LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 827, 16 April 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

All accounts owing to the Herald up to March, 31st, have now been rendered, and an early settlement of same would be much appreciated by the proprietor.

The services in the local Methodist Church to-morrow will be conducted morning and evening by the Rev P. J. Mairs. The subject for the morning will be “ How to Obtain the Blessing,” and evening “ Paul Before Felix.” Prayer meeting at 7 a.m. William Roberts, aged 23, employed by Mr Follett, of Happy Valley, near Port Lincoln (South Australia), while assisting to harness a colt last week, held the animal by a rope twisted round his wrist. As the bridle was being put on, the colt sprang backward, breaking a rail in the stable and enabling it to get free. The animal careered over the paddock, which was very stony and rough, dragging the man with it. Roberts struck a stump with such force that it was uprooted, and the base of his skull was shattered. Death was instantaneous.

An illustration of the truth of the old saying that“there’s many a true word spoken in jest,” was afforded by an incident at Gisborne during a sitting of the Native Rand Court, just prior to the severe gales. Wi Pere, M.L.C., said he understood that the Judge was to leave for Wairoa next day, and he asked that the Court should remain in Gisborne for a few days longer. “Don’t go, Judge,” he said, “ you’ll only get drowned, and we’ll shed a lot of tears over you. The Judge said he had to keep his appointment at Wairoa, and if the coach left he would proceed as arranged. “Then,” said Wi Pere, “ we’ll call on our Atua (God) to open the heavens and raise a gale so that you will be unable to leave us before Saturday.” The Maoris subsequently thought there was something in Wi Fere’s prophecy, as the coach did not leave next day, nor for some days afterwards. The gale duly arrived. His Majesty’s Judges are not always grave and reverend persons, entrenched in the dignity of gowns and horsehair wigs (remarks the Auckland Observer). Mr Justice Cooper, lor instance, devoted a portion ot the recent long vacation to acquiring experience of the simple life on his sou’s farm in the Waikato. One day a neighbouring settler happened along the ranch, expecting to spend an “improving” afternoon in the company of the Judge, whom he had known well during the days of Bar practice. On arrival he was told that he would find the Judge on a distant part of the estate. Repairing to the spot indicated, he found a number of men at work digging a ditch, and on hailing a man in dungarees to obtain further directions found the person to be none other than Mr Justice Cooper, up to his knees in the swamp water, and wielding a long-handled shovel.

The Californian thistle —that imported pest—has been successfully beaten in the struggle for existence by a iarmer at Dromore, says a correspondent of the Ashburton Guardian. His farm had gradually become well stocked with this weed, which had been deposited, with other rubbish, where a threshing mill had been working. From there it rapidly spread—a plot here and a plot there, about the farm. However, war was declared with an ordinary Duncan grubber, drawn by five horses. Tines were made nine inches wide, so that they overlapped, and set about three inches underground. Grubbing was commenced early in November, and continued once a week until the end of April. One season’s work completely extirpated the pest. The patches first operated on have not re-appeared for three years, so it seems as if the thistle had at last met its Waterloo—at least on one man’s farm. The Dromore farmer’s experience is more satisfactory than many other South Islanders. In parts ot the fertile Western District of Southland, the pest has obtained an alarming hold, and farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to extirpate it.

A dark tweed sac coat, nearly new, awaits an owner at this office.

Mr W. O’Brien advertises a reduction in the price of meat, and notifies that from Monday next he will run two delivery carts. He will also hold meat sales every Saturday night in Main Street. The good attendance shield at the local school was won last week by Standard 1., with an average attendance of 92 per cent. The monthly meeting of managers of the local Presbyterian Church was held on Thursday evening, the Rev, Mr Aitken presided. Only business of a formal nature was dealt with. As an indication of the mildness of the autumn, we have been shown some excellent samples of second crop apples, by Mr W. E. Riddle.

The annual general meeting of the Foxton Rugby Sub-Union will be held at Rongotea on Tuesday evening next at eight o’clock. A full alteudance of delegates is requested. Owing to damage done to a quantity of goods by yesterday’s storm water, Mrs Hamer, of the Economic, has decided to hold a clearance sale of all damaged goods. About ,£xoo worth of slightly damaged and soiled articles will be sacrificed. Call and secure the bargains.* The Fur Trading Company has commenced operations in the North Island and has established a branch in Wellington. The manager visited Foxton this week in search of rabbit trappers and poisoners in order to secure skins, which he was inform d were left to decay on the ground. He pointed out that in such a favourable district local bo>s could make much pocket money by forwarding the skins to Wellington. For fullsized rabbit skins per pair or 7d per pound, was paid. He said he would be pleased to communicate with any local rabbiters on the subject. The address appears elsewhere in this issue.

We have receive i a copy of the first number of a weekly paper entitled the Waitemata Post, published at Devenport. The object of the journal is outlined in the following extract from its initial editorial: any way wishing to reflect upon the really admirable way the great ** Auckland dailies are conducted, we say there is urgent and growiug necessity to provide greater opportunities lor the public ventilation of local matters than can be allowed by the more important city organs.” The paper is published by Mr G. C. Beckett.

One crying evil in prison life would be removed if magistrates bad power to send habitual drunkards to inebriate homes instead of giving them board and lodging in prison for three days. This sentence is in no sense a punishment. They don’t mind it, and when they leave are more reckless than before. Very often these offenders are scarcely more than children, young girls of sixteen and seventeen, with round, babyish faces, convicted of being “drunk and disorderly.” To send these poor little creatures to prison tor a week or even three months is nothing short of cruelty. Eighteen mouths in a country home under the charge of a kind" matron might set them far on the* way towards complete recovery. As matters stand now they drift between prison and the streets until death puts an end to their sufferings. Fortunately for them, death does not wait long in ambush. The waste of young life in our present social system is appalling. February Contemporary Review.

Writing of a small bush township called Waimiro, a contributor to the Dannevirke Evening News says:—“There is a post office here, with telegraph, money order, and savings bank attached, which I was rather surprised to see, as there are many larger places without these conveniences. They are largely due to the energy and perseverance of Mr A- Wilcox, the storekeeper, who is a very remarkable man, and a splendid example of the power of mind over adverse circumstances. Mr Wilcox lost his sight, yet with a young family, came up here before there were any roads, and faced all the hard-

ships of a pioneer’s life. He took up a section, and felled bush though quite blind. He says he used to keep his hand on the tree to feel which way it was going to fall, so as to avoid it. He has had some marvellous escapes while riding about, owing to his blindness. Mr Wilcox has built up a prosperous storekeeping business here; he has achieved success in the face of a handicap that would have crushed thousands of men into being mere dependents and burdens on theirrelatives.”