LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 458, 22 May 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Executive of the Foxton Sub-Union meet to-night.

The local Methodist Church are having an arc lamp erected over the gate in front of the Church. The expense of same is being borne by the young men of the Church.

The Secretary of the Albion Football Club desires to acknowledge receipt of donations from Messrs Baillie, Horublow and Bird.

Fair's Exquisite Pictures and Blanchard’s Bellringers are an uouuced to give their novel and refined entertainment in the Public Hall on Tuesday evening next. Mr Walter S. Carter offers a reward of £2 for information that will lead to the conviction of the person or persons who cut and removed manuka shelter from section 464 adjoining the borough, near Mr Baker’s property.

The Horowhenua Chronicle urges upon the Levin Borough Council to enforce its standing orders and rules of debate in order to avoid protracted sittings and much waste of time. We advise our neighbouring Borough Council to', take a leaf out of Foxton’s book. The mission in connection with the Methodist Church commences to-morrow. Mr J. Charteris “ the Scotch preacher,” will take for his subject, 11 The Church’s Worst Representative and the World’s Best.” In the evening, the boy preacher’s subject will be, “ Come Unto Me.” A solo, “ Out of Touch With Your Lord,” will be rendered by the Rev. P. J. Mairs. There will be a prayer meeting at 7 a.m. Please bring Sankey hymn books. The Sunday services will be from 6.45 to 7 p.m,—Advt. Says this week’s Free Lance; ‘Everyone about Wellington who has ever heard of whitebait has probably also heard of Foxton. That’s the place where travellers make for to stalk, or spear or otherwise, capture the small fish. Now, Foxton has a Borough Council, mayor, and all the other appurtenances. Also the town boasts as many churches as hotels —perhaps, a few more. On a recent Sunday a church parade was held at which the mayor and councillors did not attend. They were invited. Not only were they invited —they were offered the position of honour in the procession, to wit, next the band. The mayor, however, objected to drag bis dignity along after the big drum. Now, the mayor’s name is Stiles, and a jolly good fellow this same Stiles. Popular to a degree, and also progressive, but we’re wondering whether he and his fellow-members of the Council will not be in any danger of the anathemas of the church in Foxton. This increase of paganism in the fishing village is deplorable. They’ll behaving Sunday concerts up there next.

Tliere have often been cases in which i ersons, through the working of their conscience, have been moved to alone for past deeds. Here is another instance of the remittance of conscience money, which wo happened to know through our being shown the following letter to a local chemist, says the Takaka Times.—“ Dear Sir; When I was working in Bainham, Collingwood, I got a bottle of medicine off yon and I never paid for it. When I had left them the account was sent on to me at Dunedin. I forgot your name, since 1 came to Australia I have got converted and God had pricked my conscience about this bottle of medicine, and he has told me to pay for it and it was 3s, so please find enclosed postal note for 3s. I think it is six years since I got it off you. Now as I have God’s forgiveness, I ask you to forgive me. We may deceive man but we cannot deceive God for he knows all about us, are you a Christian? if not, why not? Christ Jesus the Saviour is calling everybody to come to him that they might have eternal life. Hoping this will find you well and trusting in Jesus and that you will forgive me for trying to deceive you. Yours in the love of Jesus Christ.—J. R.”

Mr Walter Traft'ord, Pharmaceutical Chemist by Exam., High-street, West Maitland, N.S.W., writes-.— “l have had over 26 years active and practical experience in leading English and Colonial Pharmacies, and am convinced that of all the numerous cough medicines, none has given greater satisfaction than Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy. I invariably use it in my own family and have derived such benefit from it that when I am asked to recommend a good medicine I unhesitatingly recommend Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy,” For sale every, where, — Advt.

“ There are too many men knocking about now who want 5s for is worth of labour,” said Mr Lawrence at the Moa Road Board recently.

Overheard at the Palmerston Show. —Old lady (meeting acquaintance): “Hullo, Betsy, an.’ how are ye? Ye seem to be all here. I was just takin’ a look round the pigs and saw your father.”

The Wellington city tramways carried 21,679,902 passengers during the past year, and the revenue was >£136,436, an increase of £11,425. The expenditure was £91,672. After paying interest and sinking fund and allowing £13,242 for depreciation, there was a profit of £5934. Another old settler climbing slowly to the century is Mr Fortescue, of Mahakipawa, who will start his 90th year on the 24th May. “ Forty ”-is another fine specimen of “ ripe ” old age ; he scoffs at pains and aches (says the Pelorus Guardian), and talks of organising an old men’s race from Mahakipawa to Havelock. Dr. A. H. Henderson, aged 61, of Philadelphia, has married Miss Harriet Mismer, aged 19, whose sister is the wife of the doctor’s eldest son, says a New York paper. Mrs Henderson is now the mother-iu-law ot her eldest sister, the stepmother of her own brother-in-law, and step-grandmother of her niece. On Monday evening next a children’s ball will be held, under the auspices of All Saints’ Ladies Guild, in the Public Hall. It will be a plain and fancy dress affair. It cannot be correctly termed a ball, because a very large percentage of the little ones have not yet acquired the terpsichoreau art. They, however, indulge in a real good romp, and are well catered for. Already the function is being looked forward to with pleasure by a number of little ones.

The population of New Zealand on March 31st was 1,028,384, made up of 546,3x4 males and 482,070 females. During the month of March the population increased to the extent of 3261 males and 3180 females in the natural way, and by 8535 males and 4775 females through immigration. The total increase was 19,751, as against a decrease of 12,080, consisting of 2205 by death and 9875 by departure The number of motor cars and motor cycles in Invercargill is large in proportion to its size. Invercargill can fairly claim to be the motor city of the Dominion, says the Southland News. The total is 144 (of which 132 are registered locally), and as the town has a population of 13,000 (made up of 3,000 householders), it will be seen that t'. ere is a motor car or motor cycle to every 20.8 families.

A boy named Thomas Cuff, aged ix years, was accidentally killed by an explosion of acetylene gas on Saturday ,at Oamaru. He was playing with other boys in the tent occupied by the Jones Buckjumping Company, and struck a match to examine a tin containing dry carbide. An explosion followed and the top of the tin was driven into his head, killing him instantly. That horses have some humane feeling was plainly apparent after the locally-owned Rangihaeata’s fall at Hawera, for when it looked any odds on him trampling on his rider after unseating him, the chestnut curled himself up near the fence, stood as quiet as a lamb, and gazed down on his injured rider, in quite a disconsolate manner as if to seek retribution for having been the cause of the misdoing, Price practically has full care of the horse at home, and the son of Rangipuhi knew him in an instant.

An American school teacher was discoursing to her class on the subject of Washington’s birthday. “This morning,” she said, “when I arose, flags were flying and the streets were draped in bunting. Tell me what was the reason ?” Twenty voices shouted, “ Washington’s birthday.” “But I had a birthday last week, and there were no flags flying, some of you didn’t even know that I had a birthday. Now, why was that ?” persisted the teacher. ‘ ‘ Because, ’ ’ said one, “ Washington never told a lie !’’

A Taihape novelty is thus described in the Daily Times: As anticipated, a great crowd assembled outside Mr H. D, Bennett’s store at 8.30 on Saturday evening, when the proprietor, accompanied by three well - known Taihabe builders solemnly seated themselves at the elegantly-laid tea table in the show space behind the window, and partook of the good things provided. The novel attraction greatly amused the crowd and for the time being locomotion on the footway was impeded.

People talk about hard times and depression, writes a Wellington correspondent, but I can never remember a time when more New Zealanders were travelling to the Old Country. The Corinthic took over 200 passengers, and the Moeraki sailed for Sydney next day, with close upon 300 more. A very large proportion of the Moeraki’s passengers were bound for Europe, and even now, although the season is getting on, it is difficult to get a good berth in any of the big Australian liners leaving for England, even up to the end of June. People can’t travel on nothing, and the average cost of a six mouths’ trip to the Old Coutry cannot be less than so you see this migration, temporary though it be, means that a very large sum of money is being spent. Things can’t be so bad as they’re made out to be.

The Secretary of the Awahou Football Club desires to publicly acknowledge receipt of donations from Messrs Bird and J. K. Hornblow.

Ladies’ underclothing of all descriptions is advertised by Messrs Colliuson andCunninghame, Ltd., in this issue. This firm buy these goods direct from the makers. They invite an inspection, as the value is said to be equal to any in the Dominion. There is a very fine selection from which to make a choice. The Minister for Public Works (Hon. R, M'Kenzie) told a reporter that he was very well satisfied with the prospects of the railway lines now under construction. The Government did not intend to curtail expenditure on railway construction. Railways and roads must be made to open up vast tracts of good country now awaiting settlement. The promoters of the Levin to Marton railway will do well to bear this statement in mind.

During the height of a gale, lightning struck a large pinus insiguis tree at Buckland, near Auckland. For a distance of 30ft from the ground upwards the trunk has been split open several iuches in width through the whole diameter, while the bark has been torn off in large squares, and scattered in all directions. The effect of the lightning was so severe that the tree took fire, and although left standing it has canted over considerably, A native tree not far away was also struck, and commenced to burn.

The appreciation in value of the Ruakura State Farm since it was purchased by the Government is shown by the fact that as much as £7O an acre has been recently offered for a portion of the estate,' The laud was purchased at an average price of £b 17s an acre, and it is considered that if it we'e now placed in the market it would realise an average of about an acre.

A Bill prohibiting all import and sale of intoxicants in any shape or form, even in cakes, sweets, or chocolates, has been introduced in the Icelandic Parliament. The Bill further ordains that ships arriving in Iceland shall have their stock of spirits and other alcoholic beverages under seal whilst in Icelandic waters, and that those seals may only be released by the authorities when the ship leaves. For manufacturing and medicinal purposes alcohol will be imported and sold by the Government in denaturalised state.

A lodger in an Invercargill boardinghouse recently had a rather unpleasant experience (says the Southland News). .He awoke in the middle of the night through something gripping his nose, and waving his hands above him struck an object. Lighting his candle he found several punctures in the organ attacked, causing blood to appear, and came to the conclusion that a rat had found its way into the room. To set any doubts at rest he made an examination and found the rodent’s means of ingress. It is not usual for rats to attack the human being in this way, and it is supposed that the specimen under notice had been cut off from iood for some time.

A contemporary says that the New Zealand Government might go further and fare worse for a successor to Captain Edwin than by securing Clement Wragge. Already his New Zealand predictions, given seemingly offhand, from scraps of data and imperfect appliances, make the dinkey little stereotyped forecasts from the New Zealand Observatory . appear colourless and vague, and presently the Meteorological Office may be getting on its hind legs and chasing Clement with an official big stick of jealousy, as they tried to do for many years in Australia. A visitor to Oamaru from South Africa gives a doleful account of the labour market there. He says that every department of trade is very bad, and until recently the steamers could not accommodate all the passengers desirous of quitting the country. The depression which existed all over the country suce the war has had a decidedly detrimental effect on investment companies, so much so that whereas in former years dividends of 100 per cent, and up to 300 were not uncommon, the once profitable institutions paying these now found it difficult to declare a 10 to 20 per cent, dividend, and some of them could not even do that.

The Australian cricket team were defeated by Surrey by- five runs.

Knox Church (Lower Hutt) has sent a call to the Rev. J. M’Caw, of Maryborough. The ordinary meeting of the Harbour Board will be held on Monday evening next. The Rev. Mr Aitken, in conjunction with others, has consented to assist in starting a debating society in connection with the Flaxmills Union Cluft. For the London wool sales, there is keen competition and the highest rates of the series are ruling. Interesting reading matter will be found on to-day’s back page, in reference to “ Religious Education” ; also an article re the National Dairy Show to be held at Palmerston.

Monday next, May 24, the anniversary of the birth of the late Queen Victoria, is Empire Day, and the scholars of the local State School will salute the flag, and sing patriotic songs, etc.

On the lonely leper island, Molokai, was Mrs W. R. Brinkerhoff, an heiress to millions, who had sacrificed wealth, social life, and every pleasure to go and help her husband in his work among the lepers. To this cause she has just given the final sacrifice — her life.

A Melbourne message states that Francis Webster, the finder of the famous “Welcome Nugget,” died at Ballarat Benevolent Asylum, aged 74. He returned to Ballarat three years ago, poor and in ill-health, and compelled to seek the shelter of the asylum. News has been received at Sydney of an attack by the Malay pirates on a Chinese junk in Johore waters. The crew of the junk were hacked to pieces with knives, the pirates laughing at the screams of the victims. The junk was looted of its valuables.

Many policemen and sailors confirm the reports that a balloon was seen at night time on the East coast of England. It is supposed to be a reconnoitring balloon belonging to the German Fleet manoeuvring in the North Sea.

Our Palmerston evening contemporary publishes this remarkable statement: “ All roads lead to Palmerston and that is what every one wants..’ Another evidence of the dread disease, Parochialitis. Jack and Bill (not Jill) were on their first visit for some duck shooting. After blazing away a lot of ammmuuition they thought they had shot a bird. After a long search they picked up a frog, when Jack exclaimed, “Crikey, Bill, all his feathers are blown off!”

The services at the local Presbyterian Church to-morrow will be conducted in the morning by the Rev. G. K. Aitken, and in the evening by the Rev. P. J. Mairs, who has kindly agreed to take the service in place of Mr Low, of Palmerston North, who, through family bereavement, is unable to visit Foxton.

For first-class quality and low prices in warm winter rugs and quilts, etc., visit Mrs Hamer, of the Economic, who is overstocked at present, and is offering same at practically “ given-away ” prices. This opportunity is a very rare one so early in the season, and all in need of warm bedding should not fail to call early at the Economic, where they will receive exceptional value for their money.*

A young man named Thos. Martin, a tailor, died while being conveyed from the football field at Oamam on Wednesday. He had complained of feeling unwell for several days, and while playing football, it is supposed he struck one of the goal posts with his head. He was removed from the ground but died shortly afterwards. The doctor who attended him says that death was due to hemorrhage of the brain.

Miss Eouisa Chant, aged fortynine years, a patient in the Wellington Hospital, died yesterday morning after chloroform had been administered to her for the purpose of enabling an operation to be performed. Dr. McArthur, District Coroner, held.an inquest, and a verdict was returned of death from heart failure, accelerated by the administration of anaesthetics for the purposes of operation which was absolutely necessary.