LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2076, 17 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the Wanganui wool sale to-day, 20,000 bales will be offered. The Kiwi Bacon Factory, of Palmerston North, is now paying Gd per lb for bacon pigs delivered at the factory. A large and representative meeting of sawniillers was held at Taumarunui on Wednesday, to discuss matters affecting the industry. The Auckland Municipal Choir, numbering some eighty voices, will probably visit Palmerston North during the winter months. The Main Trunk express trains passing through Palmerston North during the last few days have been crowded with passengers. A very heavy downpour of rain occurred in Palmerston North last night. Many of the streets and water-courses were flooded for a time. The following further contributions have been received by tlie “Manawatu Daily Times” in aid of the Russian Famine Fund: —F.F., It)/; J.P., It)/. The estimate for (lie erection of the new hospital at Taihape was £3BO. The actual cost of the building, which was erected by day labour, was £2040, or £440 less than the estimate. An absconder from tho Wcraroa Training Farm was charged at Levin yesterday with having stolen a bicycle valued at £5. lie was convicted, and ordered to be returned to the farm. Thci*Minister for Public Works, Ihc Hon. J. G. Coates, in a speech at Hokitika on Monday, stated that if no untoward circumstances arose he hoped to have the Otira tunnel opened before the end of next year. There are now seven children in residence in the Mastcrton Children’s Home in Herbert Street. They come from districts as far as Wellington, Levin, Gisborne, as well as from tiic nearer surrounding districts. The steamer Moeraki is being hold up at Wellington, owing to the inability to secure firemen and trimmers. The action of the firemen is said to be in sympathy with the men througli whose dispute the Mahcno is held up at Sydney. The value of hydro-electric power has been demonstrated on the Iluakura State Farm. The manager, Mr A. W. Green, states that steam and other power cost the farm £IBOO a year, but the cost of electric light and power supplied from Horahoia has been at the rate of only £l2O a year. This includes the cost of power used for a cinematograph apparatus which has been in operation twice a week. “Do we get genuine black birch from the mills now was a pertinent question asked of a, meeting of the Oraaka Road Board ((Marlborough), when the inspector’s action in securing timber for re-decking a bridge was being discussed. Members ventured the opinion that black birch was very difficult to procure. The inspector put the matter bluntly: " Black birch is a thing of flic past,” he declared. Something unique in the way of accidents occurred to Gaoler Ching last week (says the Wanganui “Herald.”) He was engaged iu bathing a D.T. patient who gave the gaoler some trouble, and the latter knocked his hand, making a slight abrasion. The D.T. patient was in such a dirty state that some of ihe mixture inoculated the abrasion on Gaoler Ching's hand and blood-poisoning set in. He has been off duty since Sunday, and is being relieved by Warder Robinson from Wellington. A Maori judgment debtor told Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., at Levin yesterday, that times' were hard with him. and casual employment brought in no more than £2 10/ a week, out of which he supported a wife and live children. He protested tnat an order for the payment of 10/ a month would be too much, but the Magistrate was adamant. “It may have the effect of causing you to look a lilt more keenly for work,” he remarked in making the order for the amount mentioned. The Kaiapoi Flour (Mills, a fourstoried building, was completely destroyed by lire early yesterday morning. It was thought the outbreak was due to tho breaking of a pulley block. About twenty tons of flour were destroyed, while 11,000 sacks of wheat were so damaged as to bo practically useless. The mills belonged to the estate of the late Richard Evans. The building and stock were insured in the New Zealand Company. The insurances were fiooo on the stock and £SBOO on the mill and plant. Many practical carpenters are out of work just now. One carpenter from Home, who was told before he came here that there was a dearth of carpenters in (he Dominion, says that for six weeks lie has tramped around the city, interviewing those likely to be able to give him work, with no result (says the Auckland “Star”). A painter from Home who tried in vain for a week to get work at his trade, took on gardening at 15/ per day. He says lie can get more work than he can do, and is so satisfied with hit new kind of work that he will not return to his more unhealthy trade of painting. He thinks there is good scope in this country for men who will turn their hand to anything, and he is going to write and tell some of his mates to come out here. Cosy winter novelties in our showroom include the new brush wool coats and capes, made in very smart designs introducing contrast colourings. Prices 'G to 9 gns. The C. M. Ross Co., Ltd A-

Bankruptcies in Great Britain numbered BIS in 1919, 1032 in 1920, and 2453 lor the first nine months of 1921. There are several vessels in the Auckland harbour at the present time that have not been in commission for months past. Had field and Paddon signed articles yesterday to row for the world’s championship oh April 18th, Easter Tuesday, and the second deposit of £IOO was handed to the stakeholder on behalf of each man. The Palmerston North Hospital Board and the Kairanga County Council have both written to the M.P. j for the district (Mr J. A. Nash) ask-j ing him to assist in having the present audit charges to local bodies re- j duced. William Hermansen, a farmer of Maharahara, was admitted to the Dannevirke Public Hospital suffCling■ from a severe wound in the leg. While feeding his pigs, a stray boar j it is said, got in among them attacked the farmer. A jumble sale will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall to-morrow in aid of i the Willard Home. The-sale opens; at 11 a.m., and among the numerous bargains available for purchase will bo an exceptionally good assortment j of clothing. Admission will be free, j At the last meeting of the Wood-' villo Chamber of Commerce a letter| was read from the secretary of the: Dannevirke Power Board relative toj a proposed visit to Mangahao power, works, stating that the Board was ar-> ranging a visit of members of district j local bodies in the near future. It is reported that the recent do- j crease in the price of bread and niiliG means a saving of some hundreds of j pounds to some of the largest public; institutions in Auckland. Many large I manufacturers arc quoting very loWj indeed for bread, anticipating asi they do that as time goes on there j will be a further decrease in the, price of flour. i The Manawatu River Board at its j meeting on* Monday next will con j siller tenders for the extension of the: groyne above the Fitzroy bend. IB I is anticipated by the Board that when, the extension has been effected, it, will direct the river across what isj known us the shinglfe bank, and thusi prevent further waste of good land| at Fitzroy bend. A curious request was received at! Wednesday's meeting of the Auckland | Education Board, when the children, of a certain country school petitioned; for the removal of tiieir headmaster. I “Something in the nature of a revolution?” inquired a member, amidst some laughter. "Request declined,” commented the chairman (Mr E. C. Banks) as the Board proceeded with other business. Arrangements for the Blanket Society’s garden fete in Mr B. A. Abraham’s grounds on Wednesday afternoon next are well in hand, and the energetic- committee have decided oni a most attractive programme of j amusements and competitions. The] Society is in need of further funds] for carrying on its good work, and the public are sure to,take this opportunity of helping. Mr Abraham’s grounds are ideal for the purpose, and both adults and children arc promised an enjoyable afternoon. A Wellington telegram states that Leonard Frost, aged four years, son lof Constable Frost, was fatally injured by a motor car near Lower Hutt bridge on Wednesday afternoon. His father was just going on duty, and the boy ran out of the gate and across the road. His father, seeing motor cars coming, called out to the] boy to remain where, he was, but the! boy tried to rc-cross and ran right into a car driven by Mr D. Shiel. He received shocking injuries to his head, to which he succumbed a few hours' later. The stone-throwing habit of a boyi attending’ the Masterton District High j School has resulted in a fellow-pupil being handicapped during his whole future life by the loss of an eye. Thei victim of the accident was the cight-ycar-old son of Mr H. .T. Jones, motor engineer. The injury was caused on Friday, and was of’ such a serious nature that the child was taken to a specialist in Wellington, who found it necessary to remove the eye. The practice of throwing stones snii other missiles is an exceedingly dangerous one, and it appears that a warning should bo issued in all schools. Recently it was reported that quinnat salmon had been caught in the lower Wairarapa Lake, says the ‘•News,” but doubts were expressed! asi to whether they were the genuine; qninnat. The matter has now been] j definitely decided. Lately Mr K. Gold,; !of Lake Perry, landed several small I ones, and sent the largest, .weighing some 7 or 8 lbs, to Mr L. F. Ayson, [ chief inspector of Government Sea Fisheries, who has replied, stating that undoubtedly the qninnat salmon has made its way into the lake. He states that recently a number of quin- | nat was liberated in Cloudy Bay in i the South Island. A current sets in | from Cloudy Bay and enters directly Palliser Bay, into which Lake Onokc opens. The salmon have evidently gone with tlie current and have now located themselves definitely in the lake. At present they are only young fish, but before long big ones can confidently be expected. The “Mercantile Gazette” reports | registration of the Farmers’ Institute Supply Co., Wellington, as a private company. Capital: £UOOO, into 120 shares of £SO each. Subscribers: Wellington—J. Duff 10 contributing,] A. L. Hunt 0 fully paid, 4 contributing, W. A. J. Dutch 10 contributing. L. T. Watkins 6 contributing, W. J.; Gaud in 10 contributing. E. C. Jack 1 contributing, L. S. Smith 10 contri-j bating, C. B. Robinson 1 contributing, W. Colman 2 contributing, F. C. Hay 10 contributing; Pahiatna —N. | Abbott 10 contributing; Wallaccville —J. M. Whiteman 4 contributing, T. W. Burrell 10 contributing: Paekakariki—J. S. Smith 10 contributing, A. J. Mackay 5 contributing; Taita —P. Westbury 5 contributing; Palmerston North —J. Balsillie 6 contributing. Objects: To carry on in New Zealand or elsewhere the business of grain, seed, wool, meat, produce and general merchants, storekeepers, traders, brokers, and general incidental. Mr A. A. Wood announces that he has been appointed the sole distributing : agent for the well-known Red Bird cycle. During the war period the Red Bird cycle factory manufactured munitions, but to-day they have returned to the manufacture of the Red Bird cycle, and the model produced is of even better quality and efficiency than those of recent years. Mr Wood invites inspection of these cycles, and will arrange the most liberal terms of payment. If you require a cycle, inspect the Red Bird first.* Kindly mention the “TIMES” when , corresponding with advertisers,

The wages of carpenters and joiners in Wellington has been reduced from 2/9 per hour to 2/6 per hour. The New Zealand Boxing Championships will he held in Palmerston North in June, under the direction of the local Boxing Association. A Waimate telegram states that a seven-roomed house at Re d cliff o owned and occupied by Mr. Robert Geddes, was totally destroyed by the yesterday morning. The Manawatu Gorge. Board of Control has decided to erect a substantial handrail at the ‘Devils Elbow' in the Manawatu Gorge. This spot ]is the most dangerous one in the | Gorge. | In all, four fire outlook stations have already been established in connection I with the New Zealand State Forest i Service —one at Tapanul, one at ■Hanmer Springs, and two in the Koto- ; rua district. i The Palmerston North branch oi i the South African War Veterans’ I Association, has now a membership of rifty-two, of whom forty-nine, are financial. The members' subscription i for the ensuing year has been fixed at j 106. Messrs J. A. Nash M.P. (Palmerston North), R. S. Chadwick (Dannej virke) and J. Linklater (Kairanga), i of the Manawatu Gorge Board of Con- ! trol, have been appointed to wait oa i the Minister of Public Works in purj suance of the resolutions carried at j the local bodies’ conference yesterday. ] Upon her recent return from AmerI ica, gave one of those unexpected replies which are often received when I asked this question, —what was the j most striking thing seen during your j trip? “Wall,” she said, with quite the I cousinly twang, “the newest as well's | the cutest thing we saw was solidified j gasolene and kerosene sold in little ] blocks like bars of soap, convertible ■to immediate use by the addition of i some water. It simply burns steadily I in the dry state.” | The staff of Messrs C. Smith Ltd., ! held its annual picnic at Sandon oa | Wednesday, the party travelling out ;in the charabanc. Although the weather was inclement when the party j numbering about 25 people, left town. ] it was favoured with glorious weather jon arrival at its destination. The water was inviting and swimming | was indulged in, while games and i sports were also held. After a splen- ; did day’s outing, the party arrived ! back in town at about S o’clock, tired | but happy, | The manner in which a man may get i tied up financially in bad times was J illustrated at the Magistrate's Court |at Auckland. A witness was asked: “How much money have you now?” ! and replied, “About one shilling.” j Yet in the course of examination by j counsel, it was shown that the debtor had mortgages on land from which he was getting practically no return. In one case, the best offer he had received for a mortgage of £2,000 was .1 only £SOO. The property had been thrown on his hands. As there was a. sub-mortgage, for £SOO, the offer I simply meant that he would lose all his money, but at present he was getting £2O a year for his grazing rights. There was a large attendance last evening’s meeting of the Loyal Manawatu Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.P., presided over by N.G. J3ro. G. W. Kerr. One new member was initiated. Upon his retirement from the office of Lecture Master, P.P.G.M. Bro. N. Shar- j man tvas accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the help and assistance ho had rendered the Lodge. Three candidates were nominated for the vaI cancy, and P.G. Bro. K. S. Watson | was elected to the office. Bro. C. V. Christiansen was appointed to act as warden. It was decided to hold a meeting of members and ladies on ] Monday evening to make arrangements for the re-union on Thursday ] next. A resolution tvas carried af- | firming the principle of the immedi- ! ate establishment of a St. Helen’s | Homo under Government control, and I that the Lodge strongly protest against the establishment of same on the hospital grounds. Bro. R. S. Watson, D, T. Diiks and J. B. Gerrand were appointed to represent the Lodge on ■ any further committee meeting with the establishment of the St. Helen’s Maternity Home in the I interests of this Lodge. Quite a large number of Palmerston North pedestrians in the Square yesterday were attracted by Messrs J. R. McKenzie’s Ltd., shop windows, which at present are strikingly dressed. The i display arrested the attention of a representative of this paper when passi ing the shop. The feature is a wonj derful array of dolls, aranged in a ] most striking manner. The dolls are | extremely well dressed; in fact, a I number of the costumes are unique. Many are attired in dresses of fancy paper, an innovation to this district. ; It is not often one is found enthusing over a shop window, but such a smart and ciever display is certainly a credit to those responsible. Other windows in the establishment bear the hallmark of distinction in the matter of , attractiveness, but the dolls’ show is magnificent and rare.