LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 832, 28 April 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL .

Entries are made for the next Himatangi stock sale. Now is the time to rug horses and cows. You cannot do better than place your orders with me for my famous rugs. W. E. Bullard, saddler and harness maker, Main Street.*

An interesting feature of the annual School Committees’ election in Wellington on Monday night last, was the successful return of four ladies altogether on the new Committees.

A meeting of the Bowling Club Committee was held on Thursday afternoon, when it was derided to accept Mr Harrison’s offer to lay down the green, and the work will be commenced at an early date. Mr and Mrs McKegney, elsewhere in this issue, express their appreciation of Dr Adams and tender their heartfelt thanks to all who rendered assistance and extended sympathy during their recent bereavement.

Two wealthy Wairarapa settlers have donated ,£4OO each to the No-License campaign fund in that electorate. The services of Mr Bridges, who organised for Masterton at the last poll has, been engaged. It is stated that Mr W. H. Hawkins has been engaged to organise for Pahiatua in the NoLicense interests.

A wonderful feat was performed in Sydney, by a labourer named Frank Craddock, who fell fifty feet from the top of a building in George Street, and escaped without injury. He had been hoisted in a wheelbarrow to the top of die building when the gear gave way, and barrow aud man descended at a terrific pace to the ground. Strange to say the barrow did not overturn, and, just when it was expected by the spectators that Craddock would be dashed to death, he jumped out of the barrow on to the ground and calmly resumed work. The many friends of Mr John Stevens, ex-member for Manawatu, will be glad to learn that his health shows considerable improvement. This, says the Advocate, is attributed to the adoption of the fasting system. For some time Mr Stevens tried the “no-breakfast” idea, and finding that he felt better he extended the term of fasting, in one case going entirely without food lor fifteen days. Asa result he was able to take a certain amount of active exercise, and it is stated that he feels greatly improved both physically and mentally. His personal and political friends will hope that the improvement will be maintained.

Sir George Reid, speaking at Birmingham upon the manufacture of rifles for Australian cadets, said the building of destroyers and Dreadnoughts was proof that whilst statesmen were busy in the profession of peace the great nations were practically in a state of war. One danger of vast armaments was that in a mad moment the whole destinies of the human race might depend upon the odious arbitrament of brute force. Australia . was right to make tremendous preparations for a danger that might never come. If once the British Navy was destroyed her enemies would never allow it to be rebuilt.

At Sydney this week Young Donaldson was charged with the murder of his father near Inverill. Accused’s counsel pleaded “justifiable homicide,” and the judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of “not guilty.” He then discharged accused without a stain on his character. [Donaldson, a settler near Inverill, got into debt through wagering on his son’s boxing contest. He became deranged and attempted to shoot his family who lived at his son’s farm. His daughter was not seriously injured, and he missed his wife. His son got a gun and exchanged shots with his father. The later ran away, and was found lying dead, having been shot twice in the back. The sou was attested.]

Mr Parkes, he locai watchmaker and jeweller is opening up a splendid assortment of gold, silver and electro-plate goods suitable for presentations. Watch the window displays.*

At the local Police Court yesterday morning before Mr Hornblovv, J.P., a first-offending inebriate was convicted and discharged.

We luve received from the Hon. Dr. Findlay, K.C., a copy in pamphlet form of his lecture delivered before the Philosophical Society, at Palmerston North, on Thursday night last. At the Public Hall on Friday, May 6th, the Foxton Amateur Dramatic Society will present for the first time in Foxton the three act farcical comedy, ‘‘Our Regiment.” Prices of admission have been fixed at 3s, 2s and is. The chairman of the local school committee sent the following telegram to the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister of Education “ Householders’ meeting strongly condemn Government’s action in reducing the maintenance and capitation grants.” The sisal fibre industry in ludia is, according to the Rev J. Takle, a missionary who is now visiting Christchurch, going ahead in leaps and bounds. The natives find that it pays better than tea, and they are planting largely in the tea gardens at Assam. The plant is altogether different from jute, but the fibre is said to be superior to jute for bag-making and other allied purposes. Messrs Ross and Co., of the Bon Marche, Palmerston N., incur advertising columns draw attention to their house furnishing department, which is now so important a branch of their business. linoleums, carpets, carpet squares, of which a large stock is carried, are bought direct from the manufacturers. A special show is made this week of the latest in casement cloths, now so much in vogue as window curtains and cosy corner hangings.*

It is understood that the Minister of Labour has under consideration the desirableness of proposing alterations in the Workers’ Dwellings Act, with the view of enabling workers to acquire their dwellings on easy terms. It has been suggested that many workers won d welcome tha adoption of some system by which they could pay down a small sum as a deposit and gradually clear off the remainder of the price of the house by time payments, made in the way of a weekly addition to their rent.

By the last mail we received a letter from Mr F. W. Frankland who, accompanied by Mrs and Master Frankland, is on a business tour ot the United Slates. The letter is written under date of March 22nd. At the time of writing, Mr and Mrs Frankland were in the Hotel Stewart, San Francisco, awaiting an opportunity to see ex-Queen LiHokalaui leave the hotel to drive to the steamer which was to take her back to her native Hawaiian Islands, she having failed to get certain concessions she wanted at Washington. “We arrived in San Francisco a week ago, alter an uneventful voyage from Honolulu, though the journey from Fiji to Honolulu had upset us very completely. We are likely to have to stay iu San Francisco for another week or so. . . . We still

hope to get back to New Zealand about August or September, and then to commence an energetic and aggressive campaign tor the Manawatu seat in the 1911 election.”

Speaking of religious training for the young at All Saints’ parishioners meeting, on Tuesday night, the vicar, Rev. Mr Woodward said: “I don’t see why every child should not attend week-day religious classes. What are the parents thinking of today ? They tell their little ones nothing about the most vital thing of life, religion, and when the classes are at their very doors they are too indifferent to see that their children attend. It is most amusing, apart from the seriousness of the question that when children reach the age of 12 and 13 they consider themselves too big for religious instruction. Too big ! Why it is only at that age they are beginning to learn—and surely they need teaching when their ignorance is so apalling that when you ask them such a question, ‘Who is the Father of Jesus Christ ? ’ They promptly answer without a blush, ‘Moses !’ Since I have been in Foxton, I have been absolutely amazed at the ignorance of children coming from Christian homes—and I tremble for the future generation.”

The death occurred at Palmerston on Tuesday of Mr R. N. Keeling, aged 72 years- The late Mr Keeling was an old resident of Palmerston, and for some thirty years acted as town clerk. He was secretary of the first Town Board formed at Palmerston, and retained his position as Town Clerk till about three years ago, when he resigned. He was then appointed treasurer, and retained that position, and that of Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, till his death, which was due to heart failure. The late Mr Keeling came to New Zealand from England some 45 years ago, and after residing for a time at New Plymouth and Marton went to Palmerston in 1872, as schoolmaster ot the first school there. He resigned that position three years later, to take up the position of Town Clerk. He married Miss H. A. Hoby, of New Plymouth, who predeceased him. He leaves a family of nine, including Messrs G. W. Keeling, Palmerston ; A. W., H, A., and R. N. Keeling, of Wellington; P. N. Keeling, of Mastertou ; and N. J. Keeling of Auckland ; and daughters including Mrs C. C. Cox, of Masterton ; and Misses A. Keeling and P. C. Keeling, of Palmerston. The funeral took place to-day.

The services of a thoroughly domesticated lady help are advertised for. Good home and wages. A meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board will be held tomorrow night at 7.45 o’clock. Tenders for drains will he dealt with.

Mr Betty’s concert party will give an entertainment at Moutoa on Wednesday evening next, in aid of the Motoa Native Church organ fund.

It is reported that ducks are now being shot on the lakes in this district. Poachers will have to watch out, for such illegal sport may land them into serious trouble.

The Melbourne Observatory obtained a photograph of Halley’s comet with a 55 minutes’ exposure. The visitor is much larger and brighter than previously, giving a measurement of 5 degrees against 1 on Tuesday. Information of a private nature has beeen received by a wellknown business man of Wellingwhich points to another big shipping company extending its service to New Zealand in September next, and probably a month or so before that date. If Y

the extension of the service comes about, Wellington, it is said, is almost sure to be made the port of call of the company’s steamers. A foreign company, whose vessels now trade to Australian waters, is also said to contemplate including New Zealand in its itinerary. In addressing the Bench at Palmerston in connection with the charges against F. A. McMinn, Mr H. R. Cooper, defendant’s counsel, said he was glad the case had been brought as it gave defendant an opportunity to deny the cruel and shameful slander that had been circulated, not only in Palmerston, but as far away as Wellington. That slander was that McMinn’s face had borne the marks of handcuffs. His appearance last week and the week before were a complete refutation of such a cruel lie, and counsel desired to make the statement that it might go forth publicly that there was not the slightest foundation of truth for it. That slander had caused his client mure injury and punishment than anything that could happen as the result of the proceedings.