LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1662, 16 January 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A strong westerly gale was experienced yesterday. A Reuter message to the Australian papers says that Mr Harry Lauder has received world-wide condolences, which include letters from Queen Alexandra, Mr Lloyd George, churchmen, public servants, lawyers, journalists, and theatricals, as well as the general public. It is understood that Capt. Lauder (his son), of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was killed instantaneously by a, shell while entering an exposed trench. Mr 11. G. Wells, in his most recent deliverance on the war, makes his mouthpiece, Mr Britling, say; “Only to think that by the word of a journalist-emperor, with the paralysed arm, and his common-fibred, sly, lascivious son, the earth should be turned into one vast slaughterhouse; that the best boys in the world should have to go to the shambles to save civilisation itself from collapse, and their mothers and sisters from the infamy of a horde of human apes!’’

“I would like to see every motor car charged £1 per day for every day it is used to go to race meetings,” said Cr. 0. McEJroy at Saturday’s meeting of the Oroua County Council. Long- processions of cars rushing off to race meetings did very great damage to the roads. Other members of the Council smiled, but did not express open agreement with Cr McElroy. It was also stated that heavy motor lorries were severely damaging the road surfaces.

The Woodville Chamber of Commerce received a letter from the Hon. J. D. Ormond in reply to a suggestion that he offer his Woodville property to the Government for returned soldiers. He was not in favour of doing this, his reason being that he considers the land unfit on account of river Hooding and encroachment, and he also wishes to leave his property to his son. Further, the land he has already sold benefits no one but well-to-do farmers. The meeting was almost unanimous as to the extreme desirability of the land for settlement by returned soldiers, and Messrs Home and Allan’s motion that the secretary be instructed to again approach the Hon. J. U. Ormond in reference to the selling of this property To.. The Government was unanimously carried.

John Alexander Hair, aged 15, was drowned in the river at Balclutha on Friday while bathing. The Mayor (Mr Alf. Fraser) returned to Foxton on Saturday after .spending a most enjoyable holiday in the Sounds.

An Irish battalion was going into the trenches for the first time to relieve a Scottish battalion, and as they passed, an Irish soldier called out: “Hallo, Jock, does your mother know you’re out?” A tall, tired, dirty Highlander retorted: “Gang awa’ hame, laddie, and tell your mother that ye’ve seen the sogers.”

As evidence of the patriotic way in which some men are prepared to “turn to” in the present crisis, it was mentioned at the meeting of the Mackenzie County Council this week that a farmer in the Albury district who is nearly eighty years of age, who had practically retired for some years, and whose only son is at the war, is now- doing the whole work on a 600 acre farm singlehanded. The Advocate has been informed by Mr E. Newman, M.P., that after protracted negotiations the Government has acquired about 1,000 acres of Mr Hammond’s property at Rata for settlement by returned soldiers. This was one of the best pieces of land for dairying purposes in Rangitikei, and it will in all probability form a most successful settlement in the near future, says the Advocate.

The bookings at the Christchurch Tourist Bureau during the Christmas and New Year holiday period are reported to have been extraordinary good, and to have exceeded by at least £I,OOO the bookings during the same period of 1915-1(1. One result of war conditions is that New Zealanders are “seeing New Zealand” to a greater extent than has been the case under normal conditions. Almost every tourist resort in the Dominion, including North Auckland, has found favour with Canterbury holidav-makers.

A number of men who addressed an anti-conscription meeting in Dixon street, Wellington, on 31st December, were convicted on charges of having broken the city bylaws. William Barker was sent to gaol for two months, and a like penalty was imposed on John Loughran. John Patrick Rea was lined £lO, and in the case of Gerald Dee a conviction was recorded, and he was ordered to come up for sentence when called on.

Many people probably are unaware of the fact that if a police constable calls upon them for assistance when he is arresting anyone they are required by law to render such assistance. An individual named Joseph Lethwick, who* on November 11th last, refused the appeal of Constable Holmes at Lower Hutt to assist in an arrest, appeared before Messrs G. Chapman and F. Hogardth, J’s.P., at the Lower Hutt Magistrate’s Court last week, and avus fined 20s, Avith costs 13s, in this respect. The Bench remarked that it Avas hoped the ease Avould be a Avarning to the public.

Mr W. B. Matheson writes to the Farmers’ Union Advocate: Some months ago I received a crumpled envelope from Egypt, and inside found an ear of corn, and a scribbled note from a New Zealand nurse, saying: “There’s still corn in Egypt. I have just plucked this passing through a ripening crop. — E.M.R.” So I winnowed it in my hand, and sowed the grain in the shape of her initials. As I sit here this sunny Sunday morning I can count forty ears that have come from it stumpy ears, heavily bearded, and I wonder if, perchance, it might prove a wheat suitable for dry parts of New Zealand.

.Mr Clarke Hutchinson, of Waihi, relates a remarkable experience in regard to a small pup which he placed some value on. Whilst suckling its mother, it was rolled on, and badly crushed. It had every appearance of being dead, and after making a careful examination, Mr Hutchinson buried the remains in the garden. The next day he was digging near the spot, and, unmindful of the exact locality, he unearthed the supposed deceased puppy in a spadeful of earth. To his great amazement, the animal shook itself clear. Mr Hutchinson picked it up, brushed it clean, and put it down, when it ran off to its mother! Notwithstanding the fact that it was buried for 3(i hours, and had received what apparently looked like a fatal wound, the wonderful canine made a complete recovery!

The Bulletin, in a recent issue, says: —A Jap. picture-showman somewhere in the Island announces that he has a new Chaplin comedy film for hire: —“Dearest Sir, —Reminding to your memory the assertion that in return for the payment of great remuneration am I the rightful owner of these most newest comedy picture films recreated by the most famously and honourable Charles Chaplin. I have the desirability to replace under your nose the most up-to-date thereof. Notability extending circularly about the globe has come unto Mr Chaplin, and when his appearances shall be in your exquisitely picture-theatre house, you will have therein a high personage whose weekly increment is £2,000 each week. The picture will show the entirety of Mr Chaplin. He will walk about, hopping through,, and giving vent to tricks of such humorousness that the outbursts of jokes will ensue, and people will occupy every seat in your sitting accommodation which to the utmost brim will be replenished.” It was dune in French, too.

There was a large number of visitors at the seaside on Sunday from Palmerston and other centres. Excellent acceptances have been received for the first day of the local racing club’s meeting, the total being 15 in excess of those received last year.

There were present at last night’s Council meeting: The Mayor (Mr A. Fraser), and Crs Freeman, Bryant, Stevenson, McColl, Henderson, Sinn mons and Whibley. An apology for absence was received from Gr Coley.

Last night’s monthly meeting of the local Borough Council was one of. the shortest ordinary meetings held for some considerable time. There was very little business to transact, and the meeting terminated within half an hour of the Councillors taking their seats.

There has been very little opposition to the Picton Borough Council's proposal to raise a loan of £6,845 for the purpose of installing the electric light throughout the town. A poll was taken last week, and the proposal was carried by a majority of 149 votes.

The letters in “Kaiser Wilhelm” count 13. Also the names of the Kaiser’s dupes each contain 13 letters. Thus: Francis Joseph, Tsar Ferdinand, and Sultan Mohmed V. Those of his heroes have likewise 13 letters —Von Himlenburg, Yon Falkenhayn and Count Zeppelin.

The sura to be paid to the Commissioner of Stamps by the Manawatu Racing Club in the form of taxation upon the Christmas meeting at Awapuni is £5,138 Kis lOd. The Auckland Racing Club has to pay £12,(123 14s (id in taxation for its recent meeting.

The sum of £8,240 is to be paid out by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union for butter-fat for December. This is an increase of £1,098 on the corresponding payment last year. The rate of advance is ltd more. For the month (December, 1916), sixtv-tive tons of butter were made.

It was suggested on behalf of a man who had pleaded guilty to charges of theft at the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Saturday that he should be given a chance to go into (‘amp, the military authorities being ready to take him. He had a rather bad record, and Mr S. E. M’Carth'y, S.M., declined to accede to counsel’s request. “1 do not think,” he said, “that it is fair to the young men who are enlisting, or who have been called up by ballot, to be asked to associate with men like this.”

To have lived for eighteen years with a bullet in his body is the experience of Mr George Norbury, a resident of Wellington. Eighteen years ago Mr Norbury avbs the victim of a shooting affair in Harcourt’s auction rooms. The bullet entered the abdomen on the right side, and efforts by the doctors to locate and extract it met with no success. Recently Mr Norbury suffered from what he believed to be a boil above his right hip. He treated it in the usual Avay, but one day when he avus mowing his hiAvn the pain became very severe. An examination of the hip revealed the fact that the bullet had at last worked ils way out.

A curious error was revealed at the Military Service Appeal Board’s sitting at Palmerston yesterday, when a man who had been called up in the first ballot appealed on the ground that he was over age. Neither he nor the Court could explain the mystery of his presence in the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve. He is 47 years of age, has a son aged 21 with the forces, has been married twice, and is minus an arm! The Court decided that the best way to secure his permanent exemption from both Reserves was to adjourn the case in order (hat the Medical Board might grant a certificate of unfitness.

Speaking to a reporter at Wellington yesterday in connection with the passport system, the Hon. G.. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, emphasised the necessity for the strictness that was observed in granting such privileges. He pointed out that the view the State took was that, when a man of eligible age went away, it was losing two men—a civilian and a soldier. A man might not be medically fit to become a soldier, whereas he might be able to carry out home duties, thus releasing a man for service at the front. A man was given a permit to leave at the present time only under the most extraordinary circumstances, and not for any ordinary reasons.

It is stated by the Christchurch Sun that those farmers who have had their wool valued in Canterbury so far generally express themselves as very well satisfied with the price put upon it by the Government valuers. One farmer stated to a Sun representative that his wool realised prices above his expectations, and even better than last year, when the 55 per cent, bonus is taken into consideration. In additioia to this, his wool was at least 10 per cent, heavier in condition than it was last year, and this would also help to swell the wool cheque. He thought that farmers had every, reason to be satisfied with tile way the commandeering scheme was working out, as far as wool was concerned, and it was a pity that some such arrangement with regard to wheat had not been made before now.

Something new for the housewife! Asbestos Sad Irons, to make ironing easy. Price 13/6, at Walker and Fume’s, Foxton,

Accounts amounting to £703 11s 8d were passed for payment at last night’s Borough Council meeting. , It was decided at last night’s Council meeting to request the rail* way gangef to have the lupins on the road near the racecourse cut down before the races.

The Queen of the South, with general from Wellington, arrived on Sunday morning. She sailed again for Wellington this afternoon with a cargo of hemp.

A grass fire at the rear of Messrs Stiles and Matheson’s business premises created a little excitement, but no damage, at noon to-day. A number of willing helpers succeeded in getting the fire under.

At last night's Council meeting it was decided to shift the firebell, as the present positi/m is not considered the most suitable. The Works Committee will meet at an early date to decide upon a site.

On Sunday afternoon quite a number of motor cars and motor cycles could be seen at intervals nlong the Palmerston-Foxton road drawn up on the roadside while the occupants were busy repairing punctures, etc. The rough state of the road owing to the long spell of dry weather being responsible for the damage.

Professor Mackenzie, in an address at Wellington the other evening, strongly criticised the granting of exemptions from military service to ministers of religion, and remarked that it passed his comprehension how the Parliament of New Zealand gave power to ministers to exempt ecclesiastics without having to submit their claims for exemption to the regularly constituted Military Board. He also characterised it as monstrous that the idea of war profits should be tolerated, while 100 per cent, of the wageearners of the Dominion found their wage equal to less than two-thirds of its pre-war value.

At its meeting on Saturday, the Horowhenua County Council received a letter from the secretary of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, as follows: “My Chamber is taking action in the direction of inducing the Government to speed'up the installation of hydroelectric power. With a view of ascertaining the approximate idea of the amount of power needed, I have sent a circular to all the principal firms in the Palmerston North district, including’ all the flaxmillers who are members of the Flaxmillers’ Association. As the matter of inducing the Government to get to work with the scheme at the earliest moment is of great importance, we hope for your co-operation, and trust you will take action in your district to ascertain the requirements. I am also writing to the other local bodies of Manawatu, asking them to help in a similar direction.’’ The Council resolved to receive the letter, and in the meantime the Council will make enquiries as to the probable local requirements.