Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1925. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2839, 29 January 1925, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1925. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The recent heavy rains have freshened up vegetation throughout this district.

Los Angeles has completed the “degradation” of the horse. After next July anyone detected driving a horse in the down-town district will be liable to imprisonment.' The approach to the punt on the Moutoa side of the Manawatu rfver is nearly completed. The piles and wires for working the punt are now being fixed and the ferry should he ready for use in about a. week’s time.

That the sun’s rays may have some connection with infantile paralysis seems very probable, in regard to the Mas ter lon outbreak. Masterton is situated in a valley and the beat of the sun in the locality during the summer months is very concentrated.

Approaching a school, motorists are generally warned by a notice hoard bearing—“ Motorists! Slow Down. School.” A suburb of Sydney also has a notice board which would be appropriate to Fox ton ' and which reads a little different: “Motorists! Go Slow and See Our School; Go Fast and See our Courthouse !”

A Singapore ppper states that “a mild sensation” was created in the District Court when a Cingalese man, wearing a blood-stained pair of shorts, and carrying a knife covered with blood rushed into the Court, and, holding up the knife, stated-to the Court: “With this I have done, for mv mother-in-law,” They apparently treat the murder of mothers-in-law very casually iu Singapore.

Mr C. H. Chapman, at present a member of the Wellington City Council, has been chosen as the Labour candidate for the Wellington Mayoralty in the April elections.

Professor T. H. Easlerfield, in reply to the Levin Chamber of Commerce’s enquiry, wrote stating the results of his researches into' the uses to which flax by-products could be put, had never been published in pamphlet form. He and Mr A. Seifert were considering the matter of publishing a series of articles on the subject—lt was decided to endeavour to obtain the article mentioned and to await the publication of the further articles.

A Royal Commission has been appointed to inquire into the charges against the Government and

Minister of Agriculture regarding the sale of the Poverty Bay meat works to Vestey Bros, and the complaint of the Woolston Tanneries of inequitable treatment by the Government through the embargo on hides. The members are Mr John Alexander, of Auckland ('chairman) Mr Gerald Fitzgerald, of Wellington, and Mr Alex. Macintosh (Wellington). The order of reference is not yet available.

If 100 people were asked to state which country has the most cattle it is fairly safe to conclude that hardly one would be able to give the correct, answer. The New Zealand Official Year Book for 1925 gives a. table of the numbers in the various countries and British India is shown fit the"top of the list, with 116,600,000. United Stales follows with 60,801,880, and the next on the list are. Chili, Brazil, Argentina, Soviet. Russia, Germany, and France. Great. Britain follows closely. New Zealand figures only twentyseeond on the list, with 3,503,497.

Il was during a lull in the racing and discussion turned on the general risks that men take in the course of their pleasures, and one man spoke as to . the courage required in such matters and the development of physique and character such sports as racing and hunting exercise in man. “I don’t believe in dangerous sports,” said a. pale young man with pink socks and pimples. “I’d rather he a live rabbit than a dead lion any day.” “Well you can’t grumble,” replied the man who had been speaking, “You’ve got your wish.”

William; Cane and Valentine Mitchell, roadmen, were burned to dentil in a whare, at Blind River, in the Blenheim district during the week end. fane’s body was found

nini>ii<i-n the ilebris. Mitchell crawled across the road and was badly burnt. Details of the tragedy show that Mitchell undoubtedly met his death in n gallant attempt to rescue fane from the burning whare. fane’s body, horribly charred, was found n along the ashes of I lie whare and Mitchell's 35 yards away in a ditch where lie evidently crawled in search of water to alleviate his burns. Parts of fane’s flesh was still adhering to Mitchell’s lingers, showing (hat he attempted to rescue his friend, but found hi pi already incinerated.

In connection with the sand dune reclamation and afforestation work being conducted by the Forestry Department, between the Manawatu and Rangitikei Rivers, an area of 500 acres has been wire netted and last year the planting out. of 60,000 trees was undertaken. This year the planting out will be extended, and shortly, a dwelling will be erected for the officer in charge. At the present time the department is ex'•rimenting with a Rhodesian grass, which was imported by Mr J. F. McKelvie. It is claimed for this grass that it has the same virtue as marram grass, but in addition it has a. high food value for stock, and does not burn during the dry weather like marram grass.

The visit to America of the Hon. \\\ Downic Stewart was referred to by the Prime Minister at Wellington in the course of a reassuring statement in regard to his own health. Mr Massey said he was very glad his colleague was going and he trusted lie would come back completely restored to health. Mr Stewart was a man whom the country could iilaffo.rd to do without. He was a man of sound judgment, and plenty of tact ; popular, not only with his colleagues, but with the whole of Parliamnt and a most capable and efficient. administrator. He was quite si;re that Mr Stewart would carry the good wishes of the people of New Zealand on his visit to America, which was being undertaken solely in the interests of his health. Tn spite of the many attempts by the struggling farmer, the gum lands of the North Auckland district have proved unsuitable for general agricultural purposes. Cropping is not a paying proposition in those parts. There is one exception, however — tobacco thrives well in these latitudes and splendid types of leaf have be.en produced on soils that not long ago were covered with ti-tree and fern. A small portion of these waste lands, if planted in tobacco, would lie sufficient to transform this poverty-stricken district into regions of affluence and wealth; £SO net is (he average yield of a tobacco crop per acre and often more. Few people realise the immense possibilities of file tobacco industry, but. anyone wanting information on the subject is referred to the ready manufactured article “Riverhead Gold,” mildest of all; “Toasted Navy Cut” (Bulldog), of medium strength; and “Cut Plug No. 10” (Bullhead), full strength. Do not forget that all these brands are “toasted” and, therefore, more wholesome than the average class of goods from overseas, often so harmful on the score of excess nicotine, 27

Mr Howard Carter, on re-opening Tulnnkhamen’s tomb, was grieved in lind that a fall of earth, which covered (he shrine, had completely mined the relic. This is now lost to archaeology as not another example exists.

Among the recent, successful candidates in the Matriculation examination was Donald McMurray, of Foxton, pupil at the Palmerston N. High School. The Christchurch sittings of the Prisons Board were concluded yesterday. Altogether 116 sentences were reviewed, probation and discharge being granted in a number of instances, while other cases were hold over for future consideration.

Mr De Valera, referring to the proposed visit of the King and the Prince of Wales to Ireland, declared the Irish people would welcome foreign rulers with the honour due to their positions, but they declined to receive the English King so long as lie claimed to rule Ireland.

With the excellent prices .ruling for wool this season, it is of interest to note that the flocks of sheep in the Dominion increased during the past two years by 1,335,000 and now exceeds 23,775,000. Of the increase of 694,000 in 1924, nearly 670,000 are in the North Island. Six pupils of the local State school sat for the Junior National Scholarship examination last, year Although none were successful word has been received that five have qualified for junior free places, viz., Marjorie Haul, Vernon Moore, Boy Healey, Manly Walsh, and Malcolm Mason.

The “Herald” staff acknowledge wedding favours from Mr and Mrs .1. W. Prew, whose wedding took l lace, at St. Peter’s Church, Wellington, last, week. We join with their many friends in wishing the young ( ouple happiness and pi asperity. A full report of the voil'.ng will he published ii< Saturday’s bene. At flic Towii Hall last night, dining an interval at (he pictures, a committee wound up and sealed the watches which are to he awarded in the time-guessing competition in connection with the recent hand carnival. The watches will he opened on Saturday night at the Town Hall and the times revealed.

There was very nearly a ease ot' double drowning in the Mnnawatu river at Timber Bay, on Sunday, reports the Dannevirke News. Two young ladies got into n fast undertow and were unable to cope 1 herewith. Fortunately for lliem one of (lie girl’s father, a strong swimmer, was on Ihe bank and happened to note (heir difficulties. There will be a meeting of the China station, the East Indian, and (he Australian admirals at Singapore in five or six weeks’ time. No special significance is atfac-hed in authoritative quarters in London to the meeting, which is simply one of the ordinary staff conferences between naval officers in that part of the world. Little or nothing will l;c available for publication.

The average person wlio inherited n legacy of £(5,000 would consider it n moderate fortune. William Johnston, a tiler, of Auckland, was so favoured in 191(5, but. to-day, lie is bankrupt., and he attributed bis failure to the unsatisfactory investment of his legacy. Though bankrupt, .Johnston estimates that he will be able (o pay 20/- in the £. Sir .James Mackenzie, the famous physician, consulting-physician to the King in Scotland, and a world authority on diseases of the heart, is dead. He was born in 1853, and bad a most distinguished medical career, his works being translated into most of the languages of Europe.

When a sun-burned skin becomes much inflamed and seems likely to blister there is no safer remedy than boracic starch jelly. This is made in the following manner: —To four tablespoonfuls of finely powdered white starch add one of boracic powder. Pour on cold water a little at a time until the whole is made into a smooth, thick paste. Then add half a pint of boiling water, stirring until a clear jelly is formed. When cool, spread some on a piece of linen which is about the size of the burned skin and then, before applying, cover the affected part, with a piece of very tine muslin or gauze. The application has a most soothing effect and reduces the inflammation.

Rudyard Kipling tells the story of the cat that walked by himself, but that particular feline was by no means as enterprising as the rat Hint rode not by himself, but with bis chauffeur at the wheel (says the “Otago Daily Times”). It happened that a Dunedin motorist, had to stop in Draw ford St. because of a puncture, and when he removed his rear scat do procure some tools something stirred. Then with an effect more startling than an electric shock a rat of the size the juvenile element describes as a "whopper” jumped info his hand, and ran up his arm and made tracks for the horizon at a rate that would have evoked the ire of the traffic constable.

It is popularly thought that when week-enders get away to their haunts and cribs they forget all about church but it would appear that such is nofc always the ease. On Sunday, at a resort near Dunedin, where there are about 70 cribs, an open-air church meeting was held, and over 90 people turned out for a short .service, which lost none of its impressiveness through lack of oigan, choir, and the atmosphere associated with a church. The spirit ol devotion by Dunedin seasiders is not shared by visitors to the Foxton seaside, where a chureli building was erected but, owing to lack of attendance at church worship, if was removed.

On Sunday the thermometer registered 84 degrees in the shade, the highest point reached this summer. Early rising, or at least, early waking, will commence in Christchurch from January 31. There will be joyful gyrations among the clouds by exuberant young men, who will crouch behind whirling propellor blades with ears attuned to the music of high-power airplane engines. For the annual refresher course for pilots at the Wigram Airdrome will lie on again, as also will the malady of a crick in the neck among the public, states the “Sun.” Ten experienced service pilots will he the first to commence the course, and at. their disposal there will be 12 machines. Besides the Avros, there will be service machines, comprising two D.H.O.’s, two D.H.4’s and two Bristol fighters. Unfortunately anticipations were not realised that there would be speedy scouting machines available for this year’s course. But with sir service machines, the pilots will have plenty of scope for their efforts.