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Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9343, 12 January 1909, Page 4

The election expenses of Mr James Craigie, the successful candidate-for Timarn seat, were £7O at the first and £43 at the second ballot.

Those interested in athletics are reminded that the annual meeting of Marton Athletic Club takes place tomorrow evening in the Borough Council rooms at£B p.xn. A Tiriraukawa correspondent declares that the district had a better mail service ten years ago before it had road or railway. He complains strongly of the irregularity in delivery, Possibly this reference may cause the authorities to effect improvement.

Gisborne Land Board !has decided to approach Government on the necessity of acquiring further areas for closer settlement in Gisborne district on account of the earth hunger which recent land ballots show to exist.

The air in Marton this morning was full of small spiders. If, as sometimes supposed, “spiders bring luck, the fortunes of most the inhabitants of the town are on the up grade. Mr J. Kendrick, Marton, has opened'an up-to-date fisfi shop and dining-room ;in the new brick premises recently erected in Broadway. The dining-room is suitably furnished, having small tables, and there are also two private rooms for ladies.

Dr. W. Moore, medical 'superintendent of the Napier Hospital, in a report submitted to the Trustees yesterday, spoke strongly or the insufficiency of the accommodation at the institution. The Trustees set up a committee to consider and report on the best manner of providing increased accommodation and staff.

At a meeting of New Plymouth shareholders in the Bonithon Petroleum Company last night it was decided to fall in with the Wellington and Wanganui shareholders in a reconstruction ol the Company with a capital of £25,000, none of which will be offered to the public. Operations will be resumed almost immediately. Sir Joseph Ward, who, with Lady Ward, has been visiting Elderslie as guests of Mr and Mrs John Reid, leaves to-morrow for Timarn where he will take part in the Jubilee celebrations on Thursday morning and Thursday afternoon. Sir Joseph and Party leave Timarn for' Fairlie en route for Mount Cook Hermitage, but future movements are not yet definitely arranged. When asked if he was likely- to be a candidate for the Thames seat, Mr McNab replied that he knew nothing about the matter, except, what be had read in the newspapers. It had not been suggested to him by the Thames people that be should stand. In anwer to a further quetion, Mr McNab stated that he would stand for an early vacancy if he received the opportunity. John O’Keefe, of Otaraia, Martinborough, sheepfarmer, was arrested by Detective Broberg at the above place on Saturday on a charge of sealing three sheep, property of Arthur Martin, a neighbouring runholder. He was brought before a local J.P., and has been admitted to bail, himself in £IOO and two sureties for substantial amounts.

On Thursday evening at West Eyreton, Canterbury, a thunderbolt fell within two chains of the railway station, close to the train. Before reaching the ground )t burst with a loud report, and spread a shower of coloured sparks, some of which set fire to a gorse fence, although it was raining heavily at the time. The spectacle was most impressive. The shock of the bursting shook the buildings all round. The fireman on the engine was stunned, and the passengers greatly alarmed. No damage was done to the train.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Farmers’ Union was held on Saturday. Mr J. Balsillie presided. The circular from the president, Mr J, G. Wilson, was read, and the views expressed endorsed by the meeting. The national testimonial to Messrs Jones and Evans in connection with the work they did for all farmers in contesting a farm labourers’ award, is to be closed on January 31st. The secretary reported that £33 had been collected from several local branches and this amounf will be forwarded. It was resolved to apply for the services of the provincial organiser, Mr Fowler, during this month, -and a committee was apppointed to assist him in the outlying districts. The Minister of Railways (Hon. J. A. Millar), says the Times, is commencing his big task in a commonsense way lixely to strongly appeal to the department’s customers and employees. After a preliminary experience of the work at headquarters, Mr Millar intends making a complete tour of the railway, svstem, so as to get into touch with all the department’s officers, and to make himeslf acquainted at firstfhand with the desires of the public. “An interview with the people concerned, Chambers of Commerce, and other representative bodies, provides more information about a question in half an hour than in a month’s correspondence, ’ ’ commented the Minister. “I {intend going through all the workshops, meeting all the officers, and I want to get into touch with all grades of the railway service.” The Minister’s tour commences at the end of Jariuary.

Among the many quaint articles received by the Postal Department in Wellington during the holiday was a white pat rabbit. Somebody in Invercargill, says the Mataura Ensign, acting thoughtlessly on an impulse meant to be kind, put the unfortunate animal in a tin box, enclosed a carrot, a parsnip, and some grass, bored a [few small holes in the little. prison, addressed it to a boy in Wellington, and let the Government do the rest. The tin went into a hamper, which was bundled in and out of trains. It went down the hold ot a steamer, and was whirled about in various ways during an adventurous journey of two days before it reached the authorities in Wellington They opened the tin, and found that the poor rabbit was almost < breathing its last. It had forgotten to trouble the parsnip or the carrot. The prisoner was gently removed, placed in the sunlight for a while, and it gradually revived. It was in frisky condition to the small boy, who was eagerly awaiting the treasure. The Department won, but idoes not advise people to follow the |senseless example of the Invercargill !person- The incident may ha road 'with gloom by the man on the lamh ; for it proves that the rabbit does not jlightly part with life.

The contractors for erection of tne new Courthouse at Feilding have began to remove the old building, which is to be placed at the back of the section.

Yesterday Mrs Bourne, wife of the engineer of Kiwitea County Oonuoil, severed the main arteries of her wrist and arm with a razor. It is not known yet whether she will recover.

The farmers held a meeting at Cunningham’s yesterday and resolved to call a meeting of suppliers to consider the question of formii% a cooperative bacon factory independent of Cheltenham Dairy Company. During the school holidays, the Temuka Road Board has already spent £307 19a for heads and birds. The overseer mentioned at Tuesday’s meeting of the Board that on Saturday last one boy had brought in 230 dozen.

‘•The Westport News understands that Mr Hickey, of Blackball fame, his intention of returning to Canada. A movement is on foot to suitably recognise bis services to Labour in New Zealand, more especially his organisation, in a short space of time, of almost all the miners in the Dominion.

At the meeting re Harbour Board held !. at Foxton' yesterday it was pointed out that the wharf was built by the Public Works Department in 1886 at a cost Hof £IO,OOO, and since then very little had Jbeen expended on it, and that the Railway Department had since reaped revenue from it “to the amount of £30,000 odd. One member stated’that up to 1894; the Government had no right to use the wharfages, which should have been placed in a trust account to be used for harbour improvements. Retiring allowances, aggregating; £2260 9s Bd, were passed by the Government Railway Superannuation Fund Board yesterday to 25 railway men retiring on superannuation. The meeting was attended by all the members of the Board, and the Minister of Railways, Hon. J. A. Millar, presided. The payment of £ISOO byg the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to the fund, in accordance with the arrangement under the amending Act of 1908 to seoare the counting of broken service for superannuation arising out of the maritime strike, was reported,, and increased retiring allowances were accordingly passed to seven men interested, whou are already on supei annnation. Mr Ross, of Wanganui, who was to have judged carriage and harness horses at Feilding A. & F. Show, has notified the Association that, tbrough sickness, he will be unable to undertake the duties. Mr H. E. Hocken, Menzie’s Bridge, Oolyton, has'accepted the position, and with such a competent judge, exhibitors should have every confidence that the awards will be satisafctory to all. Entries for all classes of stock, dairy produce, vegetables, homo industries, etc., close with the secretary at 9 p.m. on Friday npxt, 15th Inst.

A meeting of delegates representing local bodies interested in Foxton Harbour Board, called by Mr E. Newman, M.P., was held at Foxton yesterday. Present: , Messrs Newman, M.P., J. G. Wilson, f chairman Manawatu County Council; J. A. Nash, Mayor of Palmerston North; Gardiner, Mayor of Levin ; Henuessy and Moore, Foxton Chamber of Commerce. Mr Newman consentecf to communicate with the Colonial Secretary in reference to the first election to take place next month. It \vas decided to ascertain the amount of revenue derived from the wharf since 1886. It was also decided that the Chamber of Commerce arrange for members for, Manawatu, Palmerston, Oroua, Rangitikei and Otaki to meet the/ Harbour Board, when constituted in order to discuss the future policy of the Board.

Some time ago (the North Otago Times remarks) a piano-playing contest against time took place in Dunedin, bat a piper at the Timaru games put np a record for piping that will astonish those who, like Jubal, “under their oxter squeeze the blether o’ a sheep.” A dispute with another piper at the games induced one. of the disputants to enter a carriage next that of his opponent, and he blew from Timaru to Dunedin. He was going strong when passing through Oamaru. ; in fact, he was going fairly strong all the road, so strong, indeed, that some of those in the carriage thought of getting off at Seaoliff to request Dr. Trhby King to extend his beneficences to them. It is said—but we are not inclined to credit the story —that the carriage was sent along to the Hillend infirmary to have the bolts screwed up and the windows and woodwork overhauled.

In connection with a telegram .published last week, referring to a woman who had been delivered of a baby on the steamer Mararoa the other day, the following facts given by the Nelson Mail ar§ of interest Mr Blomfield, secretary of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, states that the woman had never been in receipt of relief from the Board. The facts of case were that some [ time ago the officer in charge of the Salvation Army at Nelson interested himself on behalf of the woman, who was taken to the officials of the Board, and expressed a wish to go to the Maternity Home at Wellington. This could not he done, as the woman had a baby fourteen months old, and there was no provision made for looking after the 'child during the confinement. The Salvation Army officer asked if the Board could pay the woman’s passage to Lyttelton, as she had a sister in Christchurch who would look after her baby while she was in the Maternity Home there. A steerage ticket from Nelson to Lyttelton was issued to her on 31st December, and she oould have had it before that date if she wanted to get to Christchurch before Christmas. No reason nas been given as to why the journey was broken at Wellington. . REWARD OF ORIGINALITY. Substantial fortunes are the reward of handy inventions. Simple improvements to articles of every day use provide a substantial increase in the inventor’s income. See' the specifications and drawings are faultless. Read “Advice to Inventors. ” Post tree. .HENRY HUGHES, Patent Agent, Queen’s Chambers, WELLINGTON.

“A bird is known by its tune and so is a man by his reputation.” Mr O. B. Gibbons, Marton, claims to have the reputation of manufacturing the * best cordials and aerated waters on the Ooast. Orders solicited for the Qhristmaa season, and punctually attended to.*

Cabinet has decided to increase to £3600 the grant for rebuilding the Wanganui District High School, which was partially destroyed by fire, subject to the new building being of brick, and , providing increased accommodation. ‘

The inauguration of the fast mail service between Wellington and Auckland via the Main Trunk line has been postponed from February Ist to February 15th. The Public Works - Engineer and General Manager of Railways after inspecting the line find that the housing dation for the staff is not likely to be finished by February Ist, and a lot of loose rocks and boulders have to come down in some? of the cuttings. ii

The potato- blight has again” appeared at Taradale. The Napier Telegraph, referring to the unwelcome visitation, says that a. method of saving tubers three-parts ' grown (after flowering) when attacked by blight, is to pluck up at once all the haulms or top. By this means the virus of the disease is prevented from passing down the stems into the tubers, which ripen in safety. One grower in the district has saved crops three times in succession by adopting the method* described. ■ At the last elections in West Australia, Mr" Julian Sturt, late member for Leonora, was unable to contest the seat because his nomination, which had been lodged at a telegraph office, was not forwarded to the re- f turning officer, in time. He applied? to the Treasurer for three years’ Parliamentary salary as compensation,. and has received a reply that all the post and telegraph officers concerned in the blunder been reduced in status, and that the compensation question would be considered by the Cabinet.