LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 15 November 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Inspector of Police (Wanganui) sent the following telegram en Friday, to Sergeant Griffith: "Would be glad* to accept the services of any further men and horses offering for duty as special constables at Wellington."

As the outcome of a special meeting of the Patea Bowling Club, the position now is that as the club has expressed a wish to be allowed to affiliate with the Taranaki Clubs, the Wanganui centre will be asked to agree to the transfer (says the Press).

Despite the heavy rains (says the Clutha Free Press) the season has been an exceptionally forward one in South Otago for fruit trees, doubtless owing to tne absence of late frosts. For example, a Waihola resident has cherries already ripe, whereas usually the earliest fruit in his garden has not ripened before the end of Noveihber.

Summary justice was dealt out to a young man who, while cycling down Symonds street, Auckland, on Tuesday, called out an offensive name to the members of a squad of mounted special constables. One of the latter turned, and an exciting chase ensued. When the horseman ranged alongside the cyclist he bent down, caught the cyclist by the coat oollarf, lifted him off his machine and dropped him on to the roadway.

The Bruce County Council has just purchased a new style of culvert, made of galvanised iron, of a kind warranted to resist the corroding influence of water. It is in one piece, and it is extremely light, compared with the concrete pipes commonly used in road culverts. The council purchased through the Dunedin agents, and the price wire pretty high, owing to the duty of 37 per cent.

The Eltham Argus states that the man Walsh, mentioned iv a recent Sydney cable message as having been injured while sheltering behind a truck at the Forbes railway yards, is Mr Frank Walsh, son of Mr J. Walsh, of Rawhitiroa. Walsh was not killed, as stated in the cable message, but both legs had to be amputated, and his condition is critical.

The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Alderman Cocks, ©peaking at a Liberal meeting at Crow's Nest, said he reckoned that the business people of Sydney were losing from £100,000 to £200,000 a week because of the smallpox outbreak. ' The Government-Gazette announces: "(1) Acclimatisation societies shall only issue licenses at places within the boundaries of their own district, and no society shall canvass or seek to induce any person outside its district to take a license from it. (2) Any society committing a breach of the above regulation is liable to a fine not exceeding £50."

One of the mounted special constables in camp at Auckland —a man who' has seen active service—had his nerve tested in Customs street on Tuesday. He was riding at the end of a convoy, when he saw a man in the crowd' throw a stone. He charged towards the individual, and, reaching him, used his baton. The man dropped to the ground, and the special constable, surrounded by a hostile crowd, calmly drew his pocket-knife and cut a notch with it in his baton. He was not molested when he turned to regain his place in the convoy.

The men on the warship Pyramus, now lying at the Devonport ferry tee, at Auckland, take a great interest in the mounted special police, and watch the evolutions of the horsemen with much curiosity. Each time the guards are changed, those on the warship line the ship's side and give rousing cheers, which are returned wilh interest by the "specials." An officer on the Pyramus stated the other day that he had heard a lot about the colonials, and from what he had seen recently he was quite satisfied that the colonial could be relied upon to act up to any emergency. As for the horsemanship displayed, the officer was unable to find words suitable to express' his appreciation.

A return furnished on the motion of Mr G. W. Russell was laid on the: table of the House of Representatives on Thursday by the Minister^ of Finance, showing the amounts of the £1,850,000 loan issued in April, 1910, and the £5,----000,000 loan issued in November, 1910, that had been converted into inscribed stock. The return set forth that of the smaller loan £1,612,000 had been converted, and of the five million loan £1,----857,400. There is therefore £237^00 worth of debentures current of the smaller loan, due on April 1, 1915, and of the five million loan £3,142,600 worth of.. debentures due on December 31, 1914.

There died in the Nelson Hospital recently a noble and noted Maori named Hokapata te Kahupuku, of the Ngati Kohata and Ngati Toa tribes, who was well known and highly respected throughout the Nelson district. It was this grand old Maori who helped "Grace Darling" in the celebrated wreck of the ship Delaware, and who so nobly disclaimed the honor of the brave deed, but rather said the honor and glory were with- Mrs Martin, "Grace Darling." He was beloved and respected ty all, European and Maori alike, and received frequent visitors, and enquiries whilst laid up in the hospital. He left one daughter, Mrs John Hippolyte, of the Croixelles, and also one brother. Kahupuku was over 80 years of age, and was a sterling representative of the fast-passing race of Maori aristocrats.

Under the heading of "What Next?" the Shetland News reproduces the following paragraph, culled from a New Zealand newspaper:—"ln discussing the customs of Shetland Islanders, before the Marton Debating Society, Mr R. T. Scott said that for drunkenness a nan was fined 2s 6d, but for failure to attend church he was fined 20s. It was needless to state that the fear of a fine had a marked effect upon the church attendances. There are, it appears, no Sunday dodgers in the Shetland Isles." The Shetland News co^iireiits that Mr >Scott is evidently acquainted with the non-church-going controversy which agitated Lerwick last year. ;' . ' Newton King advertises a clearing sale on account of Mr J. Robertson, Awatuna East. Newton King's wool, skin and hide sale has been postponed until December 16. At Kaponga Methodist Church on Sunday evening, Rev. F. Rands will preach on "The strike and its moral lessons." Warner's Corset comfort is real—no expense is spared in securing the finest soft fabrics, flexible boning, rubber button hose supporters and dainty trimmings for their construction. We always recommend Warner's. Local drapers.—Advt. . ', The following additional bargains have been brought forward at the Melbourne : Men's Roslyn and Petone suits, 355; men's denims, 2s lid; men's cashmere socks, 3 pairs for 2s 6d; boys' washing ties, 3 for Is; men's famous Oamaru saddle .trousers, 13s 6d; men's white tennis or neglige shirts, 2s lid; youths' braces* 6d pair.-r-Advt. Purser's Special Furniture Sale starts on Saturday, 15th.—Advt. Sykqs's Drench. —Used everywhere for cows after calving.—Advt.

During the quarter ended September 30. 6961 births and 2702 deaths were recorded in New Zealand, and. 9067 persons arrived in the Dominion, as against 5575 departures. The gross increase in the population of New Zealand during the quarter waa 16,028, and the net increase 7751 (3759 males,arid 3992 females). The total estimated population of New Zealand (including Maoris and the population of Cook and oijher Pacific Islands attached to the Dominion) is set out in the Gazette as 1,135,911.

Recently it was stated that the Government had taken over & block of land, about 6000 acres in extent, arid situated at Onga Onga. The Commissioner of Crown Lands told a Napier Telegraph reporter that the area will be takeu over on March 31, but he is putting surveyors on the land at once so that the ballot will take place immediately the transfer is effected. The country is good ploughable land, and will stand subdivision into 300 and 400 acre lets, thus providing farms for 15 to 20 settlers.

Particulars have reached the Dominion concerning the prices realised by the first and part of the second consignments of honey sent to England through the Waikato Beekeepers' Association. The first consignment of 130 cases realised from 33s to 46s Gd per cwt, the whole lot showing an average of 43s 4d per cwt. Some of the lower-priced lots were described by the brokers as "pale and rather lumpy," "setting, dark and sugary," "set. dullish, lumpy," etc. The highest-priced lots were described as "set amber." Of forty cases of the second shipment sold, twelve realised 37s 6d per cwt,. and the other twentyeight went for 43s 6d per cwt.

The chairman of the Mackenzie County Council, at the meeting held at Fairlie, stated that he considered that nearly all the accidents at level crossings had. occurred through, the recklessness of the persons who had been injured, and that he did riot consider that local bodies should be put to the expense of providing for the requirements of the Bill now before Parliament. With proper care no accidents need occur, but when travellers dashed across railway lines regardless of consequences they had only themselves to thank if an accident overtook them. .

Captain Lawry, of the American schooner Lottie Beard, with his wife and crew, were landed at Southampton last week by the steamer Sylvia, which picked them up. Lawry'g story (according to a cable .message in Sydney Sun) was that he was engaged in the coasting trade, arid was bound from New Jersey to Maine, when his vessel was overtaken by a storm. - He ran for shelter to the Nantucket shoals, and stayed there for fifteen days, going on again when the wind dropped. .But ,he had not1 proceeded far before anjfother storm, even worse than the first, started. The masts and fittings of the. Lottie Beard were carried away, and ship and souls were in a desperate | plight when the Sylvia, thinking that j the schooner was deserted, and a dan- | ger to 1 shipping, went to have a look at her. Captain Lawry's last act was to 6et fire to his own ship, which was uninsured, and which represented his life's savings. ,

A service oY special interest to young people will be held in the Methodist Church to-morrow morning by the Rev.. E. 0. Blamires. In the evening Mr Blamires will speak on ' 'The Justice of Free Forgiveness," and the choir will sing "King of Kings."

Purser's Special Furniture Sale starts on Saturday, 15th. —Advt.