LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2715, 24 June 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The New South Wales Cabinet has appointed a Royal Commission to inquire into the safer working of coal mines.

At a meeting of the Palmerston North Cycling and Athletic Club last evening, it was decided to hold three road races in the near future as follow: —July Ist, boys’ race; July Bth: men’s 15-milc race (first prize, Mr. A. Cooksley’s cycle): August sth, 21milc race (first prize, Mr. J. Warner’s cycle). Entries in each case will close on the Saturday previous to the race.

“The early train from Foxton to Palmerston North on is to be discontinued,” says the ‘‘Manawatu Daily Times," of November 21, 1 900. “This train was arranged so as to give Palmerston residents who desired to spend Sunday at the seaside an opportunity of returning in time for business,hut apparently the innovation has not ben appreciated.” Evidently, Foxton was not as popular with Palmerston folk than ns it is now.

The speakers at yesterday’s meeting of the launch Club 'wore three very promising specimens of Now Zealand young manhood—all pupils of the Palmerston North High School —Masters Graham Crossley. lan Campbell and Malcolm Walker. More than usual Interest was taken by the members of the Club In the advent of those young fellows into their midst propounding theories and thoughts of modern life and civilisation in a manher which would have done credit to men of modern experience and more mature outlook. In the words of Mr. .T. R. Cunnlnghame, who) tendered the Club’s thanks for the addresses. It, was a case "of old heads on young shoulders.”

From Palmerston North to Wellington in a little over three hours, and if the train happens to be a fe.w minutes late, often as not there is a grumble, /a 1900, however, the trip to and frqm the Empire City occupied as long as 6i hours. Palmerston North was evidently a “long paddock” for stock owners in 1050. The pound-keeper of those days reported to the Borough Council that during October ho had impounded 183 head of cattle, the net proceeds of which amounted to £ll 1/7. The Taranaki oil-fields reports that the Tarata bore is down 1995 feet in sandy shale, with a show of gas. The Moturoa bore has been cleaned out to 1556 feet, and the flow of natural gas is undimlnlshed, states a New Plymouth message.

The Commonwealth Shipping Board has decided not to insert the clause in the articles demanded bj the men and if the men decline to sail, except on these terms, the management of the lines will tie up the whole fleet, states a Sydney cable. Rongotea formerly bore the name “Campbell town.” after the Hon. Robert Campbell, who established the town. In the year 1894, on the suggestion of Rev. G. H. Hammond, the name Rongotea, meaning “bright nows," was substituted.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has been advised that Hart, Brown and West, the Taranaki All Blacks, will be unable to play in the proposed test between the 1924 and 1925 teams. There is little hope of the match taking place as only two forwards. Porter and Richardson. are available."

Items from the “Manawatu Daily Times” of 1900 that make ones mouth water —Church Street, two 4 acre sections £35 each; Church Street, 14 acres, £150; Broad Street, 4 acre £9O; 3-roomed cottage and section near flourmill, £75; four dry building sites two minutes (walk from Square, £SO each.

A New Plymouth fruiterer has been fined for displaying fruit for sale in a manner likely to mislead intending purchasers as to its quality. The magistrate remarked that it was quite a common experience for people to be attracted by fine displays of goods, but when they got their purchase home and examined it, they found that the quality was far inferior to the standard arranged for sale. “Spruikers, £4 16/6,” was an item in the Australian award quoted to the Arbitration Court yesterday at Wellington by Mr A. W. Croskery for the Theatrical Stage Employees' Union, which aroused the interest of Mr Justice Frazer: “What is a ‘spruiker’?” he asked. “A ‘barker;’ interpolated Mr W. A. Grenfell. “It is a term used in connection with the man who draws attention outside to the entertainment,” said Mr Croskery. His Honour; “I thought a ‘spruiker’ was the sort of man who stood outside the tent of the fat woman at an agricultural side-show and told the public all about her.”

There is great geyser activity at Whaka at present (says the Rotorua "Chonicle.") Apart from Pohotu, all the geysers are exceptionally busy. The great Waiklte geyser is rumbling in a discontented way as if contemplating a protest against imprisonment. The mud geysers in the Arlkikapakapa reserve are particularly jubilant, the big one near the lake, which specialises in displays on frosty nights, splattering mud with astonishing vigour. The cones at the lakeside near the old Taupo road are also in a petulant mood. There is no go-slow policy among the stokers that supply the boiler power to Whakarewarewa. Shortly after two o’clock yesterday afternoon, the fire brigade answered a call to the corner of Maire and Rangitikei streets. The alarm was given by a juvenile who was not to know that a permit had been issued for the burning of rubbish, but on the arrival of the flre-flghters this license was exhibited by tne holder to firemen, spectators and policemen alike. The rubbish consisted of rubber, and this made a dense black smoke which attracted no little attention, and for about an hour a continuous stream of pedestrians and motorists wended their ways to the scene, only to return with a sense of disappointment. You will solve the problem of an altogether individual hat. true to the best in style, but different from what anyone else is wearing by selecting from-these very smart hats now offered at lowest sale prices. See salon upstairs, where this season’s millinery has been so drastically cut. —The C. M. Ross Co. Ltd.