LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1667, 27 January 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“How do you manage to quote your friends such low terms?" asked one coal merchant of another. “In this way," was the reply; “I knock off (wo shillings a lon, because they are friends of mine, and Hum I knock off two hundredweight on each lon, because I’m a friend of theirs."

"A lot of people in the Walton district keep tenners when they ought to be keeping children!" was the rather startling observation of a Biako County Councillor during a discussion on the registering of dogs at the county meeting. When the other members had recovered their breath, one queried: “To what do you attribute the reason?" but there was no answer.—Te Aroha News.

When the New Zealand delegates were in England recently, says the Eltham Argus, they were shown some huge ships nearly ready for launching. There was a good deal of secrecy observed in connection with these marine monsters, but it was understood that they would carry larger guns than any ship had ever carried before, and that their speed would probably be about 40 knots. A letter received in New Zealand from a young New Zealander at present in Europe, in describing one of a group of the new super-Dreadnoughts, states that she did 38 knots on her speed trials. This tallies pretty closely with the information imparted to the delegates as regards speed.

Housewives should bear in mind that Walker and Eurric can supply household ironmongery of every description at the best value prices.

See cheap rates, front pages Laidlaw Leeds’ Wholesale Catalog.

A Russian officer who visited the Allies’ western front wns shown a remarkable road ten miles long and wide enough for four motor-cars ahreast, which had been built in one day. Sixteen thousand men had worked on it.

Old lady (to chemist) ; 1 want a box of canine pills, please.” Chemist: “What's the matter with the dog?” Old lady (indignantly) : “I want you to know, sir, that my husband is a gentleman.’’ (Chemist puls up some quinine pills in profound silence). Mr Rod. Munro, an ex-Foxton “boy.” is now in France, and has got on famously in the Hying division. lie is rated as a first-class pilot, with the rank of sergeant. His brother is also in France, and is a sergeant in the Main Expeditionary Force.

The Tasmanian hop yield this season is expected to reach only (1,000 bushels, as against 11,750 bushels for 191(1: but the estimate will require adjustment in consequence of the heavy Hoods in the Derwent Valley. Nelson hop crops are reported to be excellent.

A strange accident bei'el the three-year-old daughter of Mr -I. Oak, of Levin, on Thursday. While the child was playing in a paddock a gust of wind blew a gate from its hinges and cast it against the little girl, whose left leg was broken by the impact. She was taken to Otaki Hospital.

The briefest letter communication ever written to a local body was. in all probability, that received by the Greymoulh Hospital and Charitable Aaid Board at its meeting recently. Plus signature, it read: “1 am leaving my occupation as porter.” The death of Mrs Mary Elliott, which occurred at Wanganui East this week, marks the passing of another of the pioneers jo whom the district owes so much. Her husband, who predeceased her, was well-known in local business and shipping circles, having tilled the position of Collector of Customs in Wanganui. The late Mrs Elliott had been 50 years in the Dominion, and for 24 vears resided in Wanganui.

Mr “Tom” Sullivan. the wellknown oarsman, is one of the New Zealand prisoners in Die internment eamp at Kuhleben who will be released under the agreement' regarding the exchange of civilian prisoners in Germany and England. .Mr Sullivan's son is also in the (“amp, hnl as he is below the prescribed age he will be kept a prisoner until I he end of the war.

Imperturbable things, these Military Service Boards. A man came up on appeal (he other day, and advanced two aged parents, a sick brother, a healthy farm, a huge mortgage, and other pressing reasons for exemption, and wound up triumphantly by unbuckling a wooden leg and throwing it on the board (able. ‘‘Take (hat thing away,” said the chairman, icily. “Surely I can get exemption for a wooden leg.'” said (he appellant, uneasily. “Your leg,” said the chairman, still mure icily, “has nothing to do with the board. Your appeal is adjourned for a month, pending medical examination.”

The Hilda Pest correspondent id' Hie Morning’ Post slides lh;d curiuus scenes were enacted at tlit* burial of I he Emperor Francis Joseph at the Capucian Monastery. When the eoflin reached (he Itarred gale the master of ceremonies knocked with a golden wand, and the friar within asked, “Who is there/" The answer came. “Ilis Majesty, Francis Joseph." and the friar replied in Latin, “I do not know him." On a second summons tin* same question was asked, and similarly answered, but on the third knock the master of ceremonies replied, “It's a poor sinner—our brother Francis Joseph," whereupon the door Hew open.

An exchange says:—It is with a. good deal of satisfaction we learn that the Defence Authorities are taking all the lit men from the permanent military staff and (he base records offices and pb'.'ing them under canvas, with instructions to get ready for service abroad. Their places are being tilled by returned soldiers and the medically until. We have known of cases of fine, hefty young men volunteering for service in the home* departments and being accepted, (hereby escaping their plain duty to their country. Some of these line fellows will no doubt receive (heir marching orders with pained surprise, but the Defence Department will be supported by the whole eommunitv on their decision.

Figures showing the enormous development of the fruitgrowing industry were given hy the Hon. \V. I). S. .MacDonald at the Nurserymen's Conference in Wellington this week. The annual increase in the acreage planted since 1011 had been as follows: 1911, 2,120 acres; 1012, 2,301 acres; 1013, 2,525 acres; 1014, 3,302 acres; 1015, 3,588 acres; 1010, 2,300 acres. In six years there had been an increase of over 1(5,000 acre.- of true commercial orchards. Since 1908 —that was, since the great forward movement begun—lo,soo acres had been planted in modern, up-to-date orchards. Since the registration of orchards was provided for, 100,000 orchards, large and small, had been registered. The orchard tax, collected from commercial growers only, had so far produced £1,700. Housewives! We have the right labour-saving devices to cut your work in two. Our stocks are complete with every house need. Best value offered at Walker and Furrie's, Fasten,

A sharp shock of earthquake was experienced this morning at 5.40 o'clock. The services at the local Presbyterian Church to-morrow will he conducted at 11 a.ra. and 7 p.ra. by the minister, Kev. J. 11. Bredin.

The total amount paid by the Foxton Racing Club to the Commissioner of Taxes representing the tolalisator tax, dividend duty, war lax on stakes, and privileges, amounted to £1,(108 Its (id.

Mr W. G. K. Kenrick. G.M., formerly Magistrate at ITawera, is to take the place of Mr -1. W. Poynton, S.M., on the Bench in this district during (he time our Magistrate is (KM* upied on the Military Appeal Board.

Mrs Cower is organising a garden party to be held at her residence on Wednesday afternoon next, the proceeds from which will be equally divided between the Ladies’ Guild and Girls’ Guild. The public is invited, and (here will be no charge for admission. Produce, sweets, flowers, and other -tails art 1 being arranged, and there will he competitions of various kinds; also afternoon tea and cold drinks. The function will commence at 2.50 o’clock.

Following is the translation of a German postcard enclosed in a letter received by Mrs Buckeridge, Feilding, from her son, (’apt. 11. Buckeridge. Ist Battalion Xew Zealand Rille Brigade: —“15/9'15. Parents, —None of us left: I am lying here at Fleurs sorely wounded. Left leg shot off. Last greetings from grateful Fritz. Be happy. The end is coming (11 a.m.)." Tin* card was addressed to “Fritz Langfelder. Fuchstadt, bei Wurzburg, Bavaria.” A lire last night destroyed the stables in Main Street next to the Family Hotel. The outbreak was discovered about 1.1 o’clock by Mr J. Madden, who was going home and noticed a glare in the building. On investigating he found that the hay, etc., in the loft was on lire, so was impossible to put out the tin', so Mr Madden commenced to remove the vehicles from the building, and with the help of others all the vehicles were got out. The whole of the harness was destroyed. The building, which was owned by the T. G. McCarthy Estate, was insured for £I.OO in the Standard, and the harness, etc., which was owned by the occupiers, Messrs Osborne and Smith, for £IOO in the Guardian Oliice.

Arising out of a ease before (he Military Service Board at Gisborne. Captain 'Walker declared that it should be distinctly borne in mind that in the ease of contracts entered into since the passing of Hu* Military Service Act by men liable to be called up, these men were liable to go into camp at any time. If a man entered into a contract under such conditions, he went into it with his eyes open and took the risk. No one should complain if a contract under these conditions was left uncompleted. Every man who was in the First Division must know that in the course of the next six or eight months he was bound to be called up. He would have to go into camj) and take the consequent; linancial loss, if any.

The Bedouin, one of the desert tribes of Egypt, is evidently a poor specimen of humanity according' to a letter published in the Manawatu Standard from Tpr. P. W. Burgess, of Kongotea. The trooper says (he Bedouins are a wild race and a bad lot, and do a lot of spying for the Turks. "The Bedouin is (In* worst type of man 1 have ever semi," says the writer. “He is worse-looking than the Australian black. It is a mystery how he lives. Of course, when the dales are ripe he is well fed, but when the dates are linished I think he mas! live on the sand. To give some idea of what he is like, 1 need only say that these devils have been known to come along at night, dig up the dead, strip them of their clothing, and leave them on the sand. We were never lucky enough to catch any of these inhuman creatures. or I guess they would not disturb another soldier in his grave."