LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 487, 30 September 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr G. T. Woodroofe had the misfortune to dislocate his shoulder this week, through being thrown from his horse. Price Bros., of the Thames, have received official intimation from the Government that their tender is accepted for constructing ten railway locomotives. The firm is just completing a contract for ten 70-ton engines which have been highly praised by the railway department and the Government. Several well-known residents have called at this office and tendered subscriptions towards the Symons presentation fund, and expressed disappointment at not having been asked to bear a portion ot the cost of same. It may be pointed out that it was decided to collect only a limited sum which was freely tendered by those waited upon. We feel sure, however, Mr Symons will appreciate the feelings of those who came forward with voluntary offers, but which bad to be refused.

To-night, at All Saints’ there will be a preparation service for the newly confirmed, who will make their first Communion on Sunday next. The service which commences at 7.30 will be open to all and a short address on Holy Communion will be given.

Mr Robert Womach, the discoverer of the celebrated Cripple Creek goldfield, died at Colorado Springs, U.S.A., on August rotb, in a state of almost abject poverty. Womach sold his claim for and it subsequently produced gold worth Archdeacon Averill, of St. Michael’s, has accepted election to the Bishopric of Waiapu, and the consecration of the Bishop-elect will probably take place in Napier in January, as the General Synod meets in Wellington about the end of that month, and the new Bishop will be able t® take his seat with the other Bishops. The standing committees in the other dioceses in New Zealand have still to give their consent to the election, but this may be regarded as a matter of form. Archdeacon Averill will not take his departure from Christchurch before the New Year.

A man named James Patrick Mooney, alias Tierney, called at Dr. Hugh Keith’s house in Auckland, on Saturday, and asked for money to buy drink. The doctor, seeing the man wanted food instead of drink, took him into his house and acted the part of the Good Samaritan, giving him food. The doctor went out of the kitchen, where the man was, but coming back found a pair of his boots on the man’s feet. The man, who was not drunk, could give no explanation of how the boots came to be upon his feet, and said it must have been the result of a fit of mental aberration.

In this issue there appears for children attending country schools a very attractive competition by Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame Etd., of Palmerston North. It is one, which, by its simplicity, should claim the attention of all children. The prizes are splendid and for such a small amount of trouble their value is not to be compared and should induce many to compete. There should be no trouble about the orders coming in, as the materials, patterns of which are mentioned in the conditions of the competitions, have been chosen at home personally by Mr Cunninghame, who has given this particular line his most careful attention with the best results. The manufacture is splendid and the prices cannot be beaten.* A very romantic story is just now interesting Barton-on-Hum-ber, England. It concerns a lady named Mrs Thompson, who is 54 years of age, a grandmother and the wife of a retired sea captain. Her father, a Scotchman, was in the - Navy, and when the gold fever in Australia was at its height he left the service and went to the diggings. Very shortly afterwards he sent for his wife to join him. She did so, but on the persuasion of her mother, left her baby girl behind her in care of its grandmother. That was fifty years ago and until a few weeks ago no communication had passed between the parties. Now, however, through the medium of the Press, the mother, who resides in Sydney has been put into communication with the daughter, who expressed her intention of crossing the globe to see the mother she has long mourned as dead.

The roller-skating craze which dominates all Berlin reached a culminating point the other day, when a bridal procession numbering twenty went to church on roller skates. The bridegroom was in evening dress and tall hat, as is the custom in Germany, and the bride wore a white satin rube and long veil, holding her train in one hand. The father and mother of the bride were behind the • young couple, the guests following. They “rolled” through the streets, somewhat astonishing the Berliners, who greeted them with cordial cheers. It was a rather difficult pei forma nee,, especially lor the mother, a typical stout German lady, but all went well. At the entrance to the church a messenger boy was waiting to mind the skates during the ceremony. Afterwards all put on their skates again and skated to the registrar’s office, and from there to the restaurant where the wedding dinner was given.

“One begins to hear now such an expression as ‘Things are improving’ ! and this from business men who ought to know. We believe this' to be correct for there are distinct signs of recovery. In viewing this matter it is well to remember that we as a community have been able to contribute very little towards bringing about the improvement. The depression, such as it was and is, was not of our choosing, and came in spite of us. It visited us through the drop in the values of our produce, and was felt more severely than it should have been because during the long years of prosperity we drifted into an extravagant style of living, and the enforced economy was irksome. We have had to materially curtail our imports, and to cut down expenses in various directions to meet the changed conditions. This economy has teen beneficial in two ways, it has taught us the folly of being extravagant and it has helped to recover much sooner than would otherwise have teen the case.” — Mercantile Gazette.

A most pleasing sight along Main-street is the magnificent display in Mrs Hamer’s shop window, comprising delicate chintz, fancy cushions, and some beautiful summer dress fabrics. Call and inspect same. The prices are reasonable, and quality first-class.*

Already a phenomenal number of inqniries—over 12,000 —have been made for plans of the Te Akau block settlement, to be opened for selection on October 11, says the Auckland Star.

Lieutenant Shackleton was the guest of the King at Balmoral. He lectured before the Royal family and a distinguished gathering, and showed his kinematograph pictures of the Antarctic.

Mr Will Crooks, M.P. for Lambeth (a Labour leader in the British House of Commons), has written to Mr E. Tregear, informing him that Mrs Crooks and he will vill visit New Zealand this spring, and will arrive at Auckland via Sydney early in November. Mr Crooks is a member of the London County Council.

Mr E. W. Porritt, solicitor, of Paeroa, has been appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate. He has for some years lived in a mining district, and his special knowledge thus obtained will be of use to him in his new duties, for he will be stationed in one of the South Island mining districts as Magistrate and goldfields warden. George Heim, lately inspector for a company in Damaraland, has been arrested in Berlin and charged with his accomplices, now arrested in South Africa, with smuggling ,£15,000 sterling worth of diamonds to Germany. The correspondence shows that he discovered large deposits, but Heita declines to reveal their locality.

Mrs Chalmers, widow of the late Mr F. B. Chalmers, a well-known resident of Mastertou, died in Wellington on Sunday last. The deceased lady, who was 71 years of age, had resided in that district for about 55 years. The late Mrs Chalmers was a daughter of Mr J, Moore, of Waikaraka. The Bishop of Croydon, at the International Congress on Alcoholism, related that when he went to a parish some years ago he was asked to examine the children of the Baud of Hope. In putting them questions he said : “I ask you what drink you recommend best. What would you say ?” A forest of hands went up, and he asked one of the children. His reply was “Beer/' Is grape-growing profitable or likely to be profitable in New Zea-. land ? A prominent horticulturist answered the question put by a Post reporter recently in a decided negative. He said that he had been over to Western Australia and seen the conditions there. Growers only got £2 2s a ton for grapes delivered at the factory. At that rate they barely managed to make both ends meet.

While hanging up some meat in Messrs Edward Barber’s cool room at the rear of their shop, Wellington, on Saturday morning, an employee named Samuel Wilkinson lost his balance and fell. In doing so his left arm was caught by a hook, and a very large wound was inflicted. Dr. Young, who attended the case, found it necessary to put seventeen stitches in the wound before the patient could leave for his home in Wadestown.

Mr R. A. Wright, M.P-, says Parliament reminds him of a football ground. Members are like players, and the Speaker is the referee. The ball is generally some Bill, and both sides are kicking at it. In the scrummage between two ' parties feeling runs high, as in football, yet there is no ill-feeling among the Parliamentary scrummagers. To a young member,’ observes Mr Wright, this is curious—the absence of bitterness with so much conflict.

Mr Carl Andersson sends the following interesting note from Rongotea: I docked my early lambs yesterday, and from 402 ewes, which is about half my breeding flock, I docked 575 lambs, which gives me the splendid yield of 143 per cent. I counted every ewe that went through the yard, including several still to lamb. I have only lost five ewes and about twenty-five lambs right throughout the lambing season. I consider my success is entirely due to the careful attention and practical experience ot ray shepherd, Mr W, J. Edwards, who has had charge of my flock.

A case of considerable interest to school teachers was before the Supreme Court at Wellington on Tuesday. C. ,J. Lyne, 8.A., headmaster of the Lower Hutt School, sought an injunction to restrain the Wellington Education Board from insisting on his dismissal on September 30th. The trouble originally arose through plaintiff absenting himself without what the Board thought sufficient reason. Plaintiff alleged that he had been ill, and that, through the Board not giving a reason for his dismissal, he was debarred from going to the Teachers’ Appeal Board. The Education Board, he alleged, had acted illegally. The Court reserved judgment.

In the Temuka district, says the Lyttelton Times, the digging ploughs are being well 'tried this season. One farmer who has four at work is turning up the soil for wheat to a depth of ten inches. This thorough tillage is covering in grass and weeds very thoroughly. The digger brings up a fair amount of clay subsoil, which, it is said, soon becomes disintegrated and mixed with the' blacker soil that has been cultivated for some years. It has been stated that the crops on the land which receives the digging will produce an additional twenty bushels per acre, the yield increasing from thirty to fifty bushels.

Special offer of a best pair of kid gloves to every cash purchaser of drapery to the value of £ 2*.

A flaxraill plant is advertised for sale. See advertisement. \ A big fire occurred at Deaniston yesterday morning, destroying tha Denniston Hotel, four shops, twoV dwellings and the club and library. v The damage is estimated at We understand that members of the local Tennis Club, intend to make a small presentation to Mrs O. E. Austin, at the Masonic farewell to Bro. O. E. Austin in the Masonic Hall tb-morrow night, A number of brethren of the local Masonic Lodge were present at the installation of the W.M. of Lodge Horowhenua and investiture of officers at Levin last night. Wor. Bros. Clemett, Fraser and Hornblow took part in the ceremony. The installing master was R. Wor. Bro. Fletcher D-G.M. The brethrenwere subsequently entertained at a banquet when the usual toasts were honoured.

The children attending the local State school spent a right royal time at the Masonic Hall, yesterday afternoon. The Ladies’Committee which arranged the refreshment portion of the social tendered to the Symons family, had a large surplus of good things over from the social, and it was happily suggested that the school children should' be invited to partake of these. The children, in charge of the teaching staff, marched in procession to the rendezvous, and, to use a spotting phrase, “made no race” of the attack on the edibles. The behaviour of the little ones at the gathering reflected great credit on the school discipline. “ No, you can’t see Mr Deakin,” was the reply given to a wild-eyed visitor to the Federal Prime Minister’s office on 14th inst. “He is very busy this morning.” The visitor was not to be easily put off. “He will see me,” he replied confidently. “You tell him that King Edward wants to see him.” The messenger, whose experience has included dealings with many quaint visitors, encouraged “ King Edward” to confidences. “The fact is,” murmured the visitor, “they haven’t paid my salary. But I can’t wait here all day, vou know.” The messenger made a wily suggestion. “You might leave a note.” The idea met with approval, and the following note was promptlypenned and left for delivery. to Mr Deakin :—“ Please forward salary of your King to street, Carlton. Edward.” The incident recalled a former

occasional caller on Mr Deakiu—an amiable and voluble old lady, who described herself as “ Queen Caroline,” and who was well known to Ministers’ messengers.