LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 915, 8 November 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ordinary meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board will be held on Friday next at 7.45 p.m. Walker’s Jellies at 5 for is are selling well.

Mr Walton advertises a saddle and harness pony, with foal, for sale.

Spring showers commenced to fall throughout this district early this morning. On our fourth page to-day will be found an interesting article entitled ‘‘United South Africa.” Another of the pioneer settlers of the Dominion, in the person of Mr John Burridge, died at Carterton last week.

The scow Echo arrived from Puponga this morning laden with coal for the West Coast Steamship and Trading Co., Ltd. The friends of Mrs Austin, senr., will regret to hear that she is seriously ill, and grave fears are entertained of her recovery.

Owners of stock greatly appreciate the Borough Council’s action in allowing stock to graze on the streets during day time. Harry Pearce sails for New Zealand on the 19th to row Webb on Boxing Day for the sculling championship of Australia. Mr and Mrs E. Malcolm, Devin, have sustained a sad loss through the death of their daughter Elizabeth, which occurred on Friday. The deceased, who was 19 years of age, had been ill for a considerable time.

John Colgrove Hayes, aged 34 years, a labourer, of Shannon, a married man with a family, was badly injured through a fall from a horse on Saturday, and lies in a precarious condition. He is suffering from a fracture of the base of the skull.

Mr Frank Jay Gould, the American millionaire, and son of the famous Jay Gould, has been quietly married to Miss Edie Kelly, a gaiety chorus girl, at Edinburgh. Mr Gould has rented Sir Walter Scott’s famous residence at Abbotsford. He was divorced from his first wife last year.

The word “ summer ” always seems synonymous of smart and showy dresses and millinery, and this season is a period when ladies seem specially interested in the purchase of their dresses. Mrs M. Hamer, of the “ Economic,” has lavishly provided for the tastes of Foxton ladies, in smart Linen Costumes, fashionable Millinery, Ties, Gloves, and all apparel necessary for the coming summer season. See window display.*

A reward of £SO is being offered for information that will lead to the apprehension of a bankrupt named Jack Vinegard, present whereabouts unknown, who until lately carried on business as a mercer in Manners Street, Wellington. Offer of the reward named was confirmed at a meeting of his creditors held on Saturday morning. Proceedings at the meeting were private, the press being excluded.

Constable Patrick M’Cormick died in the district hospital on Saturday without having regained consciousness since he was seen to step backwards off the footpath in Main Street on Thursday night, tie leaves a widow, a son and two daughters to mourn their loss. The late constable’s duty lay in and around the Palmerston railway station, where he became a very well known figure and became guide, guard, and friend to all the travelling public. At the inquest a verdict that death was due to hemorrhage caused by a fall, was returned. The Wanganui Band arrived at Auckland from Australia on Sunday and had a great reception. As the steamer came alongside the wharf the band played “Lead Kindly Light,” “Home, Sweet Home,” and, escorted by three of the city bands, marched up Queen Street. In the afternoon the band gave an open-air performance on the Takapuna Racecourse, an enormous crowd assembling to hear them. They also gave a concert in the Opera House and yesterday a civic reception was accorded them.

A number of Foxton beach section holders waited on Mr D. Buick, M.P., at Palmerston North on Saturday and suggested that he urge the Minister for Railways to institute a system of week-end excursion fares to Foxton similar to those in vogue in the large cenires. Mr Buick advised the deputation to send a requisition setting out their desires to the Minister lor Railways, and he would have pleasure in urging ths desirableness of adopting the proposals. It was decided to have the requisition prepared and signed by as many interested as possible. Referring to the need of guarding against filthy and profane speech, Dr. Gibb, in addressing Boy Scouts at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, in Wellington, said ; —“lf a fellow comes along and swears in your hearing—if he not only swears, but tries to palm off dirty talk upon you—bid him drop it. If he will not drop it—well, I am not in love with fisticuffs, but all the same, I bid you hit the dirty fellow as hard as you can. Knock him down and be done with it and him.” It was evident from the appreciative smiles that the doctor’s auditory were sufficiently familiar with the process.

You frequently hear of cases of chronic constipation—cases that have existed for years. In nine cases out of ten the trouble has become chronic through improper treatment. The patient has formed the habit of taking strong purgatives and has so weakened the bowels that they will not act naturally. Chamberlain’s Tablets cure constipation and cure it permanently, because, instead of doing the work of the bowels for them, Chamberlain’s Tablets simply stimulate them to perform their own functions. For sale everywhere.—Advx.

Joe Dawson, iu a Maroon car, won the two hundred miles automobile race at Atlanta, Georgia, covering the distance in 2hr si min i2sec.

A man named Henry Radford was seriously injured at Napier on Saturday bv being kicked in the stomach by a horse. He is not expected to live.

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.*

A general meeting of members of the local amateur dramatic society will be held iu the Council Chamber to-night. As important business is to be transacted a full attendance is requested. Whitauuui Company’s new mill at Moutoa is at present runninig three strippers. Everything is in thorough working order and up-to-date, and it is undoubtedly the last thing as regards flaxmills. Mr Priestley states that he is confident that Captain Scott will reach the Pole. He advocates the establishment of a weather bureau at Cape Adair connected by wireless with New Zealand. Nobody wants to borrow the money the Wellington City Council has to lend—and it has plenty. The Council is anxious to set the plethora of money to work at easy rates, but there are no applications. The Miss May Yohe, who is reported to have been stricken with paralysis in America while singing at a cafe, has a sister in Wellington. She also was at one time a most capable actress, and married a well-known business man. There was a fair attendance at the meeting of the Rifle Club held last night. A communication was read from the Defence Department in reply to the application to be accepted as a Defence Rifle Club, discussion on which it was decided to hold over for a general meeting to be held on Thursday, Nov. 17th. Several ot our contemporaries have says, the Palmerston North Standard, published a paragraph from the Wanganui Chronicle to the effect that the sculling match between Pearce and Webb has not been arranged. We are in a position to state that the match was arranged some days ago. The Chronicle has since published a correction.

A man who recently served a month’s imprisoment in Wanganui gaol for failure to maintain his wife and children, on his release promptly repealed the offence, and described his incarceration as the “ time of his life.” To enable him to have a further experience of the joys of prison, Mr Kerr, S.M., on Wednesday sentenced him to three months, with hard labour. At the Palmerston Show, last week, Mr R. Kempster, of Foxton, was successful in gaining first prize with his Australian Terrier “Black Tracker.” This entitles Mr Kempster to hold the Gallichan Challauce Cup for twelve months. He was also awarded second prize in the Australian Terrier Puppy class, and his other exhibit was very highly commended.

Fast night’s entertainment at the Public Hall was not commenced until well after half-past eight and this seemingly unnecessary delay was very adversely commented upon by the large audience. Asked by our representative this morning as to the reason of the wait, Mr Rolfe said that it was through no fault ot his company, but was entirely due to the want ot conveniences and necessary appliances on the stage. He said that the company had brought a great quantity of scenery and stage effects that upon arrival it was found utterly impossible to use. For the size of the town Foxton, was very badly situated in regard to a public hall aud companies are put to a great deal ot trouble, after playing in anything like a well-appointed theatre, to have to fix up their scenery etc., in a hall such as Foxton possesses. It is time that Foxton had a municipal hall and we are pleased to learn that Cr Dr. Adams is interesting himself in this matter, and we understand he intends bringing the matter up at the next Council meeting.

There are those who say that religion is a “pawky” thing, whatever that may mean ; that it makes a man soft, and robs him of his inclination even to defend himselt against insult (says the Timaru Herald). But a little incident which occurred in Timaru ou Saturday night when the Anglican mission meeting was being held in the main street of the town put quite a different aspect on the matter. A young man, who ought to have known better, brushed roughly against the Rev. S. Prerice Adams, acting-vicar of St. Mary’s (than whom probably there is no more courteous or inoffensive man in Timaru), and deliberately blew tobacco smoke into his face. The rev. gentleman submitted quietly to the insult, but gave the young man to understand that it must not be repeated. Disregarding the caution, however, and with a lack of the sense of decency, the young man deliberately repeated the push and the puff of smoke, with the result that he got the surprise of his life, as he received at the same instant a stinging back - hander which made him look more sheepish than could be described by anything on paper. The vicar was warmly applauded by those who saw the incident for his manly action in dealing so well-deserved a rebuke.

At the local police court yesterday a case, Prior v Robinson, for alleged assault was adjourned for a week on the application of the defendant.

Arrangements iu connection with the forthcoming Horticultural Show are well in hand and this show promises to be the most successful yet held by the Society. Entries close on Tuesday, November 22nd. Catalogues can be obtained on application to the secretary.

Several local residents have received the following mysterious missive: “Wanganui, Nov. 3rd, 1910. M Dear Should we have the honour of addressing of Foxton, we are pleased to inform you that a registered parcel will be forwarded on to you by first mail on the receipt of postal note for five shillings to defray expenses, etc. Trusting to hear from you by return mail.—We beg to remain, obediently yours, • Stray Parcel Agency, Wanganui.” James Leach, a negro, who used to work in the Clendenning Handkerchief Mills at Passaic, New Jersey, has just made 13,000 by his invention for improving the phonograph. He Was considered to be an expert mechanic, and used to tell his friends that he was sure he could improve the tone of the talking machine. He perfected his ideas during his spare evenings, and the Edison Company, having heard ot his invention, sent for him to New York, where he demonstrated its potentialities, with the result that the company purchased his rights for the sum named above.

Our representative had a very interesting chat yesterday with one of the Dominion’s pioneers, in the person of Mr Hunt senr., father of our esteemed townsman, Mr C. A. W. Hunt. The old gentleman carries his 79 summers with an easier gait than plenty who have only half a century to their credit. In reply to a remark that he looked well, he said with a smile, “Yes, hard work hasn’t killed me.” Mr Hunt arrived in Wellington by the ship Alma 54 years ago. He said about the time mentioned he dropped into an auction room in Wellington, when the land near the reclamation was being sold at ,£lO per foot. A person who was with him at the sale asked Mr Hunt what he thought of the price and the old gentleman said, “If I had ,£IO,OOO I would invest it, Wellington is going to be a second Liverpool.” Mr Hunt’s regret is that he hadn’t the “needful” at that time to back up his opinion. His first job was on road formation, in charge of a batch of men, near Greytown. Wages 5s per day, bosses 6s. “Flour was then ,£36 per ton,” said Mr Hunt and it cost ;£8 per ton to cart it over the Rimutakas.” He related several amusing episodes that occurred at Greytown during his stay there. At one time a marriage was celebrated. Some of the workers erected a platform on a wheelbarrow on which they placed a chair. The bride was seated on this and wheeled to the “Rising Sun” Hotel where the boys were treated right royally. The settlers were very unconventional in those days. Mr Hunt assisted to erect the first whare in Carterton for Jimmy Ridgeway. He recalled the names of many oldjWairarapa identities long since dead. He subsequently returned to Wellington and spent some time in Makara. When he arrived in this district Palmerston was unknown and at Feilding there were a few surveyors’ tents. He was present at the Foxton Heads when the Maoris received payment for the Foxton block by Sir Walter Buller. He settled in the Rangitikei in 1864. He said he recently paid a visit to the Wanganui cemetery where he counted dozens of names over the graves of old residents, once wellknown in the Rangitikei and whose ranks are yearly being thinned out. Mr Hunt is now residing in Palmerston enjoying a well-earned rest after a well-spent and strenuous life.