LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 461, 8 June 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The exports from Wellington during May amounted to ,£357,666, an increase of over the corresponding month of 1908. Captain Naylor, late master of the Penguin, has been granted a mate’s certificate for a foreigngoing vessel, in lieu of his master's certificate, which has been suspended for 12 months.

In a criminal case heard at the Supreme Court, Auckland, recently, it was stated in evidence that a family consisting of a father, mother, and eight children, lived, slept, and took their meals in one room.

Reuter’s Agency reports that Mr M’lntosh has signed articles with “Bob” Fitzsimmons for a tour in South Africa and Australia and there to meet any heavyweight available. “Jimmy” Britt has also signed articles for the same tour.

The polling for the election of a member ot the Wellington Land Board rendered necessary by the retirement of Mr J. M. A’Court, of Sanson, by the effluxion of time, resulted in the return of Mr H. T. Ellingham, of Horoeka, by a large majority. Ross may rave about its threelegged hen, and Petone prate about its human-faced potato, but these must now sit in the rear of Hokitika, for there the other night a cat had chickens. A lady had laid in for the Sunday’s dinner two nice tender chickens, but before dawn of the day of rest the cat had ’em. The three are doing well.—West Coast Times. News has been received that the Royal Geographical Society has decided to send an expedition to the South Pole towards the end of this year, in charge of Captain Valentine Webster, who has contributed ,£IO,OOO towards the cost of the expedition. The exploring party, which will probably be known as the “Daily Telegraph” South Polar Expedition, expects to leave New Zealand, following the route adopted by Lieutenant Shackleton.

A Christchurch message states that among other shemes of economy in Government Departments, it is proposed to charge officers in residental country post offices a rental in future. In voicing his opinion on the matter, a country postal official stated that, with a free house, he felt that if any person living some distance away came to do business out of office hours, he felt under an obligation to attend to that person. If he was to pay a rent, however, he would consider that obligation removed, and decline to do business out of office hours.

Curious things happen at a fire but though they may be serious enough at the time the humorous side presents itself afterwards. The other day when an outbreak at Maori Hill threatened to demolish the whole house (says the Timaru Post), a go-cart came in very useful for the carting out of linen and various other articles. Then after a number of things had been stowed away in a place of safety it was found that the baby was missing. Subsequently something stirred at the bottom of the go-cart; it was the baby. It had laid quietly under successive piles of linen, and smiled unconscious of all the danger it had gone through.

lu reference to the testing of cows for tuberculosis, many farmers are, the Wairarapa News is informed, very reluctant to submit their cows to the ordeal. Some probably through dread that their cows will be condemned, and others because they fear that the cows will be put off their supply of milk. This latter is quite a wrong notion. In the herds tested about Carterton last week, the cows suffered no disturbance at all, and the milk supplv was not affected in any way. Every dairy herd should be periodically tested, so that there should be a guarantee that the milk which is going into human consumption comes from thoroughly healthy cows.

One of the great features of the National Dairy Show this year will be the demonstration of milking machines. It is wonderful how the machine has been improved upon since it was first introduced for' practical purposes, but, greater improvements are forthcoming, and amongst the seven makes of milking machines to be shown at the dairy show there is a patent improvement Which can be attached to any milking machine and which will deliver milk from the cows teAs to the factory can, but more than this, last week fifty nine cows were milked in fifty four minutes by one man using four machines each fitted with the patent, an assistant being employed to do the stripping. The great value of the exhibition of dairy machinery at the show is the concentration of everything of real vital value to the farmer, a fact already realised by them hence the large number of visitors every year. Excursion fare will prevail on all the railways for the benefit ot visitors to this great national dairy exposition. 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.*

For j Influenza take Woods, Great Peppermint Cure. Never fails. Is Gd and 2 s Gd. / ,

The Town Clerk informs us that the reading room will be closed on Thursday next for repairs, Mrs G. P. Donnelly (Airini Touore) died on Sunday night at her residence, . Otatara, near Napier, after a long illness.

The caucus of Government supporters decided that Parliament should be prorogued to enable the Premier to attend the Conference.

The ordinary meeting of the local Masonic lodge will be held this evening at 7,30 o’clock. Visiting brethren are invited to be present.

At the local Police Court yesterday, before Messrs Frankland and Stiles, J’s.P,, two first offenders were convicted of drunkenness, and fined 5s each. A prohibition order for 12 months was granted against one. Mary Kilmartin, a visitor to Oamaru from Makikihi, who had been staying there since March, was found dead in bed on Sunday morning at the Junction Private Hotel. It is understood that deceased belonged to Dunedin, The scow Echo, which was stranded at Karamea, has been floated off, and is now at the Karamea wharf. This is the boat on which, when lying at the local whaif, the unfortunate man Moore, met with an accident, which led up to > his death. The inquest re same has been adjourned until the boat again puts in at this port. Martinborough, a recentlyformed Town Board district, officially opened its high-pressure water scheme on Friday last. The head works are six miles from the township, and the concrete reservoir is capable of holding 15,000 gallons. The scheme cost and £2500 has been borrowed for extensions. The contract was completed in three months. Bravo Martinborough !

Intimation has been received from London that Dr. Mary Blair, who left Wellington for England some eight or nine years ago to pursue her medical studies, has just been appointed house surgeon at the London Hospital for Women for the ensuing six months. Dr. Blair is a daughter of the late Mr W. R. Blair, at one time Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, and is an M.A. of the London University. Messrs J. C. Cooper and M. J. Corrigan report that the proposed Co-operative Freezing works now has,£l2,ooo of share capital guaranteed, and the registration of the company is to be proceeded with at once. The provisional directors will hold a meeting at Pahiatua today. The question of site for the proposed works should not be long deferred. If Wellington or the Wairarapa is chosen in lieu of Foxton it is feared that much support will be withheld from the West Coast.

Charles Riches, aged 27, employed at Sjdvia Park, Olahuhu, was accidentally killed on Sunday. He laid his gun down on a dog kennel while he released a dog. He then pulled the gun towards him. The trigger became caught, and Riches received the full charge in the stomach, death ensuing before the doctor arrived. Riches arrived from Lancashire last November.

H. R. H. George Frederick Ernest Albert, Prince of Wales, completed his 44th year on Thursday, Some people may be interested to know the various titles he bears. They are as follow: — Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall and York, Duke of Rothesay, Prince of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Saxony, Earl' of Garrick and Inverness, Baron of Renfrew and Killarney, Eord of the Isles, Great Steward of Scotland, K.G., K.T., K.P., G.C.5.1., G.C.M.G., G.C. 1.E., G.C.V.C., L. 5.0., General, and Admiral. Born on June 3, 1865, married on July 6, 1893 and has six children. Thus said the Christchurch News: “We certainly think some steps should be taken to protect the public from the incompetent dentist, but we can see difficulties in the way. The public needs such a desperate lot of protecting in these days, that it cannot be trusted out of its own sight from the time it emerges from its cradle till it is safely planted in the churchyard. As this protection can only be secured in a rough-and-ready fashion by legislation which has to be devised in the first place, and administered in the second, by persons with a full share of human weakness, prejudices and general disability to be the deputy of Providence on earth, it is often questionable whether it is not better to let the public look after itself, and learn from experience whether the unregistered quack is worse than the one with a license to prey with impunity.”

The Sydney University under graduates held another “nighi out” one evening last week at' the Criterion Theatre (says the Syd' ney Daily Telegraph). They assembled in force in the gallery, fora “theatre night.” Then they practically took charge of the place before the performance began. Their peculiar sense of humour they exhibited by throwing the vile-smelling assatoetida about the place, and employing the toy known as the “throw down.” This, as is well known, is a detonator, and, of course, the effect upon the nerves of any timid person when it is exploded in a theatre may be imagined. One exuberant youth, throwing a detonator of this kind, struck a girl in the forehead. Finally, the display of hoodlumism became so pronounced that several persons left the theatre. The management had to intervene, with the result that the two or three responsible for. the disturbance were expelled.

Mr Parkes- (late of' Stewart Dawson and C 0.,) has commenced business in Main Street, in premises recently occupied by Mrs Wright, as a watchmaker and jeweller. Mr Parkes brings with him first-class credentials as a tradesman. A stocksf jewellery and electro-plate ware, suitable for gifts, will be stocked. We feel sure the public will support local industry as against sending their work outside the town.

Mr Dali, Inspector of Post Offices, paid a visit to Foxton yesterday. In conversation with our representative, he stated that Foxton had cause to feel satisfied with its new Post Office, which will be a very well-appointed office, and should meet' the requirements of the public for many years to come. He stated that it would not be ready for occupation until about the second week in July,

Last month Mayor Stiles wrote to the Premier, inviting him, on behalf of the citizens ot Foxton, to officially open the new Post Office. The Mayor received a reply on Saturday, stating that in view of the near approach of the session of Parliament, Sir Joseph could hold out little hope of being able to visit Foxton this month for the purpose named, but he would be pleased to come as an opportunity occurred.

-Australia’s popular magazine, Tue Lone Hand, is stamped with the hall-mark of excellence and that accounts for the large circulation it enjoys, a fact upon which the Bulletin, its founders, are to be warmly congratulated. The June number of the Lone Hand, which is now available, contains a vast quantity of interesting reading, including short articles of the poet Swinburne and of Professor David, the latter, it will be remembered, having rendered valuable service with Lieut. Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition. The authorised biography of Madam Melba is continued, and the magazine also contains an interesting article on ski-running at Mount Koscuisko (N.S.W.).