LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13334, 24 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Those who desire to have a vote at the municipal elections next month might take notice that the roll will close next Wed. nesday, and applications must therefore Ire put in without loss of time. Those who are indifferent on the matter will probable not bother their heads about ot. There are almost 2001) who have so far not troubled, showing a very regrettable amount of apathy. Cucumbers grown qn the land of Mrs Cowell, al Forest Hill, eight miles from Wagga (N.8.W.), states the Melbourne Argus, range up to 3ft Gin in length and J2iu in girth. Notwuustanding that the lists for contributors to the .Maries gift to the Queen have closed, subscriptions still continue to come in to the Mayoress of Wellington, and she is obliged to return them, as there is no time now to forward the money to England. for one brief moment only (accordin&i to the Wairarapa Age) did'Mr Bedford ’ appear to lose his self-possession when addressing the open-air audience in Masterton on Saturday night, and that was when one of the “barrackers" informed him, during his remarks on the effect of Nolicense in Wnilii, that No-license was responsible lor the fall in Waibi shares. The lo.ic was too much for Mr Bedford.M. A., Two important committees were set up at the Firemen’s Conference at Hokitika. One is to deal with amendments in the lire Brigade Act. Tire other is to endeavour to get better powers of inspection in connection with building by-laws in the big cities, in particular as relating to iron verandahs being allowed to be used in lieu of fire escapes. This matter arose out ot the recent disaster in Auckland. The committees are to meet at Wanganui. Arrangements are almost completed in New Plymouth for a cycle road race round Ml. Egmout, a distance of about 110 milofl, starting and finishing at' the same point. The race will probably be run in August, about a fortnight prior to the Timatu-Ohristchnrch race, and not loss than £3OO will he given in cash'and trophies, including a 50-guinca Britannia challenge cup. An "at home’’ to celebrate the birth of the 1000 th child in St. Helens Maternity Hospital was held in the institute at Dunedin yesterday. The 1000 th child (a gill) was born a few days ago, and the 1001st was born about 14 hours before the start of the ceremony. There was a large and representative gathering, amongst those present being the Hon. G. Fowlds. In tlie course of a speech, Mr Fowlds expressed tho opinion that the , institution was one of the most important in New Zealand. No greater monument would stand to the memory and humanitarian instincts of the late Mr Seddon. He referred to the valuable training obtained by nurses, and said the success of the Dunedin institution bad been phenomenal.

The Now Zealand Times states that the remains of Mr Lionel K. Hiddiford, fourth son of Mr li. J. Hiddiford, of Lower Hutt. who died at Wentworth Falls, New Sooth Wales, last week, were brought from Sydney by the Manuka on Thursday,, and wore interred in St. James’ Cemetery, Lower Hutt, during the afternoon. The late Mr Hiddiford, who was only 24 years of age, was born at the Hutt, and' waa educated at the. Wanganui College, and subsequently at Oxford. He became , ill whilst preparing for his legal examination, and was ordered to the South of France, where his health improved sufficiently to allow him to resume his duties. A recurence of his ailment caused him to rot lira to New Zealand, and about three months ago he went to New South Wales to recruit, but the trip waa in vain. Deceased’s mother and brother (Mr Vivian Hiddiford} also returned from Sydney by the Manuka.

An inquest was held yesterday at. Waitotara into the circumstances surrounding the drowning of the boy Samuel Hartwell in the Waitotara River on Sunday, Mr F. Train, J.P.. Acting-Coroner, presiding. After hearing the evidence a verdict that deceased was accidentally drowned was returned. The facts elicited showed that deceased and a couple of other hoys went for a swim in the river, all three being indifferent swimmers. They happened to choose the most dangerous spot in the river, which at this point is 9. bout 30 yards wide. The deceased twice swam the river, but in trying to repeat the performance a third time, became exhausted and sank.' A brother, who waa with him, caught hold of the drowning lad, but had to let go, and the boy sank. The ntambor of snags in the Vicinity prevented Constable Wilson from dragging for the body, and the search proved a very difficult one. Finally, the body was brought to the surface last Wednesday by the use of dynamite. Constable Wilson was assisted in the search by a number of settlers in the Hangitatau district, some of whom travelled many miles to assist.

On April A there will be two important launcumc's in Australia. One will ne that of the Warrego, the first warship put -together in the Commonwealth; the other (possibly not secondary in importance) the “Olobei” the new penny weekly paper, which is intended to be somewhat different to all others. The Globe, which will be illustrated. will contain all the - news of the world for the week, attractively set out; stories both long and short, and of strong dramatic interest, notes on work'had wages the world over, a special department of great value entitled the “Handy Man about the House.” “Heart to Heart” discussions between men and women, sport incident and sport anecdote, home pages, pages for boys and girls, and a question and answer page of unusual merit, which will be read and treasured. The debut of the Globe will be celebrated by competitions at once unique and striking. One will offer hundreds of prizes to thosrwho collect the names and addresses of persons who have noticed the announcement that the first issue of the Globe will be on .April 4. Fiftv sovereigns will be the first prize, and gold and silver watches, and gold bangles, and pound notes will be amongst the others.' Bearing in mind the great experience of the publishers, tho Glob« should prove one of the most interesting and useful papers ever produced.