Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1918. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1782, 29 January 1918, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1918. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

‘•The past season lias been the wettest for over half a century,” states the report of the Auckland Nurserymen’s Council, There have only been 2,000 casualties amongst troops a float since the beginning of the war. Approximately 11,000,000 troops have been carried overseas without casualty.

Elizabeth Galloway, 22 years of age. was drowned whilst bathing at AVaikanae Beach on Sunday afternoon. Two rither girls had narrow escapes. The girls were caught in the undertow.

A Palmerston dealer in potatoes stales that the present market rales are ruling lower than they have been for the last six or seven years, and certainly lower than they had been at any previous time during the war period.

At least one farmer in the district is able to say his cows did not deliver a diminishing milk How in consequence of the dry spell. By feeding the herd on lucerne he kept up the flow and the quality. It was the second cut from the lucerne patch, too, says the Feilding Star. Up to the 21st inst,, a total of 4,985 aliens had been registered In New Zealand. Following ai’e the principal numbers and countries of origin:—Austria 1,017, Germany 481, U.S.A. 2SO, Greece 69, Italy 182, Norway 229, Russia 363, Sweden 300, Belgium 104,

Few local residents are, perhaps, aware that shrimps exist in large numbers in certain portions of the Manawatu river adjacent to Palmerston, says the Standard. A fishing enthusiast set his eel basket a few evenings ago, and on lifting it in the morning found it contained quite a. respectable catch of shrimps.

The Horowhenua County Patriotic Fund has a credit of £3,549.

During tile month of December the estates of 257 deceased persons were.plaeed under the charge of the Public Trustee. The Woodville Chamber of Commerce lias agreed to a lady attending meetings to represent her Husband during his absence. It is stated by the Christchurch Press that a crop of oats in the Greenstroet district, threshed last week, returned a yield of 70 bushels per acre.

At the present price of carbide, it is estimated that the cost to light Otaki for one year would cost at least £250, without repairs to lamps, generators, etc. Mr Waller Judd, a well-known resident of Otaki, who had been in bad health for the past five years, died at Otaki on Saturday. The deceased was born at Taita, where his father, whose deatli occurred last year, has farmed for many years. Great shortage of matches prevails in England, and is explained by Mr Wardle, Parliamentary/Socretarv to (lie Board of Trade, who • 7 > reported last month that there were enough matches to go round if each adult confined his consumption to six matches per day.

It has been decided to stack 500,000 hags of wheat at Orange, N.S.W., and the work of laying in sidings will lie undertaken in the near future. This will provide ■employment for a large number of men. Another stacking site is being arranged for at Spring Hill to cope with at least 3,000,000 hags, and will be put in hand almost immediately.

One ol' “Chinese” Morrison’s stories has to do with an Australian Governor, When welcoming him in the coarse of his present visit, the Governor remarked, “And you have been here before, doctor?” “Inwardly I smiled, but outwardly I was as serious as a judge,” says Dr Morrison, in telling the story. “I told him that I arrived here as early as February 4th, 1802, and when he expressed surprise at the carliness of the date, I pointed out to him very quietly that it was my birthday.”

The warm welcome that Mew Zealanders in France invariably receive in the homes of the French peasants is referred to in a letter s from an Auckland soldier. He writes: —“Our boys are ever welcome in the peasants’ homes. We gather in front of the stove and the kiddies (lock around us with books and slates. I amuse them by sketching on their slates. We talk with the old folk in our crude French about the war and other things, . .

1, have visited French people who, perhaps, I have not seen for over a year, but they always remember me and give me a great welcome.” With regard to reservists who will reach 44 years of age before they arrive in camp, it has been definitely laid down, stales a Christchurch newspaper, that balloted reservists who are under 44 at the time (hey arc drawn in the ballot, and volunteers who are under 44 at the time they are attested and medically examined, will be sent to camp, if they are found physically lit, and will “carry on,” even if they attain the age of 44 while in camp. Such reservists will be classed C2 in camp only if the Medical Hoard considers that their apparent age is such as to render them unsuitable for training.

During 1 li<? course of his appeal l»y the loeal Town Clerk, before the Military 'Appeal Board at Palmerston, on Saturday, Capl. Walker read extracts from a letter he had received, wherein it stated that, appellant had openly boasted he would defy the military authorities when called up. The Town Clerk denied making the statement contained in the letter and stated that, the letter Imd evidently been written by some .one who had a grievance against him. He stated that his appeal was on financial grounds alone, and if the Finance Board gave him the assistance required he would go into camp at once.

“There is less poverty in Palmerston now than at any period in the Hi years I have been charitable aid officer,” said Mr Aisher, in reply to an enquiry from a Manawatu Times representative on Saturday. “We are spending less on charitable aid than usual. Most of the cases are temporary ones —pien out of work through sickness, etc. Working people seldom have any reserve, and in these cases we always have to assist. Other classes of applicants are where men desert (heir wives and families. But we usually lay (hem by the heels eventually and make them. pay. I can safely say that in both the town and district there is not a case of really extreme poverty.”

The Kairanga County Council is asking the various county councils in New Zealand to support the following motion, which it has passed: —“That, in the opinion of this council, on account of the bad state of the roads throughout New Zealand, and the ever-increasing traffic, the Government be asked to reduce railway freights on cement, tar, amTbitumen to local bodies for use in roadmaking, bridges, etc., to file same rate as coal, or, at least, to one-half of the present tariff. The council in so moving, admits that now is not, perhaps, t}ie right time to ask for concessions, tut considers the making of permanent roads would he a national benefit, and would in time mean a great reduction of the ever-increasing loan dc • mands, and the continual applications; for subsidies yr grants,”

The "Rev. 'Father Corley is to be entertained by his Shannon parishioners prior to his departure this week.

We are asked to notify members \)f the Foxton Girls’ Guild that the Guild will resume its weekly meetings at the Council Chamber this evening.

The finest ion of erecting toll gates in (he Hawke’s Bay County has been seriously considered of late, and a committee has been set up to report on the advisability or otherwise of erecting toll gates on the Te Ante road.

The Mayors and Councillors of Palmerston North, Wellington, and Wanganui and Masterton are to be invited by the Waikaremoana Hy-dro-Electrical Scheme League of Napier to visit Waikaremoana about the end of February.

A New Plymouth business man recently sent an account to a native, requesting payment, and, in reply, received the following letter, which was neatly typed on business notepaper; “I would not come and see you till our sale paid by the NiUivo Lartd Board. Our sale his confirm. Soon we get purchase money pay in. Will come and sec you.”—News,

Miss Beatrice Day, the wellknown actress, at present in France, has received from the Alliance. Francaise a bronze medal in recognition of her work cm the anti- German League, and. the same honour is being conferred upon Lady Stout, Mrs La wry, Miss Holmes, Mrs Marmont, Mrs Vicar and Mrs Moore. Off the Stage Miss Day is known as Mrs Wall.

The ex-Prime Minister (Mr Asquith) is by no means a tall man, hut his sueeessor, Mr Lloyd George, is shorter still, being barely sft. Jin. in height. He is the shortest Prime Minister sinee. Lord Rosebery oc-, eupied that exalted position, for that eloquent nobleman stands little more than sft. sin. “hi his stockings,” whilst a still earlier Prime Minister, Lord John 'Russell, had some difficulty in beating sft. Jin,

A man named Sidney Marlin Kano was drowned in a dam at Bancepeth, Master!on, while bathing on Sunday. Prom papers, found on deceased’s clothes, it appears that he was a single man, twenty-six years of age, and son of Mr Peter Kane, of Merton, Otago. He was in camj) at: Feathers!on from July to August last, when he was discharged on leave without pay. He had been employed on the Brancepcth Station for about a fortnight, and was assisting with the dipping operations.

While Great Britain is still largely governed by lawyers, France is governed to an almost similar extent by journalists. M. Clemenceau edited the daily paper “L’Homme Enchaine” until the day before he became the Prime Minister. M. Pichon, now Foreign Minister, wrote for many months a daily article in “Le Petit Journal,” M. Albert Thomas, (he Socialist leader, who was so great a success as the Minister for Munitions, now (hat he is no longer in the Cabinet, has once more joined the staff of “Ilumanite.”

The scow Mon, which was recently the centre of interest because of her capture by the German escapees from Motuihi Island, and her subsequent recapture in the vicinity of the Kermadecs, has been repaired and is now ready for duty again, states the Auckland Star, The severe weather experienced while she was being towed by a cable attached to the foremast strained her timbers severely, and necessitated extensive repairs. Tho cost of these run rough!v to about £2OO.

“Keep my name out of the paper” was the request made in several instances in connection with the recent liquor cases. Needless to say, none of those requests was complied with. Why should any one individual be specially favoured in this respect? The most, impudent request of this nature was contained in a telegram received from Kaihore, as follows: —“Case on to-day. Keep name out of paper. Consideration following.—ll. Arns.” This barefaced offer of a bribe deserves exposure as well as the strongest censure. —Tha mes Star.

‘‘While there is not so much variety perhaps as there is about the Swiss lakes, there is a more uniform ruggedness and a greater degree of grandeur than I have seen in any other lake district that I have visited,” remarked Professor Trueblood. of Michigan University, to an Otago Daily Times reporter, after a visit to Lake Wakatipu, “This ruggedness grows more and more marked as one goes up the lake, where snow-capped mountains and glaciers are seen, similar to those in Switzerland, but there is this difference, that many of the Swiss mountains are heavily timbered, while those at Wakatipu stand forth in a naked grandeur that commands instant admiration.”

" A gendeman who motored from Hawke’s Bay to Auckland writes as follows to the magazine Wheeling; “Any person who intends to visit Auckland or Rotorua hy motor car should be warned not to go, as motoring is nothing but a misery, and it is ruination to a car, Alf about the Rotorua district the roads arc awful. Even in the town they are had, and on the way out to the different sights they are more tracks, unfit for any car. . . . The main road to Auckland is in a bad way, and when the number of motorists who use and would use 1 he roads is considered, it is a disgrace. The Government has control of most of the roads between Taupo and the Hamilton district, and they are absolutely the worst m the country,”

J. M. Ellison, of Puketeraki, will contest the Southern Maori seat.

The fine weather on Sunday attracted a large number of visitors to the local seaside, the majority of whom came from Palmerston. Surf bathing attracted the majority. A meetiing of all those interested in re-forming the local Tennis Club will he held next week. The trustees have eerlain liabilities to meet in respect to the property, which will be ox-plained at the meeting.

The sentence of the court-martial which sat in Palmerston on Thursday last lo try the case of James Higgins, charged with deserting His Majesty’s service, has now been promulgated. Higgins is sentenced lo 15 months’ imprisonment.

The Wanganui Education Board meets to-morrow, when matters concerning the transfer of certain head teachers will be decided. The present proposal is lo transfer Mr Jackson to Queen’s Park (Wanganui), and Mr Furrie (Ohakunc) to Foxton.

Marjorie Ethel Gill, aged six years, daughter of Mr,Robert Gill, a farmer at Chertsey, Ashburton, met with a fatal accident on Sunday. A horse attached to a dray bolted, and the little girl was crushed between the wheels of the dray and a, post. Death was instantaneous.

The death occurred at Rotorua last week of Nepia Te Rnu, a wellknown’native resident of this coast. Deceased, who was about st> years of age, leaves a wife to mourn her loss. The body was taken first to Levin, and afterwards to Poroutawhao, where the customary tangi took place.

On January Bth last four military prisoners, John Larkin, Robert Ernest Larkin, George Henry Uolleyman, and Alexander Arthur Walker, made a sensational escape from Trentham camp. A few days later Walker gave himself up to the military authorities, but the remaining three escapees are still at large.

Residents of the district who keep bees should be careful to keep the hives free from disease, as the Department has issued instructions that prosecutions must follow where (his rule is neglected. Mr E, A. Jacobson, of Palmerston North, is the Inspector for (his district under the Apiaries Act, and will he pleased at all times to furnish any information required by bee-keepers. Mr G. A. Hobbs, of Lhion Street, has been appointed sub-inspector, and any information can he obtained through him.

Compensation for damage to a suit of clothes was the basis of a claim for £5 15s made by Francis G. White, restaurant proprietor, of Auckland, against the Dominion Picture Theatre, before Mr Cutten, SAL Plaintiff stated that while getting into a seat in the semi-dark-ness at the Queen’s Picture Theatre, he caught his trousers on a nail projecting from the back of a seat, anti ripped the nth ferial. He had tried to match the material, but was unable to do so, and was compelled to buy a new suit. Plaintiff was allowed £2 5s damages and£l 12s costs.

A motor car collided with a train, at the Styx railway crossing, Christchurch, on Saturday morning. The driver of the car, James Ashworth, aged 73, a farmer at Saltwater Creek, escaped with a, few scratches, and his three adult daughters alt received cuts and bruises. Mrs Ashworth, aged 74, received most serious injuires, her right arm being nearly torn off. She and her three.daughters were taken to the Christchurch Hospital, where the old lady died soon after her arrival. One daughter, May, was suffering from severe injuries to one of her legs. An operation was found to he necessary, Eliza both, another daughter, received injuries to her chest, and Juno, the. third daughter, suffered injuries to her arm. They are progressing favourably.

The number of drowning fatalities that have boon recorded in New Zealand of late should (asserls the Wairarapa Age) direct; attention to the necessity for swimming being made a compulsory subject at the whole of the Slate schools in the. Dominion. Only a day or two ago two girls, one of whom was sixteen years of age, got, out of their depth, in the Wanganui River, and were drowned. The educational authorities attach too little importance to swimming, both as a physical exercise and a preserver of valuable life. There is no reason why every hoy and girl attending a State school in this country should not. he taught to swim. Failure to impart instruction in this subject on tho part of those in charge of the schools is little short of criminal.

“Judging by present appearances, them will he a trchiendous buttle on the Western front within the next few months —a battle which may decide the war—but remembering the ‘battles, sedges, and fortunes’ in which General Haig and his men have played well their part during the war period, we can look forward with confidence to the next clash of anus. I am convinced that in Haig, Beatty, and Kobiuson we have three great captains, worthy of the men whom they lead and the race to which they belong, equal to the best that Britain ever produced, and capable of defending Britain’s honour in the most serious crisis we have ever been called Upon to face. With the help of Divine Providence, Who in a just cause helps those who help themselves, we shall get. through successfully, and when it is all over, the ‘lied, White, and Blue’ wil} stil| float triumphant over a strong, free, and united Empire.” So said the Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime in a recent press interview,

The heat dui'ing the past few days has been unbearable. Yesterday, however, tropical rain fell, and soon the water channels in the streets were flooded and house tanks overjlowcd. To-day the atmosphere is much cooler.

A fortunate escape from what might easily have been a fatal drowning accident occurred at Bulls recently. In company with others, Mrs F. Cults was bathing in Hie Rangilikei river just above the bridge, when, the river being slightly in liood, she was swept off her feet hy the strong current, and was rapidly being (tarried downstream into deep water. Mr W. Monks, who witnessed the occurrence, and although fully clothed, with commendable promptitude,, rushed into the iVater to her assistance, and after a stniggle, succeeded in bringing her safely to shore.

There was something in the nature of a sensation in the Thames municipal baths last: Monday’ night. A young lady named Davcy got out of her depth, and her sister went to her rescue. Neither could swim, the result being that they both got into difficulties. Airs Morgan Hayward then sprang in to the rescue, but was pulled under by the girls, and there was every probability of a triple drowning ease until Mrs Towers, the wife of the caretaker, came on the scene and got the unconscious bathers out. Willing hands (ben sot to work under Airs Towers’' directions to restore consciousness, and the efforts in this direction were fortunately crowned with success.

Mr Joynson Hicks, M.P., a political authority on airmanship, emphasises the fact that the Allies can outdo the Germans in any air development. “What the Germans had done we eon Id do. Our men were better than theirs. The Gotha machine rvas only a copy of one of ours. Three years ago we had ahout 50 machines, Avhich could fly at 60 or 65 miles an hour, and could climb 5,000 feet in half an hour. Now we have machines Avhich could ily 150 miles an hour, climb 20,000 feet, and carry considerable loads of bombs. Before another year is out it will be 250 miles an hour. The only limit to the height in lighting and raiding is the human limit imposed by the difficulty of breathing. To-day our men and theirs go up to 22,000 feet. In another year's time by scientific means, they will be able to go considerably higher still, out of reach of any anti-aircraft guns you have at the present time.”