LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 807, 3 February 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Messrs Wilson and Hawkins advertise for sale a complete Burgess scutcher, new.

It is reported that the damage to property by the recent floods in France will far exceed forty millions sterling without reckoning the loss of employment by hundreds and thousands of workmen.

The meeting of business people convened by the Mayor for the purpose of forming a Holiday Association is to be held in the Council Chamber this evening. A full attendance of business people is recpiested.

Cricket was again “ off ” yesterday afternoon as far as the local Association's competition was concerned. The match set down lor decision was United v- Glenorona to have been played at Ilimataiigi hut Glen Oroua was unable to muster a team and forfeited to United.

The Archbishop of York, preaching at Kingston, said the Church of Kngland Men’s Society was establishing in Australia the means of solving many of the social problems. Outside party politics he regarded it as a probable means of strengthening the links of Umpire.

At yesterday’s silting of the Magistrate's Court when the case George Coley v, John Burr, a claim for cutting chaff, was called on defendant did not appear and judgment was entered up for plaintiff for the amount claimed. Later on, Mr Burr put in an appearance and stated that he had a good defence and that his absence in the morning was absolutely unavoidable. He asked that the case be re-instated. The Magistrate decided to re-iustate the case and it will be heard at the next sitting of the Court.

A general meeting of the local Dramatic Society was held in the Council Chamber last night. There were 17 members present. Eleven new members were elected. It was decided that as the Foxton audiences appear to appreciate comedy more than drama that the next two plays staged be comedies. It was also decided that these plays be put into rehearsal immediately. One of the comedies to be staged is “ Our Regiment,” and the selection of the other piece was left in the hands of Messrs Dr. Adams, Fraser and Lovett, Other minor matters were also discussed.

“It is perfectly horrible,” declared Sir William Russell, at last week's meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, referring to the colonial pronunciation. “The language is mutilated,” he proceeded, “and the accent is simply vile. Some seem to think it is Cockney, but it is really infinitely worse. It is half Cockney, half Australian, and is very painful to the ear. The teachers’ attention ought to be drawn to the matter, as the children seem to be allowed to speak in the most slipshod way.’ ’ Inspector Hiil; “ Very little attention appears to be paid by the teachers to reading in our schools - quite the reverse to what was formerly the case.” Mr G. E. Dartou : “ Some of our teachers are keen on this matter, and they put the blame on the inspectors for not bringing the matter up.” Mr Hill ridiculed this idea. In iour out of five reports, he said, that he wrote last year, the question of reading was dealt with. The matter then dropped.

The Manawatu County Council invite tenders lor metalling and draining. Jack Johnson, the pugilist, has been committed for trial at New York for assaulting a negro. The Rev. G. K, Aitken requests us to state that he will be pleased to receive any contributions in money or useful articles for the “ All Nations Fair,” to be held in Palmerston North, in aid of an annexe for consumptive women in connection with the Palmerston North Hospital, and will forward same. Any money or article must be in hand not later than the roth inst.

The Dux light has caught on in Wellington as it has in all the other big cities. It has been adopted by practically all the biggest firms iu the Umpire city in preference to gas and electric light, simply because it is safer, cheaper, and a better light. It can be fitted to any old kerosene lamp at a few minutes’ notice. See it at Fowler and Gordon's store.*

There recently passed away in his Soth year one of the few survivors who underwent with his wife and children that terrible ordeal of the Indian Mutiny known as the ‘‘Siege of The Residency of Lucknow.” His name was Simon Martin, a sou of the emiueut Indian surgeon, Sir Ronald Martin, and he was a member of the old East Indian Civil Service. By marriage he was a cousin of our well-known local solicitor, Mr L. E. Reade. The President of the French Chamber of Deputies announced that t ‘stimonies of sympathy, for which the F'renchmeu were deeply grateful, were being received from all countries in the world. Queensland's gift was warmly appreciated. The Emperor Francis Joseph has given £xooo for the relief of the sufferers, the city of Vienna ,£2OOO, and the Standard Oil Trust ,£4OOO. The fund opened by the Lord Mayor of Loudon has now reached £ d5,000 • A married woman named Jennie Wynes, aged 53, living in Paddington, Sydney, died suddenly and under remarkable circumstances at her home last Friday night. A musical evening was being given at the house, and after several guests had rendered items, Mrs Wynes agreed to give a recitation- She rose from her seat and was just commencing, when she fell back without any warning and expired. Mr Sousa, the famous bapd conductor, hates public oratory, and never, if he can help it, makes a speech in public. After one of his performances his audience kept clamouring for a speech, and refused to be satisfied with the usual bow. Finally Sousa stepped to the front of the platform, and, raising his hand, said impressively, 11 Ladies and gentlemen, can you all hear me ?” There was the usual “Yes!” ‘‘Then I wish you good-night!” replied the conductor, and promptly walked off the stage. Something of a stir was caused some little time ago by the discovery by Mr Sutherland, at Milford Sound, of a white weka (woodhen,), and it was classed as absolutely unique. Guide Birley, who has charge of the WakatipuPe Anau track at present, stated to a Southland News reporter that he had a similar experience at the Maori Hillocks (Dart Valley) some twenty years ago. The bird, which was perfectly white, had only one blemish —a solitary brown feather.

The Times says that Mr Asquith will be at the head of affairs with a Parliament elected under his auspices. He is no longer the inheritor of a policy settled by others, but is able to shape his own course. The centre of gravity is markedly displaced, and some reconstruction of the Cabinet is inevitable. His composite majority is capable of successful handling if he does not attempt the unattainable, and pursues a national policy conformable to the country’s verdict and towards gradual evolution by compromise. The alternative is the reckless launching of a violent bagmen agitation. The liner Waratah was posted as missing at Lloyds’ on Wednesday afternoon, which means that for all legal purposes, including the settlement of claims, the steamer is now regarded as lost. Fortunately, the Waratah carried an “ off-season ” cargo, but the consignment included 10,700 bars of copper, 7SOO bars of silver lead, 3500 bales of wool, 107 hogsheads of wine, 1400 casks of tallow and glycerine, besides large quantities of concentrates, oats, flour, wheat, and frozen meat. The cargo contained so many other miscellaneous items that no estimate of the total value has been made, but it would be reasonable to assume that it would amount at least to as much as that of the hull —namely, ,£150,000.

Captain R. Rodger, of the coast steamer Gertie, has reported to Mr C. S. Nixon, Collector ot Customs at Wellington, that while on her last voyage from Greymouth to Foxtou, and after crossing the Manawatu bar, the Gertie struck on a sandbank in the river, and remained fast. The Kennedy gave assistance in towing her off on the starboard quarter, while the Gertie’s own engines went astern. All efforts to get the vessel off the bank were unavailing, the' tide leaving the ship. Captain Rodger then had air anchor and a long length of wire run out, and hove the ship off at 9 p.m., after which he proceeded up the river to Foxton. While’going astern of a sandbank the rudder shank was slightly twisted. A thorough examination was made, and no flaw was discovered,

During the height of the Paris X. flood a child in a cradle wa. swept away by the water. The parents witnessed the occurrence, { but were powerless to render help. We are requested to announce that the Rev’s. Aitken and Mairs will resume their week class In Bible instruction iu the public school to-morrow morning, at 8.30.

Messrs Haslett and Lazarette desire to notify the public that a consignment of schuapper, butter fish, etc., will arrive to-night and to-morrow their first consignment of Bluff oysters will arrive.*

In order to avoid execution at the vilna gaol, at St. Petersburg, a revolutionary who was condemned to death for having wounded General Pengo, soaked his handkerchief in petroleum, tied it round his head, and set fire to it. He died iu terrible agony.

Truly, popularity does not always bring respect in its train. The pianist at a picture show up Auckland way last week had only played a few bars of the wellknown “ Redwing,” when the ‘‘ gods commenced to give their version of it. The chorus “ For the moon shines to-night on , Mrs Porter, and she’s a snorter and so’s her daughter,” etc. At yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, judgment for plaintiffs was entered up iu the cases G. H. Stiles v. S. Savill, claim ,£8 6s rod costs Bs, and same v. J. Weller, claim £1 4s 6d, costs ss. In the case E. A. Coley v. Samuel Read, claim for possession of house, the Magistrate made an order by consent for possession, within 72 hours. Defendant to pay costs £1 5s 6d.

Cr. Haydou, treasurer of the Palraerstou District Hospital Board, handed in his resignation at Monday’s meeting of the executive, an action necessitated by his becoming a tenderer for supplies to the hospital. The same law applies in the Municipal Corporations Act, i.e. no person is allowed under a heavy penalty to retain a seat whilst drawing revenue therefrom.

At Kelso last Saturday, two lads were amusing themselves with a revolver by firing shots at each other at close range with blank cartridges, from which the bullets had been extracted, and substituting clover leaves. A bullet was left iu one, and a boy named Alexander McKinnon, the second son of Mr Alex. McKinnon, manager for Stevenson and Co., received charge in the hack. An operation failed to locate the bullet.

He couldn’t have been a Manawatu youth, or he would have known better. He was ignorant of racecourse phraseology, and had not the slightest knowledge of betting. His companion explained. Pointing to a bookie, he said, “ If you put a bob on a horse with that chap at twenty to one, and it wins, you’ll get a sovereign, and your own shilling back.” ‘‘ How much would I get if I put a bob on at half-past twelve ? ” ‘‘ Well I’ll be,” said the other, and gave it up.

Mr Poyutou, Public Trustee, has been appointed superintend dent of the State Guarantee*

Advances Department. Dr. Fitchett, Solicitor-General, succeeds Mr Poynton as Public Trustee, and is in turn succeeded by Professor Salmond, who will also control the Daw Draughting Department as before. Mr P, Corliss has been appointed Commissioner of Stamps in succession to Mr Hickson, Mr Morris, of the post office, who temporarily filled that position, having resigned. The appointments date from February ist.

It is reported in the Japan Times that Dr. Tsuboi, lecturing before the Imperial Educational Society on “ Curious Customs in the Pacific Islands,” made the following interesting statement:— “ In New Zealand the law of the State forbids a married couple to bring up more than three children, so that, if a girl be born to them the poor baby is killed in almost all cases. But if they wish to keep the girl baby it is baptised in a stream and is confined for several days in a hut, or nest as it is called, with her mother. The nest is regarded as a very place and consecrated as such, and the infant who is taken out of this sacred nest is brought up and looked after with great care as one given by the Almighty.”