LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 17 June 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual meeting of the Hawera Volunteer Fire Brigade will be hold fro-morrow (Wednesday) evening.

.At the'last m.e'e.ting .of; .the Christchlirch; Presbytery it was stated that the Oust district was.becoming depopu,htted, the reason, being that many settlers ' -were leaving 'the' lotah'ty": and .-that the re-aggregation of estates was going 0n.." ' . "':■ ' •'-•■■

We give a reminder of the Manaia Tennis and Croquet Club's dance, which takes place in the Town Hall tomorrow evening. Every preparation has been made to ensure success, and a pleasant evening may be anticipated.

It is expected that a number of prominent American scientists will visit New Zealand next year with the members of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Among the number will .probably be Professor Hales, one of the greatest living authorities on solar physics.

A meteorite weighing ,'J7lbs lias recently been the subject of discussion in chemical circles in Johannesburg. The stono fell in Zululand a fow months ago, and was not only noticed by. an eye-w't--ness some fifteen miles away, but *"e'i within a few feet of a native woman, who gave information which led to its discovery. The meteorite so far cannot be broken. It is known, however, to contain platinum.

A very fine exhibition of billiards was given in the new billiard parlor, High street, last Thursday night, between Mr C. Carter and Mr T. Ainsleo. Thp game was fairly level till the first hundred was reached. The final scores were: Carter 300. Ainslee 194; best breaks by Carter 49, 42, and 39; Ainslee, L>2. 19, 18. Mr Carter gave the large/ audience a treat at the finish, showing some very tris Icy and useful strokes.

2s 6d a week- -and the most popular sewiag machine in Australasia —the Wertheim—is yours from Dixon and Co .-"Advt.

Applications for the Commonwealth £5 maternity allowance are being made ' at anincreasing rate, a total of 13,024 ' navmg been made throughout Australia during the month of May. The expenditure since the payments were introduced, October 10, 'amounts to £361,730, and on last month's figures they iiow amount to more than £750,----000 per annum. - / A well-known resident in the Pukeroro district, Mrs J. G. Ward, died from suffocation last week. The deceased, who had been suffering from throat trouble for some time past, Avas taking her evening meal as usual, when some food lodged in her throat. Her agitation attracted the attention of the family, who did their best to dislodge the obstruction. 'Their efforts were m vain, and Mrs Ward died from' suffocation. It is not very long, ago since Mr Ward died as the result of a bite from a rat. A Marlborough paper says that rather a pretty compliment was paid to Marlborough on the occasion of the visit of the schoolchildren to the bi<* warship at Picton. A Blenheim school committeeman, proud of his charges, remarked to an interested sailorman: "These are the future men and women of New Zealand." "Yes,"'replied the son of the sea, "and they are the finest lot of youngsters put aboard the warship yet. and I have been with her round t<he coast." He also added tha the "weediest lot were from Wellington." A youth from rhe way-backs recently entered an Eketahuna drapery establishment and asked to be allowed to try on an overcoat. Scenting a sale the assistant was all attention, and after a garment had been found which fitted like a glove the promising customer requested to be informed its size. "Can J wrap it up," eagerly: aslted the salesman.. "No thank you. lam sending •away for a coat and merely wanted to find out what size I took," was the stunning reply. One of the things that impress the visitor to Honolulu is the feverish energy displayed by the American Government ii: rendering that place one of the most impregnable that can lie conceived. "It is the Gibraltar of the 1 a-cinc, remarked a gentleman just returned, to a Wellington reporter ; "ftverythiug that money and scieice can do in equipping it for military and naval puraoses is being done. At Pearl harbor, which can accommodafe a great number of vessels, there are huge docks and barra?ks. In the centre of the island, a high, level and healthy plateau —an army of 50,000 could camp, 'and it is expected to maintain 30,000 there continuously. The military roads are ?l>solntelv perfect. They are macadamised, and covered with clay and oil." The growth of the drum and fife i bands movement in Auckland may be gathered (says the Auckland Star) from the fact that ti>ere are now no fewer than 17 schoolboys' bands, with a membership of not less than 8-50. At the last meeting of the New Zealand Juvenile Musical Association (the governing body of all bands) a report by a sub-committee recommending the immediate _ formation and starting of a city senior band was adopted, subject *o the question of finance, -vhieh will be brought forward at the association's next meeting. The association is also ! arranging with the Exhibition Commissioners for drum and fife competitions o take place nest January. In the Anglican pro-Cathedral, Wellington, on Sunday, the Rer. J. H. Scott, chaplain of' H.M.S. New Zealand, referred to some of the dangers that threaten national life at the present time. There had, he said, been a decline in idealism in recent years, and an increase in materialism. . ParI eiitul control ami family life were also i j weakening..and.there also a falling j away as regaa-ds: Sunday -observance. The growth of professionalism was degrading sport in Britain, and he was told that the same' evil was threaten- i ing to spoil football in New Zealand. Sport was a splendid thing for a nation, . but to shout and bet at a football match was not real sport. Crowds of spectators watching paid players were of no use. The benefit came from the actual playing. Before the downfall of Rome, the young men crowded the amphitheatre and watched the paid gladiai tors, but did not play themselves. The moral value of sport consisted largely i in the risk—in daring something— not in great crowds watching a few players, j A concert will be held at Okaiawa on June 20. A farewell sockl and dance will take place at Auroa on June 27. The Lroan and Mercantile Co. advertise a clearing sale on account of Mr Peter Beverley. A bachelors' ball will be held at Ka~ puni on June 20. Newton King advertises a clearing sale on account of Mr Sidney Long. Tenders for supply and delivery of stone are invited by the Eltham County Council. Barinny and Osborne advertise a sale at the mart on Thursday, June 19. Big bargains for little purses. Loud and clear rings the Melbourne Sale, "Rival their bargains who" 'can." There are salps and sales by the.^ozen, but only one where bargain^ of proportions like ours can b^e had. .. We offer you the gla<l hand with bargains in it. Cpnvs Thursday,' nine o'clock sharp.—Advt.