LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2109, 30 March 1920, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The weekly nailed service will be held in the Methodist Church this evening, and-will he conducted by the Rev. Thos. -Hallidav.

Mr M. Davidson, of Levin, while on a scaffold, clipping a hedge, missed his footing and fell about leu feet. Although rendered unconscious, ho was not seriously injured.

Air W. IT. Jones, of the firm of F. J. and W. IT. Jones, monumental masons arrived in Foxton 10-day to supervise the erection of the soldiers’ memorial to he erected in the Triangle Reserve.

Spec in! Easter services will he held in the local Methodist Church on Sunday next, at which Miss Myra Sawyer, the talented Wellinglon vocalist, will sing two solos, “My I?c----deemer Liveth” (from the Messiah), and “With Verdure Clad” (from the Creation). The choir will also contribute an anthem.

In regard to the recent disasterous lire, wc gather from the principals of the C. M. Ross Coy., Ltd., that they are at present considering .several available sites, and intend erecting up-to-date premises at an earlv date.

Members of (he local Fire Brigade are requested to meet at Mr Pcrreau's temporary premises to-night, at 7 o’clock sharp. They will afterwards attend (he special meeting of the Borough Council to he held at 7.30 o’clock.

Cambridge won the ’Varsity boat race. Oxford were quicker away, but' Cambridge got level at the end of half a mile, and steadily-drew away, and were four lengths ahead at Barnes’ bridge. They shook off Oxford's desperate final effort, and won by four lengths.

For some little time past there has been a shortage of suitable business premises in Foxton, and Sunday night's lire has made the position very acute, and some of the business people who suffered by (be lire are at their wits end to know what to do to keep their businesses going. Mr .Perre.au has arranged with Mr G. G. Kelly to use his shop temporarily, Mr Kelly using the building at the back meantime. Mr J. X'. Rider has secured one of the shops in Montoa Buildings, and will open up again before the end of the week. Air S. Hudson is shifting a temporary building on to the site next to (he Red Shield Club, which lie will use until he is able to get new premises. The C. AI. Ross Coy,, Messrs S. Alai tar and A. Heasraan are negotiating for premises.

It would he a good idea to inaugurate a salvage corps in connection with the local Fire Brigade, whose duly woitld he to control and safeguard the removal of stocks from buildings threatened with destruction by live. , Sometimes it is found that there are some who are more willing to help themselves rather than the stock owners. Fancy a helper complaining because a pair of.boots were odd! Or one leaving at the shrine o£ the fiery god an old piece of headgear for a Stetson! The old Maori custom of “utu” was liberty to the tribe to spoil the victims of disaster. It would appear from recent happenings that this custom is not singular to the Maori race.

At the local police court last Friday, before the Mayor (Mr John Chrystall) and Air' Horn blow, J.P., two Kangiotu youths were charged with the theft of three tins of benzine, valued at £3, the properly of Mr Bond. Both accused pleaded guilty. Constable O’Donoghue said the accused were young men of good character who had been supplied with liquor by certain individuals, and while in this state had committed the offence. They did not require the benzine for themselves. The elder lad was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within the next twelve months, and to make restitution to (he value of two tins of benzine, and the other was convicted and ordered to pay the value of one tin. Air Bond said both the accused were lads of good character, and this was their first false step, brought about by getting into evil company. He asked that some action be taken by the police to stop' the liquor disiribution in iho locality. The police promised to make investigations into the matter. Both lads promised' to abstain from intoxicating liquor in ihc future.

A heavy gale at Te Aroha on Saturday wrenched (ho verandahs oft' seven shops. The roofs of several shops wore also damaged hy the iron being ripped away.

We are informed that 140 per foot is being asked-for the section in Main Street. lately occupied by the C. M. Ross Co.’s promises, destroyed in Sunday night’s tire.

At the local police court yesterday morning, before Mr Hornblow, J.P., a lium named Harper, arrested for drunkenness on Saturday night and allowed out on hail, was convicted and fined 10s. He was again subsequently arrested, and Ordered to leave the town forthwith, in default a period of incarceration. A man named Lawson was convicted for drunkenness and fined £l.

In connection with the high prices being paid for land in this district (says'the Palmerston-Times), it is well to remember that by a recent change in the - incidence of taxation, land owners now pay land lax irrespective of the amount .of mortgages. For instance, £SO deposit on £.10,000 worth of land i-ompets ihe purchaser to pay the whole of the land tax. 4 On Friday last the Prime Minister celebrated his sixty-fourth birthday in his own home. Mr Massey, who has been moved from the Bowen Street hospital, • continues to make a good recovery from his operation, but he will have to remain quiet for at least another week. Meantime he is transacting a certain amount of public business, though even when he returns to his office it is expected that lie will be advised not to gel back to his old stride too quickly.

The question of clot lies to be worn by members- of local bodies when presented to 11.R.H. the Prince of Wales, was discussed by Captain Tabu Rhodes, A.D.C. to the Gover-nor-General,' and the Nelson City Council on Saturday last, at Nelson. “Are we to wear bell-toppers and frock-coats?” was the vexed question which the councillors wished to have decided. Captain Rhodes stated that a cabled inquiry in regard to the dress to bo worn at official functions had elicited the reply from the Prince that lie would be'deliglitcd to see the people in anything they chose to wear.- The sartorial problem is thus solved, and, according to the Nelson Colonist, the statement was received with general satisfaction by live members of Cue council. .

“The Government has authorised the granting of a reward hi' £2OO for information leading' to the arrest oh the accused man for ■whom a warrant has been .issued t , on the eapilal charge in connection with the Palmerston North murder.” staled Mr J. O’Donovau (Commissioner of Police) to a \\ ollington Press represemtative on Saturday. “Although the charge is a very serious one,’’, added the Commissioner, “the evidence elicited at the inquest brought out nothing tendingTo show that any other crime had been attempted. There is thus a great difference between (his case and the murder case at Auckland. The Palmerston North case is one that can he descriminatod in its nature from crimes of robbery, or attempted robbery, or rape, in which murder lias been committed.”

It ha plumed not 100 miles from Foxion. A resident read with interest of an offer of £2OO reward for information that would lead to the arrest of a man wanted in connection with a charge of murder. The same night, in walking along an unfrequented street, t he saw a man lying in the lupins. With the aid of a pocket torch I lie amateur detective, took a mental note of the man’s features and description. With those lirmly lixed in his mind, he ran to the telephone, and gave a sharp ring. “Number, please,” came from the exchange clerk. “Give me the Police- Station, urgent,'’ was the order. Sensing something serious, the exchange clerk made I lie, connection without delay. The officer in charge was asked for, and a request made for (he description of the man for whom the reward was offered. This was given at length, and appeared to-tally somewhat with the man sleeping in the lupins. A police officer was immediately despatched to the locality, but unfortunately on arrival he-found it to he a case of mistaken identity. The man in the lupins was sleeping oft the results of an over indulgence in liquid refreshment, and there was no reward forthcoming: The inebriate, however, was given more comfortable lodgings for the night, and the following morning made his bow to a Justice. The reward for the arrest of the wanted man is still unclaimed.