Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2009, 31 July 1919, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1919. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A 13-year-old boy, Gordon Bennett, Avliile bird-nesting at Adernant, Glamorganshire, fell from a bush into an old coalpit 249 feet deep, and was killed.

The. fifth Marsden aspirant for Parliamentary honours is" Mr St. Clair Jounneaux, a farmer of Kamo Springs, Whangarei, who is well known in Palmerston. He is for Farmers’ Union polities.

The total output of the factories of South Africa is estimated at nearly .€40,000,000 in 1917, compared with just half that sum in 1904, and the capital invested is about £45,000,000.

A Masterton farmer informed an Age reporter the other day that he had only recently been enabled to put the plough into clay laud, owing to the hardness of the soil. Instead of having oats to eat off at this time of the year, he was only just putting them in. The number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bsnk at the end' of the March '|uarter of 1919 totalled 597,437, the total amount deposited being £5,805,478. This shows an increase over the corresponding period of 1918, the depositors then numbering 574,807, and deposits totalling £4,434,731.

At a county conference in Newcastle (England) on the subject of destruction by rats, the yearly damage was put at more than £15,000,000, and suggestions -for dealing with the pests were referred to the County Council. The veterinary inspector for Newcastle declared that the rat skin was superior to the lining in many 50 guinea fur coats. “When lights burn low” where sweet babe sleeps, . While grateful mother vigil keeps, Watching it breathing calm and free, Her pet that yet the form shall

see —, O, what relief and joy is known Where croup is foiled and overthrown; What gratitude- and blessing pure, Evoked by Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 13

/ Some of the most beautiful fireworks used in Masterton during the Peace celebrations were made in Germany, The hoses, which ■ had evidently been imported within very recent times, bore the words in bold type, “Made in Germany.” The explanation, says the Masterton Times, may be that the goods were brought in by aeroplane since the beginning of peace with the enemy. As showing how the curtailed railway services are affecting educational institutions, it was mentioned at a meeting of the Palmerston N. High School Board this week that at the present time 49 pupils who used to come in to school by train had now to find lodgings in town, while 12 students could only get in three days a week, and 11 were un-' able to attend at all. A demobilisation return dated 19th July gives the''following record of the strength of the Expeditionary Force: —In Prance 12, in the United Kingdom 0,002, patients in hospital in the United Kingdom 080, men with wives and families in the United Kingdom 1,010, nurses and Red Cross workers to be evacuated 50; total number evacuated from the United Kingdom since the armistice 40,105.

“1 think we may he in the happy position of being able to offer the general manager of the railways coal with which to ran his trains, if he has not got enough on the occasion, ’’ said the Mayor of Christ-i-liurch (Dr. Thacker), at a meeting to arrange for Admiral Jellieoe’s reception, when the (piostion of getting twos ;o !" nvey school children ilnring the visit was under discussion. In connection with the agitation for good roads, it is interesting to note that the Whangaroa County Council lias just: carried a poll for a loan of £5,000, on which they are receiving a £ for £ subsidy, for the purpose of completing the metalling of the main road right through the county, and connect with the metal that will he put down by the Bay of Islands county out of their £68,000 loan. The Whangaroa county now proposes to float another loan of £2,000 for the purpose of purchasing up-to-date road-making machinery.

There was almost a panic at the Christchurch Supreme Court one afternoon last week (reports the Christchurch Sun). A witness was giving evidence regarding explosions. “What was the explosion like?” lie said. “Well, I will show you; I have an exhibit here.” At this moment a spiral of smoke was observed proceeding from his clothing. “Hold on! What is this?” called out the examining counsel (Mr H. J. Hunter). No doubt with' visions of a bomb, he rushed to the witness, and, seizing his clothing, made hurried investigations. The cause was revealed —a smoking tobacco pipe, which had set alight the coat pocket of the witness. There was amused laughter from those present, as the. witness smothering the outbreak, casually remarked, “Oh, that’s not it; it’s only my pipe.” Mr P. C. Ereetb, who has been investigating the accommodation and conditions prevailing among the schools in Palmerston North, speaking at the last meeting of the Wanganui Education Board, declared that conditions in Palmerston school- were absolutely unhealthy. Children were herded into buildings like pig styes, and worked under conditions inimical to their health. The Education Minister and Cabinet Ministers have been there, and have expressed sympathy, but nothing was done to improve conditions. He said it was time the control of schools were taken out.of the bauds of those in Wellington, and placed in the hands of those who understood the needs of the schools. The best school, in Palmerston North was the Roman Catholic school, and that was simply because the expenditure had been controlled by people who knew what they wore about and had an eye to the future. To compare the Stale schools to it was like comparing dog kennels to a palace. They were wretched brokendown shacks. No words of condemnation would be too strong.

It is understood that a determined effort is to be made by certain of the Dunedin unions to bring about an alteration in the control of local labour matters (says the Otago Daily Times). These unions, represen (ed by what are generally termed sane labour members, as against extremists, hold that the local Labour Representation Committee does not represent the views of the great majority of unionists, and that it is only through the apathy of the unionists themselves that the committee, as at present constituted, exists. It is generally considered by unionists that if they could bring forward candidates who are not imbued with the idea, (hat the millennium can be readied by direct action, these candidates would have very favourable prospects of success at the coming elections. The unionists agree, however, that candidates holding extreme views can have little hope of being returned at the hustings—in fact, many unionists themselves will not give their support to or vote for such candidates. - One of the first movements of the proposed new Labour party will be to strive to cancel the affiliation of the Otago Labour Representation Committee with the New Zealand Labour Party and to form a distinct Otago Labour Party.

A raincoat with a history which is shrouded in mystery reached Gore recently (states the Ensign). Major Joll, now in charge of the local Defence Office, lost the coat from a French billet at the time of the first battle of the Somme, in July, 1916. He notified his loss in Orders, but there was no response. He had taken the precaution of marking his name inside the collar, and the other day received notification from the Napier railway authorities that a raincoat bearing his name had been found in a train. He despatched the necessary amount for carriage and storage, and his old friend arrived by mail, and was found to be in a fairly good condition considering its extensive travels.. On Monday evening, at the Rangiotu Presbyterian Church, Mr Hadley. Wilton,‘on behalf of the Eangiotu congregation, presented the Rev. J. H. Bredin with a cheque for a substantial sum. Mr Wilton expressed the congregation’s appreciation of the work Mr and Mrs Bredin had done in that part of the cdiarge, and the deep regret felt at their departure. He wished them both all happiness and prosperity in their new charge. Other members of (he congregation also spoke in high terms of Mr and Mrs Bredin’s work, and wished them .Godspeed. Mr Bredin, in responding’, thanked the congregation for their valuable gift and for the'great kindness, they had extended to Mrs Bredin and himself during their stay a■>,i an-, (hem. Tie staled that the happiest v''-.tions had always existed between liiem, and ho wished theta a speedy seii.eiiic.nt and great prosperity in tiic days to come, the meeting was (dosed with the Benediction, after which the ladies of the-congregation handed round refreshments.

General H. J. M. Mac Andrew, who led the sth Cavalry Division’s dash and arrived at Damascus simultaneously with the Australian mounteds, died tragically at Aleppo. His orderly was cleaning his tunic when the General came in in his pyjamas smoking a cigarette. Vapour from the material used , exploded, and General MaeAudrew was so burnt that he died in hospital. General Mac Andrew was horn in 1860, and had, a distinguished career. After having been commissioned in two line regiments, he joined the sth Bengal Cavalry in 1889; he served as Brigade Transport officer, 2nd Brigade, in the Tirah Expeditionary Force, 1897; also with the Khyber Force in 1898. In the Boer War service was rendered with various units from 1900 to 1902, he receiving the D.S.O. and being twice mentioned in despatches. He took part in the European war in France, 1914-15, and later with much distinction with the British cavalry in Palestine.

Writing from Scotland early in June to friends in New Zealand, Sir Walter Buchanan gives an interesting account of his visit to the battlefields of France, from which he had just returned. On his return to England, Sir Walter, in company with Mr Massey, paid several visits to the Shipping Controller and to the War Office authorities in an endeavour to impress upon them the urgent necessity of sending more vessels to New Zealand to lift the immense, stores of refrigerated cargoes awaiting shipment. The difficulties confronted, he states, made it clear to him how it was that in spite of Mr Massey’s incessant efforts the number of vessels sent had not come up to expectations. As an example of the course of events, Sir Walter Buchanan found that out of 20 ships scheduled to leave London with troops in February, only four had been actually despatched because of strikes at the London docks, which prevented the ships being fitted up.' Mr Massey was blamed for this delay, whereas , of course, he was absolutely powerless to contend against such happenings. At the time of writing, Sir Walter Buchanan was in excellent health, and was greatly enjoying his stav in Scotland.

Confinement to a coal bunker for three days and two nights was the unenviable experience of a negro during the voyage of the Ruapehu, which reached Wellington from England this week. On the third evening after leaving Newport News some soldiers, whilst sitting on a hatch, heard a mystexious tapping coming from beneath them, and being satisfied that the sound was somewhat unusual from such a quarter,, a ship’s officer was informed, and investigation' made. To the astonishment of all, a negro was discovered among the coal. After his request for water and food had been complied- with, he related the circumstances of his untimely Imprisonment. He had been one of the gang employed in trimming coal at Newport News, and whilst underneath one of the shoots was knocked" down and oivorwhclmed by the sudden rush of coal, until almost buried. He managed to fight his way to a place near a shaft, where there was a little air space, and subsequently, after a struggle through the coal lasting for three days and two nights, he got within reach of the hatches, A statement that he believed two of his mates were buri•cd in the coal caused further consternation; and to effect their rescue soldiers set to work dumping the coal on the decks. When much had been shifted the captain, believing that if any niggers had been buried they would have been discovered before the “diggers” got to the point they had reached, ordered a halt. The pangs of hunger and thirst had evidently caused the rescued one'to imagine things. After his trying experience the negro was glad to set foot on terra firma at polon.

The death is recorded of Nat. Gould, sporting' writer. William Candy, u grocer and borough councillor, has been selected as a Labour party candidate for the Masterton seat at the general tion. Mr W. F. Trueman, the newlyappointed Town Clerk and Borough Treasurer, .arrived in Foxton yesterday, and will take up his duties immediately. A special meeting of the Foxton Borough Council will be held on Monday next, at 7.30 p.m. Business: Authority to operate on bank account, and adoption of balance-sheet (if received from the Audit Department).

A party of motorists returning from the Palmerston races ran off the road near the Oromi bridge at Rangiotu last night. Only a wire fence prevented them from toppling into the Oroua river. As it was the front wheels went over and the car hung perilously on the verge for a long time until a rescue was effected by a band of willing workers. The incident was regarded hilariously by those concerned, and no one was hurt.

The Rev. Father W T . Dore, the Rev. Father J. Murphy, and the Rev. Father W. Doherty, three priests from Ireland, arrived by the Manuka on Monday. They are to be allocated duties in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Auckland. Father Dure is a brother of the Rev. Father Dore, M.C., a New Zealand chaplain who died last year as the cut come of wounds received on service at Gallipoli.

Speaking at the opening of the / Red Shield Club yesterday after- . noon, Commissioner TToddev stated that since he had been in Fox ton a number of people had expressed the hope Dial Captain Coffin, officer in charge of the local corps, would not be shifted from Foxlon for some time. He assured those present that it was not the intention of the Army authorities to transfer Captain. Coffin at least for some considerable time. This announcement was received with loud applause, testifying the esteem in which Captain Coffin is held locally. ± Mr J. W. Poyntou, S.M., has a store of interesting anecdotes upon . which' he draws at suitable intervals during court and other proeeedings which he presides. On * Tuesday the subject “coincidences”' (says the Taranaki Herald) arose at the one-man tram inquiry, and the Magistrate told of a coincidence that once came under Ins notice. A man was brought before him on a charge of stealing another man’s overcoat, and he sent him to prison for three months. When a little more than that time had elapsed, lie tfas greatly sur-' prised one day in court to see fore him the same accused man, the same accuser, and the same overcoat. On leaving prison the con-. victed man had set out to acquire another overcoat, and, by a strange chance, at the working men’s club,' whither he proceeded, he hit upon the original overcoat that was the cause of all the trouble.