LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2597, 16 March 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Moscow message says that Lenin is again reported to be dying of paralysis. The Amir of Afghanistan has conferred on Mustapha Kernal the highest Afghan honour, the order of “My Brother,” says a London cable. Speaking to the members of the Chamber of Commerce at the abattoirs yesterday, Cr. M. A. Eliott stated that the pig industry had assumed tremendous proportions, 240 pigs, as an instance, having arrived from as far north as Dargaville to be killed. On Wednesday Fred Murray, aged nine, a son of Mr James Murray, of Papatawa (near Woodville) held a detonator in his hand and exploded it with a stone. His tigers were blown off, and he was taken to the Pahiatua Hospital. A big slip occurred in the Mauawatu Gorge on Wednesday night. It is expected that the obstruction, which is about halt way through the Gorge, will be removed by about midday on Saturday. The Gorge Board’s men are hard at work on the road, which is completely blocked. Mr. H. G. Leng-Ward, director of the New Zealand Chautauqua, is staying at the Empire Hotel tor the Palmerston North season. Ha states the present tour has met with a great reception, and is eas.ly the best present, ed up to date, it is v.-ry hard to say which is the outstanding performance, as can be seen by the reports from towns already visited. What might have been a serious accident occurred at the intersection Qif Princess and Church Streets at 11.15 yesterday morning, when a local doctor, driving his car up Princess Sired, almost col’ided with another car coming up Church Street. The doctor’s vehicle struck the rear end of the other, inflicting but slight damage. Nobody was hurt. In the newer suburbs of Christchurch great attention is being paid to the beautification of the street frontages. Only half of the footpath is laid down in asphalt, the remainder being sown with lawn grass, while the ' fence line is planted with bright j flower borders, the favourite plants i being blue or golden violas or lobelias. The modern way. In the old days a 1 tooth or a jawbone of a celebrity at. tractcd crow'ds. Nowadays tilings are Idone differently. A sparking plug from the engine of the machine in which the late Sir Boss Smith made his me--1 morable flight from England to Australia is on view in the window of a Christchurch shop. This souvenir has created a good deal of interest among passers-by. The manager of a Marlborough carj rying firm, giving evidence at the Arbitration Court, stated that the upi keep of a big motor-lorry was very I high. Benzine was a big item, while j the other day he had paid about £IBO ; for a set of two tyres, while six months previous! he had paid £B4 for a pair of twin tyres. His Honour (Mr Jus. ticc Frazer): “I think I’d just as soon stick to the law!" There was a splendid attendance at the meeting of the Loyal Manawatu Lodge, ALU. 1.0.0. F., last evening, ! presided over by N.G. Bro. O. J. Rodgers. A degree lecture was held by P.G. Bro. T. A. Rodgers, when a number of members were advanced to their respective degrees. It was decided to hold a lecture on “Character Analysis,” and concert on Wednesday, April 11th. The next meeting of the Lodge will be held on Wednesday, March 28th. One candidate was proposed for membership. “I would like to draw the attention i of that gentleman who came into the I chamber with his liat on that we only allow ladies to wear their hats on in I here,” said the Mayor (Dr. H. T. J. I Thacker) suddenly, in the midst of a discussion at the Christchurch City [ City Council. His Worship had watched the entry of the gentleman con- [ cerned with marked disapproval. He remarked that if the visitor thought he was a lady he could keep his hat on, and then, as a final shot, remarked a few seconds later that “she” had now taken “her” hat off. A well-known Petone lawyer suddenly found himself in an awkward position at the Petone Magistrate’s Court the other day. A young mother, on being called to the witness box, .thrust her baby into the arms of the solicitor, carrying her other child, who screamed a great deal, into the box with her. The court was in rather a commotion for a while, the two infants screamiong at finding themselves in such strange surroundings. "You get your hand in,” said the Police Inspec. tor to the embarrassed lawyer, as he went to relieve the mother of the child she carried. The matter was finally settled by removing both the children. Smart tweeds in French checks are to be seen amongst the many distinctive materials in the beautiful autumn display of The C. M. Ross Co., Ltd. There are fawn, mastic, nigger, navy, and black, at 6/6, 6/11, and 9/11 a yard nett cash. There are also unequalled values in navy coating serges, all 56in wide, at from 10/6 to 18/6 a yard nett cash.