LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 806, 1 February 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mrs Austin advertises for a general servant. The ordinary meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board will he held on Friday next, 4th inst In consequence of the inclement weather, the united Methodist and Presbyterian service to be held at the Beach last Sunday, bad to be abandoned. The service will be held next Sunday week.

A sensational fire occurred a Westport on Sunday morning. The Government engine sheds, in which were lodged seven engines (three W.B.’s, one P'.A., two £’s and one F), used in the coal from the mines in the Westport district, was totally destroyed. The engines were hooked out after considerable damage was done, the cabs, tanks, cab fittings, and boiler mountings suffering principally. The hands at the workshops got six of the seven damaged engines temporarily repaired and under steam.

The enormous number of small birds in the Temuka district is shown by the quantities of eggs and heads taken to the Temuka Road Board Office every Saturday. The price is threepence per dozen, and on a recent Saturday £25 was paid out (says the Lyttelton Times) The largest number taken at one time was 162 dozen, collected by a boy from Rangitata Island, and on that day another boy from the same district took in 100 dozen. Lots of from 50 to 90 dozen are fairly common. Townsfolk who fancy that they are the people who make the nation (remarks the Dunedin Star) would speedily find their ideas corrected by looking in at the Art Gallery whilst the wool sales are on. Behind the 30 or 40 bidders may be seen a crowd of those silent, strong, bearded men who have come to watch the auctions and hear the offers for their wool. Man for man, they could buy out any town crowd of of similar size. They make no fuss —they rely very little on tailoring—but the wool that they have brought to the market will fetch anything between £400,000 and half a million before these sales are over.

A curious discovery was made by Mrae. Boeufve, wife of the French Consul for New Zealand, at Trinity College, Dublin, during a recent trip Home. She was looking over the famous Book of Kells, aud was much struck by the similarity of Celtic ornament to In; Maori conventional designs. Having some specimens of Maori art with her, she subsequently made comparisons and found how very closely the Maori patterns resembled those cf the ancient artists oi Ireland. “Which leads me to believe," she added, “that the Maoris had a Celtic origin or at least that they and the Celts came from one aud the same stock. And, indeed, there is much in common with the Maoris and the Irish in the matter of temperament- It is only an idea of mine—but there it is.” Mme. Boeufve is herself Irish.

Mr Robert McNab, ex-Miuister of Lands in the New Zealand Parliament, lectured in Aberdeen during December last, before a large audience on New Zealand. The lecturer spoke in terms of the highest praise of the ability of the Maoris as an educated and dominant force in civilised life, pointing out that Mr James Carroll, son of a Maori chieftain, was senior Minister of the Crown, and had done admirable service. In the second part of his lecture, Mr McNab dealt with the feature of New Zealand as a sheep-rearing and agricultural country, and the facilities offered to settlers, and at the close he was awarded a hearty vote of thanks. A fine series of limelight lantern views, supplied by the High Commissioner, were used to illustrate the lecture.

A successful Michigan farmer wrote to his farm paper telling how the liberal use of paint on his house, barns, w r aggons and implements had saved him hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars. The Modern Painter prints part of the letter, in which the writer says : ‘ ‘ The up-to-date farmer, the farmer who wants to make money and save money, should give some care to the wooden things on his farm. I want to admit, right now, that I am a crank on the care of what I call 1 farm furniture,’ and farm buildings. I have been a fanner all my life, and now own four of the hest-cared-for farms in Michigan, two near Detroit, one near Wayne, and one near Owosso. I figure that I have made and saved thousands ot dollars because of the care I have given these places. How have I done it ? With the paint pail. Paint ought to be the farmers’ greatest friend. I read in the Scientific American a little while ago that if the people of the country used paint as they should they would save something like 35,000,000 dollars a year. I believe it from my own experience, and I am writing this with the hope that others may profit from my experience.

In order to make room for a fresh consignment of goods, Mrs Hamer, Main Street, is holding a clearance sale of men’s and boys’ clothing, ladies dress materials, millinery apd fancy goods, etc. All the above goods are marked at absolutely '“give away” prices, and all those in need of summer goods should make a point of visiting there before the close of the sale,*

The death is announced of Ms Jo-euh Jenkinson, for some ye?*r < past a well-known resident of NPlymouth, at the age ot 76 yeafcJPß The following are the vr*l statistics tor Foxton for January : . —Births, 7; marriages, 1 ; deaths, 2 , Mrs Catherine Dwan, relict of Mr Thomas Dwan, has just passed away at Wellington, at the advanced age of So years. An advertiser wants to sell cheap a first-class Bradley gig, latest pattern and good as new, also set of tan English harness. At the local police court this morning, before Mr Horublow J.P., a first offending inebriate was convicted and discharged. Fllham hopes to proceed with its municipal gas works at an early date. This thriving borough is also about to erect a Town Hall. Mr Wade, Premier ot New South Wales, and Mrs Wade, left Wellington for Auckland on Saturday ; they sailed last evening from Auckland for Sydney. The income of the Invercargill Harbour Board for the past year amounted to £25,740, being £792 in excess of that of the previous year. At the Mastertou S.M. Court last Saturday, Thomas B. Lee chargeed with keeping liquor for sale in a No-License area was convicted and fined £SO and costs £4 7s. A company is being formed in Masterton to prospect for gold in the Tararua ranges. An endeavour will be made to secure sufficient shares to enable the company to engage two experienced prospectors. Tenders are invited by the Horowhenua County Council to close on the 12th inst., for constructing floodgate at Buckley, and metalling a portion of the Levin to Foxton road. Specifications at the County office, Levin. Mr Kellow, who is not an entire stranger to Foxton, has been appointed to succeed Mr Morgan as local agent for Messrs Levin and Co., and will take up his duties immediately. Mr and Mrs Morgan leave for Wellington at the end of the week. According to the Daily News, New Plymouth seems to have surrendered itself en bloc to mixed surf bathing, and hundreds of adult bathers of both sexes, with apparently the whole of the juvenile population, are nightly disporting themselves in the sea along the town front. The shipping report for the port of Waitara for the month of December showed that 275 steamers entered inward with a tonnage of 103,196, and 277 steamers outward, with a tonnage of 103,275. The Board balancesheet for the year ended December 31st showed a credit of ,£1,146 13s id. The “Mercantile Gazette” of last week, contains the registration of the Foxton Gas Works Proprietary Ltd. The capital is set down at ,£IO,OOO in 10,000 shares of £r each. The subscribers are : —J. Reid, 286 ; R. Keene 286 ; G. H. Stiles, 286; H. Langdon, 256 ; C. J. B. Norwood, 143 ; R. J Pearson, 143 ; L. G. D. James, 286.

Mr W. E. Baker, of Makino, sold 165 flock Romuey rams at the Hawke’s Bay Ram Fair. The prices received ranged from four to nine guineas, with an average of five guineas. Mr Baker also sold a two-tooth stud Romney ram to Mr Hunt, of Wakefield, Nelson, for 50 guindas, and one four-tooth stud Romney ram to the same buyer at 25 guineas.

The passengers on the evening train from Wanganui on Thursday had a most unusual sight. When the train was negotiating the Fordell rise it ran into a long mass of caterpillars which were making for a paddock of oats. Two or three times the train was stopped in order to sand the rails for the engine wheels to grip.— Taihape Daily Times.

The Inspector of Awards, acting under instructions from the Minister for Labour and accompanied by the Secretary of the Flaxmills Employees’ Union, visited a number of flaxmills in this district yesterday, for the pose of inspecting the tiou provided for employees. A report of same will be duly forwarded to headquarters. The Presbyterian Sunday School picnic was held yesterday at “ Herrington,” a well sheltered spot near the homestead in the Lady’s Mile. The children spent a most enjoyable time, and each scholar received a prize. Games and races were indulged in, and refreshments were provided ad lib. Before breaking up cheers were given for the teaching staff, and Mr Robinson for the use of the grounds. The Rev G. Y. Woodward will begin his religious instruction classes on Friday next in Saints’ Church at 8,30 a.m. 'ppi instruction is given twice a week, Wednesdays and Fridays, and every six months a prize is given for the best attendance, one for the boys, and one for the girls. To win this prize carries with it great honour, tor the child must show enthusiasm and keenness, and as the lesson is not compulsory and a high standard of marks required to attain the prize, the boy and girl who are successful have really done excellent work. It is noped that parents will §end thgif children to these classes and give them an opportunity of learning something about their Bibles.

If in want of Birthday, Wedding or other gifts, go to Parkes’, the jeweller, the shop for presents,*

The local State school re opened this morning. The attendance was 300 out of a roll number of 337. Twenty-four new pupls were admitted.

Six places, including the National Bank were destroyed by fire at Kaitangata on Sunday.

The Mayor convenes a meeting of local business people for Thursday next, 3rd inst., at 8 p.m., for the purpose of consideration ol forming a Holiday Association. Mr Fred Dunn of Foxton. publishes a disclaimer to the effect that he is not the “Fred” Dunn arrested at the recent races and remanded to Pahiatua. Mr Hubert Latham, the aviator, who made an ascent at Cairo, fell a distance of 150 ft., but fortunately escaped injury, though his monoplane was smashed. We give a final reminder of the garden fete to be held at the Anglican Vicarage to-morrow. A capital amusement programme has been drawn up which should attract a large number of people. The monthly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court will be held tomorrow. There are 12 civil cases set down for hearing and eight cases for alleged breaches of the Licensing Act, six of which were adjourned from last Court.

A little child named Pearce had the end of one of its fingers taken off whilst in the train from Waibi to Paeroa. The child got its finger underneath the window, and by some mishap the window sash fell and severed the end of the finger.

The Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Daily Telegraph writes : —Ministers and others who have been brought into close contact with Lord Kitchener since he has-been here, are amused at the idea that he is of adamantine reserve. They speak of him as an exceedingly pleasant and companionable man, who talks in private conversation with the utmost freedom, His reserve is purely oflicial.

Mr Chas. Simmons, late of London, with eleven years experience in. the motor trade and for fciir years in charge of a West End Garage, is to t ike over control of Messrs Fowler and Gordon’s bicycle business. This ought to be good news for the local motorists as the firm are about to lay themselves out to do all manner of repairs and renovating of motors large and small. yuite a gloom was cast over the town of Shannon on Friday, owing to the sudden death of Mrs Law, the wife of an old and much respected resident. The deceased lady was attending a farewell social in the Presbyterian Church and taking a seat she gave a gasp and became unconscious, dying almost immediately. Her husband and a large grown-up family survive her, lor whom widespread sympathy will be held. Au amusing incident, and one showing the Prime Minister's readiness to adapt himself to whatever circumstances may arise, occurred in a passage of one of the Hastings hotels on Monday. Sir Joseph was chatting with Mr A. L. D. Fraser when an old Maori chief of notable lineage, appeared on the scene, magnificently got up in overcoat and top-hat. Mr Fraser asked him, in Maori, of course, the cause of his gala adornment, and the old chid replied that he had come to see the Prime Minister. “Why here is the Prime Minister,” said Mr Fraser, and duly presented him to Sir Joseph. The Maori uttered an exclamation, presumably of delight, removed his hat and thrust forward his lace. The invitation was unmistakable, to decline it would have been au insult, and Sir Joseph gravely rubbed noses with the veteran.

Mr Rockefeller, at the head of the Standard Oil Trust and all the great financial and industrial organisations associated with it is one of the most extraordinary figures of this or any other age. His wealth is so vast that it is utterly beyond ordinary comprehension, In many days of the year his income amounts to ,£30,000, and at the end of every year it reaches many millions. lie could easily pay the incomes of all the Kings and Kmperors of Europe without encroaching upon his capital at all, and though he has given ,£20,000,000 to churches and universities he is still so amazingly rich that no one can estimate his fortune. He is the product of purely modern conditions, and he typifies the highest standard of industrial efficiency thaf the world has ever known. A complete skeleton of a man in a well-preserved condition was uneqrthed (says the Melbourne Argus) by a party of Australian Engineers while they were engaged trenching on the foreshore near the Crow's Nest Port in connection with the electric: light installation of the fortress. When the skeleton was unearthed two thickly corroded iron rings and two copper coins were found lying on the ribs. A penny and a halfpenny covered the sockets of the eyes. Those who have discussed the discovery have formed various theories, the favourite one being that the skeleton is that of a convict who was either one of the early gangs or else one buried from a passing ship. The suggestion that the man was a convict is strengthened by the presence of the two rings, which look like a pair of gyves. The date of the coins is not decipherable, but they bear a faint representation of the head of George HI. Old residents of tbs district state that in the early days there was a cemetery in the vicinity of the discovery. The coins, rings, and skull of the convict have been taken possession of by the police.