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Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 114, 13 May 1920, Page 4

The Weather Bureau report for 24 hours from 9 a.m. to-day is as follows: — The indications are for southerly winds moderate to strong. The weather will probably prove equally ■with heavy showers. Rivers rising. The barometer has a rising tendency. The night will probably be very cold. Sea rough on , the coast. Tide* good.

The improvement in "the weather coaditions yesterday proved only temporary, and early in the evening light rain recommenced and has fallen almost incessantly, since. The wind at noon was in the south-east quarter, a rather favourable omen. The rainfall for the twenty-four hours ended 9 a.m. totalled, only -36in, but the Tall las been heavier since. Work on the waterfront was practically abandoned, and several vessels which were expected to get away today have been postponed.

The district fiearth report for the twenty-four hours ended at noon to-day shown that the number of influenza notifications for the period was 127. Of these seven only are severe, and 120 mild. The cases are distributed as follows: City, 51 mild, 1 severe; suburbs, 31 mild., 2 severe; Waiuku, 3 mild; Piopio, 1 mild; Pukemiro, 2 severe; Hamilton, 1 mild; TVaipa, 1 mild, 1 severe; Te Aroha, 7 mild, 1 severe; Piako, 15 mild; Thames, 3 mild; Matamata. 2 mild; Opotiki, 4 mild; Waihi, 1 mild.

There was a brief sitting of the Supreme Court thie morning, Mr. Justice Cooper presiding;. After the jurymen had been empanelled the case of Percy James Durrant, petitioner, Marguente Durrant, respondent, and William David Merrick, co-respondent, was called on, but Mr. «. A. Singer, who appeared for the petitioner, said an important witness had been detained at Gisborne. Counsel said the only question for the court was to aseese the amount of damages. Bis Honor agreed to take the case on Saturday morning, and the court was adjourned until to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. Arc rabbits a pest or an aseet? Tliie was the problem confronting the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Nosworthy) when wited upon by an Otago deputation. For the past year or so there has been a boom in rabbiting in the infested districts of the country, owing to the high prices ruling for ekins abroad, chiefly in America. There have been complaints also, as there have been on' other occasions when for a brief space the rabbit market hae been active, the rabbits have been fanned by landowners, especially email landowners. The deputation aeked for amendments in .the Act with the view of lessening the liability of landowners to heavy penalties for failing to destroy Tabbits. The Minister was also asked to encourage the establishment of rabbit canning factories. The Minister in reply declared himself as a firm supporter of the Act as it stood. The Government sought to destroy the rabbit, and to make any rabbit industry impossible. He was even prepared to consider whether any rabbit! export "business should not be wholly done by the Government, and he thought it might then be necessary to fix prices at such a level that no one would make any money out of it, so that.there would be no inducement to rabbit farming.

Ah' amendment to the Discharged Soldiers*"-~ Settlement Act has been gazetted aufEorieing the advances for building on rural sections not exceeding 21 acres up to a cum of £500, and in exceptional caeee up to £750. A suggestion in regard to α-dvaaces for this purpose wae recently made to the Minister if Lands (Hon. "D. H. Guthrie) by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, and in * communication received by the eecretary of the association yeetfrrday, the Minister draw* attention to the newly-gazetted amendment. — * **i ~A" meeting of "the Auckland District Women's Christian Temperance Union was held in the headquarters on Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Cook presided over a large attendance. The business wee of unusual interest as a forward movement wae launched to raise funds to open a hostel to accommodate girls •who are away from home. Atransjemehta were made to inaugurate this fund by holding a Housewife's Market Day Sale on Friday, May 21, in the supper room of the Town Hall. Committees were formed to take charge of the various stalls. It was stated that the great need for hostels has been urgently felt in all the large centres of the Dominion, and the Auckland union appeals to the public to help this great work for the girls." A very inspiring address was given by Mrs. Reuben Bailey.,

In regard- to the decision of the eXfceutive of the New Zealand Jockeys' Association, Mr. H. TV. "Davies, South Island representative of the association, who Is et present in Tima.ru, states that j there is mo desire on the part of the association <to take any action which. mi<At militate against the success of the forthcoming Souiih Island meetings, and riding engagements -will be made and fulfilled as usual in the meantime. Tie present situation in the North Island is ! .purely an outcome of the Avondale affair and Mr. 'Daviee stresses the fact that at present the South Island jockeys have no grievances againet the South Island clubs, which (have treated the riders and their official representatives with the greatest courtesy.

The Westralia, due at Wellington from Melbourne on Monday next, hae an English and an Australian mail. The Australian portion consists of 33 bags, and the English 207, and the Auckland correspondence should arrive by Tuesday's train. The Wairuna, which left San Francisco for Napier on May 3, hae 356 bags of United States mail on board for the Dominion. The Makura, from Vancouver, is due here next Saturday week, with 532 bags of mail. It is not known yet whether she carries an English mail.

On *he grounds Wiat the present Paraell schpol is unsightly and obsolete and that jt s site is unsuitable the school committee, at its meting last night again etrongly erged the need of a new school. It was decided to form a deputation to approach the Education Board with a view of asking for definite information ac to ihow far it had prgceeded in regard to acquiring a new site.

Xhe Commissioner of Taxee draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day's iaene that returns of income must be furnished not later than June 1. Forma of return may be obtained at any postal moneyorder office; they will not be cent to taxpayers from the office of the Commissioner of Taxes unless written application ie made for them.

A new textile fabric has been, introduced by a British manufacturer which is claimed to -wear better than pure worsted, and can be sold at about onefourth the price of the best woollen fabrics. The stuff in stated to stand good hard wear. Should this prove corTect the question of lower priced clothing may vet foe solved before increasing cost necessitates reversion to • Edenie attire.

After a long illnees there is nothing like "Winox" for quickly restoring the patient to health, vigour and happiness. "Winox" is the finest "pick-me-up" procurable.—(Ad.) The "Keep Smiling" brand of waterproof hot polish ig inclining -housewives to make to themselves nests of pleasant tfhraaghte as fiuskin so etronglv advueA. jPrice ed per tin at all stores.—(Ad.) \