LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1043, 24 December 1912, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Feildiug Star refers to the local town hall as a “splendid municipal theatre.” We desire to acknowledge and to reciprocate season’s greetings from the Christchurch Press and Mr J. Robertson, M.P. Mr C. Burgess and Miss McHardie will take up their positions as assistants at the local State schor l wheu it re assembles.

The service to morrow (Christmas Day) in St. Mary’s Church will be conducted at 11 a.m., by the Rev Father Kelly. It should be hardly necessary to remind the children that M. E. Perreau has a bran tub at his shop in Main Street, in which good prizes are stored.*

To morrow All Saints’ Church will be decorated tor the Festival of Christmas. As this is one of the great feasts of the church there will be three celebrations of the Holy Communion, 7 a.m., 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. At 7 p.m. there will be Festal Evensong and address. The choir will render a Christmas Anthem.

An argument arose the other day as to the shortest time in which a letter could be conveyed from New Zealand to England. According to the official time-table the P. aud O. service occupies 35 days from Wellington to London, the Frisco service 31 days from Wellington to Loudon, the Vancouver service 31 days from Auckland to Loudon.

They have some hard cases up Kltham way, if local reports go for anything. Some contractors' hands went into town the other evening and “celebrated” in royal fashion. They were returning home over the bridge, and noticing some tar-barrels at the KUham County Council’s yard, promptly “ tapped ” one of them. We have heard of dead-beats taking methylated spirits, and even kerosene, but tar is about the limit.

Some boys at a picnic at Maugaweka the other day, says the Settler, put a strap round one of their comrade’s neck. Then they tied him up to a tree and left him. Some time alter the boy was seen by some passers by who went to his rescue, aud found that the buckle of the strap had tightened round his throat aud that the lad was being strangled. Within an hour afterwards the boy was quite himself again. Was ic Deadwood Dick or moving pictures which suggested such a foolish prank ? An Anglican missionary named Broughton, who has been carrying Gospel to the Eskimos iu Baffin’s Eaud, has bad a terrible and adventurous experience. He started to journey south, aud lost his way. For two days he crossed an icefield barefooted, until his extremities became so badly frozen that he ctuld walk no further. Then he crawled in agony on his hands and knees until he struck the little village named Cook station. There the toes on his right foot were amputated, and afterwards he went ou to Sydney, Canada.

The Mataura Ensign states that a novel sight was witnessed at Ora Creek (Edendale) the other day, when thirteen teams turned out to give Mr E. E. Collins (who has recently acquired Mr Sullivan’s farm, and who has been engaged in the dredging industry for the past twelve years) a day’s work. To such purpose did the teamsters work that au eighteenacre paddock was tilled and sown by evening. A large number of visitors, including ladies, visited the field during the afternoon.

Dainties for the summer season, Table jellies 10 for is, Symington’s cream fid, sardines best smoked 4 tins for Is. Thomas Riaimer.*

Mr and Mrs Parkes open their new premises on Saturday with a large variety of ’Xmas novelties, cards and toys. Holly Leaves and Pears Annual novy on sale. Inspection nvited.*

Ask to see thejnew low bust, longskirted models in “Warner’s” Rustproof Corsets. Every pair guaranteed. Local drapers Wanted: 100 new customers to drink Agi-agclfa Tea —the highest grade tea procurable. Call for tree sample. Thomas Rimmer.t Presents 1 Christmas Presents ! You cannot do better send your friends one of Pekreau's A.I. ’Xmas cakes,*

Come»aud see the Christmas tree at S. B. Collins, stationer, etc. All toys and Christmas gifts reduced to-night, * To obtain money to go to a picture palace, a Scarborough boy sold his overcoat and boots, and after the show slept in a churchyard.

Patrons of the Municipal picture show are reminded that the midweek exhibition will be held on Boxing Night (Thursday) instead of Wednesday. Hilda Tyson, 13 years of> age, rescued a girl named D. Oakey from drowning in the Maitai river, Nelson, on Tuesday, by diving in, placing a life-belt round the unconscious girl, and bringing her to the bank. Mr S. Messeua who has been absent in the Auckland district for some mouths tor health reasons, returned to Foxtou on Friday evening. We are pleased to report that he is much improved'in health. Mr James H. Stevens, Inspector of Post Offices, has decided to retire from the service on March 31st, and has been granted three months’ leave as from January 1. Mr Stevens has arranged to take up work of a special nature for a mercantile firm.

On leaving Walhi, Constable Wade was presented with a dressing- case, travelling rug and umbrella by Mr Martin, on behalf of the members of the new union. The function took place at the residence of Mr F. Mac Williams, of the Magistrate’s Court. Whilst engaged in shunting work at the railway station yesterday afternoon, Shunter Slimpsou had the misfortune to get his leg caught between the buffers of two trucks. His leg was slightly crushed, which will incapacitate him for some two or three days. William Beck, a man of 70 years, had the first bath of his life when he was sent to gaol at Kittauing, Pennsylvania. At first sight of the water he struggled till the warders lifted him in, when he found the new sensation so pleasant that he had to be coaxed out of the bath.

There was a good attendance at the Municipal picture show in the Town Hall on Saturday night, and the programme submitted was well up to the usual high standard. During the evening, Mr Thompson, of Messrs Clark aud Thompson, of Palmerston North, gave an exhibition of lightning sketch work, which was much appreciated by the audierce.

The s.s. Gertie sailed for Wellington at 7.30 o’clock last night with a cargo of hemp. The Kennedy, coal laden from Greymouth, entered the river last night, but stuck at Robinson’s bend. She got off this morning aud is now at the wharf. The Awahou aud Queen of the South arrived this morning with general merchandise from Wellington,

What is claimed to be the finest display of jewellery, electroplate, etc., ever seen in Foxton, is now on view at Messrs Colder and Sou’s new premises in Main Street. Everything shown is new, up todate and of the best quality. If you are in doubt as to a suitable present tor your brother, mother, sister, cousin, or someone else’s cousin, visit’Golder’s where, in addition to having one of the largest slocks between Wellington and Palmerston North to select from, the expert advice of the proprietors as to the selection of a gif . is at your disposal. We clip the following from the Feildiug Star : “ The Foxton school garden should go very close to winning the school garden competition. The Chairman of the Education Board, who visited it on Thursday, says that it is a wonderful sight. The ground utilised is over half an acre and it does one’s eyes good to see the phenomenal growth, orderly arrangement, and fruitful experiments iu this area. But Mr Jacksou, the headmaster, is not only facile priuceps in this direction, but his school interior and the educational work is in the first class. The Committee, with Mr J. K. Hornblow as chairman, is naturally one of the best, and the grounds have been completely transformed under their direction. School swimming baths are the objective just now in Foxton.” East Thursday night members of the local school committee waited upon the chairman of the Board and brought under his notice certain alterations to the school building which required attention. Mr Piraui consented to make an inspection of the building and this was done after the concert and well on to midnight. It was pointed out that better ventilation was required iu one of the class rooms and blinds erected for the skylight and that the stones for heating purposes were practically useless. Mr Piraui said the stones should never have been sanctioned in the first place and he had stopped them being placed in other schools. If chimneys were erected it would improve the ventilation. He certainly thought that this matter should be attended to by the Board. The Board's architect could inspect the building and report on same, but perhaps the committee could furnish a report, It was decided to act on the latter suggestion aud the Chalrnjan sa ; d he would interview Mr Fraser on the subject and Mr Speirs would draw up a report. We have been appointed local agent for Star No. I Cocoa, lib tins 2/10, %lb tins 1/6, %lb tins lOd. We can recommend this. Thomas Rammer.*

People with weak digestive organs should not fail to take PERKEAU’S Bermaline Bread.*

The Napier Harbour Board is apparently not a happy family. At a m'eeting on Wednesday, Mr S. Carnell said to the Chairman; “You called me a old liar once. The Chairman : Not at a meeting. Mr Carnell: Well, you came out o£ your chair and called ue that, and then went back to it, and so closed my mouth. The Chairman : What I said was the truth. Mr Carnell ; You are a cowardly blackguard. Mr C. Ellison : We ought not to sit here if such things are said to the chairman, Mr Carnell: I will withdraw that, and will say that the chairman can screw a square peg into a round hole. Ihe Chairman: I respect your age, Mr Carnell, but I really think you would be going in the best interests of the whole community if you saw fit to recognise that the time has arrived when you might reasonably be asked to resign your position. A member: Hear. hear.