LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 17 June 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Whitebait have made their appearance- in the Manawatu river. Yesterday morning a local fisherman netted about two quarts of the little fish, and they were subsequently on sale at Mr Eazarelte’s in Main Street,

The Patea Borough Council has decided to sink a trial artesian bore at a spot indicated by the Rev. Mr Mason some six months ago, with a view of ascertaining whether a sufficient supply can be obtained for the purposes of a water and drainage scheme. A clergyman in the Hutt Valley in a sermon recently said that it was “ fortunate St. Paul did not live in these days, for instead of his beautiful epistles, posterity would have nothing but a collection of souvenir postcards !” The parents of a small boy in Gisborne are regretting the day when the little fellow became the possessor of a whip-top. Dust week the youngster’s plaything was whipped so vigorously that it crashed through the plateglass window in a jeweller’s shop, and did damage to the extent of Mr Newman, the member lor Manawatu, declared that he had never known a time when there were more unemployed, in the Dominion than there were at present. He had heard that free soup kitchens had been opened by private individuals. “That is the Tory yarn,” interjected the Hon. R. McKenzie. To this Mr Massey rejoined : “Well, it is absolutely true.” A “miscellaneous” afternoon was given by Mrs Gower at her re.'-it.lence yesterday to a large mini her of local young ladies, in honour of Miss Fraser’s approaching wedding. A most enjoyable time was spent- A swing ball competition caused much amusement, and was won by Miss Barber, with Miss Cook as runnerup. Miss Fraser, who was the recipient of a useful collection of presents, suitably thanked the hostess and her young lady friends.

lu connection with the burning of a store not a hundred miles from Auckland some years ago, a local insurance agent 16,11 s a story of how a little girl gave the show away. The agent called at the place shortly after the fire in order to make inquiries on behalf of his company. Getting into conversation with the girl, he said: “ You must have got a great fright when they wakened you out of your sleep and the house on fire.” “ Oh, no! ” the little maid replied innocently, “I was awake, dressed, and ready! ” We understand, says the Otago Daily Times, that the police are investigating a case in a country township where it is alleged that a corpse has been buried by two men during the hours of darkness. No certificate of burial has reached the registrar of deaths in the district. It is further alleged that when the coffin was being lowered into the grave one of the men requested the other to offer” some kind of a prayer. This request was not complied with, and both men hurried away from the cemetery, taking with them the lantern, by the dim light of which the burial had taken place. It is not unlikely that the case will come before the Dunedin Police Court in the uear future,

At Newport, Isle of Wight, the other day, a young settler fell in a faint, and was suffocated by the high collar he was wearing.

Co-operative workers in New Zealand for the month of April last numbered 8,862 of whom 4,616 were employed by the Public Works Department, and 4,246 by the Roads Department. A woman named Constance Woodley, aged 39 years, wile of a farm labourer at Konini, Pahiatua, died on Monday morning, as the result of taking “Rough on Rats.”

A new saloon car will shortly be at the disposal of the Governor, for use on the Main Trunk Railway for the most part. A car tor Ministers’ use is being built, and it will be furnished and equipped on much the same complete scale. Mr T. W. Kirk, Government biologist, states that the introduction of ladybirds has averted a loss of £1,000,000 at least by destroying the blue gum blight. The gardens, etc., of the Dominion cover an area of 48,572 acres, and the estimated loss from insect pests affecting these is £384,000 per annum.

One of the old Te Awaite whalers, Mr Joseph Toms, died suddenly while on his way to Picton from Te Awaite on Friday last. Deceased, who was 55 years of age, leaves a family of five daughters and three sous. His father was one of Barrett’s original whaleboat crew in 1822, when Barrett founded the whaling settlement of Te Awaite, in Tory Channel.

It has been reported to the Christchurch police that a man, riding a bicycle, has been frequenting some of the rather dimly-lighted streets of the city during the past week, for the purpose of robbing ladies of small hand-bags. His plan is to ride quietly up, dismount, snatch the bag out of the owner’s grasp, and ride quietly away. There is at present an agitation in Christchurch against the reckless driving indulged in by motorists, and general agreement is expressed with the demand that drastic regulations should be enforced. It is asserted that before long there will be an imperative demand for the infliction of severe punishment on those who are making the motor car a nuisance and a menace.

Many of the dairy farmers throughout Wairarapa who went in for fattening lambs some time ago, thinking to find it easier than milking, are seriously considering the advisability of returning to their former occupation, as the returns are more reliable. It is stated that dealers are already buying up dairy heifers in anticipation of a good demand when spring sets in and the dairy factories commence operations again. A writer in the New Zealand Herald states that the congregation ot one of the leading Anglican churches in Auckland was alarmed one Sunday recently, during the sermon, to see a lady, after hesitating for a while, lean backward with closed eyes and pallid face. “ Fainted !” whispered the worshippers to one another, and two gentlemen came swiftly to the rescue. With a skill and confidence that indicated the usefulness of compulsory training in the art of transporting fainting ladies, they lifted her between them and had her well away toward the vestry when the lady—woke up. The congregation, the writer says, became apopletic, Mr F. W. Ward, editor of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, who delivered a notable speech at the Imperial Press Conference in Loudon, is a New Zealander. He is a sou of the late Rev. Ward, and was born at New Plymouth- He, with his brother, Rev. C. E. Ward of Wellington, and brother-in-law, Mr T. Humphries (late SurveyorGeneral), served in the Maori War at Taranaki as a Forest Ranger under the late Major Sir Henry Atkinson. Mr Ward commenced his public career as a Primitive Methodist minister. Another brother is the Rev. Josiah Ward, of Port Chalmers. The late Mr Robert Ward, at one time Judge of the Native Land Court, was another brother.

The Oamaru Mail states that a deadlock has arisen between southern shippers of potatoes and northern buyers, and the result is that practically no potatoes are being forwarded to the North Island markets. The northern people refuse to accept the conditions laid down by sellers at the southern end, who, knowing that the potato blight is more or less prevalent, are determined to take no risk once the shipment has been made. They will only sell on the Government grader’s certificate, and will not guarantee beyond fair average quality. ' The northern buyers are not disposed to accept -potatoes at their own risk, in spite of the fact that a Government grader’s certificate has been given at the Otago end, and there the matter stands. This, it is believed, has brought about the shipment of potatoes to Auckland from Tasmania. It has been pointed out in Oamaru (the Mail says) that the importation of potatoes from Tasmania, where black spot disease is known to prevail, is fraught with danger, and that there is quite sufficient disease in New Zealand to contend against as it is.

If you arc suffering from Biliousness, Constipation, Indigestion, Choronic Headache, invest one penny in a post card, send to Chamberlain Medicine Co., 008 Harris-street, Sydney, with your name and address plainly on the back, and they will forward you a frpe sample of Chamberlain's Stomach and Liver Tablets. For sa}e everywhere.—Apyr.

The poundkeeper inserts an impounding'notice. . '

The Manawatu Coupty Council invite tenders for supply and delivery of metal. The ordinary meeting of the local School Committee will be held this evening. A gun, Tost between Family Hotel and No. i Ifine, is adver- ’ tised for.

Dr Borauoff, Russian exile, will lecture in the local Public Hall on Tuesday next.

Geo. Brown, employed in a printing office in Wellington, had his hand cut off at the wrist while working a cutting machine yesterday.

According to Mr Byron Brown, in a speech at Christchurch yesterday, Otaki can show more drunkenness to the square inch than any other town in New Zealand.

Miss Dynch, assistant mistress at the Moutoa School, has been granted two months leave of absence on account of ill-health. Miss Nortbover, recently from Rugland, will supply the vacancy, and took up her duties to-day. Mr W. T. Wood, ex-M-P. for Palmerston North, is to receive a purse of sovereigns on Fridry night. The Hons. McKenzie, Carroll and Ngata, and a large number of members will be present.

Wet weather and the flooded stale of the river is iterferiug with the training operations of Arnst and Webb for the championship race to be rowed on the Wanganui river next Tuesday. Both men are reported to be very fit. In the legislative Council on Tuesday, the Hon. John Rigg moved an amendment opposing the offer of a Dreadnought to the Home Government on behalf of New Zealand. The amendment was duly seconded by the Hon. Mr Scotland, and that’s just as far as the opposition went so far as the “Lords” were concerned.

As is the usual practice each year, the flax area of' the Moutoa Estate has been closed down for two months. The last day for cutting was Tuesday, and prior to that date millers have been getting as much green leaf to the mill as possible, and consequently will continue running until the stock in hand is exhausted. The amount of leaf in the yard at one mill is sufficient for about three weeks’ stripping.

Notice is gazetted that pukeko may from date to July 31 next be killed in the following area of the Wellington Acclimatisaton district : —Starting from Shannon on the Manawatu railway line, thence following the line to Palmerston North ; thence by a right line to Kairanga; thence to Glen Oroua, and thence to Carnarvon and the sea; thence along the sea boundary to the south bank of the Manawatu river; thence following the river to the bridge on the Foxton and Shannon road ; and thence to Shannon.