LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 71, 26 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington says that at a meeting last night it was decided to take steps to form a boys' drum and fife band.

Farmers should note that a meeting of those interested in the movement to form a Cb-operativo Bacon Company for MaiToorough is to be held in the Council Chambers on Saturday next at 11 a.m. The gathering has been convened by Mr Albert Adams, who recently held a very successful meeting at Havelock.

The roaring of the heavy sea on the Cloudy Bay coast last night was heard with, remarkable distinctness in Blonheaii). The powerful rollers, as they swished and thundered on to the beach, seat a pulsating and impressive volume of sound through the clear air, finely representing, the majestic mood of the "dark and deep blue ocean."

This morning Blenheim and Greymouth, each with a temperature of 56, were the warmest' of tho South Island towns • mentioned in the weather list. Cnristchurch registered 48 degrees, and Dunedin 52. Bealey, with 46, was the coldest hill station. Wellington reported 58. degrees, and Auckland 63. A blue sky prevailed at 9 o'clock over nearly the whole of New Zealand/and rain was falling nowhere. Heavy seas were notified by Cape Palliser and Cape Campbell; and! right along the eastern coasts rough seas were running.

The case in which two boys named Frederick, Neilsen and William Atwood are charged with, injuring James Neal on the 18th inst. by causing him to be struck with a bullet from a pea-rifle, was'called on in the Magistrate's Court to-day before the two presiding Justices of the Peace. On the application of Sergeant Hansen, the case was adjourned till to-morrow morning; Mr Neal, who was struck by a bullet while working in Messrs Parker and Fulton's flaxmill, appeared in Court.

. The popular Belle Crome BeHringevs appeared at His Majesty's Theatre en Easter . Saturday and Monday. The musical selections by the ringers were, as always, a treat, and Miss Richards proved as popular a favorite as ever m her numbers, the best of which was "The Promise of Life.'' The new members of the company were Mr Churton, who sang in an acceptable baritone, Mr Bert Ralph, a comic singer of parts, particularly good in patter, and a novel and entertaining couple in the clever Creightons.

Cook Strait was in- a turbulent mood on Easter Monday, and the 600 passengers "who left Wellington for Picton by the Maori in the morning realised this fact long before the vessel arrived back at Wellington (states The Dominion). The weather was fine, but the southerly wind of the last two days had done its work, and "the ship went up and the ship went down." When the Maori was coming out of Tory Channel, homeward bound, she took two big seas over her bows in her own peculiar way of doing these things. The result was a wetting for .some of the excursionists. One sea-carried six of them along the deck ,and it was thought at first that one of the number had been hurt, but it was ascertained later that he was more alarmed than anything else. The Maori reached port at 7 p.m. without further accident. •

"We're too orderly in our churches," Dr. Wilbur Chapman told a meeting of ministers on Thursday at Christchurch. "Men know exactly what's going to happen, and they won't come. They know that there will be a few hymns, a short prayer, a long prayer, and a sermon. Well, just change all that. Don't preach another sermon for three weeks. Have a straight heart-to-heart talk with your congregation. It would do good."

Messrs J. J. White and John Reid, Justices of the Peace, occupied the bench at the Magistrate's Court this morning, in the absence of Mr F. 08. Loughnan, S.M., who sustained an injury to a tendon, of the leg while playing in the recent tennis tournament. Several police cases were called. John Kershaw was charged with having procured liquor during the currency «jf a prohibition order. Charles Ball, James McDonald, and William O'Neill were charged with being unlawfully on licensed premises at Renwiektown on Sunday, the 16th inst. John R. Timms and Thomas Miller were alleged to have been found on licensed premises at Wairau Valley on Sunday, the 16th instant, without lawful excuse* and H. B. Reid, licensee of the Wairau Valley Hotel, was charged with the selling of liquor on the same date. As all cases required to be dealt with by the Magistrate, they were adjourned sine die.

Particularly sad circumstances surrounded the death of the wife and infant daughter of Mr C. E. Hopkinson, of Ontjhunga (says the Auckland Herald). On Monday .week the child was taken to the hospital, and on Tuesday morning the father was .called to the institution, as .the child was worse. Mr Hopkinson went to the hospital and remained there until noon, but meanwhile another message 'was sent to his home, the authorities apparently being unaware of the father's presence. This message, which camu to the ears of the mother, stated that the baby was growing steadily worse. The shock was too much for Mrs Hopkinson, who tainted, and died without regaining consciousness. During the same day the baby died at the hospital.

The harvest thanksgiving "at home," held in the Methodist Church, Mahakipawa, on "the evening of the 22rid inst., was. a great success. A large number of the Grove and" Maniakipa'wa residents were present. The church had been tastefully decorated in. the afternoon by Mesdkmes Akeiy Bryant, West, and Voyoe, with ferns, .corn,, and .flowers, and the splendid display of vegetables, fruit, mutton, and preserves: was well arranged, and realised, later in the evening, by "Dutch auction," the sum of £4.* Mr W. Voyce gave a dressed sheep, which was a credit to the valley, as were also the pumpkin and marrow grown by Mr J. D. Prouting. The pumpkin, the smallest of three on a vine, weighed 68-Jlbs., and was won in a guessing competition by Messrs Findlater and Jock Bretter, who tied with 671bs. Songs were rendered during the evening by Mrs C. "-J. Fulton and Mr Bryant, while Mrs R. MacEay presided at the organ. • An. organist has . long been needed at this church, and the music was much appreciated.

A service was advertised .to take place on Saturday evening in, St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral, Auckland. The advertisement stated: — "The Bishop .will hold special evensong, with commemoration of the departed. Any desiring mention of their 'dear ones gone bjfxro.' are asked to send the names (full Oha-istian names) to the Bishop." In connection with this notice a protest was forwarded to the vestry of St. Mary's Cathedral against this service being held, on the ground that it pertained to Roman Catholicism. Inquiry at Bishopscourt elicited the information that two individuals had sent the protest to the vestry, and Bishop"prossley explained that he had held! similar services every year of his life as a vicar. It would simply be on similar lines to the one held recently ;in connection with the death of Captain Scott.

Kirkcaldie and Staines, Ltd., tend to our readers a cordial invitation to visit their display of the new autumn and winter goods, which^ are now on view at their showrooms, Queen Street.—Advt. , , The Lyttelton Times says:—-The absent-mii] dedness of one of the Ministers who are running about the country seeing what the' people Require—and incidentally . commending the Reform policy to the electorsgave one of the official® of the Kaikoura Agricultural and Pastoral Association an opportunity to raise a very hearty laugh at one of the gatherings that followed upon the annual show last week. In acknowledging a toast, the official explained; at some length the efforts he had; made to secure'the attendance of a Minister at the show. Apparently he began at the top of.the list and ran down to the bottom, but jfrom Mr Massey to Dr. Poinare the Ministers all made excuses, if not with one accord, at any rate with disappointing unanimity. Just as he was' despairing of success the official noticed that one of the Ministers appeared to have a good deal of time available for travelling between "Wellington and his constituency, and sent off a message, begging him to spare; a couple of days to Kaikoura. Again there were polite regrets and assurances that, nothing would have given the Minister greater pleasure if he had been able to get away, quite a long telegram indeed—and it was made "collect," with Is l£d to pay. "And this is Reform !" the official sadly remarked j when the roars of laughter his story had provoked would allow him to speak. ; ' ; ... .

An Auckland Press Association telegram says that the New Zealand?Sawmillers' and Timber-workers' Conference 'elected Mr O'Byrne, of Southland^ president, and Mr JV Alswerlen, of Southland, secretary. The delegates are discussing' several, matters in a keenly critical spirit,* with a view to arriving at a uniform .action for the union to follow.

_ A deputation consisting of the president and delegates of the New Zealand Association of Spiritualists waited on the Hon. Mr Herdman, Minister for Justice, to-day, asking the Government to introduce into Parlia,ment a Bill giving the Association" a legal status and recognising its members, and also to prevent frauds andj quacks practising under the name of spiritualists. The Hon. Mr Herdman replied that he knew of no such' measure being in existence in any British country. He would submit the request to Cabinet, but he could not personally recommend the Government to take up the measure.—Press Association telegram.

The most prominent question iii commercial circles just now, remarks the Dunedin Star, is: "Will Australia need New Zealand potatoes this year?" If farmers have to depend car a Dominion demand, it is aln\ost certain that prices will not go near those they, obtained last year. Heavy supplies have come to market, and price® this week dropped about £1 as compared with last week's rates. The best price obtained this week was £5 12s 6d, but the average is nearer five guineas per ton, which is better thaiw the rates obtained at this time last year.. But prospects are not as good! as they were then. The future depends on Australia.

It is not often that we hear talk, about the color line in New Zealand (says the Auckland Star)j for the Maori has always been regarded more or less in this country as a brothett member of the human family, notwithstanding certain little differences of inherited instincts and lines of reasoning. But up in Oruaiti there i® a settler who, has definite opinions of, his own on this subject of the social mix-up of the races, opinions which, unfortunately for himself, find scant sympathy from the members ; of the Education Board. On Wednesday a report was before the Board stating that this settler steadily and resolutely declined to\ send his children to school', the reason given by him being that ho children of his should attend a school at which Maori children were also taught. > It appears that three Maori children get their education at Oruaiti school, as no native school is within reasonable distance. ' The Board dismissed the objection of the settler by giving instructions that the truant officer-should use his per-, suasions with the obdurate pakeha.

While at Timaru on. Wednesday, the Prime Minister received a number of deputations, the, most important being from the Farmers' Union in reference to the shortage of farm ■, labor (outdoor and indoor), aud cropping restrictions on l.i.p. lands. Rer garding farm hands, Mr: Massey said the farmer wanted a skilled man able to take charge of horses, implements., and. machinery, and Sir Rider Haggard told him that such men werei as scarce at Home as here. Then,: as such men did not remain servants all their lives, continual streams of young mcii suited for the work; were required. The Government had been assisting ploughmen and domestics;, and he would propose a. larger sum:., for the purpose. Regarding cropping, restrictions, he said they were to a ■ large extend useless, and he would have them removed within certain limits.

An instance of the ease; with which; a fraud may be perpetrated, with unpleasant consequences to the victim occurred at Rongotea on Monday ,(says the Feilding Star). A stranger appeared at the Rongotea school, oil charge of Mr P. Kime, M.A., and; announced hiMself as an official of the Wellington Education' Department on inspection bent. Knowing that many of the officers of that De 7 partment are rather unceremonious; in their methods, Mr Kime accepted the man at his own valuation, aa« had the boys put for drill and^ manual exercises. The, pretended official then said that one of :the boys had] not behaved properly, arid picked out a lad named Sanson, whom he accused of using bad language. He persuaded Mr^Kime to take the boy into the school and to examine him as to* whether lie 'had used certain words* that were more lurid than picturesque. The boy defied the soft imputation, but got confused under, the persistent questioning, and the headmaster .was actually persuaded to give the wrd% party eight cuts with thestrap! The practical joker then lert, stating that his motor-car'was wait-; mo- Inquiries show that he was a commercial traveller of the variety", which carry their waxes on them back, and he had boasted to.some ■folk he met of the' great lark he had at Rongotea. ~., ' ..'

THE FOOD WE EAT. The food we eat gives strength if .the stomach is kept pure, sweet, and healthy. Let the digostion become enfeebled, the stomach disordered, and the strongest man in the world' will soon grow weak, tired, and pale. He will become nervous andsleepjess—. a . dyspeptic. Hence,the food-he-eats cannot nourish the body, because it is not assimilated by the; blood. A general falling away ,ot strength ensues.-Finally some chronic; ailment sets up—and all because of that most terrible complaint—indiges-

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVENTORS.

Inventions are needed in ©very department oflife. A long list of the simplest is given in our free, booklet, "Advice to Inventors." A copy will be sent you. on request.'—Henry, Hughes, Ltd,,. 157 Feathersfon Street, Wellington.