LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2031, 24 January 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Masterton branch of the Labour Party has decided to dissolve. A trout weighing lllbs. was recently landed from the Otaki river. At the Luncheon Club to-day, Mr C. F. Spooner will be the speaker, his subject being “Money Consciousness.” An Orange Lodge was recently formed at Levin, and the installation of ollicers took place on Saturday evening. A proposal by the Haurakl County Council to raise a loan of £30,000 for machinery and offices was lost by three votes. The gate takings at the Manawatu motor sports yesterday amounted to £174/4/0. The meeting wa s a record in every respect. Fruit is arriving at Dunedin from Central Otago in heavy consignments. Apricots are being marketed by the ton and a bareness of the sugar market is not causing a block in the fruit trade. A New York cable states that millions of oranges and lemons are froi zen on the trees in Los Anegles, there being the worst frost for nine years. Thirteen degrees of frost were recorded. Stationers have been notified that commission will be allowed on the sale of stamps of a value of £1 and less. Cabinet has come to this decision to meet the convenience of the public at a distance from post offices. The hand-bag, which was snatched from a visitor to Palmerston North last week, has been found. The bag was tossed into some shrubs in the • Square after the miscreants had extracted the money. Other articles in the bag were untouched. “He is doing his duty to his country in one way if not in another,” commented the magistrate at the Stratford court the other day. when it was stated that a man against whom a judgment summons was applied for had a family of twelve. The railway department has a large gang of men on the Main Trunk line relaying the sleepers and portions of the rails for the whole distance between Taumarunui and Waimahia. On some parts of this portion of the line, the sleepers have i absolutely decayed. The Wiapa miners are still out on strike as a protest against the Miners’ Award made by the Arbitration Court just before the Christmas holidays. Reports were current at Huntly on Friday that arrangements have been made by the Waikato Miners’ Union to provide the Waipa men with strike pay. Mr Claude Haigh, touring manager for Annette Kellcrman Company, informed a “Manawatu Times” representative yesterday that Miss Kellerman had consented to be at the Palmerston North Swimming Carnival on Saturday afternoon. Mis s Kellerman will address th c gathering and formally open the proceedings. \ Palmerston North resident who recently visited Hamilton, informed a i "Manawatu Times” representative. 1 that the slump fever is now very much in evidence in the . \Vciih<ito. Much of the land in the district was purchased during thc war period at inflated values, and scores of settlers arc said to be on thc verge of bankruptcy. Speaking to a reporter at Christchurch, Mr W. E. Lead ley, secretary of the Christchurch Returned .Soldiers’ Association, said that at the present time there were about sixty returned men out of work in Christchurch, and a large number of civilians. However, it was hoped that during the next week or so a good percentage of the unemployed would lie absorbed by harvesting work. Deer on the Tararuas are doing splendidly, and at the back of Levin, Shannon, and Eketahuna arc thriving far beyond expectations. Mr C. HBould, the Acclimatisation Society s ragner, considers, at no distant date, that the ranges will provide plenty of sport. Messrs Bould and Wilson, Society’s officers, will visit Paraparaumu in March with the intention of taking young deer to liberate on the ranges. A new development has occurred in connection with thc oil industry in , New Plymouth. A syndicate compn- : sing business men—all of New Plymouth with one exception—has purchased the rights over the Blenheim bore, and it i s stated they intend to exploit the bore with a view to obtaining oil at about the 2000 ft. level where oil is known to exist, and which was formerly passed over in order to reach the lower depths. An accident was narrowly averted in Main Street at 9 o’clock yesterday morning. A motor car owned and driven by Mr J. Gashan of Palmerston North who proceeding south along Main Street, when a child ran out in front of it. In swerving sharply to avoid running over the youngster the driver caused the rear wheels to collapse and the vehicle turned completely over. There were two ladies and five children besides the driver In the car, but beyond a shaking none suffered injury. The mudguards, wind , screen, hood and fittings of the vehicle were badly damaged. The prompt action of Mr Gashan alone prevented a serious accident. In the course of a speech at Dunedin last week, in which he paid a compliment to the Dunedin umpires for their fairness and general effl- | ciency, the captain of one of the visit- j ing country cricket teams told a good j story. It was in a match in th.e [ North, and two of thc local players had been given “run out” when they were palpably not out. The revei end gentleman who skippered the local team approached the umpire responsible for ihe decisions, and asked him how" it was the men had been given ; out. “Why,” responded the umpire, ; “neither of the silly blighters lan past the wicket.” The clerical gentleman then suggested to the opposing . captain that a change of umpire would be desirable. The leader of the , visitors was troubled. He agreed that 1 ho had known better umpires; lots of them; but “well, you see, thig is the position,” he said: “Blank here (naming the umpire) was good enough to bring two of our pltfyei'S fouiteen miles out, and if we'turn him down the beggar won’t take ’em back.” Blank continued to umpire, but the ; succeeding batsmen were careful to i do the extra few feet each time they went for a run. Thc C. M. Ross Co., Ltd., desire to announce that their dressmaking rooms re-open after annual holiday on Tuesday, January 24. Orders placed without delay will receive prompt attention. To the tired, nothing is so refreshing as a cup of delicious Tea. Nelson Moates’ Teas, flavoury and choice, are refreshing to those jaded nerves. Always ask for Nelson Moates.* Kindly mention the “TIMES” when corresponding with advertisers.

Scores of picnic-parties visited the Palmerston North esplanade on Monday, and enjoyed the shelter afforded by the magnficent foliage.

The Manawatu river was In a heavy fresh on Monday, which was an indication that a considerable quantity of rain had fallen in the East Coast districts. A Wellington telegram states that the competitors at the forthcoming band contest in, Wellington and at the championship rifle meeting* to be held at Greytown will be granted excursion railway fares and reduced steamer fares. 1 Speakng at the Manawatu Motor Club’s smoke concert last night Mr Gus Torstonson, the well-known handicapper, remarked that statistics would show there were fewer accidents in motor cycle racing than horse racing. j After holding a special meeting, i the advisory board of the Otago ! Transport Workers’ Union has forwarded to the secretary of the New 'Zealand Allianec of Labour the fol- | lowing message “Make an emphatic protest on our behalf against the proposed amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. We pledge our whole-hearted support of any steps you deem necessary to defeat them.’' A lad 12 years of age named Clare, the son of a Gisborne baker, went pig hunting with,a settler at Matawai on Friday. About one o’clock the settler located a pig and left the boy with a dog at a particular spot in the bush, and told him to remain there. On his return neither the dog nor the lad was to be seen. Search parties have been out, but no sign so far had been found of the missing lad. The country is rough and the weather is bad. 1 Over 300 people attended the Danish and Scandinavian annual picnic which was held near the Fitzhertaert bridge yesterday, and which is intended to commemorate the restoration of Siesvig to Denmark. Visitors were present from the Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu districts. I Owing to the labours of an energetic committee headed by Mr Chas. Dahl, the gathering was made most successful, and everyone spent a most enjoyable time. A number of sports events provided some excitement and not a little amusement. | Among the many Maoris who have reason to place faith in the ministrations of Ratana, is Muri Watene, a man of 38, who is a nephew of Mr Otcne Paul, of Orakei. For the past II years, said Mr Paul to an Auckland “Star” reporter recently, Muri Watene had been a cripple, having to walk always with the aid of two sticks. His general health also was bad. Usually he wou|l be well enough for about two weeks, then would follow two weeks in bed. Just before Christmas Muri paid a visit to Ratana. The sick man’s afflictions immediately vanished, enabling him to discard his walking sticks, ana his health ha s been excellent ever since, so that he now has no need lor medicne or walking sticks, and is one of the keenest members of the Orakei Maori Choir. ! “Arc New Zealanders developing a distinctive ‘twang’ in their speech ? was a question raised by Mr F. A. de la Mare, of Hamilton, at the meeting of the University Senate in Auckland on Friday. He mentioned the case or a friend who told him he was not going to send his child to the pi imai y school because the “colonial accent was so noticeable, and said lie was atraid there was a great tendency toward the development of a “twang , which, however, was not quite as baa as that in Australia. Mr J. Caughley Director of Education, disagreed, saying he did not know there was any such tendency, but thought on the contrary that the standard of speech and enunciation was improving, although the amount of “slang introduced was increasing. Sir Robert, Stout, Chancellor of the University, referred to his recent visit to Great Britain and said that in his opinion the boys and girls in New Zealand were speaking the English language just as well as it was spoken m any part of the United Kingdom He had noticed a great improvement in the speaking of the English language m New Zealand, particularly Auckland, compared with 20 or 30 years ago. There had also been an improvement in Australia. A country correspondent of the “North Auckland Times” says that in these hard times, when many things a settler produces are either unsaleable or unprofitable, many are g'lao. to find something to turn to that will give a fair return for labour and time bestowed thereon. One man and his son with a small oil launch and a winch reports having lifted about one thousand sunken logs from the Mongonui River. Another man working further up the creek, s hauling some sunken logs with mulocks on to dry land, where they can become fit for rafting, while one settler has received an order tor tail fescue seed and of which he lias an abundance. Fungus when dried is now returning good prices, formerly only 2id per lb., it will now bring 1/6 per lb. This is mainly produced on dead karaka losg on new hush burns. It is more easily gathered m the rainy season. Many will be Mad to fall back on what was the mainstay of settlers in the early days or j settlement, digging gum. Even the old workings will give a fair return. Much of the smaller gum was left in j the early digging times, when prices were much lower. At 9/II Tuesday only—smart morning frocks formerly 17/6. Collinson and Cunninghame’s sale. In pretty cretonnes', magyar shape, round, square and V necks, trimmed with bands to match, finished smart girdles and sash belts. All sizes. See tiie ultra-fashionable frocks in window 11 for Tuesday only at 9/11. * Haymaking due! Select from our new and wid ■ range advancing al! you require in high-grade and durable implements. Best scythe blades from 10/-, scythe handles 8/G, hay forks from 4/3 to 6/9. Also on sale: Reaping hooks, scythe stones, oils, greases; ( everything for a successful season.—: Manson and Barr, Ltd., Palmerston) North.* How eagerly on a stifling, dusty day all will greet refreshing drinks made with Price's Fruit Syrup Essence. At the picnic, on the motor trip, cycling, walking, summer sports of every kind will be" made all the more enjoyable if cold fruit drinks are forthcoming to quench those terrific thirsts. One bottle Price’s makes 3 gallons cooling full flavoured beverage. All good grocers, 1/6 per bottle, say “Price’s, please." Wholesale —Goldingham and Beckett. Most teas are good but Royal Tea has a richness of flavour and colour that only an exceptionally good tea can possess. Royal Tea is choice; 3/per lb.* Kindly mention the “TIMES” when with advertiser*.