LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 29, 14 April 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dramatic Society.— The preliminary meeting o£ members of this Society, held at Dr Williams’ house on Monday, decided to resuscitate the organisation, and with this object a meeting of those desirous of joining will be held in the Library at 8 p.m. on Tuesday next.

What it has come to An illuminating paragraph from the Eltham Anjus : “ It has been decided to postpone the public meeting in connection with the formation of an Orchestral Society until Thursday night on account of the interest that is being taken in the Johnson-Jeffries pictures to be shown at Wilkinson’s Hall on Monday night,’’ The Half holiday. —At the Road Board’s meeting on Wednesday a notification was received from the Labour Department that Wednesday had been fixed as the day upon which the half-holiday shall be observed in the Pelorus Road district. This will somewhat complicate matters for the Havelock storekeepers who have branches in the Rai and at Carluke.

A Lucky Baby. —“ Miss 1000“ seems to after all, be, the lucky baby at St. Helens, says the Dunedin #/«?■. On Saturday morning a dozen of the Knox College medical students visited the establishment, and collectively stood as fairy godfathers to the infant, their promises including one to the effect that so far as they can provide for it this child shall never pay. for medical advice during her life. That is better than the gift of a silver mug. In witness of the compact, the young men were photographed with the baby. Land Jobbers and Noxious Weeds.— At New Plymouth in the beginning of the week a man was fined £3, and 7s oosts, for failing to clear blackberry. It was shown that he was a "landjobber.” The Weeds Inspector said he had known properties change hands five times within two months, and nothing was done to clear the weeds Farmers whose properties were clean complained of the fact that the property was continually changing hands, and as nothing was done to keep the blackberry down it was a continual source.of infection.

Hospital Ball.— At a meeting o£ the Cottage Hospital ladies’ committee oa Wednesday arrangements were made for the annual ball, which was fixed to take place on Friday. 2nd June, in the Havelock Town Hall. The prices are to be 5s for a double ticket and is 6d for an extra lady. As usual, the ladies will provide the supper, and the kind offer of Mr Bush, conductor of Bush’s Orchestra, to supply music free of charge, has been gratefully accepted ; in all probability the Havelock Orchestra will combine with the visiting musicians, so that patrons can look forward to exceptionally good music. Mrs Buckman is secretary to the committee.

The Rai Skeleton.— With regard to the discovery of a human skeleton on Mr A. Maule’s property in the Rai, Mr C. Leov informs us that about 20 years ago a man named Nowall, who bad been falling bush near the Accommodation House, mysteriously disappeared, and though his wife spent six months in instigating a search for him he was never found. Also, about twelve years ago a man named Peterson disappeared. He was employed by Mr W. Jones, bush contractor for Brownlee and Co., and was camped right under the hill where the skeleton was found. It is suggested that the remains are very probably those of Peterson, who knocked off work on a Saturday and never returned for his wages.

Axemen's Sports.— There are some plucky sportsmen down Bulwer way, judging by the items on the programme for the Axemen’s Carnival at Waitata Bay on 9th June. The prize money aggregates £4O, and there are events to pleaso the novice, the second-rater, and the champions. Puketea will be used for each event, and this should create a big entry, especially in the 24-inch bushmen’s standing chop, for which prizes of £7, /a, and £1 are offered. Nominations close with the secretary, Mr D. Nock, Bulwer, Pelorus Sound, on Saturday, 13th May, handicaps will appear in the Guardian on Friday, 26th May, and acceptances close on 3rd June, Mr Gus. Puklowsky will do the handicapping. A day’s real good sport can be looked forward to. The, programme appears in this issue,

Potato Moth.— The potato crops of Timsru and Oatnaru districts are being seriously affected by the potato moth known scientifically as lita solonella. This is largely attributed to the dry season, which is always favourable to the insect’s growth. So far, from 150 to 200 tons of potatoes have been landed this season in Auckland from the districts mentioned, and, according to the estimates of a leading merchant, nearly 50 per cent, were affected by the grub. The agents at the other end have been keeping up a rigid system of inspection, and large quantities have been condemned but one of the worst evils of the pest is that an apparently sound bag of potatoes may become infected and utterly ruined in a week or ten days. Thus a large proportion of the shipments are put on board sound, but on arrival at destination are so. thick with maggots as to be almost worthless. A sign of the disease is the whitening of the outside of the sack through the grubs finding their way out for the purpose of building cocoons.

A Sounds Dance. —A correspondent sends the following :—Whoever reported for your paper the sports on the 17th of March quite forgot the dance held in Mr Edward Harvey’s woolshed, Canoe Bay, on the same night. I must say it was successfully carried out. The hall was elaborately decorated with palms and wreaths of flewers, Dancing commenced at eight and kept up till daylight. Music was kindly supplied by a few ot the young ladies who attended. Besides ordinary dances, there was fancy dancing by Miss Lehrke and Miss Evelyna McCauley. A quartette,“ Hello, my Baby,” was sung by four young ladies; songs were rendered by Mr Walker and Mr Vinnini; and recitations were given by Miss Murphy, Miss Lehrke. and Miss Evelyne McCauley, all of which were very much appreciated. About 12 o'clock a good supper was provided by Mrs Harvey, and early in the morning the people dispersed after spending an enjoyable evening,

Concession to a Big Family.— An application for land dealt with by tho Auckland Land Board last week was from a settler who admitted that he was already in occupation of a large section, but asked that consideration be shown him on the ground that he had a-family of seventeen children, and the land he possessed was not sufficient to support quite such a large number. The Board appeared to consider that families of this sort should be encouraged, and accordingly waived the point and allowed the applicant tojtake his chance at the ballot. Which reminds us of an incident that recently occurred at Palmerston, Paterfamilias from away back was in town with his offspring for a holiday, and had visited one of the picture shows, As he stood on the footpath, apparently waiting for someone, he put his fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle, which would have been heard a mile away. Then by twos and threes from here and there the family began to assemble to the number of nine or ten. “ Are you all here ?" asked the pater. And the reply was given, “ Some of us have gone on ahead,” How many “ Some of us ” represented could not be ascertained, but father and mother and about ten of their offspring entered a boarding house where the remainder of the family had already gone. There must have been 13 or 14 all told, and if such families were more in there would be no necessity for the injunction to keep the cradle full, and less apprehension concerning the falling birth-rate.

For Chronic Chest Complaints Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, ,1/6, 2/6

The Manaroa. —This [steamer left Wei- j lington at 8' p.tn on Wednesday. She is due here at 8 this morning and will sail at

Bushfalling. —Mr A. Thompson, of Mountain Gamp, wants 41 acres of bush felled. Particulars can be obtained from Mr V. Twidle, Havelock.

Road Board Election. —As we anticipated in a previous issue Mr J. L. Lambert has resigned his seaton the Pelorus Road Board, as member for the North Bank subdivison, and an election to fill the vacancy will be held on Saturday. 6 h April, The election for representatives in the Kaituna, Pelorus, and Mahakipawa will take place on the same day. Nominations close at noon on Saturday, 29th April.

Smoke Concert.— The complimentary smoke concert and presentation to Mr W. K. Matthews, originally arranged for Friday, 21st April, will row take place on Friday, 28th April, in the Library at Havelock. The postponement was due to the fact that Mr John Duncan, M.P., who is to preside at the gathering, was called away to join a Parliamentary party who next week are to traverse the routes of certain proposed North Auckland railways. The presentation has been arranged by the Town. Board, Harbour Board, and Road Board, and several ex-members of those bodies. Tickets for the smoke concert are now available, at 5s each.

A Fiery Ratepayer.— The Pioton Press says The Picton Hospital Board, at their meeting to-day, were faced with the following, communication ;■' Enclosed herewith please find a cheque in payment of my consribution to the Picton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, but which I think ought to be called the Loafers’ and Socialists’, Blackmailers’, and Legal Robbers' Fund, for which please send me a receipt, and oblige,—Yours,—One of the Criminal Class called Land Owners.” Members received a pretty severe shack, but no one fainted. The letter was from a well-known Sounds settler.

A Deserving Case.— The subscriptions already acknowledged on' behalf of the widow and children of the late James Corliss amounted to £24 iSs 6d, and Mr F, Fraser, of the Commercial Hotel, has collected in Havelock a farther sum of £4 12s 6d, as follows; —E. Scott, A. Newman, and J. Fraser 10s each, A. J. Brown, T. O'Grady, P. McAllister, “Surveyor," and W. Matthews 5s each, " Sympathy ” bs, W. Twidle, E. Newberry, W. Simmonds, E. Bartlett, A. Scott, R Jones, W. Hutchinson, G.H.S., L, Nicholas A. Simmonds, W. Buckman, C. 0, H., and V. C. V., 23 6d each, “ Friend ” 2s. Total, £29 ns.

Havelock Town Board. —All the members were present at the monthly meeting of this Board on Wednesday, Authority was received for the Government grant af £IOO for metalling, aud the Treasury also notified that the Board's share of the goldfields revenue was 16s. The Takoreke Hookey Club were granted the use of Brownlee Park between the hours of 2 and 3 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday, subject to consideration being shown to other Clubs desiring to play matches on those days, the Club whose application is first received to have a prior claim to the ground, Mr A. J. Brown’s name was placed on the rate roll in lieu of that of Elliott Jones in respect of s-’ction 90, Havelock, W. Knight’s application for a lease of H. Rankin’s premises was not entertained. It was decided to notify Mr F. Francis that he must not block up the right-of-way near his stables. Barton Brothers’ tender at is 4§d per cubic" yard was accepted for raising the Mud-flat Road. Accounts totalling £59 were passed for payment, and the meeting closed.