LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2047, 28 October 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■ The N.Z. Shipping Co.’s ]{camera will depart from Wellington, for London, on November 25th.

The wen (her was ideal for yesterday’s holiday. A largo mpnber of visitors from all parts of flic district motored to (he seaside.

"The Lust of the Ages,” shown at the Royal last night, was a gem of the Screen. ‘Picture-lovers should not miss seeing it when repeated tonight. We are .informed that Mr T. W. Hunt, the well-known building contractor, will be a candidate for the vacant seat on the Borough Council at the forthcoming by'-eleclion.

The lonic, which arrived on Batimlny nl Wellington, had on board 35 ollicers, seven nurses, 312 ol' other ranks, 35(1 women and 90 children. Five Imperial ollicers were also passengers by the vessel.

The executive of the Prohibition Parly has received .the following cablegram from Toronto: —“Ontario keeps prohibition by a 300,000 majority on the straight, issue, and defeats all compromises by a 200,-, 000 majority.”

• .Messrs 11. E. .Wilson, I). L. Mason, .(. Wilton, and Lindsay, New Zealand soldiers who won fame in athletic circles at Hume, fire passengers by the Arawa, which is due to arrive at Auckland on 10th November.

Mr Joseph Best, a well-known farmer of Kairanga, who has been in failing health for some lime, passed away at his residence on Sunday. Mr Best was a very old colonist, .being one of the wellknown Best family which settled at Appelby, in the Nelson district, in the very early days. Mr C. A. Durie, of Levin, died recently at the ago of 7-1. Mr Durie was the eldest son of the late Major Durie, one of the earliest settlers in i\ T ew Zealand. He was well known on the West Coast of the North Island, and was a prominent racing man in the early ’eighties. As an ensign, deceased served in the Maori IVav. Lafer he took ftp farming with' his.brother. He leaves a widow. ’

The Christchurch Press remarks that the nautical inquiry into, the Tainm disaster probably holds the record for being the longest commission of its kind held in New Zealand.- The inquiry commenced at Lyttelton on Friday, 10th inst., and Saturday’s proceedings represented the twelfth day’s sitting. In the KJt days devoted to examination of witnesses evidence was given by 45 witnesses, and the type-written report of the evidence covers 260 foolscap pages, which, roughly estimated, contain 100,000 words.

It .is now only a little over a fortnight away from the anniversary of the big outbreak of.influenza m Melding ton, and it is satisfactory to "see that the signs and portents do not indicate a serious recurrence of the complaint in its deadly form (states Friday’s Dominion). Consulted on the matter, the medical superintendent of the Wellington Hospital (Dxv IL' .JVoodhousc) said that the only form of influenza now being encountered in Wellington was a very mild variety. He did not anticipate that Wellington would have another visitation of the malady in its acute form,

The local State school observed a holiday yesterday, • , Mr Massey hopes that the session of Parliament will be brought to a close on Satux-day next. The s.s, Kennedy is loading general at Wellington to-day, and is due here to-morrow morning. Impressive memorial services for mirses who had fallen in the war ami daring the epidemic were held in tlie'iarge centres on Sunday.'*

Gunner Garnet Fraser and Ser-geant-Major Stanley Wanklyn returned to Fox ton on Saturday, after service with the New Zealand Forces, ' Both brought back English brides. _ We are informed that “The Sentimental Bloke,” now being shown to such crowded houses in Wellington, has been secured'by the Royal, and will be shown some time in Decern - hex-. It lias henten all records in Sydney, and bids.fair to do so in Wellington.

While on his way to milk his cows on Sunday week, Mr Robert Crichton, of Wakelield (Nelson) was slung by a bee. Little notice was taken of the sting at (lie time, hut later in the evening Mr Crichton became seriously ill, and he passed away at midnight. Deceased had not been in good, health since his recovery from an attack of influen/.a, and was in a low State of health. • Says the Christchurch Sun: — Nothing in the Public Works Statement delivered by Sir William Fraser last night is calculated to give more satisfaction than the fact that tlie Minister is about to relinquish his portfolio. The, Department of Public Works in this country is anything but an old man’s job. It is one for an energetic "and determined man in the prime of life, and especially a man who knows how to get things done.

An interesting event occurred on board the Royal Mail steamer Niagara on the evening of the day she (beared Suva for Auckland, a thirdclass passenger giving birth to a girl—her seventh child. The mother and her husband are en route to ; 9 Australia from Scotland. To mark the event, the first saloon passengers collected £SO, which is to be banked in Sydney for the baby." The second saloon . passengers, collected £7, which was given to the mother.

■ o The Palmerston Salvation Army Silver Band visited Fox ton for the week-end, and special services were held in- the Town Hull on Sunday. On Saturday evening the Band gave an al fresco concert in Main Street, which was listened to by a large concourse of people. The music was interspersed with addresses and other items by the visitors, and Commandant Middlemiss kept things moving merrily. On Sunday another open-air concert was given at the Park, which attracted a large crowd. The services in the Town Hall were also well attended.

Queen’s Park School, in Wanganui,. is situated practically in the heart of the town, on a commanding site off the Avenue, and just behind the Art Gallery. The latter-is erected on a piece of Grown land vested in the borough. In the past the children attending the school have been allowed to use the reserve for a playing ground, and now (lie Council intend to beautify it. The Education. Board desire to retain ■the laud as a playing area, and (lie Council intend to convert it into a beauty spot in keeping with the magnificent art gallery. The Board refused a more convenient and roomy site for the school in exchange for the present site, which is iinsiiiled for school purposes.

Ea-rl y on Sunday morning a bot-tle-nosed -whale was seen .near the end of the Pel one wharf, slowly manoeuvring about as if in difficulties. As the news spread a crowd gathered, to witness the unusual spectacle. ■ Anxious to secure (he prize,. Mr A. Rose succeeded in mortally wounding die visitor with a well-aimed rifle shot. The whale was secured,' and after a struggle, towed ashore. Prom examination it appeared to have been in action befoi'c, as there? were several scars, apparently the result of harpoon wounds. It is said to measure 211 feet in length; and 0i feet across the tail, with a weight estimated at between four and Jive tons. Permission was secured from the Mayor of Petone (Mr J, IV. M'Ewcn) to place the whale on view on the beach and collect dona I ions in aid of the Petone War Memorial Fund.

A serious lire occurred at: Otaki on Saturday morning, when a block of four shops, owned by Mrs In ill, was totally destroyed by lire. The outbreak was first noticed by passing motorists, and ilames were seen issuing from the billiard saloon, leased by Mauti te Honiara. The fire then spread to a front shop (occupied by Mrs Fryer), then to an unoccupied shop, and to the hairdressing saloon leased by Captain Box. The Fire Brigade was quickly on the- scene, and managed to save the premises' of Mr John Kirk’s (saddler), and Messrs Bell and Moore (merchants). Mi's Inill will he a heavy .loser, as she had only an, insurance'of £6OO on the buildings. Mr Fryer will lose nearly £IOO. and Captain Box about £SO. There was a small insurance on the billiard" saloon. ■ •

The ills of life are infinite, But few unbroken health enjoy, Strive as wo may to keep it right, Some stress the balance doth destroy. m In winter this is ever so, f Of sore throat, cough, or cold we're sure, ’Tis then we know the debt we owe To Welcome Woods’ Great, Peppermint Cure.

People who ax-e inclined to be superstitious may be interested to,; learn that the steamer Kalian, which lias been stranded at the Chatham Islands, carried thirteen and a crew of thirteen, . Asked in the House by Ms McCalum (Wairau), whet her he would, upon the demobilisation of every officer of the Ncnv Zeahuul Rxpcditi-onax-y Force, insist that the use of the military title theretofore held by him shall-.be discontinued? Sir James Allen replied that no officer who had demobilised from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force had authority to use the military title of the rank he held in that force. The only title he was authorised to use was that of the rank he held in (lie New Zealand Territorial Force should ho continue to serve therein, on the .active reserve, or retired list.

That the do or die spirit is still imbued in the'heax’ls of some youthful members of the community was exemplified at Ashhurst a few days ago, says the Palmerston Times. One inspired youngster dar.ed another to Ho under the overhanging platform next to (he railway line as lltsy train was going pasl. Nothing loth, the other boy settled himself in the .required fashion, and comfortably, awaited events. Fortunately, as the train came rushing into the station, the drivej noticed the foolhardy lad lying near (he rail, and pulled up in a short; space, just clearing Hie young dare-devi!. The jar on the engine and .truck couplings caused' some damage to both,' and the boy’s father will probably have to foot the bill, so that he can hardly be expected to admire bis son’s daring. Needless to say, enginedriver had the “wind up” considerably more than the lad, as he knew that had tlie train gone by Hie hoy would have been cut to pieces.

The “dreadful ordeal” (so it is locally described) to 'which Their Excellencies. Lord .and Lady Liverpool were recently subjected at an entertainment in Wanganui appears to he disturbing the serenity of (he Wanganui Borough Council. One councillor said he deeply regretted that the Governor-General and Lady Liverpool should have been compelled to listen to such a scandalous thing.. Another said that pprt (he programme submitted was “a. disgrace to the town,” that Their Excellencies would leave Wanganui with impressions of town and public taste that were deplorable, and that to pinny it was nothing but “a dreadful ordeal.” Yet another councillor said he was so disgusted he walked out of the hall. The wisdom of bringing the matter up at all was Cjiiestioned, and the opinion expressed that it would be wiser to "W “Jet sleeping dogs lie.” With the statement that Lord and Lady Liverpool'were too much of sports to take any notice ofAhe objectionable ..J portion of the entertainment, the a council appeared to he satisfied, and the discussion shdrtlv after closed.