LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 13654, 9 April 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The daily output of butter at the Hawke's Bay Dairy Company’s factory at Mangatainoka is about 58 boxes, nearly one ton per day.

Tom Hogan, ex-Australian champion, under the supervision of a committee, completed forty heurs ball punching at Auckland, which is claimed to be a world’s record.

A cricket match played at Auckland between teams from the Wellington and Auckland offices of the Post and Telegraph Department ended fn a narrow victory for Auckland.

At a local marriage ceremony recently performed (says the Wellington Post) a somewhat unusual circumstance came to light. Bride and bridegroom and three witnesses who signed the register all .possessed the same surname. No previous tic of relationship existed between the two principals. This is believed to constitute a record.

As the result of a suggestion thrown out by the Mayor at a function held in Eketahuna, the first Scandinavian emigrants who settled in the Forty Mile Bush, which includes the district from Kopuaranga to Woodville, have decided to hold an annual re-union to celebrate their landing in New Zealand, which occurred on April 11, 1870.

Notwithstanding the alleged scarcity of bacon pigs, the Waikato Farmers’ Cooperative Bacon Company continues to get ample supplies, no fewer than 750 coming to hand last week. The company is now laying in a large stock of frozen pork, which will ensure a regular output of bacon and hams during the ensuing winter.

The holiday traffic on this line has been exceptionally heavy this Easter, all the trains being taxed to their utmost to accommodate the crowds of holidaymakers. The crush of people on the junctions of Martou and Palmerston yesterday on the arrival of the principal through trains was something exceptional for these busy railway centres.

At the annual rifle meeting in Suva, the Governor’s Cup (six ranges) was won by J. H. Butler with 181, IX Chalmers being second with 181. Included among the passengers who irrived at Wellington by the Remuera on londay were 47 domestic servants. There 'ere 107 “assintods,” and these included 71 adults and fill children. Sixteen wives came out to join their husbands. The Mayoral elections for Wanganui and Wanganui East will take place on the 24th inst., nomination day in both boroughs being the 18th inst. The Returning Officers, Messrs Jno. P. Watt and T. F. Holloway, respectively, call for nominations in another column.

Sydney is being deluged with novel advertising schemes. The latest to he innonreed comes from J. D. Williams, of oieture fame. He is offering jES(K> to the. first Australian girl to marry one of his ■hilow-Americans on the staff of J. D. A illiams (Ltd.). The photographs arc being published daily in the Sydney Sun.

The amount of confetti and rice scatter-, cd about the platforms of the Wanganui and Aramoho railway stations yesterday must have given the porters quite a busy time in sweeping it ap. The cause was the usual batch of post-Lcntcn weddings, no fewer than a dozen happy couples having been united in Wanganui during Easter,

A fire at 3 o'clock this morning completely destroyed a five-roomed cottage in Hipango Street, Wanganui East, owned hy Mr R. Neilson, and occupied by Mr W. Kelly, a clean sweep being also made of the contents and an outhouse about half a chain away. The bouse was insured for ,£l(Kj in the Norwich Union, and we understand the furniture was also insured, but the amount is *o far not available.

In connection with the Presbyterian Assembly's protest against the Hon. To Rangihiroa and Dr. Pomurc, M.P., giving political addresses at the Mormon Confersnee, the Rev. Rudd, of Feilding, replying to Mr Romney, leader of the Mormons, says the deliverance of political addresses by such prominent public men is likely to affeffet the attendance materially and to bring under the influence of Mormon teachers many who would otherwise not be there, and it is not the function of a Minister of the Crown to act as bellman for any religious gathering. Against that they respectfully made their protest. For the month of February the total births in the four chief cities and their suburban boroughs amounted to 582, against (582 in January—a decrease of 90. The deaths in February were 164—a decrease of 77 as compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths, males contributed females 78. Twenty-nine of the death, were of children under five years of age, being 17.68 per cent, of the whole number; 24 of these wore under one year of ago. At the Police Court this morning, Mr. H. S. 0. Harper, J.P., on the bench, James Delainey pleaded not guilty to charges of drunkenness and using obscene language. After hearing the evidence .accused was convicted and discharged on the drunkenness charge and fined £\ ;u default 7 days’ imprisonment for the mire various offence. A second offending inebrate was fined 145., or 48 hours’ imprisonment, a charge of procuring li pjor while being a prohibited person, be ng adjourned till Saturday to be dealt with by the Magistrate. A first offender was convicted ami discharged. At the mooting of the Raetihi Progressive Association last week Mr. Mubbott stated that ho had ,seen the Inspector of Telegraphs, and had been informed that the proposal to finish tha telephone line to Wanganui could not ho entertained at present, as the cost of conveying the poles (255. each) placed all further consideration of -the matter quite outside the question. The department was quite willing to undertake the work, hut the cost must be reduced. If any more reasonable means of transport was available in the future, the inspector was quite willing to reconsider his decision. During the discussion which followed, it transpired that about tOO poles were wanted, hut the meeting Hit upon no plan to reduce the cost of conveyance.

Speaking 1 at a dinner at the Liberal Colonial Club in London recently, Sir A. Conan Doyle appealed for Justice for Ireland. “If England in a good cause drew her sword,’’ said Sir Conan, “we know that the swords of 50 allied colonies and dependencies would spriug from their scabbards. Only one would be wanting, that is not the least sharp or the least heavy. The sword of Ireland would remain sullenly by her side. We cannot allow that. We want that gallant race at our side. It would be a great thing if the gift of national self-government came from England to Ireland, and not merely from an English party. It is a pity that the measure could not be our unaimous gift, but that is not to be, and wo must gird up our loins for a long fight. But if we light patiently with the weapon of dogic and charity surely we will win.”

A gentleman who went up-river to Hipango Park yesterday informed us to-day that certain people exhibited a strange disregard of tbo rules for the safety of the reserve. In various places in the reserve notices are set up cautioning the public against lighting fires, but, notwithstanding this, not only were fires lighted in dangerous positions, but in some cases were actually left burning, while some of the notices even were broken up for fuel. Realising what a calamity it would be were a fire to sweep this beautiful reserve, local people arc usually very carfcul about lighting and putting out fires on the park, but experience has shown that recent arrivals and visitors are less regardful of its safety. The case certainly calls for the presence of a responsible official on holidays to stop such dangerous practices, and we hope the powers that lx? will ensure this on the occasions of future excursions tb the nark.

Francs is spending' .£BBO,OOO on aviation during the current year, and expects to spend a million sterling next year. M. Millcrand, Minister for War, explained in the Senate the other day that they were coining to the creation of a fifth branch of the service. All facilities wpuld be given to officers !o familiarise themselves with aeroplanes. Dirigibles would not be neglected. Fifteen aerial cruisers, with all tbc latest improvements, were going to be constructed, but attention would be mainly directed to aviation. The unity of aviation or ‘“squadrilla” (escadrillc') would comprise eight aeroplanes—divided into monoplanes and biplanes—capable of carrying several passengers each. It or 12 motor cars, one traction car, and one extra-swift motor car, and a repairing van. At present 13 squadril’as might be constituted. They bad 208 aeroplanes, and there was a mobilisation scheme for each squadrilla, By the end of the year they would be able to mobilise 27 field and 5 garrison squadrillas—i.e., 344 machines. Thirty aviation centres would be fitted up in 1912, each having a separate flying ground, and each squadrilla would have special pilots and mechanics attached to it. The force would total 234 officer-pilots, 210 scouts, 42 mechanics, 110 officers, 1600 corporals or sappers, and 500 privates.

Telephone Exchange subscribers ars re* minded that to-morrow (Wednesday') i» !hc last day for payment'of subscriptions. Mr N. Meuli, informs, us that ho has . hot yet come to a decision as to .whether he will contest the Mayoralty at the next election, but hopes to give a definite answer in the course of a few days. .Some of the speakers at the "rally'’ *t Stratford last week were a bit mixed m their metaphors. Mr. Hine declared that he. wouldn't be in the Government "for all the gold in China.” Mr. MgatcV referred to "political lambs who had gOue out for the loaves and fishes.’’

Ihe Californian thistle appears to be gradually gaining ground in parts of the Afimawatu district. Farmers mhst not altogether be blamed for this, as in many ca ms the waste laud along the various river beds is largely. responsible for the .plead of the evil. There is nt present on the railway line at Levin, within a dozen yards of the public road, n goodsized patch of Californian thistles, some in blossom and the others seeding. The telephone line from Raetihi to Orautoha and Ruatiti ■ is now an accomplished fact, the working party having latterly encountered' weather which favoured their operations (says the Waifparino County Call). With Ore Ore, Ruatiti and Orautoha linked up, a busy time for the Raetihi Post Office appears to be imminent. The Pukekaba extension—viz., from Mr. F. L. Stevenson’s to Mr. Todd’s residence—will probably he made later on.