LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 10 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

A movement is on foot to hold a carnival at New Plymouth next month, ra aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. It is proposed to work on similar lines to the Battle for Bullion recently concluded at Wanganui:

From particular? that have come to h^nd concerning^ the death of Mr Charles Leech, at Aw-akino, it appears that he must have been thrown off the dray on which he was riding and a wheel passing over his chest killing him instantaneously (says the 'Daily News)

Ib is now an offence to shoot hawks. Up till December 31st the man who shot a hawk was often regarded as a public benefactor, but recent legislation has made it unlawful to destroy the birds. A notice to that effect has b°en sent by the Government to acclimatisation societies.

All things considered, Dunedin did not have a bad year so far as the building tr-ade was concerned. In .the city alone (reports the Star) 313 permits were issued for the twelve months for the erection of buildings, of thp total value of £152,957, as against £145,407 for the year 1914.

A special general meeting of the National .Reserve Hawera Defence Rifle Club'■'■.will be "held after, the usual weekly parade on Thursday next.

When Sir Joseph Ward was in Christchurch last week, he was asked for information about the proposed visit of the Prime Minister and himself to England. He* was, however, not able to give "anything; of a definite character, and could not satisfy the reporter'^ curiosity as to whether the matter has been yet discussed by Cabinet^ or as to the character of the invitation said to have been received from the Imperial authorities. ■'"..-...

The Smithfield and Pareora Freezing Works both opened for killing for the season on Wednesday, states the Tiniaru Herald. Both were well supplied with stock, farmers and graziers being anxious to quit, their fat stock without delay, so as to be in a. better position to conserve the fast vanishing feed. It is predicted that the season will be a short one, and that when the first drafts of fats are disposed of it will be difficult to get subsequent lots unless the weather takes a quick change for the better.

■ The Waitara Harbor Board is meeting with unexpected difficulties in finding a successor to Captain Thompson says the Mail). First. Mr Hewson, of Auckland was appointed, and he being given an increase in salary in his present appointment, declined ■to take up the offer; then Mr Bridges, of Napier, »vu3 communicated with. He first agreed to complete the arrangement with the Board,, but late on> Wednesday evening a telegram was received to say that he was not coming. The latest act is the appointment of Mr Forne. also of the Napier Harbor Board Office (a married man, 27 years of age), and it- is presumed that he will reach Waitara, ,as he telegraphed to know where he. stood when Mr Bridges declined, the two of them being fellow officers in. Napier' '

In referring to the New Zealand display at the Panama Execution, the Hon.1 W. D. S. Mac Donald", Minister of Agriculture, stated to a reporter of the Poverty Bay Herald that it was possible that the exhibits would be included in a special show at New York, comprising all the champion exhibits from San Francisco. Mr* M'Pherson. who has eliarge of the experimental work in the South Island, and who went to arrange the display, has returned after having spent some weeks studying agricultural experiments in the States and going into the ,question of exending New- Zealand's markets. The Minister was diffident about expresing an opinion regarding future markets after the war, lemarkmg that at. present practically all our produce ,<was being absorbed for Imperial requirements, but his Department was alive to the great possibilities of future development.

Private McKenzie,; of Waimate (Canterbury), states that when he was. in Melbourne, three weeks ago, he learned that the Victorian authorities were finding jobs for all returned soldiers, whether fit or crippled (says the Advertiser). They did not insist on men returning to the front after once having been invalided home. He stood in a crowd in Melbourne one day listening to returned soidier® appealing for volunteers, and was impressed by the suitability of these men for the job. Calls were made for volunteers to accompany the speakers there and then .to the recruiting, offices, but. although there were hundreds of young fellows standing about, not one responded. At length a man jumped .up and declared that he was married, with four children, and was going to enlist right away and off he went. ■ • * *".

In the middle- of June last year a Press Association message from Te Kuiti' stated that the Prime Minister (Mr W. F. Massey) st>oke at Te Kuiti in connection with 'the election for the Taumarunui ■ seat, and that in the course of his speech., he said, "he was told that Mr McNo.b said that if the laumarunui election was lost by the Opposition it would be by an arrangement made in the Registrar's Office at Te Kuiti " Mr Massey said that more would be heard of that statement. He believed the registrars at Te Kuiti were two perfectly honest and straightforward men, who would give no advantage to either side. The officers had to be protected, and the statement could nS* 6 ffi™S\ to So. . - One of the officers (Mr Schraaim), who was mentioned by Mr Massev. has now (it is reported) taken action and is proceeding against the Hon. Dr. McNab for the alleged statement, which, i,t is said was made at Hangitiki. when there were htteen persons present.

The war has made a great difference to the Russian Royal family. In the days before the war the. Czarina lived in constant dread of her husband and children being assassinated, and could scarcely bear them out of her sight. Indeed, so ill did she become with worry that to please her the great ballroom at the Winter Palace in Petrograd was turned into a bedroom tor'■the whole family, in order; to quote the Czarina, that in the case of an outrage they "might all die together1." Ihat is all changed now, however. The Czarina cheerfully said "good-bye" to her husband when he went to. take his place at the head of his armies, and, she and her- daughters are working ihdefatigably on behalf of the wounded. The Czarina has no time for morbid worrying, and is-consequently m splendid health, and is one of the most energetic and hard-working women in Russia. The Russian Grand Duchesses are charming and clever girls, and have profited by the careful training of their mother. The Grand Duchess Glga is an excellent musician, and the Grand Duchess Tatiana paints like a* professional. Both sisters speak several languages with equal facility, and both are fond of riding and of outdonr exercise. The Empress likes her children to practice every kind of sport and to spend as much time as they can in the open air, and she has tried to give them an educatior on strict English lines, like the one she received herself.

An all-wool Colonial tw.eed boxed suit for 355. Just think of it. That is what thei Melbourne Ltd. offers for 14 days only. These suits are splendidly tailored, well cut, and beautifully finished, and would! be considered good value in the ordinary way if prlce"3 at 45s.—Advt. No good housewife can afford to be without SHARLAND'S Baking Powder—the most economical compound on the market.—Advt. The down-stream trip on the Wanganui river is the finest holiday you could have—for- pleasure or for health. Here I Nature is at her best—scenery is varied —surroundings are peaceful and wonderfuL Make the itrip from Taumarunui to the houseboat, Pipiriki, and Wanganui. Particulars from A. Hatrick and Co., Ltd., Wanganui, Cook's and ' Government Tourist Bureaux everywhere.—Advt. BROUGHT TO BAY Are those enemies of civilisation, Indigestion and Dyspepsia, when Dr Sheldon's Digestive Tabules are employed. Is 6d and 2s 6m4 per tin. Obtainable at Wallace's. Hawera. —Advt. Ladies' 2-decker frocks at sample prices.^-30 only 'manufacture's' samples, in wjiite,; black and -whiter and .floral^ all. beaxitifully embroidered and every one different. /Usual prices', ,255,. 355, 455, 5,7^ 6d'; sample prices, 12sn6d,l^st 6&, 29>SA6d, 355. Come early and' get your pick. j. C. Gfllett. See window ,-r-Advt.

From a private letter received in Dunedin from Alexandra, the Otago Daily Times learns that the weather-in Central Otago is hot, but with a pleasant breeze. There are enormous crops of peaches, plums, apricots, apples, etc., everywhere in the district. The writer says- that the sight of these in the Earnscleugh portion of the district greatly impressed Dunedin visitors. A five-year-old orchard in the locality has just changed hands at a good round sum-

One of the wonders of plant life is j the weeping tree of the Canary Islands. It is of the laurel family, and rainsv down a copious shower of water drops from it's tufted foliage. This water is often collected at the foot of the tree, and forms a kind of pond, from which the inhabitants of the neighborhood can supply themselves with a beverage that is absolutely fresh and pure. The water comes out of the trea itself through innumerable littlo pores situated at the margin of the leaves. ; It issues from the plant as vapour during the daytime, when the heat is sufficiently great to preserve it in that condition ; but in* the evening, when the temperature has lowered very much, a considerable quantity of it is exuded in the form of liquid drops that collect near the edges 'of the leaves until these members so bend down that- thp tears, tumble off on to the ground below in a veritable shower. '.. •

In an accident on the Opawa river, in New Zealand, nine years ago, a Mr and Mrs Edward Badlwin were drowned, and Mr Justice Deane, sitting in t*ip Probate Court, was asked to decide which of ■ the two died first (says Lloyd's Weekly').. TJpon his decision depended the disposition of the property, originally worth about :■' £700. His lordship said that the evidence established that before ' Mrs Baldwin was landed the men struggling in the river, including Mr Baldwin, had disappeared. Whether the wife was alive v/nen landed was not certain, and he could not say that one died before the other. He thought ixiat they died at the same time, fie therefore revoked the grant of administration to the wife's -.sisters, ordering each party to pay their own. costs." ■'•■■■'Since'the-'commencement of the war there has been many instances of spontaneous appreciation of a man because he has seen iit to become a soldier —prepared to make the greatest sacrifice for his' country—-no-matter how great a stranger the man in khaki may be. There was a case in point at a "social" held in Kaiwar'ra last night (says Friday's Wellington Post). A native of the suburb was being honored, and he introduced to the company a Canadian who wa® friendless in New Zealand— until he visited Kaiwarra. There/ he received a warm reception, and was very soon made to feel thoroughly at home. A collection was taken up in the hall, and in less tha,n ten, minutes sufficient money had been subscribed to make a valuable presentation to the Canadian,, who, accordingly... went back to camp surprised, 'thorougfily pleased, and with a good opinion of N^w Zealand hospitality. " . . •

A typical Maori welcome was given at Garterton and at the Ngatuere .Pa, on Tuesday, to Pte. Piripi Kingi. who returned .by the Mahenq. He lost a leg at Gallipoli. Ihe Wairarapa News reports that the soldier and "his relatives and the Reception Committee were driven from Carterton to the pa in motor-cars. A car containing Maoris in handsome mats, with a flag displayed, led the way, and full honor was done to the soldier'who had done his work well and nobly in the fighting line. When approaching the pa the warrior ~was greeted by a large body of women wearing wreaths of greenery, and crying the old Maori welcome. Chi reaching the pa. the whole of the natives, men and women, knelt, and Pte. Kingi walked through the aisle left for him to a fceat of honor on a raised dais. On seating himself, the whole of the Natives, who were assembled in large numbers, broke out into wailings and lamentation, which continued for some time. When this ceased the welcoming speeches were made by the leading chieftains present, and feasting and happiness assumed sway.

The question as to what has become or the criminals and "work-shys" of England, for whom the hospitality of the workshop is no longer required is as-swered by Mr Begbie thus: "Will you believe it, they are earning their bread by honest work? VesT That is the wonderful truth. And think what it means. It means that, war or no war, we should have emptier prisons and emptier workhouses if only there was work for all. War has come to vs t shaking down a vast number of old ideas, and among these ideas is the widespread prejudice concerning the tramp and criminal. Give them a chance of work, decent work at a living wage, and tney prove themselves as honest as the rest of us. Only work is required. Provide work and you sweep away crime and watse — not all crime and all waste —but an1 immense amount of crime and a considerable amount of waste. It is worth thinking about." While the philosophy— "there'd always be a few crooked people"—of a member of the class for whom Mr Begbie speaks up so strongly, must, ever remain sound, to many elderly men among others in the Old Country the war seems to have brought- opportunities for employment that have been gratefully seized.

Under the by-laws of nearly every city and borough where there is a picture theatre it is necessary for a member of one of the fire brigades to be in attendance, primarily to see that patrons are not subjected to any unnecessary risk from danger of fire through the carelessness of the management or of the patrons themselves, and also to regulate the admittance of patrons and prevent overcrowding, so that in the event of any emergency everybody would have a fair chance of'gaining exit—-and safety. A gentleman sitting in a Napier theatre dropped a coin and struck a match to look for it. This immediately drew upon him the wrath of the fireman on duty, who, coming up to him politely- inquired, "Haven't you been in a picture show before?" He that was interrogated admitted that he had. "Well, you ought to know better than to strike matches," replied the fireman, who thereupon delivered an impromptu lee-! ture upon the dangers attending the - practice. Tha match-striker admitted i the truth of the fireman's remark, and! there the incident ended. The fireman in question stated that it was beginning to be the custom of some people to smoke in the theatre. They were on the look-out to catch an offender, when an example would be made of him.

"Pay an earnest attention to another's words."—Marcus Aurelius.

When so many people say out of their own experience that Baxter's Lung Preserver is an effective remedy for coughs, colds and sore throats, you can safely trust their opinion. Tl^e ''Baxter's" in your home and yo\i will find''that it possesses wonderful powers in healing throat and bronchial affections, and in building up strength and vitality. It preserves the health of the lungs j and thus prevents colds, sore throats, and other distressing ailments. Get a big Is KM bottle to-day—Advt.