LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1976, 18 November 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Blenheim telegram states that Agnes Jane North, aged 42, a married woman with four children, committed suicide at Havelock by taking poison. Light-fingered gentry are reported to have been operating at the races at Levin on Wednesday. A local resident was relieved of a purse containing £9. The chairman of' the Manawatu Athletic and Cycling Club stated at last night’s meeting that he had been told by the president of the Wellington Club that it had yet to be decided whether the Springboks’ athletic team would visit Palmerston North. The Otakl Dairy Company is at present very busy, and, on account of pressure of work it has been necessary to increase the number on the staff. At present about 124 boxes, equal to well over three tons, of butter are being made per day. This amount will be Increased considerably in the near future. Dr Elizab.eth Gunn, Government Inspector of Schools, is at present in Palmerston North. She is selecting from the local primary schools about thirty children who are below the normal standard of health. These she proposes taking to a health camp at Turaklna for a period of three weeks. The camp is being held on the. property of Mr B. P. Lethbridge, who is kindly providing the meat necessary. The Wanganui Education Board is authorising and assisting the camp, at which the children will be under proper supervision, and will receive special exercises and attention such as will, It is hoped, materially improve their physical condition. A number of children from the schools will also be in the camp. At the Magistrate’s Court in Wei-, lington yesterday, Maurice Buckley and Percival Fowler were charged with trick flying, namely nose-diving, over Timaru, and flying at an altitude dangerous to the public. The evidence of the prosecution was to the effect that the machine was observed flying over Caroline Bay and nose-diving, and over the town 40 feet above specified buildings. The defence was a complete denial, and endeavoured to show the impossibility of gauging the height and location of the aeroplane, and the importance of what constituted a nose-dive. The defence also contended that the machine made abrupt turns in endeavouring to see the possibilities of the bay as a landing spot. Decision was reserved. The Australian cricketers left London laden with gifts worth £2300, and of sufficient colour, variety, and quality to deck a thriving market-place in an Eastern city, says a Melbourne paper. Their presents and luggage filled nearly 150 trunks and cases, which were conveyed to Waterloo Station on three huge lorries. Throughout the tour, especially in the manufacturing towns, presents had been showered on them, ranging from most expensive silks, laces, cloth and headgear, to jerseys, underwear, pipes, safety razors, ties, hats, racquets, and even gramophone records. When packing day arrived the players were in hopeless confusion, and several sent out last-minute orders for new trunks in which to stow the tributes of their warm-hearted English admirers. In speaking to a “Manawatu Times” reporter of the characteristics of English Jersey cattle as compared with the same breed in New Zealand, Mrs Evelyn, a well. known breeder from the Homeland, mentioned that she was particularly impressed with the size of the New Zealand animal, which is considerably larger than that of the English-bred cow. She was inclined to attribute this to the cold winters at Home stunting the growth of the English catlc. and possibly to the greater amount of green feed obtainable in this country. Mrs Evelyn saw several herds while in Australia recently. but apparently was not greatly Impressed with the Australian Jerseys. So far she has only seen a few herds iri New Zealand, but as she intends to cover a good deal of the “cow-country,” and visit several A. and P. shows while in New Zealand, she will probably have more to say on the question of New Zealand herds later on For style and service good .Tap silk blouses or jumpers are usually favourites. The C. M. Ross <~’o., Ltd., are showing several new lines, square or round necks. Magyar shape, 3 sleeves, finished hand embroidery and spokestitching. Prices 19/6, 21/-, J

Domestic science is to be a compulsory subject with lady teachers in training for the Auckland district. A man was thrown down and another received a slight shock during a , thunderstorm at Greytown recently. The Canterbury Bowling Centre has passed a resolution in favour of advancing the clock one hour in the summer months. Definite information has been received by the police to the effect that Atkinson, the prisoner who escaped from the Taumarunul lock-up on Saturday, has made northwards. Sixty-one applications have been received by the Taranaki Hospital Board for the position of engineer at the hospital, and these have been referred to the house committee, who will make the appointment. A frost in Hastings recently was very damaging as far as gardens were concerned, and many crops suffered a good deal. In one instance a gardener is reported to have lost about 3000 tomato plants through their hav-l ing been cut down by the frost. Mr A. McNlcol, M.P. for Pahiatua, presented to Parliament on Wednesday the petition promoted by the churches of Dannevirke, containing 623 signatures, praying for the amendment of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act. It was a peculiar fact that the drought conditions prevailing in England during the last summer had the effect of fattening the cattle, although it reduped the cows’ milk supply, remarked Mrs Evelyn, an English lady farmer, on a visit to New Zealand, to a “Manawatu Times” reporter. The first of a series of flower and produce stalls to be conducted under the auspices of the Plunket Nurse Society was held in the Square yesterday. The members of the ladles’ committee, who were the stall holders, did brisk business throughout the day, and the Plunket fund should be considerably augmented by their endeavour. According to Mrs Evelyn, an English lady engaged in farming in the Old Country, Who is at present visiting Palmerston North, pig breeders in England arc departing from old cus-. toms to a considerable extent in grazing their pigs for fattening purposes. This has been found to produce a far better quality of pork and bacon and the practice is Increasing in favour. At a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board, the Medical Superintendent wrote pointing out the inconvenience and expense of having bacteriological and pathological tests carried out at Palmerston North, and tests for suspected cancer carried out in Dunedin. His suggestion that these tests be.conducted In Wanganui was referred to the executive committee. The jurymen in two trials at the Auckland Supreme Court had to undergo the ordeal of a woman s sci utiny. In each instance ’’the lady in the case” personally challenged four or five of the "good men and true. In the first trial, however, her luck was out, for the jury, after a, short retirement, found her guilty ot being an incorrigible rogue. She was found “not guilty” in the second case. The two herds of Sambur deer that have been liberated near Mount Tarawera and Taneatua, Rutokl, are doing well (says the “Taranaki Herald ). Two or three of the original stags, which were well grown when liberated, have been seen carrying massive antlers. Those deer were all captured m the flax swamps of the Himitangl, Eoxton district, by the Departments ranger, where they were very numerous. In a few years’ time they will provide good sport and good venison for deer-stalkers

The constable at Kaitaia recently received a piece of torn paper brought him by a native, who stated he found it in a bottle washed up on the coast between Hereklno and Ahipara. The message on the paper, written clearly in pencil, is as follows: —“fa.b. hullaia, British India Company, wrfecked near Fhoders (?) Island, 200 miles S.W., November 20, 1920.” The native sa d he found the paper about the middle of October. “Lloyd's Register for 1921-22 contains the name of the steamer Fultala, a vessel of 4164 tons, but there is no record ot the ship ever haying been, missing.

To run a 300-acre farm, carrying 80 head of cattle, about 100 pigs and a number of sheep is a task which few women would face with equanimity. Mrs Evelyn, an English lady who is at presenf staying in Palmerston North, does this on hei pioperty in Surrey, and thoroughly enjoys her work. It is not merely a hobby with her, as some might conjecture. for Mrs Evelyn believes in making her farm pay to ifs .utmost capacity. She takes a keen interest in everything pertaining to farming, and especially in the rearing of Jersey cattle. In the latter pursuit she has been most successful, and is a constant prize-winner at the leading English shows. This has fought her prominently before the notice of New Zealand breeders, more than one of whom have imported cattle from her farm to this country. Among these is Mr S. R. Lancaster, of Palmerston North. A correspondent writes: "The death of Mr J. P. Leary, which took place in Palmerston North, a few weeks ago, reminds me of an Incident in his life that occurred in the office, soon after the inception of the "Manawatu Times.” The paper was then published twice a week only, and on going to press one morning, the printer was in the act of placing the forme on the machine, or rather on the. Albion Press, when, by some unfortunate mishap, he managed to push some part of his body right through the chase, and the whole of the contents of metal in millions of pieces to the floor, and, of course the publication of that issue of the’paper was suspended in consequence. much to the dismay of all concerned This catastrophe took place in 1878, long before the advent of the linotype or Webb machine, and only a printer can appreciate the difficulties attached to putting all the pie into cases' again, preparatory to getting out the succeeding issue in due time. Mr Leary was duly acquainted of the accident, and he was very heavily handicapped as to hOw to express his feelings on the matter, he only being versed in the English language. Some years later, Mr Dungan. his successor, and he were discussing by-gone days, when this little topic cropped up and Mr Dungan said to him; ‘When you found what the man had done didn’t you swear?’ “Well.’ Mr Leary replied, T nearly did. I called him a great big goose.’ This was typical of the man." Washing day no longer to be dreaded. The “0.K.” Washer converts drudgery into pleasure. Write for particulars about our great laboursaving devices for the home. Manson and Barr , Ltd., Hardware Merchants, Palmerston North.* Kindly mention the ''TIMES'’ when I corresponding with advertiser*-

Two wallabies from Queensland have been presented to the Wellington Zoo.

Since the rat-catching campaign' started ono local authority south of Christchurch has paid out rewards for 416, easily a record for Canterbury.

The secretary of the Manawatu Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club stated at last night’s meeting of the committee that the Club was in a good financial position, and they now had a membership of 113. The matter of insuring competitors in the cycling events held in connection with the Manawatu Athletic and Cycling Club was referred to by a cyclist as last night’s meeting. The secretary stated that the committee were considering a scheme for insuring the competitors, and they wanted to help them in every way possible. A Lyttelton policeman, while digging in his garden, unearthed an old bak--1 ing powder tin containing three £lO I notes and two £5 notes. Apart from being slightly mouldy, the notes were well preserved. None of the former occupapts of the house for a number of years past knew anything of this miniature hoard of “buried treasure.”

The bankruptcy of John Tate, formerly a Hororata sheepfarmer and now a labourer, was to have been the subject of consideration at a meeting of creditors, called by the Official Assignee in Christchurch, but as no creditors were present the meeting was adjourned sine die. The liabilities were stated to be £2956 19/-, and the assets £3O.

One of the cyclists who attended last night’s meeting of the Manawatu Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club stated that in the South Island Sunday tours were conducted for cyclists, and he thought that similar tours might be adopted in Palmerston North. —Several members considered the suggestion a good one, and it was ‘decided to go further into the matter. A New Plymouth -telegram says;— The discovery of wreckage on the beach at Awaklno places almost beyond doubt that this and other wreckage found recently along this coast be, longed to the schooner Omega, which disappeared some months ago between New Zealand and Tasmanian ports. One piece of timber bore the letters "G.A.,” about eight Inches long and of lead, evidently the last lettei|i of the vessel’s name.

At last night’s meeting of the Manawatu Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, Mr Watt stated that a donor of prizes for the last race which had been held under the auspices of the Club, had offered one of the competitors money and goods to the value of the prize offered. However, the competitor had wisely refused the money, and reported the matter to the committee. He explained that if any of the members accept money, they became a professional, and were liable to disqualification.

There was again a very large attendance at the New Zealand Childrens’ Mission in git, Andrew’s Schoolroom last evening. The little ones thoroughly enjoyed the evening, ih the course of which Rev. E. P. Davy, gave a platform version of the “Pilgrim’s ’Progress." Afterwards “Admiral Jellicoe” puzzles were given out for competition among the children. The first prizes wdVe won by Lyall Campbell (boys) and R. Pedersen (girls). Six consolation prizes were also given. The mission will close this evening, when “Pilgrim’s Progress’’ pictures will be shown.

The “Mercantile Gazette” says;— The slump in dairy produce is the natural and proper corrective for the folly of farmers. Land values must' be brought down to the true level, and the unhealthy number of mortgages on farms must be squeezed down till something more natural Is reached. In many farms bn which there are four, live and six mortgages, ‘ the interest on equity of all but the first, and perhaps the second mortgage has vanished. We are gradually getting down to bedrock, and until we reach that strata there will be uncertainty and'lack of confidence.