LOCAL AND GENERAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1921, 31 December 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

7vJr I-’. I'irani, chairman of (lie Wanganui Education Board, has returned lo New Zealand.

The roads between l!ie Manawalu and Taranaki are in fairly good order for motorists. There is no new metal on the roads.

The weather looks promising for the New Year holidays. The sky was overcast last night, but to-day is (dear.

The deaths registered m the Napier district since November Ist total 135, of which .102 are staled to have'been due fo influenza.

The Amsterdam correspondent of Ihe New York Evening Telegram stales that, according to the Berlin Vorwacris, an attendant at Ameroiigen attempted to kill the Kaiser. lie tired four shots, hut none was effective.

The* <>(li<-iii! opening of the local criKjiuM lawns, which bad In he postponed mi ac(-ount oh the influenza epidemic, will lake place on Wednesday, .January Bth, at 2 (#- clock. Visitors are expected from the Manawatu, Feilding and Levin Clubs.

A Pahnerslonian just hack from Opunake reports that- the influenza epidemic is still raging (here, and that whole families are flown in some districts. The medical aid availahie is not sufficient to cope with the outbreak, -and the Health Department does not appear to be grappling with the matter as it should do. —Palmerston Times.

An extraordinary accident occurred in the Avenue at AVangamti last week. A girl was riding a bicycle close alongside a trap, when her machine became entangled in some way with the trap wheel. In an instant she Was hoisted into the trap, and the bicycle, after performing a somersault, landed on the road. Strange to say, only a mud-guard was buckled.

Five’members of the'Marion Borough Council have sent a letter to Mayor F. C. Wilson, asking him to resign. Of 17,730 goats in the Dominion on January 31st, 1918, no loss than 3,543 were in (he County of Taranaki. Of this number, 134 were Angoras, and the rest just “goats.” It is understood that a representative of an enterprising American aeroplane manufacturing firm is canvassing the Dominion, and has already hooked up no fewer Ilian six orders for delivery wh#n times are more normal. Christmas morning in Marlborough was heralded by a frost, sufficiently severe to leave its mark in many cottage gardens throughout the district. Frosts have been experienced in Piet on previously in November, but the Christmas “snap” is unique. Mr Jackson, late head teacher ot the local Stale School, and now in charge of the Queen's Park School, Wanganui, still retains his enthusiasm for converting waste ground into beauty spots. He has transformed a barren section adjoining his home into a veritable market garden, and beautified his home with all manner of trees and flowering shrubs. Yone Suzuki, the Koge woman millionaire, the most successful business woman in Japan, is at the present moment one of the best lulled persons in (he country, stales the Tokio correspondent of the Daily Mail. Hated not only because of her unusual business capacity, but for (he largo, .speculations of her company in rice, the stall of life in Japan, which has so risen in price as to bo prohibitive to the poor and middle classes. The war profits of the Suzuki company are estimated at £10,000,090.

The Aramobo School Committee has just completed the construction of sA\immiug baths and shelter sheds, at a cost of about £30(1. The Committee, and particularly the Chairman, Mr-Sewell, pul in a considerable amount of time .in excavating, etc., thereby reducing the cost considerably. The water is obtained from the borough supply. The money for the baths was contributed locally, and included the proceeds of a concert organised by i'dr Ailken, late of the Fox ton School stall'. The school grounds, however, present a very unkempt appearance.

dapan is jo have the grimiest wireless station in the.Avorhl, according to a report in the Japanese Advertiser. It will he built in Fnknsldma prefecture, says the Department of Communications, and will com StiO.OOn yen (£80.000), The dispatch station Avill he at Hibarigahara. near Hariamaehi, and the receiving station Avill be at llosoyacho. Survey work has been started by engineers of the department. The direct distance between the new office and San Franeisco is 4,000 miles, Avliile (lint between (be Funabashi office and Honolulu is 3,250 miles. The new service will communicate direct with San Francisco without flelav in Hawaii.

A wire-making industry at Newcastle (N.SAV.) will shortly he established. The company will draw its supplies from the steel works, and will employ about 500 hands. Filed vie power will be obtained from the Government poAver house at XeAvcastie, and 1,000 h.p. av i 11 be required for the first section of the plant. When (he Avorks are running fully 1,000 men will be, employed, and ultimately they Avill he expanded to take on 1,500 hands. The capacity of the Avorks at tirst ( will be 200 tons per day of all hinds of wire, and ultimately they Avid pul. out up to 100 tons per day. The company Avill not only supply the whole of the requirements of Australia. Hut will export a large quantity of Avire.

The path of the H.P.C.A. inspector is evidently not slrcAv.n Avith roses. In a case hoard at the Magistrate’s Court in Christchurch in Avhich a man Avas charged av it h illtreating a calf, the inspector, in his evidence, said that the defendant’s wift? had waxed extremely indignant Avhen lie approached her regarding the calf's cond.ition, and offered great opposition Avhen lie attempted to feed if. She jmned herself Avith an old muzzle-loading gun and a number of bricks, and opened an offensive while the feeding process Avas going on. She furl her expressed hei 1 intention of ‘“basiling" the inspector, ami concluded "by saying: “I am just getting over the inibicnza, and I hope you catch it. from me.” Her fusillade of missiles and Avords, liowiwcr, resulted in no casualties.

Mutters must be in :i primitive condition still in some parts of China. Here is a report from the Rev. C. C. Morris, of Wuchou, as an example: “hast month we welcomed into our asylum a poor fellow who had been strung up with ropes and Hung into the West river. He was pitiable slate. His parents had disowned him, and had hired some rascals to put an end to his life. He was found on the shore near our compound lighting with death. We were hound to add him to our list of inmates —to have closed our doors on him would have been not only un-Christian, but brutal. 1 feel sure the clay is coming when we shall have a good substantial asylum situated in a more convenient spot than our present West River Island —but we must wait till China's provincial struggles are over.” A sure and pleasant specific for removing Worms is WADE’S WORM FIGS. Price 1/6.

We take t liis opportunity to wish oil “Montld’’ readers a Happy ami Prosperous Now Year.

There is a record number'.of■'.visitors at the local seaside. All the houses are taken, and numbers are

camping 1 out

Among those at the seaside are visitors from Masterton, Ekclahuua, Marlon and Feikting, to say nothing of a host of Palmerston residents.

We have received a very esling letter from Hiileman K. Fnrrie. from Brocfon (’simp, Staltordsiiire, under'date Oetoher 27th, which will lie published in lull in a Mihseipionl issue.

Of the U.S.A.’s Third Liberty Loan, 7,01)1,304 persons of foreign birth, many owing no allegiance to the United States, took £148,287,400 worth, which is over 17 per eenl, of Iho total subscriptions. Thirty-eight nationalities were included among (he subscribers, and the average subscription was £2l. A seaside visitor, who called up-> on us this morning, expressed surprio that Foxton people took so little interest in the seaside. He >aid the resort should be recognised by Uoxton as one of its principal assets, yet it did absolutely nothing to popularise it. Practically all I lie improvements and innovations were carried out hv outsiders.

The Secretary of the Education Board informs (he local Chairman of Commit lee in reference to 1 lie new school, dial a radiator heating system is to lie installed in the building, and the roof will ho of slate, it has been decided to let a contract for the brickwork. Specifications are now being prepared, and it is hoped to call for tenders within the next fortnight.

AI (lie luncheon given by AJ r Lloyd Ceorge, in London, In lnmmu‘ oC President Wilson, Lord Albemarle unveiled n life-size portrait of Ceorge Washington ns a boy. The picture has a remarkable history. It was bein'’’ taken to Holland in 1778 on board the American ship Mercury, which the British sloop Fairy captured. Captain Keppell, who was Lord Albemarle’s ancestor, look possession of the picture.

Do aniimils contract influenza ? Statements made that horses and other animals are liable to contract the influenza have been treated

with grave suspicion. A case Avas reported in Maslerton when the epidemic was in full swing, of a. cow displaying’ every symptom of inlluen/.a, and it became, convalescent on the application of remedies somewhat similar to those with which human beings were treated. A racehorse owner in Maslerton now avers that a horse of his, which participated in the New Zealand Cnp meeting, developed symptoms while in Christchurch identical with those associated with the influenza, and has since become almost a wreck, though it is now recovering?. Mustard plasters were applied to the animal’s throat, and he was given frequent doses of eucalyptus in sugar, with successful results.

The German view oi' the New Zealand .soldiers, this term including Iho Maori, is contained in a diary captured from a German in the 20th Reserve Division. An extract from the diary was forwarded to relatives by a New Zealand intelligence officer.' The extract reads as follows:

—‘‘Description of New Zealanders: Two kinds, Avhite Ncav Zealanders and Maoris (who are big, light brown people of Polynesian race). Aj company’s lighting strength is about .150 men, and the reinforcements consist almost entirely of

young, strong men. They are a particularly good assault division, characterised by a very strongly developed individual self-confidence or enterprise typical of the colonial Englishman, and by a specially pronounced hatred of the Germans. The division prides itself on taking I'cav prisoners. A captured officer, taken the end of April, did not hesitate to boast of this while in the prisoner's (-age. The regiments have peculiar names, e.g., those of the 11. Wellington are Taranaki and Ritabiue.’’

The Influenza epidemic' has been responsible for many stories both' pathetic and humorous. One of the latter deals Avith a certain native, living not JOO miles from Mt. Egmont (says the Eltham Argus). He and Ids family were down with the influenza, and the driver of the local hearse, avlio Avas a kind-hearted individual, after attending a funeral, pulled up outside the native’s Avhare to enquire how the occupants Avere. As he approached the door he avus astounded to see the native, aa'lio was supposed to he seriously ill, uisli out in a terrible state of excitement. He AVas still more surprised Avhen (he native demanded to knoAv, in an angry tone, \vhat he wanted. “What you bring that tarn thing for?” lie yelled, pointing to the hearse. “1 no konuile yet. Take it aAvay.” The astonished driver of (he hearse, Avhen he could gel in a word, explained that he had only come to enquire -after the native's health, adding: “If you are not back into bed in ten seconds I Avill come for you the day after to-morrow, without fail.” Hone, it is stated, bolted for bed like a “scalded cat,” and did not get up for ten days, when he was completely well once more. DON’T YOU BELIEVE IT. Some say that chronic constipation cannot be relieved. Don’t you believe it. Chamberlain’s Tablets have relieved others —why not you. Give them a trial. They cost only eighteenpence. IW sale everyAvhere. —Advt,

The “Herald” will not he published on Thursday next.

There will he si celebration of the Holy Communion in All Saints’ Church sit 7.30 si.m. to-morrow.

The rainfall locality, from Saturday night until yesterday morning totalled 1.83 inches. The fall up till Sunday morning wsis 1.01 indies, and from then on until Monday morning 82 points were registered. The heal trainer. Mr A, M. 0 Wright, non a double uI the Ash.hurst races yesterday with CUassyliealiun, who passed the post first in the Ashluirsl Cup and the Mnnawatn Gorge Handicap. Classification is owned by Mr R. J. Sexton, of Himalaugi.

Writing from Codford on November 14th, a member of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, in alluding to the signing of the armistice terms by

Germany, says; “We bad a great time here. There was tree beer in the canteen, and nearly everyone from the Colonel down got drunk, sind we have not done much drill since Monday. 1 don’t suppose wo shall be hack much before .tune, or duly, as (he shipping‘is the trouble. 1 beard Hie other day that 1.-150 of onr boys Men* killed in the last few dsiys of lighting, so there will lie many sad hearts when the boys return.'’

The line barque Aryan, which left Wellintgon twelve days ago lor San .Francisco, lias been abandoned at sea through catching afire on Christmas Eve. The vessel was burned about 309 miles east of the Chat hams. Two boats have tainted at the Chat hams, and one boat is still missing. The Aryan carried a valuable cargo of flax, hides, etc. She was a wooden vessel o I 2,124 tons. The cargo of hemp consisted of 5,000 hides, loaded hy Messrs A. S. Paterson amb Co., Ltd., and .Messrs Levin and Co., Ltd., oi Wellington, and Messrs John Burns am! Co., Ltd., Auckland.

A few days lienee we will have entered upon a new year. Bat is it

a new year? Might it not be belter described as a new era’? Soldiers, at least, will count their lifetime in three periods —before I lie war, the Avar, and a t ier the wa r. The same division of lime Avill force il-clf upon the great majority of those who stayed at home, upon all, in fa<4, except those who drill heedless of what is going on around them. For the world will never be quite the same as it Was at (he New Year of 1911; already il is vastly different from what it lias been at four New

Year seasons; by another year khaki should be getting out ol Inslm ion,“aml we should be all busily engaged striving to make Ihe iicav peace era an era of happiness and plenty. There is every prospect that it will be so. Ueaee has come, avc have Avon all avc fought lor. What more could avc Avish as (he foundation upon which to lay A Happy New Year? —“Memitio,” in the Auckland Herald.

At the last annual meeting of Vickers, Ltd., the great armament linn (held in October), it was reported that the output for the preceding year had amounted in value to .€25,000,000. The profits paid out to shareholders totalled £870,000, equal to 31 per cent, on the turnover for the year. It was explained that this comparatively low percentage was duo to the accounting systems necessary under tin* Acts controlling the company, and was really the relied ion of the profits made in the preceding three years. Mr Douglas Vickers, chairman, said the firm was likely to remain an armament firm after the war. It would still he necessary to enforce the will of the majority, whether they remained separate States or joined a League of Nations. There would he enormous problems of construction, which would keep every form of engineering fully employed. There would also, he hoped, he a large Held for spreading British trade abroad, for many things learned in the war taught them the value of repetition work on a scale never before attempted in this country.

A ease in which much interest was concentrated was called in the Dubbo (N.SAV.) District Court, before his Honqur Judge Docker, a few days ago. Carl Herrmau von Scliill sued Stephen Joseph Cadman (both of Dubbo), claiming £4OO for alleged libel. Cadman was for some years lion, ground officer of the Dubbo Bowling Club, but at the animal meeting in 1017 von Schill was elected in his place. Cadman protested against this, and in a’ letter to the Dubbo Despatch wrote, inter alia: —“The officer in control of the howling green is Gorman by origin. He was elected to the position by the sacrifice of a Britisher, and with the full knowledge of the members that ho wiped his bowls with the Union Jack, and, flinging the cum hi cm contemptuously aside, said, ‘lt’s good enough for it!’ Some months ago the British flag on one occasion, and probably two, was grossly insulted on the bowling green, and the insultev was promptly rewarded by being elected to an official position in the Bowling Club.” In this statement it was alleged that plaintiff had been defamed. Counsel for defendant raised the point that plaintiff, being a German by descent, should first havq obtained Ihe Attorney-General’s consent (in accordance with the provisions of the War Precautions Act of 19Hi) before proceeding. (Phis he had failed to do. On this ground he held the action tailed. Plaintiff’s counsel sought to amend fhc plaint, hut his Honour held that the Court, not having jurisdiction, had no power to grant the right of an amendment. His Honour held that the action failed, and awarded tends to defendant.

A harinl young man got into a sn. \king carnage on the Syclney-AnniduM train recently, and, taking out :f pack of cards, be-i gan to play patience. He was chatty, and explained that he had been an inmate of a Inna lie asylum, but was now cured, and was going up country to buy a farm, as he had ten millions left him. He said tho lunatics were fond ofi cards, and that he used to win a thousand a night from the warders. The passengers were a mused, aml when he offered to show them the thvee-etwd trick, and placed the cards very clumsily, two of them cheerfully he), with him. and he won £2. He seemed so surprised and pleased at his hick that presently nil the carriage hel with him, and ho won every time. He left, the train sit Gosford, and later, when his companions mentioned the lunatic’s astounding duck to a detective, (hey were laughed sit, and .assured that they had met the cleverest eard-shsirper in tho State.

The announcement that the Balance Dairy Co., once regarded as one of the most successful dairy institutions in the North Island, has gone into liquidation, wilt be received with regret by (hose who have watched (be progress and developments in Hie Forty-Mile Bush (says Hie Wairarapa Age). Jt was early in tlit; ’nineties (bat a number of Maslerton residents took up a block of densely-wooded land in (lie vicinity of Pabiaina on the lease wilh right of purchase tenure. The settlement was named after Hie late Hon. dolm Ballance, one-lime Premier of the Dominion, ft was not long before the dairy industry was established, and (his formed the nucleus, not only of the Ballance Dairy Company, but of (lie development of small settlement and the prosperity of (he town ami district. Land which was taken up with a right of purchase at £1 per acre is now valued at £3O and £-10 per acre. Tiie Ballance Dairy Company has been largely responsible for this accretion in values.