LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1974, 8 May 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-morrow night, in the Presbyterian Church, the Kev. Alex. Doull, M.A., of Palmerston N., will address the members of the Presbyterian Church on the subject of church union.

Mrs Amon, of Glen Oroua, entertained the members of the Foxton Presbyterian Social Guild at an afternoon at the residence of Mrs Claris yesterday. A most enjoyable time was spent.

Chaplain-Captain Bladin gave an interesting talk to the elder scholars attending the State school, in the Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon, which was keenly appreciated by the children.

At Tuesday night’s meeting in the Town Hall, when formally asking the Mayor l_o preside a.t ChaplainCaptain Bladin’s lecture, Captain Goflln took the opportunity of congratulating the Mayor (Mr Chrysfall) upon being returned unopposed to the Mayoralty, and wished him a successful term of office. The compliment was approved by the audience with an outburst of applause.

A congregational meeting of the local Church will be held to-morrow night to discuss the question of church union, in accordance with the wishes of the General Assembly. The Rev. Alex. Doull, M.A., of Palmerston N., will address the congregation, and invito a general discussion. Ail members are specially requested to be in attendance.

Willi the object of aioviating tlhe coal scarcity that was experienced in Master!on last year the Borough Council decided to establish a coal -apply depot, at which the people could have (heir requirements fullilled in small lots. The depot has now been opened for about one month (states the Wairarapa Age) but it is found'that there is not the scramble for coal that was prophesied. Of the seventy odd tons in stock only about twelve tons have been, disposed of, in spite ot the fact that the winter is near at hand, and under ordinary circumstances consumers should have their bins full.

Ninety-nine years ago last Saturday a plough was pul to New Zealand soil for the first time, says the New Zealand Herald. An account of the event was written hy the Rev. J. Butler, father of the late Judge But lei’, of the Native Land Court, in the Church Missionary Society's report for 1820. “This morning” he wrote on 3rd May, 1820, “ I put the agricultural plough into New Zealand soil for the first lime, and felt much pleasure in holding it after Ihe bullocks. This day, 1 trust, will be remembered and Ihe anniversary kept ’hy the ages yet unborn,” It is staled that the bullocks were brought to New Zealand on hoard 11.M.5. Dromedary, on Ihe Rev. S. Marsilen’s third visit to New Zealand.

Tin’ heavens me full of interest at the present time. There are live distinct sun spots visible on the sun the last to enter, now slil close to the eastern limb, being a large one associated with a considerable number of smaller spots. One row of the subsidiary spots is placed almost vertical to the sun’s equator. In the evening sky Venus may be picked up soon after sunset near the north-west horizon, while considerably higher in the north-north-west is Hie great planet Jupiter. These two planets are now approaching one another, and on 2(llli May will be in conjunction. Saturn, at t) o’clock, is almost due north near the well known sickle of stars in the constellation Leo. Saturn's rings are now about half open, and, w-ith a. Sin teleseopo the crepe ring may lie .seen as a sharp black line across the globe of the planet.

In a letter to the Auckland Star, dealing with taxation matters, Mr J. W. MeLarin (who has contested several elections, notably one with the Premier), says: Permit me to point out that while the land-tax will probably remain the same, there will ho a heavy drop in the in-come-taxes paid Ibis year, on account of'the fall in some classes of farmers’ produce and stock. Oaten chaff has dropped in price from £1(1 a ton to £8 a ton, and hay also IDO per cent. There has also been a heavy drop in all classes' of young stock: yearling cattle last year were bringing £7 per head, whereas now 18-months to 2-year-olds are only realising from £5 to £(i per bead. You can understand the amount of income those farmers will have who bought 12 months ago at £7 j>er head, and can now only realise at £<i per head. ’ Willi the ((resent prices of fertilisers, fencing wire and other merchandise requirements of farmers, they are not having such a rosy time as some people imagine. The class of weaner calves that were realising up to £2 10s per head last: year are this season realising from 15s to £1 per head. The farming community are not in the happy position that the town dweller imagines them to be; and at this stage it is just as well that the ’atter should know it. ‘Farmers are the only portion of the community who as yet have adopted the profit; sharing system with their employees. I'imagine others will fall in line soon and wages, pure and simple, will soon be a thing of the past.

A boon to public speakers, singers, and reciters is XAZOL. Keeps lire throat clear as a bell. Can be taken anywhere.

The'ordinary monthly meeting of the Foxton Borough Council will be held on Monday next, at 7.30 p.m. Business: ordinary. The Finance Committee will meet at 7 p.m. on Friday, and the Library Committee at 7 p.m. on Monday. I lir conversation with an Age representative recently, the Hun. A. M. Myers outlined a scheme for licensing reform which he thought might appeal to the people of the Dominion. He was of the opinion that the hotels should be run more on the Continental lines than at present. The first consideration should be accommodation. Then provision should be made for open bars, where men and women could assemble in the public gaze, and partake of light wines and'beers. The sale of spirits should be restricted, and adulteration of liquors should be rigorously suppressed.

This year the Maimwatu County' Council will he called upon to pay a levy of £1,500 as its .share of the upkeep of the Palmerston North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. This figure represents a considerable advance on last year’s contribution, and, in drawing attention to the increasing expenditure under this heading, Cr. Boyce, at the meeting of the Council on Tuesday, pointed out that some of the people who look advantage of the public hospital could afford to pay a more reasonable charge than 4s per day, which in their case was too low and out of all proportion to the benefits they received at the institution. Cr, Boyce said he wished to make it quite clear that he was not advocating an increase in the case of people in poor circumstances, who really should he “lot off:” payment altogether.

A deficit of £1,943 was incurred in the operating of the FoxtonSandon tramway for last year. According to a statement tabjed at. TueSdayd meeting of the Manawalu County Council, the receipts for the year were £4,953, representing a decrease of £1,212, while the expenditure was £(589(5. The big debit is explained by the fact Unit included in the expenditure were certain nonrecurring items, comprising new sleepers £944, rails and fastenings £(521, locomotive (partial paymentonly)'£s72. For the ensuing year (he receipts are estimated at £5,900 and the expenditure at £(5,000. The estimated expenditure includes £SOO on account of the final paymetn for the locomotive, £(500 for rails and fastenings, and £4OO for sleepers.

Of late numerous circulars have been going (be rounds of local bodies urging that the Government assume control of the .main arterial roads of Few Zealand. One of these was to hand at the meeting of the Manawatu County Council on Tuesday. la the course of a brief discussion the chairman (Sir James Ailson) said that earlier in the year ho had discussed the subject in conversation with M. Curbrierre, a member of the French Mission. M. Curbrierre had informed him that the roadways in France were the most perfect in the world. There the Government constructed- the roads, and recovered the cost thereof by means of a levy on local bodies. New Zealand’s experience oT Government construction of roads bad not, remarked Sir James, been a very happy one, and he questioned the efficacy of the French system as applied to the Dominion. To his mind the great and controversial point to be decided in event of any measure of Slate control would lie: “What was a main road?”' Members were inclined to agree with Sir James. Cr. Boyce remarking: “All would be main roads then.” (Laughter.) Speed is not the predominant feature of the Foxtoii-Samlon tramway, and while this light, railway performs very useful service in freighting produce and merchandise, the Manawatu County Council, which body owns the line, recognises that'in these days of modern Iransportration the public prefer to travel by other means. This was disclosed during the course of a discussion at the Council’s meeting oiq Tuesday (says the Standard), when the Bulls Town Board wrote asking the Council to undertake the work of transporting children from the country to town for the Peace celebrations pur the medium of the tramway. The proposal was not entertained, extreme doubt being expressed by the councillors whether the services would be availed of, even if passengers were specially catered for on (hat day. As one councillor remarked, they could not hope for more than a handful or so of passengers at the most. In this connection it is interesting to note that last month the total fares collected on the line amounted to only £2 19s 9d. During the meeting, upon the reading of a circular from the Public Works Department relative to certain new regulations affecting tramways in general, the Chairman, in laying the communication aside —there being no discussion on the matter —smilingly remarked: “We don’t overcrowd on our line, gentlemen!” NEGLECTED COLDS. Never neglect a cold, as the result is often more serious than the cold itself. A neglected cold weakens the system, making it susceptible to other diseases. There is absolutely no-'excuse for neglecting a cold. Chamberlain’s Gough Remedy will give immediate relief no matter how stubborn the cold may be. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is entirely different from nauseating cough mixtures. It is pleasant to take, and especially good for children. For sale everywhere. —Advt,

The Queen of the South sailed for Wellington yesterday-afternoon.

The County Clerk notifies that an additional 10 per cent, will he charged on all rales unpaid after* (he IGth instant.

The gross receipts in connection with Chaplain-Captain Bladin’s lecture on Tuesday night wore £l9. The expenditure totalled £4, leaving a nett return of £ls.

A vaudeville turn .by four artists from Fuller’s circuit will be run in connection with the Town Hall pictures to-night, to-morrow and Saturday nights. The pictures will commence at 7.30 o’clock on these nights, and there will be a change of programme each night.

At the-special meeting of the Borough Council last night the Returning Officer (Mr W. Waters) announced the results of the poll, and the Mayor and Crs. Parkin, Thompson, Coley, Pearson, Rand, Bryant, Walker and McMurray made the usual declarations and took their seals.

At last night’s special meeting of (he Borough Council the Mayor congratulated the. old Councillors on their re-election, which, lie said, showed that they had (he confidence of tire people, which would he an inducement for them to continue to work for the welfare of the borough. He also congratulated (lie new Councillors on being returned, and welcomed them to (he table. He asked them to study the standing orders, so that the business at the meetings would Ire carried out moro expeditiously, and expressed the hope that their relations during the coming two years would he very

harmonious.

There have been substantial reductions iifa fair number of lines, remarks (lie Mercantile Gazelle, but there is not by any means the general reduction that: many expected. Metal goods show some Fairly heavy reductions. Corrugated iron is down to about £OS to £7O, and is minted lo arrive soon at about £lO less. Fencing: wire shows a further drop of about £(l, and nails are also receding. Bar and plate iron show no change (his month, but lead, tin, and zinc have a slightly easier tendency. Picks and axes are 5s to 10s lower, but long bandied shovels are dearer,