LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1079, 25 March 1913, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A young man by the name of James Pointen was convicted and fined ,£3O and costs at the Magistrate’s Court at Waihi last week, for making a bet on the Te Aroha racecourse.

The Auckland City Council has in preparation a by-law to forbid women to wear hatpins with unprotected points (says the New Zealand Herald). The by-law is based on that in force in Sydney. An effort will be made to send the first vessel through the Panama Canal on September 29th, 1913, on the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Pacific by Balboa.

Reports have been in circulation in Wellington and Auckland during the last day or two that heavy increases in both passenger and freight rates were to be made by the various shipping companies in the near future.

A strong commentary upon our boasted patriotism is that the imports of German goods have increased by fully 30 per cent, since 1904, the year in which we placed a surtax upon foreign goods. It is time that the people of this Dominion gave this matter serious thought. Are we doing justice by ourselves and the Empire in trading largely with foreign countries? —Wairarapa Age. Mr Massey will do well to give more attention to land problems. He has done what his predecessor did—bitten off more than he can chew. The portfolio of lands was important enough to occupy the whole time of a giant like John McKenzie. Nowadays it is relegated to a secondary place. No one more strongly condemned that state of things, than did our Premier in opposition.—Alexandra Herald. Smoked trout from Rotorua and Lake Taupo are being retailed in Auckland just now at ninepence per pound. The trout are mostly small, many not weighing quite a pound, but they are reported to be splendidly cured. This latter operation is carried out by the Tourist Department at Rotorua. One merchant stated (says the Herald) that he could easily dispose of ten times the quantity be was receiving, as there was a big demand for fish from the hotels, the dish being particularly desired by travellers. . That the Maori tribunal can be more severe upon delinquents than the Magistrate’s Court was evidenced in regard to certain cases heard at Kaiapoi (says the Press). For having taken liquor into the village of Tauhiwi, contrary to the by-laws of the Maahanui Maori Council, fines of and two of £5 each, were imposed on the offenders. Beyond this the parties were made the subjects of prohibition orders before European justices.

Wanted—The people of 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.

Foxton was well represented at the Feilding races yesterday, a very large crowd going by the morning train, and a number also travelled by motor. A short but rather severe earthquake shock was felt locally at 5.40 oclock on Sunday evening. It was preceded by a load rumbling.

Seven new members were elected at the official opening in connection with the local Gun Club on Friday, the total membership now being 32. The next ordinary meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board will be held at Council Chambers on Thursday, 27th inst., at 7.45 p.m. Business : General.

The poll of the ratepayers taken at Palmerston North on Thursday on the proposal to institute an an electric tram service resulted in the proposition being defeated by a majority of 103, the voting being: Against trams 654, for 55i.

All the Easter services at All Saints’ Church were well attended and at the evening service on Sunday the accommodation was taxed to its utmost, extra seating having to be provided. The vicar’s text was St. John 1224. An anthem was sung by the choir. The church was nicely decorated.

Mr Carmichael, New South Wales Minister of Labour, recently stated that he or his deputy, namely the Industrial Commissioner, had intervened in 70 incipient strikes, preventing 44 and adjusting 23, without material loss. Among the threatened disputes settled were those between the Transport Unions and Steamships Owners’ Association, butchers’ troubles, and several colliery troubles. The Berlin newspapers state that Russia and England have concluded a secret treaty, Russia acknowledging England’s predominancy in Tibet, and England reciprocating with regard to Mongolia. Chinese troops have been reinforced on the Mongolian frontier, and a great quantity of stores have been assembled. Mongolio is also taking precutio uaary measures.

A very quiet wedding was celebrated at All Saints Church at 8 o’clock yesterday morning by the Rev. G. Y. Woodward, the contracting parties being Miss Lucy Caroline Thomas and Mr Rupert G. W. Ashmore. Mr Edwards officiated as best man and Mr Thomas (brother of the bride) as groomsman. The honeymoon is being spent at Dannevirke and Mr and Mrs Ashmore will afterwards take up their residence in Foxton.

Travelling between Dunedin and Invercargill a commercial traveller and a Salvation lassie happened to be in the same carriage. In the course of conversation he said to her: “But do you really believe that the whale swallowed Jonah?” “Oh, I am not quite sure,” said she. “but when I meet him in heaven I’ll ask him.” “ But if he’s not there, what then?” “ Oh, then you can ask him.”

Mr aud Mrs Jaggcr, of Marotiri, entertained a number of friends on Thursday evening prior to Mr Jagger’s departure for England. Music, games aud competitions were indulged in and a most enjoyable time was spent. After doing justice to a knife and fork supper, the toasts of the “host and hostess” were proposed by Mr Carter and Mr Claris respectively and duly honoured. Mr Jagger sails from Wellington on Friday next.

Now that we know how comparatively small are the bituminous coal areas oi New Zealand, the Government should set themselves the task of inquiring more fully into the extent of the possible coal supplies, and failing coal, see what other motive forces are available, and on which the country may rely should the need arise. Our waterfalls and our oil beds may yet prove an excellent substitute for any deficiencies in our coal supplies, and these must be tested by the Government. Hawke’s Bay Herald. “You might have a white Australia,” remarked the Rev C. P. Cape, a visiting missionary trom India, at the Methodist Foreign Mission meeting at Sydney, somewhat doubtfully, “but you will never have a white Empire. The day may come —I hope it will not —when you will want help from the Motherland, You may want that help quickly, and it will come more quickly from India than from England. We have in India some of the best fighting races the world has ever seen, and when we send them I hope you will let them in.”

The Auckland Star says : “We have it from authentic sources that Sir Joseph Ward had been offered no less than three seats during his stay in Great Britaintwo in the Imperial Parliament and one in the new Irish Parliament. Although such inducements to enter wider fields of Imperial politics must be very alluring to a man of Sir Joseph’s ability and outlook it seems clear from what can be learnt of his intention that he has no idea of deserting New Zealand by remaining at Home, for he has . definitely expressed his resolve to return to the Dominion.”

Messrs Ross and Co., of the Bon Marche, Palmerston N., announce the opening up of new Autumn and Winter Goods in all departments, embracing the latest Decrees of Fashion in Dress Goods and Millinery.* Try Perreau’s steak and kidney pies, baked in dishes. They are delicious. . Fresh daily.*

—» A man named Gifford committed suicide by shooting himself at ■i'.'j Dunedin yesterday morning. A mill hand, named Harry Bridge, was found d rowned at Rangiriri, Auckland, yesterday. It is snpoosed that he fell from the wharf. Members of the Try Again Lodge, 1.0.G.T-, are notified by advertisement that the next meet*, X ing will be held on Thursday evening, at 7.30 o’clock. v

A middle-aged man named* John Cunningham boarded the : J express at Hamilton for Owhaugo and fell asleep. When the guard went to examine his ticket he--|| found him dead. .'til

A boy of ten, Cecil Fifield, met -1 with a peculiar accident yesterday '- : j which ended fatally. He was running down a hillside . near -Vi Woodbury, and, unable to stop, fell against a .rock. He fractured. his skull and died in the GeraTdine Hospital. ' \ : ‘ At Woodville yes’tetday; Charles King, son of Mr and Mrs v] A. King, of Foxton, was married to Miss Pike, until recently in charge of the local branch W the Salvation Army. A full report will appear in next issue. I s The Hon. W. F. Massey, "4 Prime Minister, stated at Dunedin that Parliament would not meet * earlier than usual this year, ‘ owing to the tact that the Hon. J. \ Allen, Minister for Finance,' would not return to the Dominion .1 until early in June. At the Palmerston Bowling Club’s tournament held on Friday and Saturday, the Foxton Club was represented by Green, Woods, $ Cleraett and Rimmer on' the first ■ day, and by Whibley, Green, .fi Clemett and Rimmer on the second day. On Friday Foxton got ’ one win and three deteats, and on • Saturday played two games and were defeated in each. The Hon. F. M. B, Fisher shortly proceeds to Australia., Amongst other business that he ' has to attend to will be the matter / of endeavouring to bring about V reciprocal trade relations between - ■ the Commonwealth and the Do- v ; minion. We hope that he will be successful. Sir Joseph Ward and .• : Mr Seddon both laboured in the 1 same direction, bit without arijr ’■ practical results. Perhaps the* time is ripe now for practical business. The body of a young man, supposed to be George Maddox, ■, was found lying dead on a vacant section at Auckland yesterday. ; There was a bullet wound in the - t man’s forehead, aud a revolver at his side pointed to his having committed suicide. In deceased’s pocket was found a letter, presumably addressed to his mother. The writer stated he had had a lot of trouble aud that he had devised a plan to end it. The letter pathetically ended : “If my plan fails I would like to see home ■' again ; it’s a true saying, ’ there’s - no place like home.’” Says the Post: “Not long ago we quoted an article from the 1 Maugaweka Settler, in which it was stated that Mr Massey's Act : had already given an impetus to reaggregation in the Mangaweka . country, aud that ‘all through this district there are agents out, their pockets lined with gold, in order to tempt the small farmer to take advantage of the Reform Government’s legislation to convert his leasehold into a freehold and hancf it over to the man possessed of capital.’ This statement is to-day challenged by the Prime Minister. But whether or not the Settler proves its special case against Mr Massey’s Land Act, the indictment of the land laws in general as having failed to break up land monopoly, and as having even failed to prevent new monopolies based on reaggregated small sections, is complete and convincing.” Referring to the shortage of dometic servants, the Feilding Star says : —We know of a case of the wife of a farmer in the Feilding district who found it so difficult to get help that she made a special trip to Auckland, where she met an incoming Home boat, and gaged two of the girls. But when 7 " they entered a hotel in Quetfh Street for refreshments, and ' bought a pint of ale each—instead of going next door for a cup of tea, as their mistress expected—and leaned over the bar talking to its habituates as if that was the habit of their lives, the Feilding

lady fled, glad to have had such an eye-opener so early in the engagement. It is evident that

stricter supervision of women immigrants is necessary at the other

end of the world.

The most attractive shop tor toys of every description is Mrs Hamer s, Have you seen the window dis play ?*