LOCAL AND GENERAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2622, 21 August 1923, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The weather yesterday was bitterly cold, with a keen wind from the south, and a fall of hail. Snow fell on the ranges. Miss Mud ford js to be appointed by the Board to the position of assistant teacher at the local Slate School.

A sharp shock of earthquake was experienced yesterday morning, at about 7 o’clock. It was accompanied by a rumbling noise and prolonged vibration.

At the local Police Court on Saturday, before Mr Hornblow, J.P., a first-offending inebriate while in charge of a motor cycle, was convicted and lined 20s.

The Rev. L. Minifie, who is resigning from the ministry on account of ill-health, will lie tendered a. farewell social by the Methodist congregation in the schoolroom on Thursday evening next.

There is every indication that a bumper house will greet the Ter-

race End choir in the Masonic Hall on Friday night, when they will provide an entertainment of special merit.

A Dunedin message states that through the connecting pin between a motor cycle and a side-car breaking, William Christie, farmer, was killed at Henley yesterday, and Alex Ralston, butcher, of Allanton, was critically injured.

The accidental upsetting of an oil lamp, states an Ashburton telegram, was the cause of Iwo summer cottages and a motor ear being destroyed at Hakntere, a holiday and fishing settlement at the mouth of the Ashburton river, on Saturday night. The huts belonged to Mr J. M. Wilkie, who upset the lamp, and Mr R. Cookson, both of Ashburton. Both cottages and (lie car were insured.

At the request of some old Maori friends, with whom he was closely associated, this inscription has been placed upon the headstone of the grave of the late John Stevens, M.P. for Rangitikei, Manawatu: “He main tona wairau, nolio rangatira hold” (his spirit was bold and free). Those who knew him intimately will appreciate the Mao"!! estimate of bis character, says the Times.

At the Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening, the Rev. Frank McDonald made reference to the forthcoming Hickson Mission of healing. He said lie was somewhat sceptical of certain faith-healing episodes, hut from personal investigation he was convinced of Divine intervention in the Hickson Mission. Tie urged his congregation to cooperate with the Anglicans in the preparatory services, which were essential to the success of the Mission.

The medical superintendent- of the Palmerston Hospital reported to the meeting of the Hospital Board on Thursday afternoon that inlluen/.a had been very prevalent since the end of last month, but most of I lie cases had been of Hie mild type. Ten of the nursing stall’ had been away from duty owing to influenza, and the doctors had been requested to send in only urgent cases for the present. Tt had been decided that restrictions he placed on visits to patients.

A rabbit invasion threatens Taranaki, reports from the Oliura recently staling that these pests had been seen in that district (states the Daily News). Represenalions were accordingly made to the Department of Agriculture by the Clifton County Council, and at a recent meeting a reply was received, giving an.assurance that the department was using its endeavours to prevent the spread of rabbits to Taranaki. It was further stated that a special report on the matter was being secured by the department.

Two visitors to Christchurch for Grand National week’ were relieved of several pounds by tin early morning' call to their bedroom (relates the Lyttelton Times). The men were staying at a private hotel, and on retiring on Thursday night they locked the door of their room, leaving the key on the inside. The light was burning all night, as they had been reading till about midnight. When they awoke, however, they found the door open, and further investigation led to the discovery that all the cash in their clothes (which had been hanging over the ends of the beds) had been stolen.

The farm lands adjacent to Matamala continue to draw favourable comment from visitors. A party of American doctors who arc on their way to attend the Melbourne Scientists’ Conference, in passing through, were heard to compare the outlook to that of Illinois, In conversation they said they had travelled both Islands of New Zealand, but had nowhere seen the growth of grass as on the country between Morrinsville and Matamat a. “New Zealand is a marvellous country, but with one outstanding bad feature,” they said. Needless to say, the latter was the railway facilities. Messrs Swanger (secretary) and Hodge (architect) of the Wanganui Education Board, accompanied by the Chairman of the local Committee, visited the school this morning. The new offices were inspected, and other matters in connection with the building discussed. The Committee’s application for the iron and timber of the old buildings was acceded, and this will be used for fencing in the girls’ playground. The matter of swimming baths was also discussed, and this matter will come before the Committee at its next meeting.

The local Tennis Club contemplate holding a hall at an early date.

At Caine, Wiltshire, Charles Coates, an old-aged pensioner, was sent to prison for 14 days without option of a fine for cruelty to eleven fowls hv cutting off their beaks. Coales said he did it to prevent the birds plucking one another's feathers.

“He was only 14 years of age, then, sir,” pleaded a counsel when a youthful prisoner appeared for sentence before the Chief Justice in Wellington. “That is old enough to take care of himself,” replied Sir Robert Stout. “I commenced work at 13.”

“No drunks, Sergeant?” was the smiling remark of Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the conclusion of the Police Court sittings in Masterton. Mr Hunt usually presides in a city where the hotels are open, and the experience in a no-license town appeared to he rather a novelty.

The following dairy factories have announced their payments for the month of July:—Shannon Is 7d, Awahuri Is fid, New Zealand Dairy Union Is fid, Whakaronga Is fid, Newbury Is fid, Ravenswood Is fid, Knirangn Is sd, Rongotea Is sd, Manawatu-Relianeo Is 3d, and Tiakitahniui Is 3d.

Tn delivering judgment on a motor collision ease at the Masterton Magistrate’s Court, Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., said lie always attached more importance to tire-'evidence of an artisan than that of a labourer, the former being usually more observant. Women also were observant, and their evidence could usually he relied on.

Fifty plugs of gelignite and 100 detonators were discovered beneath Ihe WliHkatane fire brigade station by the borough inspector, Mr A. L. Donaldson, while limiting for rats. Tie is congratulating himself that his interference with the gelignite did not cause it to explode. Last week the Whakatane Borough Council Chambers were broken into and the safe wrecked by gelignite. An escaped prisoner from Mount Eden gaol, Frank Ball'nr, has since been arrested in connection with the occurrence.

At the Palmerston N. S.M. Court yesterday, a young man named Thomas Smyllio was charged that on .July sth he did assault Bertie Holds worth by throwing an open pocket-knife at him and striking him between the shoulders. The evidence adduced showed that eomjdainant was in a room with a girl with two other young people, when Ihe defendant threw a knife thro-

ugh an open window. The police were informed before the identity ■ ! the offender was known. There was no unfriendliness between the i-avlies. The charge was dismissed a.- trivial.

Just on 50,000 shares have been applied d'or in the Dunedin Exhibition Company. As soon as the full 50,000 are applied for the directors will proceed to allotment. It is their intention to send a deputation to the Prime Minister to ascertain what assistanee can lie expected from the Government. A canvass for shares will be continued till the full 100,000 are subscribed, as it is anticipated that the whole of the capital will be required in addition to a grant from the Government.

The Mayor of a rising borough situated not a hundred miles from Wellington, recently hoarded the steamer in Sydney, en route for Home (says the Napier Telegraph). On reaching the ship, an old New Zealand acquaintance made himself known to Ilis Worship, and after a few preliminaries asked for the loan of a liver until the boat, reached Wellington. On being handed the amount, the borrower turned round and introduced to the Mayor (wo gentlemen, “Mr and Mr went well until Wellington was reached, when it transpired that the borrower’s two “friends” were policemen in mufti, and that they were escorting the gentleman —who landed the liver—back to New Zealand to make certain explanations before a magistrate.

The “man with soul so dead,” concerning whom Walter Scott inquired, in verse that all schoolboys have ranted, is certainly not the Chinaman who recently left the Old Men’s Home in Dunedin and sailed for the Flowery Land, remarks the Star. He is 78 years old, he moves about with difficulty on two sticks; lie is so helpless that he cannot button his coat; he has no money, nor a relative to accompany him. Yet lie got away, and is now well on his voyage. Eleven Chinamen went from New Zealand by the same vessel, including the old one and two others from Dunedin. These two promised to look after him on the train to Lyttelton, on the trip to Wellington, on the boat for Sydney, and on the vessel for China. Resident Chinese subscribed his passage money, the Charitable Aid Board facilitated the arrangements, and away the old' man went, as happy as Larry, with nothing but bis tickets, his credential for the passport, the clothes he was wearing, and £3 in his pocket. The other Chinese who left at the same time were so grateful for the board’s kindness to the cripple that they gave 5s as a tip to the member of the board’s staff who saw them off in the train, and he, not wishing to offend, took the money and furtively slipped it into the old chap’s pocket. There is something heroic about this little adventure. A man who, in senile decrepitude, can face such a disjointed journey without means must have great faith, and in liis younger days he would have made a good soldier.

There was a heavy fall of snow ii the ranges this morning'.

Anything from 200 to 400 tons of goods is being taken through the Otira tunnel daily. Large quantities of coal and timber are continually on the move.

Next year will witness the 50th year of British rule in Fiji, and the Government has decided to celebrate the notable event in several ways. Among other proposals is to be the issue ofa souvenir handbook, and the Government of Suva lias invited contributions from the public on 20 subjects, which include industries and their development and potentialities', travel and scenery, reefs, flora, fauna, birds, geology, education, religions, Fiji and the Great War, the Fijian, fishing, museum, Indians in Fiji, sport and games, anecdotes of Fiji, etc. A committee will control the issue. The Wanganui Herald states that the following letter was sent by a Chinese shopkeeper, who enclosed a statement of his affairs for bankruptcy examination: “I have enclose statemend of my detes I have owing all completed in this list. I cm under this statement. But its is has just roughly done by of me. I hoppink you kindly do you best you can. ..But I have not forgetting all my owing detes after T have anything doing. Money with me. I will repayment I can for my Creters that I have. Thanks very much fou kindly favvursely. Ablegs Avit your.kind 1 regard.—l am, remain yburs' sincerely, .”

People were in the habit of saying that, the IaAV--was.au as.s, remarkedl Mr S. Soloman, K.C., in an address on “Legal- Reflections,” at Invercargill. This was far from the case, lie continued; the man who Avent to law was an ass. He Avotdd tell his hearers in• all-sincerity and earnestness never to go to laAv until I hey had used every other possible means of dealing with the matter. Tl. was a better paying proposition to get £SO out of Court than £IOO in Court. The best lawyers always c-ndea\ r oured to keep their clients from going into Court. But apart from Ibis it was wrong to say law .was blind. .Lord Esher liad said: “Whatever was repugnant to com-mon-sense Avas repugnant to common law.” This was a great truth, _aud, should- by every man before lie Avent to law.

A pleasing feature of the farewell dinner given by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to the Prime Minister on Saturday night was a presentation mnd'e to Mr Mass-'y by Ihe members of the Chamber. In presenting Mr Massey with a goldmounted fountain pen, suitably inscribed, Mr S. A. Longnef. vicepresident, asked Mr Massey to accept the gift as a token of the regard of the members of the Chamber. It was hoped tliai hi - attendance nl the approaching ;' ait c i'cnee would prove the most important mission that the Prime .Minister had yet undertaken on behalf of New Zealand. Mr Massey suitably acknowledged the gift, and, lie added, that the pen would be used to write bis signature when required to all important, official documents connected with the Imperial and Economic Conferences.

The gamble which exists in tiic present method of consigning produce to the English markets was strikingly illustrated at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Tikorangi Dairy Company. In quoting the prices secured for the various shipments of produce, the secretary stated that one vessel which was loaded for the West Coast of England ports arrived Home whilst good prices were prevailing. Delay took place in the vessel’s discharge, and it was three weeks before her produce was landed. In the meantime the bottom had fallen out of the market, only a shilling being advanced on the shipment of butter. On the other hand, another vessel spent several weeks longer than she should have cruising around New Zealand. Her cargo, which according to schedule would have been landed-in the middle of the slump period, caught an improved market, and realised nearly top prices.—Taranaki Herald.