LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 24 December 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Star ■ will not be published on Christmas Day or on Boxing Day. We have received • the greetings of the season from a ■ number of our contemporaries, and we cordially reciprocate the good wishes extended to us. The Alton Dairy Factory Co. have just added a whey separating room, 26 x 24, to their present factory, and operations will be commenced as soon as the pump comes to hand. The department has been vvelr constructed* with a good concrete floor and-whey tank and well equipped with a modern churn; separators, Haslam half-ton freezer, etc. This department will be an acquisition to the factory.. There was a large attendance of members at the quarterly summoned meeting of the Loyal Union Lodge of Oddfellows (Manchester Unity) on Monday evening. N.G. Bro. W. A. Spragg presided. One new member was initiated and two proposed for membership. The election of officers for the ensuing half-year resulted: — G.M., Bro. W. A. Spragg; N.G., Bro. H. Bate; V.G., Bro. C. H. Barker; E.S., Bro. W. Sykes; War Hen, Bro. E. Franks; Guardian, Bro. T. High am;1 R.S.V.G.; Bro. C. Allen; L.S.V.G., Bro. F. Hancock. The newly-elected ofticers were installed by L.M. Bro. Hay ton. After the business had been disposed of a pleasant hour was spent in harmony, and light refreshments were supplied.. Contributions for the evening amounted to £110, In the course of a speech in the School of Arts recently, Dr. Long, Bishop of Bathurst, referred to the Governor-General's recent observation that he was not a "wowser." TheJßishop said he did not care how many Gover-r.or-Generals said they were not ."wowsers." If a. "wowser" was a self-respect-ing man, who went home sober, and the anti-wowser a drunkard, who used disgraceful epithets towards .the former, then he preferred to be'on "the'side"" of" the wowser. ■ . . . ' ■; ■•Too much night work, headaches, roll and toss, can't sleep ? Enjoy your rest, take Steams' Headache Cure; One wafer I does the work.—--.Advt.> 1 Nearly everylxidy knows what it, is to worry over the'question "What to give for Christmas." J. C Gillett's store offers many suggestions, • for useful, beautiful and acceptable presents. Handbags, perfume, trinket boxes, fancy handkerchiefs, sunshades and urn antimony wear, glove and. handkerchief ■ satcbets, vases, soap boxes, trays, pincushions, gloves, kneckwear, at the Busy Drapers.—Advt.

The shop windows have been artis- j tically dressed for Christmas, and present quite an attractive appearance. The displays in some of the shops would do credit to larger towns than Hawera. Sir Rufus Isaacs, now Lord Chief Justice of England, was a bad boy in school. One of his schoolfellows some years ago described him as the very worst of boys from a schoolmaster's point of view. < "Lessons he left unlearnt, class work he shirked, and mischief was his only devotion. Nor was the ' mischievousness only in himself— he delighted in inspiring others in his 'wicked ways.' Indeed 2 my recollection of him is always of a demoniacal, young, mischievous imp with sparkling eyes, who was always in disgrace or being caned, and yet w Tithal was ever merry and deliriously humorous. 'Isaacs Secundus' you will go to the devil,' was the prognostication oft repeated by his schoolmaster.' Instead of that the 'devil' (in a legal sense) comes to him, and is right glad of the privilege." Successful tests have been made over one of London's tramway routes of an entirely new type of tramcar, propelled by electricity developed in the ear itself. The car, which is much smaller than those running on the conduit lines; has a petrol-driven engine at one end under1 the stairway, connected with a dynamo Underneath the centre of thei car, and geared to the wheels, is the electric motor driven by the current generated in the dynamo; while underneath the 6tairs at the other end of the car is a radiator. The driver can operate the motor from either end of the car in the same way as with existing electric cars. In most respects the new self-propelled vehicle answers quite as satisfactorily as those already in use, although it cannot be pulled up so quickly nor started as readily. m A new headlight for motor-cars has just been put on £he market in France wnich represents a radical departure from present designs. The lamp has the shape of a, human eyeball and turns in its socket in'-exactly the same manner as the eye in its support. Two small clamps, controlled by thumbscrews from the interior of the car, hold the lamp in position, in. any desired direction, while the handle itself is used in turning the light rays to the spot they are needed. Signposts at the side of the road or the low-lying milestones are thus brought within reach of the rays, while at their lowest position they even throw light into the hood, lighting the motor, magneto, and carburettor. . By removing; the two small clamps entirely the whole lamp may be ta£en out of the socket and used as a "trouble lamp" inside or outside the machine.'

Sir Thomas Vansittart Bowater, the new Lord Mayor of London, aged 51, one of the youngest men ever elected to the office, moved into the Mansion" House, where be officially began his year's work., on November 9. *'I shall live just the same as I do in my home," he said to a press representative. "Rise 7 a.m.j breakfast 8 ; a.m., bed 11 p.m. Yes, I know it wjll be difficult for the Lord Mayor to get to bed at 11 p.m., but I intend to do it. I have always been an 11 p.m. man, and I don't see why a Lord Mayor should not be able to go to bed early— notwithstanding banquets and > tango suppers. I am going to put in more hours of hard work this year than in any year of my life, and I have worked twelve liours a day in a. paper • mill. Fortunately, Lord Mayors have not yet joined a trade union."

The Mayor of New York does not lose all the privileges attached to thai Eosition when he leaves office. \\ as long been the custom to erect twc street lamps out of the city funds ir front of the mayor's private4 residence, and to keep them alight all night, not only during his terra of office, but 'during the remainder of his lifetime, and even atter his death, should his heirs wish it. Before the new mavci has taken, tne oath of office the-cit\ lighting superintendent calls to displaj various designs of lamps for his selection. Though the shapes may vary, each lamp has to be surmounted fay a brass eagle. This custom originated in. the-days when New York was little more than" a village, and the mayor was its only magistrate. The lamps served to guide anyone seeking his services after dark. , In addressing the Cost of Living Commission in Sydney the representative of the trades unions stated that in 1910-11 Mr Knibbs (Commonwealth Statistician) had computed that in Melbourne the average cost of maintaining a family of more than four persons, where the income was £150 and under, was £2 7s lid per week. Where the family consisted of less than four people the average cost was £2 4s Id. The Sydney figures, taking into consideration Mr Knibb's computation that there was a 12£ per cent, difference between the States, had been £2 12s 8d and £2 8s 7d respectively. But since 1911 the cost of living in New South Wales had advanced 15 per cent. Therefore the above figures would have to be increased to £3 0s fid for a family of over four, and £2 15s 9d for the other class of family, in order to estimate the presort cost of maintenance. In 1907 Mr Knibbs' figures showed that 42s was a fair living wage in Melbourne, and 45s 9d in Sydney. Since then the decrease in the purchasing power of money had been 19 per cent, in Melbourne and 24 per cent, in Sydney. At that rrtfi. in 1912 the Melbourne wage would have had to be /increased to 50s to provide an equal living wao;e, and the Sydney waee to 56s fid. Since 1912 in Sydney there bad been a further increase of 3 per cent, in house rent and 1 per cent, in foodstuffs. ■ Railway companies in England keep a special book in which all cases of cord-pulling by passengers are recorded. The reasons given by the passengers for trying to stop, the train are varied and peculiar. "Because I was in a first class carriage with a third class ticket," was a lady's explanation. Here are some othevs: "Because one of the people in the compartment had influenza, and I* ■didn't want to catch it." "Because I'd left my handbag in the waitingroom." "To ask the guard if the train stopped at ." "Because T didn't like the look of a man hi the corner." "Because I'd dropped my pocket-handkerchief out- of "the window." "Because the lady opposite me had a dog and I had a dog, and her dog wanted to fight my dog." . "Beeavise the idea came into my,headto do it, and I had to." "Because T had washed my hands in the lavatory, and there was no towel to dry them on." There are others, but these will suffice. They are taken from the official report book of a great railway company. j ! The times at which Christmas masses will be celebrated at St. Joseph's, HaI wera. are advertised in another column. A service will be held in the Presbyterian Church to-morrow evening s-.t. half -past hi o'clock. • ' TERUTBLE HEADACHES. ."I am a bootmaker," writes Mr Fred crick Miller, Great King street, North PuTiediii, N.Z., "ai;<l for many- years suffered from terrible headaches and irregularity of the :b6veig> due to my sedentary life. After takiiig one box of Chamberlain's Tablets I was greatly, benefited, and tlmy soon effected my cure. Upon the slightest symptoms of constipation. 1 take two or three'tablets, which alwayV set nic right." Sold by all chemists and torekeepers.—Advt.

"They call the "Northern Territory God's own uountry," Jax JticKenzie, a recent visnur, saia; "tnat is, tne iiovernment oincials—men wno are getting, aiio and ±Jlb" per weekl —do. liiey might look upon it in that light because tney have a good time and practically nothing to do, but for the man wno has to work for his living, it's anything but God's own country, hlieep taken up tiiere died. They cannot stand the climate for one thing, an 4 the grass chokes them for another! The Federal Government started an experimental farm, and got enough machinery to plough the whole of New South Wales. 'lhey ploughed acre upon acre ,and all they got out of the area was one pumpkin. That pumpkin practically cost £2500 to produce. it did not remain very long on the farm either, because some one stole it. On this Government farm canr.jb&i seen all kinds of machinery goii(g§?|o£ rust and i-uin. Nobody seeittrS^v care." ■'■':■■'-'■ A severe thunderstorm visited the' Tablelands district (Wairarapa) on Ifiir" day afternoon. A waterspout burst over the district and several farms' were inundated. In several places the water was over live feet deep on tie road. It was a sight worth seeing while it lasted, and one that will not soon be forgotten by those who had the misfortune to be out in it. A stock agent who had been out in the district with a party in his motor car was rer turning when the waterspout burst, and he had some difficulty in negotiating the road, as the water was flow-; ing swiftly over it about two fe6t deep. He managed to get through, however, before the water reached its height. In several places the water was running over the top of the fences. It is re^ ported that over forty sheep were car-: ried away and drowned on one property. A horse belonging to a contractor at present located in the district was also washed away, and. received such injuries while mixed up in the fences that it had to be shotl , Buy a copy of *he Star Almanack for 1914. Diary and cash book in one. Revised and up-iWate. All book-' sellers and stores throughout the district, and at the Star Office, Hawera.—Advt. ' Weather conditions during the early part of last week were partly responsible for the big influx of country residents to town on Saturday. Business was. reported to have been brisk, particularly so at the Melbourne Ltd., where considerable activity, was experienced in the Men's and Boys' Suit departments. Suits are this firm's long suit this season (no pun intended). — Advt.

Twenty-five per cent, off accordeons • prices 10s to 50s; money returned if not satisfied at Dixon's. A splendid stock of' phonographs and *a special cash inducement to Christmas buyers. For the hoy, get Meccano, that marvellous, instructive toy, ''TOvnSs. —Advt.