LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1046, 21 September 1911, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There is an epidemic of measles in Foxton at present. Mrs Hamer announces that she intends making a special window display of hats on Saturday. Don’t miss it.*

There will be a congregational meeting of the local Presbyterian Church this evening, to be presided over by the Rev Mr Doull, of St. Andrew’s, Palmerston N., to consider the call of the Methven Presbyterian Church to the Rev Mr Aitken.

There was a good attendance at the auction sale of effects of the late Mr Scanlon, at the Court House yesterday. Constable Woods, on behalf of the Public Trustee, conducted the sale, and wielded the hammer as to the manner born. All the articles were quitted at satisfactory prices. The weekly meeting of the local literary and debating society was held on Tuesday night, when the debate, “Is Socialism a Practical Form of Government ’’ took place. No doubt the unpropitious weather was responsible for the sparse attendance, but those who were present enjoyed a lively debate between the Rev G. K. Aitken (affirmative) and Mr G. H. Stiles (negative). The voting decided in favour of the negative. Mr J. Ross occupied the chair. Three doctors were operating on a man for appendicitis (says Success), After the operation was completed one of the doctors missed a small sponge. The patient was reopened, and the sponge found within, and the man was sewed up again. Immediately the second doctor missed a needle. Again the patient was opened and closed. Then the third doctor missed a pair of scissors. “Gentlemen,” said the victim, as they were about to open him up again, “for Heaven’s safe, if you’re going to keep this up, put buttons on me.”

Mr W. H. Ferris, the chief hemp grader, has consented to address flaxmillers and all others interested on matters of general interest in connection with the hemp industry, at the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Flaxmillers Association, to be held in the Palmerston North Opera House supper-room on Monday next, at 1.30 p.m. This is an opportunity that all connected with the industry should take advantage of. The Flaxmillers Association extend a cordial invitation to all interested in the industry to be present. A New Zealand anti-militarist Socialist asked Professor Mills, of Milwaukee, who is also a Socialist, his opinion of compulsory training. He got a shock with this reply : “ My opinion is that, while militarism lasts —and it will last lor some time yet —you had better arm every citizen, establish a gun and ammunition factory, and get every man to keep his gun and cartridges at home. The voluntary system is a farce ; only men who are drunk or cannot battle for a job enlist, and they are the most dangerous class co trust in time of industrial troubles. If every man is armed and trained, and has a gun, there will be no use for troops during a strike—and if you’ll take my advice you’ll arbitrate and not strike—and then, also, if (as is possible) international complications arise, New Zealanders will be prepared.”

We have received the following letter from Mr George Gray, late licensee ot the Post Office Hotel and now of the Valuation Department, Wellington " Seeing in your issue of Saturday that Mr Munroof the Family Hotel, had unearthed a gold watch and chain near his hotel, recalls to my mind a case which happened in Foxton somwhere about 25 years ago. A jockey named Alex. McCormick, who was attending the Foxton Races, either lost or had stolen a gold watch and chain (a present I thiuk) from him near the old Family Hotel which was standing then some chains behind the present site. If I remember rightly it was supposed to be stolen and planted near, and myself, amongst others, searched the locality for some considerable time, but without success. The late Mrs Chas. Howe kept the hotel, and I think the late Mr Purcell was constable in charge of the district. Alex. McCormick has since died at Wanganui, but he left a widow (a Miss Doran of Wangauui, and children who were related to the late Mr Poole (of totalisator fame). Perhaps this may lead up to the owner. If you find out anything I would be glad to hear if it is the watch that was lost at that time.”

If In want of Birthday, Wedding or other gifts, go to Parkes’, the jeweller, the shop for presents.*

Byron Brown has lived in Otaki for 20 years. He’s not as good as he ought to be, but a lot better than his political detractors.*

The meeting of the School Committee, to have been held to-night, has been postponed until next Thursday evening. Tht return cribbage tournament between teams Irom the Shannon Druids Lodge and the Foxton Druids and Railway Employees will be played at Foxton on the evening of Tuesday, October 3rd. Captain Scott must have been stirring up the ice bergs down south, for the recent cold snap is about the most severe we have experienced this season. There was a heavy fall of snow on the ranges. The copious rains have proved a god-send to farmers and residents. The biting southerly winds have now abated.