LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2548, 27 February 1923, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Successful rehersals are being held by the Silver Band pupils. Another rehersal is to be held this evening at 7 o’clock. Short-sighted old gentleman (to chimney sweep with his tools) : Going off to have a game of golf, what?

“I am not one of those people who think this Parliament is going to last for the next three years,” declared Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., in Wellington. “I think that we will be in the throes of an election much sooner than some of us expect.”

Those present at last night’s Council meeting were: —Ilis Worship the Mayor (John Chrystall Esq.) and Councillors: Bryant, Smith, Ross, Martin, Thompson, Coley, Rand, and Walker. Mr Neville was also in attendance.

The production oi' coal from the Westport manes has been heavy lately, and no doubt before long it will reach pre-war figures, when the average was 18,000 to 22,000 tons export per week, says a local imper. The introduction of colliers from England probably accounts for the welcome increase, in production.

At last night’s special meeting of the Borough Council a permit was issued to Mr •). P. Smith, per Mr T. W. Hunt, for the erection in brick of a block of buildings at the corner of Main and Clyde Streets. The block will comprise three shops. The Mayor congratulated Mr Smith on his enterprise and for his faith in the future prosperity of the (own.

Mr •!. b'niikin’s resilience in Mako Mako road, Levin, had a narrow escape from destruction on Friday evening (says the Chronicle). One of the frequent flashes of lightning experienced during the storm struck the kitchen chimney, shattering the steel plate over the range, and breaking a piece out of the stove. The holt then crossed the kitchen, penetrating the dado on the further wall. Mr Rankin was absent from home at the time, so it is fortnnnte the building did not take lire.

The opinion was expressed at a meeting of the Wellington Education Board by the acting-chairman, Mr J. J. Clark, that there were too many holidays for picnics and sundry other events. The speaker said the large number of holidays was probably due to ignorance on the part of -school committees. It was also probable that the number of holidays in some schools exceeded the proper allowance. The board decided to call a meeting of its executive and representatives of the Headmasters’ Association and School Committees’ Association to discuss the matter.

Jean Benna, aged 15 years, when charged at Versailles with murdering his father, pleaded that the latter, in a drunken frenzy, threatened to kill his mother. Jean, therefore, stabbed his father to death with a knife. The youth was acquitted. At the motor-cycle sports at Auckland on Saturday, P. Coleman established a new world’s record for eight furlongs, covering the distance in 48sec. dead. He also won the New Zealand heavyweight championship of 15 miles, S. Whitehead being second and N. R. Souter third.

“Talking of economy,” remarked the man in the corner seat of the smoker, “I know a fellow that has not spent a a’p’ny in five years.” “Get away I” commented the m'an in the opposite corner. “What’er yer getting at?” “It’s a fact,” said the first man —“hut he’ll he out next week.”

A reduction in the price of cement in New Zealand is to take place as from March 1. The present price, £fi fis per ton, will he lowered to £5 17s, a decrease of 9s. This will he the fifth reduction in price since the peak rates were charged. The highest price for cement ever reached in Auckland was £8 fis fid.

Many people know the story describing the three classes of liars; hut if is often told incorrectly. It was a remark made by Baron Bramwell, the well-known judge, brother of Sir Frederick Bramwell, F.R.S., who often appeared in court to give expert evidence on scientific subjects. The Baron said there were “liars, d d liars, and expert witnesses —and then of course, there is my brother Fred.”

After commenting on the damage done in the Dominion by deer, the “New Zealand Herald” states. — “Last year the owner of a grazing run abandoned 23,000 acres at Lake Rotoiti, and explained to the Commissioner of Crown lands that the deer had left no food for the stock. The author of the report'calculates that deer have displaced 1 lie equivalent of 450,000 sheep from the paslures of the Dominion.”

A grocer in Christchurch, who does a little business in selling fruit, got rather a disagreeable surprise on opening a. case of bananas i’ecently. She was turning the fruit over when a long centipede fastened on to her finger. Before it bit her she took it off and it was killed. Tt measured exactly seven inches in length. The case of bananas had been bought in the city fruit mart and had come from the islands.

A remarkable shearing performance has just been established in Taranaki by Mr W. Iliggens while shearing for Mr L. Derry at Moumolinki. In nine hours he shore 40fi sheep, some of which were wet. Ten sheep were shorn in the lnsl ten minutes. The runs were as follows : —7B sheep in each 2 hours, 80, 82, 85, 81, in each If hours’ duration. Last year, in the same shed, Mr ITiggins put through 383 sheep in 83 hours.

The spirit of Micawber is not yet dead. There are still some optimists always waiting for something to turn up (remarks the Auckland “Star”). A judgment debtor in the Magistrate’s Court told Mr J. E. Wilson, S.M., one day last week that he fully expected to get some money under a will. “I see,” said the magistrate, “and how soon do you expect it?” The optimistic one smiled, “The relative is not dead yet,” lie replied, amid laughter. Another debtor hoped to be able to meet his liabilities if fie won at the races, according to a solicitor who appeared in bis absence.

The Leader of the Opposition in conversation with a “Wanganui Herald” reporter recently, referred to Mr Montgomerie’s contesting the Bangitikei seat at the eleventh hour. Mr Wilford said that he realised that Mr Montgomerie was at a great disadvantage in coining in so late, but the experience would he most beneficial for the next campaign. Mr Wilford speaks very highly of Mr Montgomerie’s intellectual capacity, and said he was the ablest of all the young candidates who offered themselves last election.

“We ought to send men to Parliament equipped with some scientific knowledge, not men who are simply ‘gasbags,’ ” declared Dr. .J. Ti 11yard, in the course of a lecture at the Canterbury Philosophical Institute. Dr Tillyard made his point in stressing the point that it was absolutely essential that a school of entomology should he established to train men to study the best methods of combating insect pests. “Unless stern measures are taken to destroy insects preying upon the plant life of the Dominion,” he said, “the country will be eaten out in a generation or so. There will be no timber even to build homes.”

As showing that the old raugutira spirit among the natives is not yet dead, an incident following upon the decision of the Native Land Court at Ruatoki on a boundary dispute is interesting (says the Gisborne Herald). The leader of the unsuccessful claimants rose and stated that there certainly had been much trouble between them over the boundary, bixt he now accepted the Court’s decision against him, and there would be no more trouble. He would, however, like to know the position of one of his party, who had, in exercise of the rights claimed, planted maize within a disputed area. “Let him remain there,” said the representative of the other side. “He will not be disturbed.” This magnanimous attitude was fully appreciated by the losing party-

The Minister of Customs has announced that Cabinet has agreed to the resumption of trade with Germany, to come into force as from September Ist next.

The premises of the Levin Cycle and Motor Works, of which Mr W. L. Burn is proprietor, were considerably damaged by fire on Saturday evening.

The world’s annual yield of raw wool is reckoned at about 3,000,00000,0001 b., of which about forty per cent, is produced in countries of the British Empire.

It is reported that a motor lorry, conveying a load of produce from Manakau, overturned on the Paekakariki Hill this morning, resulting in the death of the driver. No details are at present available.

At last night’s Council meeting complaints re night soil removal were dealt with, the night soil contractor being in attendance and submitting his side of the case. The matter will be further dealt with at the next meeting.

A large deputation of ratepayers of the Palmerston North borough, under the leadership of Councillor F. Jackson, wailed upon Mr F. J. Nathan, of that town, yesterday morning, to urge him seriously to consider standing for office at the coming Mayoral election. Mr Nathan replied that if assured of the support of those who had signed the petition asking him to stand, he would do his best for the interests of the ratepayers' and the borough. A Martonian (says the “Advocate”) is the proud possessor of a copy of the famous “Breeches” Bible, which has been in the possession of his family since-the date of its publication in 1G0!). In it is tlie verse, the 7th in chapter 3 of Genesis, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed lig leaves together and made themselves breeches.”

A game of croquet lasting over four hours must be a record. Such as performance was made by four ladies playing in the championship doubles at the Taranaki tournament at New Plymouth. Play started at 11.30 in the morning, but a heavy shower caused a 20 minutes’ interval, after which the contest was continued. During a shower at midday lunch was partaken of, after which the ladies again took up their mallets. Finality was reached at 3.20 p.m., after an exciting match which had lasted almost twice as long as the average game. We hear that preparations are being made for a gathering of some 2.000 or more Natives at Papawai shortly—representatives of tribes from the South Island and all over the. North, as far as above Auckland, stating their intention of being present. The occasion will be the unveiling of a monument to a Maori soldier — Kangi Kerehonva —who died at Feathers ton Camp during the influenza epidemic; also the unveiling of a monument in honour of our late popular and much respected Iraia te Wliaiti. Mr H. Manihera is the organising secretary for the big meeting.—Wairarapa Standard.