LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 500, 28 October 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr W. E. Barnard secured second-class honours in Latin and Constitutional History at the recent Victoria College examinations. Mrs Hamer has signified her intention of giving a trophy for a girls’ race at the Athletic Club’s Sports on the King’s Birthday and also to donate another trophy for competition on December 2nd. Archbishop Clarke, of Mel' bourne, has issued a writ against John Norton for an alleged libel published in the newspaper Truth. The amount claimed is unstated. An injunction is also sought restraining defendant from further publishing the paper. Mrs Nye, bookseller and stationer, Main Street, notifies that she has just opened ujra large consignment of fancy goods, including electro-plate ware, je.vellery, fancy glass ware, etc., inspec tion of which is invited. Mrs Nye also carries a large stock of tenuis goods and cricketing miterial by the best makers. Newspapers and periodicals are’ deliverd dally without extra charge. On Saturday night, as the Mararoa was drawing out of Lyttelton, a man essayed the foolish feat of crawling down the stern line to the wharf. He over-balanced and fell into the harbour. While the man was being pulled out another man, presumably desirous of appearing as the rescuer, pulled off his coat and plunged in, only, however, to add to the work of those who very kindly did the pulling-out. Luckily, the vessel’s propeller was not going, or the incident might have been attended with serious results. The Salvation Army’s selt-denia* week this year throughout Australasia yielded a total of £35,750. New Zealand is the hishest contributor with ,£12,500, the others being as follows : Adelaide Province £3700, Brisbane £2BIO, Sydney £2610, Melbourne £245, Bathurst £2450, Armidale £1285, Perth £1750, Ballarat £1550, Townsville £1482, Bendigo £1370, Tasmania £1252. Of New Zealand’s total the North Island contributed £7250 (Wellington £1236 and Auckland £808), and the South Island £5250.

The latest rumour in connection with the vacancy in the Cabinet is that Mr T. E. Taylor, of Christchurch, is to be elevated to Ministerial rank. Although the report seems to have been persistently circulated in the lobbies, it may be regarded as having no foundation, Mr Taylor’s reputation for speaking bis mind is well known, and even during the present session he has indulged in one or two sharp thrusts at the Government over various matters. Moreover, he is not at present in such good health as usually, and there does not seem any reason for believing that the report referred to is more than an idle rumour. Again, Mr Taylor is such an out-and-out leaseholder that yet another obstacle stands in his way to Cabinet honours But there is no doubt he would be a powerful force in the Ward Cabinet.

As result of the refusal of the Masterton Incensing Committee to grant a conditional license for the autumn meeting of the Masterton Racing Club, patrons were compelled to take their own liquor to the course, says the Age. Certain thirsty individuals who had neglected- to make similar provision for their comfort kept a watchful eye on the carriages, and while the occupants were watching the races from the grandstand and other points of vantage, purloined the liquid contents to the chagrin and annoyance of those who had invited their friends to partake of refreshments. To prevent a repetition of the practice at the spring meeting, which commences to-day, the Club has appointed an official to look after the carriages and the police have been asked to keep an eye on loiterers in the vicinity.

Commander Peary’s tame as an explorer is world-wide, but little is known of bis personal attributes (writes a London correspondent). Lieutenant Shackleton, the hero of the Antarctic, is one of the few men in, England who have been intimately associated with Commander Peary. “Peary is a splendid type of man,” said Mr Shackleton. “He stayed with me at my house in Scotland after his last expedition, and I had, of course, an excellent opportunity of judging his character. He is a charming man, quiet and unassuming, and his heart was always in the work ot Polar exploration. Of a tall and commanding figure —he is about six feet in he gives one the impression of being absolutely self-reliant and hard of physique—-just the sort ot man who would accomplish anything which he had set himself to do. He is 53 years old, but does not look his age, His hair and moustache are light brown, his eyes undimmed, and he walks as erect and as steadily as a man 30 years his junior, and this in spite ot the fact that he lost eight of his toes in one expedition. Peary is a man of unquestioned integrity, and every word of his may be re-, lied upon.” ;

Full particulars are advertised of the clearing sale to be held by Mr Mounsey, on behalf of Mr Heyes, at his residence, Cook St., on Monday next. At Melbourne the other night there was a big house for the Lang —Squires match. It was a good fight. Lang knocked Squires out in the 20th round. Nominations for the different events at the Athletic Club’s sports to be held on the King’s Birthday, closed on Tuesday. The number received compares favourably with previous years.

Mr W. E. Barnard met with a painful accident to his foot this week while chopping a limb off a tree. The force of the blow missed its mark and struck the ankle, which will incapacitate Mr Barnard for a few days. Sir Wm. Steward’s Marriage Act Amendment Bill, which has passed its second reading, proposes to validate all marriages hitherto made between a person and his deceased wife’s neice, or between a person and her deceased husband’s nephew, and to legitimatise the issue of such marriages.

We remind our readers of the social to be given to Archdeacon Harper to-night, in the Masonic Hall, commencing at 7.30 o’clock sharp. No charge will be made, but a plate will be placed at the door for contributions to pay expenses. Light refreshments will be serverd at the close. Members of the Harbour Board at last Monday’s meeting commented on the extremely moderate fee charged by the Board’s solicitor for preparing the leases to tenants. “Why,’" said Mr Gardener in conclusion, “I had a municipal lease prepared for me at Leviu a short time ago, and it cost me over £7 1 ” Holway, an American sprinter, beat A. B. Postle, the Australian, in a 120yds race for a stake of £2OO. Holway, who was apparently beateu by the time half the distance had been covered, spurted in the last 20 yards, and won by a foot. Time, 11% seconds. Postle started favourite, the heavy track, owing to rain, being dead against him.

We have received from Mr J. H. Yerex, local photographer, a proof picture of the opening ceremony of the local boating club season, which took place yesterday. Portions of the sheil and river, pleasure boats occupied by young ladies, officials and other details, are clearly pourtrayed. The photos should find a ready sale as mementos of the occasion.

The annual meeting of the Foxton Cricket Association to have been held on Tuesday even- w ing was adjourned until next V week in order to allow delegates from the Sanson, Himatangi, Glenoroua and Rongotea Clubs to be present. If these clubs decide to throw in their lot with the local association the coming season should be the best that cricketers in this district have had. It has been decided to open the season next Wednesday afternoon when players from the United, Himatangi and Foxton Clubs will take part.

The cruise of the Araokura in search of the missing steamer Duco was quite unexpected by' the lads, and it has given them an early foretaste of a “ life on the ocean wave.” There are at present fifty-five lads on the ship, but many of these had not been to sea until a few weeks ago. There was any amount of hard work to be done while the vessel was away from Wellington, and the trip was somewhat of a tax on the energies of many of- the youngest among the boys. Altogether a distance of 1500 miles was covered. Nevertheless, they are said to have come through the ordeal well.

Several enthusiastic Masterton mountaineers are already casting longing eyes in the direction of the Tararua ranges, as these rugged heights have been, looking very inviting lately—they generally bear the “distant enchantment” most pronouncedly when the last of the winter snows are disappearing under the humid spring atmosphere, says the Masterton Times. An excursion proposed to be made this season by some Masterton climbers is an ascent of Holdsworth, a detour in the direction of “Otaki house”— a hut at the source of the Otaki river— and a descent via that stream on to the West Coast. The trip will occupy about a week and is certain to prove beneficial from various points of view. Observations will be made with the object of defining a good, practical route between Otaki and Masterton.

Some person who has had trouble with his servant recently advertised tor a girl as follow : “Wanted.—A girl to dwell in my family, assist ray wife in doing the work, and give directions generally. Wages not so much an object, if she will leave me enough of my income to pay for the crockery ■ she breaks. If she should not be satisfied with five evenings a week, an effort will be made to give her eight. She may decide what she shah have to eat, and whether it shall be overdone, underdone, or done at all; and do, in fact, just as she pleases, except wear my wite’s gloves and shoes (unless her hands and feet are within four sixes of the right size). We always give our servants birthday, Christmas and New Year gilts. Feather beds or mattresses, as perferred. A sick sister or old mother will be no objection, as we have a spare bedroom, and will if necessary, hire a nurse to take care of her. P.S.—A piano and music supplied free of charge. The use of the parlor for company. ' No account taken of the tea or sugar that eaters or leaves the house.”

Eastern files report that Captain Jinto, Commanding the Artillery Corps at Macao (China), was shot dead by a private of his company while sitting in the guardroom. The murderer is believed to be of unsound mind. He matched deliberately into the room and shot the captain through the temple. A couple of days before the tragedy, Captain Pinto jokingly threatened to punish the murderer for interfering with the flower beds.

At the Anglican Diocesan Syuod on Tuesday night, passed, without discussion, the following motion That this Synod deplores the granting of wholesale licenses iu the King Country as being a violation ol the spirit of the compact made with the Maoris when the King Country was thrown open for European settlement, and detrimental to the spiritual aud physical welfare of the Maoris, and trusts that lire Government will this session pass measures dealing with the matter.”

Mr W. S. Heyes, who has taken a keen interest in, aud officiated as conductor of the local Borough Baud, and who is shortly to leave Foxton to take up his residence iu the Waikato, was entert lined by his fellow bandsmen at a smoke concert in the Manawatu Hotel on Saturday night last. Eulogistic references were made to the guest’s many good qualities, aud particularly to the interest he had displayed iu band matters. His health was drunk in bumpers, and good wishes were expressed for his future success.

A local tradesman has suggested to us that some steps should be taken by local tradespeople _to block theatrical shows exploiting the town on Saturday nights He argues that it interferes with business. We don’t think many people would sacrifice their purchases in order to witness any blood and thunder show that would swoop down on Foxton on a Saturday night. What we should like to see is a building erected that would attract first-class companies to visit us. Such visits would attract country people into the town.