LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1954, 20 March 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A movement is on i’ool In'petition the Feilding Borough Council to lake a poll oi' the municipal clecloiv on (he. (picslion of inirodneing the Saturday half-holiday in the borough.

The Governor of New South Wales is not exactly on strike, hill lie is asking 'for an increase ot salary. His present salary is £5,000, and he has allowances ok about £2.000. Government did not favour his application.

“A large, number of marriages are taking place, which will considerably add to our difficulties in regard to. shipping accommodation," writes Brigadier-General Riehardson, Officer Commanding New Zealand troops in the United Kingdom, to Sir James Allen, “I estimate that about 2,000 wives and families will have to be returned, and that marriages will continue up to the last draft.’’

Airs Bonrko, who has diet] a( Ncnagh, County Tinporary, is reported to have reaehed the age of 121. She 'claimed to have had Hfty direct descendants lighting in the war. The majority of them were wounded, and two killed. According to the Christchurch San, there has been a big drop in the price of oats in the South Island. The drop is quoted as “easily ii shilling a bushel. ,J The estimated yield of oats this season is 0,000,000 bushels, and the Dominion’s consumption at 5,142,000 bushels. This-leaves a big surplus for export. Will Germany ever recover her industrial position in the world? Air 11. C. Martens, a New York shipping authority, holds the view that it is very problematical. Germany, formerly one of the largest manufacturing countries in the world, is, Mr Martens contends, not only in a bad state generally, but is in a specially bad stale in view of the fact that she has l.ost her main sources of raw material —Alsace and Lorraine. For (his reason, it is contended, it must take Germany a considerable time to recover her industrial position, “if she ever docs so.” Thus Germany’s shipping losses arc not so serious to her as they would appear to be on the surface, for it follows that Germany will not require anything like the enormous carrying capacity that she would under ordinary peace conditions.

A question as to whether a Judge of the Supreme Court was capable of giving expert opinion on matters connected with farming cropped up during a sitting in Chambers at the , Wellington Supreme Court, when an application was received from Gisborne for a special jury in a case. The grounds for the application were that expert knowledge in farming was required. His Honour, Mr 'Justice Edwards, slated that he was salislied that Judges and solicitors were (pule able to deliberate on such, matters, and pointed out that if a Jury was called, the members would probably comprise a number of townsmen. As, however, it Avas a Gisborne matter, and (he sittings of the Court were set down to commence there on Monday, the application Avas adjourned to Gisborne. The mask habit, Avhich never got a grip in Melbourne, appears (says the Melbourne Age) to be on its last legs or mouths. One of the last to discard I lie “protect ion” was a pretty maid in the employ of a wellknown Collins Street medical practitioner. Day after day, Avilh womanly heroism, she met each caller at the door, her natural, delicate type of beauty hidden away beneath a monstrous mask-one of I lie perfectly tilling scientitie pattern. An inveterate caller upon the doctor discovered to his astonishment a day or two ago that the maid bad a! last discarded her mask, and in reply to his concerned inquiry the young woman explained that she had hoard that persons who woro masks lost their legs —“the legs dropped off 'em!'’ The young woman apparently was referring to some mysterious post-mortem development. Possibly the inveterate caller conjectured (his “wax Avorks" horror was the linal resort by Avhich the doctor sough.t to avoid unenviable notoriety for his establishment. Any way, it “worked.” Deferring to the Depart merit of Overseas Trade at Home, the London Express says: The .Department, of Overseas Trade was formed daring the war. There Avas a great llourish of trumpets. The business community and the country at large, were delighted (o >ee a Government Department formed for the express purpose of assisting British trade. The Department is not; a success. Why? Here is one reason. Australia Avished to place a large order for electrical machinery, and cabled to the Foreign Olliee. The Foreign Office held up the cable for six weeks before passing it on to the, despised Department of Overseas Trade. In the meantime, the American Consul had wired particulars to his Government, avlio did not waste lime. The British inquiries were six, Aveeks late. These things need no further explanation. The Foreign Office and the Board of Trade cannot recognise an upstart rival. Apparently, if the Department of Overseas to protest, it is simply told to go to hell —Avhcro the trade is already going.

Frequent reference is made in English literature to the expression “Dead Sea fruit." hy which term is meant something ha mm, tasteless, worthless, unprofitable, or ungrateful. It may not he generally known that there aetually is sneh a produel as Dead Hen fruit, and doubtless it is from that fruit whieh the saying is derived. A trooper writing from Palestine says: —Pound the shores of the Dead Sea was to he found a fruit tree hearing a fruit called hy us Dead Sea apples. It was a small fruit with a large stone inside, and we sometimes used to sec the Turks gathering them. ;\t least 1 understood the expression “Dead Sea fruit" as meaning disappointing or not up to expectations. The apples were all stone. Another sort of “Dead Sea fruit" was the bathing. True, one cannot sink, hut who wants to float in a brine- tub? .It is too unpleasant. I only bathed once in the Dead Sea. That was finite sufficient for me!

IF YOU HAVE A. cough, cold, bronchitis, or influenza, and you arc looking for a quick, safe and certain remedy with which to fight them, nothing will give, such quick and sure relief as Chamberlain's Cough Remedy. The first dose soothes your throat, stops the tickling, and gives relief. For sale everywhere.—Advt,

A silvered halfpenny was passed cm a Mastcrtun tradesman this week in place of a shilling.

At Hastings on Saturday, (lie late Mr E. B. Williams’ Waipuna estate, of 0,735 acres, divided into live blocks, was sold for £IIB,OOO.

A clerk, formerly in the employ of the Bank of Australasia at Masterton, was arrested at Otaki yesterday morning by Constable Safherley on a charge of alleged embezzlement of £IOO in .Masterton.

Owing to the absence hPWellington of Mr 10. Page, S.AL, the monthly silling of the Magistrate’s Court to be held locally to-morrow will bg presided over by Justices of the Peace.

'The mail (rain on Friday evening arrived at Eltham “on time.” As the result of this unexpected happening, one family, who were going for a holiday, missed the train, having unfortunately calculated that it would jbe at least half an hour late. —Eltham Argus.

Mr J. Thompson, of Queen Street, has a bovine curiosity in the shape of a cow with nine teats. The Jirst pair of the extra set arc situated between the ordinary teals and the remaining couple arc on the hack portion of the udder. The cow is an excellent milker, and one of the best in the herd. —Levin Chronicle.

Those who signed the Chautauqua guarantee at Napier have been asked to find £1 19s 3d each to make good the agreement. In Bedding there was a deficit of 29s on each guarantee, while in Palmerston a, number of guarantors repudiated their liability, with the result that the remaining members of the Committee had to find £3. In Wanganui, Hastings and Masterton the guarantee was reached. Levin exceeded the guarantee by about £IOO. “Will you please decide for me how long an egg will’keep?’’ was a question asked in ail seriousness in a communication received at a silling of the conference of the New Zealand Poultry Association in, Christchurch. The writer (says tint Sun) stated that he had kept an egg for nine months om-e, and a certain gentleman had then eaten it, The testimony of this particular person as to the quality of the egg was not available, as “he had since died.” Hearty laughs from delegates present interrupted any further reading of (he communication.

The Commonwealth Minister in charge of shipbuilding has announced .his expectation that three Aus--11 alian-bnill ships would he launched during March. These are Iho trading vessels being constructed at Malsh Island and Willianistown, end the 7,00 P" ton collier which is being built at Cockatoo Island. Mr Boynton staled. Ihc engines for iho WilliamsfoAvn vessel, the construclion of whiid) is in the hands of Messrs Thompson and Go., Castlemains, are ready, Avhile the machinery for the other (avo ships is avcll advanced.

A French journal slates that it has been found that Hies have a great object ion to the colour blue,

and if buildings infested with (lies are washed Avilli a blue instead of a, white wash, (lies will desert tlui place. In support of this, the folloAving incident is reported:—A. tanner had .170 cows housed in different sheds. They were pestered with Hies, but be observed that in one shed, (lie Avails of which were a blue tint, (lie cows Avere not Avorried. He‘therefore added a blue colour to the lime with Avhich he washed the buildings, and from that time the. Hies have descried the place. The (olloAving formula is used by him for the Avash: To 20 gallons of water add lOlh. of slacked lime and lib. of, ultramarine. The Avashing is done twice during the summer.

Masterlon (according to (bo. Wairarapa Age) is one of I lit* .few townships in Now Zealand which not only encourages, but hoariiiy supports (ho Chinese tradesman. I lie inavkel gardens arc entirely in (he hands of Chinamen, (he fruit trade is largely controlled by them, the laundries, with one or two exceptions. are in their hands. From whence do they derive their support".' Co into a Chinaman's shop on any day of (he week, and one will find it tilled with working men, their wives, and children. Yes, (he people who clamour for a “white New Zealand,” who loudly deprecate low wages, and who are staunch supporters of: (he eight-hour movement, are (he best customers the Chinaman has. The time will come "’hen (he “yellow menace” will cause serious trouble. What does (he working man intend doing about the matter?

“I can tell you the secret of the failure of a number of organisations in Masterton, ’ said a speaker at a meeting held in (hat town one evening last week. He stated that (hero were too many petty . jealousies.-, fine man envied (he success in any particular line of his confreres, instead of congratulating him upon sneh success, this wrecker of good fellowship went about the place grumbling and slinging dirt at all and sundry. Tie had mu the courage to speak his mind at the proper place duly constituted meetings of the organisations. Then there was the suspicious person, the man who tittle-tattled and was always easting reflect ions upon the honesty of those holding responsible positions. Ife condemned anybody and everybody without the slightest provocation, and did incalculable harm to innocent people. It was not till, these individuals were eradicated would that good fellowship exist that was necessary to the success of all organisations.

St'vc*r: l l ladies from the local Croquet Clni) visited the Manawalu lawns yesterday. The visitors were nitertained hy the home players at morning tea, lunch and afternoon lea. Some interesting play took place during the day, and altogether the visitors spent a most enjoyable time.

Some days ago Mr W. H. Field, ALP., cabled to the Right. Hon. W. F. Massey, in England, expressing the decided opinion that Germany should be made to pay the full cost of the war. On Monday Mr Field received the following reply from Mr Massey, who was in Paris at the time of sending; — “My opinion is that, as Germany was responsible for the war, Germany must be compelled to pay every sovereign possible for its to collect. A commission of financial experts is now dealing with the question, and their report will give us a reliable indication of Germany’s ability to pay.”

The hunger for land continues unappeased (writes the Okaiawa correspondent of the Hawera Star). A well-known Tokaora farm which was sold recently at somewhere ahout £BO per acre, has again changed'hands at £lO5. Land agents are reaping a rich harvest, and 1 was recently informed that in respect to another property Avfiicli changed hands twice in a few months, the land agents took off it the sura of £6OO. This is better than milking cows, and a lot easier. There is nothing that I can see to justify these high prices. The prospects are that there will be a drop in the value of our dairy produce, and should that eventuate there will he a corresponding drop in land values.