Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 178, 28 July 1913, Page 4

Tho following is Mr. D. C. Bates' weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 ajn. this day:—"There are indications for moderate to strong winds, southerly prevailing. The weather will probably prove squally and changeable; the night will probably be very cold; the barometrr has a falling tendency temporarily. Sea moderate, swell off coast, tides moderate."

A very painful accident happened on Saturday evening to a young man named George Keen an. lie was exercising the racehorse Spectre at Takapuna, where he is employed by Mr. K. W. Alison, when the horse became frightened at the noise made by a paysircg tram, and swerved suddenly, throwing its rider to the ground. One of Keenan's feet caught in the stirrup, but Fortunately the leather broke before he had been dragged far. The young man sustained a fractured leg, :>nd was subsequently sent to the Hospit-al, where he is now progressing favourably. The horse returned to the stables of its own -accord.

During the hearing of a civil action hear.d at the Wellington Magistrate's Court, evidence disclosed the fact that a married man who had to support a "wife and child, and was receiving only £3 per week, was able to hand to his wife 15/ each week for the purpose of paying off a finst and second mortgage on a section of land, the purchase of which he. was completing. This caused his Worship to remark that the couple had set a very good example in the way of looking after their money. "If other people took as much care of I their money there would be less misery and less hardship," was the concluding , remark that descended on the court from the bench.

Another sailer of the Craig fleet has made a fast passage across the Tusman Sea from Australia to Auckland. The barque Marjoric Craig arrived at Auckland yesterday afternoon after a passage of 7 days 16 hours from Melbourne. Exactly six days were occupied in the voyage from Melbourne Heads to Cape Maria Van Diema-n, the balance of the time being taken up in the run down the coast to Tiri Tiri, where she was sighted yesterday morning. Quite a number of fast passages from the Common wealth Irarve been recorded recently, notably »>y the Louisa Craig and the barque Rona.

The idea that motor cars should be taxed for the upkeep of the roads is made the subject of a remit to the Counties' Conference by the Rangitikei County Council. That body's delegate will move: "That the Government should impose a moderate tax on motor cars, and that proceeds of such tax be handed over to and be expended by the local bodies in maintaining and improving the roads affected by motor traffic, a special board being set up lo allocate the distribution of the proceeds of such tax, and that the amount of the tax vary according to the weight of the car."and due consideration be taken of the purpose for which the car is used, a higher tax to be imposed on cars plying for hire." "Money still continues in short supply generally, but the hanking figures show some improvement as compared with three months ago. -and also as compared with this time last year," says the "Trade Review" just issued. "Returns coming in from the realisation of the season's produce always bring an improvement in this quarter, and it is pleasing to see that the position is slightly better than it was a year ago. This has been brought about by reducing advances, as the deposits are also slightly less than last year. The trade returns to June 30th show an excellent total of exports, showing increased production in our main products, but it must not be lost sight of that the growth is largely a price increase. Imports continue on a very high level, and are nearer to the level of exports than is advisable, taking all the circumstances into consideration."

A literary and debating society has been formed in connection with the new Grafton Library, and the first debate will be held in the committee room of the library on August 5. The subject chosen is, "Should Vaccination be made Compulsory?" and the affirmative and negative yill be led respectively by Mr. Hall Skelton and the Rev. W. A Keay. A short concert will also be given. The lack of such a society in the Grafton district has been felt for some time, and the preliminary meeting, at which Mr. J. J. Sullivan presided, was well attended. A provisional secretary (Air. Wright) was appointed, but the election of officers was deferred to a later date.

A somewhat humorous incident is related regarding a Maori- He was coming info town in a tram car, and the conductor asked if he had been vaccinated. The Maori apparently did not understand the word, so the conductor caught hold of him by the arm and told him he must get out. The Maori winced and said: "By gorry, doctor made that arm sore." This was good enough for the conductor, and the Maori rode quietly to town. When he got off at Queen Street he grinned amiably at the .conductor, and said: "Look! Mc no vaccinated!"

A good story is going the rounds ancnt vaccination. A number of natives arrived per motor car at the Wellington races, when an individual posted outside inquired: "Hey, llori, you vaccinated?" "By goriy, no!" was the answer. "Then you better give mc 2/8 for this certificate, and you'll be safe anywhere!" The sale was made, and many natives went about proud of the fact that they were able to pass the test. However, one individual boarded a train, when he found his bogus paper was no good. "By gorry, him the white tief," he muttered as he went off to look for a motor car.

The sum of over £300 was raised on Saturday by the street collection in aid of the new Remuera Children's Ilome. About £2,000 was required to complete the £7,000 the brick building will cost. It is likely that the authorities will feel justified in going on with the building now that so much of the necessary funds are in hand. A splendid site at Manu-rew-a was presented by some city business men. The building to be erected will ■be in brick. It is to have three large dormitories, each capable of giving accommodation for about twenty children. The architect is Mr H. C. Grierson.

An amusing incident occurred on a train travelling on a Canterbbury branch line recently. The lirst-class smoker was filled with commercial travellers, and among them -was a stranger. The weary journey was beguiled by the usual programme of funny stories, the stranger joining in and contributing his share. lie was apparently in a joyful mood. On nearing the junction with the main line he remarked: "I suppose you gentlemen don't know why I'm here?" Someone answered that that question had never occurred to them. "Well," said the stranger, "I'm a bookmaker, and the other day I was fined £20, in default one months imprisonment. A policeman arranged to come along to-day and take mc 'over the hill," but he did not turn up,-' so I'm going down myself." His statement was doubted by the occupants of the car, but it was given colour when the train pulled up. A policeman was' standing on the platform, and the stranger accosted him. "I'm ," said he.

'"Are you waiting for mc?" Evidently the policeman had not been acquainted with the stranger's position, for he denied any desire to cultivate a closer acquaintance. "Oh, (hat's all right," replied the stranger as he fled to an adjacent hotel and gulped down a couple of drinks—"the last for a month," as he remarked. The philosophical one then caught the express and continued hie journey to Lyttelton alone, where no doubt his claim as a guest would be recognised.

Interesting meetings were held at the V.M.C.A. yesterday afternoon. At 4 o'clock the Rev. C. H. Garland spoke to a large number of men on the subject of

"Nature on tho Doctrine of the Atonement." At 4.45 members met to bid farewell to Mr Trevor Dillon, secretary, of the Religious Work Committee, who is now leaving Auckland to pursue a course of study in Chicago previous to engaging in mission work in China. The general secretary, Mr McFarlane. on behalf of the members presented Mr Dillon with several useful .articles, and a number of the members spoke in appreciative terms of Mr Dillon's Christian service. Among those -were Captain MacKenzie, Messrs Mill, Rimmer, Lee, Staintnn. Crook, Marshall, Edmunds. Good, and Clark. The meeting concluded with the singing of "G-od Be With You Till We Meet Again." At the conclusion a number of strangers were entertained at a social tea, when Mr Alex Mill presided.

Just before the departure of the Maunganui from Wellington for Sydney, on Friday night. Detectives Lewis and Andrews arrested an intending passenger. Lawrence Taylor, on a charge of deserting his wife in Auckland.

Wavcrley is the latest township to make a move in the direction of instating electric light. A few weeks ago a loan of £11,000 was authorised for electric light and a water system, and last week a loan was raised in Wellington bearing interest at 4J per cent, with sinking fund of * per cent added, a financial accomplishment of no mean order, considering the present state of th» money market.

The areas of land advertised for disposal during the month of August by the Lands Department total 23,602 acres, comprised in IC!> holdings. The bulk of the land is in the Auckland and Wellington land districts, which together account for over 17.0C0 acres of tha total. The Land to be offered in the Auckland district comprises 21 optional tenure holdings, comprising 5,216 acres; 0 renewable lease holdings, containing 3,114 acres; 84 sections to be sold by auction, containing 212 acres; and 1 education reserve of SO acres, making a total of 115 holdings, and 8.622 acre.?. Lands so far advertised for disposal in September comprise 483 acres; of renewable lease (Land for Settlement) in Otago, 15.35S acres in 73 optional tenure holdings, and 1 renewable lease holding of 26 acres in Southland.

"I don't know of anybody who is better able to detect a rogue than your Worship." This rather equivocal complimentary bouquet was thrown up to Dr. McArthur, R.M., by a lawyer at the Wellington Magistrate's Court.

It is now definitely announced that the South Taranaki Shipping Company intends running a weekly service to Onehunga in connection with the opening up of the frozen meat trade with Vancouver.

The retail price of best factory butter is still 1/5 per lb. Eggs are now coming in freely, and towards the end of last week surplus stock was shipped from Auckland to Wellington. The retail price of eggs this morning dropped to 1/4 per dozen. The Dairy Produce Committee reports: —"The wholesale quotations for butter and eggs for the week ending August 2 are as follows:—Butter (factory), 1/3 per lb; do. (farmers'), 3d per lb.; eggs, 1/ per doz."

The Agricultural Department has been advised that the Fruitgrowers' Conference will not be held in Wellington until the first week in September.

Mr. G. F. Henry, president of the Fsycho-Therapeutieal Association of New Zealand, will deliver a lecture on "Health at St. Matthew's Hall tomorrow evening.

A benefit concert and picture entertainment in aid of the Cooke fund will take place on Wednesday night in the Foresters' Hall, Birkenhead.-

A short eitting of the Twmwaw 4 peal Board was held thisTmoTninV fi? only ease set down for TOneideS, l In* the appeal of Alfred hw alleged wrongful dismissal from «/ Auck>and Tramway Co.'o i«£* ** staff. The Board comprised & Q r Kettle, S.M., chairman, and Messrs* w Carter and P. M. Hansen, men*** M A. E. Skel'ton appeared for the apnelkivT and Mr J. R. Reed K.C., for ent Company. It was announced that there was every prospect of a settlement being effected privately, and by general consent the sitting was adjourned for a week.

The irrepressible inquisitiveness of . Gisborne small boy the other day succeeded in placing the public vaccinator in an embarrassing position. With some companions, the lad was loitering about the shop whore vaccination wag benw carried out, and he sauntered in to th° scene of operations, with the result that he was treated as a free patient and went home with a lanced arm The parents, who are consistent objectors to vaccination under any tireum, stances, were considerably aggrieved, and it was some time before the median was able to explain the error which ii , had unwittingly committed.

The exceptional mildness of tit winter months has had a notable effect in" orchards in and around Governor* Bay (thirteen miles from Lyttelton) Peach trees and apricot trees are alreadt in- bloom, over a month earlier than hu been the case for many years past.

On the high tableland country in the Taranaki hinterland a young man, whilst cutting tracks, had a most exciting encounter with a wild boar. He disturbed, a mob of pigs feeding, and not •retreating as quickly as the occasios demanded, he had to face the onslaught of the leader, a tremendous "Captain Cooker." Armed with only a slasher the young fellow beat off the boar again and again, but as he had to keep springing this way and that, the blows were not very effective. At last he managed, after quite a long fight, to administer a death thrust to the boar "rat not until one of his hands had 'been badly torn by the boars tasks. Xhg latter, when extracted, measured lain.

At the present time about 35,000 of the home saving boxes issued by the Post Office Savings Bank are in use throueaout New Zealand. °^

Bird trapping in the Methven district (between Christchurch and Ash'burton) is stated to be carried out with good results, and several men engaged" are making good wages, ranging from £4 to £5 per week.

A prominent Southland fowl fancier recently disposed of for 7/6 a young cockerel which did not quite satisfy his fancy, and' the purchaser, in turn re'totting his bargain, put the bird into a) auction loom, where it was disposed of for exactly half what he had paid for it The new-found owner, recognising hidden qualities in his purchase which had escaped the notice of the previous owners, decided to enter it in the Gore Poultry Club's show, with the result that the original owner had the mortification of seeing what he considered his" champion bird beaten for first honours by hia reject.