LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 29 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In last week's Gazette appears a notice redesignating the 7th "Regiment J J? ne*°n West Coaet Rifles, the 7th Wellington West Coast Regiment. The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Victoria, which left Sydney at noon on Oct. 24 for Auckland, lias on board an Australian mail. The Wanganui portion is due to arrive here by the Mam Trunk to-day. According to ,a cable from Berlin, the International Exhibition agreement has been signet!. It provides for participation in exhibitions only at intervals of three' years, and at an interval of .a decade in any one country. It also settles the procedure concerning awards, and prevents tho traffic in medals. Xt^ 11'^', 0-,^ 116011 ' resident of tho j\ew Zealand Farmers' Union, paid a visit to tho. Martou School Farm yesterday, and in the course of his remarks expressed the opinion that the Wanganui Board of Education was doing moro than any other Board in j\ew Zealand to promote and advance the scientific side of farm operations. A report giving a summary of the gathering appears in another column.

He seems to imply that there was something unmanly, if not childish, in the occupation of kite flying," remarked Archdeacon Walsh, wnen referring, during tho course of a lecture in Auckland tho other evening to the surprisel expressed by a writer that Maori men should have indulged in the pastime mentioned. "But why kite flying should be considered less manly than, say, bowling or golf, it would bo difficult to explain, especially if the. kite flyer was the manufacturer of his machine."

There is apparently a good deal of sickness at Eltham just now, and the hospital is iilling up again. In this connection one cannot help being impressed with the idea that ailments are more prevalent than they used to be. It may be that the higher standard of living, of which we hear so much, is responsible; for the "higher standard" may bo summed up as cake instead of bread and butter, flannelette for flannel, and shapely American boots with paper soles in place of clumsy leather and hobnails of the old-time local craftsman.

During the- hearing of ,a case in Auckland last week, some good advice was given by Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., to persons finding themselves financially insolvent. One defendant in .a judgment summons case stated that lie had no money, but was trying to borrow £0 to enable him to file his petition in bankruptcy. Mr Kettle said that the baiiKruntcy laws were primarily intended for those with no assets. " It would be far better for tho defendant to call a meeting of his creditors and make some -arrangement with them, and let them share the £6 among them instead of paying it into the Consolidated Revenue of the Dominion.

A youthful Gore poultry fancier has .solved tho local "clucking" hen problem (says the "Mataura Ensign.") The lad recently received a setting of eggs from a big brother-in-law, but three days before tho anticipated hatching was due, the hen left the nest. At the time the boy was laid up with measles Having read recently about a Canterbury poultrymen who, under similar conditions, had performed the functions of the incubator with signal success, the boy asked for the eggis, to be placed in bed with him, with the result that he is now the possessor of seven fine healthy Jittlo chicks.

Prime Minister Massey belioves in wide streets, if his utterances in the House can be taken as a criterion. -My own opinion is that 6Gft streets are too narrow," he remarked in the House of Representatives the other evening. He was engaged at the time v.i deiendmg a clause in the Land Jiill which empowers the Government, under certain circumstances, to reduce the minimum .street width for tho benefit of areas laid out as new towns. Mr Mas?ey said that in some exceptional cases it was -necessary to reduce the width of streets, but that his honest opinion was that city streets in general should bo. not less than 100 ft. wide.

At a meet ing of the Gonville Presbyterian Church committee held on Saturday night, the tender of Messrs Kussell and Biscnell was accepted for tho erection of a Sunday School I 1 in Gcnvilje Avenue, near Taw a St on a, section recently purchased, containing nearly three-quarters of an acre. It is expected that tho buikl--11)2; will b e ready in time for tho sale of work to Ik- hold on Thursday, 19th December. 'Hie ladies of the "congregation are now actively engaged in col-lect-in or material. The annual sale of the Sunday School children will he held at the same time and place. The proceeds of those sales in" previous yoars r-ru-0 been devotd to mi-ssioTi-ary work but are this year to be devoted to the building fund.

The Land Bill passed its third reading in the House of Representatives last evening.

According to a .Napier paper, Mr J. Payne, the representative for Grey Lynn, intends to contest the Napier seat next general election. Following the precedent of the sitting member, Mr Vigor Brown, Mr Payne has already started two picture shows in the electorate, and a fierce contest may be looked -forward to.

Mr Leslie H. .Reynolds, known in connection with some of the difficult harbour problems of Mew Zealand, returned to Wellington last week from "Wairoa, Hawke's Bay. In an interview Mr Reynolds said that if he beats that problem, which he will endeavour to do, it is the "pons asinorum" of his experience as « marine engineer.

Mr Braik, chief inspector of schools, received the sad news of the death of his brother at Dxmedin on Saturday, and he was unable to be present at the Marton Farm School yesterday on the occasion of the visit of Mr J. G. Wilson, president of the .New Zealand Farmers' Union. Mr Grant apologised for the absence of Mr Braik, and Mr Wilson expressed his deep sympathy with Mr Braik and family in their "bereavement.

The current issue of "The Triad is a remarkable surprise packet. The excellent journal is accompanied by two supplementary albums, one devoted to a dozen reproductions of beautiful pictures, and the other containing a number of popular selections. Both the pictures and the music are printed on the best aft paper, and delighted recipients -are found to wonder how it is done for tho money, sixpence being tho price of the journal and albums combined.

With the advent of women into many avenues of employment that used to be sacred to men has come, it appears, a less chivalrous attitude on the part of the men (says the "Sydney Morning Herald"). An elderly Scotch lady noticed this in a Sydney tram-car recently said Mrs. Cocks, at the Y.W.C.A. meeting last week. Sho noticed in a crowded car that a number of women were standing, and in her quiet Scotch wav said:—"l wonder if the days of chivalry are dying," to which a man in the tram promptly replied: "No; they are quite dead." Sir George King-Hall, referring to the subject, said that there was a danger in some countries, especially in Australia, whero the open-air life wa.q so inviting, that home ties would bb weakened. It had to bo remembered that upon the home life and training depended the courtesy and chivalry of the rising generation.

Mr Frank Brangwyn, who designed the Js Tew Zealand artistic arch which was such a feature of the Coronation decorations, has been awarded one of the three gold medals of this year's "Berlin Salon (writes a London correspondent). He knocked about the world a good deal before he gained recognition, visiting Kussia, Spain, Algiers, Turkey, Africa, and many other out-of-the-way places, painting and sketching wherever he went, though seldom burdened with a superfluity of cash. In this latter connection he recalls an amusing experience. During a financial, crisis he sought to effect a loan of £20 on the security of ono of his own pictures. The pawnbroker offered four shillings. Mr Brangwyn protested. " Why, the frame itself is worth more than that," ho said. "I know it," was the reply, "and it is on the frame that 1 am lending tho money."

A Sydney cable reportfj tJiat .Mr. Carey, Seventh Day Adventist missionary, has returned after several years in Piteairn Island/ where- ho also acted as school teacher and physician. He states that there arc 148 people on the island.. 71 males and 77 females. He overcame the adherent^ of the Church of England, and the islanders have now adopted Seventh Day tenets. They are happy, hospitable and social people, passionately fond of music. The communal system does .not, .as is so often supposed, exist; each has his little plot, and they help one another, but if a man loafs he suffers. The island produces fruits and other crops and large numbers of goats. There is only one horse, and no oxen. There should bo no intoxicating liquors, and only two Americans, who recently joined the community, use tobacco. " Iratermapnage is having a very injurious effect, both morally and physically, every couple being more or less related. Though they are greatly attached to their island, Mr Carey regards it as imperative in their own interests that thtey should leave and be scattered over Australia or elsewhere.

Says the Feilding "Star," Mr Fred Pirani's paper: There are few teachers who would be able to make a success of a school of over three hundred children after spending 29 years of their school life in a school of 100 pupils. Yet that is the record Mr C. H. Bo-w-ater has achieved between Kongotea and Gonville. The attendance has so greatly increased that there are over j pupils in a building erected for 220. With a crowded school and a shortage of teachers, it is easily seen wiat the task of the lieadteacher (Mi- C. H. Bowater) and his assistants is not an easy one. Despite these great drawbacks, however, the inspector's report on the school is very complimentary. The tone is greatly improved, and the! children are making good progress in their studies : a decided compliment to the care and capacity of the teachers on the staff. The committee, however, feel that they are greatly handicapped, and something should be done to relieve the pros-sure. If additional accommodation is not provided at once, it will be necessary to hire a hall during the summer for n number of the children.

Tho question of who will bo the next Cardinal in Australia has again been revived (says tho Melbourne "Age"). When the matter was discussed after tho demise of tho lato Cardinal Moran it was anticipated that tho dignity would bo conferred on Archbishop Carr, but 12 months have now elapsed, and nothing has been done in the matter. This is not surprising, however, when it in remembered that in England about three years intervened between tho death of Cardinal Vaughan and tho appointment of Archbishop Bourne as the next wearer, of tho red" hat. The general experience is that in those countries whero Cardinals have been one© appointed, such as England. Ireland, Amp.T-ira. and France, the death of a Cardinal is soon followed by the apnointmenfc of another, and it would "not ho surprising if the appointment of a Cardinal for Australia wero soon m.-uTe. In view of tho fart that it is no*v the summer season in Rome, it is highly improbable that any annrwntment will bo made heforo tho end of the venr. There i« vorv littlo doubt that in tno event of nnv such appointment hoing made 4r<-MvV:hon Carr would ho chosen for tho honour.

It is stated by the Auckland "Star," on the authority of a man of long experience in the timber business, that from 600,000 feet to 700,000 feet of good kauri is concealed among tho bush of one of the most desirable of the Awakino sections disposed of at the recent ballot at Te Aroha. The timber is said to have been missed, not only by the Crown lands ranger, but by the successful applicant himself when going over the land. There being no reservation on the timber, it will, if rumour speaks truly for once, mean a windfall of £2000 or so for the lucky drawer of the section. A serious motor accident took place near IS'ukumaru yesterday. For some reason, the car got beyond the control of the driver, Mr P. Tliompson, and, dashing off the metalled road, capsized. The five occupants were thrown out. Besides the driver, there wei© two other Maoris, Mrs P. Thompson and an uncle, and Messrs A. McFarlane and S. Edlin. All were more or less injured, Mr McFiariane isustaiaing a severe scam wound and sundry bruises. He was taken to the Wanganui hospital, where he is progressing yery well. (Mrs Thompson was also taken to the hospital to have her injuries attended to, but they -were not of such a nature as to necessitate her remaining in" the institution. Mr Edlin injured an arm through coming in contact with the road fence. The motor car was considerably knocked about, the cost of repairs probably Tunnin-x into £50. As the gay throng at Waverley Paces crowded Tound the " birdcage" yesterday, an incident, sickening to sec, occurred and marred the pleasure oF the afternoon for some time. The horse of one of the officials was standing, tied to the fence. Jtfecoming restive, it reared and endeavoured to clear the barrier, but it became impaled, tho pickets sinking deep into "the t>oor brute's stomach. Then there was a scene of some excitement. Some men held the struggling animal while others endeavoured by divers means to break down the fence. After a lac^e of four or five minutes, on axe was brought, and the horse released. ]f "vie sight har 1. been D.urful M-,r.i, it became doubly so, loi as the pickets drew out the horse became practical^ disembowelled. It Is ?aid that a gun could not be obtained, and it was not until half an hour elapsed that the animal s sufferings were ended.