Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, SEPTEMB. 15, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2633, 15 September 1923, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, SEPTEMB. 15, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tokio is now reported quiet after a week of terror. Relief measures are proceeding rapidly. Dempsey and Firpo clash for the world’s heavy-weight championship to-day.

'flic monthly meeting of the local State School Committee will lie held on Monday evening. The third test match, All Blacks v. N.S. Wales takes place al Wellington to-day. A Presbyterian School, of Theology was opened at Palmerston N. yesterday. Delegates were presold from all parts of I lie Dominion. The local Silver Band’s line ploying at the Flower Show last night was greatly enjoyed and deserves commendation.

The iced cake donated to the Horticultural Society by Mr Perreau, for number guessing, will be disposed of- this evening at 7.45 at Mr Perreau’s shop.

Divorces increased by 35 per cent, in 21 States of America last year, as compared with the 1910 figures, while marriages increased only 7 per cent. Don’t forget the sale of work and social afternoon to be held in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday afternoon, 19th September, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church. Admission by silver coin. Afternoon tea free. Delicious home-made cakes and sweets a specialty. "

In connection with Cr. A. N. Smith’s notice of motion re the use of the temporary Council Chamber building, when vacated, as a public library and reading room, Cr. Smith says his motion is with the object of using the structure until the ratepayers sanction a loan for a permanent reading room and library.

II is surprising how some people prefer to remain in splendid isolation instead of marching with the times (remarks the Southland “Times"). The electrification scheme was being discussed by a number of farmers when one astonished the rest by declaring that he would not lake the power under any consideration. “I would sooner pay the rate,” he continued, “than install the light or power on my farm.”

At Ihe tenlh annual Bulb and Flower Show, held at Sanson on Tuesday last, the following prizes were won by Mrs E. .T. Murphy, of Foxton, in Ihe amateur classes:— Magni Corona li, six varieties, Ist; do., three varieties, 2nd; do., three varieties, bi-eolonr, 2nd; do. yellow Ist; specimen bloom, 3rd; Incompara.bilis, 3 varieties, 2nd and 3rd; specimen bloom, Ist; Barri, 3 varieties, 3rd; specimen bloom, 3rd. The Department of Internal affairs informed the Wellington Acclimatisation Society on Thursday evening that advice bad recently been received to the effect that native birds, such as kiwis and wekn, were caught in traps set for opossums. Tt bad been suggested that it might be desirable to prohibit the taking of opossums in areas inhabited by kiwis and wekas. It was decided to advise the Department that there were no kiwis or wekas in the Wellington district. —“Post.” The Prince of Wales, travelling as Lord Renfrew, arrived at Quebec on Wednesday, on the Empress of France en route for his ranch in Alberta, where he will test the simile life for a month. The Prince’s wish that no demonstration should attend his arrival was respected. Officers on the liner said that he enjoyed the trip, and mixed freely with the passengers. He participated in all the dances, and on Sunday read the lesson at the service. The refusal of the Matron of the Palmerston North Hospital to sign

a nurse’s certificate was the subject of a letter to the Palmerston North Hospital Board on Thursday, from n solicitor who referred to allegations of disobedience against the nurse by the matron. The only incident that could he construed info a breach of the rules, the loiter said, was Ihe fact that the nurse had worn over her uniform a black sports coat instead of a grey one, but as this rule had been introduced during her absence from the institution, she was not aware of it. Recently (he Wellington Acclimatisation Society protested very strongly against the decision of the Department of Infernal Affairs to extern! the opossum season for two weeks. On Thursday night a communication was received from the Department to the effect that it had now been decided to extend the season for one week only (states the “Post.” A letter was also received from the Department stating that it had been decided that in respect of the present season, and until further notice, 50 per cent, of net revenue from opossum trapping would be paid to the acclimatisation societies, and 50 per cent to Ihe State Forest Service.

There are trees with hands and one of the most curious of these is to he found in Mexico. From the centre of each (lower springs a stem shaped like a human hand and arm. The points are curved like fingertips with overgrown nails. Each tree possesses thousands of these curious blooms, and al a distance they resemble blood-red hands waving in the air. At one time the Mexicans were so impressed that they bowed down and worshipped it and no one was permitted to pluck any of its wonderful flowers. A rival is the five-lingered orange which grows in Japan. The dwarf tree, which seldom reaches a greater height than five feet, grows its fruit in the shape of a human hand complete with fingers and thumb.

To know that in a lonely spot in the Solomon Islands there is a. rude tombstone bearing his name is the unique experience of the Rev. Dr. C. E. Fox, who is now in Auckland after a long and eventful sojourn as h Melanesian missionary on San Crist oval, one of the outlying islands of the groups. The explanation is simple. Dr. Fox (says “The Post’s” Auckland correspondent) has spent many years of his life in the Solomons, has entered intimately into the native side of things, and following an old tribal custom lie exchanged names with Takibaina, a Solomon man of good ancestry. Takibaina died, and, proud that he was the tribal brother of a white man, his relatives placed his adopted European name on tile stone which marks his grave. During the past twelve years, Dr. Pox has resided on San Cristoval, the most easterly point of the Solomons. He says that few people have any real conception of the size of the islands or of their possibilities. The largest islands are some 120 miles in length, with a breadth of from 20 to 40 miles. Certain of the mountains are about 10,000 feet in altitude. Wjmt is perhaps the most important of all, the group is absolutely peaceful and safe for white people, except in certain parts of Malaita, where there is money on offer for the death of any white man. “In the unsafe section of 'Malaita,” said Dr. Fox, who is about to return to the island, “there are chiefs who still resent the white folks’, presence, and blood money is to be won by killing a white. This takes, aptly enough, the form of red .shell currency. Enmity against the white has nothing to do with headhunting or cannibalism. My island of San Cristoval used to be a proper hotbed for this depraved practice, but I have not heard of any instance of man-eating for over live years now.”

Arthur Hamilton, 51 years of age, was committed for trial at the Auckland Supreme Court on Thursday on u charge of breaking and entering (be Chinese laundry of Clark, Moon and Co., and stealing 18/fl. For being in possession of gelignite, Hamilton was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Supplies of insulin have been received by the Wellington Hospital authorities from Canada, and-se-lected diabetic patients are now under treatment at the hospital. It is too early to make any definite statement yet as to the effect of tbe treatment, as it has not been given long enough to do its work. A cablegram received by the Government yesterday indicated that Ihe Prime Minister expected to arrive at San Francisco last night, and to leave at 11 o’clock this morning ((>.45 n.m. New Zealand time) for Washington, where he is due to arrive on Wednesday. He will leave New York for England on the Majestic on September 22. Police Superintendent Mackinnon, who lias been transferred to Christchurch, was presented at Palmerston North yesterday with a gold medallion locket. High tributes were paid to the popularity and sterling qualities of the departing officer, and to the efficient manner in which he had discharged his duties as inspector of police. John Joseph Condon, single, 23 years of age, was found in a room ill Ins parent’s residence at Kurow, Oainaru, on Wednesday with a bullet wound in his forehead. He died a few hours later. At the inquest a verdict was returned that death was due to a. gunshot wound in the forehead accidentally received. Deceased was a returned soldier. He lost a leg and sustained serious injuries to the other at the war.

Foxton residents now have at their disposal one of the most un-to-dale ears on the market in the new seven-seater Super-Six Hudson recently purchased by Mr P. Whitehead of the Eoxton-Levin Mail Service. Owing to extra demand on this route Mr Whitehead found it necessary to obtain another ear in order to fulfil requirements. Our representative was given a demonstration of the comfort and passenger-carrying facilities of this powerful ear yesterday. This ear is not to be used exclusively on the mail service but is available for general taxi work. A ring (in ’phone 110 will at any time, fulfil your taxi requirements.! There should be a large attendance at flic public meeting to be held in | lie Masonic Hall on Tuesday night to hear addresses by the choir man (Mr Monk), local member (Mr Alex Ross) and engineer (Mr Over Inn) of the Horowhenua Power Board. The meeting has been ar--1 aliped by the local Chamber of Commerce in order to afford the public an opportunity of gaining a first-hand knowledge of the possibilities of electric power in its application to the dairying, hemp and other industries and its uses in the home. The latter phase will be of particular interest to the ladies. Admission is free. The chair will be taken by Mr Ilornblow, president of the local Chamber of Commerce.

After straying from the herd, a bull, one of a herd brought from the cnuntry for shipment elsewhere) began a tour of inspection of various streets in Napier, incidentally causing some excitement and no little concern. Leaving the waterfront at the port “Bovril,” lie set off •iI a good pace up Waghorne St., followed by many “Pieeadoves.” As no one could catch him, the animal went up Shakespeare Road and then branched off and not appreciating the gaol, moved on to Roslyn Road, where tempting feed was his downfall, and twelve men captured him. The sightseer was taken back to tiie Port and placed aboard ship. —Napier Telegraph.