LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 December 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Unfortunately at 3 o'clock this morning we had the misfortune to make " pie" of two formes, pages 1 and 8. As it was quite impossible to re-set all, wo hope readers and advertisers will overlook shortcomings.

A Masterton poultry raiser found about 40 of his chickens smother the other manning. In pursuit of warmth they had huddled together in a corner of, the pen, where they were suffocated.

Mr E. Hopkins, of Otaki, a poultry breeder who was enterprising enough to Kend a pen of hens to compete in. tho great egg-laying contest held at Vancouver, has received word that he has .gained the second place on tho list.

At a meeting of a certain public body tliat took place on Tuesday (says tho Press) an item o nthe pay sheet was a coupje of pounds for whisky. One cf the 'members of the body expressed a certain amount of surprise that the item was put through so badly, and remarked, " Why, on the road board we ahvavs nut that down as nails! "

" He lives like an ell —by suction," was the manner in which Su'b-Insipector Hemlrey summed up the existence of a vagrant at the Auckland Police Court on Monday. The sub-inspector, describing one of tlie acu&ed's methods of obtaining free drinks, said that he was in the habit of smeairing his boots with clay, likewise his hands, "after which he mingled with tho workers returning from quarry work and persuaded some of thorn to "shout" for Him.

Some time ago the Government of Fiji sent the Hon. Ismoy M'Owan to Tonga to settle some trouble concerning British interests. A rjrivate letter re-

ceivedl in Wellin t gton states that Mr M'Owan's mission was highly successful, and the British residents at Tonga are so pleased at the manner in which he has settled tho difficulty that they have petitioned the Home Government to appoint him British Consul there.

I In connection with the Garden Fete, tho City Band, with their usual gener- , osity, have placed their services at the disposal of the committeje. They, like the Garrison Band, hay© refused a sub- ' stantial sum to play at the Stratford races on New Year's Day and the following day in order to 'benefit the Beaux'-: o«^:«4-_

The Nelson branch of the Overseas Club was opened last night by Mr. I Evelyn Wrench, general organiser, at f a largely attended public meeting. £ Nurserymen of New Zealand have been s somewhat concerned of late because of , importations from Australia at cut , rates, and recently the secretary, of the , < Auckland Nurserymen's Association was ; , instructed to write to the Australian < Association, stating that if Australia • did not cease sending its surplus stock ] at out rates to iNew Zealand, a protec- ; tive tariff would be sought. The secretary of the Auckland-body (Mir Green) lias now (says-the "Star".) received a letter from the secretary of the Austra- < lian organisation that in future no Australian growers' will consign to New Zealand at less than a stipulated rate. The coming year will ibe full of interest to the Methodists of the Dominion. The Methodist Church of New Zealand will be established, and will incorporate the Methodists and Primitive Methodists, the former severing their connection with the Australian Church and the lattre from the English .Conference. To celebrate this new epoch in the history of New Zealand Methodism # a scheme of simultaneous .missions of inspiration and appeal has been arranged ; and tho services of prominent English and Australian misskmcrs have -been secured. A wedding -under somewhat unusual conditions took place at the Westport Poet Office on Monday (afternoon (says the Westport "News"), Tlie contracting parties wore both old Westport .residents. The lady, who had worshipped rather freely at.the shrine of Biacohus,' was the enforced guest of the State, pending advice as to her removal to Pakatoa. Mr Hopkins, the solicitor, acting in a new capacity, arrived on behalf of a client with an offer of marriage, and it was acceptedl, and the S.M., on being approached on the matter, coniscnted to a adjournment being nuade to the office, where the -marriage was duly celebrated, tho 'bride then returning to her State "(residence." It is understood (adds the " News") that the State will remove the barrier that -.at (present separates the \happy couple. : The "Fortnightly" has some interesting re collections of (Sotheby's sale rooms. The 'first -book sale on .record took ipLaice in 1599, when Poret sold the library of Marnix de St. AMegonde. Sotheby's was established in 1741, and made an early repiitation flby selling the books of Jolin Wilkes -and the famous collection of Richard 'Mead"," whose disposal in 1753 occupied no less than 56 'days. Another famous sale was that of the Ibooks Napo-leou got together at St/.'Helena —(they realised aibout £450; while;his tortoise walking stick Wrought £38 17s. One hook at this sale, .which only 'secured eighteenpenee, was sold iihe oth&r day for £52. Nowadays several hundred "pounds is ia trifle to give for a rare''book at Sotheiby's, and old prints air© perhaps relatively even harder to come by. Sir Wilfrid Lawson's collection, sold in 1-907, brought in over £19,----000. 'The record price, "at a sale, for an illuminated manuscript, is £250 —paid by Bernard Quanitch in 1903. A great sole at the beginning of the present century was that of the ARhburnham Library, which realised _£104,000. A block 'book of the 14th century !bro'U<e;ht £2000 —such, hooks form the transition between .manuscript and movable type. A cor.re^p:6ndeht of the Melbourne "Age" says that on the west coast of. Tasmania prospectors on the Saviage' and Wilson Hivers are making from 253 to 30s a day by mining for osaniiridium. Tasmania seem® to have become the chief producer of this useful but little known metal. Osmiridiiun is a ooaribination of the mefcaLs osmium and iridium, which iboth belong; to the platinum group. It is used prdnoipially in the /making of scientific instruiments, and also for pointing the tips of fountain pens. It is extremely hard, and is one of the heaviest oif all metals, and it .resists the action of lac-ids and of high temperature. Several years ago the greatest supplies came from rthe Iliral regions of liussia, land before tlie metal came into much use, and consequently when it had -Little value, it was mined at Turton's Creek, in South GippsLond. But it is found in relatively substantial | quantities on the -west coast of Tasmania. In tho year 1910 that State produced 1200z., valued iat £530, and last year the yield amounted to 2720z, woz-tii £-1888. As will be deduced from these 'figures, the market value varies considerably, tand last yearjrfc was worth nearly £7 per oz., equivalent to 75 per cent, more than the value of gold. " Is a grandfather's clock a work of art?" The Police say "No," and that emphatically. The Wellington Spiritualists' Association, with ia view to raising funds; wished to dispose oi the clock by art union. It applied to the Government Department controlling such matters, and was assured that, so far as the Department was coniceriied, it had no objection, and permission would he igranted provided the police had no objection. A police officer accordingly inspected the dock, and camo to the conclusion that a grandfather's clock, -ntit withstanding - tho elaborate ornam'entialtion oh case or dial, could not be defined as a work of art: It was just plain clock. The Spiritualist Association felt a 'little hurt by this decision'— not that f°r onG moment it question the ability of a policetman to authoritatively d'-diai-e what is a work of art or what is not. Besides, was there not a policeman-painter who exhibited at the Royal Academy? "But tho fact is the association, having i'ji mind the fact that nuggets, opals, and even land, have been construed to be "works ot' art" for the purposes of church raffles, it thought the clock would have been accepted, and, -besides, it (badly wanted the money. However, the ossocin/tion was plainly wanned that if it raffled the iclock someone would ibe prosecuted. The clock as still undisposed of. Mr J. C. Parke, the hero of this year's D'avis Cup contest, has been a footballer as wall as a tennis player. Ho was captain of the Irish Rugby team for three years, and played against the New Zoalanders when they visited Dublin in 1905. Asked tho other clay by an interviewer whether he had any idea why New Zealand was passed over in favour of South. Africa in tho matte* of an invitation to England, Mr Parke said Ireland was only too pleased to welcome any team, "but if there is a smattering of professionalism about them Ireland will have nothing to cay to them. The last New Zealand team that came over to England turned professional; they played the • Northern game." And'later on he : said that no offence to the "All Blacks" < was intended, and they were very popular iii England, but "it is -a very bad ■ feature, though, with regard to the ] visit of any team, if any one of them i joins the Northern game. The Northern game is held in bad repute with us, and to a certain extent it has ruined football." The "AH Blacks" did .not, : as Mr Parke thinks, turn professional. A_ few of them afterwards played the ■ A'orthern Union game. (Ft- looks as if • Mr Parke was confusing them with i tlie >No\v Zealand .League team that - | afterwards visited England. If a,n old ' player like Mr Parke can make this mistake, probably numbers of other < "people in the Old Country have been < dainig a similar injustice to the "All < | Blades."—Exchange.

On the information of the Truant Inspector, Mr. Skinner, J. Hoskin was fined ss. and 7s. costs by Mr. Kerr, S.M. yesterday for failin" to send his stepson to the Gonviile school. In making a short address to the au-. dience at the conclusion of " On Our Selection " at Napier, Mr. Bert Bailey, who so ably represented "Dad" Rudd, congratulated the people of Napier on : the -possession of such, a magnificent play-liouse ns the Municipal Theatre, and said it would be impossible to find a theatre- to supersede it in Australasia, : or indeed, for completeness and excel- \ lencß, in any part of the world. He spoke in then ighest terms of the work , generally of the Hon. Win. Pitt, whom ! he called the "King of theatre design- i ers." j A Christchurch "Press" reporter was ' shown some samples of a.pples bought from hawkers. Tj^e outside was a love- ; ly russet-brown, suggesting an apple in ; the pink of condition., .but the interior i was so rotten -tluat it smelt Tike Stilton Cheese. It was stated1 that these were waste apples -which were put in 1a cool store,' and sold at a- very cheap price to hawkers, who then palmed them off on !to the public, n feat very easy of performance, judging by the external appearance of tho'fruit. Early on Saturday morning, as Mr. C. .Ferry was cycling to town, he met with a serious "accident. He made a. wade detour when appnoaching the bridge, and camo in violent contact with another cyclist on his 'way to Putiki. At first it was thought that the bicycles had suffered most damage. Mr. Ferry continued on to town and worked all day, but at night he -±pok &h .and it was not until he had been examined by a doctor that it was found that the impact had suffered serious injuries to his chest. Mr. Ferry is confined to his torn©. " It is difficult to know what one can do -with-this «net which Sir John Findlay landed," said Mr J. H. Hosking, K.C.; referring to the Cbnimerciai Trusts Act, slates the Wellington "Evening Post." " This legislation is not by any means new,"' remarked the Chief Justice, a-nd \h'b proceeded' to recall the old trade offences ""forestalling," "badgering" and so on. "Ithink those Acts must have existed because they were not strictly enforced," suggested Mr Hosking. " Oh, there are plenty of oases under them in the books," .returned 'his Honor. "I remember one in particular. A man met another taking two heifers to market, and he bought the heifers, thus forestalling the market. iHo '.was found guilty and sent to prison for it." Dairymen and others will ibe interested in a case which was hjeai'd before Mr. W. Kerr, S.M., yesterday. The Health luispacto.'n blrousrht !an action against E. H. Diffey (Mr. Cohen) For selling adulterated milk. Mr. Pargeter had bought a pint of milk from the defendant for the purposes of analysis. Defendant had protested against selling, as he was not a dairyman selling retail but only to the factory, and he received the money under protest. This was tli*e defence, Mr. Cohen also stating that as the milk was not being sold '•retail but for the purpose of making butter, the addition of water would not benefit defendant. The S.M. dismissed the case on the ground that there had been no sale, the defendant being an unregistered milkman. A correspondent writes: —" On Saturday I saw a person get on a car at the ■ P.O. 'Being a- crowded oar, the conductor was unable to collect the fare before the ear reached the loop. The oar having" emptied a lot the conductor collected the fares of those, missed. The man I have mentioned paid ta 2d faire (from loop to Aramoho) although he had ridden from the Post Office. This man is an anti-militarist. I know this, because wlien passing (the Drill Hall he was asked if "he had witnessed the cadets' drill and physical exercises. He replied "No; that he didn't believe in such tommy-rot and that all that kind of tlwnk should be put a stop to." He didn't mind robbing his towns of a penny fare, but 'on principle' he wouldn't do a Hand's turn to defend his country! " "The Adastrian," the annual miaga- | ziiie of the Wanganui Girls' Cblleg&, is this yea. rbigger, (better and brighter than ever. This is saying a good deal, for the publiaatdon has always ibeen of substantial size, has always ibeen noted for "its literary merit, and ihais Tietvcr been other than bright iaud interesting. This year " The Adas'trdan" runs to seventy-four pages, and provides ®M interested with .a complete record o? the year's work—iand play. But it does niior© than that. It keeps track of the "Old Girls," single and married, reports their doings and their journeying*, and generally epitonnis-es tOie history of the College and all Connected with it. Indeed, as Mias C. M. Cruickshank, M.A., M.&., puts it in her an--nu«l report, "The Adastrian," edited by Miss Rockel, in addition to being an amnnal record of the school's dlays, includes 'also interesting .articles that bring the'past as well into 'happy touch with the present." There was a good attendance in Quqen's Park last evening, when the Garrison Band, under Conductor Wade's direction, gave an ,enjoyable open-air concert in the Rotunda. The programme, ag anticipated, proved very popular, the various items .being loudly applauded by the tenthusiastic audience. Bandsman Francis was in good form, and his solo, "Cavalleria Rusticana," was much appreciated. Bandsman Wood gave "II Bacio," wlrich found much favour. Gounod's "Faust" was also very popular, and the intermezzo, "In the ShadowvS," was greatly enjoyed. "The Sleigh Ride," introducing sleigh bell effects, was very fine, and practically encored. Owing to a misunderstanding, only one of the collectors attended last evening, and the greater i part of the audience were therefore not ; invited to subscribe. On Thursday evening next, the- band gives several selections at the sale of work to 'be held j in tfy© Gonville Town Hall in aid of the new Presbyterian Church fund. A boy of eleven arrested by Detective Sergeant Siddells on Sunday appeared before the Magistrate yesterday on a chargo of theft at Taumarumii. Ho was dealt leniently with by th© Magistrate, who, after delivering a lecture, imposed a fine of £2, giving the boy 10 days in which to pay it. _ Tho ceremony of laying the foundation stone of Lodge Moutoa's new temple (at Gonville) will take place to-day at 3-30. The brethren of the toxvn lodges will meet at 2 o'clock, as notified in another column, and proceed to the Gonvillo lWn Hall, where they will form procession, and march to the site of tho new temple close by. The ceremony will be conducted by Bro. J. H. Keesing, acting, by commission, as Deputy Grand Master, and Bro. T. A Peterkin, Provincial -Grand Master of Wellington District, will also take part. Friends of tho brethren, also all visiting brethren, are cordially invited to be present. Mr. W. A. Voitch, M.P., recently wrote to the Bon. Jas. Allen, Minister of Finance, regarding tho restriction placed upon tho amount of loans from i the Advances to Workers' Office. Tho Minister has replied stating that it has been found imperative to give prefer- | enco to applications for sums not ox- i ceeding: £300. on account of inadequacy j of funds. Tho Minister regretted the ' necessity, but added that the restriction would only be <i temporary one, ! and would bo removed as soon as possible. |

Ratepayers are reminded that t<ho last day for payment of nates for the Borough of Wanganui East is Wednesday next, tlie 184& ins*- To meet the convenience of some ratepayers, rates will be received at the Borough Office, Tinirau St., on Wednesday from 1 to 5.30 p.m. At the Magistrate's Count yesterday morning, before Mr Kerr, S.M., Alex Black, -who did not aftpea/r., was fined 125., or an 4& 'hours, fox insobriety (second offence.) For a .breach of a prohrbiton order 'Black was fined £1. A firstoffender who did not make an appearance was fitted 7s, or 24 'hours in default. The question of the Arthur's Pass, tunnel contract will bo settled -by. the Caibinet nextfc week. In the meantime the work-iS being Carried on by Messrs McLean and Sons Hinder an agreement with Hhe 'Government, which lasts' till Chi-ks-fcmas. Probably the Government .w.ill call for tenders 'for the comipletion of the work. 'If -bhese are- not satisfactory, it is likely that the Public Works Department w.ill complete it. Up ■•to the present Oommissioaier Richards has received £1800 in donations and promises towards the Gieneral Booth memorial for Wellington, to cost £10,000. The principal contributors are: (Mrs Underwood, "Mr G. "Hfanter, M.P., Mr W. F. Knight, Mr and-Mrs Wells, each £100; Mrs Lowry, £52 10s; "A Soldier," Messrs J. Side-y, R. McNab, F. Milner, W. C. Buchanan, M.P.. Strong, Booth, and the Aelhhurst Corps, £50 each. The memorial will take the form of a training institute for officers and nurses. Early next year a vaudeville company of unusual merit is to toiur New Zealand. This is being sent •across iby Mr Hugh D. Mclntosh, whose control of the Riokards Circuit in has been 'marked' -with such phenomenal success. Mr Mcln'toshhas; picked-ithe_ leading stars on the Australian Circuit for the New Zealand tour, pc Biere, the greatest master of cmaigic •eveir secta in Australia; Nella Webb, wihose songs amd singing have become the rage; Mozssetito; the marvellous, juggler; Signor Alberto Marini, magnificent tenor; who came to Australia as a principal of the Quinlan Grand Opera Oo.; My Fancy, clever dancer, who has captured audiences • throughoult the Australian Circuit; and Taylor and Arniold, two fine exponents of '■ tih© Ameni-oan craze for rag-time, ar-e the principal stars of the company. In Saturday evening's "Herald," Mr Walter Grey wrote stating that She had been unfairly treated at 'Gamon Glarland's meeting on the previous evening. Mr Grey said that lie wrote and handed tov Clarion Garland tie following question: "Is it fair, at a 'public' meeting, to permit your supporters to deliver addresses,,. and compel those citizens who oamiiot see eye to ©ye Truth! you to send "in \n4tten questions? Is this not most undemocratic, jand does it not show that you are afraid of free i discussion ?" When Mr Oatson took his seat, Canon Gaxliahtl-'iohty road "Eho first part of the question, airid though I protested strongly, he declined to read the laist part, whiidh was "Is this not most undemocratic, and does it not show that you are afraid of free <Sscussion?" . . . Although I have known lecturers to decline to answer qxieestions at all, this is my very.first experience of a public speaker matnigiling a question by readiing only one half of it to Itho puWic, thereby imianjgiling it. Canon Garland wishes "us to sta<te that Mr Grey has not. puttie, position correctly. Tli© question-Mr^ Grey ihanded up was as Ifolloavs: "Is it fair in a public meetiiig to allow your own side to nuake addresses, and yet compel those wiho cannot see eye to eye witli you to write their questions? Is this fair play? This is undemocratic land,-shows you arc afraid of free diiscusMon?^ The last sentence not 'being a question ,!but merely a 6tt<atemeiit-;of opinion, .it was ■not read, this being the customary procedure. W<? may eiay that wo have «eeri the question (in Mr Grey's writing) ivhich was .handed to: Canon. Garland.