LOCAL AND GENERAL

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 29, 9 April 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Trophy tor BirooTiNo.-Mr Harding, of Blenheim, tho champion rifle shot of Marlborough, has kindly promised a trophy tor competition by members of the Havelock Defence Rifle Club.

Parishioners’ Meeting.— The annual mooting of the parishioners of St. Peter’s Church will bo held at thoHavolook Sohoolroom on Friday evening, commencing at MU. At tho conclusion of tho business of the mooting a social will be hold.

Record Threshing. —ln thrashing machine performances Mr Lane's staff of men put up a good record with a thrashing machine at the farm of Messrs Goodwin Brothers. Wando Vale, near Melbourne, hor six hours’ work they put through, sewed, and stacked 395 bags of oats.

Cricket. The Canvastown cricketers intend journeying to Kenepuru on Saturday next to play the local Club. Following are the team N. Simonsen, L. Simonsen, D Murray. W. Murray, J. Rutland. A. Lloyd! C. Diamanti, 0. Nelson, H. Spear. F. Bell, H. Stratford. Emergencies:-!. Ryan, E. Dalton, and C. Alquist,

Fire.—A house of eight rooms in Main Street, Blenheim, occupied by Mr E. Priddle, was destroyed by fire on Saturday night. Very little was paved. The insurances are £250 on the building in tho North British office, £l5O on the furniture in the Sun office, and £SO on tho piano, also in the Sun office,

Continuation Classes, —The continuation classes conducted by the Headmaster of the Havelock School last year will be resumed on Wednesday evening, at 7 p.m, It is hoped that all who can will embrace the opportunity of advancing their education, and that a real live interest in the classes will be shown by the youths of the town. Mr Irwin is eager and anxious to help all those who desire to improve " the golden hours.”

A Dairy Company’s Agreement.— The case in which the Sounds Dairy Company sought to recover from Mr S. Beauchamp the sum of £8 5s for breach of agreement, was decided_ at the Blenheim Magistrate’s Court on Friday, a verdict ‘being given in iavour of the Company. The action was a friendly one (the details being published in the Guardian last month), and was brought for the purpose of testing the validity of the agreement between the Company and the suppliers.

A Dramatic Illustration.— Mr Dolphin Dolmas, the “silver-tongued Californian” who is leading the defence in the Thaw trial, is the hero in many striking stories, Mr Delmas was defending a husband who had murdered his wife’s betrayer, and concluded his address to the jury in startling fashion. " Now, gentlemen of the Jury,” he said, “ what would you do to the monster who thus wrecked for ever the happiness of your hearthstone ? Shall I tell you? Shall I show you ? Suppose you saw tho foul despoiler of your wife’s chastity this minute walk across there—there, in front of you—this is what you would do, for you aro men! ” Instantly ho whipped a revolver from his hip-pocket and fired six shots into tho steps of the Judge’s bench.

A Ridiculous Regulation. —A peculiar feature of the working of the cropping conditions under the Government’s land policy was brought under the notice of the Minister for Lands during his visit to the Fielding district. The cropping regulations require that half the area of a section shall be put down in permanent pasture. One man went in for an orchard, and was very successful with fifteen acres laid down in fruit trees. He is anxious to extend the orchard by utilising other parts of his land for this purpose, but has received notice that he cannot do this, and that half of his property must be kept in permanent pasture; so, instead of being able to take advantage of the better market that is offering for fruit, he is obliged to use it as grazing land only. The matter is_ engaging the attention of the Minister, with a view to making an amendment in the law to meet such cases,

Kia Ora Hockey Club. —The annual meeting of the Kia Ora Hockey Club took place in the Canvastown Schoolroom on Friday night, and was well attended by ladies from all parts of the district. In the absence of the President (Mr Dillon), Miss Simonsen was voted to the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The balance sheet showed a credit balance of {G ns. The following officers were elected : President, Mr Dillon ■ Vice-Presidents, Misses Young and Dillon : Committee, Miss Macalister (Captain), Miss Simonsen (Deputy-Captain), Miss Hughes (Secretary), Miss Rush, and Miss Alquisl It was proposed and carried that the subscription for the ensuing year be is. The Club also decided to keep the same colours as last year--namely, black, white, and pale blue. The Club resolved to invite all members of the Takorika and Havelock Suburban Clubs to the opening of the season, which is to take place to-morrow (Wednesday, xoth April). With a vote of thanks to the chair the meeting closed.

Beer _as a Fertiliser !—-The North Otago Times is responsible for the following ; —“The record potato of this season was grown by Mr D. Boland, of Papakaio, It is an Up-to-Dale, and weighs 31b noz. When no-license was carried in the Oamarti district Mr Boland made use of the unsold beer in his hotel as a soak for his seed potatoes and seed wheat. The product was the largest crop of potatoes and the finest yield of wheat on the Papakaio Plain. The mixture for the potatoes, we believe, was a shandy-gaff, the beer being mixed with lemonade, sodawater, etc. Whatever may be said about beer as an invigorator of the human body it is evidently a tip-top fertiliser for potatoes and wheat, always assuming that it was the beer and not good cultivation that gave Mr Boland such fine yields. It is not ; however, part of the process that the individual who sows the wheat and plants the _ potato should steep himself in the liquid." We may also add that alcohol is a wonderful preservative—judiciously used it will prolong life indefinitely !

A Sounds Complaint, —We have been asked to suggest to the members of the bounds School Committee the need that exists for the appointment of a Visiting Committee. In connection with nearly all other School Committees a Visiting Committee are found of great assistance in various ways, and there can be no doubt that they would be of especial benefit to the teachers and pupils of the numerous schools m the Sound. Complaint is made that some of the schools are never visited by members of the Committee, and that teachers have a lot of trouble in getting the children to attend regularly, Of course, the difficulties in the way of such a Committee are serious, for a visit to every school would entail at least three days' absence from home, besides me expense of launch hire, etc.; but in the interests of the teachers and children the Education^ Board should see that the Visiting Committee were not at any pecuniary loss, We commend this matter to the Education Board members for the Western Ward. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cura for Coughs and Colds never fails. Is fid.

Dental.—An advertisement by Mr Edward I’owcll, in this issue, will' repay perusal. 1 1

Potato Plight.-A gentleman who returned on Sunday from a visit to Nelson informs us that the blight has come to grips with several large crops of potatoes in the Stoke district, and that it is feared every c r op in the district will be affected. The blight seems to be in an especially severe form this season, Bazaar at Canvastown.—The Methodist Bazaar at Canvastown on Thursday will be one of exceptional merit. Every article placed on the stabs lor sale will be new, ns everything was disposed of at last year’s The side-shows will consist of the old friends and novelties in the shape of a treasure-Jnmt for valuable prizes in a sandpit. Admission is free in the afternoon and sixpence at night, including supper. After-noon-tea will be provided from 3 till 4, and ordinary tea from 5 till 7 p.m.

Quarterly Meeting.—The quarterly meeting of the Methodist Church was held in St. John’s Church on Friday evening, 1 Rev. W. B, Scott occupied the chair There was a good attendance of officials. Finances for the quarter were in a buoyant condition, there being a credit balance of several pounds. It was decided to donate /e towards the assistance of the Mahakipawa Trust, to purchase Mr Scott’s horse for the use of the Circuit, and to lease the parsonage for two years to Mr S. McAllister. Mr Scott thanked the officials for their uniform kindness and consideration to him during the past two years. Indignant Councillors. —At the Waimea County Council’s meeting on Thursday the Engineer reported on the Conciliation Board’s recommendation in the labourers dispute so far as the County Council were concerned (the effect of the recommendation was that the Council’s roadmen should be paid Union wages). Cr Gill, in speaking on the recommendation of the Board, said the Council should not entertain the proposals, and should bring the matter before the Arbitration Court. If the rate of wages provided in the recommendation became law it would involve an additional expenditure of thousands of pounds a year to the farmers of the County. Indignation meetings should, he said, be held throughout the County to object to the recommendation. Cr Macmahon could not see why the Council should be compelled to pay their men the Union rate of wages when they were satisfied with seven shillings per u ’ll < “' r thought the Council should dispute the award, as there had been no trouble with their workmen. There had been no discontent in the County, and it was an ill-advised action on the part of the Union to interfere with the County work. He moved that the agreement drawn up by the Engineer be the basis for objecting to the recommendation of the Board, and that the Engineer represent the Council before the Arbitration Court, Cr Macmahon seconded the motion. Cr Beuke hoped tharia settlement would be arrived at that would be satisfactory to both sides. The motion was then carried unanimously. It was resolved that the branches of the Farmers' Union and Road Boards in the County be asked to endorse die Council’s protest against the lecommendations of the Conciliation Board. ■— Colonhi.

MILKING MACHINE QUESTIONS

What is the secret of the wonderful success achieved by the “LAWRENOE-KENNEDY-6ILLIES ” Milking Machine when every previous machine without exception proved such a complete failure? The answer is that the Gillies patents solved conclusively the groat problem of successful milking by suction. These patents arc embodied only in -the “ L.K.G.” and cannot be used by others without infringement. What chance therefore have other “new "and '‘improved 1 ' machines of even being equally successful ? How long a trial and what risks do you take in testing a now machine to secure evidence equal to the present 5 years’ record of the 11 L.K.G.”? Agents, J. B. McEwan & Co. Ltd.; U.S.S. Co.’s Buildings, Wellington.