LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2039, 9 October 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A number of motor cars passed through Foxton yesterday, going to and coining from the Levin races. ' i

Between 2nd and Cth October, 23 cases of 'influenza were notified, comprising 15 mild, G pneumonic, and 2 severe. Bight mild .cases and 1 pneumonic case came from Wellington district; 4 mild,'2 pneumonic, and 2 severe from Auckland; and 3 mild and 3 pneumonic from Canterburv.

At the adjourned inquest on Catherine Fago, a young woman who died suddenly at Palmerston North last week, the Coroner said there was no certainty regarding,, the cause of death, which was probably due to air embolism as the result of an endeavour to procure a miscarriage. ' - We have been asked to direct the Council’s attention to the,fact that certain persons are making a damping ground for rubbish on the piece of waste land near the railway crossing, and alongside, the road. This spot could be beautified by the planting of ornamental trees and shrubs, instead of being an eyesore to the entrance of the borough.

A witness in (be Native Land Court (says a Southern exchange) was asked as to her position, to see if she could adequately maintain a child she was proposing to adopt. She said her appearance showed her station, and pointed to a fur coat she was wearing. The Judge; suggested that 1 appearances were sometimes deceptive, and (hat the wearing, of fur coats was not always a guarantee of affluence, and other evidence of her means was required.

A number of local Masons were present yesterday nl Bulls to participate in (lie installation of Bro. A. K. Drew as AVAL of Lodge Kangitikoi, and (he investiture of Ids of(icers. The Deputy-G.M., K. Wor. Bro. Keosing, and the Prov. G. M., 1C Wor. Bro. McParlane, were in attendance, and took part in the ceremony. Others assisting were AY. Bros. Pagan, Ferrell and Hornblow. Peeling references were made to the passing of the kite AA’. Bro. Thomas King, and a motion of sympathy was passed to the bereaved family. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Palmerston Borough Council the following mytion was carried unanimously: —“That this Council indignantly repudiates tin' aspersions cas-t upon the Mayor's honour, and emphatically expresses its- entire confidence in the Mayor and Engineer, and calls upon Mr Johnston to support his allegation or retract and apologise.” Mr Johnston is alleged to have circulated a report that the Mayor had been guilty of tampering with the engineer’s report before the snipe was submitted to the Council.

Returned passages for New Zealanders who have been on service at the front are the subject of a question asked by .Mr \V. IT. Field in the House of Hepresenlatives. Mr Field wishes to know if the Government will provide passages home. on transports for men who, after being rejected for service in New Zealand, were so keen to serve that they paid or worked their passages home to England, and, after service with the forces of Britain and the Allies, had now been discharged, without sufficient money to return to New Zealand.

Speaking at a dinner at Waiotapu to celebrate the inauguration of a soldier sell lenient in the district, Mr IT, M. Skeet, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, said that 'now the bulk of Ihe best lands of the Dominion had been settled it was essential that the Slate should turn its attention to the utilisation of the second-class lands, of which the pumice areas formed so important a part. There were a million acres of this class of land held by the Crown in the district, and it was import apt that it should be settled. One of the great difficulties in the way was finance, but he could state that in a few weeks a policy would be announced which would overcome this difficulty, and that a new and satisfactory scheme for settling men on pumice land would - be put forward. ■ ■

In the course of an interesting address at Christchurch on “Birdlife in Relation to Fruitgrowers in New Zealand,” Mr Edgar Stead said there was no doubt: that in certain districts the skylarks palled up a lot of s grain to get at the grubs, but as fur as fruitgrowers were concerned these birds were benefit;iitl. The hedge-sparrow Vas positively the best bird introduced here. This bird would never attack grain in the ear, either standing-or in the stock. It lived entirely on incests, grubs, and beetles, and was an excellent bird in any place. The sparrow and the linnet were fairly bad birds for the orehardist and fanner, as they ate grain in the stock and standing. Questioned as to whether the weka was a bad bird, from the orchardist.s’ point of view, Mr Stead stated that they did nothing but good. They,- however, consumed hens’ eggs when opportunity offered, but they fed on slugs and worms.. The only two birds he had known to look for leech blight were the chaffinch and (he shining cuckoo, and he thought it would be a very good experiment to loose a number of these birds in 'an enclosed cherry ..orchard, and see whether the blight ;would be taken off. PERMANENT RELIEF. Dysentery is of very frequent occurrence during the summer months. It can be cheeked and permanent relief obtained if Chamberlain’s Colic and Diarrhoea Remedy is taken according to directions.

The engagement is announced of Miss Lydia Field,: second daughter of Mr W. H. Field, M'.P., and Mrs Field, to Captain Noel' Phurozyn, son of Mrs Gerald Fitzgerald, of Ti- ■ -nakora Road, Wellington. At the meeting of the Palmerston Borough Council, a request was received from the Foxton Borough Council that Mr T. Black be permitted to advise the Foxton Borough in laying out a public garden, and offering to pay all expenses. The request was acceded to. . At the meeting of the Manawatu County Council it wasvrepnrted that the bridge over the Manawatu River at Shannon had received considerable damage during the late floods, and was in an unsafe state. It was decided to ask the ITorowhenua County Council to meet the Council in conference to discuss the best means of dealing with the matter. Dr. H. W. Cleary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, returned to Auckland a few days ago. Mis health remains in a very unsatis- v factory slate. Several consultations by his medical advisers since his return have disclosed grave conditions, which compel them to order absolute rest and further treatment.

The sale of work in connection with All Saints' Ladies’ Guild was open this afternoon at 2 o’clock. The hall was beautifully decorated, and all the stalls well laden. The ladies report good business.. The sale will be continued this evening. Admission is free, and music will be discoursed by Mr Betty’s orchestra.

At (lie meeting of the Manawatu County Council, (lie balance-sheet for the previous year was received from the Auditor-General. The chairman drew attention to the fact that the document had been returned free of “tag's,” which was rather an unsuual circumstance and reflected credit on the work of the clerk (Mr Drew).

The purchase of the Grand Hotel, .Hastings, freehold for £IIO,OOO has been completed by Airs Phillips, of Wellington, from the Napier Brewery Co. Mrs Phillips has also purchased the lease, and she will enter into possession on November Ist. It is reported that she has been offered, and has declined, £5,000 on her bargain. Cr. Crabb, chairman of the Manga hao Hydro-Elect lie Vigilance Committee, told the Palmerston Borough Council that at the rate the work was going on it would not only be Jive but ten years before it was completed. “There was a feeling of keenness in the Minister and also in the House, fail it did not seem to make the work go faster.” Too much “Reform” and not enough ginger!

A statement supplied to Mr Massey by the New Zealand Coalmine Owners’ Association shows the following shortage in the output from the coal mines,'consequent on the “go-slow” policy for the week ending October 3rd: Taupiri 3,700 tons, Westport-Stocklon 1,030, Blackball 803, Hikyrangi 092, Pukemiro 0-10, Paparoa 310, Waipa 275, Nightcaps 212, New Zealand Coal and Oil Co. 102; total 7,400 tons. In addition, the reduction in the State mines is estimated at 1,000 tons.

A quiet wedding look place at the Feilding Presbyterian Church yes - terday, when Jfchn Gardner Speirs, eldest son , of Mr and Mrs Alex. Speirs, of Foxton, was united to Ivy Winifred McKenzie, The ceremony was performed by the Kev. Mr Miller. air Robert Speirs. officiated aa best man, the bride’s sister attending as bridesmaid. Air and Mrs Speirs will take up their residence on the farm recently acquired by Mr Speirs on the Foxton-Levin road. In common with Foxton friends, we convey to Air and Airs Speirs our best wishes for happiness and long life.

At (he suggestion of Air Fume, it was decided at the last meeting of the Vf.F.A. class in Ficonomics, to make the final lecture for the year to-morrow (Friday) night, a semisocial function. The'Secretary will arrange tor light refreshments to temper the dryness of the subject for those unaccustomed to Economic!?. The members of the class are to bring their friends to. the lecture, and the tutor (Air Henderson) has ' promised . to tackle some popular questions of the day, such as “the cost of living,” “land speculation,” “industrial unrest,” and “the Meat Trust.” All contributors to the fund for the establishment of the W.Ej.A. are cordially invited to be 'present. Tim decrease in the Dominion’s sheep stock disclosed by this year’s returns may he attributed mainly to the following causes, Says the Xew Zealand Journal of Agriculture: — (4) Increased-slaughterings in the months immediately following the date of collection of the 1018 returns, owing to the lateness pf the 1917-18 meat-freezing . season, caused by the backward condition of the stock, congested stores, etc.; (2) a reduced lambing percentage in 1918; (3) the abnormal mortality caused bv the severe winter of 1918.

A favourable-recommendation has been given by the House Petitions Committee to the Petition of Messrs Leylancl O'Brien, of Auckland, for compensation for losses sustained by the capture of the scow Moa by Count von Luckuer and the other German prisoners who escaped from Motuihi Island, and were recaptured together with the vessel at the Kerraadec Island-'. The 'company asked for some £J ,200 for cargojcttisoned and for damage to (he vessel. The Public Petitions A to L Committee reported: “The committee is strongly of opinion that the Government should grant reasonable compensation to -the petitioners.” v

A men’s committee meeting in connection with the proposed welcome to all returned soldiers will be held in the Borough Council-. Chambers io-morrow’ afternoon, at 5 o’clock. A hearty invitation is extended to any other men in teres in the movement to attend. An important commercial venture in connection with aviation in New y Zealand is shortly to be started, A concern which will form, part of, or be connected with, the Larkin, Sopwith Aviation Company of Austra-lasia,-Ltd., intends, within-the next' three months, to actively common®# operations. It is understood that the headquarters will be .in Auckland, but aerodromes will be established in all the main centres. The company proposes to sell machines, carry passengers, and undertake commercial flights, etc., In fact, its operations will embrace everything practicable from the commercial aspect. Indeed, it is intended to institute passenger services between the principal cities, including one between Wellington and Christchurch.