LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2534, 25 January 1923, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“If God made Auckland,'’ says Sr John Luke, “the engineers are rapidly making Wellington ‘a thing of beauty and a joy for ever.’ ”

Early risers are able at the present time to obtain a beautiful view of the two planets \ enus and Jupiter, in the eastern sky. Rabbits are reported to be on tbe increase in this district despite precautionary measures to eradicate 1 liem.

Mr Wilson, who for many years followed the occupation of a: fisherman at the Heads, was taken seriously ill last week and conveyed to the l'aim i'.'ion Hospital where he is reported to he in a weak condition.

A woman recently gave birth to live children in a Belfast hospital. Triplets were horn, and were fidlowed some hoars later by twins, 'i’he mother got over it, but all the children died. Medical records contain 30 previous cases of this character.

Gor the past year the Wanganui Harbour Board made a profit of £3,522, as against £3,234 for the previous year, an increase of £2BB, which must he considered most satisfactory, taking into consideration (lie acute commercial depression experienced last year. —“Chronicle.” At a meeting of the Dunedin N. branch of the New Zealand Labour I’iirtv recently, I lie following resolution was carried: “That Ibis branch of the New Zealand Labour Baity records it's dissatisfaction with the continued exercise of executive power by the Massey Government, and the neglect of the Prime Minister to call Parliament together in spite of the fact that the Government bus been defeated at the poll. Desmond Costello, a hoy attending tlie Ponsonby public school, whose age is still under 11 years, has. attained the singular disfineton of winning two scholarships, the Rawlings a lid the Junior National. This performance (according to an exchange) constitutes a Dominion record in a double sense, this being the first time the same hoy has carried oil the double event, and the first time that a hoy under 11 years lias won the Junior National.

There is something in having a town water supply from an artesian well like Pa tea’s after all, says the Pa tea “Press,’; for according to the “News” a dead horse was found in (lie river from which New Plymouth draws its water supply on January Ist. la reporting this to the Borough Council, Mr D. Rav said that I lie horse had been dead about a month. There was no chance of finding the owner but the body had been removed and burned.

Exception is taken by a seaside resident to the hall being used in that locality last Sunday for dancing purposes. We do not. think the Beach Improvement Committee would sanction the use of the building for such purposes on Sunday hut owing to the very inclement weather en the day in question it alfoided shelter for a number of people among whom were a number of instrumentalists with the result that some young bloods could not resist the temptation to swirl to the strains.

At last week’s meeting of the Plaxmillers’ Association, Mr A. Seifert was elected president for the ensuing year. Consideration was given at the meeting to a letter from the promoters of the Empire Exhibition to lie hold in London next vea’r, asking if the llaxmillers intended to make a display and urging the desirability of their so doing. Any exhibits would have to he shipped from New Zealand not later than October. The meeting decided to leave the arrangements for forwarding a complete collective exhibit in the hands of Messrs A. Seifert, R. T. Bell, A. Ross, and IT. Ak-

There was a largo congregation present at the Sandringham Church on Sunday lo sec the Duke ol York and Lady Elizabeth, who sat in the choir opposite the King and Queen. There were live queens present, namely Queens .Mary, Alexandra and Maud, (he Dowager Empress of Russia and Queen Olga of Greece. The preacher referred to the nation's rejoicing over this happy event. “Both the -Homeland and the Empire Overseas,” lie said, “will pray that God’s blessing may rest, on the two lives soon to he united.’ It is understood that Hie family conference lixod the wedding foilin' middle of April. The date will be announced shortly.

A moil”' the recent discoveries of Tutankhamen's tomb -are numbers of figures of prisoners in relief. Professor Wcigall, writing- in the “Daily Mail,” apropos of this, says that, the captives are of Semitic origin, and possibly Iho actual Israelites of Exodus. The mass of objects in the tomb is being attributed to the fact that Tutankhamen, who was childless, had no heir to whom to hand oil his possessions. Professor Wcigall stresses the extraordinary fact that at that period of history there was a recurrent failure of the male line. Akhanaton, Semnkhkhara, Tutankhamen and Horemheb successively had no son, and he remarks that Biblical students will find herein confirmation of the Exodus story of the death of the firstborn.

During his visit to Rotorua, Mr E. Healey met an ex-Foxton resident, in the person of Air C. L. Barnard, who desired to be remembered to old ! friends. Mr W-. IT. Coles, pianoforte tuner, will lie in Poxton until the end of the month. Messages left at this office will receive immediate attention.* A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held in the Council Chambers to-night at 7 o’clock. Business: water-works and general. The recent rains brought down a Hood in the Manawatu river but the overflow was not sufficient to interfere with road communication between Foxton, Shannon and Levin. Last Thursday an old native, \Yaliieroa by name, died at Normanby at the great age of 105 years. In IS4O he was taken prisoner by the Waikatos and returned to Taranaki 33 years afterwards. The Palmerston Chamber of Commerce has passed a motion viewing with dissatisfaction the proposed increase in the telephone charges. Reports wore submitted at a meeting- of thi‘ Plaxmillers’ Association on the progress made in combating the yellow leaf disease. It was agreed that the experimental work had been so valuable that it should be continued. Already a considerable diminution of the areas effected is noticeable.

AH J. Hodgson, postmaster, Carterton, is on a brief visit to Poxton friends. Air Hodgson recently accomplished a walk over the Tai'aruns. The party struck bad weather oil the ranges and the crossing took four days. lie advises any one making the trip to start 1 roni the Greytown side.

There is a town in Massachusetts named Dedham which is anything but dead when it conics to getting down to business. Wjlien tHe Borough Council or the Chamber ol Commerce or the Civic Club lacks a quorum —they ring the fireliell! Then the meeting proceeds with the business in hand.

Hearing that a man named diaries Black, who died suddenly near Te Kniti, had cashed a cheque for £45, the police made inquiries as to what had become of the money. A search was made, and in an old waistcoat belonging to deceased, lying on a, log, the sum of £lls in not - es was discovered.

Admiral Hilly and his stall and members of I lie Pronch Commercial Mission were accorded a civic welcome at Palmerston North yesterday and were entertained by the citizens last evening. The party also visited Pielding. Mr J. Linklater, ALP., extended a welcome on behalf of Alanawatu.

AH lan Ross, who served his time with tlie local firm of Messrs Ross and Signal and was subsequently employed by the Poxton Motor and Engineering Co. lias been appointed to a. position on the Public Works Department n the Alangahao hydroelectric works.

Railway freights on llnx fibre were discussed at length at a meeting of the New Zealand Plaxmillers’ Association held last week in Palmerston North and it was resolved to point out to the authorities concerned that in spite of the recent reductions rates were still unduly high and were hampering the industry. The following recommendation of the Entrance Examination Committee of the University Senate was carried by 17 votes to 6: “That the Senate appoint a committee to report to the Board of Studies and the Senate at the next annual meeting, on the question of accrediting in lieu of examination for matriculation.”

It is rumoured that there will he an advance in the price of bacon at an early date, but no official statement has been issued by the wholesalers. Apparently orders sent out by local retailers (says the Wanganui Herald) are not being tilled to the full extent, and when this happens it is a sure indication of a fluctuation in price.

What appears to he a harsh provision of the law was brought into effect at th(‘ Te Karaka (Gisborne) Court, when James Price, secretary of the local football club, was fined £SO for failing to make a return of. amusement tax. The club organised •i concert to raise funds, and the Stamp Department was deprived of 10/8 revenue. No provision is made in the Act for a line of less than £SO and this was accordingly inflicted. Dr. Arthur Hurst, of Guv’s Hospital, London, describes in the “Lancet" the newest treatment for

appendicitis, rheumatism, arthritis, pernicious anaemia, dyspepsia and gastritis, by means of diluted hydrochloric acid. Dr. Hurst . says that all these diseases originate in tho absence of free hydrochloric acid in the digestive juices.

Although.a large number of people have left the seaside, all the houses have been re-occupied by new-comers and most of the residences have been hooked up for the Easter holidays. The Board will shortly offer a number of recently surveyed sections to the public for lease and occupation.

The Palmerston Times says; “Is it too much to hope that before long tbe Home-bound cargo boats will lie off the Manawatu Heads as they do at Pa tea and Wanganui, and load our butter, cheese, meat and hemp more expeditiously and cheaply than is done at present.” The policy of the big shipping companies is to cut out open freightings and to load at the big ports per medium of coastal vessels, -except in the case of extraordinary cargoes such as obtain at Pateu and Wanganui.

The Ilorowhenua County engineer notifies flint the main road bridge over the Ohau river is under repairs and will be closed for all traffic between 8 a.in. and S p.m. daily from January 25th to about February 7th.

The oldest settler in Masterton, Mr David Dixon, received many congratulations on Saturday on reaching his 82nd birthday. Mr Dixon (says the Times) bears his years well, and is more than most men twenty years younger. He was scarcely 14 years of age when he came into Masterton with some others in charge of cattle for Messrs Michael Dixon, Chamberlain, Jones and others, who were to arrive later. That was on May 21, 1854, nearly (i!) years ago. Though only a boy, he walked all the way from Wellington, carrying his swag, and forded all the rivers. The journey to Masterton occupied just a fortnight,