LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 March 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams), and the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) will leave Dunedin to-day to visit the irrigated areas in Central Otago. Proceeding by different routes, the Ministers will meet at Alexandra on Wednesday night to compare notes and summarise the position. Mr. F. W. I urkert, Engineer-in-Chief of the Public WorKs Department, will accompany the Hon. K. S. Williams. Press Assn.

James Montgomery Brown, aged 32 years, of 138 Harbour Terrace, chief electrician at the Pelichett Bay cement works, was lei'led at the works at 1.45 p.m. on Saturday (states a Pretss Association message) through being drawn by a belt on to the wheel that drives the rotarv kiln. His head was smashed and death was instantaneous.

Burglars raided the office of Ward’is Brewery at Christchurch on Saturday. They were actually at work at midnight when a man and his wife passed and saw them. The man wished to rush in, but his wife, it is alleged, ‘restrained him and they went home. The two thieves ransacked the office, but found only £(3 in cash, which they took, says a Press Association message.

A Press Association message from Auckland announces the death on Saturday night of the Hon. Mark Cohen, M.L.C., at the residence of his daughter in Auckland. Deceased had been in failing health for some time. The funeral will take place at Dunedin. The late Mr. Cohen was born in London in 1849 and arrived in Dunedin in 18.33. He was for many years associated with -the Dunedin “Star, 1 ’ 'ot which he was editor from 1893 to 1920. He took keen interest in education. He was chairman of the Otago Education Board in 1898-9. and chairman of the Royal Commission on Education set up in 1912. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1920. A lire broke out in the lamp room at the railway station at Dunedin ,on Saturday morning and much damage was clone. The whole room was m flames when- the fire brigade arrived, and it was practically destroyed beiore the blaze could be controlled. Two luggage vans .standing at the platform were also charred and the contents slightly damaged. The cause of the fire is unknown.

“The New Zealand workers are the best in the world,” declared by Mr. J. Lee, Labour M.P. for Auckland East, speaking at a public meeting in Napier (says the “Napier Telegraph”). “If you want my proof I tell you that the wealth of New Zealand per capita, is' the greatest in the world, and that was produced, not descending upon the country like cooling drops of rain, but by the* brawn and brain of the farmer and the worker.”

A rare visitant, of these parts is the native cuckoo. A sample oi the species a pretty bird about the-size oi a parrot, with brown and white markings on back and breast and with a long, flowing tail—-was caught on Mr. R. Hicks’s farm, South Road, a few days ago, and was brought into this office this morning. As the bird has not taken kindly to captivity and would eat nothing, it has been released. Late'on Saturday evening a resident of Kaponga; Mr. James Prentice, had a narrow escape from a serious accident through colliding with a loose horse on the Main South Road on the Hawera side of the Ohawe beach road. Mr. Prentice was pioc-eeding towards Manaia on his way home, when a horse rushed out of a gateway on Mr. Cleaver’s farm, toJiding with the cyclist, who received a nasty lall, being rendered unconscious. The mishap was witnessed by one of Mr. Cleaver’s employees, who rendered what assistance he could to the sufferer until a passing motorist conveyed the injured man to the Hawera Hospiatl. On inquiry at the hospital this morning it was "ascertained that Mr. Prentice had regained consciousness and was progressing favourably, his injuries being chiefly bruises and abrasions. The greenstone mere of. the great rebel chief Te Kooti has been presented to the Auckland Museum (states the “New Zealand Herald”). It was given by Te Kooti many years ago to the late Mr. W. J. Napier, who acted as the chief’s counsel when he faced the charge of treason, and was instrumental in securing a pardon tor him. The mere was presented by Mrs. Napier. -Apart from its historical value, the weapon is a fine specimen of the “mere pounamu.” It is about loin, long,, beautifully marked, and not more than an inch through at the thickest part. Its presentation to Mr. Napier was made an occasion of ceremony, thousands of Maoris gathering to feast in his honour. Like many such weapons, it was an heirloom, and had been handed down to Te .Kooti from his forefathers. The museum is fortunate to secure the mere, .as it was greatly desired by Americans for the Smithsonian Institute. In these days or high living costs it is pleasant to know that there is one lad in Dunedin who had apparently solved the problem of obtaining the luxuries of. life, if not for nothing, at least for a merely nominal cost. He assiduously studied) every advertisement concerning free samples, and the outlay of a few nence for 'stamps, plus a certain facility for penning a reasonably good business letter, did. the rest. His ipail for the past few days has been heavy, and his bag to date includes, among other things; two tubes of shaving cream, a small cake of .soap, a bottle of pills, several varieties of biscuits (all said to contain the requisite amount of proteins .and carbohydrates), cocoa, custard powder, a sample tin of varnish, and a quantity of literature. The. shaving cream was traded to the boy’s fond father for a penny a tube, his mother purchased the soap and custard txwder, and a small sister was graciously presented with a gaudily-coloured brochure setting forth the glories o ;; a trip to Honolulu. No effort is being snared by the East Coast Rabbit Board, to get rid. of the rabbit pest- in th-e- board’s district. Recently it was reported that tame rabbits were being kept at Woodlands, a settlement, near Opotiki. As petrabbits are considered a source of danger, the board’s inspectors auicklv made short work of the pet “bunnies.” For many years now the inspectors have kept the Opotiki district- practically free of fhis'pest, it being a very rare thing for a- rabbit to- be found in the district. PTILMONAS POP- PREACHERS. “Incessant preaching and singing together with the rapid changes of climate during my tours place a great strain upon my throat and. chest.” writes an Auckland Evangelist. “I have received great relief from Pulmonas. I consider them a boom and indispensable fro ministers, vocalists and players of wind instruments.’’ Pulmonas is 6d and 2s 6d at all Chemists. — fi A lovely range of smart fur trimmed winter coats has just arrived at the Melbourne Ltd. All have fur collars and cuffs, and are lined with crepe de chine. All the very newest colours in fine quality velours, face cloths, , and fancy tweeds, all charmingly tailored; sizes s.w., w. and o.s. Price £3 3s. Other selections up to 5 -guineas.—Advt.