LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2453, 13 July 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Whitebait are commencing to run and a fair amount lias already been netted. It is rumoured that an exciting scene took place along the banks of the drain at the beach a few days since, between rival whitebait fishermen for a special stand. # “Wlmt keeps you goingf” asked the D.O.A. of a Maori bankrupt at a meeting of his creditors at Dannevirke. “I live on my missus all the time,” replied the bankrupt amid laughter. “I wish I could get my missus to keep me,” commented the D.O.A. with a smile. Thomas Richard Porter, secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Union at Tokomaru Bay, charged with theft of £147, funds of the union, pleaded guilty at the Gisborne Court on Saturday, and was committed for sentence at Auckland Supreme Court.

At a representative meeting of delegates from all parts of the Wairarapa, Mr J. W. Card, Mayor of Featherston was unanimously selected as the Liberal-Labour candidate for the Wairarapa seat at the coming general election against Mr A. D. McLeod, M.P. Some dissatisfaction was expressed at last meeting of the Manaia Town Board with the indifference of cow owners to the interests of pedestrians. On dark nights the wet grass is bad enough to walk through (comments the Witness), but when the footpaths become fouled by the cows it is very much worse.

After hearing evidence at the Palmerston S.M. Court on Monday for the defence in the adjourned ease in which David Edmund Porter was charged with being drunk whilst in possession of a car in Plimmer Terrace, Shannon, the Bench found that there was sufficient evidence to convict and fined the accused £5, and costs £l"lss. The small girl in the corner seat of the railway carriage had been unduly fractious for the greater part of the journey. “Well I’ve got a norful ’eadache,” she whimpered in reply to reproof. Her mother glared at her ominously. “’Eadache, ’eadache?” she repeated, in withering accents. “How many times am I to tell you not to forget your aspirins?” Canaries and white mice are very sensitive to bad states of the atmosphere, and it is knmvn that they have been used to good advantage in connection with tunnelling work. Canaries are very snsceptib’e to gas, and in view of this, some ol the small birds were taken up t>- -Jangahao for experimental purposes when an inspection was being made after the recent tragedy.

The Fei!ding Star '-ays: We met a man in Fcilding to-day who knows a man who saw a. letter received by another man from Sir Joseph "Ward m which the latter stated tlm: he bad made up his mind to stand for a Wellington seat at the electi- n in December next. Ts it a case of Ltike out for his opponent, will Wright he wrong, or will it be another denial?

Knox Church, Masterlon, will inaugurate on Sunday u scheme which has been devised with the object of freeing the mothers of young children to attend the morning service. A nursery Inis been .fitted up in the Sunday school hall, where mothers may leave their infants before going to church and they will be looked after by a competent Plunket nurse until after the service. Miss Cameron, who is organising the scheme, is a trained nurse, and the nursery will be in charge • v> the- first Sunday of Mrs T. F. Watson, who did such fine work as president of the Plunket Society.

At a recent coronial enquiry at Auckland, the Magistrate in paying a tribute to the bravery of Constable Wilson said: “You went into the burning building on three occasions at the risk of your own life. For a very long time 1 have had avgreat respect for the deeds of members of the police force, which is a force the public should be proud of. I feel i: ai by your efforts on the morning of the lire you have added something to the honours list of the I'iV‘ce. 1 will make a special representation to the Minister of Justice concerning your brave act, which I mist will Ik* suitably recognised.”

Speakig in the House last week Mr Ma.-sey said the policy of the Government was that it did not wish to interfere with free speech any more than it could possibly help, hut it was not going to allow seditious utterances by any man, and. lie added: “We happen to know that there are people going around the country who apparently are working on behalf of Bolshevism or something very nearly approaching it.” Mr Glenn: “Get them locked up!” Mr Massey: “Possibly their turn may come, and it is just as well to iet them and their friends know they are receiving the attention of tlie Government. ’ A lengthy discussion on the prohibition issue took place at the sitting of the Wellington Diocesan Synod. Divergent views were expressed, hut it was finally decided: “That, in view of the forthcoming referendum on the liquor issue, this Synod earnestly commends to church people in the diocese the resolution on the subject recently carried at the meeting of General Synod in Auckland, which is as follows: “That this Synod expresses its strong conviction that it is bounden duty to Christian people, unles they are prepared to vote for total prohibition of the liquor traffic, to have some other drastic remedy for an evil which is sapping the morals and efficiency of the community.’ ” At the recent Fire Brigade Ball the grand march was a very spectacular affair, led by Superintendent Slmw, of Levin, with Miss Taylor (of Wellington) as a partner. The blending of the dark uniforms of visiting firemen, many of whom wore medals for distinguished and long service as firefighters—with the many charming dresses of the fair sex presented a very fine sight to Hie onlookers. Air M. E. Pcrreau, as M.C. welcomed the visitors on behalf of the brigade. The committee who carried out the arrangements were: Messrs Hamer, McDermid, Xattrass, Head, and the indefatigable secretary, Mr H. Frankland. Mr Pearson officiated as cashier and Messrs Head and Perreau as M.’s C. The ladies’ committee mentioned were assisted by a number of willing, helpers. The wish has been expressed that the Brigade will make the ball an annual function.

The new bridge linking Ontario in' Canada with Detroit in Michigan will have the longest single span in the world —I,Booft.

A meeting of all interested in the Prohibition movement will be held this evening in the Methodist Hall at 7.30. Mr H. Grinstead, area organiser, will be present. The State school at Waipuknrau was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday; Practically nothing was saved. The loss is estimated at £4,000. During the past week two cases of pneumonia, and one each of scarlet fever, cerebro-spinal meningitis, and erysipelas were reported in the Palmerston North hospital district.

According to the “New Zealand Times,” a Lower Hutt resident, who emigrated to New Zealand from England 39 years ago, has become heir to a fortune of between £60,000 and £70,000. The Horowhenua Union have wisely decided to abandon the proposal to centralise all rep. matches at Levin. At Tuesday night’s meeting' it was decided that as three rep. matches had been played in Levin this year, the other three be played at Foxton, Shannon and Otaki. His Grace Archbishop Redwood told a gathering at Wellington how he had found amongst his papers a few days ago a letter written to him 67 years ago by Rev. Father Gcurin, who, instead of ink as a medium, had used the .juice of grapes. T' ; -.riting v.v still quite clear and egible.

A;r Geo. S. Ellis, representing the Paramount Service of New Zealand, Limited, was in Foxton, today, making arrangements with the Manager of tlie Town Hall Pictures for a “Paramount Week,” also the screening of “The Affairs of Anatol” and “Sheik.” Tin* “Paramount Week” will consist of programmes exclusively Paramount, and will he screened on September 6th and Bth.

Constable Rushton had some difficulty in arresting three Maoris at Te Awamutu the other night for disorderly behaviour. The natives stoutly resisted and had it not been foi- the timely intervention of a man named Gomez, the officer might have received a severe handling (states the Waikato Times). As it was he found it necessary to draw his baton, with \yhieh he knocked one of the natives insensible. The three men were charged with disorderly behaviour and resisting the police, before the local court, and were fined £2 each on the first charge and £lO and costs each on the second.

According to the Thames Star an amusing anecdote, not entirely new, and yet by no means a “chestnut,” was told by the Rev. A. Mitchell during the anniversary celebrations at the Methodist, Church. Two Americans were, he said, being conducted over the sights of Rotorua, and the guide at last brought them f.i a pool which was bubbling up iu the centre. “Say," .-aid one, “that’s worse than the place down there,” pointing downwards to the supposed locality of a region referred to in olden times as Hades. “My word,” said tlie guide, “yon Americans seem to have been everywhere.” There lived in district many years ago. a somewhat eccentric old man, since dead. He had no relatives in New Zealand and lived by himself. He suffered from a delusion that some one was going to take his life. He confided in one man, since deceased, but whose widow is still living here. In conversation with our representative recently she informed us that Jhe old man accumulated a fairly large sum of money. He buried five hundred sovereigns in a receptacle in it certain locality and although lie made diligent search for the hidden treasure failed to locate the exact spot. In her opinion the earth still retains its treasure and some one will one day discover it. We are not permitted to mention the locality.

The death occurred at Palmerston North Hospital on Saturday night of another old colonist, in the person of Mr Samuel Dnvey, at the age of 78 years. The deceased was born in Taranaki-, and be led an active life until within a short tiipe of his death. He served in the Maori War for fourteen months, and after its termination resided with his parents in Nelson for a number of years. About 50 years ago, 'accompanied by his wife and family, he removed to Palmerston North, and settled upon a. farm in Kairanga. He was one of the pioneers of the district, and was the first settler to put an axe into the Kairanga block after its sale. He leaves a widow and a family of nine to mourn their loss. Mr S. Davey of Foxton is a son of deceased.

An old and highly-respected resident of the Manawatu district in the person of Mr John Hughes, passed away at his residence, 12fi Broad ••'treet, Palmerston North, last night, at the age of 77 years. The late Mr Hughes was a native of County Galway, Ireland, and arrived at Dunedin by the ship “William Davey” 55 years ago. He came to the North Island with a party of contractors who were engaged in clearing the bush for the original Foxton tramline. Later he took up land at Kairanga, and after successfully farming it for 30 years, retired and came to live in Palmerston North four years ago. He is survived by Mrs Hughes and three children. Mr John Hughes junr. (Kairanga), Mrs N. Beattie (Kairanga), and Miss K. Hughes (Palmerston N.). For Bronchial Coughs, take Woods’ Great Peppermint Care.*