LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160634, 24 April 1920, Page 11

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An Order-in-Council published in a Gazette fixes (the minimum price of flour at .£l6 10a per tan, instead of ATS.

The presentation to the Prince of Wales from the natives of the South Island will consist of a liqueur set, a cigarette ask tray, and a cigarette holder, all made of greenstone. The “strike” at the Pukenui School, a few miles to the south, of Martinborough, where the parents of the children owing to differences between them and the educational authorities, are keeping their children from school, continues, and last Friday there was an attendance of only three. The growth of trade at the port of Auckland is increasing to such an extent that on occasions vessels are compelled to lie out in the stream awaiting berthage. To provide more accommodation for ships the Harbour Board intends pushing on the construction of the Prince’s wharf. Altogether the Board proposes spending .£1,000,000 on harbour improvements,.

The Te Awamutu Power Board has purchased copper wire to the value of ABOOO and poles to the value of A6OOO, and these articles were due to arrive in a few months. The Board has arranged a loan of .£25,000 as a first instalment of A 120,000 with the public trustee, and has purchased a valuable town allotment on which to erect premises and for a material depot. The Board of Trade concluded its Auckland sitting yesterday morning. While there it dealt with matters arising out of the distributing of sugar, cement, and petrol, and has received deputations from farmers and milk vendors respecting the price of milk; from grain merchants on the question of fowl wheat, and from growers in connection with existing profits. A proposed increase in the price of milk led to evidence being taken from farmers’ representatives and also milk vendors as to the cost of production and distribution. Vendors wish the proposed rise to take effect as from May Ist. The Board intends to have the accounts of vendors audited before sanctioning any increase. The Board has returned to Wellington. The prisoner William Frederick Murray, who achieved notoriety by escaping from Mount Eden gaol early in January, created a sensation on the Wellington express to Auckland, whither he was being returned under escort, by jumping from the train as it was nearing Auckland yesterday afternoon. He took a desperate risk by jumping from a carriage lavatory window when the train was at full speed close to Middlemore golf links, at Mangere crossing, and while luckily escaping serious injury he was so knocked about and shaken by the fall that he was not able to get far from the line before one of the escorting constables got back there and recaptured him. Mr Leu Watkin, the well known Wanganui artist, instructor at Feilding Technical School, has done a beautiful piece of work in the illuminated address to the Prince of Wales to be presented by Feilding Borough Council and the County Councils of Oroua, Kiwitea, and Manawatu. The letter is excellently done, the initials are cleverly designed, and the tailpiece is a neat miniature of a Maori subject. On the back of the address are the seals of the Borough and three scenes in colours: the kiosk and ;pond on the racecourse, the Post Office and the Band Rotunda, and the Borough Council Chambers, beautifully decorated. The whole is beautifully bound in portfolio form.

A question has been raised as to whether the victory postage stamps issued in New Zealand are useable for addresses outside the Dominion. The chief postmaster at Dunedin says that the authorities at Wellington have sent out fresh issues of the Victory stamps in several denominations for sale at the counters with instructions that they may be used for all ordinary purposes, and for any address. It is understood that the New Zealand Postal Department holds that the stamps are not commemorative stamps within the meaning of the phrase in the Postal Union Convention. If it be 'the case, as stated, that all letters from New Zealand bearing the Victory stamps are being surcharged in Australia, this may be interpreted to mean that the Australian authorities read the convention differently. The position of three councillors of the Hamilton Borough is likely to be affected by the. recent purchase of a motor truck by the Council, according to a paragraph which appeared in the town clerk's report to the Council. The reference was as follows; "Motor truck for gas department. An account for ■this truck has been received from Mr P. Hewitt, care J. Pomeroy and Co., Ltd., and I am informed that Mr Hewitt is an employee of the firm mentioned, so that payment of the account would be received by Pomeroy and Co., another firm also being concerned in the transaction. I wish 'to point out that this purchase affects at least three members of the Council, and, further, that under section 44 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, payment of the account appears to be unlawful.

A great deal of interest is being taken in Sydney in connection with the Federal Government’s proposal to produce a square coin. The opinion of most people is agpinst a coin of that shape. A vigorous protest is possible from the banks, who are bitterly ophave declared that their work would be greatly hampered were the new pieces introduced, and that it would, mean delay to the public. One man stated that the tailors would be the only people whom the Square coin would suit, as it would quickly wear holes in pockets. One official asked what would happen to the thousands of Government penny-iii-the-siot machines. Bank officials also inquire the reason fob square coins, and stating that every country has forsaken them for the circular coin, which, it is claimed, is the creation of experience and convenience.

■ Residents in the neighbourhood still regret the presence of the huge carcase of the whale on. the Marine Parade, says the Telegraph, and house and land agents have decided not to attempt to sell property in the locality until after the body ha? been properly disposed of. An attempt "Was made last night to destroy this monster by fire but no great success attended the labour. Sticks of gelignite were placed in the carcase, but the resulting explosion only blew off s'mall pieces. A fire was then lighted and kept burning for hours, with the aid of benzine, etc., but only parts of the outer portion were burned, and the effort was abandoned. Part of the backbone and flesh are now visible, but this has by no means tended to make the residents feel any the more comfortable. The authorities are considering what further steps to take to dispose of the nuisance.