LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1755, 4 September 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day’s sunshine is a welcome change from tlie recent squally weather. , The following are the vital statistics for Foxton for the month of August: Births 7, deaths 3, marriage certificates issued 1. A Sydney ('able says : —Tom Barker and seven members of the 1.W.W., were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment without the option. Investments in the War Loan through the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand and the Post Office totalled in round figures £1 2,000. In the 'schools football tournament at Palmerston North on Saturday, Wellington beat Wanganui by 8 points to 3, and Manawatu beat Wairarapa by 28 to nil. Owing to (he flooded state of the Manawatu, whitebait has not been very plentiful. There should be some good hauls if the weather continues lino. The famous Now Zealand oarsman, Dick Arnst, somelipic world’s champion sculler, is at present doing war work with the Sydney Harbour Motor Patrol. A long time ago he volunteered for active service abroad, but was repeated. A novel but perhaps effective means of penalising the irresponsible people who supply prohibited persons with liquor was suggested in a law Court the other day. It is this: That in addition to the usual fine, the “supplier’ himself shall be prohibited for twelve months ns part of the punishment for helping another to break the law.

An exchange says that whitebait have been caught in the Waimakariri, at Kaiapoi. It the weather becomes warm shoals of these tiny lish will again give employment till December for numbers of fishermen who ore now overhauling their punts and equipment for netting as well as selecting eligible stations upon the river banks for prospective residences.

A substantial penalty has been inflicted at Kawhia by Mr E. Rawson, S.M., in a case in which a Maori was charged with selling liquor and with stealing a livepound note. Constable H. (Smith brought evidence to show that the accused was selling broken-down whisky, probably methylated spirit, for £1 per ’ bottle. Accused was convicted and fined £SO, or three months’ hard labour. Duncan Clark, a labourer, was. fined £3 for supplying liquor to Maoris.

Don’t be anxious, little mother! All your needless fears dispel; Tho’ your darling seems to smother, In .the morning she’ll be well. If you’ll keep her .warm and cheerful And all home-made dope's abjure— Don’t be timid, tired and tearful; Give her Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 19

Among -those recently wohnded was Rifleman A. 11. Yales, of Monton.

Those called up in the ballot have received notice to present themselves for medical examination tomorrow. Quick work!

It is rumoured that the Government will fix 7.30 p.m. as the hour for closing hotels in the Bill to ho submitted to Parliament. “New Zealand stands alone as far as patriotic funds are concerned,’’ said Dr. Thacker in the House. Ho paid a tribute to the workingclass for the way in which it had contributed to the patriotic funds.

The Minister of Finance directs me to acknowledge receipt of 5s (one sum), forwarded to’the Railway Department by a person unknown, as conscience-money to the New Zealand Government, —Extract from the Gazette.

A cow on Mr Pigolt’s farm at Moutoa gave birth to a freak calf •the other day. The calf was wellnourished, but only had three legs. In place of the fourth leg there was a wing-shaped appendage. Mr Pigott destroyed the calf.

“We in New Zealand do not understand anything about intense cultivation,” said Mr C. J. Parr at a public address in- Masterton last week. “If anyone wants a lesson,” he said, “lot him go to Franco.’’ Speaking in the House, Mr Veitch contended that no man but a real soldier prepared to tight for his country should be allowed to wear khaki, (Hear, hear). They had far too many men who were not soldiers, in khaki.

Dissent to (lie tax on tea was expressed by Dr. Thacker in Parliament. Ho said (hat it; such a tax was .imposed a (ax should also bo plaeed on coffee. He was opposed to any such tax, however, and favoured (he ‘‘free breakfast table.”

The average attendances at the local Slate school for the past four weeks wore: 330, 335, 331, 352,(i. The average for the whole period was 337.1, out of an average roll number of 378.5, The present roll number is 380.

Kind of jest (hat will be current in 1.025: —Small boy: 'bind what did yon do in the groat war, daddy?” Father: "Well, for one thing, my son, I- prevented your mother christening you Herbert David Horatio Lloyd George.” Two Foxton hoys, Stanley Robert Austin and Weston James Barber (son of Mr Richard Barber, of Te Iloro) have qualified for the Royal Aero Club’s aviation certificates at the Flying School at Kohimarama. When the chairman announced at last night’s School Committee meeting that Mr Gabiles, first assistant, had decided to forego the transfer on promotion and remain at the local school, committeemen greeted the decdsion with a chorus of appreciation.

Said to have happened at the Napier Drill Hall. — A recruit Avith a Avooden leg avus passed as Jit for active service, but a further examination shoAvcd that the member in question Avas afflicted Avith “borer,” and' the recruit avus turned doAvn as “unfit.”

/ The Chief; Justice has ordered a fourth trial of Whirihana, the native motorist, on a charge of; manslaughter, at Napier. Throe juries have disagreed. The next trial will fake place at Palmerston North. The charge is the outcome of the death of a newspaper runner at Hastings,

The Greymouth Star states that a local electrician has. designed a earhnrrettor to operate motor car engines on common kerosene in place of petrol, lie Ims been at work on the idea for four years, and the tests have been so satisfactory that he has decided to give a demonstration. The great advantage claimed is that; it is always ready to start, no pi’imary healing apparatus being required. The idea is being protected by letters patent.

Evidence that veterans at the front will welcome the furlough which has been arranged for them is contained in a lotjer written to a, Christchurch citizen by one of them. “1 don’t mind a battle,” bo says, “but one Ims nothing to look forward to if one does got through scalhless. One has only to get ready for another fight. Why don’t they send some men to relievo us, and give us old bauds a spell? Do (hey expect us to go on for ever? Sometimes I think my old comrades who fell at Gallipoli were lucky, as their experience of this hell was short, though glorious.”

The* programmes advertised to he -screened during this week at the two Palmerston North theatres are of considerable interest to visitors from Foxton to Palmerston. On Wednesday (to-morrow) will he screened at The Kosy a Sterling film, “The Page Mystery,” and the first episode of “The Iron Claw,” a wonderful serial film from the Pathe studios; on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at this theatre, will he submitted as the star item a drama featuring Robert Warwick, entitled “The Argyle Case.” The week’s bill-of-fare at The Palace Theatre is headed by a very attractive item to-morrow evening, starring Sheldon Lewis, “Pursuing Vengeance,” and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings will be screened a 5aet Metro masterpiece, “Child of Destiny.” Looking a little ahead, it has been arranged that the great film production “Ignorance,” the latest big play to arrive in the colony, will be shown at The Kosy in the near future, full notice of which will be given the public when the dates-have beep definitely arranged.

The monthly meeting of the Boro- JT ugh Council will be held on [Monday, 10th last., at 7.30 p.m. Business: Ordinary, The Finance Committee meets at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, 7th ™ inst,, and the Library Committee at 7 p.m. on Monday, 10th inst.

The Palmerston branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union has passed the following resolution: —“That this meeting protests at the drastic nature of the taxation proposals, and that Messrs Wingate, Vautier, Vile and the mover proceed to Welling-, ton to support the country members in an endeavour to get more consideration for the farming community.’’

While exercising a horse on the Porirua beach last week a lad named D. Leslie, attached to J. IT. Prosser's stables, noticed a woman in difficulties in a quick sand. He immediately rode to her assistance, and, dismounting, plunged fully dressed into the stream and brought her to shore. The woman, who was then unconscious, was eventually resuscitated. The lad’s action will be brought to the notice of the Royal Humane Society.

A subscriber writes to say (hat one morning this week he found his paper in t he garden with a spider inside, and asks whether that means good or bad hick. It moans neither good or bad luck. AH that happened was that the spider went inside to discover which merchant in the town did not advertise. Then ho intended to spin his web across the door of that establishment, and live in peace and tranquility ever afters Avards.

Thursday last was (he third anniversary of the landing' at Samoa of the advance guard from New Zealand. The force of between 1,100 and 1,200 men, mobilised just after • the outbreak of hostilities, left Wei- 0 lington on 15th August, 1014, or tea days after the news of Britain’s en- ~ try into the war was received in the * Dominion. Fifteen days later, according to New Zealand time, the force, which included 300 Auckland, men, landed without opposition and occupied Apia. Samoa was thus the first German colony to be seized for Britain.

Rain up country Avas responsible for a small flood in the Manawatu river this week. The river commenced to vise yesterday, and was at, its highest last night, the lowlying country along its banks being inundated. There was water on the Shannon road bctAvecn the bridge and Shannon last night, but this disappeared fast to-day, and the road is hoav practically clear of water, and does not interfere Avith traffic.

At Rotorua on Tuesday, before Mr R. W. Dyer, S.M., Win. GoodAvin, of Matamata, ivas charged by the < police that he did publish a statement in a manner Avhich indicated disloyalty. Air Davis appeared for \ the accused and pleaded not guilty. After hearing evidence the magistrate comucted accused on both charges. The utterances Avere certainly disloyal and seditious. lie avus quite satisfied that the AVordskC alleged had been used by and had been said Avhile he Avas sober and in his senses. The present avus no time for playing fool, and disloyalty while the Avar Avas on must lie put down Avith a firm hand. Accused Avould be sentenced to eleven months’ imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent.

The death occurred suddenly at Palmerston North on Sunday evening of Mr John Barnett, of Lees-. ton, Canterbury, and father of Dr, Barnett, late of Palmerston North, and now on active service, Mr Bar-, nett came to Palmerston a day or two ago, accompanied by Mrs Barnett, senr., en route for To Ban, near Morrinsville, He attended St. Paul’s Methodist Church in the evening. On nearing their destination, ho mentioned that his heart £ was troubling him a little. He sat down in the church before the service started, and after making one or two remarks, dropped back with a slight sigh, and was dead. The deceased gentleman, who was 73 years of age, had suffered from heart trouble some years ago, but of late years had been singularly active and robust. His death will cause a painful sensation in Canterbury, whore ho had carried on farming pursuits for many years, and where ho had been closely identified with Methodism for a long period. The body was taken south to-day. .