LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 458, 18 May 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The local Tenuis Club will hold an invitation euchre party and dance in the Masonic Hall tomorrow night.

Mr Lazarette has just opened up a consignment of prime smoked fish, including English haddockFresh fish and oysters also supplied daily. Mr C. J, Fulton, chief fibre expert, visited Foxton last week, and with the local grader (Mr Petrie) examined a considerable quantity of hemp. Several of the lines examined were of exceptionally poor quality, and were graded as “ rejected.” The fault of this, however, does not lie with the miller, but is due entirely to the diseased state of the leaf, which renders it impossible for the hemp to be worked up to a higher grade, Foxton still maintains its position as regards the quantity of hemp graded at the local sheds, there being an increase during April of 200 bales over the amount graded during the same month last year.

The plain, unmixed liquids wherewith man in every country, barbarous or civilised, is enabled to muddle his senses, says the Sydney Morning Herald, are numberless. Man, however, constantly seeking for novelty, takes one and puts it with another. It remained for a youth at the Quarter Sessions yesterday to give the world another. ‘‘What had you been drinking?” asked the Judge. The reply dumbfounded the Court. “I only had three glasses of wine and schnapps.” ‘‘A fairly effective combination, I should think,” commented his Honour. A similar eccentricity of taste in drinks was exhibited by a witness at the Marton Court on Thursday, who said that he was not drunk having had only five rums and raspberries.

We draw the attention of the public to the sale to-raorrow of that valuable property known as the Louth nursery. Norbiton Road, Foxton. A large portion of the property consists of heavy bearing assorted fruit trees, such as apples, pears, quinces, peaches, apricots, English, Japanese and South American plums, mulberries, medlars, figs, prunes, cherries, also walnuts and filberts. To any would-be fruit-grower the sale affords a splendid opportunity, and one seldom to be met with. Mr Gray’s long experience in regard to the choice of fruit trees should be sufficient guarantee as to the supplying of the market throughout the seasons, which is of great importance to those engaged in this particular business.* Many persons find themselves affected with a persistent cough after an attack of influenza. As this cough can be promply cured by the use of Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy, it should not be allowed to run on until it becomes troublesome. For sale everywhere.—Anvx. For Influenza take Woods, Great , Peppermint Cure. Never fails. Is (id and 2s 6d.

The Ministry are re-organising the police force, and expect by this to save ,£9OOO a year. The Secretary of the Awahou Football Club acknowledges receipt of a donation from Mr O. Robinson.

It is reported that an exceedingly valuable deposit of hematite iron ore has been found within a few miles of Kawhia township. The jewellery and the presents which constituted such an important feature at the marriage of Amy Bock, were sold by public auction yesterday. Brer rabbit has apparently had a bad time in Wairarapa of late. Farmers in the district state that the past four or five months have been the most successful for poisoning they have ever known. Exi bunny !

There is a report that Amy Bock is to write the story of her stay at Nugget Bay and the circumstances leading up to the wedding, the proceeds of the sale of the pamphlet going to makeup the sh; borrowed from Miss Henderson.

The headmaster of a school recently put up a notice that at an early date he would lecture on the following subject ; “ Our Eyes, and how we see through them.” Shortly afterwards he was astonished to find an alternative title written underneath, “ Our Pupnls, and how they see through us.”

Thursday is the feast of the Ascension. There will be special services in All Saints’ Church: 7.30 a.m. and 11 a.m., Holy Communion ; evensong and short address at 7.30 p.m. This is one oi the great festivals of the year, and one which the church strictly observes.

A Masterton merchant, speaking to a Daily Times reporter, stated that though nothing definite was known, there was a rumour afloat in Wellington to the effect that tea and sugar would again be made subject to duty during the coming session of Parliament. .

Peculiarities with our present and immediately previous Governors were summed up recently (says the Taranaki News), with terseness. ‘' When Lord Ranfurly was here he centred his mind on the old chaps that were soon to leave this world. Lord Plunket’s wife displays a big interest in the babies that are just coming in.” The opinion held by those in the best position to judge (says the Clutha Leader) is that Amy Bock, never meant to go the length of the wedding ceremony, at any rate, at Nugget Bay, but various circumstances, the chief of these being the shortage of money, and consequent inability to get away, interfered with what are believed to have been her ideas on the matter, providing her identity had not been disclosed at an earlier moment.

Local enthusiasm in horticulture has resulted in a “ Dreadnought ” in potatoes (says the Dunedin Star.) Mr H. Clarke, gardenerto Mr Glendining, in order to restore, if possible, the good qualities of the Derwent potato —which, like other varieties, tends to a gradual deterioration—crossed it with a white variety of Sutton’s. Three years must elapse before potatoes raised from seed mature sufficiently for table purposes.. This year being the third of the cross, great interest centred in the result. Before lifting time arrived, the drawing away of the surface soil from around some shaws revealed promise of an exceptional crop, which was verified later on to an astonishing degree. One shaw produced 105 potatoes, weighing lb, which works out in tons to the acre to an envious number. Another shaw in a somewhat drier position, which affected the size of the individual tubers, numbered 124 potatoes, and so the suitabilty of name for this new potato is evident.

Into the Goswell road Post Office, one day recently, walked a stalwart, broad-shouldered old man, with white hair and moustache (says a London paper). He came to sign an application form for an old age pension, and gave his name as Jem Mace, born at Beeston, Norwich, April Bth, 1831. The old man with the wellbrushed silk hat was, indeed, none

other than the famous old pugilist, and former undefeated champion of the world, who now, within a few weeks of his seventy-eighth birthday, finds himself fallen on hard times. Despite his advanced . years, Mace is as hard as pails, and as jolly as a sandboy,'and he was delighted to chat with an interviewer. Hie was at his prime in the sixties, and boasts 500 fights with only two defeats. “ Careful living’ and keeping off the drink is the secret,” he said, k ‘‘ln the old days men trained 7® harder, and went through dideals that would kill present day boxers. There’s all the difference in the world between the old fights with bare knuckles and glove contests to day, which are mere pleasure outings.” Mace is still active and keen. Within the last fortnight he has been giving exhibitions of boxing at Hull and Coventry, and he hopes to have the gloves on with pupils and others many times more., Some big prizes have fallen in his time to the lot of the old man who to-day is applying for an old age pension. In one fight in America he won and he has known what it is to have in the bank. Dick and Arnst we have heard, < Rode to fame on the trusty Red Bird; | Now Jack tends his plows and punches his cows, While in a skiff’s not/

The school re-opened yesterday morning, after the quarterly vacation.

The Works Committee of the Borough Council made a tour of inspection of the various streets last week.

A meeting is to be held at Kevin to-night, for the purpose of re-instating the Chamber of Commerce.

The first meeting of the newlyelected School Committee will be held in the school house on Thursday night. Constable Lander, who was stationed here some time ago, paid a flying visit to Foxton yesterday. He is now stationed at Te Awamutu.

At noon to-day the artesian bore was down 414 ft and a seam of clay was being entered. It is hoped that a flow will be obtained after the clay has been passed. “ Jack Frost ” has made his appearance throughout this district. It is hardly possible to realise, in view of the mild autumn, that mid-winter is almost upon us.

The press throughout the Dominion have stated that there is an outbreak of diphtheria in Foxton. Such, however, is not the case. We are not aware of a single case of the dread disease in the town.

The new Post Office will not be officially opened till the end of next month. We understand that the Prime Minister will perform the ceremony. We would suggest that the Mayor and President of the Chamber of Commerce take steps to arrange a fitting function.

A crowd gathered in front of Whyte’s Hotel on Saturday night, attracted by a certain individual who, when our representative arrived, was straining like a hound at the leash, to get at some one. Strong hands withheld him. His language was disgusting. Fortunately for the agressive one, the police were not in sight. The Northern Advocate, Whangarei, states that a persistent rumour is, in circulation to the effect that the Government is purchasing an area of n,ooo acres ol land in the western district for close settlement, and some people think that, if this is correct, the Northern Trunk railway will almost certainly go west of the Tangihua ranges. “ Ratepayer ” writes to enquire whether the Borough Nuisance Inspector is correct in reporting the borough in a good sanitary condition. He alleges thdt there is a certain back yard in Main Street, which is a “disgrace and a menace to the public health.” If our correspondent is correct, we would suggest that he lose no time in giving information to the Town Clerk, in order that the complaint may be looked into.

Our attention has been called to the necessity for the erefction of a lamp to light up Harbour Street, between Clyde and Wharf Streets. It is pointed out that this a very dark thoroughfare. If the Railway Department had the approaches to the station illuminated, it would obviate the necessity to erect lamps in this quarter. No doubt the Council will back up the Chamber of Conlmerce, in urging upon the Department the necessity for lighting the approaches.

Mayor Nash, of Palmerston,

paid Foxton a visit yesterday, and

in conversation with several councillors, strongly advocated loan proposals for water and drainage works and Municipal Town Hall. He stated that he would be pleased to receive a visit from local councillors, and delighted to show them over the Palmerston water works, and give any information in his power to afford. We may mention that Palmerston’s Mayor is also a Foxton ratepayer .

Mr Walter Seifert has made so many alterations to his original “washing” patent »that he has practically evolved a new machine. The “catcher” as in the old patent

flings each “feed” over an endless

chain. The “feed” passes over a small revolving scutcher, which shakes the vegetation from the fibre, and the “hank,” still on the chain, passes through a trough of water, the fibre at the same time being subjected to a flow of water from above. Mr Seifert has been experimenting recently with his machine at Miranui. Our representatvie had the pleasure of looking over the local State School last Saturday afternoon, and the cleaning operations carried out by Mr McKnight reflect the highest credit upon that individual.. The class-rooms were scrupulously clean, and free from any evil odour. The committee is fortunate in obtaining the services of such a conscientious ; servant, and it is hoped that both "‘teachers and scholars will do their share in assisting the caretaker to keep the interior of the school free from germ-producers, thus safeguarding the health of the little ones. If a cold you have neglected, Till you fear your cheat’s affected, There’s no need to feel dejected, You can still be quite secure. To despair is only madness, So away with gloom and sadness, • Take that thing of joy and gladness, Wood’s Great Peppermint Cure. 8. Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy is Nature’s most natural remedy, improved by science to a pleasant, permanent, positive cure for coughs, colds, and all inflamed surfaces of the lungs and bronchial tubes. The , sore, weary, cough-worn lungs are exhilarated, the microbe-bearing mucus is cut out, the cause of that tickling removed, and the inflamed membranes are healed an I soothed, so that there is no inclination to cough. It always cares. For sale everywhere. Advt.