LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11476, 6 February 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

One firm alone is constructing, 400 motor omnibuses for London.. , .; Canada shortly .appoints.- commercial agents in tie- chief centres of . t&e United States." ' '.'''.',.< ' . • ■■< The Transvaal exports for 190* were valued at ' £17,770,988,. including ,£16,054,809 gold and .£901,745 .^diamonds. The sensational "holding"- up" "outrage which startled' Christchiirch but of it 3" wonted serenity on Tuesday, recalls' to "the Press a somewhat similar" episode whfch threw into commotion the tittle 'town "of Waverley some five'-or six -years, ago.- - The Taleri and Peninsula ' Dairy,: Company on Saturday, received a cable" from Japan covering- an order for. 3000 cases of outter, to be delivered betweeii February and April. ■ The Companies' output is practically sold till tllevend of March,' but a special effort will be madfe to fill the order, at 'least partially. The companies have already sold 500 tons of butter" fbri'dSHvery in South Africa this year. ■ ■ • ' :" \ --' 'The New Zealand 'insurance "Company's balance-sheet for the. year ended -30th November) 1904; is published, from which it appears that the credit balance, after, payment off an interim . dividend of ,£15,000, in July last, is J381.519', out of Nwhich' the directors recommend ' placing^ .£40,000 to the reserves, .and that after paying a.dividend at the rate of, 2s per share, absorbing £15,000, a balance >f,i826,519 will;:' be carried forward to the new .account. .The paid-up capital, reserves l _ and" -undivided profits . how .amount to ,£601,519. ■ Thus the Eangitikei'Advocate'of^theSnd inst: — "Tv/o members of 1 Martoh" Bowling, Club put •up a creditable 'on the Marton green on. Tuesday. evening I>y defeating two- Wanganur-cha'mpten^b'b'wl-ers, after an' exciting game, by on<S' point. tMessrs Rodwell. D.'0.A... and Henrus. represented Wanganui, and Messrs; P. V. White and D. Hogg were the Marton players^" In connection with, the above,' one.xif the Alleged Wanganui champions "'writes' vitT'spmeTvhat warmly. Says, .he? -."I never /pose as a champion, even away' v from home' and I'm not responsible' for my colleague'sVretensidris.'^Brit,' Weiss' G¥£chusTthat "Marton skip is no kind Of sport anyhow. The 'exciting game' had' proceeded 'for six Vhole heads when" he 4 , being one point .ahead, incontinently ' closed.; his£ case,' collared % ', ,his bowlsj and declared tHat^Marton had .won,! The green? : Nb, sir, Tin not'lo be'draftji into giving my opinion of that thriceindnrated corrugation !"

It is said that the Premier will visit Eltharii shortly. *' • ' : * v In the course' of ' an article on tha reorganisation of the Indian Army the Be- - view- of Reviews- states that Lord Kitchener has given, expression to the opinion that he expects war in the spring. /. Suburban sections a mile from .the Post 'Office sold at auction at Ashburton on Saturday up to .£lo4' per quarter acre. 1 There is a great demand- for building sites there at < present. -- . - The funeral- of. the late Mrs Wm. Spurdle, which took place yesterday afternoon, was very largely attended. The Rev. J. G. Chapman officiated at the graveside. ' Captain Edwin' " 'telegraph's:— Strong w.ihds to gate from between north-east and . north and west,, glass further fall, tides moderate, sea .moderate,, rain, probably heavy, fiver high* after 16 hours from now. An alarm has been caused in some quarters by a rumour 1"*1 "* thai' a gentleman of world-wide reputation' as a 1 cracksman and .general criminal is in Christchurch. It is " stated that the police hare.. warned, je wallers and others likely .to receive attention ' to be on their guard. In fining a man at the Palmerston Polite Court oil Saturday for using obscene' • language in- a public place, Mr A. 'D. . Thomson, S.M M . questioned the wisdom of imposing a fine' instead of imprisonment for the offence. He indicated, however, . that if such cases continued, he would be under the necessity of inflicting imprisonment without. the. option. • • < . With reference to the statement pub- , lished as to. the, likelihood ,oi Sir William Russel being . appointed' to the , Upper ' House and, Mr A. L. D. Fraser contesting - the Hawke's Bay seat" at the general election, we- have Mr Fra'ser's authority for s.tatin.g that, there is absolutely no foundation for the , rumours. .Even should Sir William Russell 'retire from' the Hawke's Bay seat, he (Mr 'Fraser) would not contest it, bu{i stand for Napier against all comers. / .-♦-■-'"■ - The^ Palmers,too iV ,N§rtJft I ;bira i n9h' of the Farmers' tJnio.ri, has. set, up a committee to collect evidence .to , submit #o the Land 'Commission, when it visits this district; also ' taking steps to promote farmers' . -niutual fire insurance in 'the Manawatu „and" Surrounding districts. The stipulation ijj Tnade that, #40,000 worth of insurance jftustTfte guaranteed before a start is made % A'-jJdmmittee has been set up to establish ■ a 'general produce exchange in Palmerston North, under the auspices of the Union.' A Wellington telegram states that Mr E. W.- Roper,- of Christchurch, who is visiting Waikaremoana, stated in an interview that -he went to the lake to see \ the, beauty, but he was struck more by the -utility of its" potential' power, which re- ■ ■ quires developing. The output of water and * the : fall, of. 2000 feet provides a source of energy which, if properly developed, would make the Wairoa, .district an industrial centre. He. looks upon the Wajkaretaheke* river, flowing from the lake, on account af its altitude, as being probably the best power stream in the colony. He leaves for Napier this afternoon. Sir Joseph Ward, who spont Saturday in Christchurch received several deputations that morning. Replying to members of. the Utility Poultry Club, who asked concessions for' the Egg Laying Competition, 4 Sir Joseph expressed his pleasure al the steps being taken ,to foster the new industry, which was deserving of support. He- would see what railway concessions could be given for birds travelling to and from the'eompetitions,- and would at once authorise rtjie. conveyance of, materials on .terras similar, t to those obtaining for the railage of 1 exhibition pens' tp poultry "shows. 1 A deputation of Christcliurch hairdrc3S-e'rs'-'assistants brought under the notice of Sir Joseph WaTd on Saturday the fact of some saloons leasing- chairs, tho result being that the.- lessees,, through employing no labour, were placed in .the position, of .eni'pfoyars. The lessees were able to keep open at hours when employers were closed under the Arbitration award. The major- . ity of employers >was against the practice. ! Sir Joseph promised to bring the m.attsr ' before the Minister of Labour, saying that he thought Parliament would provide a remedyj but' the Union, should show its earnestness -^by preparing a petition for presentation . to the Minister. A peculiar incident was witnessed the other day in town. A young lad was driving in a trap down St. Hill Street, and in rounding Hatrick's corner one of the wheels of the vehicle came oft. This startled the horse, which made off along the Quay, the axle dragging on the road. The boy sat in the bottom of. the trap quite unconcerned see-sawing at the reins and eventually pulled the runaway up. The little chap then got out, took the har.ness off the horse;- and patted it on the „ neck, with the result that the gee-gee held its head down, allowed the boy to jump on its neck, -when it lilted its head up again and thus, enabled the boy to get on its^ack, when the younster rode away to see what had become of the wheel. A somewhat sensational bolt took place on Saturday afternoon, when a horse attached to a bradley belonging to Mr Mor- - ton Jones was startled whilst standing in the owner's right-of-way, and made off. - The runaway -careered down the Avenue at a. great pace, .until reaching the Clothing Factory corner, where the vehicle collided with the telegraph post. This checked the horse's pace to some extent, but it kept on <lown the Avenue. A couple .of ladies (one of whom was wheeling 1 a perambulator with a ,baby in it). were crossing the street at Thain's corner as the, runaway was approaching, and. in their eagnerness to get out of the/ way upset the pram. The commotion which ensued had the effect of. causing. the.. horse,.to shy, and thufs relieved the ladies . from .the danger of being run over, of which they seemed in imminent danger. The horse went round Taupo Quay towards- the Railway station, being eventually .brought to a standstill without any serious dainaij*e having been done. Fortunately the child in tlie perambulator sustained no injury by being capsized. ' '' Followers of our sporting contributor's anticipations for Takapuna must have had a good innings on Saturday, aB "Achilles" ■forecasted "the results 'particularly well. Ih~the first eveht, 'the Marine Handicap, he selected Luresome and Dardanus, and , the two named ran a dead heat for first place, the former paying £4 Is 6d and the latter £1 18s 6d. In the Hurdles he mention- : ed St. -Rowan and Inniskillon a& likely winners, and- the latter-got, home, paying £'A 7s, .St.. Rowan .being unplaced. 'In the Borough- Handicap- "Achilles", picked Gweniad and Black , and' Gold, and they finished in that: -orders first'- and second, the dividends .being .£3 Is 6d and £1 3s. In the Summer Handicap he selected Akarana and Miss ..Lottie. , The former was scratched, and the"' latter won, paying .£6. Jn the Devonport Handicap our tipster relied, on, Tc Aroha, .and that; horsp got Jiome. the dividend*, being £4- 2s. In the Steeplechase. "Achilles" ... ,pla,ce.d , them — Swimmer • first. .andr.'Wajtraka.Vsecond, and go they finished, the dividends beinsf. £ 2 os.6d and 19b 6d.. Thus. "Achilles" picked "five actual, winners (counting the dead .heat) and^ three seconds, and those who followed liis tips would' have benefited to the extent of <£19 5s 6d,~ or JEI4 5s 6d profit. • . . ' ."'. „ • .

■ Two prohibition orders were ißsued at .the Magistrate's Court this morning. " A» attempt is being made to inaugurate .an egg-laying competition in Auckland, and it is highly probable that the scheme will be .carried out. ■ Messrs R. A. Adams and Son's new brick building 'at Patea is now practically completed. The new shop is certainly a decided acquisition to the business portion of the town. .The funeral of the late Mr S. John McGuire, eldest son of Mr Felix McGuire, of Hawera, took jrlace on Saturday afternoon, and was the largest seen in Hawera for years. Among those present wasjttr Masssy, Leader of the Opposition. „-* Rumours are current along the coast regarding the probable early commencement of the ironsand industry at Patea. Pro-perty-holders, it is stated, are' unwilling to sell at substantial prices, from which it would appear that there is "something in the wind." The New Zealand Times says it is probable that a*crew from the Sydney- Rowing Club will compete at • the Now Zealand Rowing Association's Championship Regatta, ab Petoue on March 11. Crews are expected here from Auckland, .Wanganui the Kawatiri Club (Westport), Canterbury, Port Chalmers, Im'ercargill, and Picton, and the presence of Australian competitors will constitute a powerful attraction.

For the three vacancies on the Wanganui River Trust Board Messrs W. G. Bassett, T. B. Williams, and J. T. Stewart have been nominated, and declared duly elected. The two former were re-elected, and' Mr Stewart replace* Mr A. G. Bignell, who occupies a seat on the Board by virtue of his position .as -Mayor.

The following team has been selected to represent the Wanganui Amateur Swimming Club in -the West Coast Polo Championship at Hawera on Wednesday next : — Campbell,* Dale, Bassett, Pownall (2), Meuli, and Richardson. — Emergencies — Cocks and Racs. The above team is requested to meet at the batlis at 6 o'clock this evening.

Mr Wybourne, of Waverley, topped the list for Lincoln rams at the recent Napier ram- fair, having obtained 34 guineas for his best sheep. Last year his highest figure was ten guineas, and 8 guineas was .the highest offer for the animal that brought the above handsome price. Mr Wybourne is, no doubt, glad he brought him home. A featur-e of the Napier fair was the fact that prices were higher at the end than at the beginning of the fair, au indication that the demand was greater than the supply. This should be a healthy augury for forthcoming ram fairs in tliis district.

Nominations for the Harbour Board election closed to-day, and there will be tests for all the vacancies. For the four borough seats the following five gentlemen have been nominated: — W. G. Baasett, nominated by E. N. Lifliton and E. Tingey«j A. Hatrick, nominated by W. H: Clapham and S. S. Griffiths; C. F. Millward, nominated by F. M. Spiirdle and M. Russell; W. B. Morgan, nominated by T. D. Cummins and A. S. Burgess; T. B. Williams, nominated by T. W. Blennerha6sett and D. McFarlane. For the Waitotara County representation there are two nominations—J. B. Murray (proposed by W. Ritchie and H. S. G. Harper) and D. Ross (proposed by J. T. Walker and G. H. Dickson)! Two candidates have also been nominated to represent, the Waugauui' County — John Jones (proposed by W. H v Clapham and R. Neilson) and Alex. Higgie (proposed by J. R f . Sommerville and H. M. Speed). The elections will be held on Monday next.

An objectionable' habit and ' one that is all too common is that of- damaging seats in j>ublic places by the cutting of names, etc., thereon. The seats in Moutoa Gardens have been much disfigured in this way, but those who indulge in the hs'bit of hacking and carving their names and initials anywhere had' better J;ake warning, as this morning a young' man was charged at phe Police ' Court with wilfu.lly tU-mag-ing. a seat with a knife. Defendant pleaded guilty, but stated that the injury"- had been caused with a pair of scissors and ' not a knife! Sergeant Norwood stated that the information was laid under the Indictable Offences Act. A nuinJifir^>f these seats had been destroyed bytftfHpbjectionable practice, and this case^Hpbeen brought as a warning with a viß^f putting a to it. He called JeiSe Cannons, caretaker of the Gardens, who stated that he bad eeen the defsndant cutting the seat A\ilh what he took to h» a knife. When lie examined the seat he found the young man's name cut therein, but not very, deeply. The habit ofi "cutting the seats about was on the increase, many seats having i»een damaged. In inflicting a fine of 5s ai.d costs, Mr R. L. Stanford, S.M., who presided, stated that the habit of thus damaging public property was a most reprehensible one, and. he would inflict a heavy penalty in any future case which came before him. It is a pity a few of those who use their knives so freely on the seats on Durie Hill and the steps leading up thereto could not be caught and asked to interview His Worship.

A couple of cyclists had to appear at the Police Court this morning. One — Adam Nixon — was charged that on the 26th Januuary he did use a bicycle on the footpath in Liverpool Street, and pleaded guilty. Sergeant Norwood stated that the offence was a rather aggravated one, inasmuch as the defendant rode* along the footpath in question at a great speed to the tl:u ger of a number of children who were playing thereon. Defendant rode right* through the crowd, of children without diminishing his pace, and it was, a miracle that no one was seriously hurt. The roads were in good condition, and there was no excuse for defendant's action, though he said he wanted to catch a train. A fine of ss, with costs, was inflicted. - The second cass was one against , Robert Law 1 for riding a bicycle on the footpath at Taylorville, a practice to which we have' frequently drawn attention. The Sergeant- stated that the information was laid under the Public Works Act, as thft footpath in question was outside of the borough. It appeared that it was not generally known that cyclists could be fined for riding on the footpaths in that locality, and the result was that riders appeared to think that they had more right to the footpath than pedestrians — to the danger and inco.ivtMiience of the latter. The roads were in good condition, and there was no excuse fot anyone, riding on the footpath at all. He did not wish to press for a Jieavy penalty in this case, but simply to stop the practice, which was altogether too common. A fine of 2s and costs was inflicted.