GENERAL NEWS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6755, 7 November 1928, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS

William Henry Conder, baker, of Palmerston North, has hied a petition in bankruptcy. “On the 30th ultimo in the Supreme Court in Chambers at Wellington His Honour Mr. Justice Ostler granted to the Public Trustee , probate of the wills of the late Messrs. Joseph Henry Faulkner of Bunnythorpo and Andrew George Dun of Palmerston North.” Yesterday morning, the Mayor (Mr. A. J. Graham) and the Borough engineer visited the new drainage work being done in the southern portion of the city. They witnessed the complete process of laying and joining a the work being done in a satisfactory manner.

Thieves visited, the Auckland Tennis Association courts on Friday night and on Monday night broke into the pavilion, rifled some of the lockers and stole players’ gear, including some belonging to Austin and Collins, of the British team, also a tent belonging to the caretaker.

A consignment of 193 Angora and Ohincilla rabbits arrived from England by the Aorangi at Auckland on Sunday evening. Two hundred were despatched, but seven died on the voyage. This is the fourth shipment to New Zealand, and was to the order of Mr. A. G. Sainsbury. of Auckland. One of the oldest residents of Koru, Taranaki, a horse named “Trigger,” passed to his rest the other day. lie had given faithful service for 34 years, and died at the ago of 38 years. He was owned by Mr. James Bentham, and bad worked for 34 years on the origin" al farm of Mr. F. Green, who bred him. Four years ago “Trigger” injured himself and since then had lived in honourable retirement.

“It is becoming the fashion to treat the police as doing something wrong every time they make inquiries,” said Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court. Tho remark was evoked when counsel interrupted the evidence of a constable in the box to ask whether, in regard to the statement which was put in, tho defendant, who made it, had been warned that it would bo used against him. The constable said that no such warning was given as no charge had then been laid against tho defendant and witness was merely making inquiries. If trout are too elusive for Hawke’s Bay anglers and their rods, tho crow is evidently able to catch them, for a local resident told the following story. At the Ngaruroro at Pakowhai she said she saw a big crow swoop to the surface of the water and rise again with a trout weighing at leasl 3lb. held in its beak. The crow at once made elf, apparently toward the rookery, and in flight was followed by another large crow “caw-ing” loudly. All the lime the trout was wriggling violently in an effort to force itself loose, but tho crow safely carried it out of sight..

“There is quite a large number of American investors and commercial men interested in the future of New Zealand,” said Mr. W. L. Lowrie, Con-sul-General for the United States in New Zealand, upon his return to Auckland by the Aorangi during the weekend from a holiday in America. Mr. Lowrie said ho attended a number of important trade conferences in tho United States and was surprised to find how well posted his countrymen were in New Zealand affairs. Feeling toward trade with Now Zealand was most kindly, but there appeared no immediate prospect of a revision of tariffs.

On Monday evening while' celebra ting Guy Fawkes’ day, the young son of Mr A. Penketh, of Keeling street, Palmerston North, hurt his thumb a? tho result of a “double banger” exploding. The boy had purchased a supply of fireworks and had understood from the shop assistant that tho article tyiat exploded was a “flower pot.” In the process of sotting it off tho wind blew it over. Believing that it was a “flower pot” or squib, young Penketh held the banger upright on the ground, when it exploded, causing painful lacerations. He received medical attention and was able to attend schoo* yesterday.

A Masterton woman on a visit to Hastings caused a sensation in Heretaunga street, Hastings, the other day about 5 o ’clock, by driving on -to the footpath and knocking down a woodet verandah post at the corner of Market street north. She aves about to pass the intersection when a cyclist shot out in front of her and tried to cross her path. She swerved her car to avoid him and, after jumping the kerb and knocking down the post, the vehicle came to rest on the footpath between a shop window and the telegraph pole on tho corner. The driver of tho car, which fortunately, suffered slight damage, showed considerable coolness.

“I wish I had a rirtc; I should like to have a pop at them! ” exclaimed the Prime Minister when on the northern slopes of Mount Ekmont on Sunday. Ho was coming down the new Waiwakaiho ridge track, and every now and then goats could be seen, even up to tho 4000 ft level, quietly feeding on the herbage and young trees in the open spaces. They were about 1000 yards distant, and formed good targets in tho clear atmosphere even at that dis tanee. The ranger (Mr B. W. Larsen) told Mr Coates of tho great damage that was being done to the forest and fern life of the reserves by tho goats, which were multiplying at a great rate. Six years ago, he said, a herd of 600 had got into the reserve, and from a rough calculation he estimated that they had increased to between 13,000 and 15,000 in that period. Besides that, hundreds of other goats had got into tho reserve from neighbouring farms, and were gradually working their way all round the mountain.