LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20113, 27 June 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The finding of the courtmartial recently held at Palmerston North is that the charges against the officer were without foundation. The latest addition to the telephone exchange is No. 1053. Mr B. McVicar, private boarding-house. “Stirling House.” 26 St. Hill Street. The Hon. Mr. Rhodes announces that provided no fresh cases of smallpox are reported by July 1st, he proposes the removal of restrictions imposed on the travelling of natives. H.M.S. Philomel returned to Auckland yesterday. In company with the Psyche, Pyramus, and the Tutaenaki, she made a systematic search of northern maters for the fishing boat Andrew, which disappeared off Waihi, without success. It was snowing very heavily at Waiouru yesterday and several Wanganuiites who were passengers by the Main Trunk line, indulged in a little snowballing pastime. Snow also fell heavily at Ohakune. Messrs D. Cuddie, Dairy Commissioner and W. M. Singleton, cheese expert, of the Department of Agriculture, were in Wanganui yesterday. They visited Mr. John Donald’s Westmere dairy farm and returned to Wellington by the noon train.

The District Nursing Committee desire to acknowledge a donation of £1 towards their funds.

The past season has been another record one for the West Coast Refrigerating Company. Last year the cheese and butter passing through it hands was valued at £734,775, which easily constituted a record. This year it has increased this enormous total by no less than £22,483, the total value reaching £757,258.

At the Auckland Poultry Show, the North Island championships for British game cock was won by Mr. Nixon. The cup for best British game hen was won by Messrs J. and W. G. Mason, who won the ladies’ bracelet with the same hen. Mr. Trelor won the North Island championship for white cockerel, and Mr. J. H. Dunn the North Island championship for brown cockerel.

The question of veterans who served in the Maori war, but who were not actually under fire, being entitled to a medal and pension, was recently brought before the Hon. Mr. Fisher by veterans at the Thames. This has led to the local veterans of a similar standing taking up the matter, and a deputation of those concerned waited on Mr. Veitch, M.P., and outlined the theme of their claims. Mr. Veitch was very sympathetic, and promised to go into the matter in his official capacity in due course.

Alternate loan proposals for a water and drainage scheme tor the Foxton borough were submitted to a poll of ratepayers yesterday, viz. a gravitation scheme from Shannon Hills, costing £36,500; and an artesian scheme to cost £23,000; also, a loan of £3000 for the extension of the gasworks. Both loan proposals for water and drainage were lost, and the gasworks proposal carried. Only 286 ratepayers out of a roll of over 600 recorded their votes. This is the second time the water and drainage proposals have been rejected.

At Huntly, yesterday, Mr. Rawson, S.M., gave his decision in the case of W. R. Wayland v. S. Dixon, president of the Taupiri Coal Miners’ Industrial Union, and the members of the committee. He found in favour of plaintiff on all counts and awarded £60 damages and costs, also, in the case of Molesworth v. Dixon, with damages £60 and costs. The claims arose out of the alleged illicit dismissal of plaintiffs from employment by the Taupiri Coal Co. It is understood that the defendants will appeal against the decision.

At the S.M. Court yesterday morning Basil Murray, a young Maori, was charged with having attempted to commit suicide at Putiki on Thursday evening. It appears that the accused, worried by natives “chaffing” him about the loss of family property and other matters, snatched up a revolver, and, placing at over the region of his heart, fired. Fortunately, the charge was a blank one, and Murray escaped with a burned shirt and a flesh-wound. On his uncle (Mr Walter Hipango) undertaking to see that the matters which worried the young man were adjusted, Murray was discharged.

A mild sensation was caused for a few minutes on the Wanganui-Palmers-ton train yesterday morning. A young Maori woman, it appears, had entered the lavatory, and a spring lock caused the door to automatically fasten her in. Not knowing how to manipulate the lock she became alarmed and hysterical. Her shrill screams pierced through the carriages and passengers rushed from all parts, thinking that a serious assault or a grim tragedy was being enacted. The door was opened, and out came the young maiden, apparently very much frightened, but quite unhurt. The would-be rescuers took the situation in at a glance, and went back to their seats slightly amused, and perhaps a trifle sorry that something had not really occurred to relieve the monotony of a very wearysome train journey.