LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1652, 19 December 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Air -I. \V. Wilkinson, father of AT C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., died recently at the age of 75 years. He wm well-known throughout Taranaki and took an active 1 part in the earl,) struggles between pakeha am Maori.

Inquiries made 1 by a reporter at Napier indicate 1 that, nearly all furniture rtmtovals, even to and from place's a considerable distance away, are now being done by motor instead of the railway. One business man expresseel the opinion that the 1 day was coming when conex’ete roads and motor traffic would supereeele the railways. The 1 goods traffic in Hawke's Hay is already going in I hat dirt'ctiein. The Shannon correspondent of the Palmerston Time's writes; “In connection with the l balled the 1 plight of senue of the lucky (t) ones is somewhat amusing. One man had just bought himself a motor car anil was about to enjoy life. The chief epieslion about town is what is going to be eioiie with (he 1 car’s Another is the 1 possessor of a £1(10 motor bike, but the man most to be pitied is one who had just procured a new sail of tailor-made clothes for which he parted f(i. This suit is for sale at a big d.seounl. The owner is (ifl. 2in. in height, and 48 ine-hes round the chest."

“The holies must lemrn to e!o without their silk blouse's ami (heir costly underclothing," saiel the military represent a live, Captain Orr Walker, elnring the healing of a case before the Wellington Military Service Board in Wellington on Friday. The reservist, who was appealing slated that he was the only wholesale manufacturer of “white goods" in Wellington. He had been picked up in the ballot, and lie asked lime to (ill his place in the factory before lie entered camp. He was allowed three months' suspension on the understanding Unit lie would have to elon khaki at the end of that period.

Wanted .Known. —When consideriny the question of ’Xmas cakes •uid puddings, bear in mind that avc can supply you with all necessary ingredients at the lowest prices.— Walker and f’urrie, Koxton,

It was a your ago yesterday since (he Anzacs evacuated Gallipoli, without the loss of a man.

A shearer in the Masterlon district shore 1,123 sheep in 51 days, Ids cheque being £l4.

The latest additions to the tidephone is No. 01, Poxton .Racing Club (Mr B. Wanklyn, secretary). We desire to acknowledge receipt of a pretty wall calendar from Messrs Harper Bros., motor engineers. A representative of the Wanganui Herald, writing from Prance, states that the tanks used in the Somme “push” were an experiment. They were of the original 1914 model, with some improvements. The 1011) model, which will be in use shortly, will thoroughly outclass the old type, which may he regarded now as practically obsolete, although they were successful. The British authorities are now supplying some to their Allies.

"Anybody who says he wants to go hack to Prance to he shelled is a liar,” said Major Clifton at the soldiers' re-union in Masterlon last week. The Major pointed out that while (here were great hardships on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the way of food and water, that enter-

prise was a picnic compared with Prance. They knew the names of the guns on the Peninsula, hut in

Prance there 'were so many guns that (heir names could scarcely la* remembered. The shelling was awful.

Woods’ motor garage at Invercargill was totally destroyed by lire at - o’clock on Saturday morning. Over forty cars, many privately owned, were bund. Tin* building was of brick, and covered about a quarter of an acre in the main block. It was owned by Sir .1. 0. Ward. The Southland News building was .seriously threatened, tlm intense heal breaking the skylights. The damage is about £2d,ddd. An examination of the debris di-closml the remains of John McIvor, aged twenty-six, who slept on I’m; premises. “Of course, there are sonic who have not displayed as much public spirit as others, some who have not displayed any: just as there are some parents who measure the value of any work only by its return in coin, so there are some hoys who will give nothing unless by so doing they may gain something," remarked .Mr •). I*. Firth (principal of Wellington College) at the annual prizegiving ceremony. "On such people deeds of heroism, of patient endurance, or dashing gallantry for a noble cause, make no impression. And when this is the ease with the parent, it is indeed difficult to arouse the proper spirit—that is, public spirit; that is, the spirit of service—in the hov."

"I have previously suggested that much good might result if confer--cnees of teachers and inspectors were held, either once a year or at ihe end of each half-yearly ittspecliutml period, for the purpose of discussing the organisation of the schools and the methods of hi-

struction,” said 1 In' Senior Inspector ! Mr I'. P>. Strong), in n report lo (lie Wanganui Education Board on Thursday. On the recommend:!:ion of Mr Si t ong it was decided to ask (he teachers to confer with the inspectors ni Wanganui. February ;;! !i. Feilding mi February (ith, ami Palmerston mi February 7th. It was decided lo issue a general invitation lo teachers within reach of the centres and allou them to cl ‘se Ilnur schools one day lor the purpose.

An old and weil-kndwn ligure in Manga nni. Pa tea and Taranaki districts has jnsl passed away at New Plymouth in the person of Mr Dan Hughes. .During I lie war with Titokowai'ii he acted as guide to the soldiers. Tie was at the (irsl Te N'gaolemami light. On one occasion the friendly Maoris lighting with the pakehas came across throe .Maori babies. They promptly killed two. and were about to dispatch the third when Dan Hughes arrived on the scene and saved it- life. That child is now Mi’ Fox, the well-known interpreter. The late .Mr Hughes was a great lover of Shorthorn dairy ealile. and did much to advance the breed in Taranaki. He leaves a widow, whom he married at Pa tea in 18I1S, a daughter of the late Sergeant Ward, a Crimean veteran.

.Members ol the Foxtail public who witnessed the screening of the Him version of Kex Beach's slorv of “The Spoilers" will remember the decided merit of tlmt production, of the typical scenery of (lie Alaskan eoimfry. and of the line acting of the memhers of (lie company, which featured Dustin Farnum and Robert Sanlsehi in their great interpretation." of the central figures in the drama. A Him of somewhat, similar character, and of equally entertaining powers, "the Iron Strain.” and featuring the leading memhers of the K.B. Company, was screened at the Town Hall last evening, and will lie repeated tonight. “The Iron Strain” is a Him

presenting many points of interest, and apart from the excellence of (he acting am! the soundness of the story, is meritorious for its beautiful scenic effects and the typical illustrations of Alaskan life. The supporting itmos were of a high order, and combined to make a programme of a very entertaining nature.

Wanted Known. —It’s time now to think about your ’Xmas cakes and puddings. We have fresh assortments of raisins, almonds, peels, sultanas, etc., and we know we can serve you best. —Walker and Furrie, Foxtun.

Both Houses of the Tasmanian Parliament have passed a Bill closing hotels at H o’clock. The law operates from January Ist.

The scholars of the local State school broke up this afternoon for (licit* summer holidays. A report of (he prize-giving ceremony will appear in our next issue.

The hospital ship Maheno, with a large number of returning New Zealanders on board, will arrive at Auckland to-morrow, and at Wellington on Thursday.

There are now !)S subscribers to the local telephone bureau, and three more subscribers will provide Pox lon with an 8 a.in. to 10 p.m. service.

A pleasant little function took place in the Methodist Sunday school on Sunday afternoon, when Master Douglas Littlejohn, on behalf of the Sunday school scholar!*, presented Mr B. T. Betty with a fountain pen as a small token in recognition of Mr Betty’s invaluable services. Mr Betty, in response, i hanked the children for their gift, and said that it had been a great pleasure to him to train tin* children, and that the splendid way in which the children had acquitted themselves under his baton was in itself a sufficient reward. Mr Huntlev. superintendent, referred to Mr Betty’s zeal and untiring efforts in training the children, and hoped that the .Methodist Sunday school might for many years he privileged to have Mr Betty as conductor at their anniversaries.

\\ riliMU' 'ruin France to his sis-

i”i', .Mrs iJiniis, chaplain .1. A. McKenzie, \v!id is well-known in this

di-triet, referring to the winter oul?l-'- s -v*•!?<•-. reassuringly: The sun is beginning to look very low down on the horizon, :ind the piece is gett iJi.u - very sodden end chilly. Today the sim is shining pleasantly, hut p has not much limit in it. We nre having a lot of rain and grey weather. It is hound to he pretty uncomfortable during the winter, hut already all that is possible is being done for the men, the trenches improved, warm clothing, leather jerkins, and gum hoots issued, also braziers for coke fires. AA’e are within walking distance of hut hath', and. the men are taken out regularly, anil as far as I know shall have alternately about 10 or 12 days in the Irene lies and in billels.

While recognising that excellent work is being done in the primary and secondary schools throughout the .Dominion, (he Minister of Education (Hon. J. A. Hannn) is of the opinion that in many respects there is room for considerable improvement. Speaking at a prizegiving function in AA’ellington recently Mr Hanan said that he had had certain investigations made, with the result that many weaknesses had been revealed. He was afraid that 100 many young people were being sent away from the schools who lacked the desired efficiency. “A, higher standard of individual efficiency means a higher standard of national efficiency,” said the Minister, “and that is what

we must strive to attain, especially at the present time. What I want, to bring about is thoroughness in (he primary and secondary schools, and 1 intend to bring that about, with the help of the teachers.”

At a farewell to recruits in Waipawa, the chairman, Mr A. E. dull, said; "These were critical days, and marked a naval, military and polieieal crisis, and yet some seemed not to realise the gravity of (he Empire's position, and by reason of their greed stand in shameful contrast with those who are doing' something for the Empire and for the uplifting of humanity. Continuing, Mr dull landed the line spirit shown by those enlisting - , having (nil knowledge of what had lo he faced, lie congratulated the recruits, and called on the Mayoress to make the presentation to them. Mrs Limhriek fastened on wristlet watches, amidst loud applause. Recruit \\ . (lolder (brother »l .Mr d. (lolder, of Eoxfou) responded, and returned thanks in a lew manly words of determination to do what they could, and said “it behoved every single man medically lit to go into camp, when we see so many married men volunteering and •lea\ing their wives and families.” •Mi' Holder's views were loudly applauded. The recruits were then entertained at a progressive euchre tournament.