LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1746, 11 August 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day is real spring wen I her, with .a sharp frost this morning. Air Tom. L. Alills, editor of the Feilding Star, is a week-end visitor to Foxton.

The Foxton Ladies’ Patriotic Guild and the Girls’ Guild are arranging a combined shop day in aid of the Red Cross funds.

Air L. Aianghan, of Shannon, is assembling an aeroplane, and intends to make a trial trip as soon as everything is in working order.

The Minister of Defence received advice that the 25th Reinforcements have reached their destination all well.

A presentation is to be made to Air Aitkeu, by scholars of the local Btate school on Tuesday afternoon. Air Aitken is going into camp in about a fortnight’s-time. The alleged breaches of the peace which took place in a local hotel last Saturday are to be heard before the Altigi,stride at the next sitting. William Caleb Smith, formerly of Foxton, and now of Christchurch, lias been adjudged a bankrupt. A meeting of creditors was held at Palmerston to-day.

For cruelly ill-treating a hoi I ,so by allowing it to work while in an unlit slate, D. L. Burns, a carrier, was lined £lO, or two months’, at Wellington yesterday. Government offices throughout New Zealand will be closed on Alonday, 24ili September, in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the day on which New Zealand was created a Dominion.

The recent winds have dried up the adjoining county roads, which are more or less iu a bad state of repair after the recent prolonged wet weather. The roadmen are spreading metal on the FoxtonPalmerstou road.

Man Douglas, aged two years, met his death by falling into a mud tank at (South Dunedin. Apparently the grajing over the mud tank collapsed and the child fell in. lie was dead when taken out.

There were present at the special meeting of the. Borough Council held last night; The Alayor (Air John Chrystail) and Crs. Coley, Thompson, AleAlurray, Stevenson, Bryant, AlcColl and Henderson,

The Alayor (Air John Chrystail) was appointed at last night’s Council meeting lo represent Foxton on tho deputation that is to wait on the Prime Alinisler in reference to the hydro-electric power scheme at Wellington next week. “A sound principle of taxation is that you should lax a man on something he has. If you lax a man for being a bachelor, you tax him for something which he has not got —a wife.” —Air G. Hunter on a suggested bachelor tux.

A military deserter was arrested in this district yesterday’ by Constables Gow (Palmerston North) and Woods (Foxton). The man had eluded the police for some two months, and had been traced from several jobs. He was working at draining when arrested yesterday.

The Rev. Air Harding has succeeded iu obtaining sufficient members to form a local woodwork class, under the direction of the AVanganui Education Board. The Board’s director has given instructions to proceed with the class, and the Rev. Air Harding has been appointed local supervisor, Bgfore starting the classes arrangements are being made to ensure an uninterrupted lease of the premises, and when this is completed the necessary equipment will be provided.

Residents were privileged to witness a magnificent display of the Aurora Australis on Thursday evening'. At first it looked like the reflection of some great conflagration, then followed huge hands of light running high into the heavens. The celestial visitation remained until about S) o’clock.

At Tolago Bay, Heini Rangi, a. Native woman, aged 100 years, was burned to death on Thursday. Deceased had been in the habit of sleeping in a tent, and was left with a candle burning. Next morning the charred remains of the tent were found, and the Woman’s body lying just beyond the circle of fire. At the special meeting of the Borough Connell held last night, it was decided, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Coley, that Ibis Council most strongly urges upon the Government the desirableness of installing hydro-electric power at the earliest possible- moment, in the general interest of the Dominion.

Sir Joseph Ward states that the fjuestion of filthy bank-notes lias been brought under the notice of the banks, to whom further represent a lions are being made. The statement was the result of a question by Dr. Thacker, whether the Government, would at once deal drastically with flic (Ilfby, infeefed bank-notes in circulafion. and in'■reusing in numbers.

The death is reported of Mr 0. P. Donnelly, a well-known pioneer of Hawke’s Bay, aged 70. Since the

outbreak of war ho had displayed practical patriotism by contributing substantial amounts lo various funds, besides financing and sel f ling returned soldiers, lie was a prominent' breeder of blood stock, and his colours were carried to victory in mosl of flic principal jumping events in New Zealand.

A serious accident happened on Thursday night to Air S. Hopkins; foreman of the Palmerston N. Biro Brigade staff. As I lie car was slowing down, Air Hopkins, apparently under-estimating its speed, stepped out, and was thrown heavily, his .head sinking (he load. The im fori tin ate man sustained very serious injuries, including a fracture of the ba-e ,rf (he skull, [lis condition is very grave. A. return published in the Gazette gives the estimated population of New Zealand on 30th June, exclusive of Maoris and residents of Cook and other Pacific Islands, at 1,090,240,‘0f which number 540,80.1 are males and 555,37!) are females, The Maori population at the lime of the 1910 census was 49,770, and the population of the Cook and other Pacific Islands was 12,797, and these totals bring the estimated population of the Dominion up to 1,158,813.

“Violet Day” was celebrated in Wellington yesterday, and was a great,.success. The weather was fine, and the workers ln\*y all day selling (lowers, produce, and other goods. A, procession was held, headed by (tie Trent ham Band. Aluch interest was taken in a party of Maoris from the Aianawatu, who performed a poi dance and sang tunefully. As a result of the day’s efforts ,i'l,G37 was hanked, and there are still some boxes to come in from the suburbs.

It was resolved at the last meeting of the committee of the Victoria University College Graduates’ Association: “That this, association is of opinion (Iml the raising of money for patriotic, purposes by such methods as Queen Carnivals, Silver Bullet campaigns, and similar methods, is not only wasteful and inequitable, but it is also contrary to the spirit of the lime, and shows an entire failure to appreciate the sacrifices of the men at the front, and for this reason this association records ils strong protest against any such proposal.”

The magnetic observatory at .Clmsteliurch reports that during the brilliant display of the Aurora Australis on Tliurftdoy night a very large magnetic storm was registered. The sjtonn assumed an extraordinary oscillatory character, and continued violent for five hours. At eight on Friday morning another large storm commenced. Both storms and aurora are undoubtedly associated with the abnormal solar activity. The director is of opinion that the solar activity has no connection with the recent earthquake.

Feeling references were made in Parliament on Thursday to the death of (he eldest son of Sir Francis Bell. Captain W. If. L). Bell, of King Edward’s Horse, and a former member fur the Suburbs- seat, who had been killed in action. The Prime Minister (Right lion. AV. P. Massey), Sir Joseph AA'ard, and others testified to the good qualities of the man who had .given his life for the Empire. The Legislative Council adjourned as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Captain Bell.

At the 'Wellington Supreme Court, after three days’ trial, William Henry Duupliy was found guilty of assaulting a Chinaman at Greymouth and robbing him of £430, Accused’s counsel said Dunphy was 22 years of age, and had twice enlisted, but had been brought back by his mother on each occasion. -Just previous to the offence he had been medically examined and was going into camp. Dunphy strenuously denied Laving committed the offence. The Crown Prosecutor said Dunphy’s trouble was to be attributed to idleness, and he had also had a good deal of money to spend. Air Justice Denniston committed Dunphy to gaol for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding three years,

Miss Brcsnahan, who was knocked down by a taxi-oar at Palmerston on Wednesday evening last, died in the hospital, on Thursday as the result of her injuries. The deceased, wild is a middle-aged woman, followed the occupation of a cook, and it is thought that she was visiting Palmerston in search of a situation, as a registry office card, from which her name was obtained, was found in her effects. It is not known whether she has any relatives in Xew Zealand.

Attention is drawn to an invitation to the members of the Patriotic Concert Party and Society and (heir friends, and subscribers to the tes*.. • timonial, to a social gathering to he hold in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday evening next, at 7.45 o’clock, to farewell Mr and Mrs James Aitken on their departure from Foxum. 1 Those attending arc asked to represent a song,title, and prizes will.£ be given to the competitor obtaining the most correct answers, and to Ibe most original represent ation. His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Chrystall) will make I lie presentation at U p.m,, and between the dances items will be rendered by prominent performers.

‘'Are all (he persons who arrive in Xew Zealand from SchleswigHolstein regarded as Danes?” asked Mr R. A. Wright in the House. “If sit, is such a policy not dangerous, seeing that if is ijiiitc possible for Herman spies to reach our shores under a Danish disguise?” In this district we have several old and respected sclllcrs who came here from Schleswig-Holstein. After the

franco-Prussinn Win 1 one, owing ! o his line pbysi(|ue, was .-.elected as I lie Kaiser’s bodyguard when Mali potenlaie enlered Pan’s. Wo. don't believe, 1 u>wcsor, dial lliey have any ! inhering love of loyally for the Kaiser or (lornianv.

The announcement of (lie issue I!irough the Post Oilier of booklets

of soldieis' coupons entitling (he boldin' lu purchase cal a hies or anything cPe procurable at Y.M.C.A.

canteen.- is allracling. considerable public aiieniion, and wlien the coupons were pul on sale for the first dine a! (he Ooneral Post Ollier, Wellington, on Thursday, a dcumml immediately sef in. The single coupons are valued al Bd, and they are issued in' half-crown and live-shil-dng booklets. One of the chief objects of (he scheme-is to avoid the expense, inconvenience, and risk of loss attendant on (ho promiscuous 'ending of individual parcels. The association canteens arc to be found practically wherever the men are on active service, and the coupons will enable (be soldiers to draw on these stores to suit their own immediate convenience. A number of empiiries have been made for them at: offices of the association, but intending purchasers- are asked to note dial, they are procurable only at money-order post offices.

The evil iiiiluonec of the LW.W. iu Australia was referred to hy Mr J. il. ,'lennie at the Commercial Travellers' (Huh in Auckland on Tuesday, lie staled that when was in Sydney recently lie had seen and heard from ten to twenty speakers in the park's on addressing large crowds and utterrag seditious sentiments. These people were protected hy the police. Mr Alennic stated further that during the progress of a tire in Sydney members of the I,WAV. had rung-up I lie police and impudently declared ihal they had (mused the outbreak, lie had urged upon people in the New South Wales capita) the danger of letting the I .WAV. spread its doctrines, Iml they had treated the mailer lightly. Now they were in the throes of what was practically a rehellion against the city authorities and the Government. To his mind there was great need in Australia and New Zealand for the education of the young in political matters lest they should grow up imbued f with pernicious. doctrines.

It is a remarkable fact (hat the recent series of earthquakes hasbeen most evident and most persistent in (he Wairarapa district. An explanation of this was sought from a leading geologist. He stated that the centre of the earthquakes had not yet been fixed, as the records were not available, hut it was thought that its centre lay out to sea, if so, it mjgbt be tbal the Wairarapa was the nearest laud. There was a fault, or earthquake lino, running in the direction of the Chatham Islands to New Zealand, parallel with (he ii’uahine, Tararua, and Kaikoura Ranges. If the centre ol the recent disturbances was at the northern end of Unit line, on which many earthquakes have been plotted, Wairarapa would he affected. The line was approximately .100 miles in length, and recent earthquakes in the vicinity of Gisborne indicated that the fault extended as ' | far north as that district. Earth—* quakes are a more fundamental phenomena than volcanic action, 4 hut the latter also indicates lines of weakness. On the line referred to there ore evidences of volcanic activity hut not in the Wairarapa. Vulcanic signs are all on the west of the Ruahine Range, except for some very ancient volcanic rocks (of the tertiary period) on the East Coast. All one wet, cold winter’s day Three home-hound children, tired of play, With noses pressed to window-glass, Watched ail the rain-soaked people pass. And one among, them they v M ho passed and seemed unnerved — It made them sad, for they felt sure * He needed Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 20

Visitors to Palmerston N. next week will have a'list of tine attractions at the Palace Theatre and the Kosy Theatre at which to pass an interesting hour and a-haif. On Monday, Tuesday _ and Wednesday there will he screened at the Palace a wonderful film in natural colours entitled “-John Bull’s Empire,” a picture which will he of special interest just now, apart from its wonderful technical beauty. Thursday, Friday and Saturday next will fin'd at the Palace a him featuring the universal favourite actress, Olga, Petrova, in “Bridges Burned.” The l)ill-o'-fare at the Kosy for Monday, Tuesday-and Wednesday is headed by the ever popular Charlie Chaplin, in which that clever comedian will be seen in “.Behind the Scenes,” and also on the same programme will he “The Angel of Mercy,” a film featuring the well-known actress, Alice Brady. Something' really choice has been arranged for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, a drama entitled “The Little Brother.”