LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1490, 28 December 1915, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Government has purchased a block of laud near Oamatu, which it is intended to cut up for closer settlement. ‘

The record price tor potatoes in Queensland, 24s sd, which has stood for 28 years, was exceeded one day last week, when 24s yd per cwt. was realised for one line. A little tot, about four summers Mary Gupwell, created roars of laughter at the Convent school concert last week in the tambourine chorus. She entered into the spirit of the actions with a vim and naturalness that fairly won the audience.

Apparently the “cost qf dying” has increased at a greater rate than the “cost of living.” A return placed before the Wanganui Hospital Board last week showed that the cost of funerals had exactly doubled —a rise of 100 per cent. The increase in the cost of provisions has been 13 per cent., and in meat 11 per cent. It was the intention of the local Borough Council to tar Main Street from the northern end to Cook Street, but after completing a little over half of the work the supply of tar ran out, and operations had to stop. The completion of the job will have to wait until sufficient tar, is on hand at the local gas works. An accident resulting in the death of a well-known farmer in the Taihape district occurred last Wednesday. Mr Jas. Garmonsways, of Rakatipamua, was out riding, accompanied by his son, when his horse fell and threw the rider, with the result that he died very shortly afterwards. The deceased was 48 years of age, and was very highly respected in the district.

A boy about 16 years of age, son of the Rev Mr Kinmont, Presbyterian minister at JJast Taieri, went out on Friday morning rabbit shooting. He did not return for breakfastf and on a search being made the lad was found at the foot of a sandhill half buried by the sand. Apparently he was stooping over a rabbit burrow when the sand fell on him and smothered him. Attempts to restore life failed. A commercial man in Christchurch who is connected with the flour trade states that there is no necessity for wheat to advance in price. The demand for flour, he declares, is normal, and the suggestion that prices are advancing is made by holders of wheat who are anxious to create again a fictitious value for their stocks in order to escape loss. Bernard Hoobin, a junior porter at Collingwood Station, Victoria, was crossing the rails to attend to an oncoming train when he was knocked down by the engine. He fell between the rails, and kep t still until the train was brought to a standstill. Then he crawled out and greeted the horrified spectators with a grin and the exclamation : “Wasn’t I lucky.” The man sustained a few slight braises.

The Christchurch News suggested the following as an addendum to the prayer on Christmas morning for our soldiers and sailors: “And enlighten the Hon. the Minister for Defence and his Chief of Staff that they may see the error of their ways, and learn that the lands that lie south of the Straits of Cook are not necessarily evil lands, whereon the soldiers of Canterbury may not be as safely camped as those that lie around Maymorn, and Tauherenikau, Rangiotu, Awapuni, and Waikanae, or even as the Holy of Holies at Trentham.”

The vagaries of luck are wellknown, but a novel situation has been recently disclosed at Napier. A visitor purchased a ticket for is in a local art union in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, and was in addition in a fair way to making good money in the district vi hen the police took a hand in his proceeding. After being before the Magistrate, the visitor slipped quietly away to foreign lands and left two friends bemoaning the loss of a considerable sum in hard cash. In the meantime the fugitive was the successful ticket holder in the raffle, and a fine piano was his reward—but he ■ is backward in claiming his prize. The piano has been placed in the Soldiers’ Club to be held in trust for the winner, but the odds are distinctly in favour of the piano permanently remaining with the soldiers. SEE CHEAP RATES, FRONT PAGES LAIDLAW LEEDS WHOLESALE CATOLOG. Always at your service! Walker and Furrie, Foxton, are ready to receive ’Xmas grocery orders, which they will carry out promptly and accurately supplying you with highgrade groceries, ’Xmas hams and other specials to your entire satisfaction. Order early! Walker and Furrie, Foxton. Perreau’s 6d cakes are in great demand now eggs and butter are dear

The Girls’ Guild desire to acknowledge the sum of £lO from the Foxton Cordage and Flaxmilling Co., Ltd. The vacancy in the local Post Office staff caused through Mr L. Cupples going into camp, has been filled by Mr Leadbeater, of Hawera.

The price offered for oaten sheaf chaff In Masterton is now £3 15s per ton. Farmers are not eager to sell at this price.

Early on Christmas Eve a collision occurred at the north end of Main Street between' a motor car driven by Mr S. Austin and a spring cart driven by Mr C. Green. The horse in the cart was rather badly cut about the chest, but fortunately there was no more serious results.

The Queen 'of the South, which arrived on Thursday morning, sailed at half-past eleven the same night for Wellington with hemp. There were no arrivals during the holidays. The Queen of the South is loading general at Wellington to-night, and is due here to-morrow afternoon.

A young fellow anxious to enlist had just been examined by the doctor, “ but your teeth are not good enough." “ What!” exclaimed the indignant recruit, “my teeth ain’t good enough, ain’t they ? Well, they’re the same teeth you passed my brother with yesterday." Main Street presented a very busy appearance on Christmas Eve, the number of people about being larger than the previous year, and tradespeople report very good business during the Christmas week, and particularly on Christmas Eve, when the staffs were kept particularly busy. Takeq all through, business this year was better, than. last. Practically the whole of the flaxmills in the district closed down on Friday until Monday, January 3rd. In one or two instances stripping operations will be resumed for one or two days this week in order to deal with the green flax in the yards, as it deteriorates very quickly at this time of the year. Mr W. Petrie, who has held the position of hemp grader locally ever since the port was gazetted a grading centre, some eight years ago, has received notice of his transfer to Wellington and will take up his duties there early in January. He will be succeeded at Foxton by Mr James Stewart, of Wellington. Owing to the very great shortage of men in connection with the cheese making industry, women are being largely employed in the factories in the Manawatu district. The salaries being paid to the women so employed are pratically on a par with those paid to men. —Wanganui Herald. The members of the Foxton Cordage and Flaxmilling Co., Ltd. (Messrs Alex. Ross, Pearson, Stiles and G. Rough;, have handed to the Mayor (Mr Fraser) a cheque , for £4O, to be allocated between the Foxton Ladies’ Guild, Foxton Girls’ Guild, Servian Relief Fund, and the Belgian Relief Fund to the amount of £lO each. The tearooms at the picnic and sports to be held in Victoria Park on New Year’s Day will be conducted under the auspices of the local Ladies Patriotic Guild, and will be under the management of Mesdames F. and J. H. Robinson. The Guild would be pleased to receive gifts of cakes, etc., for same.

Although there was a much larger crowd than usual in the streets on Christmas Kve, everything was very orderly and consequently the police did not have a very strenuous time- At this time of the year some are inclined to over-indulge in something stronger than tea, but on Friday night the police bad no occasion to arrest anyone, and the local court record showed “a clean sheet”-for the holidays. The hemp market is very firm at present and the prices now being offered are the highest that have ruled for some years past. It is understood, however, that very few of tUe millers are able to take advantage of the present prices on account of having sold their output for some time ahead. Present indications point to good prices holding for some considerable time as merchants are willing to buy for delivery as far forward as next December. Tow is also in good demand.

The following is an eesay on “Temperance,” written by a boy in a Taranaki school: —“Temperance means moderation in all things. If the mind dwells unduly on any one subject, it is apt to become somewhat bigoted in its views. Therefore, be temperate in all things even to the too frequent request of writing a composition on another man’s opinion. This is the fourth time I have been commanded to write on this subject and it appears to me that if temperance was practised as much as it is preached I might have escaped the essay this time.” SEE CHEAP RATES, FRONT PAGES LAIDLAW LEEDS WHOLESALE CATOLOG. ’Xmas gift seekers will find hosts of suggestions both useful and practical at Walker and Fume’s Foxton. A visit now will be time well spent for early selection is a wise course —it means satisfaction to all! We offer special holiday value to all purchasers. See the large assortment of Chocolates and Fancy Sweets at J.JM. Kelly’s.* BUY WHOLESALE FROM LAIDLAW LEEDS’ CATOLOG. IT’S FREE.

A lost feather boa is advertised for.

A public meeting will be held in the office of the Foxton Racing Club on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock, to receive the annual report and balance-sheet of the trustees of the Foxton Racecourse.

The local borough baud raised a fairly good sum last week by playing in various parts of the borough in the evenings. On Christmas Eve several selections were played in Main Street, and were much' appreciated by the public.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather conditions yesterday morning, a very fair crowd of visitors from Palmerston North arrived by the morning train to spend the day at the seaside. The weather cleared about midday, and in the afternoon there was a large crowd on the beach. That there is no shortage of money among the sporting fraternity is shown by the amount bandied at the totalisators yesterday. At eight meetings no less than ,£174,240 was put through the “tote." In addition to these eight meetings there were several smaller ones held, so that £200,000 would not be overestimating the amount handled during the day. The Palmerston Friendly Societies are again holding their annual picnic and sports in Victoria Park on New Year’s Day. A good programme of events has been arranged, and there will also be a grand distribution of toys to the children. A feature ot the function will be the baby show, for which a special prize has been donated. The proceeds are to be devoted to the Wounded Soldiers Fund.

There was a fairly good attendance at the concert given in the Town Hall on Thursday evening, by the pupils of St. Mary’s Convent. The whole programme was undertaken by the pupils who acquitted themselves well, and gave evidence of careful training. The different items were well received by the audience, and the function was a pronounced success.

An Eltham farmer (reports the Argus) says he is having an awful time in making up his income tax returns. According to his reading of the forms they are not completely filled up unless they give a true record ot all the sheep that he killed during the year for home consumption, also all the vegetables that be used out of bis own garden. He has failed to keep a record of the carrots, and potatoes that he used, and is afraid that his return may be returned to him as incorrect.

Practical gifts for ’Xmas are becoming more and more the vogue 1 Why not give something for the home ? Something “the wife” would appreciate ? You will find •in our stock an assortment of useful gifts which will at once meet with entire approval. Call and see what we have to offer you. Walker and Furrie, Foxton. Why give your children cold unches when 'they can get a hot steak and kidney pie at Perreau’s for threepence. SEE CHEAP RATES, FRONT PAGES LAIDLAW LEEDS WHOLESALE CATOLOG.