included a handsome wreath, enclosed in a glass oval, from the officers and brethren of the local Masonic Lodge.

The quarterly meeting of the local Druids Lodge was well attended last night, Bro F. Woods, A.D. presided. Three new members were initiated. A large amount of routine business was discussed which, added to the social part of the proceedings, prolonged the meeting till n p.m. The Minister for Labour (Hon. A. W. Hogg) has arranged to receive a deputation from flaxmills’ employees to-morrow afternoon, at 2 o’clock. The Manawatu Flaxmills’ Employees’ Union have appointed three delegates, who will leave to-morrow morning, and will place all matters in connection with the hemp industry before the Minister,

A special meeting of the Mauawatu Flaxmills Employees Union was held on Saturday evening to consider the suggestions put forward by the Flaxmillers Association at the conference held on the 13th inst. The Association’s proposals were fully discussed and it was decided that the Union could not see its way to join with the Association in making application to the Arbitration Court to have the Flaxmillers Award reviewed.

The Chairman and Secretary of the School Committee, and the Headmaster, have decided to allot prizes as follows in each class: — First and second proficiency ; best attendance, boy and gir l . The prizes will be distributed to-day week, by Mr Newman, M.P., and on the following day the picnic will be held. The Committee hope that parents will contribute liberally to the prize and picnic fund.

Messrs G. Coley and Pilot Hall, while strolling along the Foxton beach the other evening, found a corked bottle containing the enclosed message;— “ Breakwater, New Plymouth, 21/1/09. The bearer of this note applying to Clarke’s While Hart Hotel, N.P., will be rewarded with a bottle of champagne.’’ It will be interesting to know whether the host of the White Hart knows anything of the message and we will publish his reply on receipt ot same.

A would-be practical joker in Foxton evidently thought he would have a big laugh on a local law practitioner by turning into the back portion of his premises Mr M. Pcrrean's well-known donkey “Mokeona.” However, the secret leaked out before the subject of the joke went to bed. He went out promptly and turned “Moke” out and barred the gale in such a way as to prevent its return. The quadruped, by way of thanksgiving, emitted a prolonged series of brays, etc., which collected together a small audience. The latter had their turn in free rides up and down Main Street till the owner appeared on the scene and led the steed back to its home.

At the meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce on Tues-

day night, it was decided to endorse the action of the Palmerston

Chamber in bringing under the

notice of the General Manager of Railways the desirability of im-

proving the service between Foxton and Palmerston by running

trains on Wednesday and Friday

afternoons. At present goods arriving in Foxtou on a Thursday afternoon cannot leave Foxtou until Saturday morning and in consequence of the goods shed being closed at 2 p.m., on Saturday the goods are not delivered until Monday. The same thing applies to goods arriving on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday morn-

A Maori in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court was alleged to have been drunk one night last week, and was being questioned as to his condition. “What were you drinking last night?’’ asked the Sergeant. “ Ginger wine,” replied theaccused. “ How many drinks did you have ?” “ Four,” was the answer- “ Nothing stronger than ginger wine?” queried the Magistrate, “ Well,” said the Maori, “I think ginger wine is strong enough for anybody.” During the visit, recently, of farmers and stock inspectors to the Weraroa State Farm, Professor Kirk mentioned that there are some people who believe that fruit sprayed with arsenate of lead is thus made poisonous. That, he staled, is a mistaken idea, as no harm would result to anyone who ate the fruit even immediately after it had been sprayed. If a man consumed a bushel of sprayed apples he would probably die from over - feeding, but not through poisoning.

It will repay you well to visit Collinson and Cuuingham, Palmerston North, this week. They are having a next to nothing clearance in every department. This firm has a far famed reputation for their wonderful grand values, and this week they intend to make a record. Among their many bargains what they advertise to-day is all remnants of dress material at half price, these will be placed on a table in the centre of shop all marked in plain figures and will be sold at half the prices they are now marked. It will well repay you to, give Collinson and Cuuninghame, Ltd., a call this week.*

During the hearing ot a recent case at the Warracknabeal (Victoria) Police Court, a young man named Troy Ward, who appeared to be over 21 years of age, was questioned in regard to certain dates. He said he could not read and he “did not trouble about dates and such things.” He said he could not even tell what month it was, and he did not know how many days there were in a year. He knew how many days there were in a week. His mother had taught him to write his name, but that was all he could do. Ward has been earning his own living for eight years, principally at contract work, fie said he had never made any estimates.

A somewhat peculiar application came before a recent meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Baud Board. A settler wrote stating that his wife had deserted him and he asked that a section which was in her name should be transferred to him. He expressed himself as willing to pay the arrears in rent, but stated that his wife had secured ,£2OO from the Advances to Settlers Department and had taken half of this amount with her. The money was borrowed on the condition that it should be used in improving the section, and he asked that his wife should be made to use it for this purpose. The Board decided that it had no power to interfere in the matter unless the wife applied to transfer the section, which one member remarked, she was not likely to do. Mr.Uane remarked, “if a man cannot manage his wife he cannot expect the Dand Board to manage her for him.”

A prominent police magistrate in Melbourne was showing an old friend from the country over the city this week. “Do you know, I’ve never been inside a police court,” said the visitor, so his host took him to a suburban court next morning, and gave him a seat on the bench. Just as the

ings, which are not delivered until Friday. It was also pointed out that the present time-table is very unsuitable. The Foxton service originally was run so as not to assist the Manawatu line, but now that the Government has taken over the property it was pointed out that it was their duty to ar-

business of the day was about to begin the countryman leaned over to the police magistrate and, indicating a group of men in the front bench, remarked, “You seem to have a tough-looking crowd to try this morning.” It was almost too much for the magistrate’s dignity, but alter a

range the time-table so as to enable short convulsion, a suppressed expeople journeying by train to catch plosion, he whispered, warningly, the Wellington train at Palmer- “ Don’t speak quite so loud, Wilston or Dougburu instead ot hav- Ham. Those are all highly reing to go by coach via Tevin or spected members of the legal proShannon. fession.”

The weather still continues fine throughout this district, and rain would be welcomed by farmers. Our representative had the pleasure of inspecting a crop of pumpkins grown by Mr Hughes, of No. 2 Tine, yesterday. The runners and leaves cover an area of over a quarter of an acre, and the crop of gigantic pumpkins is prolific. Mr Hughes also has growing some mammoth cabbages. The ground where the crops are growing was, some years ago, dense bush, and Mr Hughes informed our representative that although a number of crops had been taken off the spot, no manure had ever been mixed with the soil, which, despite the long spell of dry weather, is quite damp a few inches beneath the surface. Feed on this small holding is also very plentiful, despite the fact that it is well stocked. An Adelaide ironworker has made a discovery which promises to revolutionise the cast-iron industry. He claims to have found a process by which cast-iron can be rendered in the course of manufacture as soft and tough as wrought iron, A specimen of his work was shown to a Press representative last week in the shape of a cast cog wheel. This, if cast in the ordinary fashion, would fly to pieces when struck by a hammer, but it was placed on an anvil and hammered with considerable force, aud the only result was that dents were knocked into ft and and the edges of the cogs were flattened. A patent is to be taken out for the process throughout the world.