Local and General.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 3, 2 January 1906, Page 2

Local and General.

—o—- — George Hutchison, formerly member for Patea, has left England for New Zealand. Some men have very little luck thrust upon them. One of the local patients has been in hospital for eighty weeks—ever since Coronation Day. He has been in Oamaru, Ashburton, Wellington, Pahiatua hospitals, and is about to be discharged, cured, after a twelve weeks stay in the Waipukurau hospital—which is something in favour of the latter institution. Says the Bulletin (Hastings):— W e have received the first number of the Waipukurau Press, printed in the model village by Mr J. H. Claridge. For a beginner it a healthy-looking production, and we see no reason why it should not ultimately prove a success, as every local business man seems to have done his little bit in the advertising columns. This is as it should be. Every community should remember the duty they owe to themselves and support local industry. We wish the latest addition to the lever of the world every success. New Year’s Eve in Waipukurau passed off in comparative quietness. A few persons saw the “old year out and the new year in,” and a band of young fellows paraded the streets at midnight, but nothing of particular note happened. The fine weather prevailing for the New Year holidays was largely taken advantage of, the excursion trains being crowded with passengers. Several picnic parties were also organised and proceeded to selected spots in the surrounding country. Several enquiries have been made Tor extra copies of the first issue of this paper, but we regret that we are unable to supply them. Only a couple are left, despite the fact that a large extra number were printed. A Wellington gentleman writes :—“ Please send me three dozen papers with the Proclamation.” Can’t do it, old chappie ! .. Mr and Mrs P. Gow are visiting Rotorua. The election Maori members to the House of Representatives resulted in the return of three of the old members, while Apirama Ngata defeated Wi Pere for the Eastern electorate. Nonette won the Bangitikei Cup at Bulls.

The present wheat crop of New South Wales is estimated to be worth about four million pounds. To-day was practically observed as a holiday locally. A rather curious feature of the recent poll at Christchurch was the large number of voting papers made informal on purpose. Some of these expressed such opinions as “ None of them any good,” “All after the money,” and so on. A cable states that 670,000 persons in Japan are on the verge of starvation. A little boy named Bernie Kemp, of Waipukurau, got some of his fingers crushed between cogwheels a few days ago. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment. An altercation took place between Brehamer, first mate, and Uulfin, second mate of the German barque Werra, at Newcastle. Brehamer shot the second mate, dangerously wounding him, with a revolver, and then shot himself dead. A collision between two passenger trains occurred at Matamau station on Saturday evening. It seems that the accident was caused by one train passing the station when it should have waited there until the other train, which had possession of u the ne > h a d crossed. Nobody was injured. Both engines were considerably, damaged and derailed, as well as a number of trucks from each train, but only one passenger car was slightly damaged. A gang of workmen cleared the line. An enquiry was held at Dannevirke yesterday. A mean theft was perpetrated at the Manse, Waipukurau, on Xmas Eve, somebody making off with a cooked ham. The smart individual is requested to return the dish and cover, which will be thankfully re- , j ceived. — A number of local sports attend- | ed the races at Hastings yesterday. • The principal event, the President’s 3 Handicap, was won by Hon. J. D. ' Ormond’s Lyrist. The only large dividend was that paid by Chicane in the Two-yr. Handicap [£46 13s] The youth Sipido, who in April’ 1900, attempted to shoot King Edward, then Prince of Wales, at Brussels railway station, has been released from gaol, and enrolled in the Belgian army. Mr Chambers is proceeding apace with the erection of the two-storey shop next to Mr Simpson’s business premises. Understood the building is to be occupied by a dressmaker. Stoats and weasels are becoming numerous in and around Eketahuna, and are a source of great annoyance to poultry-keepers. All repairing is now done on the premises, Waipukurau, by Mr J. H. Hitchins. — 11. J. Crysell, watchmaker and jeweller. In the Rahoe Potae (King Country) great dissatisfaction is said exist among European residents with regard to the prohibitive liquor law. The railway authorities will not carry “ lubricant ” south of Te Awamutu ; but average King Country resident will not be deprived of all comfort, and there has, therefore, arisen a new class of people, locally known as “ missionaries.” The missionary takes a day or so off from work, and goes to Te Awamutu for a supply of liquor. So long as he has it branded with his name and address, and marked * for private consumption,* the constables in the King Country cannot interfere, and and the railway authorities raise no objection, provided it is not sent as freight. The ? railway law only puts the settlers to extra expense and inconvenience ; but the manner in which they ‘ get there ‘ may be taken as a sample of ingenious methods adopted to defeat the benevolent intentions of those who would ‘ rob a poor man of his beer? The Imperial Canal in China, one of the longest in world, connects no fewer than 41 cities in its course of 800 miles. Every week nine million oysters are swallowed by the people of London. Half the shells are broken up and used for asphalt paving. Mr Chamberlain’s love of flowers is not confined to the to the orchid. He cultivates a most extensive variety of plants, and employs 25 gardeners. ' It is stated that a railway train travelling at the rate of one hundred miles an hour could not ba pulled up in less dig. tance than two miles, Generally speaking, animals require much less sleep than human beings. The most hard-worked member of the fourlegged creation, the’horse, is invigorated and ready for work after only four hours repose. Digging is said to be the healthiest of all outdoor exercises.