Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1724, 12 June 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the local police court yesterday morning, before Mr Hornblow, J.P., Charles Lawson, charged with drunkenness, was lined 10s. A local motorist was lined ss, and 2s costs, at Palmerston yesterday, for leaving Ids motor car standing in the Square. The Mayor and Cr Coley were appointed a committee, at last night’s Council meeting, to go into the matter of purchasing a horse and cart for the borough. The Catholics of Wellington have bought the late John Dnthie’s estate at the Lower Hutt for £8 500. It will be used as a Catholic Boys’ School. Owing to the rain in Wellington, the Queen of the South has been delayed at (hat port, being unable to load. She will leave for Eoxton as soon as the weather permits of her being loaded. It has been computed (hat close on eight hundred motor cars —valued in the aggregate 1 at about a quarter of a million pounds sterling — were at Utaki on the first day of the races. There were present at the monthly meeting of (he Borough Council last night: The Mayor (Mr John Cliryslall) and Crs Coley, Henderson, Stevenson, McCall, Bryant, Hurley, McMurray and Walker. During the month of May, 30 head of cattle were impounded by the borough ranger, and 20 head were “arrested’’ and released to owners. The driving fees totalled £1 9s Od. For the position of librarian, rendered vacant through the resignation of Mrs Mitchell, there were three applications, and the Council last night appointed Mrs C. Hunt to the position, on the motion of Cr Hurley, seconded by Cr Bryant. Two tenders were received at last night's Borough Council meeting for the erection of the gas holder, and on the motion of Cr Stevenson, seconded by Cr MeColl, that of Mr H. Breakspeare, at £155, was accepted. At last night’s Council meeting, Cr Stevenson moved, and Cr MeColl seconded, that this Council expresses its eincere sympathy with Mrs A. Mitchell, borough librarian, in her recent sad bereavement. The motion was carried in silence, Councillors standing. As a sequel to the recent police raid at Wellington, Albert Vance Stewart was fined £25 for keeping a common gaming house. George Dyhrberg was fined £25 for betting in a public place, and £lO for assisting in the conduct of a gaming house. In each case an alternative of one month's imprisonment -was imposed. -

At last night’s Council meeting a letter was read from the secretary of the Foxton Rille Club, asking for a grant towards the cost of improvements of the rifle range. Cr MeMurray moved, and Cr Henderson seconded, that a donation of £5 be made. Cr Coley didn’t think £5 was enough, and suggested that it be doubled. This was agreed to unanimously. In attempting to escape from the Invercargill Gaol yesterday, a prisoner named Edward Walsh was fatally wounded, and died in the hospital in the evening. AValsh was twenty-three years of age, and was recently transferred from Wellington to Invercargill to serve a sentence of three years’ reformative treatment.

Cr Stevenson pointed out at last night’s Council meeting that there was a motion on the minute book to the effect (hat any residents allowing stock to graze on the roads should bo summoned after the second offence. He understood from the ranger that one resident had his stock taken four times, and another live times. These people should be summoned. It was decided to draw the ranger’s attention to the matter, and instruct him to carry out his duties according to the resolution on the book.

The Mayor of Foxton wrote asking if the Palmerston Patriotic Society would be good enough to suplily him from the Society’s roll of honour with a list of soldiers who had gone to the front from the Foxton district. The idea was to keep in touch with these soldiers and render them linancial assistance shoould it be wanted. —Mr J. 11. Stevens stated that he had replied to the letter, stating that Foxon was outside the Society’s district, and the names of Foxton soldiers had not been included in the Society’s roll of honour.

Commenting on the supply of coal from Newcastle for New Zealand, the Westport Times says: “The Minister of Munitions has announced that the Government intends to import 30,000 tons of Newcastle coal per month. The-public of the Coast are anxious to know how it is intended to supply the shipping for the amount. During the past fortnight shipping to the Coast has been insufficient to keep the mines (dear, with the result that the hinns in this district are at present full, with the possibility of the mines being idle for lack of shipping. Is this efliciency;” “Agricola,” the writer of South Island notes in the Farmers’ Union Advocate, says:—“l am lirmly convinced that the gales which we have had in the middle of this week have been worth thousands to the country, and have been the means of allowing more acres of wheat to go in than I am inclined to guess at. Frosts are very severe, however, and will no doubt stop work on the up-counlry'farms if they continue. We rail against our nor’-westers a good deal, but when they come at this time of the year after a heavy rain and dry up things as nicely as they have done 1 his week, we begin to think that they have some use in the scheme of things after all.”

At last night's Council mooting a circular Idler was read from Iho Hastings Borough Council bringing under the Council’s notice the Stat. Beamish Development Scheme, a copy of which was also forwarded, and asking the Foxton Council to co-operate with them in bringing the scheme under the notice of the Government. In answer to a question by Cr Hurley, the Mayor said he had not gone carefully into the scheme, but that its main object was the settlement of soldiers on (lie land. On the motion of Cr Henderson, seconded by Cr McMarray, it was decided to cooperate as requested, and a letter is to he forwarded to Mr W. H .Field, M.P., asking him to bring the scheme under the notice of the Minister for Defence and the national Efliciencv Board.

An interesting case under the Licensing Act, so far as no-license districts are concerned, was recently heard in Masterton. A man purchased three bottles of whisky, for which a prescribed order was given and also Jive bottles of beer, which is the quantity allowed by the law to be taken into a no-license district. The police charged the man with a breach of the Act, contending that men had a rigid to sign for the beer purchased, u s taken with the whisky it was more than the quantity a man was entitled to take into a no-license district. Counsel for defendant held that having signed for the whisky in a legal manner, his client had complied with the law in taking an additional five bottles of beer (equivalent to a gallon). The presiding Magistrate agreed with the contentions of the defending counsel, though he advised the police to ask the Crown Law Office to appeal in order that the intentions of the Legislature in regard to the principal Act and Amending Act might be obtained. The appeal has now been lodged, and will come up for hearing in due course. ’Tis most absurd! Ido declare There’s funny people everywhere; Cranks who harbour “ticks” and rats,” And freaks who wear old-fashioned hats; But most amusing of them all Are those who, when bad colds befall, Obsolete nostrums still endure, Whilst needing Woods’ Peppermint Cure. 13 Wanted: Housewives to realise there is such a good assortment at Pcrreau’s*

Several reports in connection with the local gas work?, and reports of the discussion on same, will appear next issue. Cr MeColl suggested at last night’s Council meeting that catalogues of the hooks in the library should be printed for sale to subscribers. At present subscribers did not know what books were there, and several had mentioned the matter of catalogues to him. —It was pointed out that catalogues were printed some years ago, and that the sales of same totalled the large number of two.

The biggest menace to the soldier, s wherever he went, said Dr. Bedford at Wellington, was the liquor traffic. It dogged him everywhere. He believed that in the very great majority of eases of venereal diseases the evil first rose from the open bar. They wanted power. The liquor trallic wanted impotence, but (hey had no power to waste in this crisis. He besought them to terrify this Government. “It will need it,” he said. “It has shown itself more solicitous of the interests of the liquor trallic than of the war.”

Mrs A. Mitchell, who has occupied the position of librarian at the local library for the past five years, tendered her resignation at last night’s Council meeting, owing to leaving the district. Cr Hurley said that during Mrs Mitchell's term of office the library had been conducted as well, if not better, than it ever was. He moved, and Cr Bryant seconded, that .Mrs Mitchell’s resignation be received with regret, and that a letter be forwarded her expressing appreciation of the very satisfactory manner in which she had carried out her duties, and wishing her every success in the future. The (Mayor said if the Council was successful in getting another librarian to till the position as well they would indeed be fortunate. Mrs Mitchell had been a most faithful and painstaking servant of the Council. The motion was carried unanimously.

Some time ago the man employed by tilt* Government in experimenting in connection with sand dune reclamation on the sand lulls between the Manawatu and Kangiligei rivers was taken away, and the work discontinued. The local Borough Council and oilier bodies in the district protested against this, and passed resolutions asking Ihe Minister to reconsider his decision in the matter. At last night’s Borough Council meeting a reply was received from (he Minister for Internal Affairs, advising that owing to the circumstances brought about by the war there was no money now available for experimenting in sand dune reclamation, and further, that as one man could not do much in the matter, and his services were required for urgent work elsewhere, the Minister regretted that he could not alter the decision already arrived at.

At last nights Council meeting a petition was received from the ratepayers and residents of Reeve Street, asking that the street be metalled, and also that the cutting in Brown Street receive attention. The reading of the names on the petition brought forth the remark from a Councillor; “There appears to be a lot of people Jiving there — 1 didn’t know that a large portion of the business people lived in that locality.” Those responsible for the petition had apparently not been satislied with the appearance of same when signed by those immediately interested, and had obtained the signatures of whoever was agreeable to sign, irrespective of what part of the borough they Jived in.—ln accordance with the Standing Orders, the petition was held over until the next monthly meeting. The Works Committee will visit the locality in the meantime, and will bring down a report.

A circular letter was read from the Waihi Borough Council, at last night’s Council meeting, protesting against the suggested sale of the (State coal mines, and suggesting that the Covernment should procure a mine in the North Island, and asking for the Council’s co-opei’ation in the matter. The Mayor moved, and Cr Bryant seconded, that the Council co-operate with the Waihi Borough Council in urging upon the Covernment I lie desirability of retaining control of the (Stale coal mines. As an amendment, Cr McMuuay moted, and Cr Walker seconded, that the communication from the W aihi Borough Council lay on the table. Cr McMurray said that he had had a great deal of exjjerience in coal, and the (State mines had not been responsible for reducing the price one penny. The whole Bepai tment was mismanaged, and in the W ellingtou depot there were three men doing one man’s work. Ihe State mines had never paid their way, and never would, owing to the mismanagement. If owned by a private company, they would be a success. Cr Henderson considered the State should retain the mines. If they were purchased by the capitalists the price of coal would be advanced, Cr Bryant endorsed Cr McMurray’s remarks. Most Covernment institutions were looked upon as “good milk cows.” Cr Hurley interjected: “That shows what a lot of rotters some people are.” Cr Stevenson said the State mines would be a success if properly managed. If they had been mismanaged in the past, then our representatives in Parliament had miserably failed in their duty. They should see that the management was altered. On being put, tho amendment was lost, and the motion was carried.

The Foxton Borough Council’s - proportion of the cost of the Main Trunk Deviation Commission, £4O, was passed for payment at last night's meeting.

A boy named Morris Brown, aged twelve years and a-half, was killed at Tokomaru yesterday. He was struck by debris from a shed which was blown down by the high wind.

In connection with the proposed exchange of the “Hound Bush” for portion of the adjoining borough reserve, the Council last night decided to make an inspection of the i property on Wednesday, June 20th., leaving Main Street at one o’clock.

A little sum in proportion that was put to Councillors at last night’s meeting! The question of ' testing the recently erected concrete tank at the gas works by Idling it * with water was being discussed, when one councillor asked how Jong it rained to float Noah’s Ark. On being informed by another City Father, the councillor put this query: “If it rained for forty days and forty nights to float the Ark, how long will it take to till the tank in question with water with tho small pump at the works? Personally he was of opinion that it would lake almost as long. Tho councillors are still calculating.

A recent cable staled that Charlie Chaplin had refused an offer of £200,000 fur 12 pictures, and had said that if lie didn’t get that amount for eight he would produce them himself, and sell them to the highest bidder. The offer represents £IO,OOO a picture, and the demand at £20.000. The salary of (he President of the United states is £ lb,ooo, with a travelling allowance of £b,ooo. So the amount of work that the famous comedian does on one picture, which might take him a whole month, is worth more than the whole year’s work by the President.

Throe men mimed Thomas Gardner, -James Marlin and Taraki Tiwaila, of Otaki, were charged at Ihe Palmerston Court yesterday, on the information of the police, with gambling on a train running between Paekakariki and Palmerston on May Kith. Ilis Worship said he was quite satisfied that card play had been going on, and cards and money were seen. He would line Gardner guilty, but sentence would be deferred till Monday next, The charge against the oilier accused would be adjourned till that date, so as to give (hem an opportunity of allending the Court.

The gross takings at Ihe recent Carnival totalled £578 l)s 2d, and the prize of two guineas, donated by Mr John Chrystall for the nearest guess, was won by Mr Keg Earlier, who guessed £579 15s 3d. The guesses ranged from £220 to £I,OOO. In all there were 182 guesses, the receipts from this source being £9 2s Od. A further donation of £25 was received by the Committee after the Carnival, but as the conditions of the competition were that the sum to he guessed was the gross amount received up teV.

and including the concert, the committee decided that the £25, which was not promised until later, should not he included.

It will be remembered that some time ago the Trustees of the Manawalu (Foxlon) Racecourse Trust advised the Borough Council that portion of the road at the back of Victoria Park, between Park Road and Russell Streets, encroached on the Racecourse Trust lands, and called upon the Council to remove the road. The Council at that time took no action, and nothing further was heard until last night, when another letter was received from Mr John Kebbell, chairman of trustees, who also forwarded a legal opinion obtained from Mr T. F. Martin, solicitor to the Municipal Association, Wellington, the opinion being that the land in question was still the property of the Racecourse Trust. —The Council decided to advise Mr Kebbell that it was obtaining legal advice on the question.