The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, December 11, 1909. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 608, 11 December 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, December 11, 1909. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr O. Cook notifies that he will run a coach to the beach tomorrow afternoon, leaving the Post Office at 1.45 o’clock. Do not lose the opportunity of calling at the Heraed printery and inspecting the chaste Christmas cards —the latest from Homeland.* The many friends of Mr Baillie (manager of the local branch of the Bank of N.Z.) will be pleased to learn that he is making a slow but steady improvement towards recovery. He is able to get about but it will be at least six months before he resumes duty. Speaking to the foreman of the gangs of workmen employed in clearing slips in the Manawatu Gorge, our representative was informed yesterday that it will be about four months before the Gorge road is open to vehicular traffic. There are two very large slips to clear away, besides several minor ones, and a number of culverts to be re-erected. Cyclists and pedestrians can get through. The Marlborough Herald understands that as a result of the steamer Takapuna touching Walker’s Rock ’ recently, Captain Stewart, who is well and favourably known by the travelling public, has been relieved of his duties. It will be remembered that on the night when the Takapuna had the misfortune to graze Walker’s Rock it was a dark, foggy, night, and the light on Jackson’s Head was reported as being out. ‘ Captain Stewart was a popular servant of the company, and much regret will be expressed at his retirement. Lord Roberts, speaking at the United Service Institution, said that “ Great Britain, cannot afford to be behindhand in airships and aeroplanes. 11 firmly believe that they may be a great feature in the next war. We must make our own machines and train our own aeronauts. Englishmen are brave and confident because they know nothing of what is going on, and are content to remain in apathy because they will not believe anything can happen to them. The valour of ignorance pervades the whole country.” The Review of Reviews for Australasia for December is of unusual interest, because of a long interview with Dr. Cook, who claims to have first reached the North Pole. On his return to Europe Dr. Cook was interviewed by leading and feted by the Danish people. The interview contains numerous photographs of interest. Whatever diverse opinions there may be about the matter, the writer is convinced as to Dr. Cook’s genuiness, and gives his reasons for it. The magazines of the world are thoroughly represented in the section devoted to them.

A strange story comes from the Midlands. A married couple living in the quiet village of Feckenham, near the manufacturing town of Redditch, are declared by the Daily Mail to have sold their one-month-old baby for They already had a family of five children when the baby arrived.' When their friends became suspicious that the baby was missing the parents were questioned, but they refused to give any information as to its whereabouts. Upon making close enquiries, however, it appeared that the infant had been sent to a minister and his wife in Hull, who have no children of their own. The father who is a local preacher and frequently conducts' religious services, declines to give any further particulars of the deal. It is stated that the family do not seem to be troubled at parting with the baby, but they, will not be interviewed’ Many of the villagers are indignant ;at the occurrence.

An unusual thing accurred a day or two ago. There are over 300 Red Bird and Massey bicycles in and around this district, and the first serious break on any of these machines happened to one belonging to,Mr Robert Coley, in a peculiar manner. Mr Coley whilst riding in the dark a month or two ago, collided with another cyclist with 'the result that the main bar of the Massey was bent rather badly. After being ridden in this condition the metal evidently chrystalised, the result being that the small crack which must have been effected at the time of the collision, opened up and the machine broke * at .that spot. Gf course in justice to the Massey it is well to state that the machine is a path racer, but it speaks volumes for the great quality of these machines when one bears in mind that this is the first broken Massey or Red Bird that has come under the local agent’s notice, —that is to say Anything of a serious nature. Fortunately Messrs Fowler and Gordon are liberal with their guarantee, and piomptly offered to supply the unlucky client with a new frame free of charge.---Advt.

cent wool sales in Napier tflu-rei* salt iu an increase of a quarter of a million of the wealth of Hawke’s Bay.

A parasitic disease is stripping the trees of Palmerston North streets and reserves of their foliage, and a Government biologist has been requisitioned to prescribe for the enemy. The general meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, to have been held on. Thursday night, lapsed for want of a quorum, only the President (Dr. Mandl) and Messrs Speirs, Bullard, Levett and Gordon (secretary; being present.

The vicar of All Saints' proposes to place a box at the Church door for contributions to help our poorer brothers and sisters amongst us at Christmas time, and to make their Christmas a bright and happy one. We trust many will respond to this appeal. One of the successful applicants at the ballot for sections on the Fyve Settlement, says the Christchurch Press, stated during his exfaination that he had been unsuccessful in no fewer than ten previous ballots. His joy when success at last smiled on him was boundless.

Germany’s trade statistics show that she has transferred buying to a considerable extent from Britain to the United States. • The latter now stands first as a purveyor to Germany, but Britain heads the list in consuming German products.

Arnst, champion sculler, is putting in some solid work on Nelson Harbour, preparing for his race against Whelch, at Akaroa. He speaks in high terms of the Nelson conditions tor rowing purposes. The large stretch of water available provides a good rowing course.

With this issue we circulate an inset from Messrs C.-M. Ross and Co., of the Bon Marche, Palmerston, * intimating the. commencement of their Xmas Fair and Bargain Carnival, which continues till ’Xmas Eve, and of which drapery buyers are likely to avail' themselves to the fullest extent.*

The Pressers’ Union (Dunedin) unanimously protested against any further sale of Crown lands, and expressed high appreciation of the action of the leaseholders in Parliament in endeavouring to prevent the Land Bill being placed on the Statute Book.

The services in the Methodist Church to-morrow will be conducted in the morning by Mr G. Huntley, and in the evening by the Rev. P. J. Mairs, whose subject will be “Christ Knocking at the Heart’s Door.” The afternoon service at Himatangi will be conducted by Mr H, Smith. The 7 a.m. prayer meeting will be held as usual, also Sunday school at 2.30 p.m., next Sunday being the anniversary of the 1 alter.

A new departure in the building line in Christchurch is being introduced in the erection of a small store for a local produce company (says the Press). The style adopted is called the “camerated concrete.” The walls are built of concrete but are so constructed that the interior is hollow. Thii* is secured by a process of moulding and drying, and the two sides of the walls are connected by frequent bars of concrete and wire re-inforcements. The object of the hollow walls is to provide ventilation, and also to prevent dampness. It is claimed that the new style is cheaper than any other style of buildings, and that it has been passed by the City Council as suitable for the inner area.

One of the parties in a libel action before the supreme Court in Wellington is a speaking demonstration of the plain assertion that a man in his time may play many parts. This actor on the world’s stage .was in the beginning a sailor before the mast, and since then has turned his hands to many things. Under examination he admitted having been at one time or other in his life a hotelkeeper, a carpenter, painter, bridgebuilder, hotel porter, head keeper in a menagerie, a wild beast collector and a farm hand. Now, for want of a better, and because he objects to a lazy life, he is a railway hand in Queensland. In times when not thus occupied he has assisted to turn H.M.S. Foudroyant into scrap-iron and to erect the Blackpool Tower in England.

At the annual prize-giving at St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, on Wednesday, Masters William and James Hennessy (sons of our respected citizen, Mr P. Hennessy) were most successful, securing between them no less than eleven prizes. Considering that there are over 100 scholars at the College, their successes should be very gratifying to their father and teachers at the College, also to the teachers who instructed them at the local State school which they attended before going to Wellington, The elder boy’s (William) prizes included a special, presented by the Governor, for paper on India, he having secured a third place in the junior division ; the papers in this competition were set out and marked by the Governor himself. William, who is in the third class, also secured first prizes for general excellence in class work, arithmetic and science, James, who has been attending the College for only nine months, won seven prizes, being first for Christian Doctrine, English, history, geography, German and arithmetic. He als<f secured second prize in his class for general excellence in class-work.

next;' The police advertise for "a* owner of a purse copt||) |iqf money. ‘ The Railway Depart vertise particulars re exetuspr tickets for the Christmas and 3lewj Year holidays. A little rain fell throughout this, district some time during the night, but not enough to do any appreciable good. Rain is badly wanted.

The Castlecliff Railway Company, Wanagnui, with the view of extending their line to the ■; sea beach, are having a trial survey and an estimate of the cost prepared. Word has been received at M Sydney that the steamer Makura^gf

on which wireless telegraphy bgdp ’ been installed, had com munica 83 with Vancouver, 1320 miles distant, and notified “ All well.” o. Mrs Baker notifies elsewhere in this issue that ice creams may be procured daily at her shop. She has also opened up her Christmas >•’ novelties, including fancy lines in t% biscuits and sweets. Refreshments -! and soft drinks as per usual. &

When Mr Wm. Beach was in . Foxton he greatly admired the photos of our local photographer, and remarked that' he considered him a real champion at his work, and that they had no better in Sydney.* •

During the past twelve mouths nearly one hundred people have made appointments and promises at the Yerex studio, and have failed to keep them. We would like to remind them that this month is absolutely their last opportunity, as Mr Yerex is positively leaving Foxton early next I month.* |

I An exciting chase took place at ' Waihi on Monday. A prisoner \ >; named Faulkner, a half-caste, ’ sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for. horse stealing, bolted out of the prison yard, ' smashed one gate, and cleared ‘ another gate at a bound. Constable Cummings gave chase. ' j Prisoner, seeing he was being overtaken, ran into Mr H. 1 Moore’s back premises, and, enterinjg the house by a back door, frightened a girl, but was .’1 captured immediately. He was subsequently sentenced to one f month’s imprisonment for attempt- 7 ing to escape, ; |

A well-known dairy farmer in the Wairarapa district to ' a Daily Times reporter, stated that contagious mammitis vgjks at 7 - : present rather prevalent in parts . of the Wairarapa. This is a some- ■/* what serious thing for the dairy . J \ farmer, who would without doubt -g find it to -his advantage to cal Von the local inspector of stock |nd discuss the question its _ bearings. We understand”(says the Times) that ihe the Department are only too willing to ,J assist the farmers as far as lies .'fi in their power.

‘‘Never trust appearances” is evidently the lesson to be learned from the story of misadventure S told by the Hastings Standard. A ' passenger from that town arrived ,? at a station a few minutes before - the departure of his train, and, .a having left something behind, J handed the parcel he was carrying to a stranger to hold while he | went back to his hotel for his ] forgotten property. Returning to' ’i

the station, he found the obliging ,i stronger missing, and with him the parcel. The only, description rhe could give of the man was that he was about 65 years of age and of average height. Our representative had ’' at Masterton yesterday, with Mr Cooper, the moving spirit in the Wellington Farmers’ Co-operative Freezing Company. The site for j the new works, by the way, is at Waingawa, near Masterton. Mr Cooper said he was'Strongly in favour, if the necessary support were forthcoming from this district, to recommend the purchase of the Eongbnrn works, to be run in conjunction with the present works. “And change the site to Foxton?” queried our reporter. Mr Cooper said he would not ex •

press an opinion on that point. He would, however, like to know : more about the local port.