Palmerston Doings.

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 867, 16 February 1917, Page 24

Palmerston Doings.

Deae GhBISTABEL, — "FT is evidently quite an exploded idea _a - to imagine you must have baths : in order to learn to swim. But >theh,. some may have learned in other towns, and again our river hath its bathing "hole." The idea of an Aquatic Carnival (sounds much better than S;wimming Sports) seemed to tickle the fancy of our inlanders, and the High School Baths, where: it was held^—a twehty-fiye-foot bath by something less---was crowded on Wednesday afternoon. The sun blazed down on the rows of packed humanity, many of whom longed to shed conventions and dive in too. The , small boyV element climbed on every available perch-:—fences, roofs, and" tree tops—-and cheered lustily as each event progressed. * ■.-«••".''"• » y *''."■■: . The swimming club has made good use of these school baths during the holidays, and some hard training has been put in. ; But the competitors were, not all local,' and quite a number of visiting swimmers entered. . Mr. Shields, of, I believe, your seaside city, a veteran swimmer, who it would be as hard to drown as a fish, gave a very interesting exhibition; A small, lean lad, a son of Mr. Harry Young, gave a demonstration of what can be . done' in about three weeks. In that>time he had learnt to swim, and did the length of the baths in good style. As he climbed out, he eagerly clutched in his wet arms the ,big red box of chocolates, which was probably the bait held out to encourage him lest so , large an audience should make him nervous. #.-■#■ ■■■■«.'•»-.''■ Paddy's Market is to get the financial benefit Out of this undertaking, which should be considerable. But its result, apart from finance, should be far-reaching. Since then, the tenders, for our Municipal Baths have been accepted, and who knows, but you may - live to ride to the baths in our very own trams.- ;'."'■■ * ■-.;>•.■,»■■:' '■' 0 ■:. . ■ .» . The good people of Newbury Line farewelled three of the-boys off to fight ' ,for. their broad acres last week, Messrs. J. Scrimshaw, D. Hansen, and 0. Mor- , Ti's, all Rangitikei Line boys. A farewell gift was handed to each by Mrs. Edwin Collins, Mr. Peroy McHardy made a speech, a lot'-. of people sang songs, and then you ate and danced till you were tired, and, if you didn't get tired too early, you could keep at it till it was time to milk. v A son of our ex-Postmaster Inder, Mr. Norman Inder, of Piri Piri, was married in Danhevirke last week. The bride was Miss Myrtle Herbert, the fourth of Mrs. Charles Herbert. Mr. B. Inder, a returned soldier, was best man, and Miss Ivy Herbert was the bridesmaid. The bridegroom ; enlisted some .time agOj and was turned down, but he has now managed to pass the test, and sheds his suit of mufti next week. ■■'•':*..'■..*' . * '« Mrs. W. T. Penny, who has been spending the" Christmas holidays among her clan in; Blenheim, has arrived back in -town. While over there, Mrs. Penny trained a party of "Merrymakers" similar to the ones she organised in Palmerston some "months ago, and they made a great hit—record bookings great enthusiasm, fieaps of cash. Nelson heard of these successes, and wants to

borrow-them, and after that they are. going to give Picton a treat, so, in the way of practical patriotism, the - "Merrymakers" are also moneymakers, and all the coin goes into the coffers for sick and wounded and such other needy funds. ■»''■'"*■ ■»' ' o Dr. and Mrs. Whittaker have gone to Paekakariki for a couple of weeks. . ■ .' * •» . •» ■■-..;[ # Mrs. S. V. Trask, who, with her sisters, ' Mrs. Pierce and Miss Driscc-U, of Wellington, has been staying down at the aforesaid seaside spot, • has come home, and is up to her neck in sugar, making sweets for her stall at Paddy's Market. © © a . . * "' "Awapuni" acknowledges with thanks a donation, per medium of \" the Fbbb Langs, towards the stall at which she is'helping. She also thanks "Whirlwind," of Wanganui, for her suggestion re the pie-cart, but she is unable to act on it ,as she is already engaged as shaft-horse in a hand-cart, from which she will sell something less disturbing and much more soothing than pies. 'ift . •■': ■ " o © While you are wrestling with this copy, Christabel, up here we shall be wrestling with Paddy's Market in .'its initial stages, with all its pleasures " and pains. Already the clatter of timber, the rasp of the saw, and the thump of hammers have made, night hideous in George-street. Add 'to. this rhe melody of . half a hundred women's voices raised in a shrill crescendo in an x endeavour to be audible above the din-. Patient carpenters try to build structures on the vague, elaborate, and sometimes impracticable plans of Aesr souls, whose building experience has been mostly confined to "Castles in Spain." ,» ■& o .»--.. Still they are well advanced, and the stalls to look businesslike. A worried Mayor and Mayoress, and a perspiring secretary consult with eager stall-holders, and all the little tangles incidental to such affairs are gradually straightening themselves out. ' If the weather can only be persuaded to behave itself for a few days, and act like a decent, self-respecting summer, we have high hopes of success. However, I will tell you all about it next week. "... a ■: * • ■ o. • ■ The several eases of highway robbery reported recently, culminating in the sticking up of Mr. Norman Sinclair (manager for Watson Bros.), on Saturday night, by two masked and armed men, at the early hour of 10.15, has caused quite a stir among our citizens. Whether it is the work of a couple of young desperadoes, suffering from an overdose of "Deadwood Dick," or the work of more experienced hands, remains to be seen. Not since the days of the Powelka scare, when we endured terrors untold, has paterfamilias been so particular about putting out the cat and bolting up the doors. If these enterprising highway men turn their attention to Paddy's Market, there will be some lively doings. Personally, I go out armed with a blackthorn stick at night—it's safer than a pistol. '".*»''■.».•.'*-. © The Appeal Court is sitting, and the excuses given remind one of a certain passage from the Bible (I regret I cannot give you chapter and verse), but it runs.somewhat in this wise: "I have bought a yoke of oxen, so I cannot go.

I have married a wife, so I pray you hold me excused." One man, who had a wife and sis children to keep, on the face of it looked as if he had a very genuine excuse. But when it was discovered that he acquired the whole batch recently in a wholesale way, having, married a widow with six children, the case appeared in a different . light, and the hard-hearted Board gave the order: "Bout turn, quick march— Camp." ; ' O .» " -» . O ■;■-.■». -. Sub-Inspector Marsack, who is departing for another sphere of labour, was given a good-bye party at Terrace End this week, over which the Rev. Blaekbourne presided. The Marsack • family are all good church workers, and their energies will be missed from the Terrace -End parish. o - ■ "• > • '4* Mr. Clerk-of-the Court Hewlitt and his family are practically living among packing eases, pending the arrival of his successor. Everything is packed in readiness for his departure for; Invercargill (don't forget the accent is bri the "fishy" part), where he will, help to keep law. and order. »«a. ■«'.•■■«.■■''«> Captain Furby has gone away for a few days' spell, as the strain of. work at Defence Headquarters, on top of the bad "smacking up" he got twice at Gallipoli, has sent out warning signals. The Captain is fairly solid on work, and the rest will do him good. ' * «• ." ■» •"■'■■*. One* of the first New Zealanders to enlist for active service, 'A. H. Fleming Laurenson, came home to die. He served with the Sanioan Contingent, contracting a fatal malady while at Samoa, and though until a week'or so ago he was about town, a pathetically ill figure, he died on Monday last. Recently he has been on the staff. of the Manawatu "Standard." A boy of dis-tinct-literary ability, he had. many friends, both* here and in Wellington, who will regret to hear of his early death. He was only 24 years of age. '■■'«'■ '«■.-." ob; ■b; ' At the present moment our medical men don't seem to be a very happy family. Murmur it not in Gath, it is said to be professional jealousy, but I offer no opinion as to that. r There are now three of our doctors at the war, Drs. Putnam, Stowe, and Forrest—Dr. A. A. Martin has made the supreme sacrifice. Dr. Putnam is due back in New Zealand in March. He is really the Public Hospital " surgeon, meanwhile Dr. Peach does slicingrup business. The services of Dr. Barnett,, who took over Dr. Martin's practice, are only available to those who can afford to pay private hospital fees, and • owing to some by-law of the fence variety, it is impossible to put him on the hospital staff. . #-- . '' . *'.■" * ' - ' ;».-. Dr. Bett, a bridegroom of a. fewmonths, who offered his services some time sigo, but was told he wasn't wanted, has now been drawn in the ballot. He faced the Military Appeal Board, whose members [ wield a ruthless probe, where your innermost, secrets, from your age to your income, are dug out for public inspection. The Doctor only wanted time to put his house in order, and , await the arrival of Dr. Putnam, as otherwise the hospital would be left with only one surgeon and an eye specialist. The admission of Dr. Barnett to take his place until the ■arrival of Dr.:.Putnam might solve the difficulty, but apparently that by-law,and a lot.of other things swing, in the balance. It wa.v about these ; little things that some considerable talk took place at the Hospital meeting, .when our one and only lady representative, Mrs. Gill, spoke well to the point. However. Ave shall see what hapens'. ' ■5? # *' ' '* ' Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Fuller have gone to Picton and the Sounds for a couple of weeks, but; if they ai:e enjoying the new chronic hurricane we have had for the past week, launching and fishing in those'beautiful waters won't be all joy. ; . * * * * Mr. John Doyle, of Church-street, seems to hold a pretty good paternal record in the khaki business. His< eldest son was killed on the Somme, two others are in, the fighting line, another has just been sent'to the New Zealand General Hospital in England, and the only remaining son of military age has been drawn in the ballot. , .« • a .*">.- Quite a lot of people went to the Opera House on Saturday night, to find out "What Happened to Jones," and' they seemed more than satisfied, because' most of them and., a few more went back on Monday to find out.' 'Why Smith Left Home." Just pique a woman's curiosity, and you will;-get her nearly every time. And when the genial Willoughbv announced . that he was inviting all ladies at half-price on Monday, because he thought it was really their duty,to know "Why Smith Left Home," he clinched the matter. Half-price! The very word attracts like a bargain counter, which always

makes a strong appeal to a woman's thrifty (?) soul, and curiosity did the rest. "The introduction of a song and dance touch brightened, an already sparkling comedy that was well ; staged and went with plenty of biff. ■a - ■ .■& ■ • * ■■'■■... ■» On Monday afternoon the members of this Company gave an open-air con- ~ cert in the Square. Mounted on a lorry, they, sang at street' corners, and gathered in a few more coins towards Paddy's Market. But" the skies wept and the crowd was thin, and, again, it was. for many people, washing day. Still, thel cash result was worth their generous effort—some £27. * . o . ■&■■■■ ■ « Mis. Araaud Barraud has been staying in the Wairaraoa with her sister, Mrs, Francis Hewitt. Your friend,