LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1056, 28 January 1913, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr aud Mrs Greig aud their sou, Mr li. Greig, leave Foxtou this week for England.

At a wild beast show in Dunkirk, on the French coast, a spectator attempted to caress a lion through the bars of a cage, aud bad bis hand bitten off.

The half-yearly meeting of the Flaxworkers’ Union, held in Palmerston on Saturday, passed a resolution deciding to help the slaughtermen it occasion should arise.

On Saturday last Mr G. S. Baker, of Thackery St., Hamilton, celebrated his 97th birthday. The old gentleman, who is bale and hearty, shows every indication of seeing a century. He arrived iu the Dominion 51 years ago. Fuller’s symphony orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr Woolhouse, played a programme of music at the seaside on Sunday afternoon, which was much appreciated. A collection was taken up in aid of the district hospital, which realised the sum of ,£3.

A fire occurred in Mr Skeates motor garage, Palmerston North, at an early hour yesterday morning. The brigade confined the fire to one building. A number of cars were in the building aud were more or less damaged. The origin of the fire is a mystery. James Edmondson Johnson, aged 37, a sheep buyer living at Governor’s Bay, Christchurch, committed suicide on Sunday by shooting himself with a shot gun. At the inquest a verdict was returned that deceased was of unsound mind.

A fire at Opotiki on Sunday destroyed a block of buildings in Church street owned by J. C. Arthur, and occupied by Thorbury, restaurant and confectioner, and E. Parkinson, jeweller. Insurance : Building in the National ; Thorbury’s stock (a total loss), £l5O in the Liverpool, Loudon and Globe. Most of Parkinson’s stock was saved.

Prank Powell, Leslie Parker, Robert Rapsou (all of Seftou), and Frederick Challis (Christchurch), were drowned while trawling at Saltwater Creek on Sunday. Powell was middle-aged, and leaves a wife and eight children, while Challis leaves a wife and child four months old. All the bodies, except that of Challis, were found yesterday, Brisk demand for Hoyle’s Print s (fast dye), Roslyn Summer-weight Underwear, and Warner’s famous Rust-proof Corsets. Wanted: 100 new customers to drink Agragella Tea—the highest grade tea procurable. Call for free sample. Thomas Rimmer.* Ask to see the new low bust, longskirted models in “Warner’s” Rustproof Corsets. Every pair guar* anteed. Local drapers.

William Berry, of Alabama, has just secured the arrest of Freeman Dong, a uegro, who murdered his father 40 years ago. Berry was only nine years old when he vowed he would hunt down the murderer, who broke out of gaol while on trial for *he crime.

In the race for the sculling championship of Australia on Saturday, Felton beat Charlie Towns by five lengths. Towns was leading at the first mile, Felton thence steadily gained, and finally went right away, though he was all out at the finish.

A youth, whose home is at Waiitl, had a curious experience at an early hour the other morning. He was riding quietly to work when what he describes as a whirlwind came along, lifted him off his bicycle three or four feet in the air, and landed him on his back—very much surprised, but luckily unhurt. “In New Zealand I have been struck by the contrast that while Sydney concentrates in a ten-mile radius a population of 600,000, you in the Dominion have several large cities, which decentralise trade and give you a permanence and diversity of opinion and influence that we have not in New -South Wales,” said Mr Speaker Willis to a Christchurch interviewer. “Decentralisation is the problem we have to face in New South Wales. The city dominates the State, and the newspapers are enabled virtually to govern the policy of the country.”

An incident in which one of the most prominent figures was Kameda, the Japanese wrestler, occurred iu the Avenue, Wanganui, the other night. Some larrikins were troubling a young man and a lady going up’ the street. Wheu passing the Newmarket Hotel the young man stepped in to see it he could get any assistance. Kameda was staying at the hotel and went out to see what the trouble was about. One of the hoodlums thought the little Jap was fair game and made for him. The ju-jitsu expert met his adversary in a quicker and more unexpected manner than was anticipated, with the result that there was a thud and a clatter on the pavement and a scamper of hurrying feet.—Chronicle.

The striking of an eightpenuy piece—as suggested by a business man in the Daily Mail —is welcomed everywhere by large employers of labour as the solution of the difficulty experienced in paying wages since the introduction of the English Insurance Act. Formerly a man receiving 30s a week was given a sovereign and a half-sovereign; now he is paid 29s Bd. The great increase in the demand for copper has caused almost a famine. An official of the mint suggested the issue of a coin with a lower percentage of silver than the ordinary silver coin. Thus they could obtain a piece of money not 100 closely resembling either the shilling or the sixpence. Authority for the issue of such a coin could easily be obtained by an Order-iu-Couucil.

That diminutive branch of oratory and whiskers, Professor Mills, has relinquished the labour of the paste pot and shears on Wellington Times, where he ran the Labour page, and is going to confine himself to rounding up supporters of the United Labour Party, The change on the Times was inevitable, for the scissored page run by the professor was no use either to the paper or the Party. The organising ability of the woolly professor would find a good field in establishing one good Labour daily in New Zealand — the wonder is that the conflicting unions haven’t had the sense to see the advantage, but the professor would not be editor.—Observer.

Some people are never satisfied. A passenger on the Foxton-Pal-merston train the other morning complained to a fellow passenger of the snail pace at which the train was moving along. He grunted, “This is a great train,” “Yes,” said a fellow passenger, “they say it’s the express.” “Umph! it gives a lellow time to express hi? feelings, anyhow,” was the reply, “My wurra,” chipped in Hone, “ ’tis the werra fas’ train ; he peat my ole gray mare wit te missus and five kid and myself in te trap from te racecourse corner to Motuitijus’ ty te head. My wurra, tat te great race. But I werra sorry te Guvment and Jimmy Crowe te guard. He te werra hard people. He make te ole woman pay for te papy. I got te one werra fat papy, jus’ ’pout two years old, and te missus he travel in tis train to Rangicaue. Jimmy say to te missus: ‘How bid te papy, old woman ?’ Te old woman she say : ‘How old you tink,?’ Jimmy say, ‘I tink over three years.’ The ole woman larp. My kid jus’ apout twice as big te pakeha papy te same age. Werra, Jimmy say, T werra sorry, but you mus’ pay for te papy; te Guvmeut send mete plue paper look out for all te papy ower tree years and make te mutter pay.’ Well, my missus werra angry, and say te pad wurrd in Maori apout the Guvment and Jimmy. But Jimmy no understand. He only tink te papy over tree years, and make a write te ticket. Te train alright, but te Guvment too greedy. Te pakeha he don’t want te papy, that te way he charge for te fat papy. Te Guvment too much humbug.” And Hone left the carriage with an injured look on his face.

When a wee tot invites you to look at her new dress it is evident that she is proud of her appearance. Mothers will find an interesting replace announcement bv Mr G. H Stiles in this jssije, dealing with children’s clothing,*

The local State school re-opens on Monday next, February 3rd. An interesting article entitled, “Too Much Mystery About Cancer,” will be found on our fourth page to-day.

There was a good downpour of rain on Sunday evening which was much appreciated by householders and farmers.

A youug man named W. G. Brown, 23 years of age, son of Captain Brown, of Christchurch, and employed by Messrs Dalgrty and Co., lost his life by drowning at Wanganui on Sunday.

Mr W. Webb has made two skiffs for local oarsmen, Messrs McKeguey and H. Hamer. They are beautifully finished boats. McKegney is becoming very proficient and intends to enter the sculling world at the Wanganui regatta.

Messrs McMahon and Gibson, the chief and second of the stipendiary stewards appointed for New Zealand, will definitely take up their residence at Palmerston. The third steward will reside at Christchurch.

“I do not understand why women will persist in coming into these courts and chattering,” said Mr Dove, S.M., indignantly, at the Glebe Police Court, Sydney, last week. “Do stop those people talking ! Do anything with them —put them into the street. Why don’t they stay home and cook, their husbands’ dinner?”

lu our last issue we mentioned that one of the pleasures within the reach of local residents was an up-river trip in Messrs Levin and Co’s, boats. This firm does not cater for passenger traffic but Mr Daniell’s comfortable and reliable launch Tauiora is at the disposal of up-river excursionists.

By an irony ot fate, several West Coast delegates to the Federation of Labour Conference (now silting in Wellington) could not be present owing to the steamer Mapourika being held up by the refusal of the firemen to work her. That is turning the joke on the jokers with a vengeance ! In the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Friday an unusual case was heard, James Cole proceeded against his wife on an information charging her with failing to maintain him. It was elicited during the evidence that the wife had got a separation from complainant on - the ground of cruelty. The Magistrate dismissed the information. A conference of the West Coast Maoris is to take place at Waitara on Friday, the 31st instant, when the Hon. Dr. Pomare will be present. The Maoris are anxious to secure some of the West Coast leases that are falling in, and this and the question of obtaining the necessary finance to work the farms will form the chief subjects for discussion.

The manager of the Town Hall is to be commended for his action on Saturday night during the pic* ture entertainment, in ejecting two lads for whistling. Cat calls, screeching and whistling are not very pleasant sounds to the ear in a confined space—particularly objectionable to ladies—and it such behaviour is not put down with a firm hand, patrons of the picture entertainments would be given a bad time. With one or two ex* ceptions the conduct of the lads attending the pictures has been exemplary.

The following primary schools in the Wanganui Education district produced scholarship winners at the recent examinations j Terrace End (2), Eltham, Marton (one senior and one junior), Taihape, Raetihi, Queen’s Park (2), Wanganui East, College Street, and Wanganui. Six of the successful candidates are the children of school teachers, and Mr Espiner. of Buuuythorpe, has carried off both junior and seniorscholarships, his daughter having won a junior scholarship, tenable for three years, a year ago. Palmerston High School won three senior and three junior scholar* ships, and Wanganui Girls’ College three senior.

Mr J. G. Wilson, Chairman of the Manawatu County Council, in concluding an address before the Sandou Old Boys’ Association upon the Origin of Manawatu, dropped in a timely word in admonishing our young farmers for their slack public spirit. The veteran farmer said he felt proud of the young farmers of this district for some of the work they had done for themselves on their own land—but they could still do more work and get better results, instancing the growing of grass seed, the developing of the dairy industry, and the adoption of the system of the rotation of crops. There was not enough foresight in the matter of winter feed. Then, again, he would like .to see the younger generation taking more interest in affairs, as the future depended on them. Their first duty was, of course, to their families, then to the State. He was sorry, also, that they did not take more interest in Union matters. It was their duty to take part in public affairs. They had not assisted, for instance, as they should have done in endeavouring to get the freehold.

They should work as their.parents had done, and remember that it was their highest duty to work for each other.

C. M. Ross and Co., The Boa Marche, Palmerston North, announce at their End of Season Sale now on, 500 ladies’ costumes from 2s 6d, particulars of which will be found in their advertisement.* Dainties tor the summer season Table jellies 10 for is, Symington's cream 6d, sardines best, smoked 4 tins for fs, Thomas Rimmer.*

A violent storm broke over this district yesterday afternoon- Rain fell throughout the night accompanied by a strong gale. . Sergt.-Major Angus McKay, 85 years of age, Crimean and Maori War veteran, several times mentioned in despatches, died at Dunedin yesterday. He was seventeen years drill instructor in • Dunedin. He mounted all the big guns in and around the district. Nothing can efface the memory of the fact that the Federation throughout the latter stages of the Waihi trouble, pursued a cruel and lawless policy, and nothing can alter the fact that the vast majority of the nation wi 1 refuse its sympathy to any political or industrial organisation, programme or policy with which the Federation has any substantial connection.—Wellington Dominion. Smiles from a pretty girl, a five and twenty break at billiards, ten cigarettes while watching a lootball match, are so attractive to a certain class of modern young men that the fact that the country is in no great danger fails to interest them. When the girls of the British Empire do their duty, smiles and kisses will be reserved for the men who do theirs. Perhaps the girls will make a note. —Arnold White.

Wanted—The people pf Foxton and the surrounding districts to know that A. de Luen, tailor, of Palmerston North, will call on anyone with samples upon the receipt of a postcard. Costumes from £4 4s, Suits from £4 10s.*