LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 911, 29 October 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Terra Nova which is to convey Captain Scott’s party to the Antarctic has arrived at Lyttelton.

The attendance shield at the local State School was won this week by Standard II with an average attendance of 96 per cent. At last night’sJCouncil meeting the tender of Mr W. Nye for carting coal from the wharf to the gas works at one shilling per ton, was accepted. The deadlock in respect to the Webb-Pearce sculling race has been settled. The backers of the latter concede to Webb if he loses.

A Masterton resident, who returned last week from a visit to the West Coast of the South Island, states that the past few months have been the wettest experienced on the coast lor fuly thirty years.

Whangauui wants to be spelled correctly—with the “ h.” It does not matter much. It does not matter much. Taranaki has a place that most people call “ Tatteramack.” The New Plymouth News says it frequently laughs at newchuras’ pronunciation of Maori.

Captain Scott, the intrepid explorer, who is eu route to plant the Union Jack at the South Pole, lectured at Wellington on Thursday night, where he was accorded a most cordial welcome. Mrs Scott accompanies her husband as far as Lyttelton. We join in wishing the gallant captain God-speed in his undertaking. As the result of the drainage operations in the Piako swamp, an area of 6000 or 7000 acres will be thrown open for settlement in January next, and a further area in April. This laud extends from Kerepehi to nearly opposite Pipiroa, and lies between the Piako and Thames rivers. It is excellent dairying country, and will be cut up into blocks of 100 acres, or a little over, and offered on the optional tenure.

At last night’s Council meeting a letter was read from the Chief Health Officer, drawing the attention of the Council to the fact that a local resident had a piggery, in anything but a satisfactory condition, within 50 feet of a dwellinghouse, and asking Council to take steps to have it removed and reerected in a proper manner.—lt was decided to communicate with the owner instructing him to have the matter attended to at once.

A meeting of the committee of management of the local dramatic Society was held on Thursday evening when it was decided to stage the farcical comedy “ The Pickpocket ” on January 2nd ; the drama “ The Serpent on the Hearth,” on January 21st, and a comedy on January 23rd. The selection committee will meet at an early date for the purpose of allotting the characters and the plays will be put into rehearsal as early as possible. The committee also decided to make a reduction in the prices of admission to future productions, the charges to be 2s and is, instead of 3s, 2s and is, as formerly.

On two occasions at last night’s meeting there were some heated exchanges between some of the councillors. Once one of our city fathers accused a fellow councillor of waiting until a man had left the room before making a complaint against him, stating that the councillor in question would say things behind a man’s back that he would not say to his face. The impeachment was indignantly denied, and there followed what promised to be a heated argument, but it yvas cut short by the Mayor, who demanded order, and the incident closed. A little later one of the Councillors concerned in the above and a fellow-member on the opposite side of the table started to indulge in personalities, but were called to order by the Mayor.

Will be glad if you will call at Collinson and Cunuiughame’s, L,td., during Show week at Palmerston North, just to have a look round their several departments. In to-day’s issue they advertise their hours of business during Show week. On Thursday (November 3rd), second day of the Show, they are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and in the evening they are making a special promenade display, when all are invited to walk round and see their display in every department. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday they are open for business from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ; on Wednesday, first day of the Show, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday, third day of the Show, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, when Collinson and Cunninghame will be pleased if you favour them with a call, when you will see their extensive stock and note the values given in every department.*

A tip dray and harness and pony are advertised for sale cheap. A Feilding milkman was fined 20s and costs on Tuesday for selling milk broken down with water.

The Sheffield Weekly Telegraph was fined ,£roo for contempt ot Court over the Crippen case.

Owing to the boisterous weather on Thursday night the ordinary meeting of the school committee was abandoned.

The Wanganui Borough Council has adopted a design for the proposed new bridge across the river, at an estimated cost of ,£28,000. Mr Witchell, local manager of the Bank of New Zealand, resumed his duties yesterday. He spent his holiday in the Hawke’s Bay district. Mr Witchell states that rain is badly needed in Hawke’s Bay.

Jack Johnson, the world’s champion pugilist, showed to poor advantage in a race against Barney Oldfield for the five-miles motor championship. Oldfield led throughout and won by a quarter of a mile. A good old West Coast preacher, who had decided to leave an unremunerative charge, finding it impossible to collect his salary, said in his farewell sermon ; —“ I have little more to add, dear brethren, save this : You were all in favour of free salvation, and the manner in which you have treated me proves that you have got it! ”

A telegram on Thursday afternoon stated that the director of the Meteorological Office advised an approaching storm from between north and west, with very heavy rain in many parts and unsettled and stormy weather for several days. The first part of the forecast has at anyrate come true. The storm duly arrived early on Thursday evening, and heavy rain has fallen. The rain will do much good after the recent dry spell and high winds.

At the Dunedin Police Court this week, George Bishop Sturdy, a man who was £sc in arrears under a maintenance order for the support of three children in the Industrial School, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, Mr Widdowson, S.M., remarking that as the defendant was so callous he would have to work out his indebtedness to the country for his family’s support. Mr Gumming, of the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society, said he never knew a man more callous and cowardly towards his children.

Some years ago on the Warwick race-course there was a thimble-rigger who had placed his table with thimbles and pea ready lor commencing business, when a young, active farmer put down a sovereign as a stake. A pal of the rigger immediately called “police,” and the man hastily shut up the table and bolted with the sovereign. The young farmer was after him, and gave him a tremendous kick each time he got near him, until he stopped out of breath. A looker-on said, “ But why did you not get back your sovereign?” “Ha! ha!” laughed the young farmer, “ it was a bad ’uu !” The telephone line instituted between Palmerston and Bulls at the request of several settlers has been practically completed (says the Standard) and will take a lot of the work off the existing line from Rongotea. Members of the rural bureau recently formed at Saudon have been supplied with instruments, and these will be installed without delay. It is expected the line will be working early next mouth. Poles are also being erected on the Foxton-San-sou road, which will connect with the service to Bulls, and thus complete that section ,of the through service between Auckland and Wellington, and form a relieving line to the main section now in use.

We have received the following letter from Mr E. Newman, M.P: —“ I note an article in your issue of Tuesday with reference to the Ssationmaster’s residence at Foxton. I showed the same to the Minister, and haved forwarded the cutting from the paper to him, with a request that he will enquire ino the condition of the stationmaster’s house, and if it is in the condition to which you refer, I hope he will see his way to renew the residence within a reasonable time.” We can assure Mr Newman that we have very much underestimated the condition of the dwelling which we repeat is unfit for human habitation and would be condemned by any health inspector. “I don’t believe in rivalry, not in a great amount of the rivalry found in athletics,” remarked the Rev. T. Tait at a Y.M.C.A. concert at Christchurch the other night. There was, he continued, a kind of rivalry that was perilous, if not disastrous, and some kinds that were simply idiotic. Examples of the last-mentioned were record-breaking in piano-playing and club-swinging—goodness only knew what it all meant or what was the use of it. ‘‘What I desiderate,” he continued, “is a rivalry that will enhance and increase efficiency, and that kind of rivalry should be encouraged. Men should vie together on reasonable lines with the idea that at the end of the competition both men are far more fit, physically or mentally as the case may be, as the result of the competition.” Messrs Ross and Co., of the Bon Marche, Palnerston N.. announce a grand display of latest novelties in every department of their extensive business, of which they invite inspection.*

Walker’s Jellies at 5 for is are selling well.

Mr W. Richardson, boot importer, of Palmerston North, publishes an inset with this issue. Railway holiday excursions in connection with the Palmerston Show are advertised in this issue. The Secretary of the Foxtou Athletic Club desires to acknowledge receipt of a donation of is od from Mr Edward Newman, M.P.

The local Shopkeepers’ Holiday Association notifies that business places will be closed on Friday next, People’s Day, Palmerston Show.

A sixteen-year-old boy committeed suicide in a suburban railway train at Melbourne as a result of reading “ Dead wood luck” stories. The suicide was determined, and he fired three revolver shots.

The following members of the Borough Council were present at last night’s special meeting His Worship the Mayor (G. H. Stiles, Esq.), and Crsßoss, Goley, Rimmer, Speirs, Gibbs, Stewart, Robinson and Adams.

Flax-cutting at Poroutawhao is in full swing at present, says our Levin exchange, and things compare favourably with last year. The cutters remark that the flax is in fair condition, though a longer period of growth would be beneficial.

Municipal gasworks, at Waipawa, erected at a cost ,£7,500, were formally opened on Wednesday by the Mayor. The new works are capable of, producing twenty thousand feet of gas daily. Provision has been made for the extension of the works to meet future requirements. The Carterton municipal gas report for the month showed that 263,000 ft. of gas had been manufactured ; street lamps and post office clock consumed 2 5. i consumers, 223,500 ft ; gas works engine and retort house, 10,300 ft. Each ton of coal carbonised yielded 1,135 ft of gas. In the course of her trip from Melbourne to the Bluff, the wireless installation on board the Huddart-Parker steamer UHmaroa, was used on various occasions and communication was sustained with H.M.S. Powerful at Melbourne, H.M.S. Pioneer in New Zealand waters, and with the North German Lloyd liner Seydlitz, near Sydney. James Sinclair Taylor M’Goweu, Leader of the New South Wales Opposition since 1904, Leader of the Labour Party since 1894, and now head of the Labour Government, was born at sea in 1855. He has resided in Sydney since he was twelve years old. At an early age he went to work at boilermaking. He is one of the founders of the eight hours system in New South Wales, and was instrumental in securing the system in the railway service.

Among the Christmas novelties imported by Mesdames Henderson and Cunninghame is a line of white metal vest mechanical match boxes. The box does not require to be filled with matches as there is a mechanical contrivance inside which lights a taper as soon as the Hd is raised and continues alight until blown out. The box supplies a light equal to what a normal smoker would use in matches in a year. The cost of this economical and ingenious contrivance is 5s 6d. Our Palmerston evening contemporary publishes a message from Levin to the effect that Shannon, Levin, Foxton and Palmerston North are uniting in an endeavour to develop electrical energy from Tokomaru and Mangaonohao rivers. The idea is to supply motive power to numerous flaxmills established in the localities named, also to utilise the electricity for bleaching flax. The New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association has tentatively approved of the scheme, which is based on a favourable report drawn up in 1906 by Mr Hays, of the Public Works Department. The estimated cost is from ,£15,000 to ,£20,000, and it will give 10,000 horse power. The item is news indeed to Foxton. There is only one strictly technical definition of gentleman, a man entitled to bear coat armor. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it was used with this significance, and the second hand bookstall hunter will occasionally find Soandso, “gentleman,” written on dusty and stained flyleaves. But this definition has dropped out, for now any one may use arms who chooses to pay an arms license. The inland revenue takes your guinea or two guineas without inquiring as to your right to bear arms. And though the Herald’s College has the right to grant arms to those who can afford to pay the necessary fees it cannot prevent people from using arms to which they have no right

On his return to England, E. Barry I was interviewed by Sporting Eife, and his view on the race on the Zambesi and of Arnst’s superiority differ from those of the champion’s best supporters. He said: “It was just a question of whether Arnst or myself should give in, I had spurted to the best of my ability, and could just see the end of Arnst’s boat when I was unable to pull another stroke. I experienced great difficulty with my breathing, and my mouth was as dry as dust. Arnst just managed to paddle home, and he was very queer for three days afterwards. He told me he was practically giving up, and could I have continued with my spurt a f.w more yards I have no hesE taticn in saying that I should have won.”

You can get a full size tin of Baking Powder at Walker’s for lOd,

' Mr Alex. Speirs Is erecting a dwelling for Mr Petrie, opposite the bowling green. It is anticipated that the local bowling green will be ready to play on by next Wednesday week. A new aspirant for sculling nonours has turned up in Blenheim, in the person of Arthur Jackson. Adams Island, the southernmost of the Auckland group, has been declared a permanent reserve for the preservation of native fauna and flora. The island has an area of 25,000 acres. The services at the local Presbyterian Church, to-morrow, will be conducted bv the Rev. K. Aitken. In the morning a “ Communion ” service will be held and Mr Aitken will preach in the evening on the subject of Ihe Word of Truth.” The services, to-morrow, in the local Methodist Church will be conducted both morning and evening by the Rev. P. J. Mairs. The subject for the morning will be ‘‘Cornelius and Peter,” and for the evening ‘‘ A Great Invitation.” An anthem will be rendered by the choir. In the Hawcra Magistrate’s Court, on Thursday, Norman Lawrence Wild (clerk), Leonard Gilbert and Emile Fiacix Davey (porters), pleaded guilty to stealing from the goods shed Iwo hams and a miscellaneous collection of drapery, of the total value of £7, and were sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment. We direct gas consumer's attention to an advertisement appearing elsewhere in this issue in re the price of gas, ami the last day on which discount is allowed. We might add that the Town Clerk is as Immovable as the sphinx in respect to excuses tor delay in paying gas ec?ounts, and no dis•unt will be allowed after the th of the month. Tar and coke also advertised for sale, ss Iva Laing, daughter of Mr ew Laing, late of Foxton, now of Woodville, is cang this district for subscrip•'>u, of the New Zealand Times. iss Laing is o ie of the leaders in the comjetitiou and all old friends who desire to see Miss w aing top the list may leave their voting coupons in a box at Mrs Nye’s stationery depot. The death is announced of Mr Dennis M’Carthy, of Laurel Grove, Prebblelon, Canterbury, one of the few remaining pioneers. Mr M’Carthy was born at Banlry, County Cork, Ireland, in the year 1834, and in the year 1863 came out with his wife to Canterbury in the ship Ackeriugton. The late Mr M’Carthy leaves a widow, three sons and two daughters. At last night’s Council meeting a letter was read from a resident in the vicinity complaining of the very unsatisfactory state of the sanitary depot. The Mayor said that, in company with Cr Coley and the Town Clerk, be had visited the reserve and was horri-

fied on finding the true state of affairs. The complaint was quite justified, and the nuisance would have to be remedied, and at once. The sanitary contractor was in and was questioned at "jme length by the Councillors present. It was eventually decided to visit the spot on Tuesday text, at 2 o’clock.