Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3043, 1 June 1926, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The local primary schools throughout the district re-opened yesterday after the term vacation. A dance was held in the Masonic Hall last evening in connection with the effort to liquidate the debt on the Mouloa Memorial Hall. Borough workmen are clearing the debris from the Town Hall site, preparatory to the commencement of building operations. Mr. E. Healey left Foxton yesterday for Wellington, where he has taken up his duties as manager of the “Varex” company. We are pleased to report that Mr. R. Bryant is making progress towards recovery from the injuries he received in his recent accident.

It is reported that the first whitebait catch of the season was made last week by a local fisherman, two pounds being netted.

Schnapper were reported to be plentiful over the bar on Sunday. One local boat is reported to have brought in 5 ewt of the fish. A local resident when cleaning a wild duck discovered that the bird possessed a double heart. The two organs are joined together down one side and are both of normal size.

The Otago Harbour Board lias derided to apply for empowering legislation for a loan of £350,000. The amount required for a new dredge is to be secured in Britain and the balance locally if possible. The drawing of the “Big Three” art union has been postponed until June 10. Four sacks of letters were received on Saturday, and it is impossible to deal with the last minute rush before the date named. The vital statistics for the month of May are as follows, the figures given in parenthesis being for the same period last year: —Births .13 (17), deaths 1 (2), marriages 1 (nil) ; marriages at registry ollico nil (nil). Maori: —Births 1 (nil): deaths nil (nil).

The funeral of the late Mr. James Staples took place on Sunday afternoon when to show the very high esteem in which he was held, friends gathered from Foxton, Shanon, Levin, and Otaki —a long jn-oeession of cars (says the Chronicle). The floral tokens were many and very beautiful. The Revs. R. J. Liddell and S. 11. D. Peryman conducted the service, Mr. Peryman being a very old friend of the deceased. A short service was held at the house and the deceased’s favourite hymn was sung, “Nearer My God, to Thee.” At the graveside Mr. Peryman spoke very highly of the late Mr. Staples’ character and kindness of heart. He never spoke an unkind word about anyone, but loved mankind and feared his God. An “In Memoriam” service will be held in the Manakau Methodist Church next Sunday. Another accident occurred at Sorenson’s Corner at about 3 p.m. on Saturday. A car driven by Mr. E. Nicholls, of the Native Trust Department, Wellington, who was acompanied by Mr. King, also of Wellington, was proceeding towards Foxton from Palmerston North when it came into collision with a taxi driven by Mr. S. McNabb, of Palmerston North, who was proceeding towards Palmerston from the beach. There wero two ladies and several children in the taxi at the time and as a result of the collision Mrs Snelling and her baby were slightly injured. Mr. King sustained a severe cut under the chin as a result of being thrown against a broken side wing of the car and was brought into Foxton where he received medical attention, afterwards proceeding to Wellington. Both cars received a certain amount of damage. The smash occurred in the centre of the road a short distance round the bend on the Palmerston North side. The Weington car was insured in the State Office.

The Manawatu Herald will not be published on Thursday, June 3rd, (King’s Birthday). During the month of May rain fell on 15 days, a total of 5.09 inches falling. The four-weeks-old son of a resident of Sumner, Christchurch, named Robinson was found dead by his fourteen-year-old brother on Sunday morning. The mother was not to be found in the house, and the father was informed. He went to the beach in search of his wife; the tide was low and he saw her in the water and brought her out. She was conscious when removed to her home. The police were informed and detectives from the city brought the body of the baby and also the woman to Christchurch. It is stated that the woman had been quiet and morose lately and her manner was strange on Saturday night. A few facts concerning the objects and working of the Palmerston North Co-operative Building Society (Starr-Bowkett), which is forming its ninth group of shareholders, should prove of general interest. Since its inception no less than £195,000 has been advanced to the members, the saving in interest on this sum has helped many hundreds to obtain homes and also been the means for compulsory savings by members. Shortly put, the society consists of a number of persons banded together to subscribe to a common fund for mutual benefit. The subscription is Is per share per week, each share entitling the holder to £IOO free of interest. Loans are re-paid at the rate of 3s 4d per week for each £IOO. Ballots are held to decide who shall have the use of the money, then the subscriptions and repayments are added together for the next loan, and so on until all in the group have had their loans. The money is thus used over and over again, and at the wind-up all share

money is returned to the shareholders, together with the profits. It is a sound system of co-opera-tive housing. Members can obtain loans from £IOO to £IOOO in the new group No. 9, which commences business shortly, and the scheme should commend itself to the average wage-earner as the best and

safest method to obtain a home. The society with 27 years' experience that has already formed eight groups, with a capable board of directors, is undoubtedly the soundest and safest to join. Application forms and all information obtainable at the society’s offices. 15 Rangitikei street, next National Bank.