The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, April 29,1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 985, 29 April 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, April 29,1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Elsewhere in this issue the vicar of All Saints’ Church sets forth his views as touching the religious education of the young. His remarks were included in the annual report to his parishioners. He bewails the fact that the Stale system of education does not include religious instruction, and champions the cause of denominational schools. He opines that the day is not tar distant when the Anglican Church will stand out on this question, and follow the example of the Catholic Church. The trend of opinion in his own church is diametrically opposed to such a course —although denominationalism is dear to the heart of many of his fellow clergy, particularly those of English birth and training. The State must stand aloof on the question of religious instruction, and if we read the signs of the times aright New Zealand will not allow her present free, secular and compulsory system of education to be interfered with. It other ministers would follow the example of Mr Woodward and take advantage of the facilities offered for religious training before or after school hours instead of trying to force the State to undertake the duties which alone belong to the Church, it would be not only commendable, but an earnest that they have no desire to shunt their responsibility on to the State.

“ Fools stand in slippery places,” and have done so from time immemorial, but evil-doers encounter ever increasing dangers. Eyes are beginning to peep from all manner of unsuspected places, and soon the case of the modest young lady who would not walk across a potato patch will be ancient history. A contemporary relates several striking instances of detection of identity by photography, a couple of which, occurrring in our own land, will suffice for il-

lustration. A New Zealand lady, who had for years desired news of her only sou, found it at a little show held in the Wairarapa. The film was of a street function, in London, and she declared that one of the men-o’-warsmen in the procession was her son. She therefore made enquiries from the Admiralty, and proved her supposition. The other case in which photography played a leading parr was reported at Auckland ten years ago. A titled lady touring New Zealand purchased, among other photographs, one of a navvies’ camp in the vicinity of Whangarei. Examination of the photograph determined her to proceed to the camp. There she found working in the gang a brother, who, having quarrelled with his father (a peer), had “ cleared out.” On the death of the father, the lawyers had been unable to discover the whereabouts of the heir, and a stray photograph was the means of sending the peer’s successor back to his estates. Photography and “ wire less” in the future should do much to arrest the runaway and discourage the potential absconder.

The local Horticultural Society has decided to hold a Bulb Show in or about September. It is hoped that local floriculturists will assist the Society to make the innovation a success. Foxton’s sandy loam is pre-eminently adapted for the growing of early spring blooms, and a show of bulbs should be particularly attractive. Intending exhibitors should lose no time in scanning catalogues and selecting and planting suitable bulbaceous plants. That the show will be a success is apparent by the enthusiasm and hearty co-operation already displayed by members of the committee, and it only now remains for residents to do their part in providing blooms, and thereby also making their own homes attractive.

How many people are familiar with this -statement: “He was sober, though he had had a drink or two ”? Every now and then it crops up in a court case or an inquest. It was used the other day by a witness in the course of an inquiry down South, where the Coroner found that one Charles Thomas had caused the destruction by fire, either wilfully or negligently, of two stacks belonging to a farmer at Morven. Thomas was a conjuror, and this may have accounted for his being sober after having “a drink or two.” Be that as it may: we have frequent evidences of destructive or aggressive tendencies on the part 01 persons who, according to witnesses, have imbibed liberally and yet managed to retain their sobriety ; what are we to expect from men who are really drunk ?

Every town has its pre-eminent bachelor, a celibate whose interesting personality is a feature in the life of the community. Woodville is no exception to the rule, and the role is filled by Mr Rowe Fennell, a much respected resident. Every year he entertains a number of children, with whom he is a favourite, at a party in celebration of his birthday. On Saturday last about seventy young people attended one of these anniversaries, and presented a great variety of tributes to their host. Bottles of jam, sauce and pickles, handkerchiefs and ties, and moustache cups, were among the presents, and Mr Fennell is believed to have now the biggest collection of moustache cups in New Zealand. It is lair to presume that he receives invitations to the parties of his young friends as they in turn have birthdays, and so, although a bachelor, he stands in the relation of a patron to them and is not a lonely man at all. Without such a St. Nicholas, Woodville would now seem incomplete, just as, deprived of one or other of its identities, any other town would mourn the loss of a social asset.