LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1728, 21 June 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day, the 21st, is generally recognised as the shortest day in the year. In the casualty list issued yesterday, under the heading oil “not serious cases,’’ appeared the name of Pte. W. Derrick, of Foxton. v The Queen of the South is due from Wellington with a general cargo to-morrow morning. She will sail again for Wellington with a cargo of hemp on Saturday. Despite the vigilance of the borough ranger, stock manage to graze on the road. This morning a collision was narrowly averted between a motor car and horse in the Avenue. Two little Maori boys met with an accident in Main Street at midday yesterday. They were passing a motor car when a dog running along collided with the bicycle and upset the boys. One was rendered unconscious for a little time, and the other suffered a few abrasions. It has been pointed out to us that there is a. lack of parental control on the part of certain parents in allowing certain girls to wander about the streets after dark. Their outings for recreative purposes may be harmless enough, but loitering and giggling under shop verandahs may lead to other mischief. A word to the wise should be sufficient.

The King deems it desirable, in the conditions evolved from the present war, that the princes in his family and the whole of his subjects bearing German names should respectively relinquish their titles and adopt British surnames. Consequently the Duke of Teek and Prince Louis Alexander of Battenburg are created marquises, and Price Alexander of Teek an earl.

The following story is going the round. When Sir lan Hamilton was in command of the allied forces lighting the Turks, he had been telegraphing repeatedly to Lord Kitchener for additional troops to be sent to the Dardanelles, “You’ll be crying next for the moon,” came Kitchener’s reply. “Why not,” wired General Hamilton, “if you want the Crescent.”

The two electric motor lorries ordered by the llongotea Dairy Company were delivered by Messrs A. I\. Harris and Co., of Wanganui, on Saturday. The lorries are capable of carrying a load of two tons each. They are lit ted with Edison storage batteries, and were (‘barged at the Wanganui Freezing AVorks before making the journey from Wanganui to Kongotea. The trucks will be utilised for the collection of cream.

The Sydney Bulletin has the following: “Billjim, prisoner of war in Germany, writing home to his people at Bunvood (N'.S.AV.), told them in a letter just received to save any stamps there might be on his envelopes until his return. To meet this strange request, the stamp from his dilapidated envelope was- removed. Then was bared the staggering message: “Tongue cut out!” It seems incredible; but until the horrible suspicion is set at rest there will be one more Australian family tormented with anxiety.”

A small boy of thrifty nature went into a Sydney bank last week to open an account with half-a-crown. When the book was given to him, he was elated to discover that he had been credited with £250. He thought that he must have wandered into a lottery and drawn a lucky number. His father, however, suspected that someone had made a mistake, and the boy next day returned the book to the bank and asked for an explanation of the rapid increase in his deposit. He was given a new book. The amount to his credit in that, with the reward added, was 7s (id.

The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. I). S. MacDonald) informed a Post reporter that the whole of the lirst shipment of wheat from Australia (about 54,000 sacks) had been satisfactorily disposed of to the millers in the South Island. Arrangements had been made for a further shipment to Auckland. Owing to fhe system of shipment in Sydney being unsatisfactory in the lirst instance, it was proposed that Mr J. li. Hart, of the Board of Trade, should go to Australia to arrange a better method of loading and grading for the next shipment. A gale of wind can, and does, produce many curious situations. On Tuesday, while a young lady was walking demurely along Devon Street, she was considerably startled to feel something alight oh her head (says the Herald, hiew Plymouth). It proved to be a man’s hut, which, after this brief pause in its hurried (light, dropped at her feel —where it was quickly joined by its Hurried owner. Just-at he pounced in triumph on the hat, his foot slipped, and he ended a brief but spirited pursuit of his straying property on his knees before a giggling maiden.

Referring' to the wonderful resources of Russia at Monday's meeting of tlie Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, Mr L. A. Edwards .stated that before the war £75,000,000 worth of Russian goods

had been imported by Germany every year and rebranded as German goods for export. Touching on purely Jinaneial matters, Mr Edwards said that we were under the impression that the Bank of England was the last thing in banks, flow did it compare, however, with the Imperial Russian Bank, the assets of which totalled £1,000,000,000, while its gold reserve amounted to £300,000,000.

Tales of strange meetings of old comrades are always being told, and the latest comes from Flanders. On the eve of an attack at the Somme live men were detailed from various regiments to a certain post, and when the quintet foregathered at the appointed place, they proved to be all old friends, as the whole live had been members of the same company in one of the later South African contingents. Needless to say, the reunion was a joyous one. The writer would like to linish the story by saying that they all got through the big engagement unscathed, but unfortunately that was not so, as one was killed, another was gassed, while a third had a thigh badly shattered by shrapnel, and one was reported missing, only one returned safely.

In varied themes, of pathos, love and mirth, I wreathe verses round a shrine of worth; To tell all those who nasty coughs endure, All they need is Woods’ Peppermint Cure. For youth or age, for children or ' adults,

In every case a speedy cure results; Once tried, proved, others they’ll abjure, Purchase only Woods’ Peppermint Cure. 9

"Wanted Known; You can get better groceries for the same money at Walker and Fume’s.

The manuscript contained reference to “the big crowds on the racecourse,” but the lino, machine had a better idea. It printed, “the big crows.” And all the pigeons saw t he joke.

At Palmerston yesterday afternoon, the inter-college matches, Te Auto v. Wanganui, were played. Wanganui College won the junior match, and Te Ante the senior by 21 points to eight.

The big sailing vessel which went ashore at Wellington Heads on Monday night has been towed off. The Post says, “We arc not allowed to give any particulars of the vessel or cargo.” Yet thousands of people were at the wharf to see her come in. The censorship!

The Minister for Defence has received advice that Major-General Sir Andrew 11. Bussell, commanding the New Zealand Division in the field, has been slightly wounded, fortunately the injury is so slight (hat General Bussell is able to remain with the unit.

Says the Podding Star: —it is reported that a Halcombe farmer, who recently left that district sold his farm to a German neighbour. Basalt: more aggregation, another empty house, and another strip of New Zealand territory conquered bv the Germans.

Speaking ;U tho scnd-otf to soldiers :i( the (tore Town Hall lasi wank, Mr G. .1. Amlovsuii, M.F., said llial ho had mado representations lo Iho Minister of Defence and the Commandant of (he Forces (Briga-dier-General Sir A. W. Robin) on Ihe subject of allowing shirker families to escape their responsibilities. He intended to divide (lie House at the firs I available opportunity on the subject of giving instructions to the Government that any man who refused to answer the call in defence of his country should not be allowed to own property in the Dominion. If that were given) legislative sanction most of the trouble about shirkers who disappeared would be avoided. It was scandalous (hat a man should refuse to defend the country that showered benefits on him.

It is not often an ofliclal reporting to a body suggests his own ex-

tinguishment ;is some assistance to (he solution of financial difficulties, says a West Coast paper. At the County Council meeting the overseer, Mr Millner, reporting in regard to mailers of retrenchment, suggested as a means of increasing the possible savings (hat the overseer be dispensed with. Councillors took tiie view that Mr Millner as overseer had been instrumental in helping the council throng!) a difficult period, and that it was necessary to have someone in charge of matters outside the ollice so that full control would he exercised. The council concluded by extending the overseer's powers and duties instead of dispensing with his services.

Tin 1 natives of these islands (writes the Toucan correspondent of the Auckland Star) are keenly interested in the approaching Koval marriage of Princess Saiuie and Prince Tugi, The Princess is the eldest daughter of IFis Majesty the King' of Tonga, and was for some years resident in Auckland, where she received an English education. Prince Tugi also was educated abroad, and spent several years at the Newington College, Sydney. He was one of the few Tongans who have had a trip to the Old Country. It is not known definitely when the marriage will take place, but it must be soon, for great preparations are being made for the ceremony. “(lee whir.!” and (lie prompt application of a motor car’s brakes accompanying the exclamation, provided the sudden introduction of a “fresh poiid of view” with “great possibilities" to the occupants of a two-seater car the other night at Paten (says the Wanganui Chronicle). Making south, the car took the second corner to the left, instead of the third, when (he sadden disappearance of the white road line in the lamplight caused the driver to pull up just in lime, within a few yards only of a precipice overlooking the river Hat below. With no apparent obstruction or indication of the danger, this short road, so easily mistaken at night, eannot he considered over safe. Those responsible for the road would' he rendering a service hy erecting a suitable danger signal at I lie spot.

There was a time before (lie. Prime Minister of Australia (Mr W. M. Hughes) became known to fame as a politician, when he mended umbrellas in the vicinity of the Sydney wharves, sold books, and did all sorts of odd jobs. He tells in his own caustic way how Providence once signally smiled uj)on him. He found an old signboard with ‘‘locksmith” on it in bold letters, and hung' it outside his modest dwelling in the hope that it might bring him in work of some kind, though a locksmith he was not by any means of imagination. A shopman came next day and wanted his iron safe opened. He had lost the key. Here was a dilemma for A illiam Morris. He went to the shop to examine the safe, not knowing what .to do to open it. While examining the mechanism of the safe his hand touched something hard in the debris underneath. It was the lost key. This he pocketed. That will lie all right, he told the shopkeeper. The key was brightened up. It opened the lock like magic, and the shopkeeper never paid away a sum more wiP liugly than he did the fee to his clever locksmith.

Among those killed in the recent fighting in France on the 7th June was Pte. Norman Wallace, brother of Mrs Alex. Saunders, of Moutoa. The late Pte. Wallace, who left with the 16th ,Reinforcements, was wellknown in'flic Hawera district, where he resided since childhood. Pte. Wallace was killed in action.

A story comes from Brussels which illustrates the spirit of the unconquered Belgians and their contempt for the Prussian invader. A Prussian officer sat opposite a young woman in a tramcar. Ho stared at her for a while, and then, loaning across, said: “Pardon me < for looking at you so hard, but you are exactly like an Englishwoman whom I know.” Like a Hash the answer came: “Nurse Cnvell?”

Elsewhere in this issue wo reproduce from our esteemed contemporary, the Wanganui Herald, the report of a visit made by Wanganui and Bangitikei Councillors to Taranaki to inspect the sealed tar arterial roads in that province. We commend the article to the Manawatu County Council, and would respectfully suggest that a similar \isil be arranged by them. Taranaki's experiment in road construe(ion has been eminently successful from every point of view.

it is commonly supposed that all American inventors become millionaires. But a marvel of mechanism whose development was accompanied by tragedies in two lives was the Paige type-setting machine. Mark Twain promoted it, and (he speculation bankrupted him. Janies W, Paige, the inventor, is, according to the American Printer, now an inmate of tiie poorhouse at Oak Forest, Illinois. The machine contained 15,000 parts, and its complexity and cost of construction prevented its success commercially.

A remarkable scene from the baltle-lield is depicted in a letter Irom Private A. -J. Lewis to friends in Fort Sunlight, Cheshire. His let!er says: “Within -18 hours of arriving at the front, live weeks ago. I was on a burial party on an old battlefield. Here’s a picture that should be to the credit of one unknown hero —a giant Canadian, dead by a bayonet wound, but, in death, holding in each hand a German by the throat. Germans tight in pairs, one -parries, the other jumps in with bayonet. It came off all right, but the Canadian bayonet ed had jumped forward and strangled by brute strength each opponent.

“Men are the most important thing just now,” said Mr 11, W. Bishop, S.M., at (he sittings of the Second Canterbury Military Service Board on Saturday. “Men arc even more important than essential industries. More important than food, as one Minister said the other day.” The appeal under review was one in which a big freezing company, whose meat went to the » imperial Government, applied for exemption for its chief electrician. “The Board should obtain all the men in the First Division it juissihly can,” continued Mr Bishop,” even at the. cost of a loss to a certain in- -i< dustry. The Imperial Government will have to bear the loss caused by a case such as this.”

Mr H. Symes, sou of Mr F. •Symes, of the local Hank of New Zealand, met with a somewhat serious accident while motor cycling home from Palmerston last night. It appears that in passing a vehicle not far from the racecourse, the cyclist did not notice antoher vehicle behind, and with which the motor cycle collided. Mr Symes’ injuries consist of a broken left arm and an injury to the knee and several minor bruises to the head and taco. After receiving some attention at the house of Air Procter, Mr Symes was conveyed home, where he received medical attention. He is progressing as satisfactorily as ••an he expected, but it will he some time before he can gel about again. Mr Wm. White, one of the inmates of the Home for Aged Needy, at Wellington, celebrated his 101st birthday on Monday. In honour of the event, the chairman of the Board of Trustees (Mr H. Allan, ■J.P.), together with Messrs George Petheriek, J.P., and J. E. Evans, paid a visit to the home, and dined with the veteran, who, despite his many years, is enjoying excellent health, is still possessed of ail his faculties, and lakes a lively •interest in the war. Only on Tuesday he remarked that were lie thirty years younger lie would volunteer for active service. He is one of a family of seven, and was horn in London, his father being a stone-mason by trade. A good deal of ins life has been spent in Australia, but the last; forty years in Now Zealand. deferring to the damage caused to roads and bridges hy the heavy Hoods that have taken place in various districts during the past few months, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W, Eraser, said at Auckland on Thursday last that the demands on his Department for special grants as a result of the damage had been very great. Fortunately lie had taken the precaution during tixe past two to set aside £50,000 in each year as a special fund to meet flood damage. Diumg the first year for which JJijs fund was available about £35,000 were expended, but for the second twelve months the special grants required would amount to considerably more than £50,000, The Minister added that, as many local bodies were seeking small grants for works that properly should come under the heading of ordinary maintenance, it had been found necessai’y to decline to make grants for flood repairs in cases in which thq cost would be under £SO,

Mr Clntha Mackenzie, son of New Zealand’s High Commissioner, is spending a few days in Palmerston. Mr Chitlin Mackenzie was in camp at Awapuni with the Main Cody. He had the great misfortune to lose his eyesight during the Gallipoli campaign, and has since recently been editing a New Zealand soldiers' magazine in London. Mr Mackenzie contemplates an early return to England. .Japan is now supplying sheet glass to Australia and New Zealand. Formerly our sheet glass came either from Kngland or Belgium, mostly from the latter country, for in order to compete satisfactorily the foremost manufacturers of glass in the United Kingdom established works in Belgium. Up till a little over a year ago local importers were still aide to get glass from Belgium—under a permit from the British Consul at Amsterdam—-hut that practice lias keen stopped, and merchants have had to seek elsewhere for supplies.

If anyone Avere asked to name the greatest recent triumph of Americanism in the British speech, the chance would probably fall on the Avord “some,” Used as an adjective ora superlative. Vet it must he kept in mind that words, like curses and chickens, come home to roost, and (lie use of “some” in Ibis relation is only the return of a prodigal. A correspondent in a recent “Saturday Review" (London) pointed out that “some’’ in the present American usage is really of Cornish origin, and was transferred thence to the United Stall's, and re-imported. So do (he years make Avhips of our pleasant provincialisms.