Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1924. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2719, 10 April 1924, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1924. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Maoris of Malakarapa report watermelons to be very plentiful this season. ■

The s.s. Waverley sailed for Wellington with a cargo of general at midnight on Tuesday. A mob of prime cattle were sent by rail to Wanganui on Monday, from which port they are to be shipped by the s.s. Storm for Lyttelton.

Next to archery the game of bowls is tbe oldest British pastime still existant. In the Royal Library Windsor, an M.S. of the 13th century contains a drawing of two players aiming at a small cone, equivalent to the present-day “Jack.”

James Wilson, aged twenty-live, manned, with a wife and young child, was killed in a gravel pit at Aramoho on Tuesday afternoon. A wheelbarrow obstructed deceased while he was trying to escape a fall of metal, which overwhelmed him.

An old landmark, in the shape of the old fire bell a( the corner of Main Street, near the Town Ilall, has disappeared. The structure has been dismantled and the timber, which is as sound as the day when if was erected, is being used by the Eire Board in the const rind ion of a hose drying gallows at the rear of the Eire Station,

Mr J. Wyeth, local nighlwateliman, lost a faithful friend and com])fmion last week in the death of his wire-haired tenner. The, little animal has accompanied him in his lonely vigils for some years and was very intelligent and when necessary in its own or master's defence, game and aggressive. Rome time ago it was run over by a motor ear and this probably caused some internal injury. “It is always the young people wlio seem t.o be stealing now." said Mr Wyveni Wilson, S.M., in t he Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch, when he admitted an office girl to three years’ proha lion for the theft, of £ll from her employers. “However, there is consolation in the fact that the old people are not stealing so much, 'flic statistics of the pa-d year or two show that there has been an enormous increase of theft among the young people. Apples from a humorist's point <•!' view form the subject of an article in the current number of Die Kruii. grower (states an exchange). The writer points out that apples arc born on trees, spend a large part of their lives in barrels and are buried in pies. Apples, unlike melons, are eaten from outside in. instead of from inside out, but sometimes, when green, produce an inside-out sensation. The apple is popularly believed to have caused the first fall of man, but since then the banana has given it a hard race, with the orange peel a good third.

Never in the history of Koxton have the ladies had such a wide range in evening materials as those at present, showing at the C. M. Ross Co.’s. Charming shades in shot taffetas. crepe, sunties, satin, channelise, crepe de chene, georgette, and velveteens. The evening flowers to match are beautiful. We will be delighted ,to show you these.*

'fhe Otaki Dairy Company was lined t'o on Friday for selling butter containing more than 16 per cent, of water. The sample of butter taken contained 16.68 per cent of moisture. The company’s butter was one of the best brands on the New Zealand market and this was the first prosecution in 20 years.

A fireman on the steamer Gale went aboard the ship at Wanganui on Thursday night and struck with a bottle another fireman named McLean, the side of whose face was badly cut. , Garlick then went ashore and disappeared. Later on, he was seen near the wharf and was pursued by firemen and sailors who ran him down in the Avenue. He was seized and thrown to the footpath, where he was savagely kicked into insensibilitv. The unfortun-

ate man. was then dragged to a dark spot near tbe wharf and again kicked till some constables arrived. The injured man was sent to hospital. He is badly damaged but no vital injury bus been done.

Two “tall and entertaining stories are told about hens’ eggs by Mr William Langley, a well-known fancier and judge, of Bath. At a recent poultry show at Midsomer, Norton, Somerset, Mr Langley says a Rhode Island Red hen laid an egg on the shell of which was clearly imprinted the face of a clock, the hands of which pointed to the hour of three. At the particular moment the egg was laid the hall clock indicated the hour of three. A hen belonging to Mr Fry, of Dover, place, Bath, regularly went into the the house to lay. While thus engaged on one occasion the kitchen clock struck twelve and a nest of six eggs laid by the fowl all bore the impression of a clock face with the hands pointing to twelve o’clock.

The following “freaks of fashion” are specialised in a London paper:—Fantastic footwear affected by certain feminine circles on tlie Riveiera includes lacquered kid shoes, wit.h foes shaped like Chinese pagodas, and adorned with tiny bells. One sees also straw sandals in brilliantly-coloured raffia. The newest type of stocking is called “flies in amber.” They are the colour of honey, and are embroidered on the wrong side with flies done in black silk. Dancers usually wear no stockings. Instead, they coat their legs with phosphorescent powder, causing a faint glow When they move. As to their toenails, they are usually gilded or painted with tiny landscapes.

An interesting account of Ihe amazing recovery of a small bird after a serious injury is given by a chief petty officer on 11.M.5. Philomel says the “Auckland Herald.” The bird, a xvliite dove, was savagely attached by a dog, and had its chest so torn open that its heart was actually exposed, the heating being plainly visible. After lying unattended for half an hour, the bird was taken 4o the sick bay where iis wounds were sewn up with horse hair, and a bandage wound round its body. It was then put In bed in its box, while its mate waited nearby for company. On being, visited next morning the bird was found to have freed itself from its bandages and to be flying around tin room. When the door was opened it (lew outside. The dove appears to he now as strong as ever, though the stitches can be plainly seen in its bodv.

That tiie ugaio might be used much more freely for street and reserve planting was the view expressed to a Herald representative, by Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., of Auckland. In a large Italian cily, said Mr. Poynton, there was one streef .planted with ngaio, and it produced, an effect that was the admiration of visitors from all parts of the world. If the tree could thus he grown in Italy, surely it. could he made to grow in ils native land. Nikaus should be planted in place of the exotic palms which made ils appearance in every Auckland reserve, the former being much more beautiful and uncommon. “Our trees are so interesting, and many arc so beautiful, that it is our duty to study them with a view to using (hem mowv freely in <>ur streets and reserves.”, said Mr. Poynton. “Much research work yet remains to he done, and vigorous selection of those trees and shrubs of economic value should be -started without delay. Many of them grow I‘rom cuttings including the tot am, karaka, and rewarewa, and this would expedite the creation of new and improved varieties.”

Toiolod lolisK'co is lhe last word in (ho mamii’aetiii’e .of the fragrant weed. Its process is based upon science and just exactly as people prefer their food cooked, they will now prefer their tobacco toasted. Toast is certainly whole.vonier than soggy bread, and the same principle applies to tobacco. Take for instance the locally mauu factored brands. They are all toasted, and consequently more pleasing to the palate, besides there is less nicotine in them and that is a matter of importance. In as much as any excess of nicotine, absorbed by the system, may seriously effect the nerves or cause .smokers heart and weakening sight. Smokers should, therefore, not fail to give this new tobacco a trial; there is a vast difference between toasted and non-toasted tobacco, and they will tiud, it is all in favour of the toasted. Obtainable in three strengths, Rivcrliead Gold very mild and aromatic. Toasted Navy Cut (Bulldog) medium, and Cut Plug No, 10, is recommended to those who prefer a fully j body. 8*

Mesdnmes Alexander and Petrie entertained members and friends of the Presbyterian Ladies’ Social Guild at a most enjoyable afternoon on Wednesday of last week.

The liongotea Horticultural Society’s autumn show was opened by Mr Hornhlow, of Foxton, yesterday afternoon. The entries in every class were excellent, the fruit and vegetables display were very good.

The editor of a Kansas newspaper notifies his correspondents that he wants news like his eggs — strictly fresh. “We prefer,” he says, “not to publish a birth after a" child is weaned, a marriage after the honeymoon is over, or the death of a man after his widow has married again.”

The need for education was emphasised in Wellington recently in the course of an address by the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) who incidentally said it had been observed that one-third of the prisoners who came before the Prisons Board were of weak intellect. It was most essential, be declared, that men and women should endeavour to lie intellectual. “We want to he belter thinkers than our fathers,” he added. “That should be our aim.” Sir Robert Stout is chairman of the Prisons Board.

In Northern Madagascar, .the churches have an amusing way of taking up the collection. Often a hat is used, in some cases old enough to let the collection Srip through on the worshippers’ laps. The sexes sit on opposite sides of the building, and when a husband has no equivalent for a halfpenny —the standard contribution —he takes change for his ten centimes piece from the hat, and hands this change to the -steward, who gravely takes it across the aisle to the contributor’s wife for her to drop in the hat.

“Half a leaspoonful of cayenne pepper with a little water makes a very stimulating tonic,” ran a minute read to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union at New Plymouth enumerating restoratives, other than alcohol, for use in cases of fainting which had been suggested during the proceedings. The delegate from whom the suggestion on me, as well as many others, judging by tbe laugh that followed, considered the quantity would be a little too stimulating, and consequently 'th" minute was amended to read “half a -altspoonful.”

A Patea resident had an experience a few days ago which should serve as a warning to parents against ; ii' :wiiig litlle children to play near fowls, says the Press. The resident in question was gardening aml his little 18-month-old son was playing nearby. Suddenly the child was heard to cry out, and, to the father'.- horror, he saw a large White Leghorn rooster eivlen vouringUo attack the youngster’s face. The astonished and irate parent lost no time in rescuing his offspring, with the result that “roast fowl" occupied a prominent position on the dinner menu for the following day.

An important land reclamation scheme is being carried out by tbe Raglan County Council, whereby Lake Rotongaro is being lowered some 18in. by means of a canal, 18 feel wide, at the bottom, which will drain the lake waters into a stream two miles away (says the “New Zealand Herald”). The work is estimated to cost £3,000 and a loan for this amount has been sanctioned by the ratepayers and raised hv the council. Some hundreds of acres of land, which are at present subject tn flood waters, will be brought under development when the work is completed.

“A thing that lias struck me during my visit to New Zealand has been Hie number of nervous cases I have seen among the young people —some of the worst cases I have ever seen,” remarked Dr. J. T. Miller, of Los Angeles, in the course of an address at a Rotary Club. “I think t-linl it is largely due to the i'xa mum I ions leading up to matriculation. You arc emphasising examinations too much. I have seen some very serious nervous cases, and on inquiring into them I have found that in almost every instance they are due to some such strain. The danger throughout- the world to-day is to crowd tlie gifted child and neglect the slow child.”