LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 December 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A There was no rainfall at Hawera during tlie 24 liours ending at 9 a.m. to-day. A London caßle reports that 'the Crown withdrew the charges against Captain Plumer. He was arrested on a charge of attempting to defraud underwriters. At the annual meeting of the, Auckland Stock Exchange it was reported that the exchange was in a sound financial position. Mr G. C. Creagh was re-elected chairman. —Press Association. Following a conference between the mine-owners and the miners, the Paparoa mine is to be reopened. It was declared "black" by the miners early this year in consequence of a dispute, and has been idle ever since.—Press Association. Ray McCabe, a little boy aged about 8 years, the son of Mr J. McCabe, ot Campbell street, Nolantown, met wu, a painful 'and serious accident last evening. While climbing a tree in the garden a decayed branch broke, and the boy fell about twelve feet,, breaking his arm. The break was a bad one, and an operation had to be performed this morning to prevent, if possible any lasting effects from the in- j juries. ! An Auckland telegram reports that so far Thorn has made no statement or confession in regard to the crime of which he has been found guilty. The date of the execution has not yet been set down by the sheriff, but it is understood that it will probably be .fixed for Tuesday, December 21. A Press Association telegram reports that a poll of ratepayers in Dunedin City was taken yesterday on the question of the purchase of the Hoslyn cable trams from the company for £35,000, with the result that 1075 voted in favour of the proposal and 1063 against,, the majority in favour being twelve. An Auckland message states that the Rev. A. A. Murray attended the Presbytery last night in obedience to a summons to receive censure. In pronouncing the censure; the "Moderator said Mr Murray was now suspended sine die from exercise of the functions of the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the reason being that in belief and practice he had departed from the vital doctrine of the Church. A highly-respected resident of Auckland, Mr Thomas Webb, died last week, aged 63 years. Deceased bad been in failing health for some time, and suffered irom a stroke a couple of years ago. He was a son of Mr TWebb, of Aratapu, who arrived in NewZealand in 1863 by the ship Gertrude. Deceased came to Auckland over 40 years ago, and founded the firm of TWebb and Co., manufacturers' agents. Mr Webb was a man of high moral rectitude, a consistent worker in the cause of prohibition, and for many years past a strong advocate of single tax and taxation on unimproved values. A deputation representing the New Zealand Faxmillers' Association waited on the Prime Minister yesterdaj (reports a Wellington telegram). Attention was. drawn to the recent increase in railway freights on hemp amounting, the deputation claimed, tc over 200 per cent upon the rates previously existing. The speakers said the association had. never objected to paying fair rates, but it looked as though the industry had been singled out foi specially severe treatment, and consequently the flax industry would bt detrimentally affected. Mr Masses said he would have the figures furnished by the association carefully examined by the Department, and he assured the deputation that their repre- \ sentations would receive full consideration. A man wajked into the shop of * Chinese fruiterer at Eltham the o:h-3] dity, and his attention was arrested bj three healthy-lo6king Chinese boys whose ages would be from about 9 tc 13 Though not an anthropologist the man's interest was aroused in these representatives of one of the greatest of Eastern races. He had never seen Chinese boys at work or at play before, and as he watched these three sorting fruit he endeavoured to engage the Chinaman in charge of the shop ir conversation aboirt them. "Are those your boys," he asked. The shopkeeper acknowledged the relationship, and the customer, to keep the conversation going, remarked that they were fine boys. The 'Chinaman needed nc encouragement to talk after that. "Nc like-ee work," he said, "too much play —play all-ec time. Eatum up all-ec plofit, too." He reflected a moment, ■and then went on: "Too much row— row, row all-ec time; sometimes fight, too-r-fight, fight all-ec time." "Oh, well," he said, after another little pause, "can't help-ec," in a tone which conveyed to the customer his appreciation of the saying "Boys will be boys." Cr Green at yesterday's meeting of the Egmont County Council referred • to a remark which had been attributed to Mm, and which he denied having used. It appeared that he had been represented as saying when an application for support towards the erection of a memorial to fallen soldiers came before the Council that it was merely another attempt to beautify Opunake. Cr Green, in denying that he had used these words, threatened to resign if an apology was not tendered him. There was a very warm discussion about what actually took^"place, and Cr Trotter, who had approached the Council as a member of the Memorial Committee for assistance, and who was apparently responsible for the publicity that had been given to the remark attributed to Cr Green, absolutely refused to apologise or to divulge the name of the councillor who had informed him of what had taken place at the Council table. Cr O'Brien moved a resourfion thanking Cr Trotter for his efforts to have a fitting memorial erected to the gallant men wno fell in the great war. This was seconded by Cr Ferguson, but as Cr Green repeated his threat to resign if it was carried the chairman persuaded the mover and seconder to withdraw the motion, and the little episode ended without further trouble. The Christmas season is approaching and most people will now be wondering what to buy their men folk for a Xmai gift. This should not be a very hard I task just now, as nearly every man | j wants something practical, something i that he can use or wear, such as a nice pair of hair brushes in a solid leather case, or on the other hand a serviceable silk shirt for holiday wear. Always, a« in other years, "H.8.,' 3J the great men's outfitting shop, have gone carefully into this Xmas gift question, and they are now in the position to assist you in selecting suitable gifts from their large and well-assorted stock. of useful presents, and. lucky is the man or boy who will be the fortunate possessor of a nice box of linen handkerchiefs, or a neat tie from this up-to-dats house, whose motto is, "If it's 'H.B. it's good."—N.Z. Clothing Factory's i Hawera.—'-Advt ;