PALMERSTON RIPPLES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9594, 4 February 1910, Page 2

PALMERSTON RIPPLES.

(By Hokioi.)

Commissioner and Mrs Hay, of the Salvation Army, bad a very demonstrative welcome at the Band Rotunda on Tuesday afternoon. It was a representative gathering in every sense, all creeds aud nationalities being represented, those present comprising many prominent oitizens and members of local bodies. The Army Band was present in full strength,'and the visitors should feel gratified at the heartiness of the Palmerstou civ-ie welcome. The public gathering took place in the Empire Hall, aud was one of the most enthusiastic meetings iv couuection with the Salvation Army which have yet taken place in Palmerstou. The Commissioner and his wife were welcomed by Lieut.-Colouel Kuight. Mrs Hay gave an interesting address, referring to her sbiin work in Loudou, I the pathetic side of which evidently deeply impressed her audieuce. The lady remarked that she had already fouud out that there was slum work to bo done in this country. The remarks of both Commissioner and Mrs Hay very favourably impressed the audience, both at the civic welcome and at the large at the Empire Hall. !u The Commissioner announced that Staff-Captain Henry, who has been at Palmerstou for some time, has been appointed to the Training Home at Melbourne. Mr James Mowlem, who recently underwent a rather serious operation, is, I am pleased to learn, making satisfactory progress towards convalescence. Palmerstou is to be asked to declare a hoiidav in couuection with the Danuevirko" Show. I am inclined to think that Palmerstou business men will decide that there have been holidays enough of late—at least that is the individual opinion of those to whom I have spoken ou the subject. There 'was some opposition to the proposal to close at noon instead of as usual at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, to enable those who wished to do so to take advantage of the special train to Veildiug in couuection with the Show.

I am reliably informed that sparrows aro scarcely to be seen iv the Saudou district, but that starlings have greatly increased in numbers. The extinction of the sparrow is difficult to account for, but, several Saudon farmers have noted witli satisfaction that there is scarcely a sparrow to be seeu. But tho caterpillar has made its presence felt iv more thau oue locality. Oue farmer assured me that lie had not seeu an ear of grain stripped by birds, as has hitherto been a very commou occurrence, during the present seasou. He said he did not kuow what liad become of the sparrows, but they had almost disappeared. I referred in a receut letter to the inadequate ventilation at the Palmerstou Opera House. Grave complaints have beeu made iv this respect for a loug time. The Borough Council vow propose to- take steps to remove, or ameliorate these causes of complaint. The wouder is that with modern architectural methods and scieuce, structural defects teudiug to inadequate ventilation were uot guarded agaiust in the origiual plans of the buildiug. The iustaliatiou of the electric light would also remove mauy aud loud complaints by visiting companies. The Palmerstou Opera House ought to be up-to-date iv such essential features as lighting aud ventilation, but the facts are undeniable that is is a very long way from beiug up-to-date. I am assured that iv the dress-circle, ou warm nights, the heat is very trying, tiie atmosphere being quite oppressive. The electric light would be a manifest Improvement, not only to the managers aud mochauical staffs of companies, but also to theatregoers, from a health standpoint, as being more in accordance with recognised principles of hygiene aud sanitation— both essential adjuuets of modern civilisation aud reiiuemeut. I trust the Borough Couucil will removo what lias been a reflection ou the Opera House regime by fundamental alterations both iv lightiug aud ventilation. Official action is to be taken agaiust those ratepayers who have not yet had their premises connected with the Borough drainage, aud the rumble of "Pharaoh's Chariot" is not au unfamiliar echo in the streets of Palmerstou in the very early hours of the morning. A list of defaulters is now beiug prepared with a view to proceedings being takeu. At last meeting of the Borough Couucil a City Father pointed out that amoug the defaulters wero some of the Council's permanent employes. This disclosure has caused some comiueuc. The dairying industry coutiuues to make substautial progress. Messrs Nathan and Co. recently sent away from their Buuuytliorpe factory six huudred crates of cheese, representing a money value of a largo amount. It is said to be tiie most important consignment yet sent from Buuuytliorpe. There is a strong feeliug in this district against coursing clubs' meetings. The President of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been frequently appealed to to do something to check the cruelties which, it is alleged, attend the meetings of coursing clubs. The President now explains that a large section of the public deeply regret that a coursing club should flourish in Palmerstou North, but the positiou is that such clubs do not come within reach of the i operations Society. He further points out that both pigeou shooting and coursing are protected by iaw, as evidenced iv the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the Feildiug pigeou shooting case. Iv his judgment in that case, the presiding Judge declined to allow costs, as the informant had brought the case into Court as agent for a body the aims of which ought to be encouraged and recognised by society, and particularly by such ciubs as that then before the Court, and which had appealed against a previous Magisterial conviction. The President of the S.P.C.A. expresses a hope, which a large section of the community will endorse, that employers of labour, heads of families, and all who cau say or do anything against the holdings of meetings of coursing clubs, which ho appropriately designates a,s "wanton sport," will do so with effect. The only way that coursing clubs can be put down, remarks the President, is "by the boycott of public opinion," and a stioug appeal is made to the general public to refrain from accordiug in auy way its patronage to coursing club meetings. The congregation of St. Andrew's (Presbyterian) held a meeting on Wednesday evening to consider the

proposed departure of the Rev. 1. Jolly to Auckland. A resolution was passed to the effect that the local congregation aud all the various organisations were in a flourishing condition, principally the result of the energy and faithful services of their pastor, whose services they would be pleased to retain, but they would not raise any objection to the proposed transfer, if ho thought fit to accept the offer made by tho Auckland congregation. A meeting of the Presbytery is to be held next week.

' Tho Boy Scout movement continues to advance iv this district. I may here narrate aniucidont which show? the value of training, discipline aud self-reliance. It occurred at Home, bub tho fact will not be without interest hero. A boy named Albert Abraham was recommended for the highest honour obtainable for saving lite aud that is tho Albert Medal. The facts were as follows •.—•Three boys were climbing up some cliffs from the seashor-, when oue of them fell to the bottom and was very badly hurt. Another of the trio rau home, but told nobody for fear of getting into trouble. Tho'other boy, Albert Graham, climbed down again to the assistance of the boy who had fallen, whom he found lying head downward between two rocks, with his scalp nearly torn off aud his leg broken. Abraham dragged him out of reach of the tide, replaced his scalp and bound it on, and aiso set his leg as well as he could, aud bound it up in improvised splints, having learned the "First Aid dutie.s of the St. John Ambulance Society." Then he climbed up the cliff and gathered some fern aud made as good a bod as he could for his injured comrade. He stayed with him all that day, and when night came on he still remained with him, nor did ho desert him even wheu a great seal climbed ou to the rocks closo to him and appeared to be inclined to attack tho two boys. He drove it oft* with sroues. Eventually both boys wore rescued, but the injured boy died soon after, notwithstanding the efforts that, his brave aud rosourceful comrade had made to save him. As the Victoria Cross is awarded to soldiers for performing acts of valour, so in iieace a decoration is given to anybody who distinguishes himself by bravery iv saving life at the risk of iiis own. The Albert Medal is tho highest of these awards, and is the most valued, being given by the Kiug himself aud ouly iv very special cases.