LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2313, 9 August 1921, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sir Thomas Lipton has announced his intention to challenge for the America Cup in 1922.

Dr. Elizabeth Gunn says that in the schools which had adopted tooth brush drill it was now almost impossible to discover a septic mouth amongst, the children of those schools.

At last night’s Council meeting the Poundkeeper reported that during the month of July 17 head of stock had been impounded by the ranger, and driving fees to the amount of 1-1?-, and Is trespass fee, were collected.

During the next six years babies will arrive in twos, threes, and even fours, and single births will be exceptional, is the prediction of Professor C. Kidscholl, of Milwaukee, who, says the Central News, bases his prophecy on the influence of .the planets Mars and Venus. A protest against the practice of banks in paying no interest on current accounts was recently made by Mr MeCuteheon at the meeting of the Raglan County Council. He said that during the year ended March 31st the council had £27,000 loan money at fixed deposit, receiving 3A per cent. The bank let this to others at 7 per cent., making a profit of £9OO on the transaction. He proposed united action to induce Parliament to legislate in the direction of making interest payable on current accounts. Mr MeCuteheon was asked to prepare a statement on the matter for next meeting.

The Tararuas are covered with a heavy mantle of snow.

The weather to-day is beautifully fine, after the week’s storm.

Accounts amounting to £2,659 12s 7d were passed for payment at last night’s Council meeting. Several local sports proceeded to Christchurch yesterday to attend the Grand National meeting. A resident suggests that the Council or Beautifying Society should take steps to provide a rest room in some central position, for womenfolk. We pass the suggestion on to the Beautifying Society. The managers of the local Presbyterian Church have planted a number of shrubs, etc., on the church property, which should add to its attraction in the years to come.

During the gale in Rongotea, an “old man" rata tree, standing about 50ft. high, was found to be ablaze near the top, having apparently been struck by the lightning. The tree, which was on Mr A. G. Gust’s property, despite heavy rain, burned all day.

The Hon. C. J. Parr told his hearers at the opening of the new Central School infant department, at Palmerston, on Saturday, thjit his own early education had been received in a small ball in the backblocks, which had been built by (lie settlers themselves, and he had to journey four miles to reach it —a thing he was glad enough to do.

The local School Committee has been notified that the Board hope to send a .relieving teacher to take charge of the school during Mr Currie's absence after the holidays. A relieving teacher will be put on the staff in the meantime.

There were present at last night’s Council meeting:—His Worship the Mayor (John Chrystall, Esq.), and Councillors Bryant, Whiblcy, Rand Ross, Martin, Thompson, Walker and Coley. An apology was received from Cr. Smith. Messrs Brown and Rasmussen (contractors), and Messrs Climie and Murray (engineers)' were also in attendance.

Secretary It. B. Morris, of the Post and Telegraph Department, received the following information on Saturday afternoon from the postmaster at Collingwood:—“L. Flowers, a settler near the Kulmrangi Point lighthouse, reports seeing wreckage being washed up near the Turimawiwi River yesterday. He suggests that it is the wreckage of a sailing vessel, as there were thousands of feel of timber.’

The death took place at- Sandon on Sunday of' Mr George Williams, at the age of 87 years. Mr Williams was horn at Bristol, England, in 1884, and came to New Zealand in ISUS, settling first at Lower Hutt. He went to Sandon in 1873, and was one of the founders of the settlement in that district, as well as the first- schoolmaster in Sandon township. He retired some eight- years ago. and had since resided with his son-in-law, Mr J. 11. Perfect. Much sympathy will be felt for the relatives in their sad bereavement.

A tin* occurred on Saturday afternoon in the office of the Marlborough Press, at Piet on, owned by Messrs Xicol and Madsen. The outbreak originated in the storeroom, and before the flames were quenched, had destroyed the greater portion of the building. Fortunately the machinery, including a linotype, was saved practically intact, and it is hoped to resume publication of the paper, which is a bi-weekly, on Frida v.

Mr Andrew Howe, of Otago, speaking at the Wyndham A. uTid P. Society’s social reunion, said when the Wyndham Dairy Factory first opened its doors to receive milk the speaker was the -second supplier to arrive with a milk cart. Suppliers received 4d' a gallon that year, and thought that they were in for a good ll uig; but the following season all they received was in the vicinity of 2d a gallon; and for several succeeding years the price did not exceed 3d. He had also recollections of hoggets topped off in September and October realising only 3s lOd, and two-tooth wethers 3s 7d.

A £ood story, which has the merit of truth, is told of a Napier auctioneer. At a certain clearing sale a tip dray had been sold. The auctioneer and his clerk mounted the dray in order to persuade those present to purchase other implements. Bids were coming in freely, and the auctioneer and clerk were busy. “Gentlemen, your last chance absolutely,” called out the knight of the hammer, “going, going”—crash! At that moment the dray tipped up with the shifting weight, the lip part of the vehicle falling back. The auctioneer and his clerk were thrown to the ground. “Gone!''’ echoed some wag in the crowd. Describing last Friday’s storm along the New Plymouth sea front, the News says:—The foreshore bore the pounding of a terrific sea, and the heavy swell was increased by the fact that spring tides prevailed. The rise in the tide was probably a record in local figures. Wash-outs of considerable size occurred at the railway yards, the sea penetrating the stone protecting wall in a number of places, and in two instances the main line was endangered. The foundations of the overhead pedestrian bridge across the railway at the foot of Egmont Street were scoured, the stone steps leading down on to the beach being smashed up and the railway line which runs along close to the stone wall was undermined. Further along, near the goodsheds, this line was also considerably damaged.

Mr C. G. Hutton, the well known Wanganui solicitor, and a very popular resident, died suddenly yesterday as the result of a seizure. The Foxton-Shannon mail and passenger service is now being resumed. A boat is requisitioned to convey mails and passengers over the flooded area of. the Shannon road.

On the property of Mr E. Maxwell, south of Raliotu, a strange occurrence took place, presumably during the thunderstorm on Monday night. Towards the middle of the paddock was found on Tuesday a hole about 5 feet across, giving the appearance of having been blown out by explosives, much soil being thrown out in a south-easterly direction, some to a distance of a chain and a-ha If. From the edge of the hole, extending to a distance of half a chain towards the south and south-east, run several peculiar branching and very irregular zigzag tracks along the surface. In order to maintain the mail and passenger service from Foxton to Levin during such time as the flood waters prevent road traffic, a launch has been requisitioned. The launch leaves the wharf with passengers and mails, and conveys them as far as the. Whirokino Bridge, where they tire transferred to the motor car. This means of transit, is proving very satisfactory, and will, in future, if maintained, overcome the biggest floods which may block the Whirokino road. The extra time taken is aboiit half to three-quarters of an hour, and will ensure a quicker mail service than by rail via. Palmerston N. It is surprising that an auxiliary motor service on this route was r.ot thought of earlier. The present service is the suggestion of the local postmaster.