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Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9414, 7 April 1909, Page 4

*** The Rangitikei Advocate will not be published on Good Friday or Easter Monday Wellington Opera House Company has paid a dividend of 12% per cent, for the year The Dnnedin Star states that Mr F. O’B. Loughoan, of Palmerston North, has been appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate. Messrs Jones & McGregor, Balls, call the attention of the public to the fact that they have now opened np their first consignment of winter drapery, etc. , A machine for spreading tar and shingle on the road has been obtained by the Napier Borough Council., With two men in ofaarge.it will do as *muoh. work in an hour and a-half as it would take six men to accomplish in a day. Keeping down Californian thistles, etc., is now a pretty expensive fonsiness on some lands. A land owner informs the Tapanni Courier that it costs him £5 13s to ont the thistles on a twenty-acre section of bush land. The Otira correspondent of the, Christchurch Press writes that the Otira tunnel has now reached its thirty-fifth chain. Boring is only proceeding at a medium .pace, the rook still being hard. A seventh drill has been introduced, and the drive is being rapidly enlarged to its fall dimensions. William John Qnan, a well-known criminal, who was only nut of gaol on Monday moraine, was before Dunedin Court again yesterday for drunkenness, and was fined, and for the theft of a lady’s companion he was sentenced to three months and on a third charge of stealing a watch was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. In Dunedin Magistrate’s Court in the case of Alfred J. Buss v. Chemical,Stores Co., a claim of £l2O for wrongful dismissal, the Magistrate said that though he was quite satisfied there was ho fraud or misrepresentation inducing a contract of employment, he was also quite satisfied that there was no cause for dismissal and he gave judgment for plaintiff for £54, costs £8 17s. ‘‘Some of onr enthusiastic volunteers do not realise the great range and penetrating power of the s *303 rifle bullet,” said Mr S. Thomas, of Marton, as he showed ns a board with a jagged hole in it. ‘‘That board is from a fence near my back door, and the ballet that made the hole passed close beside me as 1 was planting broccoli in my garden.” We'sonld only snggest that a coat of armour-should be added to the outfit of the amateur gardener.

The Auckland Conciliation Commissioners met yesterday to consider the builders, contractors and general labourers’ dispute. Over three hundred employers were cited, only 75 of this number being members of the Builders’ Association. The employers objected to the wide scope of the citation, and to what they considered excessive wages. It waef agreed to submit to the Arbitration Court three questions:—(l) Whether the procedure of the Union in applying for an award, for work covered by the general labourers’ award is in accord with the spirit of the Aot? (2) Whether it is necessary to state the particular calling of the labourer? (3) Whether the proper time for fixing wages is not when in award in connection with a dispute is being made? The most venerable rose tree in existence is said to bloom against the ancient church of Hildesheim, in Germany. Hildesheim has had a most eventful history. 'Notwithstanding the, many parties which at different, times have been in the ascendancy, they all seem tohave'respeoted and tended the rose tree, which, it is said, was planted by Charlemagne. The trunk is now almost as big as a man’s body. There are five principal limbs trained against the church, the tree being protected by iron railings enclosing an area of about twenty-six square feet. The rude German soldiers in early ages tended the tree, Catholics and Protestants, in tarn masters l of the town, drained the ground, the soldiers of Turenne fastened up .‘.the branches with clamps, and those of Napoleon a centuryand a half later erected the railings.

The exhibition of frnit at Levin Horticultural Show which opened yesterday, was stated by experts to be the best seen this year. At Obristohuroh laac night at a meeting, which was very rowdy, resolutions approving Mr Taylor’s cablegram to Mr Asquith were ad op ted.

April number of The Lone Hand, which has just arrived, completes the second year. It is as readable as usual, and weir worth the price charged. The proprietors have proved the possibility of producing a monthly magazine containing work of interest to the general pnbilo, and of special interest to Oolonials. Parekauri, the only daughter of the late chief Tohu, died in New Plymouth on Saturday. Parekauri had been ill for some considerable time, and had been living in ,'New Plymouth in consequence during the last five or six weeks. The body was taken to Parihaka yesterday, and a big tangi will be held during this week. 1

At on the body of Mr Clarkson, at Napier yesterday, the verdict was that he was accidentally drowned, and that ail reasonable efforts-were made to prevent the death of deceased and to recover the body. The coroner also added a rider condemning the practice of some persons in feigning drowningwbioh had been largely responsible for the present fatality. A case at Lyttelton a few months ago drew attention to the duties and responsibilities of publicans in the matter of providing accommodation, and the point was further emphasised by Mr H. W, Bishop, S.M., yesterday, when Thomas George Pox, licensee of the Southern Gross Hotel, was fined 10s and oosts for failing to furnish H. R. Hewaon with board lodging.

Five members of the British Antarctic expedition—Messrs Wild, Marston, Day and Priestly—are leaving for Wellington to-night to join the Paparoa for Loudon. The only members of the expedition then remaining in Ohristohuroh will be Lieut. Shaokleton, Dr. McKay, Lieut. Adams, and the ship party. The Nimrod, it is stated, will be leaving Lyttelton at the end of the week, and will sail for Sydney, where, it is understood, an effort will be made to dispose or her. It is the opinion of Mr J. R. Corrigan, President of Hawera branch of the Farmers’ Union, that the future prosperity of the Dominion depends upon rural education, and he stated at Saturday’s meeting of the branch that the farmers should help to make the annual school display a thorough success. “ We should encourage out children to take an interest in rural education,” he said. Giving evidence before the Timber Commission at Ohristohuroh, Mr Seager,' architect, said that New Zealand timber ought to be out in the winter, but at present it went on in all seasons indiscriminately, giving further variation in quality. A building with unseasoned timber would last ten or fifteen years, and With seasoned 40 to 100 years. The difficulty was in getting seasoned timber, and the merchants charged 2s 6d per hundred extra lor stacking it. , At a meeting of Auckland Chamber of Commerce a resolution was carried that the Government he irequested to take immediate steps for the reinstatement of the San Francisco mail service to New, Zealand with Auckland as the first port of call. The Chairman mentioned that the mail steamers Sierra, Sonoma, and Ventura were lying ready in San Francisco harbour for immediate use, and nothing remained to be done, as far as New Zealand was concerned, but to give Sprecklea and Co. the necessary subsidy (about £20,000 or £25,000), and they would once more have the splendid service that formerly existed between America and New Zealand.

Discussing the Government’s scheme of prison reform with a reporter, an Auckland gentleman well versed in the subject of prisons and prisoners expressed high approval thereof. The decision to close Wanganui and Hokitika gaols was, he said, a step in the right direction. Small prisons meant expensive staffs. At Wanganui and also at Hokitika, for instance, there was a gaoler, a matron, a surgeon, a principal wafder, and two warders. Again, discipline could not he maintained well ;at small gaols. The Government’s idea of starting reformatory farms |was also strongly favoured. There was plenty of country where such establishments could be placed. At Waerenga, for instance, prisoners might be set to drain swamps and reclaim clay hills, and so turn a large area .to profitable use. On Monday evening a social was held in the Methodist Sunday School to bid farewell to Rev, T. Q. Oarr and‘family. During the evening the following items were rendered:— Violin solo, Mr Olarke; recitation, Mrs Russell; solo, Mrs Thompson; cornet solo, Mr Sharpe ; recitation, Miss Mogridge; solo, Mr Trott. After the music, games were indulged in. Mr Mcssmah, on behalf of the congregation, presented the Rev. and Mrs Oarr with a handsome travelling rug, and expressed regret at their departure from the district. Mr Mathers then referred to the work of the Misses Oarr in their several spheres and presented each with a silver serviette ring. Mr Meyer also spoke on behalf of the O.E. -Society. The Rev. Mr Oarr then replied on behalf of his wife and daughters and thanked all for their kindness. Supper was handed round and a pleasant evening was brought to a close by the singing of an appropriate hymn. At the annual meeting of Marton Football Club last evening, the balance-sheet showed a credit of £6 2s 4d. The receipts, for past year were £49 18s 6d; expenditure £4B 16s 2d. The following officers were elected Patton, Mr B. Newman, M.P. ; president, Dr. Scott; vicepresidents, Messrs E. Lloyd, R. K. Simpson, Sanford Oox, R. J. Walters, D. Hannan, J. MoEldowuey, Dr. Skerman, and Father Molloy. Oaptain, Mr H. N. Brodrick; vioe-oaptam, Mr J. Simpson; secretary and treasurer, Mr R. Caiman. Committee: Messrs Way, O. E. Gibbons, W. Humphrey, Marohant, B. Signal, Lomas, Kilgour, Kelleher. Selection committee: Messrs Lomas, O. B. G'bbons and the oaptain. Delegates to Union, Father Molloy, Messrs Lomas and Kilgour. it was resolved that three teams be entered for Rangitikei Rugby Union competition (seniors, juniors and thirds) and to op"n the season on April 21st. Three new members wore elected. For Influenza take Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. Never fails. 6d and 2s 6d- . 4 t v. fir 'S-( C..S .:,r />■.-M' -/Avv W.t*V.

Argument was continued jesters* day in the Court of Appeal at Wellington in the 'Ohluemnrl Licensing Commission case.

The Royal Geographical Society's special gold medal has been awamed to Lieut. Shaokleon, ami silver replicas to his fourteen companions.

For the year ending December,, 1908, fire insurance companies in New Zealand, excluding the State Office, lost £159,354. The total losses for five years are over a quarter cf a. million.

Christchurch Obamber of Commerce suggests that in order to pay interest on the cost of the Dreadnought presented by New Zealand, European and Continental imports to the Dominion ' should be surcharged to the extent required. The “California Boys,” a San Fran.oisco Social Glob, is shortly to tour through the Dominion, arriving in June. The party numbers forty,, representing one of the most successful organisations of boys in;America. Messrs Hodder & Tolley, Peilding, remind farmers that praotioal testa have demonstrated that the nae of Thomas Basio Phosphate is the most economical way to renew grass land. The Company also draw attention to their double machine dressed and tested seeds.

Mr W. Powell, who suffered from concussion of the brain as a result of a bicycle accident at Palmerston a short time ago, has resigned Msposition as curate to the Rev. Innes Jones, Peilding, as he now suffers from spinal trouble, resulting from the accident, which necessitates his taking complete rest. The weather to-day appears much more settled and there is every hope of a fine Easter. The railway traffic already shows signs of the coming holidays. The Auckland up-Expresa on reaching Marton yesterday was so crowded that two extra carriages iiact to be put on for passengers from the Wanganui branch. At a general meeting of Marton branch of Farmers’ Union held yesterday it was decided, without discussion, that the meeting was of opinion that the time was inopportune to start co-operative freezing works. The meeting was against sending a delegate t(* Woodville. On Good Friday Marton Bowling Club- will be represented by two rinks at Wanganui for the Keesing Clip which will be decided on aggregate poixus. On Easter Monday at Marton the holders of the Dixon Cup—Messrs H. Sutcliffe, A. F. Sharpe, H. H. Hunt and G. Duck — will meet a strong combination from Masterton.

Tracing soma of the smells in Wellington a Post reporter has discovered what he describes as the “library smell,” which he states is common to the public reading-tpoms of most countries. It is a combination of the smell of printer’s ink, paper, old pipes, tobacco, well-worn clothes, hair-oil, and a few other incidentals, inseparable from a large congregation of men. Yesterday about 150 newcomers from Britain stepped ashore from the Ruapehu. They were met by the Immigration Officer (Mr A. S. Danby), who supplied them with information on labour matters, eto. He speaks in high terms of their suitableness for local conditions. Farmers, domestic servants, farm labourers, and dairy farmers are well represented, while the capital of the “assisteds” ranges from £25 to £250. They are in the aggregate very healthy and satisfactory immigrants. What is claimed to be a ®non-oap-sizable lifeboat has been invented and patented by Mr H. Jackson, of Kilbirnie (Wellington). The invention is in the form of a cylinder, perfectly water-tight, and containing another cylinder. Air is supplied to the occupants by means of a number of valves opening when the boat ia above water, and closing automatically if the craft is submerged. The inner cylinder revolves on ball bearings so *as to retain its eqnilibnun whatever the position may be. The inventor has expressed his willingnessto be set adrift with his wife and children at any place in the Straits so as to demonstrate the safety of the lifeboat.

The reports of officers commanding the various military districts, says 001. Robin, chief of the general staff, show that technical schools am having a bad effect on the recruiting of volunteers. “Wherever these* technical classes have been established,’’.be said. “volunteering has fallen off. A large proportion of these technical students are receiving the benefit of free secondary education, and one would imagine that having received so much from the State they would feel that a sacrifice of some sort—one night per week in military training, for example—would be a slight return for such benefits.”

The Prime Minister has received from President Roosevelt the following letter acknowledging several mementoes of the American fleet’s memorable visit to New Zealand, through Admiral Sperry:—“l have received the beautiful illuminated address to the President sent by yon as Prime Minister and by the other officials of the New Zealand Government. I have at the same time received the beantifnl album of New Zealand views and the Maori cloak presented by Lady Ward on behalf of the .members of the Arawa tribe, and I desire to express to yon, and through you to your colleagues, and especially to Lady Ward, my very profound appreciation of the courtesy shown me. And above all I desire to give expression of the appreciation, of the entire American people for the generous courtesy and hospitality with which the people of New Zealand received the American fleet. Pray tell Lady Ward we shall always keep the beantifnl Maori cloak and the album of New Zealand views. May I beg that you will express to your colleagues my thanks for the more than kindly warmth of their greeting to me? Moat certainly if fortune favours me I* shall some day visit New Zealand. I have always felt a particular desire to see New Zealand, not only because of the natural beauty of the islands, bat because, like all men interested in social and industrial problems, I am very desirous of looking into the way in which you in New Zealand have faced the question of their solution.” IMPROVING PASTURE LAND. —Practical Tests have shown that the nse of Thomas Basie Phosphate is the Best and Cheapest way of renewing j£rass land. This Fertiliser is guaranteed high grade and in a very fine state of division. Analysis and qnotation sent on application. To obtain satisfaction nse our Double* Machine Dressed and Tested Seeds., Hodder & Tolley,' Ltd., .Seed ,Mejr~ chants and Seen Oteaueri.Fexidic®.* ,

"Wanganui 'Opera House made a profit of £asff.last year, and Palmerston Opera House ,£IOO, after providing for all charges. At a parade of the Zealand!a BiA© B at-Wellington on Monday night, sixty men were ,in attendance, and praotioallv all of, them signified their intention' of attending the Easter manoeuvres at Oringi. An announcement was made by Captain •Corrigan that members participating in the camp would be by an 'accident insurance policy. A Wellington wire says that Mr A. Bailey; of Palmerston South, who has been appointed magistrate, Will be stationed-in tin North bury district in place of Mi Day, who goes to Timaru in place or Captain Wray, the latter having retired. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, of Alexandra South, who has'also been made magistrate, takes the Naseby district.

When the abolition Of the District Courts ftakes place under the_ Act passed last year, any proceedings pending in a District Court will be continued before the Supreme Court. Provision will be made, if necessary, for extra sittings of the Supreme Court, so as to prevent any inconvenience or delay on the part of litigants who may have brought actions in the District Courts. \

An important Maori gathering will be held at Tokaanu, Waihi, next week. The moving spirit is Mr Te Heuheu Tukino. He has been m Wellington for some time arranging details. The Hon. J. Carroll and A. T. Ngata will be present, and Sir Joseph Ward has also promised to attend *if possible. Chiefly the conference will deal ".with the question of settling an area of, about 800,000 acres ou the shores of Lake Taupo. The natives desire to dispose\of this land by 1 , sale or lease, and so have it thrown open for settlement.

Reserved judgment was delivered by Dr. A M‘Arthur, S.M., yesterday, in favour of defendant in the case of Wm. Lingard and Co, , land, estate, and commission agents v. Emily Weiss, wine-seller, in which plaintiff company claimed the sum of £lO for commission upon the sale of the defendant’s wine-selling business to H. O. L&wson. “This is one of the much-vexed questions of the payment of commission,” said His Worship. “A purchaser paid to the plaintiff a deposit of £lO, but when the purchaser discovered that he bad to pay rates and taxes he was not ready and willing to complete. The rates and taxes were not mentioned in the authority given by the defendant ,to the plaintiffs, and it was not until the intending purchaser was informed by the defendant that he had to pay rates and taxes that he knew of it.” Leave to appeal was given.

It is always pleasing to note that the services of a resident of a town are recognised by associations with which he has been closely identified, Marion Athletic Club and Marton Football Olnb have placed on record the good work done by Mr J. A. Pawson, who has now left Marton and gone into bnsiness in the Masonic Hotel, Palmerston. At the annual meeting of Marton 'Football last evening, Mr A. Way, on behalf of the Athletic Olnb, took the opportunity of saying that Mr Pawson had taken a prominent part in athletic affairs and his services had proved : invaluable to the Society. At the concert on St. Patrick’s night come from Palmerston at considerable inconvenience to himself, in order to fulfil his part in the farce staged.- As secretary of Marton Football Olnb he was most successful and had faithfully discharged his daties. Mainly through his efforts the Olnb was now placed on a firm basis. It was to be regretted that Mr Pawson was unable to be present at the meeting that evening, as it was intended to give him personally a small presentation as a mark of esteeem and goodwill. These sentiments were warmly appreciated by those present Both Olnba contributed towards the presentation of a silver dish, and it was decided that it should be sent to the recipient at Palmerston.

A good many early oata are being put in, but not to the same extent as last yaar, possibly because Don oats are so much in evidence that they maybe looked upon as a drug on the market, says a writer in the Timarn Post. They are still favoured more than any other variety for sheep feed purposes, although Algerians are l coining more into favour than they were for that purpose. Those who tried them last year state that sheep are very fond of them, that they grow rapidly, and that they will stand an immense amount of feeding down. I do not think that .they yield as . well as Dons after feeding down, hot it must be remembered that Duns take an immense amount out of the land they are grown in. They appear to me to be veritable robbers jn this respect. For chaffing purposes Algerians are better than Duns because the straw is softer and more nutritious, ; and is more lengthy., The best oat for feed and straw is the Tartarian, which does well if sown in the autumn. It will not standi much feeding down, but for a crop is a good oafe, Gartons still hold their own, although they are not as successful as they used to be, as far as yielding properties go. Mr Ritchie, solicitor _of the Canterbury ' Acclimatisation Society, told the magistrate on Monday at Kaiapoi, in a case in which a man Was charged with using a landing net, in place of a rod line and fly, for catching trout in the Flaxton main drain, that the evidence would be to the effect that defendant, instead of doing his fly-fishing up stream, was wading down stream, poking fish out of the sides and weeds, and trying to get them into a landing net. A ranger said that he and another ranger he wasjwith, watching the drain, saw defendant with his rdd folded poking the weeds with it, trying to catch the fish in a landing net. He had newly-caught trout, one of which was alive, in his basket. The second ranger said walking down stream was not the way to catch fish with the fly. j Defendant said h* had fished up stream, and caught fourteen, of which he put five back as under size. Coming down the stream, be thought Jt a likely place to get some nice eels, and he was using the net for that purpose. The magistrate said he would give defendant the benefit of the doubt, but the use of the net, even for taking eels, was illegal, _and • if persons did things\ot that kind it most lay tjiem open to suspicion. Defendant: “Can I got my expenses?” The magistrate: No, 'yon.are fortunate in getting off as 'U-y-JJ‘have done.” ; - J

Telephone . Exchange subscribers are reminded that to-morrow (Thnrsr day, April Bfch) is the last day for payment of subscription. - On Saturday afternoon last a whirlwind carried away about thirty leet of the roof of the sheds on Masterton A. & P. Associations grounds. An Industrial School child, named James Stacker, eighteen months old„ boarded out with Mrs Fleming ,at Waikouaiti, fell into a bucket of boilirg water last night and succumbed injuries. Tho revenue of Wellington City Tramways for the 13 months just ended was £1,36,456, and working expenses £91,673. After meeting all charges the net surplus’for the year was £5934, an increase of £365 by comparison with the profits for the previous year. In the case Watson v. New Zealand Rugby Union, a claim f0r.£875 damages in connection with breaches _ of agreement ou the part of the Union in connection with the sale of official programmes of football matches during the tour of £the British team. Mr Justice Cooper [gave judgment tc-day for plaintiff for £B6 and costs. / An Agricultural and Pastoral Association was formed at Pahiatua last night. It was stated at the meeting that, nearly » quarter of a million sheep passed through Pahiatua saleyards last year, and that this was in excess of the number which passed throng!/either Masterton oc Palmerston North yards during the same period. There is indignation throughout Tuapeka and Roxburgh district consequent on Sir J Ward’s intimation to the member for the electorate that as there is no prospect of the line proving payable, work is to be stopped and the men . transferred to other Otago railway works. Mr Scott replied that the interest of the Government demands the completion of the line to Beaumont to secure some return on the money already spent. / Mr and Mrs Joseph Motley, who had resided in Woodville lor 28 years, but are now of Tamnaranni, were last night at Woodville the recipients of several presents. The Mayor presented Mr Motley with an illuminated address from the borough, a handsome silver tea and coffee service from the townspeople, and a silver hot water jug to Mrs Motley from the „ Horticultural Society. Afterwards Mr Motley was entertained by the Freemasons and presented with a Past Master’s jewel and apron. On Thursday a neatly-wrapped little tin box ;was left by the postman at the Dominion Museum. It was such a receptacle as an enthusiastic entomologist might use for the forwarding of a precious spider or a valuable grub. The curator, Mr A. Hamilton, opened the little parcel with some curiosity, and laughed when he- lifted the lid. A small piece of paper was spread out inside, and it displayed this legend: “No spiders in this this time.” The curator remembered then that it was April'Fools’ Day. The way in which news is sometimes manufactured for American readers is well illustrated by a Californian jounral, a copy of which was brought to Wellington on Tuesday by Oaptaiu Stevens, of the Manapouri. In the Oakland Inquirer of 10th March, under a startling heading, a cablegram, purporting to come from London, is published, giving a ciroomstantial account of the death of King Edward while seeking health at Biarritz. The paper was put on board the mail steamer Mariposa ji st as she was leaving San Francisco, but when she was four days out at sea she received a wileless message, contradicting the reported death.

Lieutenant Shaokleto’s first instalment of Antarctic specimens for the Dominion Museum has been receivd by Mr Hamilton, and others are soon to follow. The present gifts are a skin and a skeleton of the Emperor penguin. The curator mentioned yesterday that hones had been found in Oamarn formation indicating a penginn twice the size of the large soutbern “Emperor.” Similar relics had been discovered in fossiliferous rocks at Cape Foulwind, near Westport. Fossil remains of large penguins, apparently not of the same genus as the ancient New Zealand ones, were found by Swedish explorers on the Antarctic mainland.

The Sydney Bulletin thus discourses :—Maoriland, which tried to rush in ahead of everybody else with its offers of contingents in Boer War time, is rushing again. It has leaped wildly with its month open and an offer of a firstclass battleship—or two if wanted. Maoriland is mad these days—raving) mad. It has borrowed till it has lost all sense of the value of money, and has lost most of iis.otlier senses ;as well —till it is mentally decayed and irresponsible. In propotion to population its off-hand tender of two first-class battleships is equivalent to a decision by Britain to pat up 88 new first-class battleships in one act—which is more than there are in the world at present—or a resolution by Germany to build 123 first-class war vessels right off, or by the United States to build 160 of them. These countries don’t do snob huge insanities, because they try to pay their way—consequently, they know Abe value of money. But Maoriland borrows for almost everything—even for “preservation of scenery” at times—and never repays, and never dreams of the smash that must come. Quite possibly this warship business may bring the smash. Ward’s islands raise about £3,000,000 a vear at a pretty steep rate of interest. If they make Britain a present of one firstclass battleship they will want to borrow £4,000,000 that year; if they supply two they will want £6,000,000, That extra demand may easily bring the whole crazy loan down oh Joe Ward’s head and leave him quite unable to give Britain even a mud punt. Maoriland depends almost wholly on London, Melbourne and Sydney for its loans; and if a war scare comes in earnest the chances are that it won’t be able to borrow at all. Ward is really making a lavish offer of his I O U, and it is a terribly frayed I O U these days.