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Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 37, 12 February 1920, Page 4

Following is the weather forecast, issued under the direction of Mr. D. C. Bates, Dominion Meteorologist, for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: The indications are for variable and strong breezes, but south-easterly moderate to etrong prevailing. The weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled at times, with mild and hazy conditions. Barometer unsteady. Sea moderate, swell; tides good.

As a stimulus to trade San Francisco will witness ths year , the greatest foreign trade convention ever held in the United States. It is expected that in excess of three thousand American merchants from all parts of the world will be in attendance, in addition to which invitations have been extended to several hundred foreign representatives. The importance of the Pacific Coast as the American frontier of foreign trade will be emphasised.

The associated banks in the Dominion are prepared to act as agents for miners or mining companies desiring to have gold forwarded outside New Zealand for realisation on their own account, the banks charging a clear commission as remuneration for their services, and the owner Cerraymg all expenses. The arrangement does not apply to coined gold. It is intended to meet the case of miners who arc unable to secure the enhanced prices now paid for gold in London and Xew York.

Another phase of the house shortage. About twelve- months ago a certain house in Petone was condemned, and notice given to the owner to have the place taken down. The owner was agreeable to do so, but could not get the occupants out of the place. He proceeded to demolish the house, and at present only two rooms remain. These were occupied by a family—father, 'mother, and four children—until Saturday, when the police took charge of the children, and brought them to Wellington, where they are at present in a ' receiving home.

Some severe strictures on the Railway Department were passed by Mr. \V. H. Field, M.P., when addressing a meeting of the Wellington branch of the Central I Progress League.

I Repairs to Khyber Pass Road are to be carried 'out at an early date. At the meeting of the Newmarket Borough j Council last evening a letter to thie effect was received from Mr. J. J. Walk- : late, General Manager of the tramways, in reply to a request from the Borough 1 Council that the work foe taken in hand las soon as possible in view of the conj dition of the road. The sanitary inspector at Devonport is about to make an inspection of all fowl yards in the borough with a view to reporting to the council on a, proposal that the by-lawe, requiring all fowlhouees to be concreted or asphalted, be fully enforced. The matter was mentioned at the council's meeting last night in connection with a statement that illkept fowlruns at this season of the year assisted to develop the rat and fly nuisances. In view of the fact that the by-law is very drastic, tho council agreed to have a report from the inspector hefore deciding to insist on a rigid all-round observance of the regulations. From Mr. Alexander Moslev, ot Gibraltar, the curator of the Christchurch Botanical Gardens has received a packet of acorne for planting, in return for some eeeds of New Zealand native plants. Tho acorns are those of the cork oak and ilex oak, and are twice the size of acorn,? common in New Zealand. "Ilex acorns," writes Mr. Mosley, "afford splendid food for pigs, and it is the custom here to drive large herds of pigs into ihe forests, where they fatten in a very short time, as Ilex acorns contain a large amount of saccharine. In fact, the acorns are largely eaten in the same way as nuts or walnuts by country people, and are quite palatable." "It is just the same as stealing," said a member of the Auckland Automobile Association at last night's meeting when referring to the practice of people who have the motoring habit but haven't the car borrowing machines left etanding in the streets going off on joy rides, leaving tho medium of their brief whirl of pleasure on a country road, miles from home, and probably in need of several pounds' worth of repairs. The chairman (Mr. Geo. Henning) said he never dreamed of leaving his car in the street without a good strong padlock on the wheel. The meeting decided to enter a protest against the leniency with which the Bench treated the first lad convicted in Auckland under the clauses in the Police Offences Act framed specially to deal with the illicit joy riders. An alteration in the system of charging for electric light and power in Devonport was sanctioned by the Borough Council last night. The Electricity Supply Corporation requested permission to alter the present system by having one meter only, for each consumer who used current for both light and power, and making an average for the lighting account, and charging power rates for current used above the average. The reason for the application was the difficulty of getting supplies, and the effect of the chance would be to save meters. The council agreed to the change, subject to its Legal and Finance Committee having power to adjust disputes in the case of objections by consumers to the figure of the averages.

A proposal has been made at Palmerston North at a meeting of the Farmers' Union, to -establish a shipping floet, to be called the '"Union Jack.' , Xotxe of motion to that effect has been given by Mr. A. Buchanan, who said he would subscribe £il,ooo towards the objects in view. These are as follows:—"To carry British goods in British vessels; to stimulate interest in the development of iron and other mineral deposits; to encourage shipbuilding and seamanship; to prevent primary and other producers from being exploited by the multi-millionaire shipping and other combines, which to an extent control and seek to monopolise snipe, docks, stores, wharves, and markets; to draw all classes of workers into closer touch with, and more intimate knowledge of the conditione ruling in successful business methods of cooperation; to galvanise a patriotic spirit into the latent virtue of unionism, the funds of which might be more wisely invested in State shipping than in promoting a policy equally injurious to its own and to the public interest; to establish a fund for pensioning old, crippled, and indigent seamen, and to found schools of instruction and form training camps for those who dceire to settle on the land after service at sea.

The "Xorth Auckland Times" of Monday says: From a private message received in Dargaville to-day it is understood that the Hon. J. G. Coatcs is to be appointed Minister of Public Works in succession to Sir William Fraser. The appointment is bound to prove a popular one, in the Xorth Island in particular, as it is held that it is high time that the position should be filled by a representative of an Auckland constituency , .

Xew Zealand i≤ not the only country where coal supplies are short. A circular to hand from the Guaranty Trust Co., Xew York, has the following paragraph:—"Production has been cut down oO p.r cent or less of normal, and reserves are being rapidly wiped out. One of the results is the ecizure of the mines by th'j State Government in several instances, ami the calling for volunteer miners. The Department of Justice is arranging for the protection of these volunteers, and to such miners as may wish to return to work."

Messrs. Levin and Co.. of Wellington, chief passenger agents for the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, state that first saloon single and return fares, and second saloon return fares from Xew Zealand have been increased as from Monday. The increases are: A single saloon passage is now £17 dearer, and a return saloon ticket will now cost the traveller £51 more. For secoDd ealoon the single ticket is as before, but the return passage will be £18 dearer. Third class fares remain unaltered. The Orient Company also announce an increase in passage money. Saloor. passages from Australia have also I/eon raised. Messrs. Cook and Sons publish in this issue a scale of fares via Panama America, and the Orient.

l.antana, a beautiful flnwerinp shrub, which has overrun most of the tropical islands in the Pacific, has been declared a noxious weed. It is stntci that the plant i> to be found in ornamental gardens in Xew Zealand, and that there is a danger of the northern part of the Dominion being overrun.

The presentation of a silver tea and coffee service was made by the members of the Te Awaniutu Provisional Hydroelectric Committee to the secretary. Mr. A. 0. Warburron, at the dinner held in Te Awamutu last evening in celebration of the formation of the Hydro-electric Power Board. Eulogietic references were marie concerning Olr. Warburton'? work.

"Xasiol" owes Us wonCfirful success as n. preventive against influenza infection to the fact that it possesses powerful germicidal properties of a very high degree. Its frequent use is a great safeguard.— (Ad. >