LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 800, 18 January 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An advertiser has for sale a Columbia phonograph. See advt.

The rain which commenced to fall throughout this district yesterday is much appreciated by the residential and farming communities.

A general meeting of the Manawatu Flaxmills Employees’ Union is advertised to be held in the registered office on Thursday evening next, at 8 o’clock. The jewels of Mulai Abdal Aziz, late Sultan of Morocco, have been redeemed from pawn for by the present Sultan, Mulai Hafid, with part of the latest loan. At yesterday’s Harbour Board meeting Mr Nash objected to purchases being made in Wellington without giving local storekeepers an opportunity of quotiug. The Board decided that in future quotations shall be obtained from local storekeepers before any order is sent out of the town.

For the encouragement of the petroleum industry the Government still keeps open its offer of threepence a gallon on the first five hundred thousand gallons of mineral oil produced in New Zealand. The offer, which amounts to ,£6250, is again Gazetted.

A telegram from Dunedin states that Donald McKenzie, the absconding clerk, who was arrested at Perth and extradited, pleaded guilty to the theft of the property of the Dunedin City Corporation, and the forging of a voucher for the receipt of was committed for sentence.

At the local Police Court yesterday morning before Mr Hornblovy, J.P., Howard Ketterer, who pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct while drunk in Main Street, on Saturday afternoon, was sentenced to 48 hours ; llaru Davey, arrested for drunkenness and allowed out on bail, and who tailed to appear was fined 10s ; James Parker, charged with disorderly conduct while drunk, was fined 20s or 48 hours. Saturday night’s train from Palmerston to Foxton was crowded with passengers, many having to stand as there were no seats available. A very large number of the passengers were bound for the Beach. This fact is evidence that the Heads is becoming one of the most popular seaside resorts on this coast. We understand there is a great demand for houses at the seaside by Palmerston residents.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Harbour Board,the chairman (Mr G. 11, Stiles), formerly welcomed Mr P. J, Henueasy back after his world’s tour. He said that no doubt Mr 'Henuessy during his travels had gathered considerable information which would be of great value to the Board. Messrs Wilson and Nash also extended a hearty welcome to Mr Plenuessy. In thanking the members for their remarks Mr Heuuessy said that although he had gained a certain amount of information in reference to harbour improvements he did not think that it was any use troubling the Board with details until they had money with which to effect same,

A correspondent Irom a station north of Masterton writes to the Wairarapa Daily Times as follows: “ During the late shearing season there occurred in this district an affray in which a cook and two shearers were concerned, and I am informed by an eyewitness that it very nearly had a tragic end, for a revolver shot was fired by one of the combatants during the scuffle, but fortunately vyjthout effect, and it is probable that a second attempt to kill would have been made had not the weapon been struck out of his hand by a bystander, ft was, I understand, the outcome of a gambling affair, in which a spieler had profited largely by the aid of marked cards. Accusations led to blows, and a sanguinary fight ensued, ending in a broken nose, a divided lip, black eyes and a revolver shot and finally the removal of one of them to the hospital. A bullet hole through tire wall of the cook house is evidence enough of a murderous intent, and the intended victim only owed his safety to his alertness in getting out'of the line of fire.'

The death has been announced of Mr G. K. Wakelin, of Blenheim, who was for many years editor of the Pelorous Guardian.

Mr William Jennings Bryon, of Lincoln, Nebraska, who twice unsuccessfully contested the Presidency of the United States, has written to a friend in Australia, stating that be intends visiting the colonies at an early date. Mr Edward Seager, well-known for many years in foundry and engineering circles, died on Saturday night, aged 66. He came to Wellington 40 years ago, and was father of the engineering industry in Wellington.

A resident of a North Island bush township, who gains his living by the sale of ferns to passengers on the trains, as they pass through the township where he lives, has just returned from a trip Home ; and it is said that the trip was paid for out of the proceeds of his sales of bush ferns.

Archdeacon Averill was on Sunday consecrated Bishop of Waiapu in the Napier Cathedral, in the presence of a very large congregation. He was presented to the Primate (Bishop Nevill) by Bishop Williams (his predecessor), and the Bishop of Nelson (Dr Mules) and all the other Bishops of the province, except the Bishop of Melanesia, were present. The initiation service was held on Sunday night, and a large number of clergy took part iu the services.

The threatened strike of slaughtermen at the various meat works has been settled. On Monday night an agreement was arrived at, to operate throughout the Dominion, providing as follows : —Men to be paid 25s per 100. Eight-hour day to be recognised. Fines for damage to skins to be abolished. Preference to be given to unionists. The agreement is to last for three years, renewable for two years longer. The conference lasted till after midnight.

The statement is made by the Hawke’s Bay Herald that at Dannevirke on Wednesday an information was laid against a' sheep-farmer in the Weber district for having committed an alleged breach of section 4 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1908, in that the defendant had created a lock-out. It 1 is understood that the lock-out took place through the shearers refusing to shear sheep which they considered too wet to be shorn.

An unscrupulous rogue visited Petone on Friday, much to the chagrin of a local shopkeeper. Bustling into the shop, the stranger announced that he was a plumber, and had been sent by the landlord—mentioning the name of a firm of local agents —to effect some repairs to the roof. Not dreaming of disputing the workman’s bona fides, the unwary shopkeeper conducted him upstairs, afterwards leaving him, as he imagined, to repair the leak. Happening to go upstairs later on, the tenant found that the pseudo plumber had decamped taking with him, it was afterwards ascertained, £g odd in cash.

A sad fatality occurred on Saturday afternoon, when Mrs Matthews, wife of Mr William Mattllews, of Lmblin-slreet, Wanganui, died while under chloroform at the dental surgery of Mr Mcßrearty. Mrs Matthews, who was only 21 years of age, went to the surgery for the purpose of having her teeth in the upper jaw extracted. Dr Porritt was in attendance, and administered chloroform, which was taken well. Everything went satisfactorily, administration of the drug had ceased, and the operation had just concluded, when the patient collapsed without warning. Efforts to restore consciousness were made, and Dr. Hatherly was summoned, but the unfortunate woman was past human aid. She leaves a little child.—Chronicle.

We would remind our readers and competitors for the Horowhenua A. and P. Show, to be held at Levin next month, that entries close on Saturday, January 22nd with the Secretary, B. R. Gardener. We understand that this year’s show promises to be the most successful held. A splendid clay’s sport is provided without, the classes in cattle, sheep and pigs. There are two pony races (for boys), three jumping events, (ladies and gents) driving competitions, motor bike race, and also trotting race. The best of judges have been obtained —and given a fine day the show of 1910 should prove the best held.

Two young men had a remarkable escape from death by lightning during a storm at Orange (N.S.W.), recently. While shooting near Rosehill they were overtaken by the storm, and sought refuge under a tree. One of the young fellows named Uren, was struck by something on the back of the head—probably the lightning—which drilled a small hole through the lower part of the crown. He knew nothing of the occurrence, haying fallen unconscious. His companion, a Sydney visitor, named Sullivan, saw the flash, and sank to the ground paralysed in the lower extremities. He partly recovered, and dragged himself to a rabbiters’ camp, where he obtained assistance to resuscitate Uren. His injuries consisted of the scorching of the outer part of the left forearm, and the perforation of the soles of the feet in many places by the current. Strangely enough, his clothes and boots were quite undamaged. Both men have now recovered fiom the shock, ‘ but their wounds are bainful.

Railway arrangements for Anniversary Day are advertised elsewhere in this issue.

Further bargains are advertised at Durward’s sth great end-o£ season sale. See replace advt. The monthly meeting of thfl local School Committee will be held on Thursday evening next.

We draw our readers attention to Mr G. H. Stiles’ replace advertisement which appears in this issue. Mr Andrew Jonson, borough inspector of nuisances and sexton, notifies that Mr John Collins will carry out those duties during his absence.

Attention is directed to a replace advertisement from Messrs C. Smith, Ltd., drapers, of Palmerston North, which appears elsewhere in this issue.

The ordinary meeting of the Try Again Lodge, 1.0.G.T., is advertised to take place in the Good Templars' Hall, on Thursday next, at 7.30 p.m. The meeting of the proposed bowling club, which was to have been held on Thursday, 20th inst., has been postponed until the following Thursday, to enable the committee to further canvass the residents of the town for debentures.

The monthly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court will be held tomorrow. There are 19 criminal cases, including 18 tor alleged breaches of the Licensing Act, and 36 civil cases set down for hearing. The . British elections are creating world-wide interest and policy speeches by statesmen are read with interest. It will be February Ist before the election returns are complete. The results of the contest so far is as follows : —Liberals 34, Unionists 41, Labour 8, Nationalists 6, The Triangle reserve at the north end of Main Street, with its artistic flower plots, and shrubs presents a very neat and inviting appearance, and reflects credit upon the Mayor’s forethought. The seat presented by Cr Ross has also been much appreciated by weary visitors. There is room and need of another seat in the enclosure. A chance is thus afforded some public-spirited citizen to follow Cr Ross’ example.

The Town Clerk notifies that the special roll of ratepayers for the proposed water and drainage district of the borough is open for inspection at the Council Chambers where it may be inspected without fee by all ratepayers during office hours until the 26th inst. Objections must reach the Town Clerk on or before February 3rd. The local business people have decided to observe the following ■ closing hours on Saturday, Monday : —(To-morrow, the usual half holiday will be observed.) On Saturday, 22nd inst., the shops will close at noon -;nd re-open at 6 p.m ; on Monday, 24th, the shops will close at noon in lieu of the , 2 statutory half-holiday on Wednes day. "

A communication has been re ceived from Mr Newman M.P by the Chairman of the Board, enclosing a letter he received from the Minister Railways in reply to certain prc p® posals in connection with the dt . sire of the Harbour Board tc f. acquire the railway wharf and the wharfages collected from Messrs Levin and Co’s, wharf, in which the Minister states that in view of the importance of the matter he is obtaining special reports on the subject and as soon as these have been received and considered the result will be communicated to Mr Newman.

At the November meeting of the Harbour Board, the secretary was instructed to write to the Feilding Borough Council, pointing out that their representative’s (Mr Tolley) seat on the Board had become vacant on account of his absence from four consecutive meetings without leave of absence, and asking them to either reappoint Mr Tolley or another representative. No reply has yet been received from the Feilding Borough Council, and at present they are without a representative on the Board, although Mr Tolley apparently thinks he is still entitled to a seat, as prior to yesterday’s meeting he rang up the chairman and asked him to apologise for his absence. The secretary was instructed to again communicate with the Feilding Council on the subject.