LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2283, 31 May 1921, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is understood that pious luive been prepared for widening the Manawatu Gorge road, and that tin* work is to he proceeded with forthwith.

Tlie muu of £6 10s was contributed by Mont on and Marotiri settlers towards Mrs F. Robinson’s effort on behalf of St. Mary's Orphanage, not £<> Os, as previously staled. “RAIIPAI.”*

Tlit* Catholic* of Kaponga evidently take a keen interest in their school matters, In three weeks they raised £I,OOO. Eight families donated £IOO each; and that gave the fund a big start. —Eltham Argus. The police are actively engaged in making inquiries concerning the identify of the masked man who assaulted a young woman on the Tara dale roa/ on Wednesday evening (states the Xapier Telegraph). It appears that the man made towards Xapier when the girl's erics brought help. So far no clue has been discovered by the police. “RAUPAI.”* Nine members of the Legislative Council will retire by effluxion of time on July 14th. They are Colonel W. E. Collins, the Hons. J. G. W. Aitkcn, G. Carson, and R. K. Simpson (Wellington), J. Fisher (Auckland), T. Mac Gibbon and J. MacGregor (Otago), R. Moore (Canterbury), and O. Samuel (Taranaki). The Otago Daily Times states that Mr Samuel, who is Chairman of Committees, will be offered reappointment. The question of further appointments to the Council will remain in abeyance until the return of Mr Massey.

Mr Hamer will give the proceeds of a matinee to-ruorrow to the school swimming baths fund. Mr Massey has telegraphed his congratulations to Ulster, describing the election result as a victory for loyalty to the Empire. A local resident has promised two iron seats for Easton Park, as soon as the one promised by a late resident of Foxton arrives. While playing in a football match at Carterton on Saturday, a Masterton player named S. Murray sustained a fracture of the leg. At Masterton yesterday, James Henry Cuff yvas lined £SO on a charge that he did loiter in the street for the purpose of betting. The Foxton Dorcas Society will hold a shop day in Perreau’s Buildings on Saturday next. Gifts and donations will be thankfully received. The manager of the Royal announces that in consequence of the great length ot programme to-mor-row night, the entertainment will commence at 7.45, insted of 8 p.m. A series of special British pro-' duetions have been booked for screening at the Town Hall. They include “Angel Esquire,” by Edgar Wallace, “Garrvowen,” by If. de Vere Stackpoole, “The Secret Woman,” by Eden Phillpots, and “The Best of Luck,” a super Drury Lane melodrama. —Advt. A race between the steamers Otnki and Tairoa from Panama to Auckland, 0,511 nautical miles, resulted in an easy win for the Otaki, Both vessels cleared Panama on 7th May, the Otaki at 8.16 p.m. and the Tairoa two hours later. The former averaged over 13 knots on the trip across the Pacific Ocean, and reached port at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday. The Tairoa arrived at 2.30 on Sunday. “KAUPAI.”* During the past few weeks further substantial progress has been made by Mr Robert Semple and his co-operative workers ip the boring of the tunnel at Orongorongo, which is to be utilised in the Wellington water supply scheme. The boring operations have now been advanced a distance of about 250 ft. The preliminary work in connection with the consruetion of the tunnel was comparatively easy, the face of the hill being composed of soft (day, but the miners are now piercing the heavy rock through which the great part of the work will have to be done. The men tire also engaged at present in works jo facilitate the transport of materials. ■ “R ALTAI.”*

Before leaving Napier for Wellington la-4 week, the lion. Or. J. Contes (Minister of Public Works) made a statement regarding East Coast railway mailers. The Minister said he was determined to go on with the Napier end of the line as quickly as possible. All single men who were out of work would be sent up the line to work on the railway and the roads, so as to get ready for the transfer of machinery to Waikaremoana next summer. The Minister said he was satisfied, after traversing a considerable portion of the railway route on foot, and going ahead of the road on horseback, with the way the railway was progressing. “RAUPAI.”*

There is a slightly, more cheerful lone noticeable by Iho Mercantile (•azotic in Wellington wholesale, trade, although it is still quiet. ‘‘lmportation does not, so far, show tho expected decrease, as April’s total is more I ham- either February or March. The total imports for April were i'f>,diJ7,7oo. making a total of £20,t)i)(),20‘2 for the four months.

Buyers, both- retailers and consumers, are holding off as far as possilde, but a fair amount of lmsines.s is beiny done, though it is of a somewhat hand-to-mouth character, and mostly in necessary commodities. There are several further declines in prices, some fairly substantial. This leads to very variable quotations, and it is naturally hard to get stable prices."

The Post’s London correspondent mentions that next year there is to he a World Conference of the Churches, at which the subjects to be discussed will be Christian politics, economics, and citizenship. Dr. Temple, Bishop of Manchester, who is also the head of the Life and Liberty Movement in the Church of England, is the moving spirit of the proposed conference. Principal Game will be one of the chief representatives of the Free Churches, and Monsignor Brown will state the point of view of the Catholic Church in England. The inclusion of the Roman Catholic Church in a conference of this kind will be a new departure, but the subjects of debate are not to include anything of a distinctly doctrinal nature. “EAUPAI.”*

A correspondent writes to the Levin paper: “As an example of the go-slow policy, a telegram despatched from the local office a few minutes after one p.m. on Saturday was delivered at two p.m. oh Mom day at Palmerston North.” This can he beaten by two local experiences. An urgent telegram, costing 3s 4d, was forwarded on April 26th to a Kilbirnie resident of 45 years standing—as well known in that locality as Cr. Geo. Coley is locally — and living a few chains from the post office. A telephone message was subsequently received, stating that the resident was unknown! A wireless costing 11s 4d was sent by a Foxton resident to a son on one of the troopships, on the 15th April, 1919, and it is still circling the globe J

The conference of flaxmillers, officers of the Department of Agriculture, and hemp exporters was held yesterday in Wellington, with respect to grading. Mr F. S. Pope, Secretary Department of Agriculture, presided. At a meeting of the Reserves Committee held yesterday afternoon, it was decided to recommend the Council to grant permission to the Beautifying Society to erect a pavilion on Easton Park, and also to plough and level the ground. It is understood this work will be put in hand almost immediately. A meeting of poultry farmers, convened by the Manawatu Poultry Utility Society, will be held in the Foxton Auctioneering Coy.’s mart, Avenue Road, to-morrow (Wednesday) night, at 7.30 o’clock, when an address- on the aims and objects of the Society will be delivered by members, and a local Club formed, to join up with the Manawatu Society. All poultry farmers are cordially invited to be present. Mr Edward Newman, M.P. (Manawatu), accompanied by Mr Lethbridge, chairman, and Mr Muir, engineer of the Rangitikei County Council, have visited the hydro-electric power works at Mangahao. Iho party inspected the sites of both dams, and were shown over the works by Mr Dinnie, engineer in charge. Mr Newman expressed himself as pleased with the progress of the work, and of the arrangements which have been made for the comfort of workers, and remarked that so far as a layman could judge he thought that the work would be finished to time, provided sufficient finance was forthcoming. He was of opinion, however, that the work would cost much more than was originally anticipated before it was finished, but under the circumstances this could not he avoided. A lost butcher’s saw is advertised for.

Edgar Wallace’s detective story, “Angel Esquire," will be screened at the Town Hall shortly.—Advt.

The meat auction wales held b.v the Fox ton Auctioneering Company continue to be well attended, an<t the meat sells readily. On Saturday next 20 carcases of mutton, as well as beef, will be submitted under the hammer.