Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2678, 3 January 1924, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Local business premises re-open-ed to-day after the holiday season.

“No accidents of any descriptions or fatalities, during the holidays,” was the report of the local police this morning. Constable Owen added that the holiday period was marked In’ orderliness throughout.

Red poppies from Flanders were planted in the Rnstern Cemetery, Anderson’s Bay. They are now growing well, and everywhere among the graves of the soldiers they are making an appearance (reports the Otago Daily Times). The premises of Dong Lee, fruiterer, on Anzac Parade. Wanganui, were lmrglnriou-ly entered and £7 in money and a quantity of cigarettes were stolen on Tuesday night. Three men were arrested yesterday in connection with the burglnrly.

“A man lives and loves and rues and dies.” This was the short summing-up of life, written on a piece of paper found beside the body of George Edward Henley, 39, at his home in MaiiK laM week. Lying on the-floor wa- a bottle containing' liquid and a bundle of papers.

Archbishop Alannix, of Melbourne, and Bishop ALCarthy. of Sandhurst, will arrive in Auckland from Sydney on the loth insL, on route to attend the ceremonies connected l with the golden jubilee of Archbishop Redwood. The Apostolic Delegate for Australasia. Dr. Cattaneo, has also arranged to attend the jubilee. The celebrations will begin on Sunday, 24th February. The hurricane on Friday ripped to shreds the tents of seventeen SI. Stephen's Bov Scouts, who were camped at the mouth of the Ashburton River, 12 miles from the town, and scattered their baggage Tito hoys took refuge in tin old fisherman's hut on Friday night and in the chaff-house of a farm on subsequent nights. They are now quite comfortable again. The Boy Scouts, at present in camp on the racecourse, helped to entertain Foxton on New Year’s Eve. They paraded the Main St. clad in fancy costumes, pyjamas predominating, and other quaint disguises. They improvised a band, the music from which was most inharmonious, but evidenced splendid lung capacity on the part of the lads. The conduct of the boys was excellent during the raid on Ihe town.

A Palmerston North postman vouches for the presence of genial hearts and open purses among the public for Ibis Yulelido at any rate says the Times. Over his run, which is in the vicinity of four miles, he received altogether £9 10/- in Christmas tips, which amount will ensure him a free and quite extravagant holiday. Excluding the possible personality of the newsbringer, his harvest seems to indicate much better times. Other postmen also reaped appreciable amounts.

Dog stories, like fish stories, are sometimes true. This one is, and can he vouched for by several local howling enthusiasts, who were taking part in a game on a local green. A bowl was sent down, and it finished wide and short. At this stage a small dog appeared on the scene and in a business-like method il nosed the howl gently until it rested against Ihe “kitty.” Being a friendly game only the shot counted.

From (hi* Prime Minister (Wight lion. \Y. F. Massey) now in Ottawa, on Ins wav hack to New Zealand, has been received through the Australian Press Association the following New Year message to the New Zealand people: —“On this glad New Year my thoughts are with my fellow-citizens in New Zealand, and although separated by thousands of miles of ocean, 1 fervently hope the prosperity and happiness which will attend them rigid through the year on which wo arc entering.”

At. the. United Friendly Societies Sports held at Levin on New Year's Day, several Foxton competitors secured places in the athletic events, A. E. Cunningham carried oft Ihe Ist prize clip in Ihe obstacle race, and ran second in the 100 \ariU Foresters’ Cup, and second in the 220 yards event. 11. Reid secured seroiul phice in i li«* r;i oo. Tin*. Foxton loom, consist in# o! Cunningham, Ball, Reid, and W est - wood, carried off first honours in the relay race.

The AVairarapa at the present time is showing marked evidence of the long spell of dry weather that is being experienced. The landscape is very parched and both pasture land and crops present a sorry appearance. The effect of the drought is also making itself felt in the town water systems in that district a fact which was humorously illustrated by the remark of a small boy in one borough, who, when his father was endeavouring to draw from a tap a bucket of water, said: “Try the other tap, (lad; I had a drink from that one to-day! -

About three hundred motor cars and motor vehicles were parked at the local seaside on Now Year's Dav.

AYe are requested to invite all willing to assist in entertaining the boy scouts at a concert, etc., to meet at Perreau’s rooms this evening at 8 o’clock. What struck our representative on a recent visit to the AUairarapa, was the parched vegetation for miles along the countryside, particularly from Opaki to Featherston. The shortage of feed has caused a drop in dairying returns and has compelled sheep farmers to quit lambs with the least possible delay. The Mnnawatu, Horowhenua and Rangitikei pastures display a marked contrast to the AYairnrapn. The Catholic Church at Havelock, situated in Lawrence Ft. was totally destroyed by fire at 3.30 o’clock on Tuesday morning. The cause of the fire is not known hut it is a<>umod that fireworks may have been at the bottom of the matter. A curious coincidence is that some building or other is always destroyed by fj,v in TTaveloek at New Year. The whole of the contents of the church, including Ihe altar requisites, church furnishings, organ, etc., were destroyed. The loss is extensive, the insurance amounting to only about £2OO.

The Department of Twin?tries and Commerce has received a cable from I lie High Commissioner advising particulars of arrangements for the aeeommodaiion of visitors from overseas to the British Empire Exhibition this year. A comprehensive register, giving all (‘lasses of aeeommodation and eharges in London including hotels, boarding bouses, furnished and unfurnished houses, flats, apartments, efe., is being compiled. Further details will he supplied io intending visitors on application to Ihe Department of Industries and Commeree.

An exhaustive study of and report on ihe oilfields of Taranaki is lo he made by Dr. Frederick C. Clapp, of New York. who arrived in New Plymouth on Saturday night lasi. Or. Clapp, who is an eminent American geologist, arid one of the world's highest authorities concerning oil lands, has been engaged by the syndicate which recently acquired the properties of the defunct Taranaki Oil A Yells Company. Tie is accompanied by Air A. E. Broue, of Sydney, and Mr A. W. Donald, of Auckland. A Daily News reporter was informed recently that if his report is favourable, the oil industry in Taranaki will be developed. Dr. Clapp will afterwards visit the oil fields in Australia.

Referring to the rook menace at Napier (says the Poverty Bay Herald), a member of the deputation which waited on the Hon. AA r . Nosworthy stated that the rooks worked 17 hours a day, which was about two hours a day more than farmers averaged. The Minister: “If seems a pity that you cannot get them into a union—and then perhaps you might deal it out to them.” (laughter). Another member said that Ihe rooks were like the hats in the belfry—as soon as the farmers retired lo rest out they came in swarms and set to work to destroy the crops. “They are worse than rabbits,” said a member and they “are worse than sea-gulls" ret it era ted another.

There has been no promotion to the rank of Admiral of the Elect for two and a half years, since Sir Doveton Sturdee went up on July f>, 1921. Two advancements, however, should occur this year, owing to the retirements of Lord Jellicoe and Sir Henry Jackson (says the “Army and Navy Gazette”). Up to 1914 an Admiral of the Fleet remained on the active list until he was 70. Now he has to retire after live years from his promotion, lmt not under the age of (If). The working of this dual regulation will have an interesting effect in 1924, during which year four admirals of Ihe Fleet who were promoted in 1919, will complete their live years—-Lord Jellicoe, Sir Henry Jackson, Lord Beatty, and Lord Wester Wemyss As Lord Jellicoe will he (55 and Sir Henry Jackson (19, they must retire; bill Lords Beatty and Wester Wemy>s will only be 53 and 00 years respectively, so they may remain on, the former until 1930. and the latter unii 1 1929. Th retirement of Lord Jellicoe, whose promotion waone of those made specially for war service may not cause a vacancy hut Sir Henry Jackson's going should give a step to an admiral and Sir Charles Madden is the next in turn to qualify both by seniority and service for promotion to Ihe highest rank.