LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2396, 23 February 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Welcome rain fell last night throughout this district.

Two parties left Levin yesterday morning in an endeavour to cross the Tararuas and reach Eketahuna.

‘fy’he Herr,ld” staff acknowledge with thanks and all good wishes wedding favours from Mr and Mrs ft. Honorc.

A fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council will be held on Monday evening next, at 7.30 o’c.lock. / Mr Oxley left for Auckland this morning, where he will attend the Methodist Conference as representative of the Foxton Circuit.

■ The reflection of last night’s fire was distinctly seen at Palmerston, and we are informed that the Palmerston Brigade was ready to proceed to Longburn, which appeared to be the scene of the conflagration.

One local fireman, on being aroused from his slumber by the syren last night, stood up on his bed and endeavoured to walk through a wall. It was his “better half” who subsequently guided him to the orthodox exit.

A gentleman who is well versed in financial matters expressed the opinion to a Manawatu Times reporter that if the fall in the cost of living is sustained there will most assuredly he a decline in the bank rate,of interest in the Dominion.

Sir Ernest Shackleton’s body will be buried at Grytviken at noon on March Ist. Lady Shackleton and the Royal Geographical Society have arranged a memorial service at Saint Paul’s on March 3rd.

In the Supreme Court, New Plymouth, Arnold Onslow Sturroek was Convicted on four charges of committing unnatural offences} and was sentenced to fourteen years’ hard labour.

This advertisement appeared in a Midlands newspaper the other day: —“Wanted, a steady, respectable, young man to look after a garden and njjlk a cow who has a good voice and is accustomed to sing in the choir.”

A river excursion and blackberryiug party lias been arranged by Mr Peter Robinson to take place on Sunday next, the launch to leave the wharf at 8.15 o’clock on Sunday morning, for Koputaroa. The return fare will be 3s, and seats may be booked at Balls’ not later than to-morrow. If the picnic is abandoned for any reason, fares will be refunded. We are informed that as a result of a mass meeting of Max workers held at Palmerston yesterday, the men are prepared to accept a five per cent, reduction in wages, with a further reduction of five per cent, in .six months’ time. The employers ask for the acceptance of a ten per cent, reduction.

A lorry containing a number of Poplar llaxmill employees, who were proceeding to the mass meeting at Palmerston yesterday, capsized, owing to a skid in some loose metal, at Marotiri. The men were thrown out in all directions, and one man, named O’Donoghue, was seriously injured. His collar bone was fractured, and he suffered contusions to ihe back and chest. He received local medical attention, and was removed to the District Hospital by Mr Alex. Ross. He is reported to be progressing as favourably as can be expected.

Advertiser wants some kind person to take charge of healthy baby for four months. On Saturday, in addition to the usual entries, the Foxton Auetioifiering Coy. will sell suit cases and personal effects seized under inkeeper’s lien. “Our position is autocratic. We .just have to say ‘Collect a rate,’ and it is done,” said Mr G. A. Monk, chairman of the Horowhenua Hy-dro-Electric Power Board, at its first meeting on Monday, when referring to the power given to such boards under the - Act to levy rates in the constituent areas.

The Foxton Tennis Club will hold a dance in the Masonic Hall to-mor-row (Friday) evening. The usual arrangements will be completed for the enjoyment of those attending, and the function should be a very pleasant one. Larkin’s Orchestra has been engaged for the occasion. The prices of admission will be ladies 3s, gents 4s.

A well known resident is in a Palmerston North Hospital, and has undergone a very serious operation, which has been postponed for several months, pending the arrival from France of a special anaesthetic suitable to a weak heart. It is stated that under its influence he calmly watched the operation with painless interest. —Times. At the Napier Police Court on Tuesday, Thomas Redsbaw, lately secretary of the Hawke’s Bay District Foresters, was committed for trial at the next siting of the Supreme Court on a charge of misappropriating various sums, totalling £97 7s 3d, the property of the institution. The evidence showed that accused had made restitution to the extent of £94 13s lOd.

A new type of motor car is shortly to be placed on the market in Australia. It is designed to suit both Australian and tropical conditions, and the aim of the inventor is to lay the foundations of a new industry in Australia and to manufacture a car suitable both for use in Australia and for export to India, Java, China and other tropical countries within trading distance of Australia.

A striking instance of the “raonIcevs” carried by some dairy farms i-. given by the New Zealand Dairyman, which cites a farm of 200 acres in Taranaki burdened with the following mortgages: First, £3,300; second, £8,400; third £1,948; fourth, £.3,751; fifth, £2,703 —all a! 51 per cent, interest. It is stated that there is a possibility of the land realising sufficient to pay the first and second mortgages.

At the civil sittings of the Pal.merston Supreme Court yesterday, before His Honour Mr Justice Reed, Herman. Thorn Graham (Mr Innes) applied for an order making a decree nisi absolute in respect of his divorce petition against Mabel Tliurza Graham (Mr Ongley), and petitioner also asked for the custody of four children. His Honour granted a decree absolute, but left the question of custody open for a further application by the petitioner, who would have to prove his Intentions of providing a goodjiome for (he children.

A young farmer in the Auckland district, who was worried because he could not pay the interest on his nroperlv, had to undergo an operation. A letter came from him when he was recovering, and he would not open it because there was the name of a firm of solicitors on the outside of the envelope. A few weeks afterwards he found that the news in the letter related to a legacy of several thousand pounds left him by an uncle in the Old Country.

Regarding the raising of funds for the work of reticulation to be carried out by the various district power boards under the Mangahao scheme, the chairman of the Horowhenua Board (Mr G. A. Monk) said at Monday’s meeting, that the best method he could see was for a number of boards to band together and go on the English market. A member thought it would be better for the Government to raise a huge loan and let it out to the boards. “Oh, I don’t know,”' returned Mr Monk, the Government doesn’t always raise money on the cheapest markets.” In the meantime the matter has been left over pending further information.