Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1747, 14 August 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Since 1 ho increase in (lie price of tobacco, Mnsterlou tobacconists report a considerable demand for tbe New Zealand article. Since (he debate on (lie Financial Statement opened last Tuesday, fourteen members of Parliament have ventilated their views on (lie proposals contained in it. The discussion will probably last all (his week. The indications are that as soon as the Taxation Bill is introduced the debate will collapse. The rainfall in Auckland has been excessive of late, and, some of the local bodies are greatly concerned at (he large expenditure of money on repairing damage to roads, footpaths, etc. In one part of a certain suburb the Hood water was nearly up to the lop of the fences, and a boat was rowed over the lawn and flower garden of one of the residences. The Standard's Wellington correspondent writes: —‘‘The further duty placed on cigarettes amounts to something like a farthing on the packet of ten, but the retailers, who so far have paid no extra duly at all, are already charging sevenpenee a packet in place of the former sixpence." A local retailer says the Wellington merchants raised their prices a few days ago, and the small traders, in self-protection, were compelled to follow their example. At a meeting of the Master!on executive of the Teachers’ Institute it was decided to enter a protest against the suggestion entertained in certain quarters that while primary male teachers have been and will be conscripted to the detriment of the State .school system, other teachers in private and denominational schools shall be exempted. The Institute desires to call the attention of parents to the menace to efficient education the continual conscription of the depleted ranks of male teachers will involve. Wanted: Housewives to realise that it pays to purchase groceries and household requisites at Walker and Furrie’s,

A .six-roomed house is advertised for sale or to let. ■ The Queen of the South, hemp laden, sailed for Wellington on Saturday night. She is due back with a cargo of general on Thursday. The Secretary of the Fox tun Racing Club-notifies that nominations for the position of stewards close on Wednesday, the 22nd instant. At the Palmerston S.M. Court yesterday, Arthur Sexton, of Himatanugi, was fined 20s and costs for motoring at a dangerous speed in the Palmerston borough. The rainfall registered locally from 0 a.m. yesterday until nine o’clock this morning was 78 points, three points over threc-c(uarters of an inch. A troupe of Maori entertainers, which includes some of.the best talent in the Wellington province, will give an entertainment in the Town Hall, Foxton, shortly, in aid of Mrs Pomare's Maori Soldiers' Fund. Flood water still covers the Fox-ton-Levin road in places between Xu. 2 Line and the Whirokino bridge. Jt is not safe for motorists to negotiate unless familiar with the road. Floating drift; wood is apt to cause the motorist to get off the crown and run the car into fairly dee]) water. This has already happened in several instances. While the present rain and westerly weather continues there is little hope of the water receding. A peculiar proposition was put to the Auckland City Council last week by a Hcniuora resident who requested that he be' allowed to work out, by carting, the amount of his rales (which totalled over i'(iO) at the same rale as the contractors. The City Engineer reported that the council had a contract for all day labour work in the district, and it was decided that (he proposal could not be entertained. Mrs J. Still, of Hamilton, has (he proud record of having six sons in the Hew Zealand Forces at the front, all of whom volunteered whilst residing in Wellington, Their names, in order of enlistment, arc —Corporal Ames E. Still, Corporal Richard W. Still, Private Archibald E. Still, Gunner R. E. Still, Private Leslie J. Still, and Private John 11. Still. Corporal Amos Still is at present sick in hospital, being the first of the six to be laid aside. Both he and his brother Richard went through the Somme battle. The latter won his two stripes in France. Over two thousand persons attended the funeral of the. late Mr G. P. Donnelly, who was laid to rest beside the remains of his late wife in the Maori burial grounds at Omaha on Sunday. The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald represented the Government. The lion. Sir James Carrol and the Hon. Air Ngata were "also present. .Maoris came from all parts of (he Dominion. At the conclusion of the mournful ceremony, the several Maori chieftains addressed welcomes to (he Government parly. The Rev. Mr Clarke and the Rev. F. A. Bennett conducted the graveside service. A man named George Henry Walburton pleaded guilty at the Palmerston S.M. Court, yesterday, to a charge of attempting suicide at Tiakitahuna on Angus! Ist. Sergt. Henry slated that defendant was found in (lit 1 Tiakitalmna railway station with a severe wound in (he throat. He was brought to the Palmerston Hospital, and was now convalescent. The. man appeared to have been under a delusion at the time of the occurrence, . but now seemed to have recovered. Defendant was convicted and discharged on his agreeing to pay expenses amounting to £4 15s (id. The days of large families have not altogether gone, as far as Canterbury is concerned, at leas). Air A. C. Nottingham, of Ilalswell, went into the Christchurch Star office on Thursday to announce with pride and pleasure that he had just registered the birth of his twentieth child. The little stranger is a boy, and (he family now consists of ten boys and ton girls. One of his sons lost his life in a bicycle accident in Lincoln Road a few years ago, two are at the front, and one is a returned soldier. Airs Nottingham, in spile of the cares imposed by her large family, enjoys the best of health. Prior to the screening of the war films showing the British Army in France, at Auckland, Monsignor Mahoney expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity of showing his esteem for the good work which the Y.M.C.A., Red Cross and other organisations were doing,/'at the front, and mentioned (he letters,he had received from , Bishop Cleary testifying to his own experience in regard to these associations, and the good fellowship engendered among all creeds by their work of charity and mercy. He also referred to the establishment by the Catholic, Anglican and other -churches of Field Service Funds to assist chaplains in ministering to the spiritual needs of the troops. In regard to the ‘‘tank's,” he stated, as evidence of the spread of temperance among the troops, that the gunners now preferred when in battle to be “in the tank” rather than “on the tank.” That “Jack is as good as his master” May be all very well as a jest, Despite such patter, in men as in matter, . . The best will be always the best. In the keen competition for trade, Worth alone can succeed and endure — For coughs and colds the principle holds In Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 21

After a painful illness, extending over several months, Mr William John Melles died at the Palmerston North Hospital on Friday last. He was a railway officer with 39 years’ service in the locomotive branch. He leaves a family of three sons and three daughters. One of his sons, Lieut. Alex. Melles, is on active service, and has gained the Military Cross, with an additional bar. A hitherto unpublished incident in the life of Charles Darwin, the celebrated scientist, was related by the Archdeacon of Waiapn (the Yen. 11. W. Williams) in his sermon at St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Wellington, on Sunday. Archdeacon Williams said that when his great career was drawing to a close, Darwin was the guest of an old friend, who was a clergyman. His host asked him in the course of conversation what was the effect of his scientific studies upon his religious beliefs. The distinguished scientist replied in words to'(his effect: “1 hope to die as I have lived with my faith in Jesus Christ unshaken." The incident was related to Archdeacon Williams by a college friend who heard the conversation. There was at least one man at The King’s Theatre, Wellington, on Sunday (says the Post), who did not agree with everything said by Mr P. C. Webb, M.P.', and he slated his disagreement in unmistakable terms. Mi- Webb was condemning ihe prison system and the mingling of lirsl,offenders with hardened criminals. “As a matter of fact." lie said, “there is not a trace of classilication in the prisons now." Immedialely from the back of the hall then l came a voice, “It’s a lie.” Amid angry protests from various parts of the theatre, Mr Webb challenged the interject or to stand up, when he ottered to make this wager —that he would pay the man fl.O to use as he liked if he could find any trace of classification in Ihe 'prisons at Wellington or Christchurch. If the man could find no such trace he should pav fill to Air Web!) for the benefit of the dependents of tin l men in gaol. “It’s on," replied (he man briefly. “Very well,” said Ah’ Webb, “wail in the hall a ftei the meeting.”