LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2271, 3 May 1921, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The first meeting of the newlyelected Borough Council will be held on Monday next, 9th inst., at 7.30 p.m. , The date of the Prince"of Wales’ visit to India has not yet been fixed, but it is anticipated that it will probably lake place in June or July. Some of the oat crops about Heatherlea, Levin, have averaged nearly two tons per acre, which is considered a fair return for the dry season experienced. .During April rain fell locally on five days, the maximum fall, .52 in., on the 9th. The total rainfall for the month was .92, as against 4.18 for April, 1920. A meeting of the local School Committee, to have been held last night, lapsed for want of a quorum. There were present: Messrs Hornblow, Perreau, P.*Robinson, and F. Whibley. It was decided to meet on Friday evening next, at 7.15 p.m. 'fhe Shannon municipal election resulted as follows: —Mayor, Mr AY. Murdoch (unopposed). Councillors : Messrs T. Gardner 180, E. Butt 179, J. W. Murray 154, J. H. Fargher 143, A. E. Hyde 141, J. Richardson 137, E. Spencer 128, G. E. Hook 119. Other candidates for the council were: G. Mercer 114, G, Quarrie 102, 11. Hook 93.

The summer residence of Mr J. Vigor Brown, at Napier, was partly destroyed by tire on Saturday morning. The billiard room, containing hundreds of trophies, paintings and souvenirs, was included in the portion of the building destroyed. The residence was situated on the border of the inner harbour, and was said to be one of the finest homes of its kind in New Zealand. It was lately leased to Ilis Excellency the Governor-General, whose children resided there for several weeks. The insurances total £2.738. A good story against himself is being told by a Nonconformist divine of the severe old school, who, however, is not without a sense of humour. Early one week he was travelling north. Just before he got to York he opened the carriage window, with the result that he got a piece of grit in his eye. He rubbed it and did all the usual things, but it still troubled him, fftid every now and again he had involuntarily to wink. When he got to York he went into the buffet and asked for a glass of milk. This being served, he gulped it down, and then, realising that something was wrong, he said to the barman, “That wasn’t milk, was it ?” “No, sir, rum and milk.” “But I asked you Lor milk.” “Yes, sir, hut you tipped me the wink.”

Methodists everywhere will learn with regret that it has been found necessary to demolish the ancient Wesley Chapel at Kingswood, Bristol. It was built by Wesley in 1739, and was the oldest complete Methodist building in the world. In the grounds adjoining the chapel AAeslev erected his famous school for buys. The site is required by the Home Office authorities for the erection of an engineering shop for youths. But ii is intended to place an iron tablet on the new building. io tell uf the famous one which stood there for 180 years.

In normal times men of the North Sea trawlers care as little about a gale as a townsman cares about: a thunderstorm. They are not so complacent about them at present. The floor of the North Sea is still strewn with .mhics, many of them sunk by

-ilk- five, bnl still deadly. A storm shifts Die currents and loosens Die mines. These may be swept up in Die trawl with disastrous results when the net is hauled in. Over a score of trawlers from Eastern ports have been blown up in this way during; Die last; year. The the-ory-i* that the danger will last for another year, for it is computed Dial it takes on the average about two years and a half for sea water to corrode the metal shell of the mine, and saturate, and thereby kill, the detonating apparatus. The value of tradition was emphasised by the Governor-General at a war memorial ceremony at the Thames. “I am sure," he said, “Dial the thought foremost in your minds is admiration for the gallant; deeds which this memorial commemorates. It is a sign of the traditions of the schools, and it must lead you to endeavour to live up to the traditions of those who fell in the "real war. The value oi trac'lilion can never be overestimated. Tradition lias made soldiers and sailors perform those deeds that have mjide and maintained Die Empirel, and I urge you all to do your utmost to uphold the traditions of the schools. Tradition is another word for loyalty,” His Excellency continued, “and the people of New Zealand arc famous for their loyally to their king and Empire. liis Majesty sets an example to his subjects, and it is followed first by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. who devotes himself to his duty with every faculty he possesses. If you travel the world, every fourth person you meet is a member of the British Empire, which is cause for pride.”

The .waiting list for telephones for the Dominion includes 7,374 names.

An interesting account of a visit to the Mangahao hydro-electric headworks, together with a diagram, appears on page 4 of this issue. The following are the local vital statistics for April:—Births 3, deaths 3, marriage certificates issued 5. A welcome social will be tendered to the Rev. L. and Mrs Miuifie, in the local Methodist Church, this evening. Mr A. Stevenson, while playing in the senior foot hall match on Saturday, injured his knee, -which will incapacitate him for a few weeks. A reliable indication of the state of unemployment in AVellington is afforded by the fact that last week 19(• applicants for work called at the Labour Department’s employment bureau. Of this total, only eight received private jobs. At present there are 7(1 names on the waiting list of men seeking employment. At the fortnightly meeting of the local Druids’ Lodge to be held on Friday evening next, the Grand Secretary (Bro. J. N. Grant) will be in attendance. All members arc absolutely required to attend, as the business is of a most important nature.

The residents of Paekakariki are shortly to have hn opportunity of deciding by vote whether they will have a high-pressure water supply provided for that: township. The Unit County Council has arranged for a poll (o he taken on the question on Thursday, 21s| inst. The cost, of the water supply is estimated at £(>,000.

There’s money in the hush. A pit sawyer who returned to Stratford on Friday alter an absence of less than four months, had a cheque for £79 odd, being bis net savings for the period, lie told a Post representative that he wojtld take anoth o.i contract if he could get it, but he was comfortable in the feeling that lie had enough to “tide him over the winter.”

A petition alleging irregularities in connection with the recent School Committee election at Carterton has been forwarded to the Education Board. The petitioners allege that several householders received more than one voting paper; that a person circulated “how to vote” slips in the room; that voting papers were collected in a cap; that voting papers were,issued to persons outside the building; and Unit proper care was not taken to see that those receiving voting papers were qualified to vote.

A painful accident resulting in the death of a young man named P. Beero, a son of Mr E. D. Beere, occurred at tin 1 power station, Stratford, last week. With a fellow employee deceased was engaged in softening a barrel of crude oil by placing lighted waste underneath. The oil caught, fire, 1 causing an explosion, and oil was thrown over deceased, who became enveloped in fiames. He died in the hospital. His male was also considerably burned about the hands in assisting it deceased.

Il is annouifced by Die Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. E. P. Lee) that the Prices Investigation Tribunals have been informed that their services will no longer ho required. The Minister has thanked them for the very valuable services they have already rendered io the Government, Die Hoard of Trade, and the public. The number of investigations made by the tribunals, the Minister added, was much larger than most people thought, and the tribunals had undoubtedly exercised an important restraining influence on Die rise of prices. Any price investigation in future would be conducted by the Department of hqlu-lries and Commerce.

There was an amusing interlude at the Town .Board meeting on Monday, sav* the Marl inborough correspondent of the Age. The ranger amongst other stock impounded a lamb, and gave the owners’ name. The'owner happened to be a Commissioner. and arose to give an explanation. Some three months ago he bought a lamb, but it was lost a few days ago. After vainly searching it was given up as lost. About three weeks ago a lamb and a .calf invaded, the Commissioner’s garden, and after turning them out ■several times he •’■ol the ranger to impound them. Imagine his disgust when a friend told him that the lamb in the pound was his own property. —it was identified by the ear-mark. The land) went ultimately half to the ranger Ttml half to the owner. A tiny human head, no bigger than a doorknob, and yet perfect in every detail—once the head of a fall-grown man —was, a wierdly interesting curio brought to Sydney a few days ago by Captain P. "W. EngIcbaeh. who came from London by the Morea. Captain Englebeech is an extensive'traveller, but everywhere he goes the strange head goe* also. It wn> given to hint by his father, who obtained it at Quito, in Ecuador. Ti is reported to be the shrunken head of an Inca Indian chief of 150 or 200 years ago, and has been reduced to its present size by a secret Indian process 'not known outside the tribe concerned. The bones have till been extracted from the head in some unknown way, and the latler then shrunken by a process which keeps its proportions exact. The hair was wonderfully fres'h and in correct relation to the rest of the head, ..being much shorter than in life, of course. The specimen is claimed to be. worth €SOO, there being very few extant.

It is reported that negotiations are being entered into for the reopening of the ilaxmills at an early date.

Another of the great Christie comedies (one of which avus screened on Saturday) has been secured by the management of The Royal for to-morrow and Thursday.— jj The monthly meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce will be held this evening, at 7.30 o’clock, in All Saints’ schoolroom. A good attendance is requested. A man named Gordon Armstrong was fined £3O at Masterton on Saturday for keeping liquor for sale. Fred*Slater was fined £25 for taking liquor into a no-license district other than upon a proper order. The second artesian bore in connection with the borough water supply seems to have slightly affected the flow of the first bore. A trial made yesterday showed that it took the original bore 47 seconds, instead of 43, to fill 40 gallons.

Only two bankruptcies in the Mauawatu district were tiled during the month of April. These concerned a farmer at Ot tiki * and a carrier at Ashhurst. In the corresponding month last year three bankruptcies were notified. He couldn’t flirt! He couldn’t drink! He couldn’t himself scandalised no matter how he tried! Bryant Washburn in “The Sins of St.'Anthony.”* Town Hall, Wednesday, at usual prices.—Advt.

The annual installation ceremony in connection with the local Masonic Lodge will take place to-mor-row afternoon. In the evening the local brethren will entertain their lady friends and visitors at a social.

•At the Auckland Brick and Tile Company’s works at Avondale, while the work was in full swing, a (ivwheel weighing about 10 tons burst, and the main flywheel, 12ft. in diameter, followed on. The end of the building was wrecked, No one was injured.

The shooting season opened at 0 o’clock yesterday morning, A large number of sportsmen took up their stands on the various lakes throughout the district. Several good bags are reported, but ou the whole probably owing to weather conditions. the ducks were very shy.

The Manager of The Royal regrets that he was compelled to refuse admittance to a number of intending patrons on Saturday night, owing, to the seating accommodation being fully occupied. As Norma Talmadge’s great feature, “A Daughter of Two Worlds,” is to be screened next Saturday, more sealing accommodation will be provided.

The Levin municipal gas works shows an excess expenditure over receipts for the past financial year of £1,357 4s sd. The receipts totalled £5,354 2s sd, and the expenditure £0,711 Os lOd. In presenting the statement the Mayor said the policy of the Council would not he to raise the price of gas above its present price, but if possible to reduce it, as soon as the position became strong enough to do so. New Plymouth gave Labour the answer which its. policy deserves, and their best scorer was nearly a thousand votes below the Ratepayers’ Association’s lowest candidate (says the Hawera Star). The result of the elections therefore is most satisfactory, and it is clear that extreme Labour is not making the progress which its keenest supporters claim for it. The extreme Labour Party is really losing ground because the very nature of its platform makes it essential that it perish. Its fate is undoubtedly fix-"' ed, and its platform must perish, under the pressure of British common sense.

Tbe new telephone service linking up Canterbury, Marlbqrough and Nelson was formally inaugurated on Sunday, in the superintendent’s office, in Hereford Street, Christchurch. A little group of public men and departmental officials conversed first with a similar group in Blenheim, 220 miles away, and then with another group in Nelson nearly 300 miles distant. They exchanged greetings and congratulations, and conversation was carried on without the slightest hitch. Every word was heard distinctly. The service was opened by the Christ church Town Clerk speaking to the Mayor of Blenheim.

An unusual spectacle was presented yesterday morning in the Square, Palmerston N., when hundreds of: persons congregated outside the premises of: a drapery firm( where a monster sale had been advertised to take place. A great throng of bargain seekers of both sexes besieged the main doors, with such eagerness that a police constable had to be placed on special duty to guard the entrance. When the elpek chimed nine the pavement was no longer of sufficient spaciousness to hold the intending shoppers. who by this time numbered hundreds, and threatened to hold up traffic bv congregating on the street. In the crush, it is stated, several members of the fair sex were unable to sustain the elbowing and jostling, and they were removed in a fainting condition. The shop was not able to accommodate the purchasers, many of whom sought bargains elsewhere, where reduced prices in the drapery trade were taking place.

A meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board will be held in the Council Chamber, Palmerston N., on Thursday next, at 1.30 p.m. At the C. M. Ross Coy.’s Sale, Foxton Branch, you can buy Children’s Silk Coats 10/6, for 5/11; Navy and Tweed Skirts 39/6, for 9/11; Spencers 5/6, for 2/6; Tweed Coals from 12/- to 84/-, worth double; Jersey^Dresses £l2 12/-, for £7 7/ —the very latest. —Advt.

As a result of a ballot, the following: officers of the New Zealand Workers’ Union have been elected: —President, Mr C. E. Baldwin; secretary, Mr C. Grayndler; delegates to annual conference, Canterbury district, Messrs IV. 0. White, D. Blair, and 0. 1. F. M’Kee; Manawatu Flax Workers’ section, Messrs Thomas Logan and P. Robinson; Marlborough district, Mr George Beer; Otago district, Messrs J. E. M.’Manus and A. Middlemiss; Wellington district, Messrs It. Tutaki; A. M’Leod and J. Donnelly.

The following is the unaided essay of a local Maori boy (vouches the Otnki Mail) upon the subject of “Unions and Strikes,” that will no doubt be appreciated by those interested in industrial matters: “Unions is a nice meal to have with stakes. Unions as we all know, will grow in the kitchen garden if it was planted there. Stakes come from the steers that are killed for food by the butchers to sell to the people. These steers are fed by farmers who own the grass and land that they are fed on. Unions are tasty when fried and will give forth a smell that, to hungry people, will make their mouths water. Stake and unions with eggs and potatoes makes a nice dinner for a hungry man.”

At the conference of representatives of contributing bodies to the .Palmerston North District Hospital Board, held at: Palmerston, Mr 1. A. Nash, M.P., wfio presided, explained that several local bodies intended lodging protests before the Hospital Commission concerning the rate of subsidy. Sir James Wilson (chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board) said that as the Board’s valuation went up the subsidy had fallen. The subsidy at first was 18s 3d in the £l, while now it was 12s 3d. In maintenance this year the Board would have to pay £5,000. Last year the Government had found £5,843 of the total expenditure of £7,663, but this year, with the decreased subsidy of 12s 3d, tin: Board would have lo find £5,000, and the Government subsidy would be only £7,300. The fact that under the proposed subsidy system 24 boards would receive a subsidy of £1 for Cl, while 17 boards would only receive 12s 3d for £l, made it manifest that there was too much differentiation.