Local & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 62, 14 March 1916, Page 4

Local & GENERAL NEWS.

The programme of the national concert to beheld) at His Majesty's Theatre^ on St. Patrick's Day appears in this issue. .! '/

Two , mpre/,,*-.. t .?pase^ of infantile paralysis are rfejjOrted at Mtham, on<? proving fatal." l _ A girl of. twelve years died tliis.r/mornjng.y -The other case was that of an infant- of 17 months.

A reminder^ is given of the 8.-cd Gross, sale \toV be !held on Tliursday. Contributions of produce; sweets, and home-made calves are earnestly solicited, / ' ■'■ ■':■ ■:.-...)- .; ..-- ••■•■'.■■. , ■ •

The compiler of the aggregate points, in the girls' championship at the swimming; carnival on Saturday afternoon ,maiae an unfortunate err^v in his figure^- 'M.Horton should baye been placed .second.,, without. a swim-off, and A. Amos third. ~

lleplying td the chairman at the meetuig-'o.f the^Wairau Hospital Board yesterday, Mr J. Johnston, health officer, said that no ease of infanti'e paralysis had occurred in this district. The case reported at Picton lecently had transpired to be a false alarm. The child suffered from some minor complaint vof .another kind, and... had quite recovered. '>

The patriotic tea on Saturday resulted f in the sum of £o 12s being added to the fuiid for comforts for our soldiers. The competition for child's frock was won by Mrs Hewlett. The garden party on Wednesday, March 22nd, will be the last this season, and the committee trusts that donations, in money or in kind will be sent in to make the fete a great success.

Taken on sugar, inhaled oi rubbed on tho chest, "NAZOL" never fails to relieve coughs, colds, sore throats, and chest tightness. Is 6d buys 60 doses.. — Advt. •. , , The phenomenal. growth which has been experienced in the Ashburton County since the recent rains (states the correspondent of the Lyttelton Times) is demonstrated by the weed known, as fat-hen • which is growing on a property in the Winchmoro district. The weed, which usually grows to a height of 3ft. to 4ft., is :7ft. 4in., and is almost twice the height of the fences which encircle the paddock.

Some figures quoted at the meeting of the W«irau Hospital and Charitable Aid' Board yesterday go to show tho marked; growth of the institution at Amersfoote. Tho number of patients treated at the hospital in 1900 was 180; and that recorded last year was 335. It was stated that 36 operations were performed there in 1900: 104 in 1914. and 136 in 1915; while from the beginning of the present year to date there had been 42. ■■ ■ -v '■■■

■ At tho Magistrate* Court in Nelson on Saturday, before Mr J. 8. Evans, •S.M., Frank Eaipert Hallam, driver of the motor-car'which collided with the train at tlie Annesbrook crossing on March 3rd, was charged with manslaughter by causing the deaths of Albert Edward Havelock Green and Horace Daniel Pine, who were tho victims of the •■•accident. The accused was committed for trial at the sittings of the Supreme Court, which commence at Nelson to-day, bail'boine; allowed the' accused in £100 and one surety of £100. '

The executive of the Dunedin j Patriotic Association resolved to, endorse, the constitution of and to affiliate with the federation of New Zealand war relief societies.

Next Saturday afternoon a children's garden party is to be held at the residenco of Mr James McKinley, Scott Street, in aid of Dr Barnardo's Homes. Eivery child who attends will receive a present, and the afternoon's proceeds will be devoted to the collection boxes, which were recently emptied of their contents in order to send a remittance to London. The price of admission for children will be 3d, and mothers will be admitted free provided they brijig a basket. A large attendance is expected.

Private W. J. McColgan. of the 14th Reinforcements, writes to the Editor as follows:—"Allow me, through the medium of your paper, to thank Mr Collie for the splendid gift received by me to-day. I think I can a'afely say that it will be as much, appreciated by other soldiers of Blenheim «s it has been .by me. It shows that the people of Blenheim take an interest in the doings of thoir fellowtownsmen who arc 'doing their little bit' in this struggle for supremacy."

Over 70 pupils of » the Borough School havo learned to swim this season, a fact which indicates the great value of ihe swimming classes thaA have been 'held. Through the help of the School Committee and Iwai swimming enthusiasts the school staff has been enabled to draw up for Thursday afternoon next an excellent programme, including a number o>t races ior the learners; A diving competition and a .school cha-iiv-pionship race will also be held, and outsiders will be catered for by an open championship for primary schools throughout Marlborough, and a couple of novelty races for adults.

The Pateena's voyage to Wellington oii Thursday night was marked by incidents'which ..will-make the trip a memorable one io the passengers (says the Nelson Colonist), fehe left Nelson an unusually full ship, and tho passengers included a noisy _ element whose disputation culminated in several fights. To add to the excitement two alarms of fire were raised during the night, incipient outbreaks having been discovered. Approaching Wellington Heads the ship ran into a heavy fog, which did not conduce to the comfort of the passengers. It is reported that, pickpockets were active throughout the journey, a number of passengers being relieved, of valuables.

It is as well that parents should know that a golf ball may prove a dangerous plaything for the young., and is best kept for the purpose for which it is made. A Nelson child, tlie Colonist reports, was'given one to play with, and after a time proceeded to find out what, it was made of. A knife was used in the course of the dissection, and when its point reached the centre of the ball there was a somewhat violent explosion. The child was not injured, but some liquid which had been contained in the ; ball bespattered the ceiling and walls of the> room where the alarming occurrence took place.

In the Magistrate's Court this morning, F. N/. Dillon was charged wirh that, as the proprietor of the Leefield Estate oi 15,283 acres, he failed to tako proper,means for the eradication of ra.bbits. Mr F. 11. Brittain, Stock Inspector, prosecuted, and the defendant, who pleaded not guilty, conducted his own ■'defence.. Evidence was given as to the increase of rabbits in December, and the sending of a notice to> the .'defendant.. on tho 30th of that morthi. Mr Brittaiit and Mr F. Sisson (rabbit inspector) spoke to the subsequent inspections and interviews with the defendant. On March. 2nd there were no signs of work arnl the rabbits were multiplying. Then a large pnrt of the pro V-erty- had been subdivided and sold to vafious settlers. In February, Mr Brittain said, he pointed out to the defendant that it was his (Mr Brittain's) duty to protect the incoming settlers, and the defendant rep'ied that ho would give the settlers the poison, to*lay.■,Mi-"Brittain, however, insisted that the responsibility should not be trlinsferred to the settlers. »i. Graham, called by tho prosecution, gave it as his experience that toxa and pollard poisoning carried out in that country in the summer time was effective. Addressing the Magistrate, . the defendant said that, as he had told Mr Brittain, |he did not regard January and I February as tho proper time of the i year for poisoning, and, moreover, in j February he and ail his men were too* I busy with the preparations for the I sale to comply with the inspector's request then and engage in the poisoning operations. If he had taken only half measures he would have spoiled a later campaign by making the rabbits shy. Mr Brittain said he considered this was a ca.se in which the maximum penalty should be imposed The property was allowed to become very "rabbity," and the burden to be passed on to the incoming tenants. Mr F. 08. Loughnan, 3.M.. said that the notice was received on January 7th, aiid tho portion of the property subdivided was disposed of on March Ist. The defendant began his mustering operations on January 30th, and certainly there was not a superfluity of time. The season was very di*y in Jamiary snd onward. Still, something might have been done to reduce the rabbits. Tt did not seem fair that the purchasers of the sections should be saddled with them. Considering the case'at' large, the shortness of time and so on, he did not feel disposed to impose the maximum penalty. He inflicted a line of £10, with £1 4s costs.

The Mayor invites the burgesses of Blenheim to observe Friday, St. Patrick's Day, as a public holiday from 1 p.m., in lieu of to-morrow.

Under the auspices of the Marlborough Committee of Agriculture an address on "Liming and the use of Fertilisers" was given in the Borougn Council Chambers last night by Mr A. McTaggart, M.Sc.A., of the Agricultural Department. The audience numbered about 25. The Mayor (Mr J. J. .Cbrry) presided and expressed regret, that" the attendance was not much larger. It seemed to him that it wanted a team of bullocks with strong chrins to drag some of the local farmers to the founts of knowledge^ and real success Even the best of larmers had something to learn, and certainly the general body could not fail to profit by Mr McTaggart's informative lectures if they would only take the trouble to come and listen to him. He hoped that Mr McTaggart would meet big gatherings at Marlboro ughtown to-night and at other places in the district on succeeding nights. The lecturer dealt with his subject in a thoroughly interesting and instructive manner, and answered many questions. On the motion of Mr EL. Cheesman, seconded by Mr W. I>. Pikp, he was ancorded a hearty vote of thanks. A general wish was expressed to see the leading lines of Mr McTaggart's address published, and the chairman intimated that arrangements had been made in this direction.

Bees have been busy, as usual, and honey prices are good everywhere, says the Wellington district apiary instructor in his latest report concerning the honey crop. He adds, however, that the flow' is about over. The Auckland report states that the past month has been very dry and the flow lias suddenly stopped in most parts. Prices of all grades of honey are likely to be high this season, and •merchants are eagerly inquiring for honey. The crop generally in the Auckland districts will be an average one. "The season is one of the worst experienced for a very fong time" is the report from Christchurch. The inspector there says that a .few slight showers have improved the pastures and there is a little honey being stored in the supers. It is feared {hat owing to the general poor conr dition. of stocks and the lateness of the flow it will take bees all their tinie to gather sufficient to go through winter successfully. Roports from South Canterbury and INorth Otago confirm the opinion that the season has been disastrous. Beekeepers have suffered severely through continual drought, the losses being appalling. In Southland heavy crops have beem netted, beekeepers reaping excellent returns.

Some excitement, and incidentally a little alarm, was occasioned at Aramoho on Wednesday by. the; escape from the Zoo of an old-man monkey (says the, Wanganui Chronicle). The animal, as it subsequently transpired, war. tame enough, but its size and appearance were such as to suggest unpleasant possibilities, especially to any "childrer who might arouse its wrath.* Consequently the chase _ for the vagrant was a perious business, and was ultimately located among the upper branches of a tree, wherein he had stopped for a rest after his exciting scamper through gardens;and over roofs. To the relief of the' onlookers the big fellow Mibmitted quietly to being "roped by his keeper, by whom he was led back to captivity.

Some soldiers have an; idea that they, having donned the King's uniform, have the right of .entry anywhere. Generally speaking, they are welcomed!, but occasionally they overstep the mark* A Wairarapa paper reports. that a. fuddled soldier on Monday night went to Dr Bey's residence at Grey town, and demanded board and lodging. He was toldithat it was not a boarding-house but he replied heatedly, that he had money and ; was prepared to pay what was asked. Anyhow, he was going tb stay. Dr Bey remonstrated with him, arid the soldier jumped up arid assaulted him, hitting him on ' the head and knocking him down. The l/olice were sent for, and the man loc?.:ed up. He was handed over- to the military authorities ,to deal with. ■

An- unusual charge of trespassing was heard in. the Auckland Police Court last week, when two Natives named Wi Repa Hetaraka and Rawiri Puhata, were charged with trespassing on the Roman Catholic endowment at Northcote. Edward C. BlonifLeld, solicitor, who acts for /Dr. Clenry, the present trustee, said that ii\ January he informed the Natives that Bishop Cleary had asked him to warn them to leave the property, which comprised 223 acres. Kawiri said he would not leave ihe place, preferring t<> go to Court. Repa, who was then settled in ii whare on the property, was similarly warned, but Repa said he would let the case go to the Court. Defendants claimed an ancestral right to occupy the property. They did not recognise any Crown grant. iThe Magistratel reserved his decision.

The reluctance of some of the northern Maoris to send further recruits for the reinforcements—'a matter which Dr A. W. Averil), Anglican Bishop of Auckland, ' had brought under his notice in the north recently—was referred to the Hon. W. H. Herries when he was at Kaikohe (Bay of Plenty). He ascertained Ilia I a. number of the .Maoris were opposed to aftowing more of their young men to go to the front, hut those of that mind had very small support. One of the objections raised b.V this minority was a quaint one. They argued that since the Kaiser w<ns a grandson, of, the late Queen Victoria., it was not right to fight ngain.sL him. The objections against recruiting harbored by a small section of the Maoris in Ihe north had already come to the Minister's knowledge. After the views expressed to the Natives !>y the Bishop' of Auckland and by himself, however, Mr Herries was satisfied tha,t the matter j was at iin end, and that no more i would be heard of it. I

There is a feeling of disappointment amongst farmers in the Mataura district at the result of threshing operations. Some of the results are not*, what were anticipated. In discussing: tho matter with an Ensign representative, one farmer said he knew of af yield that was fully ten bushels'per acre below the estimate, and another! was fifteen bushels below tho esti-» mate. Asked if he could give any! reason for the falling off, the farmer* replied that he thought the weather during the last month of growth wastoo hot and hastened the ripening off the grain too rapidly. The result was* that the ears had not filled out and' matured as was expected. Tho strawt was clean, good, and lengthy, but tho yields were slightly disappointing.

In a letter to his parents in Daiw nevirke, Mr Harry Bateman. who* went to China some four years ago on missionary work with the China* Inland Mission, and who has for the last eighteen months been acting as dispenser and secretary of the Men's and Women's Wilson Memorial Hospitals, Pingyang, Shansi, says:—"So far as I can judge, the Chinese are,, generally speaking, somewhat proGerman ; but only the scholarly class is at all able to think outside the* 'food and sleep,' and nowadays thei monarchical movement is taking hisl silent attention—silent because he dare not express his opinion, for the} morrow may not know where he has gone. It is a savage land, ond it id marvellous what a power Yuan-Shi-* Kai has over the whole country."

The unnavigable state of the Wai--kato River for cargo steamers has re-> ceived considerabte prominence in the discussions of local bodies south ofl Auckland during the past raw months,; and public oipnion is strongly grown ing that steps should b:> taken to* make water traffic possible from! Hamilton to the sea. At a meeting! of the Kirikiriroa Road Board (reports the Auckland Star), Mr J. McGregor remarked that the present! Waikato River Board vas somewhati of a misnomer, as the. Ob vet that body; had in view was not- tio deepening of the channel for navigation-pur-poses, but to drain certain swamp areas. The Waikato River was one of- tho greatest assets the province possessed, and he could conceive otf no greater scheme for benefiting the producer and the business "man at the present time than direct v/ater carriage from Waikato to oversea, ports. In its present state tho river was simply a magnificent asset running; to waste. He suggested, and his suggestion met with general approval,* tha£ an effort be made to have a new body constituted, to be called the Waikato River Navigation Board, with the object of making the riven navigable. .