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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9137, 9 February 1910, Page 4

The Borough Council meet to-morrow evening to adopt the proposed new bylaws. The recent wet weather is affecting the wheat crop in the Wauganui district, while oats are suffering from the depredations of caterpillars. The scheme of river protection proposed by tho Government, has not yet boon received, but the Borough Council propose to visit the river bank on Friday next as a Public Works Committee. The Inspector-General of Hospitals, Dr. Valintine, states that the election of boards under the new Act will be held on Wednesday, March 16, and the Act will oome into force on April 1. Tho Mayor has fixed Friday, the 18th inst,., as the date on which he will hold a public meeting in the Municipal Hall to discuss the question of electric trams and power. Full particulars of the meeting will be advertised. The bank rate of interest on deposits will be lowered to-morrow by a half per cent. The lending rates aro (says tho Hawke's Bay Herald Wellington correspondent) also likely to be reduced shortly. Mr W. E. Hutchison's motor car got out of control through a defect in the steering gear at Mt. Albert (Auckland) on Saturday, crashed through a fence and down a. bank, leaving the owner on the way with a fractured arm and a severe bruising. Tho Terrace End School Committee has decided to install a miniature rifle range at tho school —the first of its kind in Palmerston, though in several other towns these ranges have been constructed with beneficial results. It is intended to hold a school concert in the Opera Houso to raise the necessary funds. Tho throwing overboard of the damaged mutton from the Kaipara in Rangitoto Channel is believed to bo responsible for the presence of some monster sharks in the Hauraki Gulf. The Thames Star reports that last week a shark 18 feet long was seen to make short work of two carcases of frozen sheep which had floated down to Coromandel. After extensive examination of the Nelson drainage system, Mr R. Hay, C.E., of Dunedin, is of opinion that the scheme, with the necessary supervision of details, is a workable one, and generally designed and laid out on proper lines, excepting tho sewers in the wood area, where thero are leakages.—This in answer to the strictures by the Health Department on the scheme. A payment of £500 was authorised on Thursday by tho Government to be made to the four lucky prospectors who located tho rich Blackwater quartz reef, Inangaliua district, about sixteen miles south of Roefton. This is the maximum reward payable for the discovery of a new goldfield, and the recipients are Messrs David Ross, William Meates, Robert Bannon and James Martin.

The Lone Hand for February, a copy of which is to hand from the publishers, opens with a character and critical sketch of Norman Lindsay, whose artistic work has become so familiar to readers of the Bulletin and Lone Hand, opens the number, and then fellows a most interesting description of the work on the Panama Canal, written and profusely illustrated by A. H. M'lntyre. Short stories, sketches, and poetry,' of a varied and interesting nature, precede tho continuation of ex-President Roosevelt's African experiences, which are told in thrilling style.

The well-known flax and dairy property —Paiaka—will be sold at auction by Dalgoty. and Co., Ltd., at Palmerston North, on the 26th February (Saturday). It comprises . 347 acres freehold and 16C acres leasehold, some of the richest land on the Manawatu. Terms may be arranged. The flax will be cutable' this year. — Advt.

The membership of the Masterton A, and P. Association has now reached thevery substantial total of 812.

At the Jackeytown. School picnic, a report of which appears in another column, special prizes donated by Mr Park for tho best boy and girl in the school were won by Haldane McEwen and Ernestine De Cleenc. It is expected that about 60 boys from, the High School will attend the cadet camp at Wellington on the occasion of Lord Kitchener's visit. They will be in the charge of Captains Footo and Murray. The school will continue work as usual during , the absenco of the cadets. At the Police Court this morning, before Mr L. Simmons, J.P., Jas. Brown was charged with fake pretences in obtaining goods from C. M. Ross and Co. of the value of 19s 6d. and from Garner Bros, of the value of 12s. Accused was remanded until to-morrow, bail being allowed.

Owing to tho opening of the All tions' Fair on Tuesday, the 15th inst.:, = ." the Councillors arc being asked to cowsent to an adjournment of the ordinary meeting of the Council until the 22nd inst. As most of the Councillors are assisting, it is probable the adjournment will bo arranged. The patients and staff of the Hospital were entertained last night by a concert party organised by Mr and Mrs T. J. Rodgers, and comprising Mrs Broad,. Messrs G. C. Kccble, P. Hockley, P. Edie and J. Scott. A varied and interesting programme was given and the music and reciations were thoroughly enjoyed by the patients. Mrs Rodgers jolayed the accompaniments. The party were entertained by the staff and cordially thanked for the evening's entertainment provided. A well-known resident of Moehau,. Coromandel Peninsula, Mr A. E. Jeffries,, has written to Messrs Napier and Smith,, of Auckland, complaining that the beach, from his place to Cabbage Bay—a distance of 20 miles —is strewn with carcases of frozen beef, evidently from the Kaipara. There is strong feeling on the part of the settlers, who fear sickness may be caused. Messrs Napier and Smith referred the matter to the Health Department, who state that the New Zealand Shipping Co. is taking steps to abate the nuisance. A Mastortoii contemporary hears that a Mount Bruco settler declares that at an hour's notice he can put his hand on gold-bearing stono at tho head of the Ruamahanga. river. He has prospected there in former days, but tho analysis of. tho surface stone, while disclosing the presence of gold, proved it to be in unpayable quantities. He was advised to sink for richer stone in the locality where ho found his samples, but this sinking has never been attempted, and the auriferous ground at the head of the Ruamahanga river still remainsuntested. For the season to date Auckland has exported over 4000 tons of butter, which, may bo roughly valued at anything from. £390,000 to £420,000. Taking the corresponding period of last season, thepresent season shows an increase of over 1000 tons. It was feared the dry period, experienced in December last would, bring the returns down with a run: but the forago held remarkably well, and the rains of January saved the situation, the decline in tho outputs being no more tkan normal for the period of the year. At the present time factories, are all busy, and feed is plentiful. The District Nurse's report is as follows : —During the months of December and January 143 visits wore made to 16 patients, including 23 visits to urgent cases during tho nurse's absence on holiday. One birth is reported. The following donations have been received: — Clothing: "Friend," Mesdames Harper and F. Cook. Old LTnen: Mesdames Hodder and McLeavey. Buns, cakes, etc.: Mrs Rawlins and Messrs W T hiftehead Bros. Toys: Messrs G. H. Bennett and A. Millar. Sweets: Mr Horn. Booke: Dr. Stowo. Magazines: Mrs Gill. The nurse wishes it to be understood that donations of linen are very acceptable. A Taumaranui native, Whakanene Katipo. spends most of his waking hours in playing billiards, and all the English he knows consists of phrases connected with the game. Ho can "pot the red" and "cannon off the cushion" in the language of tho pakeha, while he sells hie land claims and draws the interest thereof in his native tongue. Just lately he returned from a visit to Auckland and expressed to us his utter contempt of what ho saw and heard in one of the theatres of that city. "A fellow came out and ho throw his arme about and then he go porangi (mad!). He say, 'Cannon to right of them! Cannon to left of them !' but I stay there half hour, and ho never say 'In off the red: the marker's dry!' " The ordinary meeting of the Rechabite Lodge was held in the Orange Hall last evening. There was a good attendance. Bro. I\. W. McCreath, of Invercargill, occupred tho chair. One new member was initiated, and the officers elected for tho ensuing half-year were installed. The question of sharing the cost of a. Friendly Societies' Hall was discussed,, but the Tent found that it could not see its way clear at present. After the: routine business was transacted Bro. McCrcath gave a very interesting address, on Rcchabitism. Ho believed that a& the result of the sub-districts scheme Rechabitisni would flourish more than. ever it has done since' its origination. Bro. McCreath 6poke strongly in favour of a Friendly Societies' Dispensary, which he considered would be in the best interests of the various lodges in Palmerston. The speaker stated that, the Invercargill Disponsary brought in a. profit of £598 last year and over £600the previous year. Soveral other matters of great interest were mentioned bythe speaker. Ho was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Bro. McCreath leaves, for Wanganui to-morrow. Among the Councillors who have resigned for supplying goods to the Napier Borough Council is Mr E. Crowley. In forwarding his resignation 'he eays: — "It was only on Saturday that I read the disqualification clause of the Act, a portion of which reads as follows: —'Any person concerned or participating (other than as a shareholder in an incorporated company, or in an association or partnership consisting of more than twenty persons) in any contract with or work, to bo dono or the supply of goods for the council if the payment of-such contract or work or supply exceeds £5 for

any one contract or work or supply or £10 altogether in any year if more than one contract or work or supply.' I readily admit that tho word 'particpate' ie fatal to me, I having earned a commission on the type-writer which was sold to the council by Meesrs Searle, Joy and Co., which firm I represent, my agreement with them being- that commission is paid to mo on all sales, whether the sale is made direct—by their travellers— or_ effected by me; consequently, I received my commission in the usual way.. I feel, though, with deep regret, under these circumstances there is a moraP. obligation, both to the ratepayers, and: myself, to adopt tne course I have." In.' view of a controversy which has beenproceeding, it is interesting to learnthat Cr. McGrath. in going through the borough accounts for the year 1903-04, discovered that Cr. M. Lascelles had received payment of £10 in respect of asafe sold by him to the council.

The Pohangina County Council will meet at. 10 o'clock on Saturday instead of 11, so that the Councillor? can attend the Union picnic in the afternoon. At the Ti-voli Theatre, Sydney, an acrobatic performer is giving a turn which includes no fewer tha.n sixty somersaults in a minute, which, to use a popular slang term, is "pretty good going." Superintendent Warner, of the Fire Brigade, desires to acknowledge receipt of one guinea, from Mrs Law in recognition of the brigade's services at the recent fire on her premises. The County of Wairoa hae no fewer than three A. and P. Shows annually. There is now a strong feeling in tho district that an amalgamation shotvki be effected, and a really representative show held every year. In Great Britain there is, according to official figures, a pig shortage of halt ra million compared with the returns for the preceding year, which maw that the morning rasher of tho British workmen will soon also be listed with tho other things "made in Germany. We understand that the Rector of the Palmerston North High School is one of two representatives selected to represent the whole of the secondary schools at the forthcoming Education Conference. The selection of Mr Vernon to represent secondary schools' interests may therefore be taken as a great compliment to both Mr Vernon and the local High School. Addressing the Hawera liremen amJ police Inspector Hugo stated the majority of losses by fire in the Dominion were caused by faulty construction in building. And he gave instances, referring to the recent hotel fires at Wanganui and Feilding. In the case of tho Feilding outbreak, he said the Feilding "brigade had done all that could reasonably be expected of it. He considered that many thousands of pounds would be saved in losses were it not for this faulty construction in some of our buildings "in the Dominion.

Among the latest attractions at the Royal Zoological Society's Gardens. Moore Park, Sydney, is an exhibit of eight young crocodiles. They were procured from eggs secured on a river bank in New Guinea, and were forwarded to Sydney. They hatched en route on the Prinz Sigismund, and have now been transferred to the reptile-house in the gardens, and seem to be thriving happily enough. The crocodiles are about "7in long, and are feeding on insects.

At the laying of the foundation stone of St. John's Memorial Church at Hororata (Canterbury) on Saturday, Archdeacon Ensor narrated the circumstances under which he first met the late Sir John Hall. Twenty-eight years ago Archdeacon Ensor, who is a keen angler, visited Hororata, and whilst pursuing the sport in which old Izaak Walton so delighted, got wet to the skin, and had to don a pair of dungarees and a sack in place of his ordinary clothing. In this unclerical attire he continued his sport until hie attention was diverted by the attempts of a gentleman on horseback to get through a gate. The horse was defeating the rider's efforts, and Archdeacon Ensor came to the rider's assistance, and Sir John Hall (for the rider proved to be that gentleman) rewarded him with half a crown. This sum, with compound interest, Archdeacon Eneor returned to the present vicar of Hororata on Saturdas , .

"Hokio" (a Palmerston North correspondent) writes in the Wairarapa Daily Times: —I was in an agent's office a day or two ago, when the question of how many peiches go to the acre can.e ur.der discussion. I feel a little bit ashamed to say vhat, for the moment, the problem was a poser to me. Turning to one of the junior clerks, I said to him: "Come, now, you have been to school long since I was. I have forgotten my tables. How many perches to the acre?" "Well, really, I don't know," was the reply. "<lf I was taught tables at school I have forgotten them. Here, Jim," turning to another younger clerk, "you're not a year from school yet. You can't have forgotten your tables. How many perches to the acre?" The lad thought a while, and replied, "Forty," I think, but I am not quite sure." Finally we had to look it up, and found there are one hundred and sixty perches to the acre. I was not so much surprised at myself having forgotten land measurement, but when I was their age I could have repeated every set of tables in Johnston's arithmetic, which was a standard school-book in those days, and I don't know if I have seen a better one since. With it and Lindley Murray's English Grammar and Mavor's Spelling Book, and the grounding they got in those days, a schoolboy half a century ago was often better up in general useful knowledge than many a youth who has passed all the standards of the present-day system. For sound, thorough, useful, every-day knowledge, few scholars were better equipped for entering life's battle with a fair prospect of success than those taught in the Irish National Schools. Of course, they knew nothing of ambulance or first-aid, or bacteriology, but they seemed to get on all right minus those modern branches of erudition.