GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2263, 14 April 1921, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

An albatross eanie down in Mr 0. T. Kebble’s paddock at Fitzherbert, Palmerston N., during a thunderstorm on a recent evening, and it is proposed to place it in the Square lake. The albatross lias a spread of 10ft. in the wings, and if it thrives in its new surroundings will be an attraction in the Square. A lady, after looking-keenly at • the meat displayed on the butcher’s stall for some time, exclaimed: “Is that English mutton?” “Well, as a matter of fact, replied the butcher, “the sheep was born in. New Zealand. But, madam,” he added triumphantly, “it is of English parents!”

Headed by Mr Harry Moss, a local engineer, the parents of children attending Bradford -secondary schools are petitioning the Education Committee against the excessive amount of homework. The parents claim that several hours a night are necessary for children to complete their tasks, and that eases of nervifus breakdown and other injuries to health., are frequent. A meeting of head teachers is being converged to consider the matter, Colonel John Watkins Yardley. D. 5.0., late Inniskilling Dragoons, a line all-round sportsman, who left £10,588, directed' that his funeral, as far as possible, was to be a cheery proceeding. There were no signs of mourning, drawing of blinds, funeral marches, tolling of bells, trappings, or empty carriage, and if no gun carriage was handy a, plain cart or hearse' was U> he drawn at a rapid rate. His relatives and friends were to give up no games or amusements, and not to alter their ordinary life. Any who could spare the time to go'to his funeral were to do so in their usual day attire, feeling “it is only a small gathering to wish him an revoiv.” Colonel Yardley was author of “With the Inniskilling Dragoon.-, During the Boer War,' and sporting editor of the Cavalry Journal.

An international water-cycle race across the Straits of Dover will be held soon. Arrangements are .being made at Folkstone. A number of champion cyclists will compete, aiul Miss Zetta Hills, one of last year's plucky water-cyclists, will be one ol England’s representatives. She has an improved machine. She has commenced training by running in shorts several miles every day in the company of two army gymnasts from Shorneliffe camp.

Bon Welch, the comedian, well known in London, has become si one blind. Physicians say that he well never >ee again, but Welch goes on playing just the same in ‘‘Jimmie, a musical comedy. The play at present is running in Washington. At each performance Welch is led to (he doorway of the selling in which, he does his first turn. He advances to a rug placed for hi* benefit, sing l ,

dances, and says his lines without passing.bcyond the edge of the rug.

He is described as walking cautiously about the stage in his next scene, guiding himself by instinct and the voices of the chorus girls, his long career on the stage having enabled him to judge distances. All this he has been doing for four weeks, and not a soul in the audience suspected the affliction ol which he was the victim until the news of it appeared in llio Press. Aurelius Turpin, wealthy mud romantic, kissed Miss Virginia Foster unco a minute for an hour. A Chicago jury assessed the kisses at over £ll each, and ordered Turpin to pay £74)0 damages. The evidence showed that between kisses he had promised Miss Foster to marry her. “Returned with thanks; no good lo me,” wrote a burglar, Fredk. Fletcher, when sending back Exchequer bonds worth £1,600 to Mess is Cook and Sons, a Birmingham commercial firm. Unfortunately for Fletcher, his handwriting was recognised, and recently lie received six months’ hard labour.

Amelia Arnaiid, who travelled across the Atlantic from France stowed away in a locker 3ft. square to join her fiancee in Norfolk, Virginia, is to be deported. Louis Pontieello, whom she came to wed, is being detained pending the decision of a grand jury, after having admitted that lie aided her illegal entry into the country, and the girl has been denied admission. She was discovered on the arrival of the New ■; Windsor, having spent 20 days itC her cramped quarters. The lvev. A. T. Thompson, agent for the British and Foreign Bible 'Society, has been licensed by Bishop Julius to preach in any Anglican Church in the Diocese of Christchurch. In a letter to Mr Thompson, the Bishop states that he had hoped to have given the license personally. “It is,” lie added, “I suppose, one of the first of its kind for some centuries, and is given with general approval of the Bishop of the province,” Mr Thompson is a Presbyterian, “Will-the Prime Minister give an assurance that members of the Hansard staff will not again be employed to do police reporting, and will he give a further as'-urnnee that the meetings of the Government’s political opponents will not again lie followed up by, Hansard reporters?” Such was the text of a question asked by Mr H. E. Holland (Buffer) in the House of Representatives at the end of the past session. The Prime Minister, in a reply issued later, stated: “The reporter referred to was employed by the police authorities, who must have discretion in connection with such matters. “What is. a Labour extremist?” asked an elector at the meeting of Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., a candidate

for the Wellington mayoralty. “I believe that a Labour extremist is a man who adopts the policy of ultimate revolution,” replied Mr Wright. “I gather that from Hie statements that have been made by some of the .leading members of the extreme Labour Party. The LAY AY. policy is a policy of continual irritating strikes, of trouble among the workers in every direction, when there is no need for trouble, in order to weary the employers until they are so disgusted that they will give up their businesses, ships and everything else; then the workers will run them for themselves. That is what I understand by a Labour extremist.”