Manawatu Herald Tuesday, December 11, 1928. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3882, 11 December 1928, Page 2

Manawatu Herald Tuesday, December 11, 1928. LOCAL AND GENERAL

An earthqhake shock, ■which lasted close on a minute was experienced locally just before 4 o’clock on Sunday afternoon. At last night’s Borough Council meeting the poundkeeper reported that during the month four head of stock was impounded and driving fees to the amount of 3/- collected.

Mr. A. Steer, who for some time was in business at the local seaside, has opened up a restaurant in Palmerston North. Mr. and Mrs. Steer and family mil be leaving.the beach within a few days for Palmerston.

Very heavy rain fell throughout this district on Sunday , and yesterday. Yesterday afternoon’s downpour was accompanied by a thunderstorm, and the rain fell in sheets and the water channels in Main Street were converted into rivulets.

Despite a period of depression during the winter months’ present indications point to a busy Christmas trade locally. Practically all the flaxmills are again operating and dairy farmers are experiencing a good season. At the conclusion of business at last night’s Borough Council meeting the Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perreau) extended seasonal greetings to the Councillors, which were reciprocated by Cr. J. Ross on behalf of the Councillors.

Dog registration fees for the ensuing year were fixed as follows at last night’s Borough Council meeting:—All bona fide sheep and cattle dogs, 2/6; all other dogs, 10s. Fees to be paid by the 31st January, 1929.

There were present at last night’s Borough Council meeting the Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perreau) and Crs. R. J. Thompson, R. Rangiheuea, F. Lucinsky, C. Rand, M. 11. Walker, S. E. Cowley, John Ross and the Town Clerk (Mr. Win. Trueman).

Mr. B. Mohekey, of Thynne St., Foxton, a flaxcutter employed by Messrs Whitaunui Ltd., suffered an injury to his left hand through his flax hook slipping while at work in the swamp on Monday. The injury necessitated the insertion of six stitches.

A euchre tournament was conducted by the local Labour Social Club in the Town Hall supper room last evening. The prize winners were as follows: —Gents, Mrs. Tuna (playing at gents’ table) Ist, J, Purcell 2nd, Mr. Fursdon 3rd. Ladies, Mrs. Richardson Ist, Mrs. Gay 2nd, Mrs. Chaffey 3. The Rev. Samuel Robertson Orr, formerly a Wellington clergyman, was mulcted in exemplary costs by the Judge at Vancouver, who granted a divorce to Gordon Fleck, a wealthy Vancouver citizen, naming Orr as co-respondent. The clergyman was also fined £2O and costq for assault upon Fleck’s lawyer, who gave Orr a grilling examination.

On Saturday evening members of the Kiwi Club foregathered to make a presentation 1 to one of their number who is to be married this week. The presentation was made by Mr. S. Austin and the gift consisted of a handsome canteen of cutlery. The recipient thanked members for their gift and expressions of goodwill, his health was drunk and the function concluded with the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Captain Buckley flew over the east portion of the borough shortly after five o’clock last evening en route to Palmerston North where he landed at 5.30. The flying time from Blenheim to Palmerston N. occupied one hour fifty minutes. The object of Captain Buckley’s visit is to marry Miss Pat Schmidt, Manawatu candidate in the 1926 “Miss New Zealand” beauty contest, to-mOrrow. After the ceremony the bride and bridegroom will leave by ’plane for Christchurch. A Maori woman, Mrs. Piriki, who lives at Takahiwai, a Native! settlement near Marsden Point, on the shores of the Whangarei Harbour, claims to be 108 years of age, says a Whangarei correspondent of the Auckland “Star.” She is remarkably hale and hearty, and travels ten miles and sometimes twenty miles a day on foot. She can relate many incidents of Maori life in the pre-European days, and is capable of a most graphic description of. the period of early settlement by the Europeans. Her firm belief is that she has many years yet before her, and she expects to outlast many of her friends who were born at least two generations later. “It is very nice to receive a letter of this nature,” said the Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perreau) at last night’s Borough Council meeting when a letter had been read from, the Foxton Chamber of Commerce, expressing appreciation of the excellent manner in which the Council was keeping the road at the north entrance to the town. “The letter can be appreciated all the more when it is remembered that the Chamber of Commerce complained to the Council about the state of the road some time ago,” said Cr. J. Ross, “and when it is taken into consideration that the. member of the Chamber who condemned the Council over the state of the road, was the first to suggest that the Council be thanked for its work when the road was put in order.” The letter was received.

A warning against the placing of poisonous substances in bottles bearing indication of food or drink is issued by the Health Department. It has been found that a number of firms are doing this, the chief offenders being bottlers of methylated spirits. It is the department’s intention to take action in all cases in future. The defeat of the .Reform Government on December 7, after a regime of nearly 16£ years, is noteworthy, says the Auckland Herald. It was on December 7, 1911, that the first ballots were held in connection with the general election which led to the defeat of the Liberal administration after an unbroken reign of over 21 years. The second ballots, which went largely in favour of Mr. Massey, were held on December 14th. A business man went into a Stratford shop a few days ago to pay an account of £1 9s, and tendered a pound note and a halfsovereign. The assistant informed him that the money was short, her belief being that the coin was a sixpence. The money was taken to the desk and 11s change was produced, the cashier believing the coin to be a sovereign. It was stated that neither of the young persons in the shop had ever seen any gold coins previously. Miss Olga Yorke of the local District High School has been awarded a Higher Leaving Certificate. To date this is the highest certificate won by a pupil of the school and Ave tender our congratulations to Miss Yorke avlio has had a school record to be proud of. In 1924, she, as dux girl of the school won the Bock Memorial prize. In 1925 she attended Palmerston North Girls’ High School, but in 1926, Avhen the local District High. School was opened Miss Yorke enrolled as a foundation pu‘pil. Last year she passed her Matriculation Examination and was dux girl of the Secondary Department while this year she completed the major portion of her Teacher’s “D” Certificate and has uoav been aAvarded the Higher Leaving Certificate as a reward for splendid Avork in past Matriculation study. Miss Yorke has established a record which Ave hope to see emulated by other pupils of our High School. The possibilities of groAving lucerne on pumice lailds Avas the subject of an address given by Mr. C. G. Alcorn, of Putaruru, to members of the Rotorua Rotary (Club. Mr. Alcorn said at Putaruru they were making progress along those lines. It Avas a subject not only of local importance, but of national importance. He maintained that the returns in a few years from such country from a dairy farmer’s point of. view Avould be equal to anything in NeAV Zealand. As there Avas a vast area of such land around Rotorua, it Avas the duty of the local people to advocate its development. The grass growth had been Avonderfully enhanced by the new system of top-dressing which Avas applied in the winter. iSeventy acres had been soavii in lucerne at Putaruru. The subsoil suited the plant, Avhich showed remarkable growth. The returns from the Putaruru areas had been phenomenal. There had been four cuttings, producing nino tons, equal to £SO to the acre.