Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1920. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2128, 15 May 1920, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1920. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Drury Lane masterpiece, “Sporting Life/’ will be screened at the Town Hall shortly.

The Invercargill Town Council recently fixed the annual license fee for picture theatres at £lO. Hitherto it has been £3.

Plans have been prepared for the erection of a new post office at Patea. The estimated cost is set down at £B,OOO.

A movement: is on foot at Speneerville (North Canterbury), near Bellas!, to form a company to manufacture glass (says the Lyttelton Times). “Unless we can find a remedy for the present stale of affairs, we need not worry about the next generation, for there will be no next generation,''* declared a speaker at a meeting of women called in Auckland to protest against the continued high prices of the necessaries of life.

The average area of each landholder in the Eketahuna County is -157,05 acres. In Pahiatua County it is 275.63 acres, Alaurieevillc 256.22 acres, and Maslcrton 560.21 acres. There are 470 persons employed on dairy farms in the Eketahuna County, and 343 on pastoral farms, according to the latest statistics.

A lire broke out last: week in an occupied room of a ’house at Akaroa. The cause was a complete mystery until it was noticed that the bedroom is on the sunny side of the house, and a mirror, with a convex' surface, happened to be so placed that at this season of (he year it caught the full rays of the afternoon sun. Tlie “burning glass." as the children like to call it. soon did the mischief.

A traveller from Wairoa states that when he passed by the construction work on the CisborncXapier railway near Uraseriown a few days ago, he saw a dear old bewhiskered man wheeling a barrow, which was being filled by two men who were working away at a fairly long cutting. At the rate of progress being made the line will not be completed for generations. And people wonder why Major Dine did not win the Stratford scat! — Paten Pres,--.

Mr .John Moseley, of Inchcluiha, Otago, whose services as a water diviner were called in by the Milton Borough Council last week', in the course of his search for ah adequate underground water supply for the borough water supply scheme, made the discovery that the Toko District High School and rector's residence were sitting fairly over an underground stream, and this, lie thought, accounted for the extreme prevalence of goitre among the children attending this school. — <Mago Daily Times.

As a means of supplementing- the, funds of the Eoxiou Volunteer hire Brigade, a plain and fancy dreshall will he held in the Coronation down Hall mi Thursday, -Tune 3rd, and every effort will he make to make it “the’ ball of the season. A strong committee eousistiug of Mcsdames Rider, Perrean, Pearson, Head, B. Robinson, Messrs Rider, Perrcau, Head, Compton, and the secret ary, Mr FTankland, lias been set up, and music will be provided by Miss E. Reeve and Cralmiu Broth-, ers. The catering will be in the hands of Mr Perrean. The prices of admission will lie: Ladies 4s, gentlemen 7s (id;’double tickets 10s (id. Tickets may be obtained from all members of the committee.

The question of starting dried fruit and veegtable factories under a process known as de-hydration was referred to at a meeting id the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. In reply to a Idler from the Chamber, a resident of the United Stall’s torwarded information and samples ot de-hydraled fruit, meat, fish, and vegetables, and gave information as to the cost of the plant. Mr (5. Parr, who presided, said (bat the Chamber intended showing (lie samples at the winter show. De-hy-dration,of vegetables and fruit allowed growers to provide for the winter, and Die process had proved a great success. He mentioned that a de-hydrated cabbage weighed only a few ounces, but when put into water it assumed nearly its natural size, and was found to hgve lost none of its natural flavour.-

“There are dozens of houses in Wellington which have been condemned as unlit for human habitation,” said Councillor P. Eraser, ALP., at the Town Hall, Wellington, on Tuesday night, “but they cannot be demolished, because there are no other places for the people now occupying them. The Mjiyor, Mr Luke, is assisting in every way to prevent families from being turned out into the streets. This must be said to his credit. I have a personal knowledge of the kindly work he is doing in that direction.” Air Fraser mentioned some very distressing eases, including one where a family is living in a stable loft.’ The audience laughed. “It is laughable, but it is tragic,” said Air Fraser. “The owner has threatened to raise the rent.’’ Another family, occupying a shed off Tasman Street, was paying 25s per week rent. “Let me put it on your finger AVhere the wedding ring will he. Will you? Won’t you? Will you? Honey! will you marry me?” That’s what Sauimie said to Sadie, While she sighed in rapture pure; Now she’s, bending over baby Alising Woods’ Peppermint Cure. —Advt. 1.

There are at present 20 males and eight females in the Awapnni Old People’s Home. Mr Murphy, of Takapau, has been appointed bunk manager at Shannon, vice Mr Pickett, who is being transferred.

During the month of April 158 Chinese, including 11 females, landed in New Zealand, and nine left the Dominion.

It was announced to-night that Sir William Herries will take over from Mr Massey the portfolio of Labour. (The joke of the season!). —Manawatu Times.

The management of the Royal have secured “The Kangaroo Man,” the groat Australian film, featuring Snowy linker, which will lie screened carlv next month.

The programme for the Benefit Concert to he held in the Town Hall ini Tuesday evening appears elsewhere in this issue. All those who

attend the concert arc promised a good entertainment, and as the case is a very deserving one there should he a large attendance.

Constable O’Donoghue left P.oxtnn yesterday afternoon for Marlon, on relieving duty, both constables there being down with influenza. After he left. Constable Woods was attacked by this complaint, and Constable O’Donogbne was recalled, arriving back by the mid-day train. The Wellington Post refers to Mr Massey’s Cabinet as' “a colourless combination of ten men,” and “a pour sample of the mental calibre and public spirit of the country.” Our contemporary sums up: —“If anyone were called on to slate three or four leading constructive principles with which the Government is unmistakably identified, and on which it is unflinchingly determined, wind would he sayf We fear flint most people would give the riddle

The Palmerston Hospital and (’haritahle Aid Hoard has been advised by (he luspeelor-Cieueral of (lie Department of Public ifeallh ihal the conference of members of hospital hoards will be held at Wellington, commencing on Tuesday, dime '.lst. Tin* setter added that it was :;nlieipated ihal the business would • conclude in time to enable non hern delegates to eateh the midday train on Friday. The Board's delegates will be Sir James Wilson, Dr. Whitaker, Mr J. K. Ilornblow, and the seer.elary (Mr F. B. Mansfield).

The headmaster of the local Slate school received advice from the Wanganui this mommy that 85 la rye desks for the school had been forwarded by rail. These will he sufficient for Standards V. and Yl., and the scholars in these classes, who are now located in the Town Hall supper-room, will be accommodated in the new building'. The balance of the desk's arc also in hand, and will be forwarded on as early as possible. In eonneetion with (he healiny service, the delay in installation of .same is due to

1 he* material not having arrived yd I'roni Mnglaiid, As soon ;is the lii:i 1 oi’in 1 is lo hand I lie* insinuation will be pushed on.

The priee of apples on the retail market should be very easy at the present time, as there is a of ,nis fruit on .the Auekiand markets, with the result that they are very depressed, Anol her eontribul mg factor to this depression is the bad weather. Thousands of eases of apples are streaming into the wholesale market, and to date it has not been able to recover itself. The position is made more acute by reason of the fact that there still remains a large quantity to go into cool storage, which it is hoped will, be available shortly. The crop of apples in the Auckland district this year is fully doable that of last year, and the same position is said lo apply in fvery fruit-growing district in the Dominion.

Those who attended the illustrated lantern lecture on “Sacred" Song and Slory” given by Mr ITarkness, late accompanist, of the Chap-man-Alexander .Mission, in the Methodist: Church last evening, were indeed fort mite, as something unique in the lecture line was presented. Briefly, the lecture was illustrative of the world’s mission conducted by the above well-known evangelists, over one hundred beautiful slides being used to convey to those present the picturesque scenery witnessed during that wonderful lour. The musieal numbers given by Mr Harkness were his own compositions, which have proved so popular tiie world over, some of which are being; sung in every known language. The accompaniments played by himself were absolutely the finest thing heard in that line by those present, (lie chords produced at times giving one the impression of u full orchestra rather than an ordinary piano. A good attendance gathered, the chair being taken by the Kev. Mr Harding, and the benediction being pronounced by the liev. Mr Halliday.