LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2096, 28 February 1920, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We wore shown yesterday a mammoth potato weighing 21 lbs., grown loeally by Mr Scadden. Tlio local business people liavc decided to observe a close, holiday on Wednesday nest, when the school picnic will he held at Ashlmrs;. The recent rains have caused innumerable pot-holes in the Palmers-ton-Foxton road, which require attention. Mr Asquith has been elected for the Paisley seat. The voting at the Paisley election was: 11. IT. Asquith 14,736, -I. M. Bigger (Labour) 11,902, Mac Kean (Coalition Unionist) 3,795. A number of motor cars have been “bogged” in a portion of the road which has been widened a few miles (his side of Rangiotu. The recent rain on the clay and metal makes it difficult for cars to plough through. A lire destroyed .Peacock’s garage at Hvmterville and caused the loss of a number of ears owned by private residents. /The estimated damage totals £5,000. The building and stoek were insured in the Queensland office for £1,000.. At a meeting of the Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Committee held last night/ the Mayor presiding), it was decided to ask Messrs Jones, Fisher and McMinn, the three monumental firms who submitted designs, to confer with the Committee on Thursday evening next, before accepting one of the offers. Replying to a deputation of boot manufacturers and boot operatives, the Premier said it was necessary to the country’s welfare that the production of hides should be maintained. Increased feeling had been voiced by a very substantial proportion of producers, that they were not getting fair market values, and that this would result in a reduction of the output. The Government, after full consideration, resolved to follow’ the action taken by Australia in lifting the embargo on the export. He thought a slight increase in the prices all round was necessary, but it would not he nearly so great as had been stated. He believed a slight increase in the prices all round was necessary, but it would not be nearly so great as had been stated. He believed there would be found very little hoarding of hides. Dr. Reakes was satisfied from figure's relating to animals killed and hides exported that there could not be any large quantity stored for higher prices. Moreover, the regulations absolutely debarred ■ aby export until the needs of local tanners were satisfied. The Government would very carefully consider the matter, and he gave an undertaking if any cases- of hoarding were discovered that the offender would he drastically dealt with.

A house iu Masterlon which originally cost £I,OOO recently changed hands at £3,000. * As a result of the recent heavy rain all local house tanks are overflowing. On Tuesday evening next, at 7.30 p.m., a united religious service will be held in the Methodist Church. The death took place on Thursday of the threc-montlis-old child of Mr and Mrs Gilbert Beale, recent arrivals to Foxton. Misfortune seems to hang over the Brunner Borough offices (says the Grcymouth Star). They have been burnt down three limes, burglarised once, and on another occasion the books were found in the river. At Dunedin, George Aitchison was awarded £SOO damages against the Bruce County Council for injury dune ,to his land through the Clntha river Hooding it. .It was alleged that w’orks undertaken by the Council to carry off the Hood waters caused the flooding.

Mr R. D. D. Harkncss, farmer, of To Horo, son of Mr J. G. Darkness, secretary of the National Dairy Association, and chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, died of tetanus,as the result of an accident. He leaves a widow and three child-

It is reported from numerous sources (says the Poverty Bay Herald) that this year's pip fruit crop in and around Hastings (the Hawke’s Bay fruit-growing area) is a record. On all hands this statement is "heard, and in addition, it is stated that the quality is above the average.

A number of butchers employed at the AVhingawa meat works, near Masterton, collapsed while at work on Thursday. Medical assistance was soon forthcoming, and the cases were all 'diagnosed as mild inline!!/;!. The men have been isolated as a measure.

An influenza outbreak at Rnnanga has resulted in about 150 cases up to yesterday. Many miners are laid up. Measures to isolate the outbreak have been taken. Very few cases are of the severe.type, though the attacks arc rather sudden. So far no pneumonic complications afe ■reported.

The Chinaman is not averse to profiteering. In a certain Wairarapa township the European tradesmen were rationing sugar in 21b. quantities. A Chinese tradesman, who had a fair stock on hand, taking advantage of the demand for sugar for jam making purposes, sold out al 25s per 5(llb. bag, which represents over 5d per lb.

The annual ‘ conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand opened at Auckland on Thursday. Rev. E. Drake, of Wellington, the new president, referred to the unrest throughout (he world. Many remedies wore being tried and he suggested Christianity might also be given a trial. Mr E. IT. Penny, of Blenheim, was appointed vice-president for 1920, and Rev. A. Ashcroft, of Palmerston North, secretary. Rev. W. Grigg, of Christchurch, wits elected president for 1921, and Rev. A, Ashcroft secretary -for 1921. When in Rome do as the Romans, in America as. the Americans, but in New Zealand the great majority of people have no desire to imitate the gum-chewing habits of the Americans, and, indeed, took with marked disfavour upon those who do. ' A young man named Ernest Humphries was sharply rebuked by Mr E. Page, S.M., at the Wellington Magistrate's Court; yesterday. “I do not like young men to stand in front of me chewing gum,” he said. “Go outside and rake it out of your month. Your ease will be called again later.”

Dish promises to lie more plentiful than usual this season (says the Akaroa correspondent of the Christchurch Press). Lately the local fishermen have been making uncommonly largo hauls of the succulent Jial fish. To have bundles of bounders fresh from the sea, brought to \our door and retailed at Is 3d per bundle—ami a bundle comprises four good-sized fish —is to appreciate another of the attractions of Akaroa. The record for a day’s eateh was surely reached a, short time since, when a trawler outside the Heads tilled over 70 cases. There is evidently good.money in the business for somebody. Replying to a question as to the possibility of a shortage of butler jiiext winter following the rersumption of open export market conditions, the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. W. Nos Worthy) stated that the Prime Minister was not yet able to give a decision as'to what would he done when the present imperial contract ended on 31st July, He wns in communication with the Imperial Government, and until it was decided whether Britain would make a further purchase of New Zealand butter he could not deal with the control of the price of butter and the supply for consumption in New Zealand.

Apropos of a recent cable message supplying particulars of experiments, at Oxford University, on frogs with extracts from the thyroid glands, with the object of stimulating growth and development, the Palmerston Standard states that the late Dr. Wilson, of Palmerston Xorth, used thyroid gland extract in a local case. A boy, passing into the adolescent stage, was very much undeveloped and not up. to his age in studies. Dr. Wilson had great hopes of the success of his treatment, for these were fully home out, for the boy soon grew to be a line specimen,of young’manhood, and today has passed all his examinations •for the career he has chosen in life.

Mr Trueman, Town Clerk, has keen appointed secretary to the local Patriotic Society, at a salary of €25 per year, vice, Mr Hello w, resigned. : ■. • : Blackberries are now in season, and large parlies lind their way to the outskirts to gather them for jam. In some of the flax swamps - the blackberry plants are interfering with cutting operations, and arc becoming a '■crious menace. Mr Reid, who lias taken over the Town. Hall Pictures, and commences his term on Monday next, has been successful in making arrangements for the sole screening rights of certain t English and French productions, to replace Fox's American films. ' These English productions will he show-u as supplementary to Paramount, Art cm ft, and New Metro pictures, already field by the Town Hall proprietor, and should form a happy balance to the. American films. i ,

Replying to a question as to when the Dominion will get’ a supply of phosphates from (be Island of Nauru, the Prime .Minister stated that his latest advice from the Imperial authorities w r as dial good progress is being made with the Nauru transaction, under which Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand are to share in the output from the island. Therefore, he added, the news that the matter has been finally arranged may be looked for at any time.

At a meeting of the Wellington Licensed Victuallers’ Association, it was decided that, in view of the increased price of beer imposed on them by the hmvers, that all beers sold in public bars he not less than sd, The meeting also decided to 'increase the price of beer sold in “square riggers” from lOd to Is, customers to supply (heir own bottles. Beer, retailed in “square riggers,” “demijohns,” etc., will he charged for at the rate of -is a gallon. The price of all other liquors, including hoi (led beer, remains the same. At the annual meeting of (he Otaki Bulb Society the balancesheet showed a deficit of £1 5s 4d. The election of o(beers resulted: — President, Mr J. P. Brandon; viceprosildents, Mrs Swahey and Mr H. Wilchell; committee, Mesdamcs Hodgson, L. Jxilmister, FoxyTluthwaite, TVnvs,. blisses Kilsby, Fdmed, Crellin, Tews, and Bradey, Messrs Broadway, Small, Summers, Knight, Penn, Wells, G. Wilson, Staffer, and ]). Noble; bon. secretary and treas-urer,-Mr S. Norgrove; bon, auditor, Mr P. Freeman. It was deeded that the date of (he next show he held in abeyance. ■

Information has .been received that, a hale of super halfbred slipo wool from Feiiding was sold at the wool sales in London on December 11th for 5s ojd per pound, while the Imperial Government’s price to the company was 2s Rjd per pound. The price pnid'for the hale mentioned above is believed to bo a record for (his class of wool. Regarding the foregoing, the manager of a Hawke’s Ba y meat works says that he bought: three hales of halfbred lamb wool in New Zealand for 21 yd per ib. which sold in London last November at. 02 Ad.' He also bought four Imles of halfbred sheep wool which sold in London on the same date for 59 Ml.

“One of! Ihe most extraordinary coses we have-ever heard,” declared. Sub-Inspector Wohlnmnn when Alfred Sexton, of Ilobsonville, was charged at. the Auckland Magistral e ? s Court, I his week, with having sold adulterated milk in which the deficiency of milk fat and excess of water ran ty -If) per emit, and 50 per cent. An analysis taken suggest od that the mix-lure was in some cases three buckets of water to two of milk, and that was the sort of article, that defendant sold to the Takapuna Dairy Company. His Worship fpioted from the analysis reports, and repealed the phrase: “One of the most grossly adulterated samples of milk 1 have ever analysed,” and stated Unit if the milk had been sold to the; public for use instead of being sold to a factory, defendant would have been sent to gaol. As it was, ,defendant would j ho lined £SO and co-ds.

The charges of having ill-treated his three voting children so as to cause them unnecessary suffering preferred against Charles Grayndler, secretary of the Shearers’ Union, were proceeded with at the Welling! on Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, before Mr E. Pago, S.M., the medical evidence indicating that (he hoys John Grayndler, aged 11, ' Charles Grayndler, aged 13, and the girl, Kathleen Grayndler, aged 8 years, had, all been severely handled and badly bruised either by rough usage with a strap, or by kicks. When they were examined by Dr. Hislop all three children were suffering from shock. The children gave evidence against their father with evident reluctance, the defence being that, the defendant, as the result of overwork, mental worry and an attack of influenza, which had left him in an abnormal condition, was not responsible for his actions at the timet Grayndler himself testifying that he had no recollection of •), havihg beaten the children. The ■'* Magistrate said he must enter a conviction. The defence raised was that Grayndler at: the time was not responsible for his- acts, being a ’ lunatic within the meaning of the Act, No doubt the man was sick, but the defence was not sufficient to ■ exempt him from criminal respoasP hility. Affine of £lO, in default 21 days’ on the first charge of illtreating the boy of 11 years was im--posed, and defendant was convicted and ordered to come up in twelve months on the other charges.

The favourite screen actor, W. S; Hart , is featured in the star film at lire Town Hall to-night. Af the Feilding police court yesterday, John Rowe and Ernest Roe, charged with using obscene language in the Empire bar, were each convicted and fined £5/ It appears that it was .Mr Byron Brown, of Otaki, who made the £I,OOO wager with Miss Louise Mack that she could not cross the Tararuas. “There was no -witnesses to, the wager,” says Miss Mack, “but Mr Byron Brown acknowledges the wager.. What be says is that -I have ■not won it. As the money was promised by me to the Returned Soldiers of New Zealand, I shall he bitterly disappointed if they'do not get it. Mr Brown does not pay because lie declares I was ‘carried over the Tararuas.’ I walked every step* from the Forks, Otaki, at the foot of the Tararuas, to the wliare on the other side of the Tararuas. Mr and Miss Knox were with me all the time. I was out eight days altogether, and came near (loath, but I accomplished the crossing.”

The Government’s proposal to tackle the opening up of the Urewora Country is attracting a good deal of attention from those interested in the settlement of retimed soldiers, who recognise that if the Urewera lands arc to play their part in repatriation no time must be lost. Mr E. F. Andrews, secretary of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association, told a Star reporter that Ids personal view of the matter tv as that the Government ought to introduce special legislation enabling it to take over at a fair valuation all the Urewera native lands, the titles to which had not been defined. The purchase money could be paid into a trust fund and distributed to the natives, with accrued interest, when all questions of ownership were settled. This would enable settlement to he carried out without vexatious delays, ami would enable,the Government to obtain the unearned increment which would accrue from, the construction of roads ami the opening-up of the area.