LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 605, 4 December 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An advertiser desires to lease 5 to 20 acres or more. For address apply this office. On Wednesday next the local Amateur Dramatic Society will journey to Shannon and stage the “Ticket-of-Eeave man in the Druids’ Hall there. At the Catholic Bazaar this evening the magnificent sculling handicap cup is to be presented to the winner, Mr Felton. This presentation should prove an attraction to the public, The services at the Presbyteran Church to-morrow will be conducted in the morning by the Rev. G, K. Aitken and in the evening by Mi Billens, of Palmerston ■North,

“Dick” Arust, the world’s champion sculler, has forwarded to cover Whelch’s deposit. Arrangements for the match are to be completed forthwith. A young married man named Thomas Frost was killed on the Wakapuaka Road, Nelson, on Thursday afternoon. He was thrown from a dray, and run over, his back being broken. Footrot is said to be very prevalent in some of the low-lying country of the Wairarapa. It is attributed to the frequent rains, which have kept the pastures and grounds unusually wet. Messrs Ross and Co., of the Bon Marche, Palmerston North, announce some attractive styles and prices in ladies’ blouser robes in this issue, which buyers should note.

A concert will be held in the Hall, at Moutoa (Waldens’ corner), on the evening of the 17th inst., in aid of the prize fund of the Moutoa school. A capital programme is being arranged. At the local Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr Hornblow, J.P., an offender was charged by the police with drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and fined 20s or 48 hours. The many friends of the Rev. and Mrs Aitken will regret to learn that their son, John, is an inmate of Dr O’Brien’s private hospital in Palmerston, suffering from a serious internal trouble. The executive of the Miners’ Federation meets next week either at Westport on Monday or Wellington on Wednesday, to discuss the State mine strike. The mines in Westport district continue busy. John Harvard, a negro preacher at Cocran, Georgia, fired a revolver and seriously wounded a motorist whose car had frightened his mules. The mob burnt Harvard at the stake.

Recenting the criticism of his wife’s (Madame Clara Butt) singing, Mr Kennedy Rumford boxed the ears of the Times critic, Mr Collis, in the vestibule of the Queen’s Hall. Mr Rumford refused the Times demand for an apology, alleging that the socalled criticism was one of a series of attacks. Mr Collis has commenced police court proceedings.

Mr W. Beach, retired champion sculler of the world, who officiated as umpire at the sculling handicap this week, left Foxton by train this morning homeward bound. As the train moved off he was accorded three rousing cheers. A like compliment was paid to exchampion Webb who left by the same train.

In opening the Rongotea Horticultural Show, Mr F. Newman, M.P., said it gave him great pleasure to be present on such an occasion, for he would venture to say that no better commencement had been made by any Society in the country than that of which he had the evidence before him. It reflected great credit on the promoters, the committee, and the exhibitors-

Cadbury Bros, are suing the Standard for alleged libel in an article published on September 28, 1908. The article commented on the Cadburys’ delay in ceasing to purchase cocoa grown by indentured labour under conditions approaching slavery at Principe and San Thome. Sir Edward Grey gave evidence and stated that Cadbury Bros, asked him to take steps to stop the scandal in 1906, Sir Edward Grey advised them not to agitate publicly until the Foreign Office had approached Portugal.

Speaking at the Rongotea Horticultural Show, Mr E. Newman, M.P. said the subject of Horticulture was one in which he took a great deal ot interest, and he believed that there was no pursuit more beneficial in the training of the young than the cultivation ol flowers, fruit, and vegetables, for it brought people directly in contact with the marvellous works of Providence. No more valuable lessons could be imparted to a child or of greater interest than could be given in the cultivation of a small garden, and he hoped those who had children would give them a training in this direction, for it was an art that gave constant interest, and no hobby so made for health and happiness as gardening. There was also a practical side to the subject. He believed every house, every cottage, should have a flower and vegetable garden attached, and his greatest political ambition had been to bring within the reach of every man the means of acquiring his own freehold home, be it ever so small. (Applause). “The wool king” and “the social pest,’’ epithets applied jocularly to the genial member for Hawke’s Bay in the early hours of a committee discussion in the House the other morning, brought Mr Dillon to his feet almostspeechless with indignation. “I’m no hypocrite,” he declared. “Is there no man who would not like to have a thousand acres of his own ? My countenance and everything else shows what I am. (Loud laughter.) I’m no psalmsinging individual! I can’t stand this sort of nonsense ! I have a few acres of my own and people say I’m a wool king. How did I get it ? By industry ! (Hear, hear.) I’ll be loyal to my chief, confound it.” (This with a wave of the hand toward Government supporters, who were opposing the Band Finance Bill.) Mr Dillon concluded by charitably wishing that Mr Hanan, who had referred to the three-acres-and-a-cow ideal, would try it, and get kicked out of the cow-bail by an old cow,

The attendance shield for this week at the local school was won by Standard 1., with an average attendance of 91.8. A. general meeting of the Foxton Horticultural Association will be heid in the Council Chamber on Friday evening next. The Borough Council invite tenders for carting, dog registration, ranging, and also for five years’ lease of section 488.

The balance-sheet ot the Foxton Borough for the year ending March 31st, may be obtained upon application from the Town Clerk. A boxing match between Bob Fitzsimmons and Tommy Burns at the Sydney Stadium is more than a possibility ot the near future. As a matter of fact, it is on the verge of being arranged, and Burns started road work recently.

Mr E. Newman, M.P., stated at the Rongotea Flower Show this week that one of the first things he would do after the session had ended would be to deliver a postsessional address at Rongotea, where he had received such gratifying support last election.

We remind builders that the tenders for the erection of wharf and coal bunkers for the West Coast Steamship and Trading Co., close on Friday next. Plans and specifications may be seen at the office of the Company at Palmerston North.

The following pressmen were present at the Rowing Handicap : Messrs Marris (Evening Post), Hendry (Times), Plimmer (Dominion), Corby (Wanganui Herald), Follet (Wanganui Chronicle;, Billens (Palmerston Standard), and several others whose names we were unable to ascertain.

The Rev. J. Clover, from Halcombe, will conduct the services to-morrow in the local Methodist Church. At the Synod recently held, a resolution was carried requesting the minister of the district, on the first Sunday of December, to preach upon “Family Religion.” Mr Clover’s subject will be “ Family Religion.’-’ There will be communion at the close of the first service.*

A remarkable case of honesty under peculiar circumstances is reported as an incident during the Feilding Jockey Club’s racing season, says the Star. A farmer residing near Feilding took out a ticket at the totalisator on No. 6 in one of the races, and he afterwards found ( that the clerk had given him an extra ticket (No 5), No. 6 was nowhere in the race, but No. 5 won. The farmer tore up both tickets. He said he could not conscientiously collect on a ticket which he had obtained by mistake. Thumbs up!