LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 990, 11 May 1911, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At Tuesday’s; Harbour Board meeting the chairman said that the bar and river were now very satisfactory, and masters of vessels trading to the port had informed him that since lighting the river had been instituted the Manawatu was equal to any river in New Zealand. Oils, paints, scrims, etc., ironmongery, anything you require at T. Rimmer’s.*

Messrs C. Smith, Ltd., of Palmerston North, advertise a bargain line of silk ribbons in this issue.

The correct base for the new Roslyn tailored costumes is the Warner’s favourite rust-proof corsets. Town and country drapers are showing both lines.

On our back page to-day will be found the following interesting reading matter: “A Juvenile Duel,” “The Rising Generation,” and “News and Notes,” Mr E. Healey has just landed (ex Ruahine) a splendid line of hot water bottles for the coming winter. They are of the best English make and guaranteed not to leak. Inspection invited.*

A poll at Taihape on Tuesday to increase the loan for the Town Hall buildings from to was carried, there being only five dissentients. A single man, named Alexander Harley, aged 27, employed at Fordell, took lysol at 10 o’clock on Tuesday night, and died of the effects at 2.30 yesterday morning. The hearing of evidence in the re-trial of the Knyvett case was concluded at Wellington yesterday, and after addresses by counsel, the Court closed to consider its finding. Although the farmer may sometimes find difficulty in supplying all the information required for the rather large census papers this year, his difficulty would be infinitely small compared with the task of describing the display of Winter Millinery at M. Hamer’s* When discussing the question of a rating area at Tuesday’s Harbour Board meeting, the chairman said that although it would be necessary to strike a rate as security for a loan for the purchase of the wharf, there would be absolutely no necessity to collect it, as sufficient revenue would accrue from wharfages, etc., to meet all charges. Mr Harford, of Feilding, said he understood that if a rate were struck it was compulsory for the Board to collect it. The secretary was instructed to get an opinion from the Board’s solicitor on this point. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P.), somewhat astonished his audience at the Cambrian Society’s meeting by stating that he had some knowledge of the Welsh language, though he modestly declined to give any examples of his acquaintance with one of the most ancient tongues extant (records the Christchurch Press). Mr Taylor, in an interesting auto-biographical reference, said that his father was a constable stationed in a Yorkshire mining centre where most of the miners were Welsh. He (Mr Taylor) was then a youth, and in playing with the miners’ children he picked up some Welsh phrases. When, later, the future Mayor of Christchurch went to London and attended a board school, his schoolmaster expressed wonder at the dialect that he spoke. Fashion requires that the form shall be slightly curved at the waist and over the hips. For illustration see Warner’s latest corsets models of all drapers.* In order to keep right abreast with the times, and to lulfil orders with the greatest dispatch, Mr F. W. Hopper, plumber and tinsmitu, of Foxtou, has had installed an up-to-date sheet metal bending machine. A representative of this journal had an opportunity of observing the machine in operation, and was favourably impressed with the quality of its work. Plain galvanised iron was converted into ridging very expeditiously, and the product was of a substantial and durable type. With the use of a variety of die plates all manner of sheet metal work can be turned out, including ridging, spouting, and flashing of different designs, stove pipes, box and other gutters, and also cream vats. Practically any description of bending of sheet metal, whether iron, copper, brass, or what not, can be undertaken, and the worth of the finished article is held to be equal, if not superior, to that which is imported. An amusing story is told by the Wairarapa Age. A party of three —a lady and two gentlemen—hired a conveyance in Masterton on Easter Monday, and drove out to the Kopuaranga sports gathering. On arrival —the journey took them an hour, more or less —they unharnessed the horse and tied it up with a number of others. Late in the afternoon they proceeded to harness the horse. They did not know very much about harnessing, but they eventually got the animal hitched up. But when they tried to drive away trouble commenced. The horse bucked and jibbed, and seemed very ill al ease; and, after a lengthy struggle, the lady ot the party was sent off to the railway station, to return home by train. After a three hours’ fight with the horse, which proved a most capricious, unsteady brute, the travellers arrived back at the livery stables, hot, tired, dusty and “fighting mad.” They vented their just wrath upon the stable-keeper. “That’s all right,” he said, “but that’s not my horse !” The travellers had taken the wrong horse from the sports ground ! And it was discovered that the horse which had brought them back (in three hours!) was a saddle horse that had never been in harness before.

Mothers ! Phosphol will make weak children from birth onward, robust and healthy. Sold everywhere in large bottles. i A beautiful assortment ot electroplate goods, brooches, engagement rings, etc., at Parkes’ jewellery establishment, Main St.* T. Rimmer is selling jam 3 tins for is.*

The Privy Council appeal case, | Norton versus Stringer, of New Zealand, was dismissed with costs. This is the appeal by Mr John Norton, proprietor of Truth, against the fine of imposed on him by the New Zealand Courts for a libel published on Mr Stringer, K.C., of Christchurch. News was received by cable on Tuesday evening of the death at Satander, Spain, of Mr Adam H. F. Johnston, sou of the Hon. C. J. Johnston, M.L.C. Deceased, who was 33 years of age, was educated at Wanganui College and afterwards entered the Royal Navy as lieutenant. Subsequently he returned to New Zealand, and for the last five years has resided in Spain. The King Country is progressing. A statioumaster has been appointed for the Ongarue station. Material is being lauded to commence the piercing of the Tahora tunnel, which is ten miles distant from Whaugamomona and thirty miles from the township of Maugaroa, in the Ohura country. In the matter of rat-killing, says the Post, the Union Company’s steamer Rosamond on Tuesday set an example which it is suggested other vessels in port might well follow. The ship was thoroughly fumigated, with the result that hundreds of rats paid the death penalty. In No. 1 hold alone about 2co of the rodents died from the effect of the fumes. Three Masterton Chinamen visited their relatives in Martinborough on Sunday. On their return home the horse they were driving fell in a faint at Greytown. A local “ vet ” put a number of stitches into the quadruped’s knees. When asked what was the matter, one of the Celestials blandly remarked : “ Tlired ! Him too tlired ! Go sleepee ! Alice same Yulapeeu !”

The Hon. R, McKenzie was in a northern town recently strolling about. A Maori came up to him. “ You ti niupeper ferrer ?” asked the native. “ Yes, lam a newspaper man ” replied the Minister, wishing to draw out the Maori. The latter asked, “What you maki my wahiue dead tor ?” Roddy was at a loss to understand for a moment. Then it dawned upon him that the Maori wanted to know the cost of inserting an obituary notice concerning his deceased wife. “ Oh, 4s 6d an inch.” The native was astonished. “That price he too big—my wahine she ti six footjjlong !’’

Tiie selection of the wattle as an emblem of South Africa lor the King’s Coronation robes is not a happy one, and it is not surprising (says the Christchurch Press) that unfavourable comments are being made upon it in that country. Though trees ot the same family are native ot tropical Africa, the wattle is Australia’s flower, and the wattle that South Africans find so useful to-day as shelter for stock, and as producers of valuable bark, come from trees imported from Australia. Australians have some reason to be aggrieved, for have their poets not sung often of the beauty of the wattle-bloom, and has not “Wattle Day” been instituted in Australia, the beginning, it is hoped, ot a truly national festival ? Yet there is a touch of poetic justice about the assignment of the wattle as South Africa’s emblem. The wattle grows in immense profusion in Australia, but it is regarded as of little commercial value. Natal, on the other hand, has realised its uses, and exports over ,£IOO,OOO worth of bark in the year.

The writer of Current Topics in the Auckland Weekly News has the following : —“lam told that Mr Claude, who saved the Wellington express from coming to grief near Otahuhu, while complimented by the railway authorities for his promptitude and judgment, was solemnly warned that his action was quite contrary to the rules and regulations of the railway service, which distinctly prohibited any interference with brakes by others than officials, as such interference was calculated to lead to accidents ! This reminds me of the story of the railway company which, learning that it was likely to be sued for damages by the passenger who had fallen from a moving train owing to a defective lock on one of« t the carriage doors, promptly took proceedings against him for infringing one of its by-laws by leaving the train while in motion !”

A valuable timber concession has been secured by the Tongariro Timber Company from the Native owners. The land, embracing an area of upwards of 40,000 acres, lies between the head waters of the Wanganui River and Lake Taupo. The negotiations were very protracted, and the terms had to be submitted and approved by the Native Land Commission. Mr D. M. Findlay has left lor England with the object of raising capital to work the concession. The price to be paid by the company for the timber varies from £7 los to £ls per acre, but the company will have no tights beyond that of user to the land, which remains the property of the natives. It is proposed to lay down a substantial line of railway, forty miles in length, having a similar gauge to that on the Government lines—viz., 3ft 6in. This railway will connect with the Main Trunk line. One terminus will be at Kakahi, ten miles south of Taumaruuui, and the other terminus three miles south of Tokaanu, near Lake Taupo. It is anticipated that a considerable passenger and tourist traffic will be available for this line in addition to the timber.

Rimmer’s for quality and value in everything.*

Mr O. F. Cook notifies by advertisement that he will commence business as a butcher as from Monday next. Customers will be waited on daily, and as only the primest meat will be slaughtered, Mr Cook should receive a faiu share of patronage. 1 A Sydney cable states that Hammond’s engagement with the Bristol Bi-plane Company has ended. Macdonald, his mechanic, is now in charge of the hi-plane. He made several trips over the city, carrying as a passenger on one journey Brigadier-General Gordon, Military Commander. The streets were crowded with people watching the flights with interest.

Timothy Buchanan, barman at the Lake Hotel, Taupo, was fined £3O and costs ,£lO os yd, on Tuesday, for supplying a Maori with a bottle of liquor for consumption off the premises. The Magistrate said he had taken into consideration this being the first conviction in Taupo under the new Act and nothing was known against the defendant, who, however, had sworn falsely. Wellington hemp buyers were on Monday offering ,£lB per ton, Wellington, for good fair grade. This price is equal to ,£2l, London, yet the High Commissioner’s report on the same day was ,£2O per ton. As we have previously pointed out it is obvious that as fa r as the hemp market is concerned it does not receive the careful attention from New Zealand’s London office that such an important industry should. James O’Brien, a middle-aged man, was admitted to and died in the Auckland hospital on Tuesday morning. -The evidence at the inquest showed that deceased was proprietor of a hotel at Nukualofa. He had been in the theatrical profession, and was known as Charlie Bryant. He had apparently taken chlorodyue in a cup of tea while suffering from chronic alcoholism. The jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane. Mr F. Gabites, the local draper, informs us that the statement made at the circus on Tuesday nighfp that he wears red braces to keep his trousers up, is a gross misrepresentation of facts. He says that his sole reason for wearing braces is to keep the part of his apparel above referred to from falling| down. Then again, he says his braces are not red, but it this colour is preferred he will be pleased to procure it. He is selling the same class of braces as he wears himself at is and is 6d per pair. Try them.*

A young man, aged 22, named Timothy Sullivan, was accidentally killed by a fall of earth at Kumeroa, near Woodville, on Tuesday morning. He was working on a Woodville County road contract on the Upper Otowhao road, where there is a good deal of excavating work to do. Shortly after starting work there was a big fall of earth, which smothered him up to the neck. His mates, who were working close by, came to his assistance as soon as possible, but when released Sullivan was quite dead. All that is known about him is that he formerly belonged to Sea Downs, near Temuka.

The Full Court had before ik yesterday the case, reserved by the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), in which a youug man named Ernest Edwin Thompson, of Shannon, was charged with having attempted to procure certain noxious drugs for an unlawful purpose. On October 15th last he went to a chemist and made a request for the drugs, stating what he wished to do with them, but the chemist gave him a perfectly harmless fluid, in an ordinary medicine bottle. His Honour, though inclined to the opinion that the prisoner could be legally convicted, reserved the question of law at issue. Yesterday their Honours, after hearing argument, gave a unanimous finding that accused could be rightly convicted, having clearly attempted, unsuccessfully as it turned out, to commit an offence. Mr Fell appeared for the prisoner, and the Solicitor-General, Mr J. W. Salmond, for the Crown.

The first appearance in Foxton of Barton’s Circus was greeted by a crowd that severely taxed the holding capacity of the tent. A • programme of considerable merit A was presented, and in consequence a good reputation appears to have been already established for the management. Every “turn” was creditable, and several were conspicuous for the performers’ talent and neatness ot execution. The usual equestrian display opened the entertainment, and was warmly applauded. A boy contortionist proved himself a skilful exponent of his art, and gained much attention both on his initial appearance and in several subsequent acts in company with other acrobats. Frauds Roy Barton, the bounding boy jockey, is one of the trickiest who have come this way, his exhibition ot fancy riding being truly brilliant. In the Flying Pedros the establishment has a star asset; their amazing evolutions with the trapeze fairly took one’s breath away. Mdlle. Jandesquesty’s wire-rope balancing gave general satisfaction, and the comic billiard table act, by three dummies, was screamingly tunny. Jack Tybell was responsible lor some first-class work ot the “iron jawbone” order. Sundry other items met with approval and the fooling of the clowns provided plenty of diversion. A steeplechase by local riders was won by I). McCorlick. For Children’s Hacking Cough at night, Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, is fid and 2s fid.

Mr Stewart, of Wellington, who is taking Mr Petrie’s place in charge of the local hemp grading operations during the time the latter is relieving Mr Johnston, ol Auckland, arrived last week and has taken up his duties. A good income can be obtained from a small area, it the gardener goes the right way about it. A Motueka tomato grower had a crop of 20 tons from two thousand plants set out in an area of quarter of an acre. “ I consider that any man who drinks is incapable of looking after himself,” said Mr H. V\ . Bishop, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, on Saturday, in reply to a man who stated that he did not need a prohibition order to keep him straight. Writing to Mr H. H. Wo!ters> of Carterton, Mr R. McLaren, formerly of Wairarapa, and now manager of a big ranch in the Argentine, says : ‘‘We have had rather a dry year, but stock has done well on the whole. I have just sold a thousand bullocks at £lO each —not a bad price for a big lot. During the last year we sent ten bullocks to the show, and they made ,£SO each, and five of them weighed 19501 b each live weight—not bad for 3 )£ -year-olds, grass fed.”