LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 27 July 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Further additions are made to the Himatangi stock sale list. Mr G. T. Woodroofe, butcher, notifies that he will re-commence business in Foxton as from ist August. See advt. The Acting-Premier, the Hon, James Carroll, is performing the duties of First Minister with dignity, and it is reported that he has done more work during the past few weeks than for some years previously, “I am not a prophet, nor the sou of a prophet,” remarked the Rev. W. Powell at a men’s meeting at the Christchurch Y.M.C.A.; “but if you don't colonise Australasia with white people you will have Asiatics flocking in. The poll tax won’t stop them ; it doesn’t stop them at present. And once they get in, it will be difficult to get them out.”

M. Bleriot, a French aeronaut, flew in his monoplane from Calais to Dover in 27 minutes. He ascended at Heisbaraques, four miles from Calais, at 4.35 p.m. in brilliant sunshine. With a good wind he was rapidly out of sight. He descended in a meadow behind Windsor Castle, touching the ground heavily, breaking the propeller and doing other slight damage to his r aeroplane. The distance in an air-line from Calais to Dover is nearly 25 miles. The simplest way to get warm after exposure to cold is to take a long breath with the mouth firmly shut. Repeat this several times until you begin to feel the heat returning. It requires a very short time to do this. The long breath quickens the pulse, and thus causes the blood to circulate faster. The blood flows into all parts of the veins and arteries, and gives out a great deal of heat. It is said that ibis method of deep breathing prevents colds and. a great many other ailments if begun in time. A Frenchman has invented a means of adapting an ordinary bicycle for travelling over the surface of water. He attaches a bicycle to and between a pair of cylindrical floats fitted with a propeller, worked from the pedals, and reversible, and a rudder, operated from the handles. On land the cylinders and nautical gear can be raised, allowing the cycle to be ridden in the ordinary way. The cylinders can be made of very thin sheet metal and consequently are not heavy. The inventor found that he could propel his machine both on land and water apparently without difficulty. The amphibicycle, as it is called, can be driven with ease at a rate of five or six miles an hour on the water.

In a lecture at Timaru last week, Professor Marshall, of Dunedin, said that if the Tasman glacier melted away there would be seen a rock basin with vertical walls 2,500 ft highland tributary glaciers, now flowing in shallower streams of ice at the level of the main stream, would leave “ hanging valleys*,” from which the rain water would reach the main valley by waterfalls over high precipices. He fixed the date of New Zealand’s great glacial period at about 150,000 years ago. He said that at that period all lands in the Southern Hemisphere down to the same latitude were glaciated. In Western Europe and in North America the great ice descended to still lower latitudes.

An advertiser wants to purchase young cows to come into profit in August, September, and October. Scolded by the Dunedin Magistrate for not knowing the age of bis youngest child, when prosecuted for not sending it to school, a defendant pleaded in excuse that he had 19 of them. Elsewhere in this issue Mr and Mrs Prew tender their heartfelt thanks to all who rendered assistance to their late son, and for messages of condolence. Telephonic communication has been established between Devin and Wellington. The charge to subscribers is gd for three minutes, Foxton subscribers pay is 6d for three minutes communication with the Empire City. An unoccupied six - roomed house at Halcombe, insured for owned by Mr Win. Diffey, was completely destroyed by fire on Friday morning. The cause of the fire is unknown.

The police at Manchester have issued a warrant for the arrest of Julius Wilier, on a charge of publishing an alleged false prospectus of Wilier and Riley, and on other charges.

At the National Rifle Association’s Bisley meeting, Corporal Burr, of the Dondon Rifle Brigade, won the King’s Prize, with a score of 324, Hopkin (Wales) being second with 319, and Morris (Canada) third with 316. The morning service at one of the largest of Wellington’s churches was unexpectedly disturbed on Sunday by a member of the congregation rising from bis seat during the sermon and interrogating the clergyman. The questioner was conducted gently, though firmly, to the outer door. A special meeting of the Borough' Council will take place on Thursday evening next, at eight o’clock, to arrange for a reception to the Hon. Dr. Findlay t Acting-Postmaster-General), on his visit to Foxton for the purpose of opening the new Post Office. The Chamber of Commerce will be asked to meet at the same time and place. The question of the rebuilding of Southwark Bridge has been engaging the attention of the Bridge House Estates Committee of the Eondon City Corporation for some time. The scheme they are likely to recommend in the report they are preparing will probably be one for a bridge Soft wide, at a cost of about ,£1,000,000.

A congregational meeting of the local Presbyterian Church was held on Sunday night, after the ordinary service, when a resolution was carried in favour of raising the charge to a fully sanctioned one and that the Rev Mr Aitken be ordained and inducted to the charge. The whole question will be dealt with by the Wanganui Presbytery next Tuesday and if favourably considered will be passed on to the Assembly for final sanction or otherwise.

The Auckland police are taking proceedings against quite a batch of alleged psychometrists, clairvoyants, spiritualists, and others of that ilk. Several officers of the Auckland police force have been busily occupied in doing the rounds, having their fortunes told, and, in return for the many strange things foretold them by the alleged wizards, have issued summonses to these gentry to make their appearance before the police Court next Monday morning. No less than 10 of the fraternity will make their bow to the Bench. “We are not God’s chosen people,” said Mr O. T. J. Alpers, E.L.D., at the defence meeting at the Choral Hall, Christchurch, on Thursday evening. “We do not hold our Empire by any divine right; we hold because we fought for it, and what the sword has won the sword must keep. The German menace is not a bogey. It is the only real thing in the political outlook of to-day. I know it—because I am a Dane.”

At the Magistrate’s Court, Hastings. on Friday, Dr. E. A. Borauoff, a Russian lecturer, was charged with that, on July 17, at Wellington, he did obtain 30s. from Miss Moore by means of a valueless cheque. Accused stated that he had received the cheque from a man in Wellington, who said he could use it, and would place money in the bank to meet it. He paid the cheque to Miss Moore at Dannevirke, and received a telegram saying that the cheque had been dishonoured. He then immediately sent a money-order telegram to Miss Moore, and,on arrest the morning same, a reply came that Miss Moore had received the money. Accused was remanded to appear at Wellington to-day, bail being allowed. Adelaide Museum has gone into the live stock business. Three rats of the rare, house-building kind, from Fake Eyre, started a thriving factory in the Museum yard, and now the curator has rats and houses in plenty for sale or barter. The amoosin’ little cusses are real rats, not marsupials; but they are not flesh-eaters. Give them an armful of sticks at night, and In the morning they will have chopped them into lengths and disposed of them in and about the ‘ ‘house’ ’ —a dome-shaped structure of several compartments. The biggest built by them in confinement so far is 2ft high and 4ft long. Sturt, when he described them on the Darling in 1844 (they used to be common there before the pastoral occupation), found the internal lining made of soft grass ; but in captivity they do their best with bark gnawed into shreds. It is said that each family of rats occupies a separate apartment in the house, but as no scientific man has yet slept with them this statement lacks confirmation.

If in want of Birthday, Wedding or other gifts, go to Parkks’, the jeweller, the shop for presents.*

Messrs Ross and Co., of The Bon Marche, Palmerston North, are now holding their annual special “bargain giving epoch,” the object of which is to clear out certain lines and oddments which it is determined not to take into stock and these have to go, practically regardless of value. Its a great money saving opportunity lor those who avail themselves of it. Commencing Saturday, July 24th, positively terminating August 7th. — Advt.* Foxton has been visited by all kinds of travelling theatrical and picture compauys—good bad and indifferent—principally the last mentioned. Patrons are now shy about attending “ shows ’’ unless they are certain that their ears will not be assailed by vulgarity. We don’t blame them. A good company, however, is often made to suffer for the sins of “ scratch ” crowds. Anyway, we desire to inform our readers that we can recommend the Phil Walsh Dramatic Company which appears in the Public Hall to-night and will produce “The American Tramp.” Further, a treat will be afforded theatre-goers of hearing a company supported by such wellknown and famous artists as Mr Phil Walsh and Miss Eva MariusPaigne. Our northern exchanges speak in the highest terms of praise of the entertainment. We hope the company will be greeted by a bumper house.