LOCAL AND GENERAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2257, 31 March 1921, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

As the result of the ballot of members, the Matersidcrs I'edeiaIhm has accepted the bonus of Id per hour originally offered by the employers. The master romance of Canadian life i> Sir Gilbert Parker’s “The Right of Way,” with Bert L\tell. Town Hall shortly. Advt. “Mr WTi." the play that had such a long run in London, is to be shown at (he Royal on Saturday next.— Advt. The Chief Justice (Sir , Robert Stoutj leaves for Great Britain on Saturday week by the Corinthic. He expects to return at the end of the venr.

Two extraordinary pictures a veto be shown at the Royal next week. One is entitled ‘WVhitewashcd Walls," the other “A Prince of Bharata.” Both created a sensation when shown in Wellington. The Organiser, Air Reid, has received a cheque payable to the Citizens’ Queen Fund, in a sealed envelope, which is not to be opened until the final count of the Queen Contest.

A “surprise party" took place at the Methodist parsonage last night. Several members of the congregation “got wind" of the fact that it was the anniversary of Mrs Harding's birthday, and about 25 of them decided to pay her a surprise visit and make her the recipient of a presentation. On behalf of those assembled, Air 11. Osborne, in a neat speech, handed Airs Harding several pieces of art cliinaware. He referred to Air- Harding’s splendid work in connection with the church, and regretted her departure, and wished her many happy returns of the day. Suitable replies were made by the Rev, and Airs Harding. Vocal and instrumental items were contributed, and a most enjoyable time was spent by all.

The Gala Day Sports Committee have now decided that the hunters’ competition be open to all hunters. The monthly meeting of the local Patriotic Society will be held this evening. A Buffalo telegram announces the death of John Burroughs, the famous naturalist. Among the probable candidates for the Pahiatua Mayoralty'is Airs Crewe, widow of a former Mayor. The monthly consumption of butter in New Zealand is 30,000 boxes equivalent to £5,000 worth of butter per day. We are informed that several new aspirants for municipal honours will offer their services at the forthcoming elections. It is probable that.the Alavor (Air John Chrystall) will be returned unopposed. At the inquest concerning the death of Henry Outred, draper, of Wellington, who-was killed as the rersult of a motor accident on Paelcakariki Hill, the coroner added a rider drawing the attention of the authorities to the state of the road. He said that three accidens had occurred about the same place within a short period, and he would recommend that the road be fenced without delay.

Hotel thieves are* operating in Palmerston. On a recent morning 11 rooms were entered in one hotel, and the occupants—visiting bowlers — found to their dismay that in all they had lost about £2OO. It is stated that the money was missed about breakfast time, when most of the guests were absent from their rooms. The matter is being investigated by the police, who are working on a slight clue. Sir Philip Gibbs, the noted English war correspondent, who has been touring the United Slates delivering a series of lectures, withstood the boots and catcalls of Sinn Fener sympathisers for an hour and a-lialf in the Carnegie Hall in New York, during bis address on (he Irish situation. He hurled back defiance into the teeth of his hecklers in the gallery, and showed himself one of the games! speakers who ever spoke on an American si age.

A motor ’bus, laden kith passengers, proceeding to the Ellerslie races in Auckland on Alonday, capsized at the corner of Vincent road and Green lant\ The driver of the vehicle, in endeavouring to avoid a dog on the road, swerved sharply, and the wheels locked, with the result slated. One of the passengers, Mr Alfred Norwood, aged GO, sustained injuries to the face and one of his arms. He was removed lo the hospital for treatment. The other passengers escaped injury of anv moment.

Admiral Viscount Jellicoe, Gov-ernor-General of New Zealand, is a man of action as well as a man of resource. At Heretauiiga recently the scrub on (he railway reserve was being burned off’. The flames got a bit out of control, and the post office building became endangered . It was a case of “man the pumps.’’ But there were no pumps. Lord Jellicoe and his personal staff were equal lo the occasion. Off went their coats, and at once there came into action a most efficient bucket brigade. The tire was down and out in next to no time.

In the course of a speech at Waverier, the Reform Party candidate for Patea, Air E. Dixon, said lie favoured the removal of building restrictions, also the abolishment of Itie Prices Investigation Tribunal. There was no need for this tribunal now, as prices were tumbling fast. Costly commissions should also be done away with, also the Government subsidy on flour and butter. The farmer should obtain market prices for bis commodities. It would be a much bet tor thing to remove the subsidies and lot prices find their own level. The time for compulsory loans had passed, and he favoured the abolition of these.

Mr E. Dixon, in opening his address at Waverley, in the Patea byelection campaign, said that during the last few days he had?been appro,ached by Reform, Liberal, and he might say even Labour, to represent that party in the campaign, not so much on account, of his politics, but- in order lo do honour to him for his services to Ilawera. He would support only the Reform Parly, and would not stand unless he was sought and selected by the party. He had never been a strong party man, and, during his work during the late Prohibition campaign he had supported men —not party.

With such a large number of Ala oris of both'sexes gathered at Morrinsville to meet Katana, it is very necessary to have some system of discipline, says the Waikato Times. This has been realised by the Maoris controlling the arrangements, and they have instituted a Maori Court, with special police, to see that the canons of law and order tire properly observed. Notices are placed about the ground in AJaori and English, impressing upon those present the necessity of observing good behaviour. To “make the punishment fit the crime,” the committee set forward a number of offences, with the fines that would be meted out if anybody transgressed. For instance, anybody entering the grounds under the influence of liquor would be fined 2s Gd; anybody found in the possession of liquor, fined £2 10s; anybody found gambling fined £5; anybody using obscene language, fined £5. Whether it is attributed to this or not, it must bo admitted that the camp was most orderly, there not being a single instance of anything untoward occurring,

A first-class, entertainment was given by a company of Maori entertainers from Otaki in the Royal last night, in aid of the Maori Queen candidate. There was a large and keenly appreciative audience —in fact, every item was encored. The programme included some highclass vocal and instrumental items by Miss Cook, the Tahiwi family, Mrs Roire, J. Uliku, and others. The poi dance by the Native girls was graceful and artistic. Mr Hone McMillan made a speech, and expressed pleasure on behalf of the performers in assisting the local Carnival, and stated that the expenses in connection with the performers was borne by themselves — a fact which elicited a hearty round of applause, as did the announcement that the company would give a return performance at a later date. The local Band played several selections, and Messrs M. Griffin and Wise played some pipe selections on the balcony prior to the performance.