Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1738, 9 October 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

' .. All (lie houses at the local seaside have been taken for (he Christmas holidays. Heavy rain fell throughout this district on Sunday, and again this morning. ' There is a kerosene famine at present in Foxton, owing to the stoppage of the coastal steamers. A meeting of the managers of the local Presbyterian Church was held last night, when busincs of a routine nature was transacted. The scholars of the Presbyterian Sabbath school will give an entertainment in the Sabbath school on Friday evening next. The programme will consist of dialogues, recitations, songs, choruses, and instrumental items. The proceeds are in aid of (he school funds. Two Auckland milk vendors have each been lined £lO, and costs, for selling milk below the standard. Sir Frazer,' SDL, said the only way dealers could protect themselves was to insist on a written guarantee fronj those from whom they bought milk. The following' resolution- was passed at hist night's Council meeting on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by CT Me Coll; That a letter bo ■-written to the Prime Minister, urging him to use every means in his power to end the present disastrous seamen’s strike. A Belgian soldier was amusing himself by riding a donkey, and a “Tommy” suggested it should bo called “Albert.” “Oh, no,”, said the Belgian, seriously; “I love my King,” Then, “Tommy” suggested: “Let’s call him Kaiser.” “Ko,” said the Belgian soldier: “I love my donkey.” During the sermon in one of the Wellington churches on Sunday evening (says the Post), the minister asked the question; “When are we going to win the war ?” A member of the congregation created a mild sensation by quickly replying, “Never!” It is understood that the interjeetor was a foreigner, and the matter has been placed in the hands of The police. Fresh supplies of Lettuce daily at' Walker & Furrie’sA .

The Palmerston North and Otaki Bowling greens will be officially opened to-morrow. Accounts amounting to £O3l 16s 8d were passed for payment at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. The annual general meeting of members of the Foxtou feeing Club wiliffie held in the Council Chambers this evening. At the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Elizabeth Weeks, who pleaded guilty to selling milk containing added water, was convicted and fined £2O, with costs 7s. At last night’s Council meeting the librarian made application for an increase in wages of £5 per year. —The matter was referred to the Library Committee for consideration. There were present at last night’s Council meeting: The Mayor (Mr John Chryslall) and Crs Hurley, McColl, Coley, McMurray, Bryant, Stevenson and Thompson. An apology for absence was received from Cr Henderson. At last night’s Council meeting, Cr Coley said that the sides of Wharf Street were being cut up through the traffic going along the sides to avoid the new metal in the centre of the road. He moved that planks be placed in Wharf Street so HiliKTaffi c using that street be compelled to keep on 'the metal. This was seconded by the Mayor, and carried. “I am afraid that the Minister of Agriculture Will be a good deal disappointed when he gets the result of the census that is now being taken of the area put doAvn in cereal crops (writes “Agricola” in the Farmers’ Union Advocate). It is not possible that it will come up to his requirements. But there is every prospect at the present time of the yield being above the average, which is something. If there is not some slogging work in store for some of us this harvest, 1 am no good at all as a prophet.” A startling incident in (ho career of Captain Wm. Coleman, who.died recently at Wanganui, at the age of 82, is recalled by some old residents. After he bad taken part in the gold rush to Collingwood, where lie was success Cal, he purchased a small vessel and began trading with her between Nelson and Wanganui. During rough weather sea-water found its way into the vessed, and slacked her cargo of lime, with the result that her sides wore forced out, and she foundered. The captain and crow were saved. Come users of the roads, especially in the Manawatu county, have the habit of slicking to the centre of the road, even when meeting traffic coming in the opposite direction. Drivers of teams of horses are said to be specially vicious in this respect. In several cases reported lately (lie teamster lias compelled the other fellow to pull right off the road. It has therefore been decided by the authorities to prosecute those drivers who do not keep to the near side of the road when mooting other traffic. The law gives ample power to do so. The local borough council recently made arrangements for a regular rubbish removal service, the cost of removal to be paid by the person concerned, but so far very few have signified their intention of availing themselves of the service. At lastnight’s Council meeting the Inspector of Nuisances reported that he had made a canvass of the Alain Street for the names of tradespeople willing 1 to have the service, but was sorry to say he did not get many. He asked for instructions in the matter. —It was decided on the motion of Crs* Stevenson and McColl, that the Inspector of Nuisances be instructed to take action against any persons allowing rubbish to accumulate. The. Kaitangata correspondent of the Balclutha Free Frees states: Air Thos. Gage returned home from the West Coast last week, whither he had gone over three weeks ago to liclj) in the search fordiis youngest son Tommy, who was lost in the bush at Taieri-Aloana on September 3rd. The search proved quite unavailing, and the lad, who is 13 years old, has been given up for dead. The lad had been brought up with his grandmother. It appears that lie went into the hush after a cow, and when ho did not return in the evening the alarm was given, and search parties went out, and although- the bush was scoured for weeks the lad could not be found. The dog which went with him returned a couple of days afterwards.

The ranger reported at last night’s Council meeting that 21 horses and four cows had been impounded during the month of September. He also drew attention to the fact that residents are in the ''habit of herding cows on the roads, and asked what action he should take in such eases. Cr Stevenson said if the ranger took a trip up ICorbiton road some nights he would get 25 ’head of stock. There was stock aI 1 over the borought at night, and something should be done in the matter. Cr McColl said the ranger ought to know his duties, they had been pointed out to him often enough. Cr Coley said there was always stock on the road. He noticed in the pound book that one resident had had his" horse impounded four times lately. This man should lie prosecuted. They should prosecute all offenders in this respect, starting with the richest men first. — On the motion of Crs McColl and Stevenson, the ranger’s report was adopted, and his attention be called to the by-law on this question.

“Many close, observers are of Ihe opinion, despite occasional optimistic utterances by people in authority, that jiractically the whole optput of primary products usually exported will have to remain in store this season for want of shipping (writes the Stratford correspondent of the Taranaki Herald). Storing accommodation will have to be provided, and so will financial accommodation for the producers.”

A heavy gale was experienced in AA r cllington on Saturday, co'ntiuuing until Sunday morning. The velocity of the wind averaged 30 to 35 miles an hour, with gusts at frequent intervals ranging up to fifty miles an hour. The gale was at its height in the early hours of Sunday morning, one gust (at G. 20) attaining a velocity of 62 miles an hour, equal to a pressure of 11A pounds to the square foot.

In reference to the military appeal of Mr Harry Signal, published in our last issue, and which we clipped from our Palmerston morning contemporary, portion of the evidence was misreported. Mr Signal was reported as , saying that “his father and Mr Ross did the outside work of the firm” (Messrs Ross and Signal). Mr Signal staled distinctly that the outside Avork was done by ids jjartner,(Mr Ross), not “fal her.” AA T e may mention that Mr Signal offered his services to the naval authorities some time ago (for which branch Ids training eminently fits him), but red tape obstacles were put in the way. Mr Signal is prepared to do his .share for the Empire in any capacity, the appeal being for an extension of time to arrange business affairs.

An altogether unusual request — or rather explanation of a request — eamc before the Alanawatu County Council oil Saturday. A settler whose farm is at Rangiotu approached the Council by letter, and said a recent Hood had placed his farm under water. Ho had been compelled, therefore, to graze his stock on the roads. He had made a request to the Council's officer for permission to graze the roads for a few days, but this had been refused, and his stock impounded. In the circumstances, ho asked the Council to refund the £3 odd poundage fees lie had been compelled to pay. Further information given to the Council was to the effect that the settlor wanted several, weeks’ grazing on he roads —not a few days. The Council decided to inform the settler’that there had been many complaints of grazing stock, and they could not make a refund of the fees.

At last night’s Council meeting Mr T. W. Mitchell, nightman and poundkeeper, tendered his resignation, to take effect in one month’s lime. —The Mayor said that Air Mitchell had been one of the Council’s most faithful servants, and he was very-sorry to receive his resignation. He had interviewed Mr Mitchell to see if ho would reconsider it, but Mr Mitchell said that he had been 4 A years on the job, and felt that the ivork was now telling on him. He said the pound cottage was in a had position fur anyone who required to sleep in the daylime, as the noise from the mills prevented him getting as much sleep as he should do. Councillors also spoke in complimentary terms of the satisfactory manner in which Mr Mitchell had earned out his duties, and it was decided, on the motion of CT McColl, seconded by the Mayor, that Mr Mitchell’s resignation be accepted with great regret, and that a letter of appreciation of the manner in which he had carried out his duties he forwarded to him. It was further deeided on the motion of Crs Hurley and McMurray, that applications be culled for the position of nightman and poundkeeper on the terms and conditions at present in force.