The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, December 7, 1909. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 606, 7 December 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, December 7,1909. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ordinary meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board will be held on Friday next at 7.45 p.m. Business: general. Kate Lenihan, aged 16 years, died in the Hamilton District Hospital on Saturday morning—it is supposed through eating matchheads.

The case against Lieutenant Hofrichter, who was arrested on a charge of poisoning staff officers by post, is only circumstantial and is weakening daily. Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame have a replace in this issue drawing attention to the special value they are offering in costumes and blouses.

A lady resident ot Wanganui has just completed a fast ot 81 days, her only sustenance being fruit juice occasionally and water; She was a sufferer from rheumatism, but it is reported that she is completely cured and is in good health otherwise.

Constable Gillespie, of Temuka, who was stationed at Feilding some 27 years ago, and later at Foxton, was a visitor to this district recently. He is looking wonderfully well and youthful, although he is within eighteen months of the retiring age. A paper in a good sized Michigan town recently published this statement: “The business man who is in the habit of hugging his typewriter had better quit or we will publish his name.” Next day 37 business men called, paid up their accounts, left 37 columns of advertising, and told the editor not to take any notice of foolish stories.

The Wanganui Education Board has been exceedingly fortunate in the number of ex-teachers who have been elected to membership (says the Feilding Star). Mr Corry (solicitor, of Wanganui), Mr J. Smith (of Taihape), Mr D. H. Guthrie (M.P. for Oroua), and now Mr P. O’Dea, M.A. (formerly headmaster at Sanson) can all claim that experience. It is stated (says the Otago Daily Times) that efforts are being made to effect a settlement of the impending litigation between the Otago Dock Trust and Messrs Scott Bros., the dock contractors. The main basis of the proposal is that the Dock Trust shall forego the infliction of penalties for delay in completion of the work, and that the contractors shall forego the claim of ,£20,000 compensation for alleged failure to provide a dredge for excavation purposes. The proposal is said to be viewed unfavourably by the trust. A meeting of stewards of the Foxton Racing Club was held in the Club’s office last night, Mr W. Barber presiding. The tender of Mr T. Rimmer for additions to buildings at the course was accepted. Mr H. G. Hammond was elected a member. It was decided to write the Borough Council, directing their attention to the fact that tow and flax was being deposited on the road near the railway windmill, and setting fire to same, and that the Club will hold the Council responsible for any damage done thereby. We direct attention to thealteration in the time-table of Mr Johnston’s mail coach between. Foxton and Levin. The Coach will leave Foxton daily at 6.30 a.m., aniving Levin 8.30 a.m., leave Levin 11.50 a.m., arrive Foxton 1.50 p.m., leave Foxton 2.30 p.m., arrive Levin 4.30 p.m. Leave Levin 7.45 p.m., arrive Foxton 9.45 p;tn. The coach will leave for Shannon daily at 12.30 p.m., arrive Shannon 2 p.m. Leave Shannon 2.10 p.m., arrive Foxton 3.40 p.m. This coach connects with the Napier mail train.

A Christchurch daily journal proudly narrates the following story, which shows how much reason the Cathedral City has - to congratulate itself on the valour of its young constables. It happened in Cashel-street the other afternoon that two ladies, each with a perambulator, were engaged in earnest conversation on the footpath, quite oblivious of the fact that they were blocking the fairway. A young constable ap: preached and suggested that the voluble mothers might move on, but they laughed in his face, and says the record simply, “he retired blushing from the scene.”

We have received a number of letters both private and for publication . in reference to the recent boycott against this paper by one of the promoters of the sculling handicap. Whilst deeply appreciating the sentiments therein contained we do not think it will serve any good purpose by publishing them. The whole business is viewed in its true light by press, sporting men and the general public. The boomerang hurled for the old paper’s injury has circled back and injured the thrower and has left a scar which will take years to efface. We desire that the subject be now dropped.

Robert Siever was fined at Bow-street, for sending indecent publications through the post. At the local police court yesterday, before Mr Alf. Fraser J.P., Thomas Mitchell was fined ros for drunkenness.

We acknowledge with thanks a copy of the schedule for the Feilding Industrial Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s Show. When a defendant in Court at Timaru was asked how he pleaded to a charge of riding on the foothpath, he made a rather novel plea, which was, “Guilty of two chains, your Worship. ’’ The two chains cost him 12s.

Mr Pierpont Morgan has secured control of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York, the assets of which total 94 millions sterling. It is estimated he now controls 350 millions sterling. Splendid progress is being made with the drainage of the Hauraki Plains formerly the Piako swamp. The dredges are doing good work, and a large portion of the Government, laud is carrying splendid feed. An old age pensioner named Edwin Cox died in the Wellington Hospital on Saturday morning from injuries received a few hours previously through being knocked off the railway line at Petone by a train.

At the quarterly sitting of the Pahiatua Licensing Committee, the police asked that the licensee of the Herbertville Hotel should forfeit his license, as he had been convicted of an indictable offence. Counsel for the publican pointed out that the offences were committed before the man became a publican, and urged that section 180 of the Licensing Act was not retrospective. This contention was upheld by the Magistrate, and the case dismissed.

“My experience, after weighing evidence for over ten years, said Mr Justice Cooper, in the Supreme Court at Auckland, “is that police officers are fair in their evidence. There may, at times, be an unconscious bias, but I am bound to say that, with very slight exception, police officers don’t give bad evidence.” His Honour added that he was well aware of the proneness of counsel to make thfs kind of attack upon police evidence as a weapon to strengthen their own cases. Replying to the request that the new species of shark which was discovered at Kaikoura should be designated . after himself, his Excellency the Governor, in a humorous note, said “I have much pleasure in accepting the honour of having your new shark named after me. Should a portrait or description of the shark be published, should much value a copy. Trust he will not meet me when bathing and claim relationship.” Some months ago the citizens of Hastings subscribed a good sum of money for the purchase of a town clock. The money was sent down to Wellington, and as a considerable time has elapsed the subscribers are beginning to wonder if the Department intends to erect a clock, or add their subscriptions to that monotonously vague thing called the surplus. The following letter has been sent by Sir Joseph Ward to Mr H. G. Ell: —“I am in receipt of your letter of the xßth inst, with reference to the restrictions which banks place upon their officers in respect to marriage until an officer’s salary reaches a certain amount. I note the representations you make relative to the matter, and your suggestion that legislation be introduced to remove the impediment inflicted upon bank officials. I regret that in view of the very full legislative programme now before Parliament there is no possibility of anything being done in the direction indicated this session, but when an opportunity occurs I shall be pleased to give your representations my consideration.” A local resident, says the Taranaki Daily News, claims to have discovered a new and unfailing cure and preventive of potato blight, and the mixture he recommends is worth stating, if only for its novelty. It is nothing more than a decoction of dock roots. He has found the water ‘in which these roots have been boiled arrests the progress of the blight. Last year the only rows of potatoes he saved were those he sprayed with the mixture, and already this season he has proved its value in a crop where the blight had just made its appearance. A number of gardeners in the neighbourhood are trying the mixture. It is thought that the bitterness of the dock root has something to do with its service. If this is so, it opens the way for further experiment with substances of pronounced bitter qualities. Nearly twelve months ago the Government decided on an experiment calculated to induce people to be thrifty (says the Post). The scheme was to issue little safes, for which the users had to guarantee the State 6s as security, and pay an annual fee of 6d. The “home savings bank” was handed out locked, and . the key was retained at the office which allotted the box. When it was desired to bank the savings, the box was taken to the Post Office Savings Bank, and the contents were credited to the owner’s account in the ordinary way. Up to the end of last September over 350 of these boxes had been issued in Wellington and suburbs. So far Wellington is the only place where the experiment has been tried. The boxes are of iron, neatly finished, measuring 4m by 3m, with a handle to assist the saver to carry his wealth to and fro.

The dry weather is playing havoc with the roads. A general meeting of the Foxton Chamber of Commerce will be held in the Council Chamber bn Thursday evening at eight o’clock. A meeting of the Manawatu, No-license Council was held at Oroua Downs yesterday. The proceedings were held in committee.

Parkes, watchmaker and jeweller, has in stock some splendid ladies and gents’ dressing cases, silver-back burushes and combs and a fine assortment of gold, silver and electro-plate goods suitable for Christmas presents. Call and inspect them.* The following children „sat for proficiency examinations at the local State school to-day: Victor Betty, Charles Brewer, Guy Edwards, William Nye; William Speirs, William Weller, Clara Hart, Elsie Nye, Myra Wanklyn, Alfred Edlin (ex-pupil). One candidate sat for a competency certificate. The examination was supervised by Messrs Hornblow and Franklaud.

A well-known property at the Bay of Islands, the Kerikeri Estate, belonging to Mr T. C. Williams, has just been sold to Mr Harold Bull, who not long ago disposed of his run at Waingaro. The sale includes the stock now on the estate —700 sheep, 250 head of cattle, and 50 horses. The price was between ,£20,000 and. .£25,000. ■

The time-honoured custom of remembering friends by sending them Christmas greetings is again upon us. The Herald printery in order to supply the wants of patrons, indented some very chaste cards for printing which have now arrived. We can only supply a limited quantity of each variety and as they are the very latest we advise patrons to place orders early. Prices including your own printed message, 6s 6d per dozen.*

Whether it is an evidence of the tightening of the silken bonds of kinship, or a testimony to the disinclination of Dominion housewives to undertake what was once regarded as one of the most sacred of household duties, it may be mentioned that a very large trade in imported Christmas puddings (compounded in the Home country) has sprung up during recent years, a number of firms having lately received numerous 400-galloa tanks packed full of these delicacies for the forthcoming Christmas trade.

A full cargo, of wool, dairy produce, meat, hemp, etc., was taken from New Zealand by the lonic, which, left Wellington on Saturday' morning for London. Following is a summary of the shipment:— 3816 bales wool, 9587 carcases \ mutton, 14 carcases lamb, 2516 quarters beef, 18,887 crates cheese, 48,606 boxes butter, 25 cases preserved meats, 3 boxes meat extract, 21 casks casings, 96 casks pelts and calfskins, 293 bales skins, 1166 casks tallow, 22893 hales hemp, 580 bales tow, 50 bales leather, 132 bales hops, 4804 sacks copra, 6 kales hair, 4 bales horns, 430 sacks concentrates, 58 bars bullion, 4186 bundles and pieces timber, 4712 cases and sacks kauri gum, 114 sacks shell, 13 bales cotton, 1225 sacks rye grass, 522 sacks oats, 465 sacks,beans; 52 sacks seed, 23 sacks peas, 1 repackages sundries.