LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 23, 4 July 1911, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We understand that Mr F. C Danieli, architect, has accepted the tender of Messrs Wheeler and Irvine to erect a new residence in concrete for Dr. A. Henderson, the work to be put in hand at once.

A rival to the potato. We have just been shown some exceptionally line kumeras grown by Mr W. F. Stewart. One tipped the beam at 2lbs 140 Z and the other at 2lbs 130 Z. Not much need to import produce when we can grow such as these.

In our advertising columns today Colonel Alien Bell, who contested the Waikato seat against Mr H. J. Greenslade at the last election, notifies that he will again be a candidate for Parliamentary honours.

We understand that the district health officer has inspected the kitchens and store rooms of all restaurants/hotels, and boarding houses within the Te Awamutu Town District, and has been able to furnish a very satisfactory report.

Mr Graham, auctioneer, of Te Kuiti, has an advertisement in.today's issue notifying that he is prepared to conduct clearing sales of all kinds in this district. Mr Graham has during the last few months conducted several sales in this town. Many years' experience enables him to realise for clients to the very best advantage. He is also prepared to receive consignments of produce.

The Huntly Press states that a start has been made with the £5,000 loan road and street improvement scheme for the Huntly Town District. At the last Town Board meeting the loan question was finally dealt with by the signing of debentures, which were forwarded to the Treasury, from whom advice was received that the necessary sum had been passed. ■ ■

The Taihape paper states that a party of Canterbury farmers who have been inspecting the bush lands round about Kaitieke (off the Main Trunk Mne, between Taumarunui and Raurimu) are determined to lose no time in getting to work in the locality. They are already negotiating for a large block, and expect to have a considerable area of bush felled this season.

A story of a judge's decision in the Western States of America is vouched.for. by the' correspondent of an English paper who is generally accepted as in the main adhering to the truth. A youth of 21 embezzled five thousand dollars and,sent it "flying high." He confessed in court. The judge might have put him in prison for a period covering the flower of his manhood. But the court pronounced this sentence : "You shall stay at home at nights ; you shall remain within the limits of this country; and you shall go immediately to work, and keep at it until you have paid back every dollar you stole. Violate these terms and you go to prison." It sounds like a busy time for the probation officer.

An echo of the Taumaranui love tragedy was heard at Taumaranui Magistrate's Court. The members of the deceased girl's tribe from Otorohanga came down recently to demand " utu" from the Wanganui tribe. Several valuable greenstones and other heirlooms were, handed over in satisfaction and also two horses. The latter were left tied to a fence for four clays without food or water. The police prosecuted the Otorohanga natives for cruelty, and they were fined £5 and costs. They declared that they had not taken over the beasts. The local tribe on being asked why they did not feed and water the animals, : said they dared not touch them as they were tapu.

The special service at St. John's Anglican Church on Sunday morning was very largely attended in spite of the inclement weather. The two large glass windows which had been erected to the memory of the late Mr and Mrs T. Cottrell were unveiled by Messrs G. M. A. Ahier and J. B. Teasdale. The Rev. F. W. Clarke conducted the service. He spoke in fitting terms of the good work done by both Mr and Mrs Cottrell, whose willing assistance had always helped every project for the welfare of the district. The windowswere very much admired by all present.and will materially assist in the beautifying of this historic church. The church is one of the connecting links with the early clays of Te A warn utu, and we are pleased to notice that a special effort is being made to renovate and beautify the building which is of such historic value to Te Awamutu. To further this object a special collection was taken up at the service on Sunday morning, and a fair amount subscribed. The anthem rendered by the choir, was much appreciated, and contributed in no small degree to make the service an impressive one.

A Spanish galleon still wonderfully well preserved, 'has been unearthed by the workmen employed in excavating the Panama Canal. The discovery was made near Nombre-de-Dios. on the Caribbean Sea, about 40 miles from Panama. Amongst tne relics recovered were two old brass cannons, a brass figurehead,, and some pewter utensils. A galleon of similar build was found near the same spot about a year ago, but it was not in so good a state of preservation as the one just brought to light.

A remarkable escape from what might easily have been a serious accident occurred in the Wairarapa district the other day. A lady was driving a somewhat restive horse when a light scarf which she was wearing was carried by the brisk breeze and became entangled in the blinkers. The animal at once took fright, and after some plunging turned sharply round, and threw the lady and a young child that was with 1 ' her heavily to the ground The horse, trap, and occupants narrowly escaped failing over into a gravel pit.

Mr Thompson, Mayer of Taumarunui, received a telegram this week from the Advances Department stating that the Taumarunui loan was now all in order, and that the money was available. The Mayor thinks the first work that will be put in hand will be the water and drainage. The Council are now in correspondence with the Engineer, and it is expected that these two contracts will be ready to start in about two- months time. This will ensure a long summer for the work.

Mr W. Johnston, of Hangatiki, discovered a new cave on his property at Waitomo a few days ago. In the interior he found a human skeleton, the head of which was much larger than that of the ordinary human being. Other human bones were also found. A peculiarity of the cranium is that the back part of the lower jaw had never grown any teeth, and the teeth which were in the front apparently grew inward. It is the intention of. Mr Johnston-to forward the skull to Mr Cheeseman, curator of Auckland Museum, for examination.

The penny-wise and poundfoolish policy pursued by the Minister for Railways is thus alluded to in connection with the Wellington Exhibition: The Executive of the Coronation Industrial Exhibition of the Wellington Industrial Association are feeling most keenly the disinclination of the Railway Department to meet it in the matter of excursion fares. MrT. BalHnger, president, lias expressed himself most strongly .on the -subject. It is ; readily granted that country residents have fully availed themselves of the opportunely to see assembled of the largest displays of New Zealand manufactures ever got together; the receipts have exceeded the expectations of all concerned ; but it is felt that unless the Railway Department co-operates in the venture there will not be that large attendance of the public from the country that the Executive wishes to see, in order that the lessons the Exhibition is to teach may sink in deeply and have good results for the manufacturing industry of the Dominion as a whole.

The Huttand Petone Chronicle is evidently not an ardent admirer or blind follower of our Prime Minister. "Braid and baubles" are' apparently not to its liking. "A baronetcy for a battleship" exclaims that Journal. "We —that is to say, the people of • New Zeakmd —bought the battleship and Sir Joseph Ward has got the baronetcy. The only difference about the position is that the people of New Zealand were not consulted before' the battleship was bought, whereas Sir Joseph Ward was probably asked if he would like to become ' a lesser or inferior baron' as the title implies. If our prime minister had given two battleships and had been made a baron we should have been obliged to address him as'my lord.' "If he had given three battleships and had bcen made an carl, we don't suppose any ordinary person would have been able to get near him to* call him anything. Still, there is no telling what the future may bring forth. The Earl of Awarua would be quite euphonious, and Lord Bluff appropriate. The democracy of New Zealand may or may not feel thrilled in its veins to have at 'he head of affairs a gentleman by letters patent Bart, P.C., and LL.D. On the other hand they may get it into their heads that a man less set on braid and baubles woidd be a fitter chief citizen of a democracy."