LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1559, 3 June 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“A railway line which must be built, and where ail our difficulties are going to occur, is between Baekakariki and Wellington,” said Mill. W. MeVilly, giving evidence before the Railway Deviation t’ommission at Wellington.

An enquiry into (he death of Bernard Welsh, a member of the 14th Reinforcements, who cut his throat with a razor at Karori on Sunday last, was held before Mr D. (i. A. Cooper, S.M., on Wednesday. ..Medical evidence was given to the effect that death was due to shock and haemorrhage, following on injury. The Coroner's verdict was in accordance with the medical testimony. There was no evidence to show deceased's stale of mind.

To-day Ilis Majesty King George V. celebrates his fifty-first birthday. By Ilis .Majesty’s command, there will be no official celebration. Advice to this effect has been received by the Defence Office from headquarters in Wellington, and (here will he no salutes, reviews, nor public ceremony of any kind, which, prior to last year, marked (he anniversary of Ilis Majesty's birthday. A number of (owns are observing Monditv as a close holidav.

An interesting court case took place tit Olahuhti, before .Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., when R. Brown (Mr 11. J. Durham), of Tamaki, claimed from Mrs C. Hammond (Mr E. J. Brendergast) (he sum of £IOO for alleged defamation of character. Evidence was given for the plaintiff that abnoxious statements had been circulated by the defendant concerning plaintiff’s character. The hearing covered a period of 12 hours, and at the conclusion the Magistrate gave judgment for plaintiff' for £ls, with costs £4 15s.

In the House on Wednesday, Mr .Nosworlhy (Ashburton) asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that one Herr Lehmann, an alleged German, is leader of the orchestra of the Moving Picture. Company, Napier, of which Mr John Bayne, M. 8., is a director ; and whether he will cause careful enquiry to he made as to the said Herr Lehmann, with respect to (a) the place of his birth, (b) the nationality of his parents, (c) whether he is a British subject, by naturalisation, (d) if the latter, the date of his naturalisation, (e) the date of his arrival in the Dominion, and general history in either case, and (f) whether it is a fact that his company is using German-made films in their picture show ? The Hon. Mr Allen (Minister for Defence) replied : Herr Lehmann is employed in the orchestra of the Moving Bicture Company, Napier, of which company it is understood Mr J. Bayne, M. 8., is a director. Ilis place of birth is Germany. The nationality of his parents is uncertain. lie is not a British ,subject by jiafijralisatiun. He arrived in the Dominion ip the early part of the year 18117. He has beep reporting to the police since the I4th August, Iff]4, and his conduct has been such that it has not been considered necessary to intern him. It is not known whether the company is using German-made films in its picture shows, Jwf enquiries are now being made, For Childrens Hacking Cough, Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure,

The offertories at All Saints' Chureli to-morrow will ho given to the Maori Mission work. A Palmerston sportsman secured a splendid head (Sainher doer) at Himalangi yesterday morning. A nnmher of local sports left this morning to attend the Otaki Maori Racing C'luh's meeting, which commences to-day.

The preacher in the evening at All Saints’ Church to-morrow will he the Rev. W. (5. Williams, assistant Maori missioner for the Wellington diocese.

The first of the series of winter socials under the auspices of the local Presbyterian Church will he held in (he schoolroom on Friday, Kith inst.

The patriotic hox in Mr Bauckham’s shop was stolen yesterday afternoon. This makes the fourth of the Society’s boxes that have been appropriated by sneak thieves.

The final dress rehearsal in connection with next Tuesday’s patriotic concert will he held in the Coronation Hal! on Monday afternoon ,at 4 o’clock. All (hose taking part are urged to he present. Then* is a shortage of coal locally, both for household use and steam purposes, and as no coal boats are arriving in Foxton during the present spring tides, supplies are being obtained by rail from 'Wellington.

The Wanganui Presbytery has sanctioned the disJunctio.fi of the Tiakitahuna congregation from the Foxton Presbyterian charge as from -June 30lh. The Foxton charge will in future embrace Foxton, Rangiotu, and (lien Oroua.

All arranyements in connection will) the* Patriotic Concoct to lio hold in tlio Coconntion Hull on Tuesday eveniny next arc well in hand, and the entertainment promises to he one of the ties! of its kind yet hold locally. At the conclusion of the concert supper will he served in the supper-room at a cost of sixpence.

Atr Vertonyen, of Foxton, has received a neat little card from Belgian refugee relatives in Kayland. Two verses appear one on each side of the card in French and Flemish. Interpreted, they read : “On the day battle, as my forefathers did of old —whose memory I cherish in the depth of my heart —with swelling hreast and head aloft and eyes full of holy anyer, P march forward to victory. In after years I see the children as they say with pride. Tie risked his life for ns, that we miyht not he deprived id' our fatherland :

he shed his blood in order to secure our lihert v.‘ "

A company of serenadecs, accompanied by the ‘‘tin keltlers’ hand,-” disturbed the stillness of the nryht in the Avenue on Thursday, and aroused the neighbourhood. They assembled be fori' the residence of a well-known local couple who had some lime back Joined (he ranks of (he Benedicts, but who had only recently settled down in their home. Choruses were suny and the cans rattled, but no liyht appeared in the dwelliny. The seranaders hail foreknowledye that the occupants were "at home," and after repealed vocal efforts, a window went u'p and a form appeared, and somethiny was handed out, which apparently satisfied the-band, which then dispersed.

A comprehensive work on farming' in Now Zealand is, according to Air W. 11. Piehl, M.P., badly needed for tho general guidance of I In 1 jnany moil on liio land. Speaking al a dinnor hold a( Levin in oonnoclion will) Iho Wellington Farmers' Union Conference, Mr Uiold slalod that- in tho Agricultural .Journal, from (imo lo (imo, valuable articles appoarod dealing in a soiontilio and interesting mannor with various phases of Iho farming industry. Thoso arti(dos wore widely road as (hoy appoarod, but usually, whon (hoy wore actually roipiirod by the farmor for reference they wore not lo ho found. It would bo a valuable stop if those wore published in book form by the Government, together with other articles which might lit 1 thought necessary. Ho commended the suggestion to the conference,