LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 January 1928, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

During the month of December, 1927, the estate of John Charles Sheet, deceased, Avas accepted for administration by the Public Trustee. Motor cycles are cheap in the Napier Hospital just at present (states . the Telegraph).. A recent visitor to the institution told a reporter that no fewer than live motor cyclists in one ward, all suffering injuries as the result of accidents while riding their machines, had decided to quit their respective mounts to the highest bidder and in future to eschew the pastime' of motor cycling. In the Carterton S.M. Court, before Justices of the Peace, a stranger to the district, named William Hall, was convicted and fined £5 for assaulting two Maoris in High street on Wednesday morning. The default was fixed at one month’s imprisonment, and accused elected to go to gaol, lie had a previous conviction for a similar offence, and had only been discharged from prison on Saturday. A verdict of suicide while of an unsound mind Avas returned at the inquest at Tekiri (Taranaki) yesterday concerning the death of Charlotte Lillian Ferguson, a widow, aclio Avas found lying before a mirror in a room at a farm house Avith her throat cut. A razor Avas found beside the body. Medical evidence Avas given that the deceased had suffered from acute mental depression during the past four months. The following telegram Avas sent yesterday morning by Mr E. J. lloavard, M.P.*, to the Hon. G. Anderson, Minister of Labour: “At a meeting of Trades Union secretaries held here (Christchurch) this morning strong indignation Avas expressed at the disrating of the oflieer Avho has been in charge of the Labour Department here. They urge an inquiry, as they consider he has been treated badly. Would you grant a departmental inquiry?” The British and Foreign Bible Society announces, according to a Wellington Press Association message, that by the addition of seven nctv A'arieties since it has uoav printed portions of the Scriptures in 600 different languages. At the beginning of the century, the number Avas 3G3, so that 237 fresh versions have seen the light during less than 2S years. Recently, in one calendar year, 14 iicav versions Avcrc issued, and at the present time scA'eral are in typo and Avill shortly be added to the grand total.

For the nine months ended December 31, deposits at the Dunedin Sa\rings Bank (not the Government bank) Avere £665,185, and the AvithdraAvals £568’,281. As the past year Avas considered to be a bad one, commercially and financially, the returns show that the people Avere thirty. Business houses complained of an easing off in spending during the Avinter, and although unemployment Avas serious for a long period, the bank returns show that in the middle of the Avinter the UA-ernge of deposits avus maintained, Avhile the AvithdraAvals Avere not above the normal.

A London cable states that one daughter aiifUt avo sons of Mrs Veage, a resilient of Cross Rathfryland, County Doavii, at present in Sydney, benefit under the United States Supreme Court’s decision in the Jefferson-Doyle estate, Avhich Avas partly in favour of the Veage family, according to a Dublin dispatch. The family still own the house Avhcrc Doyle’s father, John Doyle, Avas apprenticed to Avenving Inband loom, Avhence he crossed the Atlantic. The estate is estimated at £60,000. In addition to the property it is expected that [Mrs Veage and her eight sons and daughters A\ill receive fiom £IOOO to £SOOO apiece. A feAv days ago a traction engine belonging to Mr J. Johnson, Avhen proceeding doAvn the cutting near the Kokotau, Cheese Factory, got out of control. The driver, Avhen endeavouring to drop into loav gear, missed the change, and the engine being in neutral,' gathered speed and bolted. To steer Avas impossible and it plunged over the bank and for a distance ran balanced on tAvo Avheels. Then Avith a hay pressor in tow. it banged into a huge strainer. The jolt thrcAV the engine back on to its four Avheels, and at the same time the front Avliecl of tlio hay press broke, and the axle drove into the ground. The jolt and the dragging press stayed the runaAvay, and the engine Avas pulled up before any serious damage Avas done. Yesterday the furniture and fittings of the old Bank Hotel, on the corner of Parish and Manners Street, Wellington, (more recently knoAvn as the Clarendon) Avere sold at auction, and a start is t(3 lie made at once Avith the demolition of the premises—one of the hoary original inns of Wellington. The hotel dates back to 1861, Avhen Manners Street, Avith the exception of tAvo or three buildings, avus comprised of oiuvstorey shops, and dwellings; the Avhole of Willis Street had not been built upon; and the Avaters of the harbour used to Avash over the site of the present Municipal Free Public Library (at the foot of Parish Street). In those days the Bank Hotel—so named as there Avas one of the early banks in the vicinity, and the first Union Bank of Australia Avas on the present site of the Albert ■Hotel —stood out as a structure of some size and dignity, there being only one other tAvo-storcyed building betAA'een it and the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, on the Manners-Willis Streets eornc-r. Children’s coughs need careful watching. “NAZUL” is the best r<.medy, and may prevent serious trouble later. Penetrating and soothing. 60 doses for 1/6.* Ladies’ sport shoes —rubber soles, with strap and lace, in white, brown and champagne, now showing at Caroenter and EvaHS.

January 17 will sec territorial companies'from the West Coast districts commence their annual camp at Marton the camp to conclude on January 28.’

The Indians of Peru have great chests from living in the rarcfiold heights of the Andes. Their bodies seem distorted, from our viewpoint, but it does not affect their health.

The Government steamer Jlinemon, Avhich is on her Avay from Norfolk Island to Auckland, at Avhich port she is due to arrive to-day, yesterday encountered a severe storm in the Pacific, Avhich has delayed her considerably.

StfAvart island’s dry spell, Avhich had lasted over five Aveeks, luckily broke last Aveek. Many people heaved a sigh of relief, as water was badly needed. On top of the absence of rain, the Aveatlier for the past month has been so phenomenally hot that even the native trees Avere shoAving signs of drooping foliage. A large eel AV.as captured in Boulder Creek, at Kaimai, a few days ago (states the “New Zealand Herald’s” Tauranga correspondent). The eel Avas sft. long, ISin, in girth, and Aveighed 281 b. it Avas caught Avith a lasso. Previously in the same locality tAvo large eels, one Aveighing 221 b., and the other 2111)., Avere caught. Those Avho arrived at the Whangarei boAvling green early the other morning Avitnessed an unusual sight ("says the “Advocate”). A eat avus there basking in the sun Avhen suddenly a kingfisher swooped doAvn and peeked puss hi the back of the neck. The cat became angry, and the spectators Avere afforded amusement by her fruitless efforts to retalia-te.

It has been stated that some of the Gisborne motorists avlio obtain supplies of petrol at the local bowsers are careless in the matter of draining the hose, and that as much as a pint of petrol has been found in it afterwards. On the occasion of a A'isit of the inspector of Aveights and measures to a boAVser he Avas rather surprised to find after a farmer had taken a fill that not a drop of the fluid could be drained out. He mentioned this fact to an attendant, Avho remarked: “You’ll never find a drop after a dairy farmer has been at it ; because he knoAvs the last tiling about stripping.”

The city Avas shocked at the weekend, says the- Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne Argus, by revelations of shop-lifting. Doubtless in the rural areas the increasing Aviekedness of Sydney is jioav discussed a\-itli additional shudders. Directors of stores and the police say that even the recent arrests, though numerous, afford no true idea of the extent of the thieving. The public would not believe, if it were told, Avhat the losses aggregate in a year. The figures are stupendous. no guide. Hundreds of persons'Avho steal are never dealt Avith. Many cannot be prosecuted OAving to insufficiency of evidence. The Avorst feature of the trouble is the effect on honest shoppers..

The results of the November examinations at the Brigidine Convent, Carterton, in connection Avith Harrison’s Commercial College, Sydney, and Pitman’s Shorthand College, Melbourne, are:—AdA'anee book-keeping, Gladys Hart, 94; Irene Corlett, 92; Jack Dwane, 92. Intermediate Division: — May McLeod, 94; Jessie [McKenna, 90; Zeta Lenilian, 89. Shorthand, eighty Avords per minute, Mona McCann and Gladys Hart; 60 Avords per minute, NcA'a Egdcn; 50 Avords per minute, May [McLeod, Zita Lenilian, Jessie McKenna. The following were the prize Avinners: — Phyllis Fitzgerald, gold medal; highest marks Christian doctrine, Philip Tuohy (gold medal); dux, Margaret Morris (silver medal), second in merit to I’. Tuohy. John Quigg, sih'er medal, best examination in Standard 5. The gold medals Avere presented by Miss Card, Mayoress of Featherston, and the silver mdeals by [Mrs Monoghan, of Carterton. Some people had supposed that the effect of a clause in the Bankruptcy Amendment Act of last session Avas to modify the conditions in Avhich an ordinary examination of a bankrupt before an Official Assignee may bo publicly reported. According to a statement reported to have been made by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. F. J. Rolleston), in Wellington yesterday, this is neither the effect nor the intention of the amendment. The section, he said, ‘applied only to special examinations of bankrupts by the Assignee for the special purpose of getting information from a bankrupt or from any other person Avith regard to e. bankrupt’s affairs. It was designed to prevent the publication of the business transactions of other people Avho had had dealings Avitli a bankrupt. From the Minister’s statement it is clear that the position with regard to the publication of reports of meetings of creditors and of made by bankrupts remains unchanged. Two bridegrooms in Napier are likely to remember their Avedding days for many a long day by reason of the confusion resulting from little lapses of memory on their part, states the Telegraph. One neglected altogether to secure a license and the fault Avas not discovered till the last minute Avhen all preparations Avcrc in hand to perform the actual ceremony. Frantic efforts Avere made to get over the difficulty to allow the ceremony to proceed, but all in vain, and the happy moment had to be postponed till after the procuring of another license. Another bridegroom secured his license but posted it to the minister Avho Avas to perform the ceremony. OAving to the dislocation of the mail seiwices through the holidays the precious paper Avas not delivered in time for the ceremony and there Avas a tremendous hurry at the last minutes to secure a copy of the certificate to permit of the transaction of the happy ceremony at the appointed time.

One of the biggest fish caught in the Macquarie river (N.S.W.) for years, a cod, weighing 021 b, was hooked, near So fain. On being opened it was found to contain a boot and a spur.

Port Edgar, naval base in the Firth of Forth, is to be closed by the Admiralty in March. Port Edgar was constructed by the Atfiniralty at the beginning of the war, and formed a base for two flotillas of destroyers. It was the last naval base in Scotland. The Education Authority agreed to join in a protest .against the closing of the base.

The North Auckland Times states that in recent years it has been customary for the Dargavillc Borough Council bankers to be present at the annual'mayoral supper, but on December 21 they were not represented. The town clerk, when asked the reason, jokingly said perhaps it was because the council’s bank balance was at the moment in credit instead of being in debit.

Owing to the power supply being cut off from Ilorahora, the Waihi Company \s mine did not resume work oil Thursday morning after the holidays, as was intended. Enquiries made at the mine otlice show that nothing can De said as to when the supply will be available, and therefore the date of the reopening of the mine is uncertain. The men have been advised according-

“It came to most people as something of a shock the other day to discover that slavery still existed in the British Empire and that a British court was obliged by law to return a runa’ttTTy slave to his master,’-- says the London “Evening Standard.” “It seems to have been no less shocking to the persons immediately concerned, and prompt action was taken. Now the Legislative Council of Sierra Leone has passed" - a Bill by which slavery is abolished in the Protectorate as from the beginning of 1925.”

Nine hundred out of .1200 students at the Hampton Normal Institute, Richmond, Virginia, the negro college of Virginia, went home as a result of a school strike, for which all classes were suspended. The strike was the result of an endeavour by the college authorities to stop courting and llirting at the cinema. Dr. James E. Clegg, president of the college, stated that TOO students who absented themselves from their classes were ordered home, and this caused other students to join in the demonstration.

To how many uses can aeroplanes be put Most people think of them only as a quick means of transport for passengers and mails, or for use in wartime. Actually more than one hundred and fifty different services are rendered by aeroplanes. They are used for pursuing and capturing law-breakers, discovering, violators of the smoke nuisance laws, and for photographing eclipses of the sun. . River traffic, dredging works, and tides and currents are studied from living machines, while they are also used in mining, agriculture. exploration, sport, architecture, fishing, forestry and scientific research.

A peculiar development lias risen in connection with the work of destroying prickly pear in Queensland by means of the cochineal insect. From the Warnick district a report comes saying that cattle have shown remarkable appetite for prickly pear leaf to .which the insects have spread and are destroying millions of eggs. The Prickly Pear Commission has had a report made on the story and does not eonsider the situation serious. Cattle eat the prickly pear in dry times, when there is no grass, and get from it both food ;yid drink, and it is believed that the discrimination in favour of the leaf with the insects on it has been accidental. On the- Darling Downs the view of settlors is that the cochineal insect is doing its job, and though it will take a long time, this natural process is much to be preferred to the mechanical destruction of ' the pest. Laundress wanted. Howard for lost rug. Four feet firewood wanted. kpst bicycle is advertised for. Two-romed unfurnished llat to let. Two High School boarders wanted. Man or boy wanted to do milking. Married man wants work as motordriver. Euchre tournament, Trades Hall, tonight. Young woman wants board with elderly woman. Euchre tournament, Caledonian Hall, to-night. Contractors wanted for stumping and splitting firewood. Plums, apples and pears for sale 97 Villa Street. Parcels for Mount Bruce Mail may be left at Messrs Elliott and Co. In our wanted columns, the Wairarapa Farmers’ advertise “Handy” bean cutters and Cheavin’s filters. O. W. Diekason’s motor bus will leave P.O. to-morrow at 2 p.m., for Girl Guides’ Camp at Mt. Bruce. Mr Keen, tobacconist, inserts an advertisement re Viking Navy Cut tobacco, in our wanted known column. In to-day’s issue the Railway Department advertise holiday excursion fares in connection with the Anniversary of Wellington Province. Rev. Wm. Beckett will conduct Sunday School at 2 o’clock, and “worship” at 2..'10 p.m., in the Rangitumau Church to-morrow. The W.F.C.A. makes an early presentation of six special lines of exceptional value as an effective opening to .1928. This seems to point to a continuance of their policy of passing buyer concessions straight on to the public. Most certainly this policy spells public economy, as most people find who shop there. Bev Wm. Beckett will preach at the Methodist Church to-morrow evening on “Volunteers v. Conscripts.” Missionei T. H. Carr, of Huntly, will preach at the Methodist Church in the morning and at Kuripuni in the evening. Sprinkle “NAZOL” on baby’s pillow m stop that sleep-preventing cough. Acts quickly. Wonderfully soothing. Allays inflammation. 60 doses 1/6.*

A Hamilton telegram states that’ Henry Charles Austin, a middle-aged man, was admitted to the Waikato Hospital last night and died 20 minutes afterwards, in circumstances that will necessitate the holding of an inquest. A new mode in favour in Paris is to take a cat on a leash for a “promenade',” just as one does a pet dog. A fashionable woman was seen near ’the Invalides to leave her motor car accompanied by her son and a beautiful Siamese cat, which was attached to a red leather leash. The trio then strolled towards a shop. Charleston and black-bottom dances were banned from tlie great Highland 1 gathering known as the northern meeting at Inverness. “We do not consider that these dances are worthy of the northern meeting,” explained the secretary, Major David Ross. As a precautionary; measure, notices that they were prohibited were exhibited in the ballroom.