LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 8 July 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr R. T. Bell, of Bulls, is the new president of the Flaxmillers’ Association. Mr Bell was at one time a hemp grader in Wellington. A young son of Mr Sarjeant, of Eastown, met with a very painful and unfortunate accident on Monday (says the Wanganui Herald). His elder brother, a boy of 11, was chopping wood, when the younger boy, by some means, got his hand on tie block, and the descending axe severed the first and second fingers of the right hand.

A delightful photographic group graces the front page of “Good Cheer," New Zealand’s Home Journal, a copy of the July issue of which has reached us. This bright and wholesome journal, which is sent to any address post free for half-a-crown a year, is particularly entertaining this month. We notice that the proprietors are now giving ; their readers their own choice of free patterns instead of sending one out free as before. This should prove a very popular feature to ladies.

The Liverpool Journal of Commerce states that it has received a letter from an officer on one of the. Saint Line of steamers referring to the deposition of the Sultan of Turkey, in which that, officer makes 1 the following startling statement: “While at Constantinople on April 30/ two divers went down in the Bosphorus for some purpose, and they reported that the bottom was coveted with skeletons, and one of the divers died from the effects of going down and the other went mad. A yacht anchored in this place a little while ago, and when the crew hove up the anchor there were two dead bodies hooked in it shackled together.” A private letter just received in Wellington gives some idea of the excitement on defence questions which was still prevalent in England when the mail left. The writer,'who is a retired naval officers, ays: “We have scores daily of German troopships visiting the Humber, German airhips flying over England, and, in fact, we are really at war with Germany today, I was told in the House of Commons yesterday that the Government would probably give way and provide the eight Dreadnoughts this year." The “troopships" mentioned are, of course, merchant vessels which would be available for transport service in war time.

A writer in, the Free loanee has heard a rather good story on the Main Trunk train the other day from a man who said the facts transpired in his small township, away up North. It concerned the one local policeman. * -Cases’' are very rare in his neighbourhood, and some time back the local constable came across his landlord hopelessly incapable. The chance was too good to be missed, so the landlord was brought before the local Jay Pee, . and fined, with costs, to 14s Ad. The fine was paid without a murmur, but the policeman was odd man out over the business after all. When he got home that night he received a note to the effect that his rent had been raised 6d per week. The “rise” continued for 29 weeks, when the landlord cooly informed him that “he had paid the fine 'now, and his rent would be reduced to its former level.”

After discharging a cargo of seal oil at Geelong, the barquentine Carmen, was, sold to Mr A. T. Schreuder, of Melbourne, and Captain-Baste and her crew, who brought her to Australia from Kergulen Island, have returned to France. The Carmen originally left Marseilles on behalf of a Parisian cothpany to make an exploring expedition at Kergulen Island for fish oil, and the prospects were found to be so good that as soon as the vessel filled hei tanks she sailed for Victoria, and Captain Baste cabled to Paris. He received instructions to sell the vessel, and return to take charge of a steamer .which is being fitted up for whaling as well as sealing. The new craft was constructedf in Norway, and is expected to reach Kergulen Island by December next, when the seal season begins. Mr Schreuder, it is reported, intends to use the Carmen for a similar expedition, for which she is adinirably suited. She has boilers on board capable of treatingl four tons of oil dally and an oil tank that holds 2000 tons. A beautiful assortment of electroplate goods, brooches, engagement rings* etc., at Parkes* jewellery establishment, Main St, *

For watch; clock dr Jewellery repairs go to Parses, the jeweller, Majn Street.*

Mr Woodroofe, J.P., of Palinerston N., was on a brief visit to Foxton yesterday. Eemoine, the diamond fakir, has been sentenced at Paris to six years’ imprisonment, fined £l2O (? £1200), and banishment for five years.

The Rev. A. Whyte, M.A., B.Sc., 8.D., of Havelock North, has been nominated, it is understood, for the vacant Presbyterian theological professorship in Dunedin.

We are informed by post card that the Black Family of Musicians, now on their third tour of Victoria, will open a New Zealand tour at Invercargill on October 12th.

A parachutist at Portland, Maine, in the presence of 5600 spectators, fell 500 feet, and was dashed to pieces. At the Star-Bowkett Building Society, Palmerston, on Tuesday, Mr Cbas. J. G. Short of Feilding, secured an appropriation of £3OO free of interest. .

A syndicate, with a capital of ,£40,000, has been formed at Ghristchurch to take over the Parapara iron ore leases from the Public Trustee, who held them pa behalf of the relatives ot the late Sir Alfred Cadman.

Gordon Pike, aged 24 years, while running with his companion to catch a tram at Wellington on Monday, suddenly dropped dead. He had not been ill previously and was an athletic young man. He was one of the town travellers for a local hardware firm.

Mr Palmer-, who recently visited Foxton, showed us the drawings of a raft which he intends to patent and submit to shipping companies, to be used in cases of shipwreck. On papeir it appears to possess marked improvements on those now carried on many steamers. We hope his venture may prove successful. On Wednesday at St. Thomas’ Church, Sandon, the marriage of Mr F. W. Dock and Miss Gertrude Dumsden, eldest daughter ol Mr John Dumsden, of Firsby, Carnarvon, was celebrated by the Rev. H. Wilson. Miss Frances Dumsden, the bride’s sister, acted as bridesmaid, and. Mr Robert Dock, the bridegroom’s brother, as best man. After the wedding breakfast the happy couple left for their honeymoon in Auckland.

Duiing the course ot the Rugby football match played at Palmerston North between the Te Aute and Wanganui Collegiate School teams, during the winter show, one of the members of the former team had to retire owing to an injury received to the back of his head. The lad has since died from the effects. It is belieVed that his spinal cord was injured as the result of a kick or through being thrown on to the back of his head.

Mr Moore informs us that the statement in our report of the inquest into the- death of Thomas Nye in last issue that he (Mr Moore) has been retained on behalf of Hedley Nye is not quite correct. Mr Moore was merely instructed by the lad’s uncle, Mr A. R. Osborne (who has taken a very, generous and open-handed interest in the matter), to attend the inquest on the boy’s behalf. Messrs O’Regan and Dix, of Wellington, have been instructed by Hedley’s mother (who lives in Wellington) to act for the accused on the capital charge, and Mr Wilford is retained as counsel for the defence.

A shocking instance of the danger of coloured socks was afforded at the St. lake’s Coroner’s Court (England) at an inquest oii William Edward Winn, aged seven,-sou of a labourer, of Tabernacle Street, St. Euke’s. His mother said the child’s foot was slightly scratched. The'boy had been wearing a pair of new blue socks. Medical evidence showed that death was due to blood-poisoning. A doctor stated that a slight scratch coming into contact with the dye from a new coloured sock would cause the condition. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and expressed their deep sympathy with the child’s mother.

One of the points {says the Post) made by Mr E.Newraan, M.P., at the unemployed deputation to the Hon. J. A. Millar, was that the best cure for the difficulty was to get the people on the land. If the Government could set .apart some easily accessible blocks of land, cut them up into smaller sections, and engage the, unemployed in clearing and reading, a great deal of goal would be effected. “I would not,” said Mr Newman, “ suggest giving the men the freehold of the sections. We (meaning the Opposition) will give them the freehold later on.” (daughter). Mr MXaren: “ Perhaps.” The Government hope to effect some economies by cutting down Civil servants’ travelling expenses. There is room for saving here, for there have been flagrant abuses of the present system;; We know of a civil servant who very responsible position and did a considerable amount of travelling. He “worked” his claim for all he was worth. When coming home from, a trip he used to break his journey within a few pules of bis headquarters, stay at an hotel for the night, which would cost him five or six shillings, and then come on by the morning train. Through not coming straight into town the night before He was able to claim another day’s travelling expenses, and pocket the surplus difference between a day’s travelling allowance and the expense of bne night in an hotel.r-Elthaitt’ArgusJ . . v . /I j.

Messrs Durwardand Co* insert a replace advertisement' elsewhere in this issue. .Read it.* The Manawatu County Connell invite applications for roadmen* Settlers are also notified that poisoned grain may be obtained free of cost. The furniture and fittings lor the new Post Office have not yet arrived. It was expected that the new building womd have been open for the transaction of public business next Monday, but the Postmaster informs us that this will not be possible. _ The Education Board has decided to. appoint Mr H. F. Gabites, who has for several years occupied the position of assistantheadmaster at the Campbell St. School, Palmerston North, to the vacancy on the local school staff caused by the retirement of Mr Gordon.

Mrs Brennan, an artist of repute, has decided to give a course of lessons in pastel painting in Foxton. This interesting work is done by a rubbing process, and is learnt in six two-hour lessons. Testimonials show that' Mrs Brerinan has met with' great success as a teacher all over the Dominion, Specimens of the work will be on exhibition in Mr Wright’s shop window as from to day. We may mentioU that Mrs Brennan has classes of instruction in some of principal schools in Auckland, in* eluding the Elam Schodl of Arts,

The Knox Residential College, opened recently in Dunedin, has cost over ,£21,000. The part completed is only half of the adopted plan, and provides accommodation for 30 students, as well as the theological class rooms. It is intended to complete the reniaining part when the necessary funds are available. The college will then accommodate 80 students. A large assembly hall and chapel will be included, and when finished the building will be one of the; architectural features of Dunedin.

Constable Wilson, ofWaitotara, has the very agreeable task of handling the men who are being put to the bushfelling in the district (says the Waverley correspondent of the Patea Press). On Monday next he expects to have put over 100 men at the work. He speaks pleasingly on the class ot men being sent, but would offer no opinion as to .whether the scheme would hie successful of not. Those in charge, he said were thoroughly capable, having had long bushfelling experience and being used to handling large bodied of men. One hundred, men are already at work, and 150 are to follow shortly.

The better educated our population becomes the more widely education and comprehension are diffused, the more confidently we can rely upon popular support for a law and order which, is recognisedly for the welfare and protection of all. We have to deal in New Zealand not with any general tendency to loosen the bonds of law, but with individual weaknesses and 'perversions. If we have a national fault, says the Auckland Herald, it lies in an exaggerated conception of what can be done by an Act of Parliament, rather than in any general inclination to violate the Criminal Code. At the Criminal Court at Hobart a few days ago, William Greeley was charged with shooting with intent Thomas William Albert Dinger. The shooting was the outcome of a tin-kettling affair. Greeley had just been married, and his house was surrounded and tinkettled. He, warned the crowd several times without avail. Then he got a gun and fired over their heads, and then bn the ground. Finally he fired straight at Dinger, wounding him., Greeley’s plea of guilty of .misdemeanour was accepted, and he was released on entering into a recognisance of £SO to be of good behaviour for twelve months.

Russia has undertaken the plan of constructing ,a great canal "which shall connect European Russia with the Pacific ocean. It is well known thht the .Siberian rivers and their tributaries run east and west, and that their union into one great continuous waterway is entirely practicable. This immense enterprise which Russia has conceived she hopes to complete within ten years. The object of the construction of the’ great waterway is said to be the encouragement of colonisation and development of resources in Siberia. The waterway will naturally subserve this object, but the railway alone is sufficient to meet the needs of the situation. The waterway will traverse no districts not already accessible by railway; Its comparatively small value in limes of peace must therefore'be fully apparent. It cannot be regarded, as an urgent eater- : prise justifying, the expenditure of millions; The Japanese are there- . fore suspicious that the proposal ds a preparation for a "future war-‘of revenge.

inthe arnlicense area, and not 'a hundred miles from Eketahuna, was found on Thursday morning to be draped in crepe. The lollowlng .epitaph, written in bold letters, now ■confronts passersby: “Gone, but not forgotten.’ * —Express. The Taranaki school inspectors state in their; report that" not more than one child; in a hundred will in after life be called' upon to read aloud, but every child will be better for. the life in front of it, by the possession of a refined and cultivated speSking voice ’ They therefore urge teachers to find time for this study of voice training.

At the Levin S.M. Court on Friday last Walter Fawcett was charged with procuring liquor for a prohibited person, and fined in default 14 days’ imprisonment, on the charge. A charge against accused of procuring liquqr for two other men, was dismissed. The prohibited matt concerned in the first case was fined 20s for obtaining liquor. The cruise of the Governor in H.M.S. Challenger to New Zealand’s island possessions was brought to a conclusion on Monday morning, when the warship returned to Auckland. Fine weather was experienced except oh the last day at Rarotonga, when rain somewhat marred the festivities. The island people everywhere gave His Excellency an enthusiastic reception. A youth named John Jones, aged 17, while playing football at Sydney, \was stabbed three times in the back with a pocket knife. A dispute arose between him and another player about 20 years of; age, Jones’assailant cleared out, and the police have not yet been able to secure him. The wounds are not regarded as dangerous. The Southland' Times states that many complaints have been received by the Railway Department as to the prevalance of gambling in trains, particularly by parties in carriages with longitudinal seats spreading coats and rugs across the passageways, thus interfering with the convenience of other passengers when passing from one portion of the train to another. This is an offence tinder the railway by-laws, and it is stated that the Department has issued instructions to put a stop to the practice. Some American journals have devoting- considerable attention to the question of the authorship of “Mary had a tittle Lamb.” The New York Sun says that the lamb was born about 1817, in the village of Sterling, Mass, and belonging to Mary Sawyer, It did not actually follow Mary all the —'way to school, but was carried by its mistress, and the incident provoked the local poet, John Rollestone, to make a little poem. He wrote three verses and left the story without any moral. * Three ether verses were subsequently added. The whole poem was claimed by a Mrs Sara J. Hall. It is recorded that Mary Sawyer made a pair of socks from the lamb’s wool, and that the. socks were unravelled and the yarn sold in small lots for v Mary married, and lived to be eighty-three years old. How long will the yarn last?