LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1668, 30 January 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The record war-llying time in crossing (he English Channel at the narrowest point, where the distance is 22 miles, is 8 min.

It is officially stated that since July, 1014, the price of meat in Sydney has increased 03 per cent., and other food and groceries 20 per cent.

A plague of small shrimps has occurred at Paekakariki within the last few days. Millions of them have been washed up on the beach, and it is reported that in some places they are two feet deep. The effect of the heat has been to decompose the bodies, causing an almost unbearable stench.

The law is usually credited with being slow in operation (says the New Zealand Herald), but a case which has just come before the Court, proved that it can move with rapidity on occasions. About 2.30 in the afternoon two men were arrested on a charge of street betting, and by 4.30 p.m. they had been tried before the Court and lined £OO each.

A family well-known in Eoxtou (hat is splendidly represented at the lighting front received a cable message from a son on Friday notifying that the four brothers had met in London. Charlie, Alt. and Fred. iStunnel, it appears, are at present in "London on well-deserved leave from the French front (a fourth was still in France), and they had met their younger brother Henry, who had arrived in England with (he J7th Reinforcements.

Some of the 73 applicants for the position of assistant secretary to the Taranaki Education Board, a position carrying £3OO a year, have a quaint idea of the responsibilities of and qualifications necessary for the position. One gave a glowing testimonial as to his capabilities as a cheese-maker, while an inexperienced lad of 17 naively remarked that he was prepared to give his whole lime to the Board’s service. Foolish utterances cost a young man named Frank Bennett £2 and costs at Auckland recently. It appeared that two young women had asked Bennett why he did not go to the front, whereupon he made use of certain remarks which indicated disloyalty. The defence was that (he remarks were only made in order to get even with the young women who had annoyed him. Evidence was given that I lie defendant was as loyal as anybody' could expect him to be, and that he bore an excellent character. The Magistrate described the offence as nothing more serious than foolishness.

The death of Mr Samuel Bairett Wicklilfe took place at Shannon on Saturday morning. Mr Wicklilfe was born in (tlenavy, County Antrim, Ireland, and was 74 years old at his death. He came to tloYcolouies in the early days, and after a short stay on the Australian goldfields came to New Zealand in .1862, and took up farming in the South Island, where he remained for 29 vears. After (hat he came to the North Island and settled in Shannon. having been there 26 years at the time of his decease. He knives a widow and family of live —three daughters and two sous.

Mr John Snodgrass, an old and esteemed resident of Westport, is dead. Deceased was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, 7-1 years of age. He landed in Melbourne in 1859, followed mining pursuits, and then came on to Otago in 1864, where he gave his attention to surveying. In 1865 he removed to the West Coast, spent some time mining, and in 1870 qualified as a surveyor, and entered the service of the State. In 1879 he was appointed District Surveyor at Westport, and carried out many important surveys. He retired on superannuation a few years ago. Deceased is survived by three sons and two daughters.

There is no excuse for ablebodied men to be idle nowadays. All branches of industry are open to those who want work, even though they are not able-bodied in the full meaning' of the term. We regret to say that at the present lime, however, there are a few wasters hanging about Foxtou, cadging small sums to appease an alcoholic appetite. On Saturday we were visited, by a man of perhaps 30 to 35 years of age who wanted something to do. After a pitiful tale of alleged hardship. wo rendered a little assistance and put him on the track of work. He seemed to appreciate our little ad, and left the sanctum with a light heart. We have seen him subsequently mooching about and begging—a waster. Another hefty individual lined up yesterday morning, smelling of liquor, and brazened a request for a sum to supplement what be bad in hand, for a purpose wiiieh he did not specify. He was persistent and optimistic in his demands —but there was nothing doing. These gentry should be compelled to quit without delay.

A boy eight years of age died in the Masterton Hospital on Thursday from infantile paralysis. A meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board will be held on Thursday, February Ist, at 7.45 p.m. Business, general.

“It is astonishing that proseeuttions for selling firearms to boys have taken place in this court since 1908, yet defendants, when charged, plead ignorance of the regulations,” said Inspector Hendry when a man was before the court recently at Wellington for selling a pea rifle to a boy under sixteen years of age.

It is proposed, on the return of the Aurora from "Ross Sea, to make a presentation to Sir Ernest Shackleton from people in the Dominion to recognise the courage and resource displayed by him in his repeated and finally successful efforts to rescue his companions who were stranded on Elephant Island, in the Weddell Sea.

It is , reported that plain-ciothes police from another centre visited Palmerston on Saturday with the object of ascertaining how the antishouting regulations were being observed in the local hotels. Their investigations, it is stated, showed laxity in more than one instance, with the result that there will be more heard of the matter at the local Magistrate’s Court in the near future. A simultaneous descent was made on Feilding, where it is understood that invitations to “have one” were also in evidence, and that prosecutions are expected to follow.

The public are reminded of the patriotic garden party to be held at Mrs Gower's residence to-morrow afternoon, commencing at d o’clock. Admission is free, and all are invited. Various stalls have been arranged, including produce, (lowers, sweets, etc., and visitors will be able to obtain afternoon tea, and cold drinks, ((roquet; and other competitions will be held during the afternoon. Messrs Harper Bros.’ car will convey passengers from the post office at 2.-15 p.m.

Inspector Treweek. who Tor ;i number oi’ years has been inspector of Hie perniiineni way stationed al Palmerston, and who leaves shortly for Xewniarkel, .Auckland, was entertained hy the railwaymeu at Palmerston on Saturday night. During the evening Ganger W. Gordon, on behalf of the maintenance staff and other railwaymeu, presented Inspector Treweek with a very handsome dOO-day .clock in a glass case. In making the presentation, he assured Mr Treweek that he was held in the greatest respect and good fellowship by the members of the staff, and they wished him the best of health and prosperity.

Some twelve months ago the Elaxmillers’ Association asked the Agricultural Departmenfto have an ('Xpert's report obtained on an insect that was destroying large quantities of green leaf by perforation, An officer has been making investigalions ever since. Now the Department is called upon to advise in another and even more serious matter. Some bug or beetle lias commenced boring at the roots of Ihe phormium lenax, with the result. (hat one or two millers have been severely penalised. The plant so attacked cither does not come to maturity or it turns yellow or dies out altogether. In one ease nearly 1,000 a (-res have been decimated by this pest, and in another a small miller has lost 200 acres. —Manawatu Times.