LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2004, 17 July 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The local men included in the draft on board the transport Briton, which is due at Wellington on the 21st inst., are as follows: —Pte. A. A. Cook, Cpl. W. A. Crow, Ptes. R. E. Heppner. L.-Cpl. D, E. Mackie, Ptes. J. W. Prew, P. SevilleOwing to the wet weather, a number of towns have postponed. outdoor gatherings for children during Peace Celebrations until November. The local children will be entertained for a few hours if the weather is favourable on Monday in the Park, and if wet, in the Town Hall, and will be given a picnic towards the end of the year. Mrs Raine, secretary of the local Nursing Reserve, wrote to the Borough Council on Monday night, drawing attention to the very bad condition of a certain dwelling in the Borough; also to the distress of the occupants of same, and asked that something be done in the matter. — It was decided to ask the District Health Officer to make an inspection of the building. At Monday night’s Council meeting a communication was read from the local Chamber of Commerce, drawing attention to the necessity for some means of tire prevention in the Borough, and recommending that Air Hugo, Superintendent of Fire Brigades, be invited to visit Foxton and report on the most suitable scheme. —On the motion of the Mayor, the letter was allowed to lay on the table.

The whole world of: human beings justifies force by its result's. Foree brings the mighty booster low, and puts (be burglar in gaol. Force connotes virility, progress, manhood, order, law. Force is the fulcrum on which the cosmos is levered, the indispensable element of life, the thing wo say we wish to have eliminated, but which we shall continue to apply as long as we live — because we are alive. —Auckland Observer.

A Moutoa settler informs us that if steps are not taken to declare goatsrue a noxious weed by the Manawatu County, it will be a serious menace to the Afoul on laud. lie informs us that (he weed has already made its appearance on several Moutoa farms, and in the swamps, lie urges immediate action on the part of the local governing authority and settlers to deal with (his noxious growth.

At a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the coal shortage was discussed. It was pointed out (had the original locomotives for the'Manawatu railway were equipped for burning wood, and it was urged if that typo of locomotive was still available, they should be used. Another suggestion made was that the Government should offer the Tunnelling Corps on its return from France a coal area to work cither on a royalty or wages and bonus basis.

At the Feilding Police Court on Monday, Henry Bryant was chargod with attempting to eonimit suicide. The Feilding Star slates that Bryant, who came out from England ten years ago, and lias wandered over the Dominion since, doing all sorts of jobs, from lumping on the wharf to road work, walked up from Palmerston last Thursday to Bunnythorpe, and there threw himself into the (‘reek. But he found the water too cold, and decided to live on. When the constable went out from Feilding. he found Bryant shivering with the wet and cold. He said he had intended to end his life because of insomnia. Accused was remanded so as to be tried by a Magistrate.

A case of interest to owners of picture and other theatre proprietors, as well as patrons, was heard at Featherston last week. A man named Guilford purchased two tickets for reserved seats from the defendant, who is manager of the Cosy Pictures. Plaintiff did not attend at the hall till about 8.30, when he was informed the seats had all been lalcen. After some discussion, his money was refunded, and the tickets handed back. Hater on, he came bade and asked for the tickets, tendering the money again, as he wished to take the matter to Court. After hearing the evidence, the S.M. gave .-judgment tor 5s (refund of the value of the tickets), but would not allow costs, as he considered the plaintiff had previously had the opportunity to get the value of the tickets.

Sir James Allen, dealing Avith Hie request of (he Federation of Labour. at Wellington on Thursday, for n -10-hour week in shops and offices, remarked that no man, whatever industry ho was employed in, should Avork longer than lie could give efficient service. On the other hand, there was a limit beyond .which they could not go in the movement for curtailing hours Avithout seriously hampering the industries of the country and reducing production. What was the limit it Avas not for him to say. Tie Avas not sure whether it Avas Aviso in such communities as ours for a man to have too much leisure. He required time for rest, recreation, and improving his mind, hut it Was not good to have idlS time-—“ Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.” Ah' Head: “Will you make that of general application?” Sir James Al-, len: “Well, I can't force a man to. work, but I think every man should. We have very few idle in this ■country,”

A word in season to all who luiA T e a Cold, Cough, Sore Throat, Influenza, or Branchial Trouble —take XAZOL, and get immediate relief. Sixty doses for 1/6. ■

The “Herald” will not be published on Saturday next, Peace Day. The Mayor invites all ladies wil - ling to render assistance at the luncheon to be tendered to the returned soldiers and their friends, on the racecourse on Saturday, to meet at the marquee* on the ground at 11.45 a.m.

Owing to the rough weather in Wellington yesterday, the s.s. Blenheim was unable to load cargo for Foxton, and the trip to this port has consequently been cancelled. There will now be no boat from Wellington to Foxton until next spring tides. With this issue'appears a replace advertisement of the Universal Supply Company, of Palmerston North. This Company, which has taken over the businesses of Rimmer’s Cash Store and Sheppard’s, Universal Providers, are now specialising in selling goods/by mail, and invite enquiries to P.O. Box 351, Palmerston North.,

Following is an extract from the London Star, dated May Bth, 1910: —“lt is pleasant to Londoners to see that Sir Joseph Ward was present at yesterday’s historic ceremony at Versailles in the honourable capacity of Empire representative chosen by panel, for lie is probably the most personally popular of the various colonial statesmen who have been our periodical visitors. Others, like Mr Deakin and Mr Hughes, have had their booms and censed to be, but Sir Joseph, urbane and correct, polished of manner and casyjn all society—has steadily maintained his hold upon our regard. Ho has had his encounters with us, of course. For instance, in 1915 he told a New Zealand audience that he found England suffering, “devastating effects” from the degeneracy of age. Tliis gratified those curious Tory gentlemen here who were convinced that England under Ihe ’Radicals was going to the dogs, but it was an optical delusion really. The war showed that at the'moment when •Sir Joseph saw degeneracy all over the English people, it was never so virile.”

The Auckland correspondent of The Post says:—Complaints that some owners of land which is being offered for the purposes of settlement by returned soldiers are asking excessive prices was made by the Commissioner of the North Auckland Land Board, .Mr R. P. Greville, on Thursday last. He said: “The point is that whereas some vendors are patriotic, others appear to be accentuated by cupidity. For instance, a property was recently offered to the Government for returned soldiers for £42,000, The last Government valuation, made quite recently, was £12,700, and an objection to that valuation on (he ground that if was excessive was made to the Valuation Department by the owner. That is rather an extreme case, hut there are several proposals pretty well on (he same lines. It is very clear, from the prices asked for (heir properties, that some owners have not been paying a fair amount of taxation. In one case, which is before the board, the price asked is £3,630, and the taxable value as at 31st March, 1918, was £1,680. They cannot both be right. The land tax must be suffering. There is one thing I have become tired of, and that is of owners of property saying what they want to do for the soldier boys. I have told some who asked excessive prices, ‘Apparently all you want is to get excessive prices out of the soldiers,’ ” the Commissioner concluded. “That is certainly the attitude of a lot of vendors,” said Mr J. E, Wells, the Bay of Islands representative on the board.

Discussing the issues to be decided at the general election, the Hon. G. \V. Russell placed first the question of loyalty. Next in importance were the questions of repatriation and increased production, by opening up the lands of the country at a far more rapid pace than had been done. Largo “waste’' areas were lying unproductive and unoccupied, which, by scicntilic treatment, could ho made to carry population, thus leading up to the extension of our railway systems and ronding systems and expansion of hydro-elec-tric power proposals. Other matters for consideration would be (he question of assistance in the development of our secondary industries and the better provisions for the health of the people on the one side, and their education on the other. Both of (hose were problems of (he very first importance, and must be tackled in the near future. Also, both would be matters of very much increased cost to the country. Behind lay the question of finance. During the war years large sums of money had been received in the way of special direct taxation on land and income, in addition to increases in Customs duties and other sources of revenue. The ideal which must be before the financiers of this country was to formulate a scheme by which revenue, equal to (he tremendous costs arising out of (he war could be obtained, without pressing so unduly upon any section of the community as to increase the cost of living to the masses on the one hand, or to discourage business men on the other. “If will require the best brains of this country to finance New Zealand in the future, ,J said Mr Russell to a Christchurch Sun reporter, “and the thought of handing over these vast responsibilities to men who have, had no ex■perienee in administration or finance is 'absolutely unthinkable at the present time,”

Changeable- weather produces colds. They are quickly relieved by NAZOL. This remedy is equally cf-_ ticacious 'for. young, old, or middleaged persons.

A largely attended meeting of the .Dunedin Licensed Victuallers’ Association last night unanimously decided to close the hotel bars all day next Saturday.

A meeting of members of the various committees in connection with Saturday’s, celebrations will be held on the racecourse at 2.30 o’clock to-morrow afternoon to make final arrangements.

Mr J. T. Bovis, who has occupied the position of Town Clerk and Treasurer to the Shannon Borough since its inception, has resigned. Mr Bovis has purchased the business of the Shannon Meat Company, which he is taking over on August Ist, A resident informs us that his property was invaded last night by several horses apparently turned out to graze on the road by their owners. When the owners are discovered he intends to levy for damages. - Cabinet has- approved of tlio n~ commendation by the Minister for Hallways to restrict passenger traffic still further to cases in which travelling is essential, and the tonnage so saved will be available for goods.

Mr R. E. Solhy, who prior to leaving for the front with the New- Zealand Expeditionary Forces, was secretary of Whit annul, Ltd., lias been appointed secret ary of the Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, Wellington. Mr Selby recently returned from the front.

The School Commit tees’ Association, at its meeting in Palmerston on Monday night, decided to hold a picnic and sports gathering of all the schools in the district, to lie hold on the Palmerston showgrounds on a date to lie fixed. It was made clear that this would not do away with the individual school picnics.

At the Manawatu School Committees’ mooting on Monday nigJit, when discussing remits to he sent to the Wellington conference, Mr Nash asked: “Do yon agree with the proposal to supply free school books to children?” “As n father of nine —yes,” came the prompt reply from one member.

- We regret to record the dentil which took place on Tuesday night of Mrs Nelson, wife of Mr Charles Nelson, of Union Street. The deceased lady had only been ill for a short period. The funeral will take place' to-morrow afternoon, leaving the residence of Mr Nelson at 2 o’clock.

Mr Meates, (he well-known Wellington vocalist, will contribute one or two items at Monday night’s concert. Vocal and instrumental talent has also been secured from Levin and Shannon, together with the best local performers. The Borough Band will also play a number of selections prior to the concert. Admission is free. Children admitted with parents or guardians.

Latest demobilisation figures show that on sth July the number of members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force still left in England and France was as follows: —Strength in France, 12; strength in United Kingdom, 6.951; patients in hospital in United Kingdom, 793; number witli wives and families in United Kingdom, 1,209; nurses and Red Cross workers to be evacuated, 79; total evacuated since Armistice, 38,102.

At Tuesday night’s Borough Council meeting Cr. Coley drew attention to the wooden culverts on the road between Motuiti and Himatangi, which were a source of danger to people using the road, particularly at night.—lt was decided to write to the Railway Department, urging that these obstructions be removed, and also to ask the Manawatu County Council to co-operate in the matter.

At the annual conference of the Taranaki-Wanganui W.C.T.U., a motion was passed urging the Government, in view of the large number of court cases in which women and children are concerned, to appoint women Justices of the Peace. The motion further urged that sensible women who would have a much clearer understanding than men of delicate questions should he selected and that also in certain eases they should have the power to suppress undesirable press reports.

In connection with the bonfire nml fireworks display on Saturday nielli, the Seoufs will form in procession in Main Street at (i o'clock, and will march to Mr Perreau’s paddock, with processional lights. Portion of, the fireworks display (rockets, etc.,) will tJike place thore, where the bonfire will also be lit, commencing at (i. 30 o’clock. At the conclusion of same the scene of operations will be shifted to the site of: the old Maori Cemetery, where the balance of the display will take place.