LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 801, 20 January 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Messrs Haslett and Lazarette, fish dealers, etc., insert a replace advt. elsewhere in this issue. The friends of Mr ly- Vy. Wilson will regret to hear that, owing to heart trouble, it has keen necestr fnt Viim f r\ 11 nHrarcrn cnAr'i'sl

The friends of Mr ly- Vy. Wilson will regret to hear that, owing to heart trouble, it has keen necessary for him to undergo special treatment in the district bospita} at Palmerston, whither be was conveyed on Tuesday last.

All the cottages at the Beach are fully occupied. Priucipally by Palmerston residents. The results of the various Board scholarships are announced. We regret that the Foxten School has not yet sent forward a candidate for scholarship honours, but we look forward with hope to the future. Entries for the Horowhenua A. and P. Society’s Show, close with the secretary at Eeviu, on Saturday next, 22nd inst., at 9 p.m. A thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rains passed over this district early this morning. As a result of the continuous rainfall since yesterday, house tanks have been replenished and the water channels flushed.

An unusual and degrading sight for Foxton was witnessed in one of our principal thoroughfares yesterday afternoon, i.e. a female (stranger to the town apparently attracted by the races) in a very bad state of intoxication.

The stewards of the local Racing Club are endeavouring to arrange an outing for the visiting owners and trainers at the forthcoming meeting on Saturday and Monday next, which is to take the form of a river excursion to the Beach on Sunday.

At the Primitive Methodist Conference, held at Timaru yesterday, the unanimous invitation of the local Methodists to the Rev. Mr Mairs to continue his work in this district for another year, was sanctioned. In the final reading of stations, the Rev. C. M. Carlisle was appointed to Rongotea, and the Rev. Joseph Sharp to Feilding.

New South Wales has found a new “demon” bowler. On the first clay of the New South WalesQeensland match in Sydney, Scott, a fast bowler, even more erratic than Cotter, “ winged ” five Qeenslaud batsmen. “ Redgrave was struck several times,” says the Herald. “Thompson retired hurt, Harligan lost his wicket through being hit on the arm. Fletcher did not escape scathless. The wicket-keeper retreated with a smashed finger. At one time during the afternoon the services of a ‘ first aid ’ expert were badly needed.” The death occurred at Moutoa yesterday afternoon of Mr Thomas Norton, one of the oldest settlers in this district, after a short illness, aged 81 years. The late Mr Norton was a member of the 65th Regiment, and arrived in the colony when x 8 years of age. He served throughout the Maori wars, and afterwards was engaged in surveying work with the late Mr J. T. Stewart. For some years afterwards he followed the occupation of bootmaker, and later commenced rope making at Motou. Mr Norton was for 17 years roadman for the Manawatu County Council. The funeral will leave his late residence for the Moutoa cemetery at 2 o’clock to-morrow allernoou.

The Methodist Sunday School picnic was held yesterday at Messrs Coker Bros.’ (arm, Moutoa. The children were conveyed to the locality in brakes provided by Mr Wyeth. Upon arrival, games were indulged in, after which the children were regaled with an excellent repast, provided by the Sunday School teaching staff. Races were run for prizes kindly donated by Messrs Walker, Stiles and Goldie ; the latter donated a gold cross and silver medal. The rain storm which broke over the district at about 3 p.m. put an end to the sports, but ample shelter was provided for all, through the kind hospitality of the Misses Coker. Tea was served to the children on the verandah, alter which'Mr Stiles (superintendent) suitably thanked the Messrs Coker Bros, and the Misses Coker, for their kindness and hospitality, and on leaving the children accorded them three hearty cheers. Mr J. J. White has given notice to move at the Anglican General Synod, which opens in Wellington to day : —That this Synod, having a p:ofouiul regard for the principles of the English Church reformation, and viewing with alarm the introduction into the churches of this province of teaching and practices decidedly Romanish and subversive of the principles of the reformation, respectfully urges upon the bishops to boldly exercise the powers and authority in them vested as overseers of God’s flock, and insist upon a strict adherence by the licensed clergy to the directions given in the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer for the uniform conduct of public worship, and the doctrines as in the Thirty-nine Articles are contained and required to he believed and practised by every ordained minister of the Anglican communion.

A discovery which is of the greatest interest to members of the Craft has recently been made in connection with some excavations at Jerusalem, on the site of the temple. While this work was being carried out the workmen caipe upon an underground chamber of considerable height and extent. Further examination revealed the fact that scattered about the stone pillars and on the walls were a number of Masonic emblems, particularly those of the square and compass. The building or underground chamber, had evidently been used in the far-off ages as a Masonic meeting-place. This discovery conclusively proves what some people have looked upon as being somewhat mythical —namely, that Masonry was actively and practically \yorked in the time qf King Solomon, Up to the time of the discovery no knowledge existed of the underground chamber, though extensive excavations had been made.

There has been a great incursion of Jews to Palestine since the new constitution became operative in Turkey. The Jewish population of Jerusalem has increased by many thousands. Tens of thousands are settled at Jaffa, Tiberias, Safed, and Mount Carmel, and thousands are flocking from Persia and Russia. Jewish capitalists are buying land in the Jordan valley, which was recently the property of the ex-Sultan Abdul Hamid.

Although practically unknown, Stop Island, on which the Waikare was beached, had at one time considerable significance to the early settlers (says an exchange). It was the only island in the Souud free from rats, and therefore it was exclusively used as a provision depot. It is said to have come by its name on the principle of “ Stop thief,” as applicable to these rodent marauders.

Spurious half-crowns are in circulation in Christchurch. These base coins on first appearance are, reports the Christchurch Press, likely to deceive, as the edges are milled, and in other respects they are a colourable imitation of the real article, though on closer examination the colour is seen to be duller and more like lead, A feature by which they can be detected is their lightness, whilst an additional indication is that they do not ring true. A boy at the Christchurch Court made a new and original defence in answer to a charge of having exploded crackers, and then added ; —“ But he —pointing to the arresting constable —didn’t see us let them off. He couldn’t see through a corner, could he ?” The Magistrate admitted the force of the boy’s argument, but explained that even it a police constable did not see an offence committed, it was no less an offence. The boy accepted the position philosophically with : “I suppose so.” Dr- A Paterson, who returned to Christchurch last week from a visit to America, states that the motor car has a marvellous grip on the people there- In several of the large cities processions of cars may be seen all day long. In some cases a minimum speed of fifteen miles an hour is imposed, in order to prevent the blocking of the traffic. The cars vary greatly in regard to both size and cost, but the most popular type seems to be one that costs about and which can be made to attain a fairly good speed. Dr. Wood, the popular headmaster of Harrow School, once told a capital story of a boy who missed a battalion drill, which is considered a somewhat serious offence at the famous school. The doctor summoned the lad, an American, to his study, and thus addressed him ; “Do you know as the honorary colonel of the cadet corps, I can have you shot, and as the headmaster can have you birched. Now, which sentence do you prefer?” The humour of the situation overcame the culprit’s nervousness, and with a smile he replied : “I prefer to be shot, sir ; because then you will be hung.” The Secretary of the Napier Chamber ol Commerce has received a petition from forty-nine cab proprietors and carriers of Napier to be forwarded to the Minister for Railways regarding the inconvenience of the present railway timetable so far as it effects them. They complain that they have been grievously affected in their hours of labour and financially. Amongst other arguments advanced in support of a revision to the old timetable they say “ the service between Wellington and Napier is now the slowest in the Dominion, and this fact has a harmful effect on the tourist trade, and contributes to the abovementioned diminution in your petitioners’ earnings.”

Certaiu ballroom habitues have achieved a reputation in the mutter of supper-table displacement. It is well for them that corned beef is not always an item iu the menu, for thirty people who were present at a ball at Burragorang, in the Camden district of New South Wales, on 28th December, were poisoned through partaking of corned beef. The ball-room had to be converted into a temporary hospital, the patients being too ill to be removed. All, with the exception of two, have made satisfactory progress towards recovery. Many of the patients, as soon as they were attacked, swallowed doses of charcoal, and to this they attribute their recovery.

General Booth is now engaged in \\ riting his autobiography, and for a study he uses a tiny, plainlyfurnished back room of his modest home at Hadley Wood, in North London. The book, which will have a world-wide interest, should be ready next year. It will cover a period of sixty-five years of active work, and the General does not mind confessing that one of his inspirations in his task is the portrait hanging in his room of his dead wife, the “Mother” of the Salvation Army, the courageous woman who, when the Methodist New Connexion decided to send him on circuit work, instead of the revival work for which his heart longed, echoed his “ Never ” from the gallery, and so determined his new start in life. It is feared, by the way, that another operation for cataract will be necessary at an early date. Mr Parkes, he locai watch maker and jeweller is opening up a splendid assortment of gold, silver and electro-plate goods suitable for presentations. Watch the window displays.^ Inshctibank kills blowflies, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fleas, thrips, in fact all jnsect pests.* x

The monthly meeting of the local School Committee takes place this evening.

The ordinary meeting of the local Good Templars’ Lodge takes place at 7.30 o’clock this evening.

We are informed that all the local hotel accommodation is booked for the coming race meeting.

A bookie named Thomas Mulcahy was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment at Wellington this week for betting with an infant.

Messrs Tatton, Son and Boyes, dental surgeons, notify by their advertisement that the Foxton surgery will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays included. A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held to-morrow, at 7.30 p.m,, for the purpose of fix ing the weekly half-holiday, and to adopt proposals re water and drainage loan. “Can you,” asked the police sergeant of a defendant at the Taihape Court, ‘‘afford to buy whisky and give it away indiscriminately ?” The answer came swiftly and decisively: “That’s what keeps me poor,” The laugh that followed from the audience in court was suppressed in the usual way.

It is understood that the Defence authorities have submitted for Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener’s approval two schemes of operations, which, it is considered, are best suited to the capacities of the forces as at present organised. One of them, says garrison gossip, is a scheme of war station —mobalisation for defence. —Wellington Dominion.

A man named Lyons was drowned while surf-bathing at Newcastle. Two other bathers had a narrow escape, but were rescued by the surf club. Shortly afterwards sharks tore Lyon’s body to pieces in view ol a crowd watching on the shore. Mr G. J. Frampton, A.R.C., the London sculptor, has completed the Seddon memorial pannel, which is to be placed in St. Paul’s Cathedral. After being cast in bronze, it will be placed in the crypt of the Cathedral, adjoining the bust of the late Sir George Grey,

During the afternoon of the carnival on February 2nd, the Sunday School children will receive their prizes. Mr Fdward Newman will present them to the children at 3.30 p.m. This is a day when all the parents should be present so that they can help their little ones to enjoy the numerous and various festivities of the carnival. The children’s sports are in the hands of Messrs Woods, P. Robinson and C. Collins.

During the period from 1845 to 1909, the amount of timber shipped from the Wairoa is difficult to compute, but it far exceeds 1,000,000,000 ft. To-day (says the Auckland Herald) the mills, if called upon, could annually produce 100,000,000 ft., and the amount of money engaged in the industry is enormous. There are over 1000 men engaged in the bushes and mills, and their wages are an important item to Wairoa < merchants. 0

The Union Company has promoted Mr Appleyard, the second officer of the Waikare, to be first officer in recognition of the services rendered by him in connection with the wreck ot the vessel. The members of the crew, who were in the launch with Mr Appleyard, are to be given monetary grants. The stewardesses, Miss Gash and Miss Fitzpatrick, assistants, are to be promoted.

A close observer of animals thus attempts to account for the belief that the howling of a dog presages death. A dog’s sense of smell is prelernaturally acute, and it is probable that a person who is ill emits a different odor from that of a healthy one. This is certainly the case in infectious diseases, as every physician knows. Now, is it not possible that the dog notices this difference, and Is disturbed by it. There are several instances of dogs behaving strangely a few hours before the death of persons with whom they are associated. In one case a dog showed every, sign of fear and distress in presence of its sick master, who(»

contrary to the belief of the-physi-cian and the sick man’s friends, expired shortly after the dog had manifested its uneasiness. In volcanic regions, animals, both wild and domestic, show signs of panic before an earthquake takes place, thus proving that their acute sense reveals symptoms of impending catastrophe, not apparent to human beings.

A strange story comes from North Adams, Massachusetts, where a boy of nineteen pawned himself as security for a note of given by his elder brother to a man named Nasif, a fruit dealer. Thomas had not had any money for a year and a-half, but he has worked early and late for Nassif, and the money he should have ceived in wages has gone upon payment of the note. He sacrificed himself willingly that his brother might go to College and become a civil engineer. The note has just been paid. Young Thomas volunteered to be hostage for the payment of the note, and signed an agreement by which he sold himself to Nassif, agreeing to work without pay until such time as the note was paid. He faithfully kept the agreement. The relationship between the hoy aqd fh§ master during their curious agreement was most friendly, and Thomas professes gratitude to Nassif that lie was allowed to pay the xxote in that way.