LOCAL AND GENERAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3734, 24 December 1927, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The “Herald” will not be published on Tuesday next. An Australian Soccer football team is to make a short tour of New Zealand next winter.

Special permission for broadcasting the desiription of the summer meeting lias been granted by the Committee of the Auckland Trotting Club.

Henry G. Carter, a Petone workshops employee, was lined £1 at Petone on Wednesday for delivering some ice cream on a Sunday, the charge being carrying-on his occupation in view of a public place. •William Patrick Kelleher, (29), second clerk in the Auckland office to the Customs Department, lias been sentenced to three years’ reformative detention for stealing amounts totalling £950.

A Jersey cow oil a farm at Taradale, Hawke’s Bay, has given birth to triplets, two males and one female, all three being normal calves. Twins are not altogether unknown among cattle, but triplets are very rare —in fact, farmers in these parts are unable to quote another ease.

At the Invercargill Police Court on Thursday, Arthur Victor Valentine was charged with the murder of Andrew Jose, at Patterson's Inlet. The accused, who appeared in a distressed condition, panting for b'(-;ith, was remanded on the app.ication of the police until 19th January.

After visiting many hospitals in England and on the Continent, Dr. 11. F. Holmden, of Auckland, who returned by the Maunganui from Sydney on Tuesday, is convinced that New Zealand is progressing aIt.no* the right lines in these matters (states the “New Zealand Herald”). Although hospitals abroad might he more lavish because they were more heavily endowed, New Zealand hospitals were up-to-date and the knowledge and ability of the staffs compared with any abroad. The following Christinas message lms been issued by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. MTlveney, through the medium of the Police Gazette to members of the police force: — “j take this opportunity and medium of addressing you collectively to express my appreciation and very high commendation of the courteous and effective service and assistance rendered by you during the pastyear. I deem it a privilege to thank you. I do this with sentiments not only of gratitude but also of pride for the personal association of such officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, and the realization that the people of the Dominion appreciate your watchful, efficient, and tireless protection. Kindly accept from me the season’s greetings and all good wishes for a glad, prosperous, and successful New Year,

The borough workmen, yesterday, removed the chain fence round the triangle which lias been replaced by a concrete curbing.

A few days ago people were complaining of the unseasonable and wintry weather which has now given place to brilliant sunshine and heat. There is every prospect of good weather continuing.

A. new industry has sprung up in Taumarunui. It is the building of row boats and flatties for those enthusiastic young men who take the train to Taumarunui and travel by river down to Pipiriki or Wanganui.

Two habitual criminals, William Henry Grant (33) and Robert James Brydon (39) were sentenced at Auckland to additional terms of two years’ hard labour and six months respectively for gaol-break-ing. In Grant’s ease, Mr. Justice Reed took into account a serious assault on a warder.

A saloon car driven by Mr. T. C. Wilson, of Waimai, ITuntly, and occupied by Mrs. Gwendoline Wilson, aged 35, and fheir four children, all of school age, left the road on Redwood Pass, Blenheim, on Wednesday, and crashed to the bottom of a deep gully, turning over several times and landing upside down. Mrs Wilson is suffering from injuries to her chest and back. The others escaped with minor injuries.

An unusual find was made by Mr. W. F. Fryer in [lie course of a chimneysweeping operation in Nelson. His brush disturbed a small copper coin which fell at his feet. Apparently it is a farthing fairly well preserved and bearing the head of Charles 11. The date 1675 is clearly discernible. How the ancient coin came to be up a chimney is a mystery —unless it may be suggested that it was dropped from the pocket of Father Christmas on one of his annual visits.

All explosion in a stove startled the inmate of a house in Greymouth a few days ago, when it blew the top off the stove and scattered fuel. The cause was indicated by a mark made on the wall, of the kitchen containing the stove. It was the mark of a bullet. On the floor the bullet was found, and the next discovery was the case of a 303 cartridge. The incident is another proof that such explosives are not by any means due to detonators used in the mines. How the bullet came to be in the coal is a mystery.

It is hard to believe a parrot could be so tame and so knowing as to fly alongside its. owner’s ear from his home to quite a long distance away, alighting ever and anon for a rest on the car hood or bonnet (says the Hawera Star). Yet that is the case with a white parrot belonging to a settler at Oeo. The other day, however, when it came to the calf-judging at Auroa, it Hew round and round overhead. When the party was ready to leave it mistook the owner’s car for another, and flew away with the other for a distance of several miles. It seemed quite ‘ reconciled to the change, and had to be sent back by a man who knew the bird.

Even in these enlightened days the belief that ill-luck is associated with No. 13 persists, and one does not have to look far for evidence of this. The berths in the sleepingcar of the “Limited” total eighteen, but, though they arc numbered consecutively, there is no No. 13. It is designated 12a. It not infrequently occurs that when booking clerks in the railway inform a passenger that berth 13 is the only one available, they are met with the reply that “1 couldn't possibly take that one,” and so, in order that this berth, which it is stated is the best in the car, should not go empty on a full train, it is disguised. It is stated that since the change, “12a, alias 13,” is no longer unpopular, (says the Post).

Speaking at a welcome he accorded' the visiting Australian athletes the Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) said that sport was a means of fostering friendship between the peoples of the Empire and of the world at large. It was his firm conviction that men and women of different countries meeting each other on the fields of sport, exchanging views, seeing one another’s varying viewpoints, learning to take victory modestly, and defeat in a manner becoming true sportsmen, laid a firm foundation on which to build the mansion of true citizenship in the wider sense. It gave him all the greater pleasure to voice these sentiments at a welcome to the young representatives of our cousins across the Tasman.

“There are some things we like. Id talk to our people about which are not for the press,” said Sir Apirana Ngala, M.P., to our representative at Motuiti pah yesterday, afternoon. This statement was made after Sir Apirana had delivered a speech in Maori to those assembled in a large marquee. The speech was listened to with rapt attention by the natives, and oceasionallv there were interjections of ■ approval. Sir Apirana was referring at one period to Maori poetry, said one of the themes made allusion to the beautiful Maori maidens of the East Coast (his own district), whom the West Coast male Maoris much desired, when an old Maori

women present, objected to the comparison much to the amusement of the speaker and those assembled. From what we could gather the speech dealt with matters of vital importance to the whole Maori race.

Ha went was deluged by a tropical downpour yesterday. . We wish to acknowledge calendars from Messrs G. P. Walker, and P. Little.

Robert Aitken, aged 66, a baker’s assistant, died suddenly at Dunedin yesterday from heart failure.

A Maori child suffering from typhoid fever, was kidnapped from Hie Tauranga Hospital on Minday night and taken to the native settlement. Lack of supervision at the hospital.

James M. Mooney, an employee of the Forestry Department, sustained broken ribs as the result of a collision between a service car and a private car on the HamiltonRotorua road yesterday.

Edith Alston Hammond, aged 47, who fell off a ferry steamer in Auckland harbour was drowned. Eketahuna has reverted to the Wednesday half-holiday by a majority of four to one. The Mayor and Mayoress, assisted by a committee will entertain local and district children in the Town Hall this afternoon: “Father Christmas'” will be in attendance, and distribute toys and a picture matinee will follow.

Sentence of two years’ reformative treatment was imposed at Gisborne yesterday by the Magistrate on a girl aged 19, who hack a child in the hospital and tried to commit suicide by tying a cord round her neck and subsequently escaped several times in her nightdress. The little son of Mr. Hudson, of Marotiri, met with a painful accident on Thursday evening. He was playing in the garden with his brother'when he accidentally struck him a blow across the eye with a spade. The little sufferer was conveyed to the Palmerston North Hospital, where it is hoped his eyesight will be saved.

While the commercial travellers and warehousemen were making merry in New Plymouth one afternoon last week, there occurred an incident, involving one of their numbers, which might easily have had serious results (says the Herald). A much bewhiskered salesman stopped his patter for a moment to light his cigarette: In a flash his whiskers burst into flames., The wearer quickly dashed the mask off his face and luckily sustained no injury-

Some New Zealand enthusiasts are said to have formed a syndicate to make a joint purchase of rare and grotesque cactus species from New Mexico. The precious plants are to be landed at Auckland some time ins January. It is stated that cactus culture is becoming popular in the North Island, the interest being stimulated by the fine collection inikthe gardens of the Ellerslie racecourse. They are appropriate occupants of rock gardens, jardinieres, and tubs, and are likened to the camels of the desert, storing up water, which enables them to endure long drought's. The Westport Times reports that a farmer, when stumping, found under a stump, a “nest” of half a dozen lish in the soil. The largest of the fish is about four inches in length and the smallest about two and a half inches, and about as thick as a man’s small finger. They have large heads and a long, round body, and broad tail. They do not resemble the eel very much. When found they were quite dark in colour, and apparently dormant, but on being put into water became very lively, freely swimming about, and their colour became much lighter and almost mottled in appearance.

A 9-year-old boy named Neville Scott, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Scott, of Devonport, Auckland, had a most miraculous escape from being killed yesterday, when a six-pound shell, believed to have been extinct, exploded. Pieces of the deadly missile ripped away portion of the varanda of the Scott’s residence and zipped through a corrugated iron fence at the side of the house, while the concussion caused by the explosion shook houses in the vicinity, startling residents and shattering glass. The lad, who had been playing with the projectile, was not struck by ally of the flying pieces of steel, but his hair and eyelashes were badly scorched, and he suffered considerably through powder burying itself deep in the skin of his face.

The late Mr. Jollife, film censor, was fond of his pipe and declared he could, from his own personal experience, explode the theory that smoking was bad for the eyesight. Of course. The enemies of the weed are always inventing stories to its detriment. There’s nothing wrong with tobacco, provided it is the right kind. Brands containing an excess of nicotine are certainly injurious, and most, if not all, the imported tobaccos are open to this objection. The purest varieties are produced here in New Zealand. Containing only a minimum percentage of nicotine these tobaccos may be freely indulged in with safety. Another point is that the leaf is toasted in the process of manufacture. This develops flavour and aroma in a very marked way. Even the doctors have nothing but praise for these tobaccos, which are manufactured in * several strengths'so as to suit all tastes. Ask any tobacconist for “Riverhead Gold” a mild aromatic, “Navy Cut” (Bulldog) a delightful medium, or “Cut Plug No. 10” (Bullsheud), a tine full-flavoured sort.

The contractor for the erection of the bridge over the Manawatu river is making good progress with the work and Thursday saw the last pile driven. It is expected to have the bridge completed in March. For being intoxicated while in charge of a car, William Alex. Garden, a land salesman, aged 37, was fined £25 at Wellington yesterday, and deprived of his license till the end of March.

Owing to the rough surface of the Sanson-Foxton highway, a considerable proportion of through motor traffic is being diverted to the Palmerston - 'Shannon - Levin route.

Maoris from all parts of the North Island are assembled at Motuiti pah. The visitors include Sir Maui Poniare and Sir Apirana Ngata, M.P’s. The arrangements for catering, etc., are being excellently supervised.