LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1495, 11 January 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Accounts amounting to 15s lid were passed for payment at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. Among the visitors to Foxton are Mr Temple White, the wellknown musician and conductor and Mr D, M. O’Connor, ofGxeytown.

Mr T. Bredin, a well-known Marton and Taranaki settler,'has been spending a few days with his cousin, the Rev. J. H, Bredin of Foxton. In connection with the farewell social to be tendered to Mr and Mrs Boyes in the Masonic Hall this evening, the lady tnends of the departing gues.s are invited to assist by contributing refreshments.

The Allies’ warships have been bombarding the Narrows, and a British submarine has entered the Golden Horn and considerably damaged the arsenals. The opening series of “The Million Dollar Mystery” will be screened at Fuller’s to-morrow night. The picture is undoubtedly the finest serial yet produced and should draw a bumper house. There were present at last night’s Borough Council meeting : The Mayor (Mr A. Fraser), and Crs Coley, Freeman, Thompson, Bryant, Simmons, Stevenson, Whibley, Henderson and McColl. Sir Leo Chiozza Money reviews the British export trade, pointing out that despite the withdrawal of a million and a half men fromtrade and industry, the exports lor the period December, 1914, to, December, 1915, bad risen 30 per cent.

An exchange reports that some tall yarns have been published in a number of N.Z. papers from men at the front recounting deeds of daring do. Truth to tell a number of the writers have not been near the firing line—in fact have been well out of it. Some of the letters which have appeared in print have gone back to the men at the front and the writers are getting a warm time. Mr Smith, on behalf of the Foxton Girls’ Guild, has completed arrangements with those responsible at the military camp at Rangiotu, to give a grand military concert in the Town Hall on the 20th inst. The whole programme will be provided by the soldiers and their band and the proceeds are in aid of Wounded Soldiers Fund. At a meeting of the guild last night Mr Smith conferred with members in respect to details, particulars of which will appear in our next issue. At last night’s Borough Council meeting a letter was read from the Chairman of the Manawatu (Foxton) Racecourse Trustees, calling on the Council to remove the road on the south and east of the racecourse that encroaches on that property. As.it was not clear what road was meant, it was decided on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Coley, that the Chairman of the Manawatu (Foxton) Racecourse Trustees be requested to furnish a plan showing where any borough road encroaches on the property of the Trustees.

“One of the most enjoyable outings I have yet had,” was the Mayor’s (Mr Alf Fraser) remark in respect to his recent fortnight’s cruising in the Sounds. Mr Fraser was accompanied by three kindred spirits from Palmerston in the persons of Messrs G. H. Bennett, J. P. Innes and T. R. Hodder. From Picton the party chartered a launch and pilotskipper, and cruised about the Sounds, exploring the sites and fishing. Sea fishing provided sport and fish in variety. On the the Government reserves, Mr Fraser said, cherries were to be had in abundance. The bird nuisance was practically unknown thereabouts. The motor launch to the settlers in the Sounds was what the horse and cart is to the inland settlers. In a run through to Blenheim Mr Fraser was struck with the fertile flats: cropping was in full swing with reapers and binders everywhere. There did not appear to be any scarcity of labour in this connection. The Marlborough Express says that an incident which occurred locally the other day shows that it Is unsafe for a man to insult the British flag even in the presence of his hired servant. A party of harvesters employed by a farmer of German blood and German sympathies, which he had never troubled very much to disguise, was engaged in carting in and stacking a crop. One of the drivers took it into his loyal head to decorate his dray with some small Union Jacks, and when he drove up for his next load he looked down at his employer as from the superior height of a patriot who had, so to speak, well and truly nailed his colours to the mast. “What’s this?” exclaimed the farmer, angrily. “Oh, to h— — with the British flag ; pull those things down.” That was enough to rouse the British Hon. Jumping down from the dray, the harvester made the farmer pay dearly for the insult, punishing him severely, and dealing with him so energetically, it is said, that, but tor the interference of the other men in the field, the results would have been serious. Needless to say, “those things” were not pulled down — not while the driver of the dray remained on the scene, at all events.

We acknowledge wall calendar from the local manager, of the New Zealand Shipping Co. Ltd. The Girl’s Guild will meet in the Council Chambers this evening at 7 o'clock.

The battleship, King Edward VII., struck a mine and had to be abandoned. There was no loss of life.

Gallipoli has been entirely evacuated. The withdrawal from Cape Helles was entirely successful.

The following local recruits left by this morning’s train for Trenthan to join the 12th Reinforcements: Messrs G. V. Fraser, John O’Reilly, J. Morgan and J. Healey. An American journalist makes a striking attack on American policy. He says tnat American prestige has sunk to the lowest depths, due to the failure to give expression to an outraged conscience in the face of frightful crimes. Salonika expects an early attack by the Bulgars and Germans; battles are estimated to begin in ten or fourteen days. The entry of the Bulgars into Greek territory has excited the Greek army, and Athens fears that outrages by the Bulgarians will compel Greece to enter the war. King Constantine is uneasy at the outlook.

A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last night prior to the ordinary meeting, for the purpose of fixing the statutory half holiday for the current year. It was decided, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Freeman, that the weekly half holiday in the borough of Foxton be observed on Wednesdays.

A special general meeting of members of the local bowling club will be held in the Coronation Hall supperroom this evening at 8 o’clock, for the purpose of electing a president in place of Mr W. Petrie, who is resigning on account of being transferred to Wellington. A full attendance of members is requested.

Visitors to the Town Hall last night were accorded a huge treat both in the excellent programme submitted and the musical accompaniments which won great favour with all present. There is no doubt that in Miss White, Fuller’s Ltd., have an exceptionally clever musician and it is to be hoped that satisfactory arrangements can be made whereby the services of this talented performer can be retained definitely.