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Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9108, 30 March 1908, Page 4

A sharp earthquake was felt in Marten on Saturday at 10 p.m. We are informed that Mr J. A. McOrea, of Stoney Creek, has taken a tarn for the better and the doctors are now hopeful of his recovery. Pearson's Pepto-chlor will certainly remove that frightful pain in the chest. All chemists Is, 2s 6d and 4s.

Notice is given in our columns that the main electoral roll will close for printing on April 15th. Electors are recommended to see that their names are on the roll.

The Premier called at , Gisborne yesterday on his way South, and was met and; welcomed by a number of prominent citizens. SirlJoseph stated that he would probably return in May, and would if possible go over the surveyed Gisborne-Rotorua Railway route. Mrs Carrie Nation has decided to abandon the war on American drinking saloons, because she thinks the fight a hopeless one. She is broken in health, and has spent all her money. Mrs Nation was in the habit of entering saloons and wrecking everything within reach, but this strenuous life lias apparently proved too.much for her. The Paraekaretn Sports’ Committee at the request of several pony owners, have decided to add to their programme a flat race for ponies 14.2 and under. Prizes of a lOlbs cheese and 51bs of butter having been promised for a married womens’ race, this event will also be added. These two races will not be shown in the programme as it was not decided to have them until after programmes had been printed. “Is a minor liable fora debt incurred for board and lodging?’’ Such was the question at issue in a case before Mr Riddell, S.M., at Wellington, when Archibald Rice .snqd William Weaver for £1 10s for board and lodging. For the defence it was contended that the defendant being an infant was not liable —board and lodging not being a necessity when the parents were prepared to give a home. Judgment was reserved. The “superfluous woman’’ has not yet made her appearance in New Zealand, hut recent census reports have shown that the numbers of the sexes are gradually becoir' equal, la 1864 there were only -u to every 100 men, but’ ' uce has been reduced at e\ five census until the latest, proportion of women droppeu i 90.33 to 88. Go, the explanation no doubt being found iu the number of made immigrants who were either unmarried or had not yet brought out their wives.

Mr John Stevens, M.P., patron of tho Rangitikei Rifle Association, was a visitor to tho Bulls range on Saturday while the shooting was in progress. After the 700 s’ards range was concluded, Mr O. O. Pleasants, uf Halcombe, on behalf of the competitors and officials, welcomed Mr Stevens am! called for cheers, which were heartily given. In thanking those present for their reception oi him, Mr Stevens said he was pleased there was so much interest being taken iu rifle shooting, which lie recognised was of great importance to the safety of the Dominion.; A mooting was held in Woodville on Monday evening to consider tho possibility of constructing a track to tho summit of Mount Whariti, in the Ruahiuo Range, and rendering tho peak attractive io tourists. Messrs Need! and Lehudrof were appointed a committee to visit the locality anti ascertain whether a trade can be constructed on a reserve along thy ridge, provided such reserve exists, or, in tho alternative, to ascertain whether any rods «r*» available on tho Pohangiua roads side. A report will be made in a month’s time. "A Dnuodiu citizen told a representative of the Star that ho was much impressed during a rceent visit to the North Island with tho largo amount of business being done in the large and small towns there, and also with the vast tracts of land that aro now- being opened up for settlement. “Dunedin may bo very sound lie added, “but wa aro not doing the business here that they are doing in the North. Something will have to be done if we hope to keep pace with our northern friends. ’ ’

A good many people says the Dunedin Star are under the impression that the only cause for the homely pipi not being as popular here as the clam is in America is that no one lias been enterprising enough to place it on the market. One lady was successful in producing ‘oyster’ sonj) which delighted tho diuors at her hotel, but she had to give up further experiments for the lack of a systematic supply. Pipis exist in almost unlimited quantities around the entrance of this harbour. When dredge 222 was recently opening the now channel near the Kaik. she cut through a practically solid hank of them, removing hundreds of tons daily. Apart from their edible value, these bivalves are said to be worth £') per ton delivered at local chemical works. Mr W. Lawrie, Director of Lincoln Agricultural College, has furnished the Christchurch Press with some valuable information in regard to the provision of food tor stock fnr the next spring. There is urgent need, he says, for going full steam ahead with the work of sowing green crops. Every week’s delay considerably lessens the value of such crops in the spring, now that the soil has a sufficiency of moisture in it, and an extra effort with the teams will be well paid. Two of the essentials towards a successful and profitable catch crop for spring forage are early sowing and liberal manuring. The plant gets going while the soil is warmer, and, encouraged by manure it roots most freely and grows most vigorously throughout, but especially iu the colder weather.

An amusing appeal for an extra horse was received from the curator of the Tapa Hatcheries ,at the last meeting of the Council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. After pointing mat all the pros and cons of the situation, the writer furnished the following description of the animal reanired: “What we want is a thoroughly reliable horse, with plenty of constitution, a low set, active draught one, with plenty of substance; can work easily, and is easily kept in condition. There is not much wear and tear about a washy-coloured one or one with a white face and a lot of white legs. I don’t believe in them, and hate to see them about. A kindly-tempered horse is worth a lot. Some that are all right if they are kept at hard work every day get very nasty if they have a slack time and are making a start on a cold wet morning. This class of horse is scarce, but can occasionally be picked up for about £l3 or £ls after some of the bloom has been taken off them. ’ ’

Charming styles in millinery at the Bon Marche, Peilding. Never before have Messrs Spence & Spence shown such lavish display of winter models. Here every one will find a hat or bonnet to suit her to a. nicety, and at prices that will give satisfaction every time.*

Wellington branch of the Navy League has written to Sir Joseph Ward and the Governor asking them to use their influence to induce Admiral Evans to extend the viist of the American fleet to Wellington.;

Huuterville Sports resulted in a credit, balance of £3l. The concert added another £l6, so the Club altogether amassed £47 odd. After £5 had been voted to Mr Marshall and £lO to the Domain Board, the balance was placed in the Post Office Savings’ Bank.

A Greendale farmer stated at the Conciliation Board at Darfield, that during twenty-one years the greatest profit he had made off his farm in one year was £15,000; the least was about £5, and two years he had been just able to make ends meet, g An Eltham telegramjjstates that Mr D. L. A. Astbury, farmer, who contested the Hawera seat some years ago, announces himself as a Government candidate for Egmont against all comers. Three Opposition and three Government candidates are now out and more may come.

During the past week a young man about 27 years of age has been going about Feilding more or less the worse for drink and begging. He was brought before the Bench to-day and convicted of vagrancy, but was allowed to go free on promising to leave the town.

At Auckland Swimming Carnival on Saturdaj 7 night, the 220 yards Championship resulted : Champion, Auckland, 1; Keruot, Auckland, 2; Dodge, Christchurch, 3. Time, 2 min 48 l-ssce. 100 yards Invitation: Champion, 1; Dodge, 2; Ohera, 3. Time, 65sec, the standard. Mr O. O. Pleasants, one of the competitors at rhe Rangitikei Rifle Association’s Meeting, donated his winnings to the funds. The secretary was not at all backward in suggesting that several others should follow the good example set by Mr Pleasants, and as a result, the Association benefited by a few pounds. On Saturday evening a number of Marton friends assembled to say farewell to Mr J. H. Coleman, who has lately resigned his position as manager of Marton branch of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, and Mr H. Cross cf the Club Hotel, Marton. These gentlemen, who left for Palmerston to-day to take over the Lyceum Skating Rink, were the recipients of mementoes showing the esteem in which they were held.

At Rangiora on Wednesday a child crawled through a fence into a paddock where a horse was running. The animal picked the child up several times with its teeth, and it was only by watching for a chance, when the horse released its hold, that those who observed the incident were able to rescue the child. The latter was not injured. The mutton-birding season in the southern part of the Dominion is about to open, and the natives are finding their way across to the islands in Poveaux Straits in preparation for the killing. The steamer Rakiura was chartered for the purpose of carrying them over, but a few belated natives had to be taken across by the Government steamer Kekeuo."

Tim result of the collection for the hospital, at Invercargill, on Saturday, is said to constitute a record for the colony. The total (incomplete so far) is £IO3O lOs Sd, of which the town collection.?, totalled £405, and the outlying districts £53-1 17s 3d. A very line display of grapes, grown in the open air at the Government Viticulture! Station, Arataki (near Hatsings) is being made by the Department of Agriculture, in the windows of the New Zealand Times’ office, Welliutgou. The display has attracted considerable attention, and indicates that grapes of the finest quality cau be produced in the Dominion. Twenty-five varieties in all are shown.

At a meeting of Pahiatua "branch of the New Zealand Political Reform League, on Saturday, it was unanimously decided to invite Mr Cooper, member of the Colonial Executive of New Zealand Farmers’ Union, to contest the Pahiatua seat, in the Opposition interest, at the forthcoming general election. The selection of Mr Cooper was strengthened by the fact that letters from several districts had been recleved strongly recommending him as a suitable candidate.

A picture of calm, a figure which would probably remain cool even if the earth was suddenly converted into molten lead, was noticeable in a Wellintgon electric car the other morning. A lady was sewing, and her eyes had interest in nothing but the stitches. The strapper strapped, the conductor conducted, the* inspector inspected, but the woman had uo care for any of these details. She was apparently as much at home iu the seething crowded car as in her own boudoir. The book-reader is common enough in the cars, but the sewer is a rarity. As a result of the butter famiue in Britain, the consumption of butter substitutes and margarine advanced in a remarkable manner. One of the largest manufacturers of margarine in the world stated that the imports of margarine rose in one week from 13,000 cwt to 19,000 cwt. If the middle class users of butter were to follow the example of the poor and buy margarine, prices would come down, as a large retailer expressed it, “with a bump.” There is still, however a strong prejudice against margarine.

An interesting wager between two prominent townsmen was decided at Gisborne the other day. One had purchased a new bicycle, and, never having seen his friend astride a pair of pneumatic tyres, bet him the maonine that he could not ride it around Lowe street and along Gladstone road. He was fortified in his judgment by the fact that the cycle in question was fitted with a free wheel, that mysterious appendage that has spelt disaster to many a rider. It seemed, as the Americans put it, like “easy money,’’ but his surprise, was to come, as amidst the laughter of a few onlookers the other party to the wager mounted the cycle with the utmost nonchalance, and despite somewhat erratic steering safely negotiated the journey, and rode off with his newly acquired property.