LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2003, 15 July 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Steps should'be taken to stop stock from grazing on the borough roads, and incidentally, in private properties, at night. Several complaints have been made by residents whose properties have been invaded by wandering stock.

In the course of; a lecture at Christchurch, the Hon. G. \V. Russell said ho sincerely hoped that no military caste would be established in New Zealand, and that the forces would not be kept from demobilising a day longer than was absolutely necessary.

“-Your wife is a woman with a violent temper, is she not?” asked counsel of a witness at the Mastorton Magistrate's Court. “Yon might say so; others might say so, but I don’t. She may have grievances against other people; hut who lias not?” was (he reply given by the witness.

A. rather amusing incident happened in a classroom at a Christchurch suburban school on Wednesday. The teacher was giving a lecture to the boys on the recent European war, and mentioned the fact that the soldiers who fought at •Jerusalem in (he Middle Ages were called Crusaders. A small boy then stood up and said, “Please sir, my father fought at Jerusalem, but he was called a sniper.”

The following resolution was carried by the Wanganui County Council at its last meeting:—“That with a view of the development of Wanganui and its surrounding districts at (li(> earliest possible moment, the whole of the local bodies and Chambers of Commerce in that portion of the Wellington and Taranaki Provinces served by the Wanganui' harbour lie invited to send delegates to a conference at Wanganui at an early dale, to consider (he best means of obtaining the same.” While engaged in planting marram grass on the Whirokino run lastweek, Mr Dawson discovered a large stone Maori adze, also a small one. The large adze is one of the finest specimens we have yet seen, and it is in perfect order. The locality of the find is near one of the lakes at the back of the run, where probably the Maoris had a large camping ground. Nearby arc numerous indications of a settlement. .Several skeletons are also to be seen there. The adze is made of flint.

Among 1 the many interesting exhibits shown by Professor Easterticld at his leeturo at Palmerston, not the least was a piece of guncotton made from phormium tenax, or Manawatu flax. In answer to a question, (lie Professor stated that on account of the gummy substance in the Hax, it. Avas not so suitable for the manufacture of guncotton as ordinary cotton, ‘which Avas less liable to deterioration. It Avas pointed out, however, that the Germans had been forced to use wood fibre in. the manufactufe of their guncotton, but had (hey possessed supplies of phormium tenax fibre they Avould undoubted! v luia’c used it a t cvv largely.

A letter received by last English mail by a AVanganui resident from relatives in Scotland indicates that high prices are ruling in the Old Land as well as in this Dominion. The writer says that at Hamilton (near Glasgow), hut ter is selling at 2s (id per.lb,, cheese Is Bd, steak 2s ■ld, sfoAv beef Is lOd, milk Js gallon, bools from 27s to 455, and a suit of clothes- from £7 10s. The.prices indicate grave anomalies and injustices. Frobahly most, striking of all is that the Ncav Zealand farmer is selling his meat at 4L] and (he consumer at Home is paying 2s 4d per lb. for steak. AVho arc the profiteers? Echo answers avJio ?.

The nationalisation of coal supply is a vital matter, perhaps, but the lack of coal and the stoppage of train sendees suggests at once the nationalisation of roads —higlnvaA’s that are even more important than railways, because they may be univcrsally used, and once being made are not closed by any class of labour. The nationalisation of roads would do away with the preposterous system of patching, the extent of Avhieh depended on a local authority and its finances, an extraA Tagant, expensive, and ineffective method Avhieh gives us a series of waterholes linked together Avitli barrow loads of metal. —Auckland Observer.

Changeable weather produces colds. They are quickly relieved by NAZOL. This remedy is equally efficacious for young, old, or middleaged persons.

Why bother making cakes Avhen there is such a good assortment at Perreau’a ? • _

We are informed that three twoup schools are operating in Foxton. Gr. R. Bryant has-been appointed to represent the Foxton Borough Council at the-Municipal Conference to be held in Wellington next month.

Accounts amounting to £BBS 9s 9d Avere passed for payment at last night’s meeting of the Borough. Council. '

Members are now being enrolled for the Red Shield Club. Names may be handed in either to Mr Tyer (secretax’y) or Captain Qoffin. The membership fee is Is monthly. There were present at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council: The Mayor (Mr J. Chrystall), and Crs. Coley, Thompson, McMurray, Rand, Parkin, Walker, Bryant, Pearson and Hannah. In connection with the local Peaco Celebrations on Saturday free luncheon will be provided for returned soldiers, on the racecourse, and the sports programme will include an event for returned soldiers,

Government men, under Mr Nathan, engineer, are at present working on the Paekakariki Hill with a view of erecting fences, etc., at the dangerous corners. This woi’k will he greatly appreciated by the travelling public. The local Natives intend taking a prominent part in the Peaco Celebrations, and arrangements are in hand for them being well represented in the procession. They will-also give a demonstration of cooking in the old Maori fashion on the racecourse.

There l are 300 miners in Christchuroh and Lyttelton doing ordinary labourers’ work in preference to living under the present lionsing conditions on the West Coast, said the Mayor (Dr. Thaeker) at a meeting of the Citizens’ Railway Transport Conupitlee in Christchurch,

At a meeting of the Wanganui Pence Celebrations’ Committee yesterday afternoon, it was decided to postpone the children’s day till the anniversary of the armistice, November 11th. . It was considered the weal tier conditions were too uncertain for Monday next.

The “shrinking sovereign” is showing a slight tendency towards recovery. For the March quarter of the present year the purchasingpower of the sovereign, as measured in foodstuffs, was 13s l.jd, as against 12s 10;;d in the December quarter of 1918, 13s 11Td in the March quarter of that year, and 20s on the average of the base years, 1909-1913. Putting it another way, it; cost 30s fijd in the March quarter of 1919, as against 30s 10 id in the December quarter, 1918, and 28s s;;d in the March quarter of that year, to buy (he amount of foodstuffs which would have cost 20s only on the average of the four chief centres in the vears 1909-13.

Mr Jackson, manager oi‘ Messrs Grace Bros.’ AVhirokino Run, hopes to successfully cope with the sand drift menace so far as that tract of country is concerned. . lie has just finished planting a large area with marram grass. The cost of planting drift country is 25s per acre. Mr Jackson is 'of opinion that the coast line about a half mile from the sea should be planted "with a suitable belt of trees, which would not only prove a valuable asset in the years to come, but would act as a shelter belt to stop the drift inland.

Among those Avho recently returned to New Zealand from the Avar zone is a nepheAv of Mr Parkin, of Foxton. Sergt. Parkin was one of the Noav Zealand prisoners of war in Germany, He, Avith several other New Zealanders, avus sent round Germany as a “war exhibit.” On one occasion Sergt. Parkin, Avith others, entered a turnip field, Avith the object of satisfying their craving for food. As a result, Sergt. Parkin was brutally treated, and had his jaAv broken with the butt of a rifle. The injured soldier is still under medical treatment.

A Avedding took place yesterday morning, at the residence of Mr AVm. Moffat, Orona DoAvns, The contracting parlies Avere Mr Frank Richardson, Orona Doavus, and Miss Moffat. The ceremony avos per* formed by the Rev. J. IT. Bredin. hi the presence of a large number of friends of the bride and bridegroom! The bridegroom Avas supported by his brothei', Mr Percy Richardson, and Miss Constance Moffat acted as bridesmaid. After a sumptuous breakfast had been partaken of, and the usual 1 oasts proposed, the happy pair set off to spend (heir honeymoon at Rotorua.

A meeting of local business people was held this morning to arrange the’ holidays in connection with tho Peace Celebrations. There was an attendance of 20 shopkeepers. It was decided to observe close holidays on Saturday and Monday, and to remain open until 9 p.m. on Friday next, also that no half-holiday he observed to-morrow nr next. Wednesday. It was further decided that on and after August 2nd, the shops will close at 8 o’clock on Saturday nights, instead of 9, as at present. The annual meeting of the Holiday Association will he held at 8 p.m. on August 2nd, to elect officers for the ensuing year and gen-* oral. CHILBLAINS. If you have had Chilblains each winter in the past, take the precaution after a cold snap of bathing your feet in very hot water, and then rubbing in Chamberlain’s Pain Balm freely. You won’t hawc any Chilblains if yon do this. For sale everywhere.—Advt.

The Life-saving Scouts are building a large bonlire on Perreau’s Hill for Saturday night. Material for same may be deposited in the vicinity. . /

“It is an ill-wind,” etc. The farmer in parts of Central Otago is oiy far from friendly terms with tire rabbits which swarm over his land, but two small boys, pupils of the Clyde School, must surely smile when trapping and poisoning are spoken of, for during a fortnight’s holiday they collected skins which brought them in no less than £40..

The Inspector of Nuisances reported at last night’s Council meeting that the borough generally was in a fair sanitary condition. He had ordered one resident to remove offensive rubbish from the, back yard of a dwelling recently vacated by him, and had met with a flat refusal. He intended taking legal proceedings to compel the resident to carry out his instructions. —The report was adopted.

Speaking at the Town Hall in Wellington, Sir James Allen said he was a firm believer in and thought it should have all its' rights, but was satisfied that democracy, given its fullest rights and liberties, could exist under such a limited monarchy as ours. The at(itude of the King and Queen during the war bad done a great deal to keep ns together. He did not think some people realised what an important factor it was to have someone at the head who could bo sympathetic and kindly during all a nation’s (rials and difficulties, and thank God wo had someone.

At the annual meeting of Leveir'j Bros, it was stated that the company proposed to introduce a different method of paying the wages, Instead of the employees,waiting their turn in an office, the money \Vonld be, lodged to their credit at a hank .which they would-select. The present system is regarded as a timewasting and primitive one, as well as subversive of thrifty habits. As an inducement to the workman to leave on deposit at the hank as much of his wages as he can afford, Lever Bros, propose to allow 5 per cent, interest on the sum so This system will tend to the business of the hanks, and for that reason should bo welcomed by them. Moreover it will have the effect of restricting the use of currency notes by substituting the more efficient cheque in making a variety

of payments. A MAsterlon resident witnessed a. pathetic scene, with an intensely humorous ending, at Wellington last week. A young lady, with her mother, had gone to the city to wolcomo'ij homo, the soldier hoy to whom she had been betrothed four years ago. To her amazement, she saw him descending the gangway with a ehikW in his arms, followed by a smiling damsel. The young lady swooned, and fell into the arms of her mother. The solder, seeing what had happened, turned to the woman behind him and exclaimed, “There, take your bloomin’ kid, and let me go to the assistance of my fiancee!” The latter soon recovered. Explanations showed that the soldier was merely assisting the bride of a comrade, who was looking after his kit. Everything ended happily, and the nuptials are shortly to be pronounced. *

The total number of men called up under Section 35 of the Military Service Act (generally known as “the family shirkers’ clause”) was 2,876. Of these, 1,347 were drawn in the ordinary ballots before their eases had been disposed of under Section 35. These men became soldiers in law-the day following the publication of the ballot list, and as soon as they were soldiers the proceedings under the special clause had to be dropped. This was a complication that had not been foreseen when the Act was being framed. Of the remaining 1,539 men, 1,313 were medically examined, 03 were not traced by the police, 104. had volunteered before the Clause 35 notices were served, and the others were dealt Avith in various Avays. Of the 1,313 Clause 35 men medically examined, 800 were das-, sed Fit A, and 20 were classed B; 54 Averc declared fit for the Cl Camp, and 379 Avere declared unfit. The number of men actually taken into camp under the clause Avas approximately 800, and of these 089 were embarked.