LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 24 June 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Kaiser inspected the new Vulcan yard at Hamburg whereby the latest labour-saving appliances will save half a year in the construction of a battleship. There is a good deal of scarlet fever in and around Dunedin at present, states the Otago Daily Times, The accommodation at the Fever Hospital at Lake Logo is fully taxed.

A warrant has been issued for Abdul Hamid’s appearance in Court at Salonika as defendant in an ||action for damages. The plaintiffs are the former Court jewellers who were exiled because they bad business relations with Rvchad, who is now Sultan. A man strolled into a well-known hairdressing saloon a couple of days ago. The man with the brush and razor was comparatively new, and he wanted to know if his patient was a regular customer. Said he, “Have you ever been here for a shave before ?” “Yes, once,” said the other. “I don’t seem to remember your face.” “No,” said the other, “it’s healed up now.” And the barber went on shaving. The remains of a body were found on Tomahawk Beach, four miles from Dunedin, on Saturday night. The limbs are missing and very little flesh adheres to the bones. A doctor who examined the body expresses the opinion it is that of a woman about thirty years of age. It is possible the remains are those of Miss Meade, of South Dunedin, who disappeared in that locality last July, some ot her clothing being found on the hill.

Among the signs ot the times is an agitation within the New Zealand Methodist Church for a division of the Australasian Methodist Church, in order that the New Zealand section may have power to legislate on its own behalf, and be independent. At present a general conference is held once every three years, in which both Australia and New Zealand are represented, New Zealand Methodism desires a legislative conference of its own, and the vote in favour of separation from Australia is to be taken in all the the circuit quarterly meetings early next month. If the vote is in favour,, as there is every likelihood it will be, it is probable that the next general conference will be asked for separation.

The newspapers in New York denounce the permitting of white women to visit Chinatown for proselytising the Chinese or for any other purpose. The leaders of the Chinese community declare that Chinamen are the tempted and not the tempters.

Gold in transit across the Atlantic “sweats,” no matter how tightly it may be packed. It is usually sent .in stout kegs and squeezed in as tight as possible ; but there is a regular allowance for loss by attrition upon the voyage, and in the course of years this loss to the commercial world amounts to a large sum. A farmer in Wairarapa who has gone into the question thoroughly states that farmers who carry out their work on scientific lines are now beginning to recognise that it is better to give their land a dressing of about a quarter of a ton of lime to the acre at frequent intervals than to follow the oldfashioned idea of giving it about two tons once every fourteen or fifteen years. The reason given is that a heavy dressing of burnt lime destroys all the useful bacteria with which the soil is simply teeming.

A wedding took place in Stroud (says the Sydney Telegraph) which was accompanied by distressing circumstances, Mr F. Cornell, a respectable townsman and business man, of Stroud, has been engaged to Miss Gertrude McNeill, daughter of Mr and Mrs A. McNeill, senr., old residents of the district. The wedding was, after one or more postponements, fixed for the 24th May, but on Sunday night Mr Cornell, whilst in church, became ill. Medical aid was called in, but his illness was at once seen to be serious. At his request, however, the wedding took place on Monday. The bridegroom being unable to leave his bed, the ceremony was performed in the house by the Rev. Mr Benjamin, of Dungog. Mr Cornell, however, gradually sank, and died on Tuesday evening. His wife has been an active worker in religious and charitable movements in this dis-r trict.

That marriage is, indeed, a lottery, was well illustrated in the Divorce Court at Sydney recently, when a young wife, who but four years ago had promised to love, honour, and obey her husband, asked for a divorce on the grounds of desertion, misconduct, cruelty, and habitual drunkenness. Petitioner told the Court that she had been married at the age of sixteen, and since then had not seen her husband sober two nights in succession. He gave her no money at all ; whatever he earned went to the local publicans and the Chinese keeper of a gaming house. When he left her she went into service in order to maintain herself, but was com pellet! to leave her position because her husband came along to see her when drunk, and made a disturbance. The Court decided that she deserved redress, and granted a decree nisi. A well-known Baptist pastor in Manchester, discussing the stipends of ministers of his denomination, gave an example of the sacrifice which often follows entry to the ministry. “I know a gentleman,’’ he told a newspaper representative, “ who left the Stock Exchange, where he was making a year, to take up a ministerial calling. In his first pastorate he had salary, now, five years alter his qualification, he is passing rich on ,£125 a year. Gan you wonder that to the younger generation the Nonconformist ministry is not tempting, especially when a man with the commercial ability to make £6OO a year, as quite a young man cannot gain more than a bare subsistence as a pastor ? My object is not to put the ministry on a worldly basis, but no Biblical saying is truer than that the “labourer is worthy of his hire.” Matthew Moore, a seaman on the scow Echo, met with an accident on the iSth ultimo, and died from blood-poisoning at Palmerston Hospital. An inquest was opened at Palmerston North, evidence being given to the effect that on the date mentioned the deceased had been drinking, and in attempting to board his vessel, berthed at Foxton, he fell foul of the key of the engine’s fly-wheel. One of his knee-caps was severely injured. The same day he was admitted to the hospital. Bloodpoisoning set in, but amputation of the leg was deemed inadvisable, as the man suffered from a weak heart. He died on the Ist inst. At this stage of the enquiry, the case was adjourned to Wellington, in order that the evidence of some of the seamen of the scow might be taken. This was done Tuesday afternoon by Captain Mowlem, Coroner, of Palmerston North, who returned a verdict that deceased had met his death from blood-poisoning, due to the injury to his knee-cap.

Mrs Hamer, of the Economic, has just received a large consignment of men’s and boy’s rainproof coats, which she is offering at 20 per cent, below landed cost. As this is the time of year that these articles are required, they should be sold very quickly. They are the biggest bargains ever offered in this line in Foxton, and Mrs Hamer was fortunate to secure them at a large reduction, which enables her to sell them so cheaply. Those requiring overcoats should lose no time in seeing them.*

A beautiful assortment of electroplate goods, brooches, engagement rings, etc., at Parkes’ jewellery establishment, Main St.*

For Influenza take Woods, Great Peppermint Cure. Never fails. Is 6d and 2s 6d.

The Thajnes. Borough Council has accepted a tender, af for the erection of municipal abattoirs.

The Bay of Plenty Times understands that a South Island firm has notified a local farmer that it is willing to erect and instal machinery for a freezing works at Taurauga, capable of dealing with from 50,000 to 150,000 sheep per annum, at a cost of ,£lo,ooo^ There is almost a complete absence of unemployed in the Waimate district. Ploughing and sowing operations are more extensive in the county than they were last year. In some parts the wheat area will be doubled, while many potato patches will give place to dairying and pig rearing. Acting on the advice of Mr Boucher, the Government Fruit Expert, the Greytown Fruitgrowing Company will not plant more fruit-trees till they have greater shelter for them. Experience has shown this to be necessary. The expert recommends black wattle as the bert shelter to plant. Martial law has been declared in the Republic of Paraguay, South Ameii.a, ai d the Telegraph Department was advised ou Motjj day that a strict censorship was being exercised on all telegrams to and from the' country. East year the Government of President Ferreira was overthrown, and the Vice-Piesident, Senor Emiliano Gonzalez Navero, appointed President!* The Paraguayan army numbers about 1500 men, but every citizen between the ages of 20 and .35 is liable to military service.

A very amusing occurrence is alleged to have taken place -in a country church recently during a marriage service (says the Feilding Star). The bride, who had been well instructed in the chuxch catechism, had not studied the marriage service very thoroughly, and when' she was asked the usual question, “Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband ?” cut short the clergyman by innocently replying, “Yes, verily, and by God’s help, so I will, and I heartily thank our heavenly Father that he hath brought me to this state.” Various members of the bridal party then collapsed. A man appeared at the Auckland Police Court bn Tuesday afternoon, and asked for a summons against a member of the medical profession practising in the city. When Mr Kettle, S.M., referred the applicant to the Clerk of the Court, the man replied that he had only a halfpenny in his possesssion, and the officer might possibly make a charge of one penny or so, which he could not pay. The magistrate told him that if, through no fault of his own, be was too poor to issue a summons, he would see that justice was not denied on that account.

A Taranaki farmer named Mullahy met with a peculiar and painful accident which has incapacitated him from work for a considerable period. Having a sick cow that needed attention, he was doing what he could for her. The beast was down, and after an effort was assisted to her feet, when, cow-like she charged Mr Mullahy, who, in endeavouring to make himself scarce, tripped over a root. The charge of the cow proved to be her last, as she fell on Mr Mullahy and expired there. It was some time before Mr Mullahy could be removed from his awkward position, as his wife was the only person present at the time. Several broken ribs and a severe buising were the results.

At the Burwood Police Court, before Mr Love, D.S.M., John McAlister, an inspector of weights and measures, proceeded against Henry Chesterton Pilcher, the occupier of a baker’s shop at Liverpool Road, Enfield, on three sets ot informations, charging him with having 129 ilb loaves deficient in weight to the extent of 480 ZS, 242 2lb loaves deficient in weight to the extent of 2ißoz, and 30 41b loaves deficient in weight to the extent of 840 ZS, respectively on June sth, says the Sydney Daily Telegraph. Mr Love said that the prescribed penalty was 5s per ounce shortage, and that he must inflict it in each case. He therefore imposed fines of with los 6d costs, in default one month’s gaol with hard labour ; ,£129 10s, and 6s costs, or one month; and and 6s costs, or one month, respectively. He also made an order that all the bread be handed over to local charities. Kerosene is one of the most effective and cheapest insecticides to use in the poultry-house. Applied every month to the roosts, it is a good remedy against mites, Ib may also be applied with a brush to the wall and all cracks in the poultry-house. Kerosene emulsion is effective in the place of whitewash for ridding the house of vermin. It is made by dissolving Ilb ot hard soap in a gallon of boiling water. Remove from the fire, and while hot add two gallons of kerosene. Churn or agitate briskly for ten or fifteen minutes, or until the mixture gets thick and creamy. Then add about 20 gallons of cold water, and stir in thoroughly. It can be applied to the coop by a sprayer, a wateringcan, or an old broom. It should be driven well into cracks. Another good thing is lime and sulphur. To half a bushel of fresh thoroughly air-slaked lime, add xolb of powdered sulphur and a fluid ounce of carbolic acid. Mix thoroughly by stirring with a stick. This powder is harmless to fowls, and may be used freely about the house, and in neSts and dustboxes. Clothe your boys with a pure wool Norfolk suit, and one we guarantee., hard wear to be had only at G. H.': Stiles.*

At the local Police Court this morning* before Mr Alf. Fraser, J.Pi, John Spelman was charged with being found drunk in a public place and was fined ios in default 48 hours imprisonment. The proprietor of a motor garage at Timaru, believing that flying machines will * presently be in common use, says he intends to erect at one end of his garage an aerial platform from which the machines may start and at which they may alight.

In conversation with our representative this afternoon, Dr. Pomare states that though it had been reported in the press some time back that himself, together with other Government officials, was to be retired nnder the Government’s retrenchment scheme, up to the present he had not received any official notification of same, and was still in the employ of the Government as Native Health Officer.

We would remind our readers of the lantern lecture to be given to-morrow evening, by Dr Porteous, in the Presbyterian Church, Dr Porteous is a New Zealander, and one of the medical mission aries of the Presbyterian Church of the Dominion. His sphere of work is in the Punjaub, India, and he has an interesting story to tell of mission work in India, illustrated by splendid slides. A collection will be taken up in aid of the erection of a hospital in connection with the mission. The lecture begins at 8 o’clock.

Dr. Pomare, Native Health Officer, is at present on a visit to Foxton on departmental business. Arrangements had been made for him to address a large meeting of natives from the surrounding districts > in the Public Hall yesterday afternoon, on native health matters in this district, but as he did not arrive until the evening train the meeting had to be postponed. Dr Pomare addressed a small number of natives in Whyte’s Hotel this afternoon, on health matters, and also touched upon the necessity of stamping out tohungaism. lie will leave for Wellington by tomorrow morning’s train.