LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13525, 6 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Register ! Register ! Every person entitled to vote at the coming election should lose no time in making sure that his or her name is on the roll. Further, as part of Wanganui is now in the Patea electorate, and as changes of residence have also affected many people’s voting rights, they should also make sure that their names are on the right rolls. They should apply at once to the Registrar of Electors, whose office is in Bon Accord Chambers (next D. McFarlane and Co.), Ridgway Street. A plant that causes laughter growa in Arabia, and produces fiowers of a bright yellow, with seeds that resemble email black beans. The natives dry and puverise them, and the »>owder. taken in small doses, makes the soberest person behave like a circus clown or a madman, for ho will dance, eiug. and laugh most boisterously, and cut the most fantastic capers and be in an uproariously ridiculous condition for about an hour. When the excitement ceases the exhausted exhibitor of these antics falls asleep, awl when he awakes lie has not the slightest remembrance of his frisky doings.

Wireless advised at 9 a.m.; The Ma"!nuka,: Moana, and Moeraki should be within wireless range to-night. .were held in October 60 per cent, of those who passed were pupils of Mr A. Doig, * the local chemist. The heavy downpour of rain on Saturday and Sunday was succeeded by a sharp frost this morning, which nipped potatoes, beans, and other delicate vegetables and plants. Electors of the Gonville-Castlccliff Tramway Board’s district are again reminded that their, roll closes on the 27th inst., and that they should satisfy themselves that their names are on the same. A start has been made with the sewage drainage works at Wanganui East; Manuku and tributary streets will be the first area taken. Excavation works started on Friday, and . the first instalment of pipes arrived from Auckland to-day. Amongst recent improvements at Wanganui East is a formed footpath along the River Bank Road from Mr Mackay’s residence to the Railway Bridge. This should .-■prove a great convenience to the largo number of Wanganui East people who patronise the existing tram system. It is stated, says the Manawatu Standard, that the dairying season along the Mam Trunk Line this year has been very bad,'owing to the lack of rain. The grass is parched up, and cows, in some cases, Kaye been dying. So backward has everything been that a number of companies have only just commenced operations. The weather on- Sunday was boisterous in the extreme. Cold, violent showers succeeded one another in rapid succession, while the wind blew with hurricane force from 1 the south. The weather calmed down towards evening, but was more chilly than one usually expects in November. However, the skies were brighter to-day, though there was still more than a touch of rawness in the air. A great quantity of the butter output that has been bought by buyers from England is being sent Home without salt, and it is alleged there is a strong probability that much of it will not be placed on the ■ market under the companies’ own brands. but will be used by “fakers” to make up , brands of their own. Part of it, of course, is going to be used for the Continental trade. - For some time past beef has been selling at Burnside, in Dunedin, at 38s per toolbß, or about 4fd per lb. At last sale, owing to the heavy yardings, prices of stock receded quite 10s per head. A prominent butcher gave it as his opinion that with plenty of grass to feed from now more cattle would soon he placed on the market, and there would undoubtedly he a reduction in the retail price of meat before Christmas. November s—the day of “gunpowder, treason, and plot”—was celebrated by the rising generation in the time-honoured way on Saturday. Numerous effigies of the notorious Fawkes were paraded before an admiring public, with equally numerous requests for “a penny for the guy.” The weather had a dampening effect on the bonfires, but did not prevent the usual pyrotechnical displays witli • crackers, rockets, etc. Keen interest is already being taken in the forthcoming fixture of the Wanganui A. and P. Association, which takes place next week, by both town and country residents. The entries received are very satisfactory, and are drawn from all parts of the North Island. The Railway Department has generously granted an extension of. the . excursion fares area, and provided the weather is good Wanganui’s beautiful racecourse should be well patronised on show days. Wanganui East should he a centre of activity for the next twelve mnoths. The Council will lost no time in getting the I water and drainage works completed; ' several reading contracts will shortly he out; the new bridge which is being started at the Wanganui East end is now under way: and the Engineer has been instructed to take the necessary levels, etc., for the tramway line, which will he completed and ready for use as soon as the bridge is completed. In Connecticut some of the old laws framed by Puritans have been enforced with recent years. Not Tong ago a prominent manufacturer was summoned for kissing his wife in a tramcar. The complainant was an elderly spinster who was travelling in the car at the time the offence was committed, and deposed that the affectionate husband not only kissed his wife, but kept his arms round her waist during the whole of the jouney. She pleaded that as this conduct occurred on a Sunday it was punishable under a 17th century statute. The Judge concurred, and indicted a fine of ■ five dollars and costa. Owing to the weather yesterday being too boisterous for hand playing, the concert to be given by the City Band on the River Bank will take place on Wedncs- 1 day evening at 8.30 o'clock. Next Sunday evening the band will render a sacred programme m the rotunda. Several programmes are in preparation, and as the hand is practising three nights a week patrons to any concerts given will he quick to note what perseverance and hard work can do in making these jmrformances pleasing and entertaining. The hand committee have under consideration a comprehensive scheme of caroling to he given by the hand on Christmas Day: a I fine selection of carols is about to arrive, Y and are sure to be highly appreciated wherever they are played. The question whether a doctor should charge fees for special visits to a patient who is seriously ill was raised in a civil case heard in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s. Court (the Taranaki Herald reports), in which Dr .H. A. H. Claridge sued Alexander McLennan, baker, of Urenui. for JE6 14s, balance of fees due for professional attendance on defendant. The evidence showed that Dr Claridge, who was, then practising at Waitara, was in the habit of visiting Urcnui on two days a week, and he charged his ordinary fee of, 7s 6d for each visit. made on these days, but he charged extra for visits which he considered it necessary to make to see the patient on days other than his regular days for visiting Urenui, McLennan being the only patient whom ho went out to Urenui specially to see. The defendant contended that Dr Claridge was not entitled to these fees, because he was not specially summoned on these days. But the doctor pointed out that a medical man was responsible for the care given to the cases he had, and must use his discretion as to when it was necessary for the patient to he visited. Evidence showed that McLennan was so ill that Dr Walker considered nothing more could he done for him than what had been done. It was also shown that Mrs McLennan, who is a certificated nurse with —nglish experience, and who was highly praised by Dr Claridge for her nursing ability, kept the doctor informed by telephone of the patient’s V condition, and Dr Claridge was thus able to deride when he should visit the patient. In giving his decision Mr H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., said there could he no doubt that it was entirely at the discretion of the doctor when he should call. It would be ridiculous otherwise. Dr Claridge was quite right in making special visits if he thought them necessary. He gave judgment for the doctor.

In Wanganui, at 10 a.m. to-day, the thermometer registered 54, and the barometer 29.64. There was a light north- , easterly breeze, and the bar was smooth. The Railway Department announce holiday excursions and special trains to Hawera for the local Show, this week. All the masts are now out of the Pelotas, and practically everything is now ready for the final blowing-up, which is expected to take place shortly. China, the annual value of whose cigarette trade averages little short of two millions sterling, has just inaugurated a crusade against cigarette-smoking. In addition to Mr Evans, Mr M. JPower has been nominated for the vacant seat on the Wanganui East Borough Council. Nominations close at noon on Thursday. The Weather Bureau reported as follows at 1 p.ra. to-day; —South-easterly winds, moderate to strong; weather probably coo! and changeable; rain probable; glass rise slowly, hut unsteady; tides good; sea moderate swell. Speaking at the meeting held 'in Palmerston North to form a Draught Horse Association, Mr Archibald, of Hastings, stated that if thev wanted a cart horse they should have one 'that would fill the shafts. A lot of the horses they saw crawling about the streets were more fit for a wheelbarrow than a cart. Sir John Logan Campbell celebrated his 93th birthday, on Friday. The “Father of Auckland,” who was horn in Edinburgh on November 3, 1817, continues to carry the weight of his many years very well indeed. Though unable of late to take his place at public functions as frequently as formerly, he still attends daily at his office. The weather was far from summer-like in the Dominion to-day, though the South. Island fared better than tne North, cmite a number of the east coast towns reporting blue skies. The thermometer reached its maximum at Hokianga (60), and its minimum at Bluff (46). The barometer is still low. Cape Maria., with 29.70, heading the list. The sea- was inclined to bo heavy.