Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1928 LOCAL AND GENERAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3886, 20 December 1928, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1928 LOCAL AND GENERAL

At Rongotea school yesterday afternoon the prizes were distributed by Mir. J. K. Hornblow (Board member). We have to acknowledge receipt of a very fine calenders from Mr. E. R. Booth, motor and general engineer and Shaw, Savill and Albion Co., Ltd. (per Messrs Levin and Co.) For the convenience of late shoppers the' C. M. Ross Coy’s, business premises will be open until 9 p.m. on Saturday, 22nd inst.* 'The Wjhite Star’s new 27,000-ton motor-ship being built at Belfast will be christened the Britannic. The first Britannic, built in 1874, has an historic interest. She was the pride of the Atlantic, which she crossed in seven and a-half days. The Britannic was sunk during the war.

Alfred Henry Chunn and Joseph Morrisey pleaded guilty at Greymouth on Tuesday, to charges of keeping a common gambling house. Chunn was fined £3O, and Morrisey £2O. Chunn was convicted of a similar offence three years ago, and was then fined £25. Detective March said that to-day Chunn was in a big way of business. A bonus, of 5/- per head is being paid by the stock inspector at Hokitika for kea heads (states a local eoiTespondent). Lately he has been paying out a considerable sum on this account since good tallies have been sent in, indicating that those familiar with the haunts of this destructive bird have been making good cheques. In connection with the report of the annual meeting of the Mannwatu (Foxton) Racecourse Trustees which appeared in our last issue, we may point out that the trustees, are five in number, namely Messrs John Kebbell (chairman), F. Robinson, Wj. E. Barber, Alf. Fraser and J. R. Whyte. The trustees have no secretai’y and their (meetings are held annually.

The New Zealand Boy Scouts will go under canvas at- Stratford on January 4 for their annual jamboree, which will last eight days (states our Wanganui correspondent). Among those who will tako part will be 14 Indian Scouts from Fiji with a Scoutmaster. The party will arrive at Auckland by the Aorangi from Vancouver on December 31, and after attending the jamboree will return by the same vessel a fortnight later. At the annual prize-giving of the Palmerstoln North Girls’ High School the following Foxton pupils annexed /prizes:— Marjorie McMurray (Form V), merit in algebra, and geography; honours in geometry. \ Madge McColl (Form V), merit 1 in English. Marjorie Hunt (Form V)' merit in book-keep-ing. Madge McColl also obtained merit in drill for Form V., and annexed the tennis championship cup and medal for the school.

A wonderful record was put up by the Mauriceville district in the Great War, when every eligible man volunteered for service, and only two were rejected as medically unfit, one being a cripple. The local school is particularly fortunate in its staff and the parents, who assist in every way to make the children loyal and patriotic citizens of the Empire. Many of the pupils are descendants of" the first settlers, who came from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in 1872. Slotted wings, which have been described as the greatest advance yet made ‘in aviation, were thoroughly tested for the first time in the Dominion by iGaptain M. Buckley, of the! New Zealand Permanent Air Force, on an Avro-Avian aeroplane. Last week Captain Buckley, who was recently married in Palmerston North, brought Mrs. Buckley back to Christchurch in Captain Iv. Hall’s new Avro-Avian. He tested the slotted wings, and he considers that they are wonderful, and that they will make aviation very safe for learners. He was able to make a descent at below forty miles per hour in perfect safety. The Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Railways and Mayor of Dunedin, states that lie has definitely decided to continue his home in Dunedin. The matter of establishing Ministerial offices in Dunedin and Auckland is receiving attention. 'The object was to enable' Ministers to spend more time in their own home centres. It would also enable them to keep in close touch with the business community, and to have a responsible officer in charge of the district in the Minister’s absence. Mr. Taverner intends to make a comprehensive tour of the North Island railways about the middle of next month, and afterwards tour the 'South Island.

The spirit of Viscountess Grey, according to the family, appeared at Wjilsford Manor, Salisbury, which was bequeathed together with £1)0,000 to her son, the Hon. J. Tennant, who is a 8.8. C. announcer and still keeping his job. On the Viscountess’s death last month Miss Baddeley declares that she awoke 'at midnight with an uncanny feeling that someone was in the room. She heard footsteps most distinctly, but it was so dark she could not see. She was certain someone was walking and then kneeling in the room, which was one the Viscountess frequently used. Lights revealed nothing. She had not been at Wilsford since. Lady Grey°had during, her life claimed to have spirit communications with Jhe departed.

That the holiday season is near at hand is indicated by the number of motor cars passing through Foxton laden with luggage and camping outfits.

A very happy time was spent by the Moutoa school children and parents in the Moutoa Hall last night on the occasion of the school breaking-up ceremony. The children were presented with gifts from the Christmas tree and items Avere rendered and supper dispensed. 'The body of A. H. Gascoigne, a solicitor, of Cambridge, was recovered from the Wjaikato River on Monday afternoon near Huntly. At an inquest a verdict of suicide while in a state of mental depression was returned.

Olaf Christian Karlson, 53 years 'of age, Ayho was sentenced at Auckland on Monday to twelve months’ imprisonment for breaking and entering, was found dead in his cell on Tuesday morning, Avith a severed artery.

A commercial traveller, Mr. H. H. Doughty, of 'Christchurch, Avhile proceeding in a motor-car near Dilhnans, on Tuesday, left the ear to pick some flowers near the roadside, Avhen lie fell down an old shaft, eighty feet deep. Help Avas obtained by his companion (his mother-in-laAv), and Mr. Doughty Avas hauled to the surface by ropes. He received considerable injuries to his face, head, and back, though no hones Avere broken. He was taken to Westland Hospital, and is noAv conscious.

“NeAv Zealand has Avonderful hotels and travelling facilities far superior to most other countries I have visited,” said Mr. C. E. Lowe, examiner in music and elocution for the Trinity College, at Auckland (states the “New Zealand Herald”). During the past 13 years Mr. LoAve has been six times in South Africa and Rhodesia, four times in Australia, tAvice in India, and in Burma, Malay, Ceylon, Egypt, and Canada. He has just concluded six months’ tour of New Zealand, and expressed himself as delighted with the scenery, tra\’elling and climate, and in fact everything. “Most of the harm from pipes is due to their foulness.” Thus wrote Sir Robert Armstrong Jones, a distinguished authority, recently in the British Medical Journal. Sir Robert might have added that the main cause of pipes becoming foul is the use of tobacco heavily charged Avith nicotine. Such tobaccos may (and often do) cause nerve trouble, eyesight trouble, heart trouble, and chronic indigestion. Happily here in NeAv Zealand ailments occasioned by excess of nicotine i|n (tobaccos are becoming rarer. This is owing to the groAVing popularity of our New Zealand tobaccos which thanks to their comparative freedom from nicotine may be indulged in freely without any fear of consequences. That’s Avhy doctors 'recommend them. Another point in their favour is that the leaf is toasted (something neAv!). Hence their delightful fragrance, and delicious fla\ T our. You can get them of any strength. There are several varieties. Leading lines are: “Riverhead Gold” mild and aromatic, “Navy Cut” (Bulldog), a choice medium, and “Cut Plug No. 10” (Bullshead), a fine full flavoured sort Any tobacconist Avill supply

you. Within a few days it is probable that all service stations and garages in and around Christchurch will increase the price of petrol by Id a gallon (says the “Lyttelton Times”), thus bringing to an end the price Avar that has 'been waged for the past six months. An agreement has been circulated among all retailers of petrol during the past Aveek stipulating that the price for first grade petrol shall be 1/11 a gallon, and second grade 1/9 a gallon. Almost Avithout exception this was signed by those in the business The agreement, lioAvever, did not lay doAvn a date on which the increased prices Avould come into force, and most of the retailers are folloAving a policy of Avatching Avhat the others are doing, each being prepared to raise his prices as soon as”*f!ie others do. The initiative was taken by one or two service stations last Aveek, and motorists Avere surprised Avheu they were called on to pay more for their supplies. Noav that some are charging the higher prices, it is expected that all Avill do so Avithin a few days. Our Maori friends who haA r e more recently lived near nature than avc pakehas shoAv a great knowledge of the habits of our native birds, and knoAV Avell lioav to Avin their affections. Thus it would astonish many a shootist Avho is prone to wait carefully screened in order to even get within shooting range of a duck, to see the wild ducks come sailing doAvn to the call ;of /the Maori on Kapiti Island, then pitch unconcernedly at his feet and be fed out of his hand. Let a stranger, however, be present and the bird will likely pass at a goodly distance. In the mating season a duck will at times bring along her husband who takes a lot of convincing that the ground is good and safe. Then again at Mangamuka in the Hokianga district, our native birds have a true friend and protector in Mr. Nopera Otene, an influential chief in that district. This enthusiast goes in for the thing on a more extensive scale, and preserves the birds by the establishment of sanctuaries. It is to be hoped other Maoris will be induced to folloAV the example of Mr. Nopera Otene, and thus .help to undo the evil Avhich the pakeha has done our Avonderful 'and unique bird life. — N.Z. Society for Preservation of Bird life.