LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1499, 20 January 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr Alex. Speirs seur., is running a flaxmill near Mercer lu the Auckland province. Owing to the dry weather the roads lu the borough are being badly broken up. Main Street, where it was tarred, is standing the traffic splendidly. The Borough Council has made a splendid job of the windmill and drinking trough in the Avenue, and if the thirsty animals could only voice their appreciation of it they would vote it a god-send. It is anticipated that there will be record attendances at the local race meeting on Saturday and Monday next. Practically all the accommodation in town has been booked up. Dr. A. A. Martin, of Palmerston North, has decided to accompany the New Zealand Field Ambulance into the firing line. This corps is expected to leave New Zealand in the first week in February for destination unknown. The main road from Longburn to the Palmerston borough boundary is badly cut up owing to excessive traffic and dry weather. The Foxton-Himataugi road at its worst was never so bad as the stretch referred to and the Kairanga County should lose no time in putting it in repair. Perreau’s 6d cakes are in great demand now eggs and butter are dear

The Herald will be published in the forenoon ou Saturday. Advertisers will please note. A Maori male, masquerading as a female, was arrested In Wellington this week. It is expected that the combined enemy attack on Salonika will commence to day. The monthly sitting of the local S.M. Court will be held before Mr J. W. Poyutoa, S.M., ou Monday next. Among those who passed the Public Service Entrance Examination held in November last, was George Augustus Walsh, of FoxtOn. The Methodist Sunday School picnic will be held In the Victoria Park on Saturday next, and the parents and friends ot the children are heartily invited to be present. The Patriotic Shop will be opened on Saturday from 9to 11 a.ra. and 4to 9 p.m. Mrs Greig and MissJ. Ross will be in charge. Gifts will be thankfully received. A small boy named Roy Percival Kerr, n years of age, was drowned in a pool near the Karori reservoir on Tuesday afternoon. The Minister for Defence states that the Territorial camps will be held and the dates of the different camps will be widely published and every facility given for men to go into camp to suit the convenience of the respective parties, as far as necessary. The present season has been one of the best experienced for stock in the Wairarapa. Lambs have done so well that 50 and 60 per cent- have been lifted by the buyers on the first draft. Advice was received yesterday from Wellington that all the projected wool sales have been postponed for a mouth. This is due to the difficulty in getting ships to take the wool away. Interviewed in Christchurch, and refererring to recruiting, Mr Massey said there was no necessity at present to bring pressure on married men. The present system would be continued as long as the war lasted.

Four hundred persons were decorated at the recent investiture at Buckingham Palace. It was the biggest function of the kind during the present reign. The recipients included soldiers from all parts of the Empire. Four hundred and ninety-one pensions, representing an annual charge ol ,£22,168, have been granted to date by the War Pensions Board, also ninety eight aE lowances for fixed periods, involving an additional payment of A southern newspaper states that, while many recruits in the Ashburton County have handed in their names for the 14th Reinforcements in March next, very few names have been received for the 13th Reinforcements to go into camp next month. One recruit, when asked why he would not go in the 13th, stated that the number was unlucky, and he would have nothing to do with it.

The patriotic shop will be opened again on Saturday and wiil be in charge of Mrs Greig and Miss Ross. Mrs Ross desires to acknowledge gifts from the following : Whitaunui Mill, Mrs A. Ross, Mr Bullard, Mrs Greig, Mr W. Nye, Mrs P. Robinson, Mr Hughes, Mrs Kerr-Hislop, Mrs Keut-Johnston, Mr Kellow, G. Wallace, Mrs F. Robinson, Mrs King, Mr Raine, Mr Huntley, Mr W. Ross, Mrs V, Withers, Mrs John Robinson, Mrs A. Ross’ boys, Mr Bangs, Mrs Healey, Mr Richmond, Mrs Kennedy, Mrs Stevenson, Mrs Peterson, Sympathiser, Mrs Harvey, Mrs Admore, Mrs Symes (previously omitted). A returned soldier was con victed at Auckland, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon ou a charge of using obscene language while under the influence of liquor. The Magistrate said the fact that the man had fought for his country should be taken into consideration. He appealed to defendant and his comrades to try to keep from over-in-dulgence in liquor. He should remember that he was still wearing the King’s uniform, and should try to avoid bringing discredit ou it. Mr Frazer deplored the action ot some people in doing all they could to make returned soldiers drunk.

According to the Hon. A, 11. Whiltlngham, a member of the (Jueenslaud Legislature, at present iu Napier, the returned soldiers in Australia were particularly well treated. Mr Whitlingham told a reporter that soldiers’ clubs had spiuug up all over the Commonwealth, aud all possible means were adopted to give the returued heroes a particularly good time. In Brisbane there was a soldiers’ club which numbered 4000 members. It is entirely supported by voluntary subscriptions. The nominal sum of is a month was charged, and the men got everything they wanted. The object of making the smali charge was to give the men the feeling that they belonged to a club and not a charitable arganisation. The great advantage in coming here for your groceries is that our prices are always the lowest for high-grade goods, while stocks are always fresh. Prudent buyers will make a point of procuring their groceries and provisions from Walker and Furrie’s (the Reliable Storekeepers) Foxton. SEE CHEAP RATES, FRONT PAGES LAIDLAW LEEDS WHOLESALE CATOLOG. See the large assortment of Chocolates aud Fancy Sweets at J. M. Kelly’s.*

A general meeting of the Foxton District Presbyterian Charge to have been held at Glen Oroua on Tuesday, was postponed owing to Foxton not being represented. Delegates were present from Tiakitahuua, Rongiotu and Glen Oroua. It was decided to hold the meeting at Rangiotu nefct Monday week. Rain is badly needed throughout this district; vegetation is parched and teed for stock is becoming scarce. Already there is an appreciable drop in the milk supply. What is most to be feared, unless rain soon falls, is the risk of grass fires. A lighted match, carelessly dropped in the open, might result in a conflagration causing damage to the extent of hundreds and possibly thousands of pounds. Several farmers have taken precautionary measures by burning patches of ground near crops, buildings and plantations. A number of incipient grass fires have been successfully got under. [Since the above was In print, continuous light rain has fallen.]

At the Beach on Tuesday night Messrs Langley Bros, entertained a number of visitors at a social, at which a very enjoyable time was spent. Songs were contributed by Misses Sansou and Grant, Mrs Mowlem and Master Grant, and a violin solo by Mr S, Grant. A euchre tournament was also held, the winners being Miss Grant and Mr Redgrave. In moving a vote of thanks to the Langley Family, Mr A Seifert said he did not think the people of Palmerston North, Feilding and surrounding districts yet lully realised the benefits to be derived from Foxton’s seaside resort. . He had visited a number of beaches, but considered Foxton was ahead of any of them, particulally as it was such a safe beach for children, In order to further popularise the Beach he advocated the laying down of a tennis court and croquet lawn, and bad no doubt that if steps in this direction were taken, Foxton Beach in the near future would be one of the leading seaside resorts in the North Island, A collection was taken up In aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, the amount collected being £1 is 6d.