LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1744, 23 October 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Foxton presented a very deserted appearance yesterday (Labour Day). The business places and mills were closed. The Maori Entertainers had a full house at Levin last night, and the concert was much appreciated by the audience.

The Horowhenua County Council has purchased a road roller from the Eltham Council. The roller has arrived, and will soon be assisting in improving the country roads. A message from Dunedin states that a body found in Dunedin harbour has been identified as that of James Nelson, aged 40, retired, who has been missing for a fortnight.

Mr D. Knewstub offers £1 reward for information that will lead to the-recovery of the lens removed from the operating cabin of- the Coronation Town Hall during the recent bazaar.

The road between the Whirokino bridge and Poroutawliao requires attention. There are numerous dangerous ruts on this length, otherwise the main road between Foxton and Levin is in fairly good order.

The number of lives reported as lost in British - merchant vessels owing to . enemy action from the beginning of the war until June 30th was 9,745. ,

A District Court-martial opened at Palmerston to-day to try Francis Joseph Carroll, member of the well-known football family of Glen Oroua, for desertion from the Expeditionary Force. During the coux’se of his sermon at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning, the Rev. J. H. Bredin made passing reference to Trafalgar Day and England’s immortal naval hero, Lord Nelson. A man named C. Murphy was charged at the S.M. Court at Otaki for using insulting language to the guard on the train, and a fine of l‘os was inflicted on two charges, with costs totalling £4 19s 6d. Other informations were dismissed. -

Bishop Cleary has left Ireland, en route for New Zealand, travelling via San Francisco, and hoping to arrive in his diocese before. November. Dr. Cleary is bringing with him four young priests, recently ordained, for the Auckland diocese. Mr F. Woods received a telegram yesterday informing him that his brother, Corp. Ben Woods, of the 23rd Reinforcements of the N.Z. R. 8., had received a gunshot wound in the neck, and was dangerously ill in the Rouen hospital. Keen interest is being evinced by nfembers of thp Flaxmills Employees’ Union, in the Shannon locality, in the forthcoming election of secretary. Local members of the Union are not seriously concerned. It is predicted, hoAvever, that the present secretary will have all his work cut out to retain the position.

Lieut. Keith G. Smith, killed in action was a journalist, and worked with his father on the Manawatu Daily Times and the Rangitikei Advocate. He relinquished a commission to get away with the 2nd contingent, and returned with a lieutenancy from Egypt. Later he left with the 21st Reinforcements,

A further contingent of sick and wounded, comprising 152 officers and men and two nurses, have arrived in New Zealand. There are no cot or serious cases, though a few men have lost limbs A One.man, Pte. Mark, of Tuparoa, pear (Jisbom’e, w&s left at a port of call, suffering from “trench feet.” The arrivals include one wearer of the Military Medal, L.~Corpl. Halpin, of Invercargill. .

Sir James Allen reports that 12,652 members of the Expeditionary Force had returned to New Zealand up to the end of September. Of these men 9,652 had been discharged, 1,254 had returned to duty, 54 were dead, 494 were awaiting discharge, 100 were receiving hospital or sanatorium treatment, 290 were on leave, 11 were on special leave, 4 had deserted, and 6 were in prisop.