LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2644, 11 October 1923, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is officially, announced that Admiral de Chair has been appointed Governor of New South Wales.

The Chemistry branch of the Department of Agriculture is carrying out a speeinl soil investigation in the flux ureas, of the Dominion in order to determine if possible, the lieu ring of soil conditions upon disease in flux. A further special investigation into pumice soils is also in progress'.

The TTun. D. H. Guthrie has returned from his visit to Samoa and Tonga greatly improved in health, says ail Auckland message. lie will proceed to Wellington in n week's time. Tt is said lie is not prepared at present to discuss the question of taking up his official duties again in the near future.

When in Wellington recently, Mr .T Linklater, M.P., waited on the Minister for Justice (TTon. C. J. Parr) in reference to the erection of the new police station in Fox ton. We received a telegram on Tuesday afternoon to Hu* efleet that the Minister had given authority for calling tenders for t ho work. Between tit) and 70 residents of Muster!uii will attend at Palmerston North, the Hickson Spiritual Mission. They will leave by the morning train on Labour Day, travelling in .-special carriages, and will probably attend the Mission on the T nes da v.

Wellington butchers state that they are paying a higher price for mutton at the present time than during tlie war period. The wholesale price of million is approximately Hjd per lb. and the peak price during the war was Ojd per 11). The price if is said, is so high that trade is being affected. i Speaking during the discussion in connection with Cr. Smith's scheme to take a poll on the question of a public library, rest room, etc. at the same time as the poll was faken for the erection of swimming baths, Cr. Coley said that if the Council had taken his advice last year they would have had a . decent building, for Council Chambers, library etc. now, “not a dog-box.” “Wlml is (lie scientific explanation of earthquakes?” was a question asked of Mr J. A. Colquhoun, during an address at Palmerston N. Tie replied that the scientific belief was that earthquakes were caused bv weaknesses in the crust of the earth and tire movement of either side of the crack or fault which are the inevitable consequence of those weaknesses.

The recent heavy rain in the ranges caused a Hood in the Manga lino on Saturday and as a result the river channel which the men had just completed pumping- out bus been silted up and the work lias now to he done over again. Tt is most unfortunate as everything was in readiness for a start, to be n lit do nl midnight on Sunday with the excavating.

■Marie Falnny, the wife of Ali Fob my Bey, whom she shot in a London hotel, and was acquitted by a .jury on a charge of murder, continueto receive many proposals of marriage. One came from a Lanoa - shire professional man, who wrote: “If ever you contemplate marrying again with a man who will make yon happy for the rest of your life, pray give me first consideration.”

“The Ladies’ Mirror," for October, just to hand, is right up to the excellent standard of previous issues. It is fast becoming New Zealand's premier borne journal. In point of merit, both from the pictorial and literacy sides it will stand comparison with the best imported magazines and possesses the added interest of the social life of the Dominon. No household should ha without a copy.

A unique ceremony took place at Apia, Samoa, on August 29, when ihe Masonic fraternity opened the Caliope Lodge, Mr J. J. Dongall, of Christ church, represent ing the Grand Master in New Zealand, Lord •lellieop. Mr Dongall states that this is the first Lodge of the kind in the Empire, as it was formed by the New Zealand Constitution outside its geographical boundaries. It is also the first time a eolojiinl Lodge lias been properly constructed, as in every other instance this has been done by warrant from Great Britain. Judging by the harmonious mil voluminous strains that emulated from the Town Hall on Tuesday night. Foxton will soon be afforded a musical treat in listening to an orchestra of 17 performers, who are rehearsing for the Silver Band Incline and Concert. Benefit, organised by the management of the Royal for Tuesday evening next. Among the concert items to he rendered will he the re-appearance of “The Shanghai Girls” who scored such a hit at the Royal on Saturday evening. The Mayor will also speak on behalf of the hand. The concert and orchestral management is in the hands of Ihe bandmaster, Mr J. Colder, which is a sufficient guarantee as to excellence. The full programme will appear in our next issue. As a rule the average shopkeeper does not appreciate going to the trouble of having his scales tested, hut one in Oamaru at any rate should be grateful to the Government for its new regulation. For the last ten years one Oamaru merchant lias been weighing all his sales with a spring balance, and much against his inclination owing to what he considered the waste of time involved, took it to be tested by the Inspector of Weights and Measures. To his annoyance he discovered that it weighed Gibs over-weight in each SG, and the fact that he had been giving (i2lbs for oGlbs, for the last 10 years, dawned upon him. His comments when he thinks of the lost profits are illuminating. He is still cudgelling his brains as to how to get even. —Mail.

By n majority of 4.8 voles, the Te Kuili ratepayers yesterday carried a poll in favour of a loan of TO,OOO for street improvements. An effort is being made by the Wellington School Committees’ Association to bring a number of school children from-the Chatham Islands to visit Wellington next Christmas. At the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club’s meeting at Hastings the innovation of ladies operating at the ticket selling windows was brought into force and there was every indication that (lie move was a successful one. “Man cannot create, neither can lie destroy matter —that is (lie fundamental of all scientific knowledge”—Air J. A. Colquhoun, M.Sc., at (lie I‘a liners ton North Lunch Club when lecturing on “Inorganic Evolution.” Paul Poiret, the famous dress designci;, asserts that tlie hobble skirt will not return. He is convinced Unit fashionable women value freedom of movement more than elegance attained by discomfort. Detectives raided the premises in the Dunedin Arcade on Tuesday night occupied by one Williamson, and seized between four and live dozen bottles of medicated wine, said to contain over 10 per cent, of alcohol. It is understood a police prosecution will follow. The gas statement for last month disclosed a credit balance of £IOO odd. In moving the adoption of the report at Monday night’s Council meeting the Mayor said that the gas works manager was to be complimented on the very satisfactory state of affairs. A credit balance of £IOO constituted a record for that department.

There was a good attendance of those interested in the Hickson Spiritual Mission at All Saints’ Church yesterday afternoon, when Miss Bakewell, of Palmerston N., gave a very interesting address in connection with the mission. At the conclusion the Rev. Walton thanked the speaker for her very interesting address.

There are still about 100 uncerlilicatcd teachers in New Zealand, according to a statement of the Minister of Education. The percentage lias gone down, he added, from 34 per cent, to 25 per cent, in bis,period of office; and the department ought to improve upon that considerably in the next three or four years.

The London Daily Express’s Paris correspondent says that a Vienna report states that ex-ICing Ferdinand of Bulgaria litis become violently insane. He has tit limes assaulted his servants and declares lie will re-enter Sofia, heading a royal army and legain the throne. He is now under close guard, and his rcuio\>al to tin asylum is contemplated.

The official figures show that 21,(i()0 people paid tit the gates for the Hawke’s Bay-Auekland football match, played at Auckland last Saturday, while the tit tendance totalled 22,000. The sum of £1,300 was taken, exclusive of the tickets sold in the town and seats hooked. It is anticipated that the war memorial will benefit to the extent of £I,OOO.

The New Zealand Expeditionary Force left 12,153 dead in France, and 2,081 on Gallipoli; the resting place of over (1,000 of those is unknown —and in the great majority of eases never will he known. The Government lias now decided that a suitable memorial to these unrecovered dead will be erected at selected cemeteries in the various theatres of war.

The Central 'News Agency’s Paris correspondent says that the Aero Club has verified M, Lecomte’s aeroplane height-climbing feat, at 10,741 metres and has adjudged him holder of the world's altitude rec ord. M. Lecointe lias accordingly received the Air Ministry’s prize of 50,1100 francs for bringing the height record back to hranee from America.

Keen rivalry apparently extends even to dairy companies, according to Cr. Boyce, who stated at a meeting of the Manawatu County Council that in his district no less.that live different factories'were running cream-collecting lorries. It, was his opinion that these lorries should be licensed and thus assist in a small manure toward the upkeep of the roads they so freely used.

"Generally speaking, tilings ill Australia are good,” said the Mayor of Palmerston North (Mr F. J. Nathan) to a reporter on nis return from Australia, “though the drought in lhe autumn lias greatly affected the price of butter and cheese this season. In September, ihe prices obtained in Sydney and Melbourne were two months behind those of the previous season, and I should say that the output has dropped from 20 to 30 per cent.” At a meeting of the Thames Valiev Electric Power Board it was reported that a borer had been discovered in some Australian hardwood poles, and was allegedly in the timber when it reached New Zealand. The Board agreed to forward a portion of the infected timber to Wellington in order to ascertain whether the borer was imported into New Zealand.

Speaking to an “Argus” representative an Elthain farmer, referring to the high price that butchers have to pay for fat sheep, says that the prices will drop almost immediately. There had been a hal'd wintei, grass lias been scarce, and very few fat sheep were obtainable; consequently they were dear. There is now plenty of grass, the sheep are fattening, and prices must drop.

The new Canadian two dollar note bears the portrait of the Prinee ..I Wales to whom the first note, in a ease was'sent as a souvenir. It replaees the 1014 issue with the Duke of Connaught's potrait. The bandmaster desires us to announce that a general practise will be held l his evening- in the practise room from 7 to 8 and an orchestral practise at the Royal Theatre at 8 o’clock to prepare for the Band Benefit entertainment on Tuesday evening- next. The pressure of Manaia’s water supply was officially tested lastweek and was found to register 1.15 lbs to lhe square inch. This is albs more than is registered at New Plymouth at midnight, when the full pressure is available, says the Witness. The Spanish Minister of the Interior lias issued an order that no food merchant shall make a profit exceeding-live per cent interest on capital, six per cent for expenses of administration and industrial profits and three per cent for unforseen contingencies. One of the original settlers of the Sandon and Rongotea districts has passed away in Levin in the person of Mr William Davis, in his 80th year. Born in Shepton Mallett, in Somerset, at the age of 21 cauie out to New Zealand and after following the goldfields, sol tied on one of the first, seel ions opened at Sandon.

The landing of Captain Cook was commemorated on Monday at GisLorne with ceremonies at the Cook Memorial which marks the spot where the navigator cathe ashore on his first visit to New Zealand. Speeches were delivered by prominent citizens, says a Press message, and beautiful wreaths were placed on the memorial on behalf of the Royal Colonial Institute, and many local bodies. Amongst those in attendance were officers and men from the warship Laburnum.