LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 835, 5 May 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr Walton, Norbiton Road, advertises dessert and cooking apples for sale in any quantity. Cabinet decided on Monday to make a grant of ,£SOO compensation to the widow of the late Sergeant Maguire, who was shot at Palmerston during the Powelka hunt. This grant is in addition to the ordinary payment whicfi Mrs Maguire will receive from the Police Superannuation Fund. The death is reported of Mr Thomas Wells, known as the “father” of Cambridge. He arrived in New Zealand by H.M.S. Harrier in iB6O, and fought in the Maori War, being wounded in the attack on Rangariri. From 1868 to 1874 he went on to the Thames goldfield, and then went to Mercer, where he was in the timber trade. In 1878 he removed to Cambridge. The ordinary meeting of the Foxton Borough Council will be held in the Council Chamber on Monday, 9th inst., at 7.30 p.m. Business: To receive annual estimates of receipts and expenditure, to give notice of intention to strike rates, to consider approach to Reeve Street, notice of motion by Cr Robinson to start a Municipal Coal Depot, consideration of petitions re water service and cutting in Brown Street and general. We are again advertising that the Nonpareil Cycle Co,, Coleman Place, Palmerston North, have increased their already magnanimous offer to is 6d for each worn out cycle cover, which is allowed off the price when buying your new cover. As this is the final offer, they advise Foxton customers to hurry up as the sale is only lasting for seven days more.*

Commander Peary, interviewed at London, said that when his field of work either in the Arctic or Antarctic was finished the object which he had devoted 24 years to would have been achieved. Arctic exploration was more difficult than Antarctic, as the Polar Sea broke up annually, destroying all trails and caches. Antarctic explorers had a permanent surface. He believed Captain Scott would reach the South Pole without much difficulty, unless the crew were taken ill or his ship was wrecked.

The English Churchman contains an article by Walter Walsh, author ol “The Secret History of the Oxford Movement,” in which the writer alleges that the Anglican Mission of Help to visit New Zealand in September next will constitute a big invasion of New Zealand by ritualistic priests.” Canon Pollock and the Rev. H. A. Kennedy, forerunners of the mission (now in Auckland) are described as “ two ritualistic priests,” and the article proceeds to individualise as to the various societies to which it is alleged several of the missiouers belong. Interviewed on this subject at Auckland on Tuesday, Bishop Neligan said the paper quoted was beneath contempt.

An amusing example of Maori justice, as administered by the “committee” appointed to look after the manners and morals of residents of native settlements, was related at the Thames Magistrate’s Court (reports the Thames Star). A middle-aged man had “married” a girl of 17 years, and in his absence a youthful suitor had appeared on the scene. The latter person was “warned off,” but he persisted in pressing his presumably unwelcome attentions. An appeal was made to the Maori Committee, with this astounding result: They found that the young man had erred in trespassing, but that the damsel had also committed an error of judgment in asking him to tea. They therefore imposed no fine or punishment upon the youthful pair ; but inflicted a fine of £2 los and costs on the absent husband !

Colonel Jim Gordon, the veteran senator from Mississippi, who describes himself as poet, soldier and statesman has made a remarkable speech in the United States Senate. He traced his rise in the world from babyhood, when his mother told him that if he behaved himself and lived a clean life he would one day be an ornament to his country. He continued :—“I have had a varied life, but I must say I was never happy until I got rid of several millions which I unfortunately inherited. Some I spent in freeing my slaves, and the rest I spent on my friends, like a gentleman. I have been listening to the speeches here very carefully, and the more I heard' the sorrier I felt for millionaires. Thank God, I am not of that class. I heard a senator from Arkansas make a speech recently abusing poor old Rockefeller. If there’s a man in the States I am sorry for it is Rockefeller. I cannot help sympathising with a fellow that everybody is cussing.” Referring to the fact that he had been a Confederate soldier, Colonel Gordon said ; “I fought and bled, but I did not die. However, I skedaddled frequently.” He concluded by quoting some of his own poetry.

A meeting of the Moutoa Drain-% age Board will be held on Tuesday evening next, at 7.45 o’clock, to deal with tenders for drain con- ' nections.

Tom Sullivan, Barry’s trainer for the race with Artist on the Zambesi, h’as resigned owing to a disagreement with the committee 01 management.

The Wanganui Jockey Club last night declined to remove the disqualification of W. Young in connection with the fracas at the local races on January 24th.

A sensation has been caused at Berlin by the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland deciding to leave Schwerin before the Kaiser arrives, although he is going in response to an invitation to attend the christening of the Grand Duke of Mecklenberg-Schwerin’s heir. Owing to counter attractions tomorrow night, it has been decided to alter the date of the proposed meeting, to be held in Mesdames Henderson and Cuuninghame’s tea rooms, for the purpose of forming a card club, to this evening, and notice to that effect appears in our advertising columns.

At yesteiday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, James Harper proceeded against his five sons, Robert, William, John, Allen and George, for maintenance. An order was made for tire payment of three shillings per week each, and the Magistrate added the names, by consent of plaintiff’s two other sons, James and Ernest.

A leading London wool-broker, in the course of a private letter to the head of a large firm in the Dominion says;—“l fancy we shall have a firm maiket now for the remainder of the year. The consumption of wool, especially in Yorkshire, is immense; but I think America is a bit stuck with dear merinos.” The reference to the conditions in Yorkshire will make pleasant reading for New Zealand woolgrowers.

A serious motor car accident was narrowly averted on Saturday evening. Dr. Adams, accompanied by his wife and two children, was motoring along the Levin avenue when the steering gear gave way and the car dashed up an incline and ran against a post. However, beyond smashing the headlamps and bending the radiator no other damage was done.

At yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, when the case of the Flaxmills Kmployees’ Uuipn against one of its members --a claim for contributions—was called on, the secretary of the Union asked that the case be adjourned for two mouths, as the defendant had met with an accident to his hand. The adjournment was granted.

Yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was a very short one. Although there were a fair number of civil cases set down for hearing, the Magistrate was only called upon to give judgment in one, that of the Flaxmills Fmployees’ Union v. S. Wright, a claim for contributions amounting to £1 4s 6d, for which judgment was entered up with costs 3s. The ether cases were either struck out, adjourned, or otherwise settled.

The Harbour Board, at its last meeting, decided to invite tenders for the lease of the pilot reserve, situate opposite the Motuiti flag station. The area of the reserve is about 400 acres and the soil is of a sandy nature. Included in the reserve is what is known as the “ Round Bush.” The property is at present leased to Messss Robinson Bros, and the lease expires in June. It is proposed to call alternate tenders for the half or whole. Messrs Hennessy and Stiles recently made an inspection of the property, and suggested that Marran grass should be planted to stop the drift sand.

Mr and Mrs W. A. Browning, of Palmerston North, met with a nasty experience while driving across the drain on the Beach road on Saturday last. Apparently the drain had scoured a hole and in attempting to cross, the horse and occupants of the trap were soon in difficulties. Mr and Mrs Browning waded out, practically wet through, and the horse had a narrow escape of being drowned. It the County Council does not take immediate steps to bridge the drain where it crosses the road at this locality, something of a serious nature will happen as the drain will carry a greater volume of water as soon as the other lakes are tapped. We warn those using the road to exercise care in crossing the drain at this spot.

A Devonshire man sent to his club a fine large swan in a hamper. The hamper was addressed to the secretary, who notified the club members of the treat that was in store for them, and a special dinner was arranged. At this dinner the swan was brought on looking magnificent —erect and stately on a great magnificent silver-gilt salver. But it proved abnormally tough, and indeed, uneatable. A few days later the sender of the swan dropped in at the club. ‘ ‘ Got my swan all right, I hope?” he said to the secretary. “ Yes, and a nice trick you played on us.” “ Trick ? What do you mean ?” ‘‘Why, we boiled that swan in 16 hours, and when it came to the table it was tougher than a block of granite?” “Good gracious, did you have my swan cooked ? ” “Yes, of course.” “Why, that bird was historic,” groaned the other.” “ I sent it up to be stuffed and preserved. It had been in my family for two hundred years, and had eaten out of the hand of Charles the first.

As it is Ascension Day there will be a special service in All Saints’ Church to-night at 7.30 p.m.

Mr and Mrs 11. Coley, accompanied by their youngest son, Clarence, left Foxton on Tuesday for a trip to Rotorua and Auckland.

Earl Grey, having appealed for ,£120,000 as a fund for the Canadian Young Men’s Christian Association, £Sjoo was raised in three days. The local amateurs will hold a dress rehearsal of “ Our Regiment ” at the Public Hall to-night, when final arrangements for the staging of the piece on Friday night will be completed. The Daily Mail’s second

£IO,OOO is to be divided into two * prizes, one for a flight in England, and the other for a flight between Paris and London. Both include

competitors of all nationalities. A threat by the Sussex Licensed Victuallers to boycott Irish whisky has perturbed the Irish distillers. They declare that since the introduction ol the Budget their trade with England has already been reduced by one-half. The Foxton Amateur Dramatic Society has decided, on the suggestion ot Mr Phil. Walsh, to put the drama “ Blow lor Blow ” into rehearsal almost immediately. Mr Walsh states that this drama is a favourite one with amateurs, and would appeal to a Foxton audience

To receive by post an unexpected gift of without a hint as to the identity of the donor, has been the good fortune ot Mr John Smith, of The Crescent, Bedford, a partner in a firm of local grocers. Mr Smith himself can throw little light on the matter. “ I cannot think for the life of me who the letter was from,” said he, in an interview. “ The letter was posted in London. I was instructed in the letter to acknowledge its receipt by advertisement on the front page of The Times,” and I did so. The whole affair remains a mystery.” Speaking of the Argentine Mr Thos. O’Neil, ot Wellington, who spent some 23 years in South America, said many of the oldest and wealthiest families of the land in the Argentine are of Irish extraction. There are the Caseys, the McGuires, the Duggans, the Gaynors, the Lynches, and many others. Most of these are now, Mr O’Neill says, in the second and third generation, and in most cases they speak Spanish, many a Casey or McGuire not understanding Knglish at all. Feeling against England is very keen among them. A man gets on very well in Argentina if he gives out that he is English, but better still if it becomes known that he is|lrish. Mr T. M. Wilford has, after some years of effort, become Mayor of Wellington. One public position after another is attained by this redoubtable Liberal, who never appears to know when ho is beaten (says the Masterton Times). If he does not get what he wants to-day he simply waits till to-morrow. Is he to be New Zealand’s future Caesar ? Will his next step he a seat in the Cabinet and, after that when opportunities offer, will he take a position as Prime Minister ? Nothing succeeds like success, and Mr T, M. Wilford appears to achieve the latter in a remarkable manner. We trust he will be able to render good service to Wellington during his terra as Mayor. The dignity of this office has been worthily upheld by numerous predecessors, and we trust Mr Wilford will prove equal to maintaining the prestige of the position. We are a little puzzled, however, as to how he will find time for his multifarious duties.