LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1498, 18 January 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sharks are reported to be very numerous In the vicinity of Kapiti this summer. Mr J. I. Fox, who resided in Foxton many years ago, is among the returned wounded who will arrive by the Rotorua early next month. Private Joseph Franklin is also on the same vessel. A large stingray was hauled a distance inshore by a drag net at the river foreshore at the seaside recently. It managed to break its way through the net before being hauled on terra firma. Owing to the military concert on Thursday at the Town Hall, the second episode of the serial picture, "The Million Dollar Mystery,” will be shown for one night only. Holiday excursion tickets in connection with Anniversary Day, and train arrangements for the Foxton Races, are advertised to-day.

The Education Board has accepted the resignation of Miss Cum bet worth, assistant teacher at the local State school, and has appointed Miss Lund (for infant work) to the local staff.

The local business people will observe the usual Wednesday half holiday this week and will also close from n a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, re-opening at 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Next week the shops will close on Monday from n a.m. and will remain open all day Wednesday,

One of the most charming spots to spend a brief holiday Is Kapiti Island. The run across from the mainland at Waikanae by motor launch takes about half an hour. The island is a bird sanctuary, and the feathered tribe, backed by the magnificent scenery, presents a sight long to be remembered. It is hoped that the island will be guarded for all time against the vandal and bird slayer.

L’ieutenant - Colonel Robert Young, who is amongst the New Zealanders honoured by the King, is the surviving son of the Rev R. Young, vicar of St. Mark’s, Carterton, and formerly vicar of All Saints’ Foxton. When he enlisted he was practising his profession of dental surgeon in Marion, where he was very popular. He went away with the Main Body with the rank of major, and since then he has been awarded the D.S.O. and made a C.M.G.

The Girls’ Guild intend to entertain the visiting soldiers from Rangiotu camp aider the concert in the Town Hall on Thursday evening, to a cup of coffee, etc. With this object in view they appeal to the public for gifts of cakes and sandwiches, which may be left at the Town Hall on Thursday afternoon. As the soldiers are providing the concert programme, it is hoped that the public will make a liberal response so that all the men can be hospitably entertained.

One morning recently at the Timaru post office, while one of the staff was sorting letters into the private boxes, he noticed a card stuck in a crack in one of the lower boxes. Thinking that this crack might allow letters to fall through, he informed the postmaster, who directed that the floor-boards round the lower boxes, be taken away. This was done, and to the amazement of the staff several letters and postcards were found underneath. One card was dated 1882, which is the year after the post office was opened, while some of the correspondence is addressed to persons who are now dead. The floor boards of the boxes had evidently been made of green wood, which had shrunk, making an aperture between the wall and the edge of the box.

A sequel to the running of the spinning jinny in connection with the McHardy art union was heard at the Palmerston Court yesterday, when P. A. McHardy and Arthur E. Bennett were charged with wilfully playing, by way of gaming, on the Awapuni racecourse, with a certain instrument of gaming, called the “spinning jinny,” at a game of chance, contrary to the form of statute in such case made and provided. Sub - Inspector Marsack conducted the prosecution and Mr J. P. Innes appeared for the defendants, who pleaded guilty, The Magistrate said that permission to hold the art union did not imply that the jinny could be used. It was not a case for a penalty, however. The art union was being held for a good purpose. Defendants would be convicted and discharged. In a reference at Wellington to the financial outlook, Sir Joseph Ward said there was no earthly reason why the rate of interest should go up in this country. Anyone attempting to raise it unduly during the present war crisis would not be looked upon as a friend of either the country or the people. There was plenty of money in New Zealand, and the object of every well-wisher of the Dominion in a time when war was raging should be to keep the general finance of the country, both public and private, steady. He had so far refused to give authority to local public bodies to raise moneys at high rates of interest, and it was in their interest as well as in that of the people they served in respective localities that rates should not be allowed to run up. The Government had the power under statute of last session to prevent an increase in rates of interest, and, though he was averse to exercising powers of the kind, if there were any attempt to force up the value of money at such a time as this, then it would be a question for serious consideration as to whether the power should not be put into operation.

An announcement of their 22nd Colossal Half-yearly Sale is made by Messrs Colhnson and Cunninghame, of Palmerston North, on page 3of this issue. Appealing values, and prices to your liking, are the order of the day, so that a visit will be well repaid. Perreau’s 6d cakes are in great demand now eggs and butter are dea r CURE FOR RHEUMATISM. This is not ak patent medicine, it is a prescription of an eminent English specialist. For years I had been a sufferer from chronic rheumatism. One year ago I consulted one of the leading specialists ol the Dominion (now deceased). On receipt of postage stamps, money order, or postal notes for 4s 6d, I will post twelve doses of the remedy, which this specialist declared to be the only thing known to science as a cure for this painful disease. F. Greville, Editor N.Z. Dairyman, Box 502, Wellington,—Advt.

Referring to a deputation’s protest against their children being deprived of education by the reduction of school hours from 25 to 15 per week, owing to the establishment of a half-time school, the Chairman of the Wanganui Board said he presumed he would be called a heretic in education, but he was firmly of opinion that fifteen hours’ work a week in a primary school was sufficient for any child. Of course, this presupposes a certain amount of outside work, such as nature study. Hon. W. M. Hughes (Federal Premier), at a recruiting meeting in Melbourne, passionately denounced the foul parasites who attached themselves to the vitals of the Labour Party. “There is between syndicalism and unionism a gulf as wide as hell. In the name of unionism and labourism I pass them out like devils out of swine.” Referring to union enlistments Mr Hughes stated that the waterside workers had sent 4000 and the Australian Workers’ Union 20,000 men to the front. The following are the marks obtained by successful candidates from the Wanganui Board district in the. Senior National Scholarship examinations : Beatrice M. Campbell (second for New Zealand) 1763, Peter L. Dickson 1438, Muriel J. Doull 1509, Kenneth W. Low 1526, Delight M, Lynn 1556, Annie M. Martin 1520, Margery Myers 1595, Margaret E. Richard 1470. The following candidates passed in the order of merit for the public entrance examinations : 4, Laurie Laurenson, Palmerston ; 17, George C. Burton, Hawera ; 65, John M. Helse, Taihape ; 70, Frederick C, P. Tregurtha, Palmerston ; 71, Lionel Clark, Wanganui.

A sacred concert, organised by Mrs Grant, was held at the Manawatu Heads on Sunday evening in aid of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. There was an appreciative audience. Songs were rendered by Mrs Mowlem, Mrs Grant, Miss Grant, Miss K. Ferris, Messrs Dilks, Flyger and Pratt, and violin solos by Master Stewart Grant. A grand piano was kindly lent tor the occasion by Mr Langley, to whom the thanks of the organisers are due. The collection resulted in £i 3s being obtained. This amount has been received (per favour of Mr Frank Mowlem) at the Standard office and paid to the secretary of the Manawatu Patriotic Society, The Minister for Education, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, in conversation with a reporter, touched on a vital question, which he summed up in a few words, “I am inclined to think,” he said, “that we should think of some scheme to regulate the admission of certain types of youth into the high schools. For instance, a boy or girl goes to these schools on a proficiency certificate for twelve months, and then leaves, having opened a few books, They go back to home or to the farm, and the year is wasted and all the money spent on their high school education is without any result. Many,who now go to the high school would be better employed in attending the technical schools and learning to do profitable work for themselves and the State.” ,

Nellie Farmer, of the Glen Oroua School, who put up a record of nine years attendance without missing a single half day, was presented by the Board with a gold brooch. The following is Nellie’s letter of acknowledgment to the Board : “Glen Oroua, December 29th. —The Chairman and Members of the Education Board, Wanganui. Dear Sirs. —I received your letter and parcel a few nights ago, and you may judge my astonishment when opening the parcel a beautiful gold brooch came in view. I thank you all very much tor the lovely present, for I did not expect it. You may rest assured I will treasure it as one of my most valuable presents, and when wearing it I shall always remember the kind gentlemen who form the Wanganui Education Board. I also have to thank you for the kind season’s greetings, and I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year. —I remain, yours sincerely, Nellie M. Farmer.”

The need for great leadership in the present crisis was referred to by the Rev. A, M. Johnson in a sermon at St Paul’s pro-Cathedral, Wellington on Sunday. He said that when the Coalition Ministry was formed people naturally looked for strong and consistent guidance. A few days ago Mr Massey made a strong appeal to the manhood of New Zealand, while another Minister was telling the people in Auckland that the war would be over in October. When they were told that the tight might be finished in October, young men naturally began to ask themselves whether it was really necessary for them to enlist. The war might be won without them. They were very grateful to Mr Allen for his suggestion of a special prayer to be used on Christmas Day. We all offered that prayer. But another Minister has introduced a Bill for legalising gambling for patriotic purposes, and the Government had taken no action to prevent silly fools from shouting for our soldiers, some of whom were hardly more than boys. J. M. Kelly’s price for flour should appeal to you —25’s, 3/9 ; 50’s 7/3 ; xoo’s, 14/-.* Hewlett and White’s famous English white shoes are now in stock at R, T. Betty’s. The best selection yet offered locally.* Why give your children cold unches when they can get a hot steak and kidney pie at Perreau’s for threepence.

There is no startling news from the principal war fronts to-day.

Mr James Stewart, who succeeds Mr W. Petrie as hemp gjader in Foxton arrived to-day, and will take up his duties immediately. - A man named William James Smith was fined ,£25 at Wellington yesterday for illicit liquor selling. The members of Mr Henry Ford’s peace party who remained behind after he returned home have left for America.

A mild epidemiq of infantile paralysis is reported from Auckland. 15 cases being under treatment. The cases are described as mild and no deaths are reported. Owing to lack of accommodation at the local seaside, several people from a distance had to transfer their holidays to the resort at Paekakariki.

William Charles Zabel, aged 43, a dairy farmer, committed suicide at Carterton with a shot-gun on Saturday night. He leaves a wife and five children.

It is stated on good authority that the war profits in New Zealand during the war period; so far total approximately millions sterling.

Mr B, R. Gardener, who has been Levin’s representative on the Foxton Harbour Board since its inception has resigned, and the Levin Borough Council last night appointed Mr John Robertson to fill the vacancy. A meeting of members of the Girls’ Guild will be held this evening, when final arrangements in connection with Thursday night's military concert will be made. All members are requested to be present.

A concert is to be held at the Beach to-morrow night under the auspices of the Methodist Church. A particularly good programme has been arranged including quartettes, solos, duets, etc. The price of admission is one shilling. Father Kincaid, parish pr'est at Carterton, who has been acting as chaplain at the Tauherenikau Camp, has received the appointment of Chaplain-Captain on the Hospital Ship, Maheno. Father Segrief, who returned on the Maheno, will replace Father Kincaid as chaplain at Tauherenikau.

One of the best-known and most highly-esteemed Natives of this district, Mr Matenga Moroati, of Te Horo, died at Koputaroa on Saturday last. Deceased was wellknown locally where he resided tor a time. He was a prominent' rangitira of the Ngatiraukawa tribe. The funeral will tafce place at Otaki, where a tangi is ini progress. 1

The amounts paid -by way of loans to settlers, workers and local authorities for the nine months up to December 31st last, says the Finance Minister was made up as follows : Settlers ,£625,000, workers .£241,795, local authorities ,£189,145. Sir Joseph Ward mentioned that the total amount paid since the inception of the Department was ,£21,704,690, of which settlers received ,£16,015,015, workers ,£3,080,120, and local authorities “ I cannot understand,” said Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., at a deputation of the Technical Board to the Minister for Education in Christchurch, “ why there should be this crusade against pictures. Ido not often go—it is six months since I have been, I think—but I fail to see what ground those who decry them stand on. Pictures are the wholesome amusement of the working people. They derived not only amusement but instruction from them. It was true they were sometimes vulgar. It was said they were demoralising to the children, but children had a happy knack of not seeing things on their worst side. I have seen more ‘ smut,’ more “vulgarity, at a theatre—. shown on the stage—than I have seen in all the pictures.”

For the first time in the colonial history of the Salvation Army the honour of the Military Cross has been conferred on one of its members. The recipient is Chaplain-Captain Alfred Greene, who has for 20 years been associated with Salvation Army work in New Zealand. He held the rank of adjutant in the organisation, and, prior to his leaving with the main body of the Expeditionary Force for Egypt, was in charge of the Workmen’s Home in Wei - lington. He was recognised as an able organiser, and it is stated that it was on account of his abilities in direction that the Military Cross was conferred upon him. His work was chiefly done in Alexandria, where he organised a system in connection with hospital visitation, and also rendered valuable services in other directions. Chaplain-Captain Greene was under fire when the Turks made the attack on the Suez Canal in February last.