Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2628, 4 September 1923, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL

The local Retailers’ Association intend to take combined action to curtail the existing credit system. The body of a man in a state of decomposition was found in the Wellington Harbour yesterday. Members of the local Thirds football team are reminded that practice will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. All members are requested to attend. Mr D. Christie was elected president of the local Retailers’ Association, and Mr I'. Rimmer was reelected secretary, at the annual meeting held on Friday night. The local Foxton Co-op. Trading Society was admitted to membership of the local Retailers’ Association at Friday night’s meeting. Mr T. W. Wins tan ley will represent the Society on the Association. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Presbyterian Church last night, the Rev. Mr McDonald said he did not'know of any community in which such close relationship and co-operation existed among the ministers and members of the various denominations. This was as it should he, and he hoped it would continue. Speaking for himself, he said he keenly appreciated the good fellowship of his brother ministers. Some anxiety is fell by Mr Stan. Austin, of Foxton, as to the safety of his mother and sister, who arrived in Japan on holiday on the 25th of last month. They were to spend some time in Japan. Owing to the dislocation of the cable service with Japan, it may be some days before definite news reaches Foxton. It is sincerely to be hoped that they have escaped from the dreadful disaster which has overtaken that country.

Three men and an unknown cyclist were said at a Tottenham inquest to have watched a four-year-old boy drowning in the River Lea without having made, any attempt to rescue him. The child, Charles H. Laws, of Tottenham, was on the bank with his six-year-old brother when he fell in. The cyclist took the brother home to the father and told him what had occurred, but himself did not try to rescue the boy. When Laws was eventually pulled out by Ernest Halcrow, of Tottenham, he was dead. He was only a foot from the bank. Miss Flossie Stevens, a Neath girl became a wife and a widow in one day owing to the death of Rees Rees aged 29, a collier, of Neath. Rees was the victim of an accident at Cilfrew Colliery. His coat was caught by the shaft and he received injuries to his spine and skull. The injured man was conveyed l to Swansea Hospital in a dying condition. His fiancee, Miss Stevens, was summoned, and at the request of her lover consented to a marriage by a special license. The bridegroom died soon after the ceremony.

Burglars entered Messrs Jas. Smith, Ltd’s., premises at Wellington during the week-end, and stole goods to the value of £6OO. One of the best-known figures in the commercial and social life of Palmerston North passed away on Sunday evening, in the person of Mr Charles Pickering, senr. In recognition of the Foxton Silver Band’s services, by invitation, to play for the big picture at The Royal to-morrow evening, the management intend putting on a benefit programme in aid of the Band funds at an early date.

A fox caught in a trap near Ludford, Lincolnshire, dragged the trap for two miles to a farm, where it sheltered for the night in a disused kennel. It was discovered in the morning and showed no fear, but only gratitude when the trap was taken off and the wounded foot dressed. The animal had almost to he driven away.

Mr Joseph Hocking, who died at Renruth recently, aged 85 years, served in the Crimean War. Being wounded at Sevastopol he was attended by Miss Florence Nightingale’s staff, and remembered seeing her working among the wounded at Sevastopol and Balaclava and in Turkish hospitals. He was a cousin of the novelists, Silas and Joseph Hocking.