LOCAL AND GENERAL

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 26, 29 March 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Acknowledgment. —ln acknowledging receipt of the M.H.R. medals the Secretary of the Marlborough Education Board stated that he was-Mirected to convey to the Hon. C. H, Mills (the donor) the thanks of the Board for his generous gift, the good effect of which was felt throughout the whole district.

Champion Band Instruments.— Messrs Hawke and Son’s magnificent band instruments at the Christchurch Exhibition have been awarded first prize and gold medal, This is incontrovertible testimony to the excellence of the instruments, and most encouraging to their manufacturers and their New Zealand sole agents, the Dresden Piano Company,

The Seddon Memorial.— The sum of £272 19s 6d has been collected in Wellington towards the Seddon National Memorial Fund. In Auckland £2OOO was subscribed in a very short time for a local memorial to the late Premier. The Wellington Committee are inclined to make unkind remarks about the indifference of the citizens of the Empire City.

General Commission Agency,— On the opposite page appears an advt. from Mr G. W. O’Sullivan, who has recently commenced business in Blenheim as a land, estate, and_ general commission agent, accountant, auditor, and secretary. Mr O'Sullivan’s extensive knowledge of these branches of business, and his connection with so many Blenheim institutions, etc., is a guarantee that all business entrusted to him will be capably attended to.

A Popular Education District. —The Palmerston Standard of Friday last says; —“There is apparently no dearth of aspirants for appointments under the Wanganui Education Board. At last night’s meeting, for the special assistaatship at the Patea District High School, there were 17 applications, eight of whom hold University degrees. the special assistautship at the Eltham District High School there were xo applicants, six of whom hold University degrees. For an assistantship worth £l3O a year there were 14 applications, twelve of whom are certificated. For a head teachership, worth and £3O house allowance, there were 33 applications of certificated teachers, all in this district.”

Payment of Teachers’ Salaries.— The following circular has been issued by Sir E. O. Gibbes (Secretary to the Education Department) to the various Boards of Education throughout the colony:—“In connection with the matter of the payment of exchange on cheques for teachers’ salaries the Department have been asked to endeavour to arrange for the payment of teachers through the Post Office. Before any negotiations of this kind are undertaken it is desirable to ascertain how many of the Boards would agree to such an arrangement, and to ascertain also the terras upon which the salaries are now paid through the banks for the purpose of comparison with the commission which the Post Office would, no doubt, require. I shall be obliged if you will inform me of the position in your district. You will understand that all payments of this kind are made by the Post Office in cash upon the personal application of the payee. The number of Post Offices at which payment could be made is, however, so large that little difficulty need be apprehended on this account.”

No matter how long you have suffered from rheumatism, gout, sciatica or lumbago, Rhecmo will cure you. All chemists and stores stock it. Price 2/6 and 4/6

Reward,— A substantial reward is offered to anyone returning to this office a sum of money lost between Canvastown and Mahakipawa, Post Office Holidays.— To-day the local Post Office will be closed in all branches. On Easter Monday the Office will be open in all branches except Money Order and Savings Bank from 9 a,m, to 10 a.m, Auction Sale,— The Blenheim agent for the Public Trustee (Mr John White) notifies that on Tuesday, 9th April, at 2 p.m., he will sell, at Messrs Price and Son’s store, Havelock, two sections of land in the town of Havelock. Bazaar at Canvastown,— Arrangements for the Canvastown Methodist Bazaar are almost complete, Tho Bazaar will take place on Thursday, nth April. In addition to the usual stalls there will bo a shooting gallery, bowling alley, and an exciting treasure hunt for valuable prizes.

Concert at Okaramio.— On three separate occasions during the last month arrangements were made to hold at Okaramio a harvest festival concert in connection with tho Methodist Church. On each occasion heavy rain extinguished all hopes of a concert being held, but another attempt is to bo made next Wednesday evening,

Masonic Installation, —The members of Lodge Havelock had a big evening on Tuesday last, the occasion being the installation of Bro. H. J. Smith as W.M. The Installing Master was Bro. A. R, Thompson, and the_ other visiting brethren were Bro, T, A. Kirby, Grand Director of Ceremonies ; Bro, H. Mowat, W.M,, Lodge Unanimity; Bro. W, Fitch, W.M., Lodge Waitohi; Bro. John White, P.M., P.S.G.D.; Bro. A. Thompson; and Bro. J. A. Mackenzie, Forest Lodge, Motueka. The new .officers installed were:—W.M., Bro. H. J. Smith ; 1.P.M,, Wor. Bro. J. Brownlee; S.W., Bro. A. H, Hale; Jr.W,, Bro. A. C. Gregor; S.D., Bro A, E. Scott; Treasurer, Wor. Bro, J. Brownlee, I,P.M ; J,D,, Bro. A. J, Ching; Secretary. Brb. V. C. Vcnimore, P.M.; Steward. Bro. A. E. Scott; LG., Bro. A. J. Scott; Tyler. Bro. W. H. Buckman ; Chaplain, Bro. A. W, C. Stace.

Cottage Hospital Committee,— At the monthly meeting, held on Wednesday evening, there were present : Messrs Price (Chairman), Smith, Wells, and Buckman. The only business of importance was the passing of the following resolution :—" That in the opinion of this Committee further accommodation is required at the Hospital, and we recommend that two rooms, at least, be added to the present building." The following accounts were recommended for paymentV, C. Venimore 93 gd, C. Smith 8s Gd, stamps and telegrams 8s id, A. Gregor £6 10s, I. H. Scott 2s, C. Kreig £1 7s, W. Pickering, £1 os Gel, R. W. Price £6 os nd, G. Gwillira £1 2s, Brownlee and Co. £1 Gs 6d. Mrs Price (Matron) £l6 is 3d. Miss Price £1 7s Gd. Mrs H. J. Pickering (Nurse) £ lg 15s, A. J, Brown 18s Gd, Messrs Price and Smith were appointed a Visiting Committee for April. A Judge's Justice {?)—'The Dannevirke Advocate reports : —A wave of indignation passed over the town yesterday when it became known that the man Mayne, who had pleaded guilty at the Supreme Court at Napier to a charge of attempted arson at Dannevirke, had been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment only. It is unnecessary to recapitulate all the details of the crime. The accused was found on the premises he intended to set on fire at 2 o’clock in the morning. He was disguised and was armed with a revolver. He had several housebreakers’ tools in his bag, which also contained dynamite. The preparations for causing a fire were of the most complete character, and the prisoner was working on a very carefully-thought-out plan. It was only the vigilance and determination of the Police that saved Dannevirke on that Monday night from a dreadful conflagration, which might have practically wiped out the business portion of the town, and caused a loss of thousands of pounds of insurance. It is difficult to believe that his Honour Mr Justice Chapman could have been aware of the actual facts against the prisoner, or such a ridiculously lenient sentence would never have been inflicted. At the same sitting of the Court a man who stole a nickel watch of the value of a few shillings was given a sentence of nine months’ imprisonment! After this incident, the old contemptuous reference to "Justices' Justice " should never be heard, The Justices may fairly consider themselves over-shadowed in this respect by the Supreme Court Bench. Fire-raising is a regular curse in New Zealand, Can it be argued that a sentence of six months for attempted arson is calculated to stop or lessen the practice ?

A Dreadful Disease.— An exceedingly interesting reference was made by Dr T. F. Macdonald, in the course of a lecture at the Wellington Town Hall, to a disease that he had proved to his entire satisfaction to bo the cause of criminality in those it attacked. The scientific name of the disease was, he said, ankylostomiasis, its English name the “ earth-eating ” disease. It was caused by small internal leech, like worms, which sucked blood from the intestinal walls. Great weakness followed the ravages of the parasites, for they existed in millions. The disease was peculiar in that the physical, mental, and moral man died together under its attack. Children who wore victims of it became highly susceptible to influences which caused them to become criminal, to lie, to steal, and to develop habits of solitary and sexual vices. These tendencies were powerful enough in the comparatively strong, but their power for evil _ was increased a thousandfold when manifesting themselves in physical wrecks. Dr Macdonald went on to say that the hopeful part of his experience in connection with ankylostomiasis was that when cured of the physical disease the sufferer's mental and moral blemishes slowly but surely disappeared, He had placed whole communities of children in Queensland under treatment and cured them of this disease. He related one instance of a young man who had been guilty of theft. Ho (the Doctor) found that he was suffering from the disease in question, and was able to cure him. Asked what made him steal, the patient had replied that it was not because he wanted the stolen money, but because the act of stealing gave him actual pleasure. Dr Macdonald added that he was apprehensive lest this dread disease might be in existence in New Zealand. He was investigating the matter. THE MILKING MACHINES. We offer a word of warning to prospective purchasers of Milking Machines who are inclined to hold off in anticipation of socalled improved machines being placed on the market. The experience in the past has always been that those anticipations are never realised. There arc dozens of farmers to-day who will toll you that last season they lost, in labour alone, the price of a “ Lawkexce-Kennedy Gillies ” Milking Plant, through waiting for other improved (?) machines. Don’t bo misled by flashily worded advertisements, and, like the i dog in the fable, lose the substance wVe ’ trying to grasp the shadow. The * L Au. ' is the only tried and proven machine, having been in practical use now for over five years, and don’t forget it. For full particulars apply to J, B. MoEwan & Co., Ltd., U.S.S. Co. Bldgs., Wellington,

Shipping.— Tho Manama has been detained by bad weather, but she was to have sailed from Wellington at 6 o’clock last evening. . Church Services. -Rev. A, W. Staoo will conduct service to-day (Good Friday) as underHavelock 11 a.m,, Oanvastown 7 p,m. Easter- Sunday services are—Havelock 11 a.m. (Holy Communion), Mahakipawa 3 p.m, (Holy Communion). Havelock 7 p.m, (Choral Service). Rev. W. B. Scott will conduct Easter services on Sunday as follow:—Rai Valley 11 a.m., Ganvasiown 2.30 p.m„ Havelock 7 p.m. Hockey.— Owing to the very heavy rain on Wednesday evening tho annual mooting of tho Kia Ora Hookey Club had to bo 'postponed, Wo are informed that tho Dillon Oup is now having the finishing touches put to it at a jewellery establishment in Blenheim,—Rain also prevented theTakorikas (Havelock) from having their annual meeting yesterday, and it was postponed until 3 p.m, to-morrow (Saturday), at tho Pavilion.