LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1369, 4 March 1915, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A children’s ball is to be held at a future date under the auspices of All Saints’ Ladies Guild. Copious and much-needed rain commenced to fall throughout this district early this morning. Between and £ 15 vvas taken at the benefit picture entertainment held in the Royal last night, fn aid of the Women’s Sewing Guild fund. The takings represented by the sale of tickets was At Tuesday night’s Borough Council meeting, a letter was read from Mr Morris, of Blenheim, inquiring if the Council had any second-hand skates for sale. The Mayor pointed out that the skates used in connection with the Municipal rink had not been disposed of. The Town Clerk was authorised to sell them to the best possible advantage,

As an indication of the drought the Manavvatu river is lower than for very many year past. The Inspector of Nuisances reported at Tuesday night’s council meeting that the town and borough is at present in a clean condition.

Accounts amounting to .£294 12s 4-H were pa°=ed for payment at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Borough Council. During the month of February nine head of cattle were Impounded by the borough ranger, the driving fees amounting to nine shillings.

There were present at Tuesday night’s meeting of the borough council : The Mayor (Mr G. H. Stiles) and Crs. Whibley, Read, Speirs, Henderson, Kempster, Coley, Freeman and Barber. The loose stones on the thoroughfares, brought to the surface through the continuous dryweather, is responsible for a number of motor car mishaps and vehicular break- downs.

The death is announced by cable from London of Frank T. Bulled, the famous writer 0! sea stories, among the most notable of which were “With Christ at Sea,’’ “The Cruise of the Cachelot,” and “The Log of a Sea Waif,” Hon. James Allen, Minister for Defence, in an interview, said a war tax was inevitable. The country could not get on without it and he believed the people were prepared to bear it. The customs revenue fell off by ,£IOO,OOO in January and we must expect a falling off In the railway revenue. Mr Asquith announced in the Commons that the Government proposed to prevent all commodities reaching or leaving Germany. The allies now considered themselves entitled to resort to any form of economic pressure. Regarding the Dardanelles, Mr As quith said there had been no denudation of forces elsewhere and no weakening of the Grand Fleet. The Town Clerk’s salary is £255 per annum, and in the past ,£35 of this amount has been allocated to the Municipal Pictures account. As the hall has now been leased a fresh allocation of the salary was necessary, and it was decided at Tuesday night’s meeting that as from April Ist next, the various accounts be debited as follows in connection with the salary of the Town Clerk: General ,£l3O, gas works ,£45, sanitation reserves ,£ls. cemetery j£is, library and town hall ,£lO.

Any reader who wishes to secure an illustrated prospectus of “The Times History of the War,’’ explaining how the volumes may be secured on an extended subscription plan, may do so without cost or obligation A letter, slating, “Send Times Prospectus free,” sent to T- Shaw Fitcbett, 376 a Swanston Street, Melbourne, will bring a copy of the prospectus by return post.

The Defence and police authorities are stirring up young fellows under 25 years of age who have dodged their responsibilities under the Defence Act, and a list of defaulters is now being investigated. Penalties are being enforced throughout the Dominion for non-registration and ignorance of the law will not mitigate the penalties. Discipline is to be more strictly enforced at courses of instruction.

A special meeting of the local Borough Council is to be held on Thursday, March nth, at 7.30 p.m. to adopt the district electors’ list for 1915, to meet Mr Blackman and consider the tenders for the gas works additions, notice of motion by Cr. Speirs, “that the motion passed on the Bth day of June, 1914, referring to the employment of labour by the. gas manager be rescinded,” and notice of motion by Cr Henderson, “that the following resolution passed on January 26th, 1915, ‘that the Town Clerk be empowered to lease the cemetery reserve for seven years at £8 per annum and rates,’ be rescinded,” and general-

It is not often one meets a tradesman who is sufficiently generous to admit that his advertising pays. The late Mr Peach was, however, one who was never ashamed to admit the advantage of advertising and the business often directly connectable with a particular advertisement. To-day we came across an Inglewood business man who opened his remarks by telling us to “take out his ad.,” adding, however, “Put what you like into my space till I give you something else, and if you do as v;ell for me as you did with the last change, I shall be satisfied. That advertisement brought me business that netted don’t duplicate our last work. — Inglewood Record.

“Most bad debts,” said the head of a furnishing business to a Wanganui Herald reporter, “are traceable to a certain class, who pay cash for a time, and then, when they have got your confidence, gradually get on your books. Many people come to me in distress, and I feel that I cannot refuse such cases. Some are perfectly genuine, but there are others who merely use their distress as a lever, Magistrates don’t always realise this. There is one man who has owed me and others money for a long time, and spins such a pitiful tale to the Court when he is sued that the S.M. says it is no use making an order. Yet, to my knowledge, that man has spent perhaps on ‘booze’ since he got on to my books. I must say that most people are honest, but there are some who will buy, but won’t pay. When we know them we always refuse credit. But you must trust people to a certain extent, or you will lose business, and naturally you ‘fall in’ sometimes.”

The Foxton Ladies Sewing Guild have decided to abandon the suggestion of a children’s ball. The Queen of the South with general from Wellington arrived at it o’clock this morning. The Awahou also with general from Wellington is due to-morrow. The Mayor intends to convene a further public meeting next week, to consider what steps shall be taken assist the Belgian Fund. In connection with the Trades Union picnic to be held at Ashhurst on Saturday, it is notified by advertisement in this issue that the train leaves Foxton at 8.55 a.m. not 9 a.m. as stated on the posters. The whole of the rates struck by the local Borough Council lor the year ending March 31st 1915, have been collected, and at Tuesday night’s Council meeting the Mayor complimented the Town Clerk on again presenting a clean sheet. A lecture, on the work of the Melanesian Mission, illustrated by lantern views, will be given in All Saints’ schoolroom to morrow night at 8 o'clock. The lecturer is the Rev. A. Nield, organising secretary of the mission in New Zealand. There will be no charge for admission, but a collection will be taken up. The lecture should be very interesting, and a hearty welcome will be given to all.