LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 458, 13 May 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL .

Inmates of Wellington’s zoo continue to die. On Monday an iguana passed out of existence, while on Tuesday one of the Australian vvedgetail eagles was numbered amongst the dead.

The half-crown tax levied by Madame Melba for her autograph, in the interests of charity, reached a not inconsiderable stun during the diva’s stay in Wellington. On the suggestion of Mrs Findlay, who was consulted in the matter, Melba decided to hand over the full amount to the Home of Compassion.

Mr Andrew Selkirk, a descendant of Alexander Selkirk, who was the original of Defoe’s “Robinson Crusoe,” has died at Cowdenbeath, Fife. He was an engineer by trade, and had himself lived a roving and adventurous life. He travelled extensively in Australia and New Zealand, taking part in the early rushes to the gold diggings.

The New Zealand Times understands that the Governor, Ford Plunket, will leave New Zealand for England at the end of February, next year. H}s official term expires at the end of May. His Excellency’s final public engagement in New Zealand will probably be his attendance at a big Masonic gathering in Auckland to bid him farewell. [This statement has since been contradicted.] Mr H. C. Field, in a letter to the Wanganui Herald, slates that his cats recently killed two specimens of the pectoral rail, the Maoris’ mohopereu, a bird which is plentiful in Australia, and the islands of the Malay Archipelago and Polynesia, but is now veiy rare in N.Z.

A timid little mini complained to the Willcsden ' magistrate that his wife hit him with a chopper and threatened to kill him. He was infer.tied that a summons against her would cost half a crown. “ I have no money,” be replied, “ but I shall go home and see it I can gel it from my wife.” In the Mangere district, farmers are complaining of the conduct of shooting parlies. The Star reports that one farmer found a valuable cow dead, riddled with shot. Another party had robbed a hen’s nest and cooked the eggs. The writer observes that while the farmers readily consent to visitors shooting over their farms, it is thought that the man who cannot hit something smaller than a cow, ought not to go shooting.

When the scow Oban was endeavouring to cross the Wairau bar on Wednesday last, she stuck fast, and an anchor was run out. Subsequently two of the hands, named A. and F. Gibson, were capsized in the dinghy while endeavouring to lift the anchor, and had a perilous experience in the surt. They were both good swimmers, but would have been drowned had they not managed to hang on to a lifebuoy with which it was intended to buoy the anchor if necessary.

Sheetings are a line that never go out of fashion, and are constantly required, so that the problem of getting sheets that will last a little longer is one that every lady desires to solve. In this issue Messrs Collinson and Cuuniughame, Ltd., are advertising a big range of sheetings, which have been made specially to their order. Ladies requiring sheetings are invited to test their value.*

The official notice in regard to “cait wheel” hats on the Swiss State railways reads as follows: ‘‘Ladies —Hats more than 31m. in diameter will, according to Article 117 of the railway tariff, adopted in February, 1906, henceforth be regarded as wheels. Anybody wearing a hat of larger dimensions who desires to travel by a Swiss passenger train, must either ride in the luggage van or deposit her hat with the luggageguard and enter the passenger car bareheaded.”

Besides maintaining a large annual expenditure upon the administration of an unobtrusive system of charity, the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand has accumulated a capital fund which at the end of March amounted ,£19,752, and must now have passed the even figures. This sum is solidly investested in Government and local body debentures to the extent of ,£xS,ooo, earning interest at 4 and 4 h per cent. From the income just derived there is a liberal stream of expenditure upon casual relief, in addition to which a system of annuities to aged Masons and the widows and children of deceased Masons has been instituted, which is annually increasing in scope as the funds accumulate and the needs arise. The sensational denouement which has followed the latest escapade of Amy Bock has excited very general feeling of admiration for the cleverness of the woman. Already in Timaru, says the Post, there are youthful emulators of “Percy Carol Redwood.” The other evening two young girls dressed themselves in “male attire,” and wandered forth, presumably in quest of unsuspicious and eligible young ladies. A gentleman friend, learning of their prank, assumed the role of Detective Hunt, and hurrying after the girls, informed them, in a theatrical voice, that the game was up, and asked them to accompany him to the station. The masqueraders, 1 however, were not prepared to ac- j cept their fate so philosophically | as their heroine did, and with • hearty screams they rushed away j to the seclusion of their homes. Said Darby to his old wife, Joan, “We, side by side, have aged and grown, But here I tell you plump and plain, You shall not poultice me again! There’s something now to cure one faster Of cough or cold than mustard plaster, No more these blisters I’ll endure, I’ll purchase Woods’ Great Pepper mint Cure.’’ 7

Napier is agitating in the direction of starting a co-operative bakery. The children’s bread fund of Otago Trades and Labour Council amounts to over The total amount cabled Home is “ So far as I am personally concerned,” said the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. M’Kenzie) in a speech at Tauranga, “I see no reason why there should not be a railway from Waihi to Tauranga in five years’ time —the 44 miles could be built for half a million.”

On Tuesday the Wellington Crown Lands Office opened for selection 263 acres of the Normandale settlement, Belmont survey district, Lower Hutt. There were in all ten sections offered, ranging in area from three acres to seventy acres, with half-yearly rentals varying from los to 5s 3d. There were no applications.

The Kaitangata relief fund established after the disastrous explosion in the Kaitangata coal mines many years ago has still a credit balance of The annual charges on the fund in respect of 13 people who receive benefits amount to Quite a number of district farmers who were not satisfied with the price ruling for oats last season, says the Gore Standard, have had to dispose of them this season at from is 2d to is or a drop of is a bushel on the price they could have obtained last vear.

Recalling cryptic signs, the case of the man who had the letters Y. M.C.A. outside his door comes under uotice. The gas inspector and tax collector demanded settlement of their bills and pointed reproachfully to the familiar letters. “Oh that doesn’t mean what you mean,” replied he. “It stands for ‘ You may call again!’ ” and bang went tbe door.

A firm of gem merchants in Queensland recently communicated with the Government of this Dominion offering to establish the gem industry in New Zealand provided a subsidy was granted to for any sum under ,£IO,OOO invested in the industry, half the annual net profit of the venture to be paid to the Government until the amount of the subsidy granted to the firm was returned. In a memorandum on the subject of gems and precious stones found in New Zealand, the director of the Geological Survey states that it seems certain that a progressive company could establish a successful manufacture in the cruder jewels now so much used.

A rather fussy women went into a draper’s shop and asked to be shown some tablecloths. The salesman brought a pile and showed them to her ; but she said she had seen these elsewhere nothing suited her. ‘‘Haven’t you something new?” she asked, rather doubtfully. The shopman then fetched out another pile and showed them to her. “These are the newest be said. “You will notice the edge runs right around the border, and the centre is in the middle.” “Dear me, yes ! I will take half a dozen of each,” said the customer. The shopman grinned, and served the tablecloths instanler.

The extreme carelessness of a parent almost resulted in a fatal accident one afternoon last week (says the Mataura Ensign). As the Waimeaexpress was approaching a crossing at Gore, Driver Irishman noticed something lying between the rails, which he was horrified to find was a little boy. The child was apparently asleep, Mr Leishman applied the emergency brakes and blew his whistle, fortunately stopping the train within a few yards of the child. The boy then got up, and seemed delighted that he was so close to the engine. The driver put the child into safety, and then took the train into the station, the child evincing every manifestation of pleasure as the engine passed him.

In reporting to the Warminster (Wilts) Council two of the most malignant cases of diphtheria that he had ever seen, the medical officer of health said that he could trace nothing the matter with the house from which the affected children came- After enquiry he discovered a miserable-looking cat, which had been coughing. He ordered it to be killed and sent to the county medical officers, who said that it showed a large number of bacilli identical with the diphtheria bacillus. This confirmed his suspicions that the disease had been taken from the cat. Two children subsequently died at Swindon from diphtheria traced to the household cat. California, according to its special Labour Commissioner, Colonel Harris Weinstock, now in Wellington, seems to be a sort of earthly paradise (says the Post). Wages are half as much again as they are in New Zealand, and the fruit culturist is a prosperous member of the community. The Colonel quoted the case of a vineyardist who in bad years made net profit of rSO dollars per acre, and in good 400 dollars off his land. California sends in one year to the , Atlantic Coast 30,000 two-ton car- i loads of oranges. Deciduous fruits, are grown chiefly in the Sacramento Valley, and the coastal districts, The South is devoted to citrus culture, and the central district to the vine and the prune- In each of these branches of fruit culture, California is supreme. Insect pests are kept under, but there is always danger. 1 ‘ The price of successful fruit culture is eternal vigilance,” was the phrase with which the Colonel summarised the situation.

The Moutoa Drainage Boardgive notice of intention to strike and levy a general rate of is 4d in the

Mr and Mrs_Symon Williams insert a thanks notice elsewhere in this issue.

Bread is being sold at 3d the 2lb loaf in Palmerston, over the counter.

Owing to the recent rains the creeks and rivers throughout the district are in a flooded state. Wor, Bros. Fraser and Hornblow attended a Masonic function at Masterton last night. They returned to-day. We acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of complimentary tickets lor the juvenile ball to be held on the evening of the 24th iust.

At the Police Court this morning, before Messrs Rimmer and Frauklaud, Js.P., a prohibition order for twelve months was granted against a local resident-

The annual meeting of members of the Chamber of Commerce takes place in the Council Chambers at 7-3° o’clock this evening. A meeting of the Council will be held at 7 p.m. Derwent potato crops in many parts of the Masterton district are rotting in the ground, having been badly afftcled by Might. In many instances crops are 1 eing ploughed itr. We under M-ind that Dr Maud is to lie nominate 1 as President of the local Chamber of Commerce at the annual meeting to-night. In view of his past services, '-e feel sure he will receive the un 1 umous support of the Chamber. Thefts of small coin from milkjugs are becoming common in the suburbs of Christchurch. One householder who, on hearing footsteps in his bark yard and going out to investigate, was punched in the ear. and the thL-t nude good his escape with the coppers intended for the milkman.

When the steamer Orotava, arrived at Perth, a detective arrested an Austrian gum-digger . named Ravelick on a provisional warrant, charging him with obtaining at Dargaville, New Zealand, by false pretences, a gold chain and locket, of the value of £ll, from Elias Maodick.

The following note, addressed to a Feilding storekeeper, was picked up in the street, says the Star—“ Sir, —Will you kindly send me 3lbs of butter, 2 loaves of bread. My wife had a son this morning and 3lbs of cheese and a rat trap. And oblige.”

Quickly surrounding a building in Southwark a party of policemen felt pretty sure of catching the burglar they were after. He had been seen at the window of a warehouse in Warren’s Yard by a carman. Stealthily the police proceeded to search. They found him in a horse trough, which was full of water, in the yard. He was dead.

One of the Kitham Masonic visitors to New Plymouth recently, bumped up against the dignity of labour. It happened thuswise. He wished to give his boots a polish and went to one of the porters of the hotel in which he was staying and said “Would you mind telling me where the shoe-brushes are kept, as I would like to clean my boots before I go out?” The porter replied “I am not on duty now. I don’t come on until 10 o’clock.” ‘‘But I don’t wish you to clean my boots, I only want you to show me where the brushes are kept, I will clean them myself.” “ Oh, I’m not on duty, I don't come on till 10 o’clock,” and away marched the dignified porter, whose feelings had been lacerated to their innermost core at being asked to perform a common civility whilst he was “not on duly.” This is a specimen of the wretched, paltry incidents that are frequently happening and does much to create friction. The small favour that the silly porter was too churlfsh to grant was performed by the landlady herself willingly and cheerfully.—Argus,

Do gas meters tell the truth ? This is a vexed question with the majority of people, who will be interested to know that one meter at least has been proved to be a “ lying jade.” In Carterton, last week, the railway department entered a vigourous protest against the debit note issued by the Borough Council for the monthly supply of gas. It was considered extortionate. The Council replied that the railway was careless in the matter of gas burning, leaving outside lamps burning day and night. Even this did not satisfy the Department, who sent up a gang of men to uncover all the pipes in the vicinity of the station, to search for leaks, but none were found. Then every light was turned off, pilots and all, and a critical examination of the meter proved it to be unconcernedly registering the exodus of gas the whole time. Consumers henceforth will have a little leSs faith in the fallibility of meters, and will watch their movements with suspicion. ■