LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1800, 12 March 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A slight earthquake, preceded by a rumbling noise, was experienced locally at about 1.40 o’clock yesterday, morning. During the past few days-'the weather has been much cooler throughout this district, but ram is badly needed. Accounts amounting to £306 2s lOd were passed for payment at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council.

The tender of Mr- S. E. Cowley, at £47 10s, for painting the Council Chambers, was accepted at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council.

In the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court Chung Lee was fined £25 on a chdrge of having opium in his house and possession in,a form suitable for smoking. A private advice received from Welling ton indicates that the vessel wrecked on the East Coast carried benzine consigned to Messrs Bannatyne and Co., at Wellington.

The amount contributed to the various patriotic funds in the Wairarapa has now reached £154,525. This represents over £7 per head for every man, woman and child in the district.

There were present at last night’s Council meeting: —The Mayor (Mr John Chrystall), and Crs Henderson, Stevenson, Bryant and Hurley. Apologies for absence were received from Crs Walker, McColl, Coley and McMurray. It weis decided at last night’s Council meeting, on the motion of Crs. Stevenson and Henderson, that the Town Hall Committee meet at an early date to inspect steps at the Hall, and also see if something cannot be done to improve the sanitary arrsingements.

Up to the present all attempts to recover the body of Mr W. Hamer, who was drowned in the Manawatu river last Tuesday night, have been unsuccessful. It is thought that the body has been carried out to sea, and in that case will probably be washed up on the south beach.

Sentences were announced at Christchurch recently as follows on three reservists tried, by Courtmartial for failing to attend medical examination; Edward Mortimer Murane, two years; John Roberts, eighteen months; Andrew KennaWEiy Henderson, nine months; in each.case with hard labour. <a A Maori soldier who returned from (he front last week called at the Auckland'Defence Office in reference to his p:iy. He was greatly surprised, and the officials considerably perplexed, when it was found that he had been posted as having been killed in France six months

In the vegetable section of (he list of awards in connection with the Foxton Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show, held on Thursday and Friday last, an error was made in that Mr Tims'. Webb was credited with first awkrd in both runner beans and butter beans, when in fact there were no awards in those two classes whatever. Also Mr Webb was credited with first for cucumbers, whereas the first prize was awarded to Mr W. Bullard, Mr Webb being second.

Henry R. T. Matson was found dead on Saturday evening in a house formerly occupied by him at Papanui, Christchurch. Evidence at the impiest showed that deceased was found lying in a room with three unlighted gas jets on. The medical evidence stated he had suffered severely from neurasthenia, and that this probably affected his mind. The verdict was that death was due to asphyxiation by coal gas, deceased having committed suicide while temporarily insane. Mr Matson, who was fifty-one years of age, was formerly a member of the firm of H. Matson and Co., but retired from business some years

The Auckland police were notified by Mr 0. 0. Barber, who resides at 17, Victoria Avenue, Mount Eden, that a 15-year-old girl named Martha M. Mitchell, who has been living in his house for the past.two years, left home on Tuesday morning, and has not been seen since. The girl is described as being of stout build, and about sft. in height. She has fair hair, blue eyes, and has a broad face, and is freckled. The girl took away with her two navy blue print dresses, a white sailor jumper and skirt, and a white blouse and brown skirt with braces. Her father lives yt Foxton, and she has a sister at Marton. The following day Mr Barber notified the police that he had received a letter from the missing girl, informing him that she was ul-

right. The ranger reported at last night’s Council meeting that during the month of February he impounded eight horses and fifteen cows, and that six cows were “arrested” and released to owners on application. —Cr. Stevenson said it appeared that favouritism was being shown by the ranger. Recently two calves belonging to one resident, and three cows belonging to another resident, were grazing on Norhiton road, when the ranger appeared on the scene. He took chai’gc of the two calves, which ho afterwards released to the owner on application, and then went away and left the three cows still on the road. Cr. Stevenson said that it was the first time that the. calves had been oh the road, but the cows were repeatedly there. Action of this kind on the part of the ranger should be put a stop to immediately,—lt .was decided to ask the ranger for ap explanation,

Every person who exercises economy becomes a producer, and adds to the world’s supply. Air Dauiell, local siationmaster, has received notice of his transfer to Lower Hutt, The cost of living in Sydney during the past five years has increased over fifty per cent. Sir Joseph Ward announced definitely yesterday that Parliament will meet on April 9 th. A motion of condolence was passed at last night’s Council meeting .with Mr and Mrs Hamer in the loss they have sustained by the untimely death of their son. In this world crisis it does not urgently concern us if individuals squander their fortunes; but every ounce of food saved will help to prevent starvation. There are at present 91 subscribers on the list of the local public library, being an increase of over 100 per cent, since Mrs Hunt took over the duties of librarian. A noteworthy achievement in the matter of attendance at school is reported from the Mount Roskill (Auckland) school. Three pupils — Ruby Preston, Bertie Coyle, and Ray Ward —have not missed a session for seven years. Brigadier Toomer, the Salvation Army Divisional Commander, will visit Foxton on Thursday next, and will conduct a special meeting. The newly formed brass band will receive their commissions from the Brigadier. There will also be an enrolment service. The public are heartily invited.

The recommendations of the Works Committee that 550 tons of Belmont • quarry metal, and 250 yards of river metal be ordered, and that tenders be invited for,the formation of Reeve Street and the eonnee tion thereto from Frances Street, were adopted at last night’s Council meeting.

The huge Y.M.C.A. Red Triangle hut at Blackboy Hill camp, a few miles out of Perth, W.A., is said to be the largest building, used' for social purposes in, any military camp in the Empire. It is 270 feet long by 50 feet wide, and will seat 4,300 men. In one_year during the war the total number of men in attendance was 500,000. Mr Justice Edwards, who concluded the Palmerston sittings of the Supreme Court on Saturday, had a somewhat serious seizure yesterday morning, and is confined to his bed, his temperature being very high. He intended leaving for Wellington yesterday, but his departure has had to be postponed. His Honour was compelled to leave the Bench at Wanganui recently owing to a similar attack. An enquiry us to the likelihood of shipments of benzine arriving from America in the near future, to relieve the present shortage, was made of the American Consul-Gen-eral (Mr A. A. Winslow) by an Auckland Star reporter. The reply was that according to his (Mr Winslow’s) last advices the American people would endeavour to meet all requirements as far as possible when the demand for war purposes has been considered.

It was recently reported to the Wellington inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that it was becoming a practice in some parts of the country to hobble sheep dogs when not at work, by tying one of their forepaws to the collar. Hearing of one specific the person responsible was warned of the offence he was committing, and the warning had the desired effect. Sheepfarmers who practice this method of hobbling, it was stated by the inspector, may not be aware that they are not only causing pain and inconvenience, but are making the dog less fit for hard work.

A few days ago a paragraph was published in the 'Taranaki Herald” from Guide Upson regarding changes in the crater of Mount Egmont, and the possibility of the existence of subterranean heat. This news has spread rapidly, and as is usual, has lost nothing in the telling. For instance, New Plymouth residents travelling to Wellington oh Saturday last overheard the following conversation in the railway diningroom at Marton: —Waitress to a passenger: “Have you travelled very far down the line?” Passenger: “Yes, I have come from Taranaki.” Waitress; “We have heard that Mount Egmont has blown up;: is it true, do you know?” Passenger: •“Well, no; it hasn’t blown up yet, but it is expected to do sh any time now,” v

In respect to the motion passed at a recent meeting of the Auckland City Council, advocating the retention of Samoa by Britain, a letter from the Right Hon. W. F, Massev, Prime Minister, was read at the Council meeting at Auckland on Friday,acknowledging receipt of the resolution, and stating that when he and Sir Joseph Ward attended 'the Imperial Conference in London they would lose no opportunity of impressing the views of the people of New Zealand on the Imperial authorities. A letter from Sir Joseph Ward stated that everything in the power of the Dominion must be done to prevent the return of Samoa to so dangerous and unscrupulous an enemy as Germany. Replies to the circular letter embodying the resolution which was sent to all the local bodies of the Dominion were received from a large number of muicipalities endorsing the resolution. 1 Wanted Known: You can get better groceries for the same money at Walker and -Fitme’s.

Some little time ago several property owners at Motuiti waited on the Borough Council and asked that a drain in the Target Reserve he cleaned out in order to prevent surface water from remaining on their properties. After an inspection of the locality, the Council offered to pay half the' cost of cleaning the drain, provided same did not cost more than live shillings per chain, and that the settlers affected arranged the letting of the contract and supervised the work. This apparently did not satisfy the settlers, as at last night’s Council meeting a letter was read from Mr H. M. Ries, which stated, inter alia: “I have seen the others concerned, and am sorry to have to inform you that we cannot accept your terms. You must know as well as we do that it is your duty to attend to the matter, and we expect you to do it. Will you kindly inform us at once of your intentions in the matter, or we shall feel Compelled to take other steps.” The Mayor said they had legal advice on the matter, and would be (piite within their rights in refusing to pay anything towards the cost of cleaning the drain. It was monstrous for ihe settlers to expect the Council to clean out ii drain for their benefit.—The letter was received.