The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1929. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 4007, 8 October 1929, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1929. LOCAL AND GENERAL

■There were seven marriages, 2!) births, and 14 deaths registered hr Nelson during September, Influenza is still prevalent in South Canterbury, especially in country districts.

The shearing’ -classes of the Christchurch Technical College were commenced at the Addington Show Grounds this week,

Attempts to stock the Wanganui river with Atlantic salmon have not been attended with success, says an official report.,.

The total number of the railways staff employed on March 31, 192!), was 19,086, compared with 18,584 the previous year. The Christchurch City Council is employing 203 extra hands. Of the total, 104 are on unemployment relief woirk.

The Railways Department employs 80 crossing keepers at 37 crossings, at an annual cost of £13,122, of which £llO7 is recover - ed from local bodies. j

Fatal injuries were sustained by John Fryer, aged 54, a married farm labourer, of Paerata, as the result of falling from a train 'between Pukekohe and Paerata early on Saturday evening. The man was found alongside the railway line with a leg and arm severed. He was brought to the Auckland Hospital, where he died. A nest of no less than 32 turkey eggs was happened upon by weekend visitors from W'aihi to Tanner’s Point, Kntikati, on Sunday, the eggs being contained in a deep cir-

cular space. The finders aire non speculating as to the number ol turkey chicks that will conic on when hatching date arrives Thames Star. •

A splendid opportunity to assist a worthy cause-will he available for local residents fo-iliorrow ; at the Salvation Army Hall when a ‘‘Rainbow'Fair” will be officially opened by His Worship the Mayor at 2.30 p.m. A large variety of goods to suit 'all clas.ses will be on sale. In the evening the united church choirs, under the baton of Mr. Betty, y-il] render a short- musical programme. A)! interested are reminded that all entries for the baking and sweets competitions must be at the hall not later than II a.m.

An application for a license to establish a rabbit farm, a.t which Angofrn and Chinchilla rabbits would breed, was made by a. Waipukurau company to the Hawke’s IBay Board of Rabbit Trustees at its monthly meeting. The board, however, in view of the decision of the. recent Rabbit Boards’ conference (that further permits for the importation of additional rabbits be not given) felt disinclined jQ recommend the granting of the application, but filially decided to inform the Department of Agriculture that it bad no objection to having the license already in existence in the district: transferred to the company.

That eels arc cannibals was proved conclusively on Monday (says the Southland Times), when a big eel weighing 281 b., which was caught at Winton during the weekend was opened up by the .Hamilton brothers, in whose shop it had reposed during the day. When the operation was performed there.was a large crowd outside Ihe window. The principal contents of the stomach were two eej§, one weighing p!b., the other lib., which th,e big fellow had obviously dined fin. There were many surprised ejaculations as these contents were disclosed, hut the eel was not as fresh as it might have been, and spectators did not tarry unduly.

A correspondent, writing to the Dominion in connection with the talkie pictures, says:—“lt is to be deplored that in our own beautiful New Zealand our education authorities permit persons to teach in our schools who can no more speak pure English than an American talkie star can. Once more, the onus js .thrust upon the mothers of our New Zealand homes to read pure English, think pure English, and above all. speak pore English, and insist upon their children doing the same. Only in this way can the .children resist the influences of the local school bouse and even the accents of tin? American slang, which if imitated in our /\wn pure English, I find most infectious and humorous,”

On March 31 last there were 667 engines in service on the New Zealand railways.

The railway mileage open for tia.ffije on March 31, 1929, was 3,3f)9 miles. During the year 106 miles additional lines were opened for traffic.

Safety razor blades manufactured from Taranaki ironsand were received by the Patea Harbour Board at, its meeting this week, -says

the Taranaki Herald. The Samples were sent by .an overseas Ann which advised that it was desirous of developing Taranaki jronsands.

“Ex-Patient’4 writes from Has : tings to the .‘‘Standard” as follows : —“I have been a: patient of the Palmerston North public hospital and for kindness,, courtesy and -general, treatment this institution is superior to any other hospital in which I have been a patient, either in New Zealand or abroad.”

As a result of going too-close tc the bars of the puma’s cage, a hen ostrich at the Auckland Zoo met with a sudden and violent death recently. According to a report by the curator, Mr. L, Griffin, to the Auckland City Council, .the puma struck and killed (be bird before any of the keepers could drive it off* ‘

Replying to a question asked by Mr. R. A. Wright (Reform, Wellington Suburbs) in the House of Representatives on Friday, the Minister of Education (the Hon. 11. Atmore) stated that, it was too early vet to judge of the results of the working of the new syllabus. The reports of the inspectors on the matter would not be received until the end of the year. The following are the suggested dates of primary school terms and holidays for -1930. First term. — Monday, (February 3, to' (Friday, May 4 (14 weeks). Second term: Monday, May 26, to Friday, August 22 (13 weetks). Third term: Tuesday, September 9, to Friday, December 19 (14 weeks and .4 days). The holidays would be two weeks, two weeks and a day and six weeks respectively. Monday, February 2, was suggested as the commencing date for 1931.

One of the most curious of ancient Maori relics is the canoe paddle made from whalebone. Only two. specimens, owned privately, have been, known to exist, but another, attractively ornamented, .with carving- at the butt, shaft and base of the blade, was brought to Auckland this week by a native of the north (says an exchange). It is made from a line solid piece of sperm jawbone, sAft. in length, and is. in a good state of preservation, apparently having been a treasured tribal heirloom. It is believed that whalebone paddles were merely used by chieftain orators on important ceremonial occasions.

Imprisoned by n fallen tree, Mr. John Sykes, aged 47, had a painful experience last week (says a Whangarei correspondent). A tree which be was cutting on his property in Kamo road fell towards him and pinned his left leg to the ground. Efforts to release himself with the add of his axe ended when the handle broke, Finally, in bis struggles, lie was able to pull off his boot and draw bis leg out from under the tree. The injured man crawled a quarter of a. mile to within hailing distent of tlm road, where lids shouts attracted the attention of a passer-by, In a very exhausted condition Mr. Sykes was taken to the Whangarei District Hospital, where an X-ray examination showed that no break bad occurred in the leg, which, however, was badly crushed.

A farmer residing close to Hastings, who plants a small area in potatoes each year for home use, states that this year lie -obtained the phenomenally heavy crop of four tons of good table potatoes from an eighth of an acre. He explains that this heavy yield of approximately 30 t-ons per acre was the result' of the method Jte employed in preparing his seed. He went to the trouble, when planting the seed, of’picking out all the eyes except three, which he left at one end. The result, he contends, is, a much stronger plant, and more and much larger potatoes to the root. The seed was ordinary size, and I lie cultivation that which is usually given to the crop. This is a very simple experiment that any potato grower may try, and ascertain for himself rf better results can, lie obtained than by following his usual practice. ,

Does snip-king shorten life? To-bacco-haters say- “yes,” But. the deaths of centenarian smokery, mo frequently chronicled P) the papers, tell another story. Bo does the fact that many doctors are heavy smokers. The harmfulness or otherwise of smoking depends entirely on the tobacco. Some brands are deadly if ypu smoke them regularly. Full of nicotine. Most imported tobaccos are like that. Our New Zealand brands, on the other hand, are almost free from nicotine. You can smoke them alt day, and every day, with impunity. They are the product of the National Tobacco Co., Ltd., (pioneers of the N.Z. tobacco industry), and are the only toasted tobaccos, • which process absorbs most of the nicotine, and thus purified, sweeter, cooler or more fragrant tobaccos money cannot buy. They never “bite,” and burn to the last, particle. There are various brands. Special favourites: “Cut Plug No. 10” (rich, dark and full-flavoured), “Cavendish” (sporting mixture), “Navy Cut No. 3” (a very choice blend, medium), and “Riverhead Gold” (a mellow aromatic). All toasted and, therefore, safe. — Advt 43.

Lawrence Jordan, aged 13 years, was knockod down *T»y a. ear at New Plymouth on Saturday afternoon and died soon after 'being admitted to hospital. The accident occurred in the dense traffic returning' from Bell Block aerodrome, where four aeroplanes had been giving; a demonstration... A fractured skull was the- cause of death. The driver of the ear whs Douglas Lobb.

A mild form of gastric influenza is somewhat prevalent in Auckland at present, states the “New Zealand Herald.” .The symptoms are biliousness and headaches, accom-l-anied by a fairly heavy cold. This form of illness is generally common at the change of the seasons, end the variable weather conditions are a contributing cause. The illness is not regarded as serious and hardly requires more than home treatment.

“I will never miss a chance of seeing the Maoris play Rugby, 1 ” declared a spectator 'at Athletic Park,. Wellington, last Wednesday afternoon. “They are the most spectacular players in the world. They do not care whether they win or 'use; they simply'plny the game for (he game’s sake, and it is a delight lo watch the dazzling manner in which they toss the ball about. If all teams were to make the game ft open as do the Maoris, grounds would be all too small to accommodate the crowds who would flock to see the fun.”

Stepping down from the bridge of the Arahura, after clearing the part of Nelson, recently, Captain Arthur Wildmnn, now commodore of the Anchor Co’s, fleet, had an interesting chat with our representative. He made enquiries of a number of Foxton residents and of men.who had been engaged in times past on the local water front, when.he was engaged, on steamers that called here some years ago. Like his father, whom he succeeded, Captain Wildman knows Cook Strait in all weathers and the vagaries of our coastal ports. He was pleased to hear that the local

port was coining into its- own again and desired our representative to convey his kind to all old Foxton friends.

A tax of 1/- per acre was decided upon at the Hirst meeting of the Poverty Bay Fire-blight Committee. The committee, which,-com-prises Messrs F. T. Ivirk, \\. M. Hall, P. Bell, J. Brody, and it; C. Hardy, derives- its authority from the Firehliglit Act, which enacts that in each orchard district a com-, mit-tee (representative of tlhe commercial growers shall vx an -amount per acre that each fruit- grower shall contribute to the district fund for the purpose of fighting any incursion of firehliglit. There is no trace of the blight in Poverty Bay as vet, but the tax will accumulate from year to year until a call upon it becomes necessary, when the burden of protective operations will he less (heavily felt by the growers in consequence of the early provision. In Hawke's Bay, where firehliglit is in evidence already, the annual levy per acre on the commercial growers is much .heavier than in Poverty Bay.

Messrs J. E. Tollison and If. Nixon bo Hi had a narrow escape from serious injury when motoring up to Foxton from Wellington on Saturday night. Roth Mr. Tolli • son and Mr. Nixon are at present engaged on a jo'b in the city and return home over the week end. On Saturday night they had just left Otaki in Mr. Tollison’s ear and when topping the hill just outside the town Mr. Tollison was blinde'd by the powerful lights of a stationary motor lorry; . II is alleged that the lorry was pulled un on the wrong side of the road and in an endeavour to skirt it Mi*. Tollison’s car struck the , vehicle, severely damaging the left front wheel and mudguard. Mr. Nixon was thrown clean out of the ear by the impact pnd as lie was catapulted from the front seat his hoot strpfk M r - Tollison on the nose and eye. Apart from this injury Mr. Tollison escaped unhurt while Mr. Nixon although badly shaken wns uninjnr-

Xuinher 13, usually believed to be unlucky, was given prominence in remarks at the unveiling of (lie foundation stones of Mr, T. J. Edmonds’s gifts of the clock tower and band rotunda to the City of Christchurch. It was at the clock lower in Oxford Terrace (says the Christchurch Times) that Mr. Edmonds announced that he was the thirteenth member of a family. Only his brother, Mr. E. G. Edmonds, and lie were survivors, added the donor of the tower, as he introduced his' brother to the gathering. “Mr. Edmonds is a ‘thirteenth’ man,” stated Dr. Thacker, in moving a vote of thanks. “To-day lie has doubled the 13 to 20, the latter being to-day’s date in September, and the date .upon which Mr. and Mrs. Edmonds came to Canterbury 511 years ago.” Another 13 was menl-ione;} a;t the unveiling of the -foundation stone of the band rotunda! Mr, .1, A. Elesher stated that be had been born oi| the thirteenth of a month. “Em. one of a family of 13 also,” declared Cr. F. R. Cooke, the next speaker, “hut unfortunately I was the first, land had the nursing of the whole lot. You can well imagine that that robbed me of a lot of my childhood’s play hours, but it fitted me to nurse a family in my later days.” At afternoon tea in the Caledonian Hall the Mayor (the Rev. J. K. Archer), in proposing the - toast of Mr. and Mrs. Edmonds, said that he had just discovered that both Mr. and Mrs. Edmonds had their birthdays on the thirteenth day of a- month.

A London man 'in the oil trade suggests that a universal name should he provided for petrol. In England and Australia it is called petrol or motor spirit. In France it is essence, petrol being used to designate kerosene; in ; Italy benzine; and in United States gasoline. A Nelson business man has' given" an instance of how the increased-; primage duties are going -to he passed on. He said that certain wholesale firms had (been giving 3iJ per cent, discount on accounts paid hv the 10th of the month. Circulars are now being issued cancelling this concession and offering 21 per cent, if paid by the 20th of the month. Two local residents had an exciting time while out pig hunting at the hack of Manahau on Sunday. They put up -an old hoar and in the excitement that followed -one dog was killed and two badly injured before the animal was finally despatched; The hunters claitn that the pig was "the'biggest, that they have seen for some time. The length of the session is proving a source of strain on the Prime Minister and his colleagues. The wealr -and tear has told on-Sir Joseph W ard and lie lias been indisposed and confined to bed since Thursday last. It is not known when he will -resume his place in the House. There is a feeling in the lobbies

says the Dominion, that after this week the 10.30 p.m. adjournment will go by the hoard for the remainder of the session.