LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 14095, 2 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Says the "Wairarapa Age":—Four working men from the country districts left Masterton for Palmerston two days before Christmas with over £3OO between them. They returned yesterday with hardly sufficient money to purchase a meal.

No word has yet been received by the postal authorities as to the dispatch of a steamer for New Zealand from Australia. The Moana, due from San Francisco next week, is bringing a fairsized mail, and the Niagara will take a Home mail from the Dominion on tho 6th inst.

Instigated by the information that their post and telegraph office would probably be closed, the settlers of Cheltenham held an indignation meeting quite recently. The result was that strong resolutions of protest were forwarded to the authorities. On New Year's Eve the members of the Fire Brigade assembled at the Central Station at the invitation of Superintendent and Mrs Barnard, to celebrate tho passing of the Old Year. During the evening the health of the; Superintendent and family was drunk with musical honours, also toasts to the "Army and Navy," "Absent Comrades," and "Officers of the Brigade." The gathering, which was a very enjoyable one, broke up at midnight with tho singing of "Auld Lang Syne."

The Mayor of Marton has now written to the "Wangauui Chronicle/' which paper published a letter, calling on him to resign, demanding a withdrawal and an apology, within three days, otherwise a writ for libel would be issued. The Councillors who signed the lei tor have also reeived a communication from the Mayor, asking for a withdrawal and an apology within three days. Failing this the Mayor requests the name of each Councillor's solicitor, in order that he may serve a. writ for libel on each individually. A tale is told of the New Plymouth races, to the effect that a well known society lady asked her husband for a ten-pound note to put on a certain race, stating that she would put it on the number of her age, as it was bound to be lucky. The money was handed over, and tho fair one placed it all on horse 24, but to her disgust No. 36 won in a canter. Her temper was not improved when her husband told her that it served her right, and that had she told tho truth with regard to her age she would have won.—"Patea Press."

"There is no possible hope of the Minister giving the public back their suburban services with the present staff of locomotive men," says the '' Locomotive Engineers' Journal,'' "and there is no prospect of getting any more to an. appreciable extent under present conditions. Never in the history of the railways was the locomotive department in such a deplorable state as it is at present, especially in the North Island, where the men are almost out of control. The whole blame for a breakdown will rest with the Minister of Railways."

The Eoyal Mail steamer Niagara, which arrived at Auckland from Vancouver shortly after midday on Sunday, when off Cape Flattery encountered a hard south-east gale, accompanied by a very heavy sett. The delay caused by the gale made her a day late arriving at Honolulu. After leaving Suva a military luncheon was held in the first saloon, and all returning soldiers on board were invited. A very pleasant two hours were spent, a number of toasts being honoured. The children on board were not forgotten, as a Christmas tree and numerous toys were bought at Honolulu. At the function on Christmas Day every child on board wassented with a toy. During the voyage £330, collected among the passengers, was presented to an Australian soldier, who had lost his eyesight at the

Private Palaghor, who was accorded a welcome home at Croydon says the "Mataura Ensign"), is something out of the common rur. )f "our returned boys." Tn fact, it is doubtful if any other private of Ins age has gone to the front from NY'\\ Zealand, or any of the over-se;us Dominions. He doc; not look his years, and his tough, wiry frame withstood all the hardships of trench life successfully. He was born at Bergen, Norway, sixty-five years ago. A. student of history, his knowledge of the true inwardness of the German menace compelled him to enlist, and he proceeded to the front with the 11th Reinforcements, His real age coming to light on shipboard, he was olfer cd a job at the base in "Blighty," but he managed to get into the firing-line, and there he remained until recently returned home against his will as "over age." An appropriate New Year gift, the new silk handbags for ladies. Made in floral or hand embroidered silks, also chocks, with the new gate tops„ Harrington mounts, dombell handles and nickle or glass rings. Prices 10/6 to 25/-. Tho C. M. Koss Co., Ltd.*