LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 460, 1 June 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On to-day’s fourth page will be found “Sculling” and other interesting reading matter. The Pope handed over to the Italian police three burglars caugbt in the Vatican gardens, thereby recognising the civil power of Italy. 1

The failure to launch the Danton cost The vessel is still fast. [The French battleship Dauton, when being launched, stuck fast on the slips at Brest.l

Mr C. H. Collins notifies that he has been appointed sole agent for Fox ton and district for Thorley’s world-famed foods for horses, cows, sheep, poultry, etc., and is prepared to supply same in large and small quantities.

The price ot a 2lb loaf will be lowered to in Wellington on and after Monday, if flour does not become dearer. Bread was advanced from to a few weeks ago, when flour went up £1 per ton. Coupons will be sold for 3s sd per dozen.

Archdeacon Wright, interviewed by the Manchester Guardian as to his appointment as Archbishop of Sydney, said he had not sought or expected the appointment. He was unable to say until he received particulars whether he would accept the great honour.

Mr A. Dazarette notifies thas he has decided to run a delivery cart in connection with his fish business, and in future all kinds of fresh and smoked fish will be delivered daily. A consignment of crayfish, smoked schnapper and rock oysters has just been opened up, and can be procured from the cart or at the shop. The Otago Trades and Labour Council claims to have established a record in the length of service by its secretaries. The Council was formed in 1890, and Mr Robert Slater became its secretary shortly after, and held the position until 1901, when his duties on the Arbitration Court necessitated his retirement. Mr Slater was succeeded by Mr R. Breen, who still holds the position.

In conversation with a German born, but naturalised British subject lately, a representative of the Reefton Times was informed as follows: “ You British do not love the British flag as we foreigners do. We know what other flags bring upon us. You don’t. There is no country so free as your Britain and her colonies. In Germany there was borrowing and scraping and official interference, and life was horrible. You Britons are a clever ?ace. You call for people to come to you, open your arms to them and you profit by it- War between England and Germany ! Never! The Kaiser is mad. Everybody in Germany knows he is so. He is watched by keepers. But if Germany wants to build Dreadnoughts she has to go to Britain for the money. If British trade with Germany were to stop a mouth, Germany would be bankrupt.

The visitor to the Homeland from the Dominion notices whenever he goes, products in use with which he has become familiar in New Zealand, and quickly realises that he is near to the source from which have come many of the articles he purchases in his own land. , Two names that are household words in Great Britain are Bass’ Ale and Guinness’ Stout, but these two products are almost as universally known amongst New Zealanders. That this is so, pray be gathered from the tact that Messrs Read Bros., Etd„ (who bottle Bass’ Ale and Guiness’ Stout for export to New Zealand) have for years past averaged from 80 to 90 per cent, of the total imports of ale and stout into the Dominion. Better than any words these figures indicate the partiality of New Zealanders for the best British productions. Messrs Read Bros, have the largest bottling establishment in Great Britain, but this fact is not to be wondered at when the character of the goods they handle is considered. Bass’ Ale has a world-wide reputation for its quality, and Guinness’ Stout is equally famous. Some idea of the popularity -of 'their goods, bearing their well-known “dog’s head” brand, may be gathered when it is stated that Messrs Read Bros. ’ order to Bass last year was the biggest ever received by the famous firm of Burton’s, the brewers of Bass.*

The arrivals in New Zealand during last April were 2372, and the departures 4015. In April 1908, the figures were: arrivals 3022, departures 3312, An infant daughter of Mr G. Rouse fell a victim to the dread disease diphtheria, early yesterday morning, at the parents residence, Union Street. The age of the little one was three years and nine months.

At theTocal Police Court yesterday, before Mr T. Rimmer, J.P., Patrick McCarthy was fined £l, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, for disorderly conduct in Main Street, whilst drunk.

“It is amine of interminable wealth virtually undeveloped. I never expected to see so much fine country lying absolutely idle and waste.” That is how the Hon. Mr, Hogg described the King Country to a New Zealand Times reporter.

At the local Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening the Rev I. Jolly, M.A., (Moderator elect of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand); ordained and inducted Messrs Speirs and Hornblow as elders of the Church. His sermon was appropriate to the occasion and he dealt fully with the origin of the offices of elders and deacons.

Two points of view were spoken of by a delegate to the Provincial Farmers’ Conference at Pahiatua recently. He was sent to value a property on which the holder was desirous of raising money, and he was told great things of the quality and grazing capacity of the land. Not long afterwards, he was appointed Government valuer for the same district, and the farmer who had raised the loan came to him with a long face. “ For God’s sake don’t think all that I told you the other day was true!” he exclaimed.

A farmer, Mr A. Howie, of Waverley, was very emphatic at the Ekeathuna Conference in regard to the methods of valuing land in vogue. “My farm,” he said, “is valued at per acre, and that is fair ; but I am only allowed £5 an acre for improvements —that is unfair. We broke hi the land in the days of the Maori wars, and I have lived on it continuously ever since, paying all manner of taxes and assisting in many ways to promote the interests of the district. Now the Government has the cheek to say the unimproved value of my land is It is simply blackmail. We are being robbed.’ ’

“ The fact cannot be disguised,” said a farmer to a Wairarapa Age reporter, “ that rabbits are an the increase very appreciably in the lower stretches of the North Island. It is all very well to assert that the past season has been a record one for poisoning. Such a statement must be illogical when there has been an indubitably record growth of splendid grass. Rabbits are to be seen in thousands in certain districts, where no doubt, most complete measures have been taken to prevent their spread. Even behind, the capital city, where the hills are steep and barren, and where rabbits can thrive, there are now many times more rabbits than were to be seen ten years ago. Believe me, the rabbit nuisance is not checked yet.” Last Sunday afternoon two individuals were to be seen in the borough, in a very intoxicated condition. One was hanging on to a fence at the south end of Main St., and the other was lying on the roadside in Union St., with his head a few inches from the wheel track. His hat was off, and a bottle was sticking out of his coat pocket. His position was dangerous to himself and to vehicular traffic. We believe that our local hotelkeepers have too great a regard for the law to indulge in illicit sales of liquor, and it is possible that the drink was purchased the night previous. These are the sights that are helping the Nolicense movement more than anything else we know of.

We are informed that the District Health Officer has been asked to visit Foxton. In view of the recent diphtheric cases an immediate investigation of the back yards of the borough should be made. We understand there are several old wells and cess pits and plenty of filth in the borough which.are a menace to the public health. We hope the Borough Council, which is the local health authority will make enquiries and that without loss of time. A drainage scheme is badly needed but in the meantime the Council should enforce back premises.

In order to encourage the oilboring operations now proceeding in different parts of the Dominion, and to give a start to a promising new industry, the Government has decided to offer a bonus of 3d per gallon on the first 500,000 gallons of kerosene produced and refined in New Zealand. The conditions will be announced in the Gazette. Boring for oil has now been proceeding for a considarable time in three different localities —at New Plymouth; at Waitangi Hill, 40 miles out of Gisborne; and at Kotuku, near Take Brunner, between Greymouth and Otira, and there is no doubt that the offer of a bonus will stimulate the activity of the operations at each place.

Dick and Jack Arnst we have heard, Rode to fame on the trusty Red Bird ; Now Jack tends his plows and punches his cows, While Dick’s pace in a skiff’s not deferred.

- : ,-j At Dunedin on Saturday, Roo? rick McKenzie, of the Excelsior Hotel, was fined for supplying liquor to an intoxicated man. His licensed was not endorsed.

There was a record fog , at Sydney on Saturday, and the city and harbour were enveloped till ten on Sunday morning. Shipping and all traffic was at a standstill. Late visitors to the city and those going down the harbour were unable to reach their homes. Many passengers on the Manly boats camped aboard all night.

The Dunedin Star states that the existence of the Flourmillers’ Association will be decided to-day. All depends on one large South Canterbury milling firm, whose agreement expired yesterday. The 5 firm has declared that it will not continue. Should this course be persisted in .the Association will practically disband to-day. An elder sister was suing an elderly brother for maintenance at the Wellington S. M. Court yesterday, and when defendant was called the woman, interrogating no one in particular, asked: “Is that Richard ? ” indicating the delendaut. W hen Richard was put in the witness-box the doubt was explained—Richard had only seen his sister once in thirty-five years. “ My word for it before many months are gone, there will be a considerable rise in the. value of fat stock. New Zealand is being slowly drained, a fact which is now becoming known.” These (says the Waverley correspondent of the Patea Press) were the words of a man in whose intelligence and integrity I have full confidence, and I hope therefore farmers will investigate matters for themselves and act accordingly.

In the Christchurch Divorce Court; on Friday before Mr Justice Denniston, Louisa Martin petitioned for dissolution of her marriage with James Crosby Martin, barrister, of Auckland, on the ground of adultery. There was no appearance of respondent. Respondent was co-respondent in the divorce case of Simms v. Simms and Martin, and letters written by respondent admitting misconduct were put in. A decree nisi was granted. Mr Clement Wragge reports The centre of the atmospheric disturbance named “ Carroll,” registered by automatic barometer, passed swiftly south from Wellington at 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon and nearly fizzed out, having been filled up by the pressures. It is the only one of •- the series of disturbance named in honour of public men that has failed adequately to respond to expectations; “Buddo” follows in a few days and promises good rain for farmers ; and “ Ngata is due near the middle of June. One of the many virtues ascribed to the average celestial is that he never or rarely, gets drunk—at least in public. But one has been distinguishing himself in the Thames town last week, and, as a result, he got his name on the court register, and himself within four walls of His Majesty's Prison, On the day in question, the offender was noticed in charge of a horse and cart, and the erratic course he was steering led to some suspicion regarding his sobriety, the horse being of an in-, disputably excellent and sober character. The celestial John, , like his scriptural brother in profession, drove furiously, but at a medium pace. He shook the reins across the noble animal’s quarters, shook his head (his own) and his arms (also his own) and other- , wise made a great pretence of get- Vting up a fast gait. So he zigzagged down the streets amid much amusement from the sidewalks and anathema from other drivers, who going in the opposite way, found a difficulty in avoiding a collision. Finally, a couple of constables, in the interests of the Chinaman, and of justice, decided to put him out of harm’s way, and escorted him to the station, with the result above stated.