Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1746, 9 August 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A petition in bankruptcy has been tiled hy William C. Smith, electrician, of Christchurch, late of Foxton.

The Queen of the South sailed for Wellington yesterday with a cargo of hemp,and is due hack again with general to-morroAv.

“For the first time the Dominion Conference of the Farmers’ Union this year was unanimous in asking that the Government should take over the main arterial roads.

News has been received that Captain W. 11. D. Bell, of King EdAvard’s Horse, eldest son of Sir Francis 8011, and formerly member for Wellington Suburbs, has been killed in action.

There Avas another earthquake shock at Masterton yesterday. Fissures have appeared in the earth at Maurieoville and elsoAA’liere. There were 28 shocks at Wangachu Valley on Monday and Tuesday.

In vicAV of the united Avar anniversary service to be held on Sunday night, avc are asked to notify members of the several choirs to attend an united practice in All Saints’ Church at 7.30 o’clock this evening.

The Patriotic Shop will be open as usual on Saturday, and will be in charge of Mrs KelloAV and Miss Signal. There Avill be a large supply of Motueka apples on sale, and a pig that has been presented Avill be disposed of by means of a weightguessing competition.

Concrete roads are the roads of the future, says Mr Godfrey Magnus, who has returned to Wellington from the' United States. There such roads are being laid down in all parts of the country, to meet the demands of the ever-growing motor traffic. He had the great pleasure of travelling-over the 500mile concrete road that joins San Francisco with Los Engelos. “It is perfect travelling at last,” says Mr Magnus. The action of the ear is so smooth that you could imagine that you were travelling on silk,”

When a man reaches the age of 98, with a perfectly clean record (as far as the police are concerned), it would seem pretty safe to assume that he would die without coming into contact with the officers of the law and order. Such was not the case with an old Napier identity. Recently he celebrated his 98th birthday by imbibing too freely of intoxicants, and, for his own safety, he was taken into custody. The next day the presiding justice expressed surprise that so old a man should fall to such a level, and decided merely to convict and discharge the ancient first offender.

There was a good attendance of ladies in the Presbyterian schoolroom yesterday afternoon for the purpose of forming a local branch of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union. Mrs Mills (Feilding) and Miss Sorley (Palmerston N.) addressed those present, and set forth the objects of the union. It was decided to form a local branch, and the following were elected office bearers : President, Mrs Brcdin, vice-presidents, Mrs Mandl, Miss Duncan, secretary Mrs M(‘Murray, treasurer Mrs Ilornblow, “Harvest Field” secretary Mrs John Ross. It was decided to meet the third Wednesday in each month.

Cigarette prices, as increased by the Budget proposals, were referred to by Mr T. M. Wilford in Parliament last night. Mr Wilford expressed the view that a smoker would not object to paying 7d a packet, for his cigarettes so Jong as lie was certain the Government was getting (ho difference. What he ob-

jected to, however, was that the Government should get 9-25 d and the merchants J.G-25d. Ho suggested that the Government should adopt Ihe same method as was in operation in South Africa, where a eigarelic slam]) was placed on every packet, and when a packet was sold the Government received one penny. The effects of the earthquake in Masterton and district wore very much more serious than at lirst reported. There was a groat smash of bottles in the Taneru and Blairlogie hotels. The family of Air Hugh Morrison, at “AAvatoiloi,” had a very narrow escape. When the big shake came, the chimneys collapsed, and broke in (he iron roof. One chimney crashed into the room occupied hy the children and smashed the door to atoms. The debris, which included about half a ton of bricks and mortar, missed one child hy six indies. Mr 11. H. Botham, at Braneepelh, had twelve chimneys over!nriiod, and much damage done (o phi to and crockery. After the quake (here was a heavy fall of rain in Masterton, and at daylight there were distinct signs of sulphur in the street gutters. The damage to chimneys, crockery, and glass throughout the district amounts to several hundreds of pounds.

There Avas a great gathering of the chin and other settlers for many miles round at the funeral of the laic Air Donald Fraser on Monday, at ParaAvanni. Over GO motor ears loft the house, and others assembled at the cemetery. Kawana Ropiba, on behalf of the Xgatinpa tribe, gave the ancient Maori chant for the departure of the chieftain. He walked slowly and dramatically up and doAvn before the open door of the residence, and spoke feelingly of the old seniors, saying that MeKelvic was dead, McKenzie Avas dead, Brookie was dead, dim Bull was in England, and now Donald Avas leaving them for ever. The Maori, women avovc AVrouths of green leaves, and six young Maori lads bore (he coffin on their shoulders. A number of valuable Maori mats avci’o buried with the coffin. These Avcro the offerings of tlie tribe, to Avhom ho had been a friend for GO years. Sir dames Carroll, Sir James Wilson, and Messrs Colvin and Guthrie, Al’s.P., Avere among the eroAvd of old friends who attended the funeral. —Palmerston Times.

AYriiing to relatives in lla-Avera, a New Zealander avlio is a prisoner of Avar at Minden, Germany, states that noAv the days arc long he has to start Avork at 5.30 and leave off at G. 30 p.m. Parcels sent from Huavcra have reached him in good condition, though minus tobacco, Avhieh was amongst the contents Avhen despatched. Evidently neAvspupers are not denied the prisoners, as the Avriter observes that he soav by the newspapers that America, had entered into the Avar. For some time past relatives Avere alloAvcd to supplement the regular parcels sent by the Red Cross Society to prisoners of Avar witlr extra comforts, but the secretary of the Australian branch informed the relatives of the prisoner referred to above that these additional comforts had now been forbidden. and all (be men are treated alike. Money sent in future may be remitted in small amounts at intervals instead. Books and magazines approved by the German authorities may also be fonvarded.