LOCAL AND GENERAL

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 44, 31 May 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ronga Memorial.— lt is probable that this memorial will be unvailed on the afternoon of the 21st June, when speeches appropriate to the occasion will be delivered.

The Gisborne Plague Suspect.— The bacteriological examination of the smears sent from Gisborne to Auckland in connection with the sudden death of a wharf labourer named Manger gave negative results.

The Profits of Fishing !An enormous number of sharks and stingaree infest the Sounds at this season of the year, and render net-fishing very hazardous. On Wednesday morning a local fisherman hauled in the nets he had set overnight. His catch was a dozen flounders, and the holes in the nets will cost about to repair.

An Appreciation.—ln forwarding the amount of his advertising account the head of a prominent Wellington firm writes: "We consider your paper a remarkably good one,” When Wellington merchants back up their opinion by substantial advertising contracts (as may be seen by reference to the paper) we may be pardoned for making the above quotation.

Menu Cards.— The best range of menu cards is obtainable at the Guardian Office,

Importing Chaff and Oats.— Owing to the very high prices ruling in New Zealand for chaff and oats a barque has been loaded in Melbourne with 15,000 sacks of these lines for _ Greymouth. It is staled that after paying freight, duty, and other charges, the cargo can be landed at a lower figure than current prices. The quality of the produce is said to be extra fine, It is over twenty years since a similar cargo arrived on the West Coast from Victoria.

Telephone Extension.—Mr E. O’Brien and his men have connected Maori Bay with the telephone system of the Sounds, and are now pushing on to the Messrs Walker Brothers' homestead at Nydia Bay, where the telephone office will be located. The Department have arranged to connect Mrs Keyworth’s place at Whatanihi with the system, and if certain commercial developments at Nydia Bay come to maturity it is probable that an instrument will be placed in Mr John Gould's homestead,

Value of Exhibition Medals.—The Christchurch Tribune remarks "So many gold medals were awarded at the late Exhibition that the few exhibitors who didn’t get any might advantageously advertise the fact. It might inspire public confidence in their goods! " And it is a melancholy tact that this statement represents the opinion of most people in New Zealand. No more crushing indictment could be made of the way the Exhibition was mismanaged by high-salaried officials.

Pelorus Poultry Association.— Owing to the inauguration of Societies and Clubs that offer more attractions to their members and to a larger number of the general public than do exhibitions of poultry, the local Poultry Association find the prospects for a Show this year very discouraging. The South Island Poultry Association have allotted dates (16th and 17th July) for the Show, but it is extremely improbable that the dates will be taken up. A raeeti ng of members of the Association will be held on Thursday todiscuss the question.

Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure for Coughs and Colds never fails, 1/6 & 2/6,

Drunkards in the Army.— The annual report of the Surgeon-General of the United States Army contains a table showing the death-rate in the various armies, with a view to comparison. Under the head of "acute alcoholism" the United States Army has first place, with 20'8g in every thousand admitted to medical treatment, In the German Army the rate is only cog or " more than three hundred times less than in our army." In the French Army the cases of acute alcoholism to the thousand are given as o-xB, in the Dutch 0-24, and in the British 2 1.

Town Hall Opening.— lt is expected that the painters and carpenters will have quite completed their labours at the new Town Hall on 14th or 15th June, and the Town Hall Committee (as announced in our last issue) resolved on Monday night that the official opening shall take place on Friday, 21st June, at 8 p.m. The only speech will be that of the Chairman of the Town Board, who will formally declare the Hall open. Dancing will commence directly after the opening ceremony. The Committee agreed to invite the children of the district to attend a dance in the Hall on Saturday evening, 22nd June, from 7 till ro. Various other details were arranged, and the Committee adjourned.

A " Trade ” Alliance.— ln a speech at a dinner given by the Mayor of Karori Mr W, H. Field, M.H R., remarked that it had been said that the brewers and publicans would use their influence to bring about a dissolution of Parliament with the object of getting another three years’ lease of life. But he did not think that the party mentioned would be strong enough to do that. It had been said by one speaker during the course of the evening that there were not enough Ministers in the Cabinet. He agreed that Ministers were overworked, and referred regretfully to the present illness of the Acting-Premier, but he was of opinion that the overwork was due very largely to Ministers attending too much to detail. Many minor things, he said, could be relegated to the heads of Departments.

How Gold is Won.— The methods that are being used at Poseidon, Victoria, the newest Australian goldfield, and the goldgetting methods described in the book of Genesis are practically the same. So asserts a writer in the current issue of Dr Fitcbett’s 6d. magazine, Life, May issue of which is to hand. He adds that the statutes tint prevailed at Havilah, the Biblical goldfield, and the Maryborough bye-laws are also equally alike and equally useful. It seems that the article on Poseidon is only one of a number of original Australian articles which are included in the current number, and we are glad to note that while the scissors and paste are being used with as great discretion as ever the departments devoted to original articles are growing in size. Thus we find, in addition to the goldfield account, and the usual history of the month by Dr Fitchett, Messrs Noble, Laver, and Trott’s expression of opinion as to the personnel of the coming English Eleven; a finely written and beautifully illustrated Nature-study by "Malarus”; a capital set of "secrets of success” by a number of leading business men ; and a batch of short contributions by a scare of writers in all parts of Australasia. In addition, there are at least two important series of articles, the Australasian rights of which are held by the magazine, to say nothing of Dr Pitchett's latest novel, which is running its serial course.

Hockey. We have received from “Disgusted” a very lengthy letter dealing with the alleged “tripping” that took place in the hockey match at Havelock Suburban last Saturday. The writer has, however, omitted to enclose her name, so we cannot publish the letter.

To Correspondents.— We constantly receive letters from correspondents who omit to enclose their real name, though their contributions are signed with a fictitious name. We wish to make it clear that we cannot publish such letters. All correspondence must bear the correct name of the writer, but a pen-name may be attached for publication.

Boy Wanted. -Messrs Price and Bon require a boy, about 15 years old, to assist in the store.

Church Services.— Rev. Mr Stace’s services on Sunday next are as follow : Havelock n a.m., Canvastown 2.30 pan., Havelock 7 p.m. (Mrs Irwin will sing •' He wipes the tear from every eye”).—The Methodist services are as follow :—Okaramio 11 a.m., Havelock Suburban 2.30 p.m,, Havelock 7 p.m,, Mr F. White; Rai Valley 11 a.m., Deep Creek 3 p.m., Canvastown 7.30 p.m., Rev. H. Richards.

Rise in the Price of Bread.— Mr Pope notifies that in consequence of a further 30s per ton being added to the cost of flour he is compelled to increase the price of bread to the extent of one penny per four-pound loaf. The amended price will De charged on and after Saturday. This seems an opportune time to point out the need for an anti-Trust Bill. There is absolutely no need for this rise in flour, which is caused solely because there is no possibility of imports from Australia underselling the millers. The rise benefits the millers only. This move shows how quickly the men with money and power take advantage of an opportunity to exploit the public, heedless of the awful suffering involved.

New Scenery. —The Town Board have ordered from a Nelson artist a set of stage scenery, etc. The drop-scene is a particularly handsome one, and it is expected the scenery will be in position on the opening night.

Ihe Havelock School, —Mr Irwin will be leaving Havelock towards the end of next week, and the School will probably close for the winter holidays for a fortnight after his departure. A relieving teacher will be appointed to assist Miss Stone till a new Headmaster is selected. We learn that already a good number of applications have been received for the Headmastership.

School Gardens. —The Taranaki Education Board have been discussing the question of whether school garden work should be carried out on individual plots or large demonstration areas. The special instructordesired to abolish the former in favour of the latter, and several members of the Committee disagreed with the specialist. The “ special instructor” evidently has a remarkable conception of the work on which he is engaged. The very essence of school garden work is individual effort. Then the training of the reasoning and observation powers being paramount, it is evident that these will be best developed where each child has his own soil to cultivate and his own seeds to plant and tend to maturity. An important aspect of this study is the emulation between the little workers among nature, the comparisons to be made, and the opportunities afforded of selection, all of which are better advanced by the individual plot. This attempt to carry out school garden work on a large co-operative demonstration plot, in which no individual child would have any special interest, is a most astounding proposition for one who is controlling this sort of work. For 1907 Supplies and Sundries amateurs should drop a line to Zak’s Photo Depot, Wellington.—Advt. When you feel the firstjtwinge of rheumatism, gout, sciatica, or lumbago, send for a bottle of Rheumo. It will quickly cure you. All stores and chemists sell it at 2/6 and 4/6. A positive and lasting cure.