LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1765, 17 March 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A concert and dance will be held in the Kelvin Grove Hall on the night of April 8 to open the dancing season. Present weather indications are for increasing northerly to westerly winds. Expect cloudy and unsettled weather, with rain following generally and the barometer falling everywhere, but probably rising in the south after about 2 0 hours.

Playing off in the A Grade Singles competition in connection with the Manawatu Croquet Club’s ‘ tournament, Mrs Wilson beat Mrs BJackbourne, • 26-17, and in the semi-final Mrs A. D. Campbell beat Mrs Wilson, ,26-0. The final between Mrs Campbell and Mrs F. J. Nathan will be played off on Saturday. Hans Sorenson, who had appeared on the previous day on a charge of drunkenness, again came before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with insobriety and with committing a grossly indecent act. He was fined £2, in default seven days’ imprisonment for the latter offence, and 10/-, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment for drunkenness.

The board of management of the Willard Jf-lomc acknowledge with thanks the following gifts for February:—Cuba Street Methodist Church Guild, cakes and scones; Kangitikei Bowling Club, cakes and. sandwiches: Mrs Pickering, apples; Mrs Hodder, vegetables; Mrs Sanson, jam; Mrs Jensen, apples; Mrs Woodley, pair of fowls and vegetables; Mrs Kensington, vegetables; and Mrs Thwaites, meat.

“I have just returned from Central Otago, where sheep were selling at 9/- a dozen,” was the remark of Dr. J. P. ‘Frcngley, Assistant-Inspec-tor of Hospitals, when faced at Ashburton with a hospital building programme to cost £25,000, to which the Government was asked to contribute half in the form of subsidies. Apparently the Hospital Board did not require to be told that this was another way of asking: “Where is the money to come from?” The Commissioner of Taxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-dav’s issue that returns of land must oe furnished not later than the Bth April. Forms of return may be obtained at any postal money-order office: they will not bo sent to taxpayers from the office of the Commissioner of Taxor, unless written application is made lor them. Lwsecs in occupation of land owned by Natives arc now required to furnish a return of land so occupied.

Three young red deer from the Paraparaumu deer farm have been liberated in the Tararuas by the local Acclimatisation Society. These n • from stock obtained by the Wellington Society from Warnham Park, England, and it is hoped with their aid to improve the herds in this part of the country. Thirty-six head were recently mustered on the Parapaumu farm, including stags, hinds and fawns. Sixteen of the latter were allotted for distribution at Lake Waikaremoana, Taihapc, Rotorua, and Palmerston North. ■nrt

Ladies' Lovat Mixture Sports Hose, fashioned leg, spliced heel and toe, nice soft cashmere finish, pleasing heather shades, sold last winter at fi/1 1. To-day’s price only 4/(1. —The M. Ross Co., Ltd., give special window disulay to this line.*

A cable from San Francisco states that the Sonoma has arrived, among her passengers being Kirkwood, the champion .golfer, and the Davis Cup winners.

At the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday , John Ernest Brasting pleaded guilty to the theft of the yacht Mizpah and obtaining stores and equipment for a contemplated trip to America, by means of valueless cheques. He was sentenced to four years’ reformative treatment.

A meeting of citizens interested in urging Mr J. A, Nash, M.'P., to reconsider his decision not to contest the Mayoralty, was held last evening. No details as to what transpired were available for publication, but is it expected that an announcement will bo made in the course of the next few days. A world’s record has bcoh established in the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club’s egg laying competition, at Christchurch, by a team of six ducks belonging to Mr W. T. Green, which in two years test exceed the existing world’s record by two hundred eggs. The ducks in the competition created a Dominion record easily by laying 318 eggs in 319 days.

At the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court yesterday, the charge against John Hcanlon of having placed an explosive substance near the police station at Arthur’s Pass with Intent to damage it was dismissed the Magistrate deciding that there was no prima facie case. The explosion ocrcurred on December Bth last, the back walls of the building being blown to pieces and the floor lifted Up. At the Wanganui Hospital Board meeting yesterday Mrs Comyns stated that a woman receiving charitable aid was tlyi best dressed woman on the lawn at the recent Wanganui races!

“In fact,” added Mrs Comyns, "I got such a shock that 1 could not get over it.” Mrs Comyns then went on to state that the dress worn was violet satin, and she consideed it was not proper for people in receipt of charitable aid to patronise races in flash attire. She was not hardhearted, and she believed in helping those who helped themselves. The Board promptly decided to discontinue the charitable aid. —“Herald.” Unskilled labour is easy to obtain in Wanganui, says the "Herald/’ In consequence of tho tightening up of the financial situation, and a large number of unemployed men are reported to be in town. This is caused in the main by the slackening off in primary produce industries, the men coming into town to seek work. It is also reported that farmers in the back country are endeavouring to redme wages for casual men employed in special Jobs, such as drainage, fencing, etc. The ruling rate was M. per day, and in one Instance it is stated that a back country farmer offered a casual employee £3 per week and meat, but the offer "Was turned down. The rate of pay for casual work is now stated to be lh/- per day, and the worker to “find” himself.

Mr R. S. Black,' Who has just returned from a trip ’through Central Otago, stated to a "Dally Times” reporter that the country is like a desert where there is no irrigation, and like a garden where there is water, illustrating the need for and value of irrigation. The contrast is so striking that all who see it must urge the necessity of pushing oh with the irrigation scheme immediately. Owing to the dry weather and the absence of the rabbit export trade, there have not been so many rabbits for years. The poisoning has been a failure, and those who previously did not believe in trapping are now forced to employ trappers to keep the pest in bounds. Owing to the excessive shipping and other charges there will be little done in exporting rabbits, so that help from that source will be negligible.

A correspondent sends the following to the "Nelson Mail.” —Considerable interest has been aroused locally during the last few days by the marvellous and instantaneous cure of a great invalid. It was classed as quite a hopeless case, but through “the miracle man,” Katana, of Wanganui, she has been raised up, to the amazement of all who know her. For over nineteen years it has been" impossible for her to hold up her spine, .and she has been encased In a steel frame from head to foot. Now she, needs no support at all, and has no pain, and is daily increasing in health and strength. When so remarkable a case occurs at. our doors, it certainly demands serious and impart'al attention. The lady in question will be pleased to give full information to anyone requiring it (tier address may be obtained at this office) says the “Mail.”

In reporting to the Borough Council, the Reserves Committee stated that the engineer had furnished a statement showing the cost to date of the cottages erected at the abattoir, and it was resolved to recommend that a rental of 25/- per week be charged for each house, such amount being assessed on the sum of £IOOO at 6i per cent, the value of the land being excluded. Cr Crabb said that it would cost about £2OOO to complete the two houses. It was slightly more than the last two cottages had cost, but considering the increased cost of materials ami 'the high rate of wages it was very satisfactory. The houses were excellently constructed and stood out on their own compared with houses built by other local bodies. —Cr. Bryant mentioned that a visitor from New Plymouth had commented on the fine cottages built here, and had said the ones built in New Plymouth, which had cost £llsO each were n6t to be compared with the cottages built locally.

In view of the enormous reduction in tiic productive value of land, said Mr J. R. Hamilton in the House of Representatives, will the Government consider the advisability of allowing the present valuations to remain in operation until times become normal? He pointed out that the selling value of land had a direct relation to returns from its production, and it would be unfair to assess valuations on last year’s boom prices of products. Mr Massey replied that he was not sure whether it could be done, but he was willing to look into the matter. There is no doubt that the Valuation Department would take into consideration any depreciation in valuation compared with last year or only a few months ago, and would take the present value, -whatever that may be. It is interesting to see the change in the position, added Mr Massey. Not long ago we were being barracked to put up values; now we arc* being asked in all directions to consent to valuations being reduced, and (be Government will not do injustice to any of the people concerned.

The Makino sailed from Wellington at 10.20 last night for Sydney, yesterday’s arrivals include the Canadian Highlander from Vancouver, Lyttelton from Singapore, and Maori from Fort Arthur (Texas).

A meeting of the directors of the Y.M.C.A. was held last evening. Present: Messrs M. H. Oram (chairman), J. Dick, J. Young, J. Balsllllo. J. Stevens, N. Wallace, C. Kec’ble, Hoisted, J B. Cameron, A. Hopwood, O. Monrad and the general secretary. Mr Hughes, of the National Executive, was also present. The draft report and balance-sheet for submission to the annual meeting were considered and approved with certain minor amendments.- It was decided to hold tho annual meeting on Wednesday, 28th instant, to be preceded by a tea. Reports from tho various committees were received.

When a juryman named Morris was called at the Hamilton Supreme Court yesterday, he put in a long written statement of several clauses, each commencing “1 believe,” Among them wore: "I believe that in tho Divine order which undoubtedly exists the New Testament statement is true, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay;’ saith the Lord.” I believe my duty in regard to all delinquents is bear and forgive, even as Christ commanded. I believe 1 must not explain away or postpone the duty laid on me by conscience, but must put it into practice at once, here and how.” Mr Justice Hosklng said: “It is no use arguing with you. I do.not think you a safe man to have on a Jury. You are excused on that ground.”

Among those who watched tho shooting at Trenthaltt on Friday were a number of veterans, of whom probably the senior was Bergt.-Major E. Bezar, who surprised the younger generation with recollections of shooting 65 years ago, when he won his first prize—one that would be regarded very highly to-day. After peace was signed, the Commander-in-Chlef in the Crimea gave 300 pounds of tobacco to each regiment, to be divided into shooting prizes. The-first prize in tho "Die Hards” was 100 pounds of the tobacco, and it was won by Mr Bezar, who had then been in tho army less than fifteen months. He had It set at the end of hlB company’s hut, and the men were invited' to smoko it. As a fitting return for this generosity, the company arranged with the pay-sergeant to provide the prize-winner with a bottle of beer every day while the big, free smoko lasted. The supply ran out just as the regiment broke camp and proceeded to Malta. _______