LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 805, 29 January 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

K.iibvw. cxcnr-iwis inconncc- : liwii with Ihe FeUding dhow are ; advertised elsewhere in Hits issue. ■ A meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce will be belli on .Monday evening next to receive quarterly report, A full attendance is requested. Messrs Alex Speirs and F. Woods canvassed townspeople this morning :'ur special pri/.es for the Horticultural Society's Autumn Show. Owing to the inclement weather the Presbyterian Sunday School picnic, which was to have been held to-day at “Herrington” has been postponed till Monday. The Revs. F. Isitt and Dawson, members Q f the X.Z. Alliance executive, visited P’oxtou on Thursday last iu connection with No-Ricense matters.

At All Saints' Church, on Sunday evening-, Miss Haywood, of Auckland, will sing a solo. Miss Maywood is a member of St. Make’s choir, Devonport, and daughter of our late townsman, Mr T. Maywood.

The Town Clerk desires us to notify owners of uregistered dogs that Monday is the last day on which the reduced fee of 5s will be accepted. After that dale all owners of unregistered dogs will he sued for tlie 10s registration fee.

it is estimated that the oat crops in the Maslerlon district this year will he from ten to fifteen bushels per acre lighter than they were last year- Some of the growers asciibc the reason to the absence of frosts during the winter months, as it is well known that frosty weather has the effect of pulverising the ground and thus improving it.

The annual report of the Auckland Gas Company shows a net profit for the year of ,£44,700. The directors recommend a dividend of five shillings on fully paid shares, which, added to the dividend paid in July, will amount to ,£34,208. This leaves a surplus on the business of the year of /Mo,. 191.

A message from New Plymouth announces the death of Mr Kdward Okey, aged 82 years. Deceased was a very old settler. His son Mr M. Okey, represents New Zealand in (he House o( Representatives. Other sons are Mieu-tenanl-Colonel Okey, and Messrs IM \V. and A. Okey.

Tlie Hawke’s Hay Amateur Boxing' Association's tournament on Thursday night was a great success. Cradforcl (y.S) heat Young (u■ ■!,), in six rounds for £2O. The i,eckie v. Devitt contest was the oust yet seen at Hastings. Leckie threw in the towel at the end of the i Th round.

Sir Hniest Shackleton tol I a icporter that after his arrival in 1 he metropolis he was pursued day alter dav Isy one ingenious person

who had invented an umbrella. It was an ordinary affair in outside appeaiance, but on being opened it displayed around its inner circumference a panorama of the stars. The inventor’s idea was that the tedium of a walk might be relieved by the study of the interior of the upraised umbrella. The naval gunnery results published in The Tendon Times show that in 1909 the whole fleet scored 5108 hits and 4330 misses. The twelve and ten-inch guns have increased their average hits per gun per minute from 40 to 60 since 1907. The China Squadron was first, scoring 68 points. The third division ot the flume Fleet was second with 49 points, and the .Australian Squadron sixth with 40 points, the Encounter seming 62 compared with the the King Alfred's 79. The police have received a communication from Colonel BadhamThnnhill, of Ireland, inquiring for Cue whereabouts of his son, Mr diaries Badham-Thomhill, who came out to New Zealand as a ship's apprentice on the steamer Star of New Zealand in June, 1900. We was reported to have left the - earner at Wellington, and gone up country, since when nothing his been heard of him. The police authorities would be glad to hear of anything that would assist them in finding the whereabouts of the missing man.

A pathetic fatality occurred at Kaicaluo Station, according to a telegram fiom Condobolin, when Charles Rusell Sited (21), son of Frederick Street, (iovennnent Appraiser at the Lands Office, Forbes, met bis death. He was conveying the news to Mr S. Waite of the death of bis falber-in-law, and when within 150 yards ot Waite's house was struck dead by lightning, which also killed the horse he was riding. Deceased had volunteered to take the news to Mr Waite.

The attention ot the Secretary uf the local Rowing Club has been directed to the fact that certain members are not exercising that care of the club’s property that they .should. Recently a pleasure boat was seen floating down the river and was secured by one of Messrs Levin and Co.’s employees. Other evidences of carelessness are also reported. Members are also requested to see that the boats, after being used, are cleaned and safely housed, not moored in the river. In future any member who offends in this particular will be substantially lined or struck off the club’s hooks. Persons, other than members, who are in the habit of using the boats, and who are too mean to pay their subscriptions, arc warned that they will be proceeded against for their wrongdoing.

With the death of Robert William Racy, at the Veterans’ Home, Auckland, , there passed away, says the Star, one of the last of the seamen typical of Nelson’s time. Racy was horn in W 24, and was present at the bombardment of Beyroiit, of Svebourg, and Algiers. He took part in the capture of Sevastopol, and saw service in the suppression of slave trading on the Gold Coast. He was for some time in the Coastguard service, and after having seen twenty-eight years’ service in the British Navy, he came to New Zealand with his wife and family in 1574. Since the death of his wife, which occurred five years since, he had lived at the Veterans’ Home, where his simple and strong character endeared him to all. The deceased was iu receipt of the Greenwich Hospital special pension, and of the old-age pension. Among the tokens of respect sent were some from the present ViceRegal party, and from the late Governor, Rord Ranfurly,

The loc.il State school will re open on Tuesday next.

Refreshing rain fell throughout this district last night and this morning.

Under medical advice King Edward goes to Biarritz on March 3rd to escape the trying winds.

Mr T. Rimmer has secured the contract for the erection of 1 dwelling in the Avenue for Mrs Shadbolt, also a dwelling and show room for Mr Hopper next the Hkrai.i) Office.

The largest music h ill in Britain is being erected for Mr Walter Gibbous, on the site ot Henglei’s Circus, in Oxford Street. The building will seat live thousand persons, and will cost £2OO- -

Any land owner who lias a central section for sale suitable for a bowling green is invited to send particulars ol same to Mr Witched, care of Bank of N.Z., who lias kindly consented to act as secretatv pro tern ot the proposed bowling club. The Hawke’s Bay Education Board yesterday passed a resolution to the effect that it was desirable that each Education Board should be represented by one of its members at the coming general conference on education convened by the Government. Fifteen lots in the Rangitatau Block, where bushfelling was carried on by the unemployed, will, in accordance with a decision of the Land Board on Thursday morning, be offered to the public on the optional system as first and second class laud. The area is 9964 acres. Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s critics severely comment on his speech at Toronto on the sth, when he said, “ We are under the suzerainty of the King of England, and bow the knee to him, but the King has no more rights over ns than are allowed by the Canadian Parliament. This is every true and loyal Britisher’s view of his relations with the throne.”

A meeting of promoters of the local bowling club was held in the Council Chamber on Thursday evening. The Mayor presided and reported that sufficient debentures had been taken ud to justily those interested to proceed with the procuring of a site and laying down a green. Messrs Stiles, Witchell and Praser were appointed a site committee to view suitable sites and obtain prices for same and to report to a subsequent meeting. On Monday, yth February, Mounsey and Co., will sell the goodwill of the 7 years lease of the target reserve adjoining the racecourse. The reserve contains 100 acres more or less and should commend itself to anyone requiring a good grazing run, or to any flaxmillers who require good handy flaxdrying paddocks, as it is well situated to the sun and well sheltered from heavy prevailing winds. The conditions of the sale will be read at the time of offering by the auctioneer. A laugh went round the Wellington City Council Chamber last night, says the Dominion, when the following letter was read from a politician : ‘T have to apply for the renting of the large Town Hall for the night preceding the next general election, whenever it may take place. On each occasion on which I applied before I found that I was too late, even though on one occasion I applied twelve months ahead. I am hoping that on this occasion my application may be in time. May I add that if there should be any application preceding mine I shall be glad to have the hall allotted for the night preceding the general election after next.” Councillors thought it would be a good idea to put the booking of this particular date up at auction.

An old man who for some years has made a business of following shearers round the country and playing the violin at the camps during the evenings, was the victim of a mean action at a certain camp in the Lakes district this month (says .the Southland News). At the camp he was handed a small sum of money at the conclusion of his opening performance, and given to understand that if he kept on he would be well paid at the breakup of the camp. The feeble old fellow supplied jigs and ditties for about a fortnight, but on the conclusion of shearing operations the men sneaked oil without giving their old musician a cent, with the result that he experienced considerabe difficulty in making his way back to civilisation. It is not often that domestic dramas in real life attain their climax in the publicity of a crowded railway platform, but on Saturday last many of the people who were waiting at the Christchurch station for the departure of the through steamer train for Lyttelton witnessed a remarkable scene. A young woman (says the Lyttelton Times) was standing on the platform with a little child in her arms, when a man rushed frantically up to her and gained possession of the infant before she had time to recognise him or his purpose. Then, by frequent strident repetitions, he impressed the bystander with the facts that his wife had left him in Auckland, that he had followed her to Christchurch, and that he was utterly careless of her future so long as he had his child. A constable and a police sergeant went to the assistance of the distressed mother, who eventually agreed to join her husband provided he would undertake to support her. Apparently the required guarantee was given, for the parents and the child left Christchurch together for Lyttelton.

The next sittings of the Arbitration Court in Palmerston will lie on March 10th.

' A pair of smoked glass pinc-nez found on the racecourse awaits an owner at this office.

Foxton’s temperature yesterday was 75deg., the highest recorded in the Dominion, Auckland was next with 74 and Gisborne 73.

The new anaesthetic stovaine has been used in the Napier Hospital for about twelve mouths, and in over sixty cases.

A united service will be conducted at the Beach on Sunday afternoon. The Revs. Aitkeu and Mairs will take part in the service. Jim Young, the Chinese occupier of a house in Haining Street, Wellington, recently raided, was yesterday found guilty of keeping a gaming house and lined The services in the Presbyterian Church, to-morrow, will be conducted morning and evening by the Rev. G. K. Aitken. The evening subject will be, “Dove and Forgiveness.” At Wellington last night Mr E. Gallichan, organiser for the Liberal parly, was presented by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) with a purse of sovereigns on behalf of the Liberals of the Dominion.

Burglars broke into the Carterton railway station last night, but got nothing. An entrance was made by forcing a window. This is the second time the station has been burglariously entered during the past twelve months. Lord Beresford, at Dartford, England, said the Invincible,which was commissioned in March, had never been able to fire her twelveinch gnus. If war was threatened, the Invincible would be ordered into dock, and her crew transferred to another ship.

The Methodist services tomorrow will be conducted both morning and evening by the Rev P. J. Mairs. In the morning the subject will be “It Might Have Been,” and the evening “He Went Away Sorrowful.” Prayer meeting 7 a.m.

Says the Palmerston Times : —■ Some of our New Zealand girls are nothing it not energetic. Two Palmerston young ladies set out yesterday and cycled to Foxton Beach, had a swim in the surf, cycled thence to Shannon, and through to Palmerston by Ifinton, the journey being about 64 miles. They didn’t- Took a ha’poth the worse, and it was a warm day, too. The Wellington Education Board at its meeting on Wednesday refused a request from tlflMfl Te Aro School Committe to the Board’s regulations amended to allow the school to meet half* an-hour late one day in the week, this time to be occupied by the reading of the Bible to or by pupils, no instruction to be given except that in the words of the Bible. The motion was defeated by five votes to three. In order to introduce the famous Panther and Three Flags Teas into this district, Mr C. H.Collins, the local agent, will give to every purchaser who returns 60 coupons half-a-dozen silver tea spoons. Panther brand is 2s per lb. and , Three Flags is 6d, and a coupon is given with each half pound. We have sampled the Panther tea and find it full flavoured, aromatic and economical and can recommend it as excellent value, apart altogether from the spoon gift consideration. By reason of the increase in the average attendance at the local State school during the past year it has entitled the school to the services of an extra pupil teacher. Application was made to the Board by the headmaster and committee to appoint an assistant in lieu of two pupil teachers. At its last meeting the Board decided to send on a p.t. and transfer one of the present ones. It will not surprise us if two new recruits are dumped down to fill the vacancies. The Foxton school in the past has been not a little hampered by the dumping and training of raw material and while this may be taken as a compliment to the facilities afforded locally, still it must have a very disorganising effect on class work. That Foxton should take its fair share of training pupil teachers no one will deny, but we believe it has of late years been called upon for too much in tbj£ respect.