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Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 251, 21 October 1921, Page 4

It is 22 years ago to-day since New Zealand's first contingent of mounted rifles left Wellington in the steamer Waiwcra for South Africa. The contingent numbered 214 men of all ranks, in charge of Major Robin, afterwards commandant of the New Zealand forces. The departure of New Zealand's first overseas expeditionary force was the occasion for an enthusiastic display of patriotism, and a large number of harbour craft, led by the Government steamer Tutanekai, escorted the trooper to the Heads, while before embarkation the contingent was addressed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon. The annual anniversary dinner is being held to-night at Wellington, and about a dozen Auckland members of the pioneer contingent, who are unable to get to Wellington, will meet to celebrate old times at a local function.

Since the inauguration of the Point; Chevalier Sailing Clnb some few years' back the ti-tree in the vicinity of the beach has 6erved as shelter" for the boats. The club is endeavouring to overcome the position they are in through lack of a boathouse, and are following up their last year's effort, which resulted in £45 being put to a fund for the purpose of purchasing material for a boathouse, by holding a sports gathering at tlie Point Chevalier Reserve on Labour Day, when some £20 odd will lie given away in prizes for running and other events for adults and children. The club is aiming at £500 for the material, members having agreed to, supply all the necessary labour. I

Appreciation of the many services rendered by the Hon. Arthur Myers to the city of Auckland wa-s expressed at the. meeting of executive of the Soldiers Mothers' League yesterday afternoon. The following resolution waa passed and forwarded to Mr. Myers:—-'That this meeting of the executive place on record its sense of deep appreciation of the Hon. A. M. Myers' loyalty to the city of Auckland in tho valuable gifts made, and the magnanimous generosity eveo- forthcoming. The executive expresses its sincere regret that ill-health is the cause of his retirement from his position as memiber for City East, and hope he will be soon restored to. his usual health."

A girl, seventeen years of age, had a beautiful head of.hair ruined whilst leaving a picture theatre the other j evening (says the '"Lytteiton Times'"), by someone cutting half way through j the plait apparently with a pair of f scissors. The girl visited the theatre in I company with two friends and at half . time they left to go home. On her way ' out the girl felt a tug at the plait but . she did not pay much attention to the , incident. However on arriving home . she found a cut half way through the '. plait at about a level with her shoulders. ( The girl's hair was particularly long , and beautiful and it attracted the at- | tention of two ushers at the theatre . who distinctly remember her vi6it. They state that a man and a woman were [ shown into seats immediately behind , the girl and her friends and went out , just behind them at half time. These , two people did not return to the [ theatre after the interval. "Tlie professors will now nave tno power to confer degrees on their own students; that is to say, instead of tho papers being submitted to English examiners, the professors themselves will pive the degrees," said the Director of Education at of tlie Welling- • ton Education Board. ''Accepting that , ias a sound 'basis to go upon, axe not the secondary school teachers the best qualified pea-sons to say which of their students should matriculate?" "How do you stand on prohibition?" asked an elector of the Hon. G. W. Russell last night. "I tell you straight I am not a prohibitionist," replied Mr. Russell. "And if it's any satisfaction to you," continued the candidate, "1 am not a teetotaller. But no one has ever seen mc drunk yet." Tlie statement and qualification were both applauded by the Parnellites. The method employed by the City Council's officers in destroying such stray animals as cats and dogs was called in question by the Society for the I Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the ! i course of a commtmication addressed to j ■ the Cotnecil at ita meeting Ls_st night. ' j The Auckland Orpkins* CT__> has. I handed to Mr. W- Wallace, chairman of the. Hospital Board, the sum. of two j hundred guineas, the proceeds of a con-i cert !____ ia 'aid. of the farad. ___• •_£__ " j' trea_m___. <jf cancer, by ari .hot-uexwass- _ ... j

Tbe spell of wet weather that has "been erpssrienieed over tbe Auckland district lately is causing growing uneasiness amongst the owners of strawberry beds. One g»awer voiced what appears to be the general complaint when this morning he said that his bedcould do very well without any moro continuous rains. The wet weather appears to have delayed the growers in putting down the mulching which is intended to keep the berries off the ground and to serve other purposes. The picking season in the Auckland district should, under normal circumstances commence towards the end of this month, and usually continues until just after 'Christmas, in fact, a few local growers have already found a few ripe berries, but the harvest season is not yet by any means in full swing.

A special concession, in variation of the contract for the maintenance of asphalted streets and roadways in the city, is sought from the City Council by the Xeuehatel Asphalte Company. In a communication that came before the Council last night the company asked an increase from fid to lid per square yard per annum for street maintenance, from 14/6 to 22/6 per square yard for compressed rock asphalte repairs, and from 7/6 to 15/ for repairs in fiin concrete. The Works Committee recommended granting an increase of 2d per yard on the street maintenance fee, and for special maintenance an increase of 6/ per yard for rock asphalte, while it offered to relieve the company of the obligation or re-instating the worn concrete carriage-ways. The Council endorsed this recommendation.

'"Tflie land agent is going to be made to pay a tax of A. 10," sand the Hon. G. W. Russell at his Famed! (meeting bist night. "Quite right," interjected a voice. "I can see you're not a hind agent," said Mir. Russell. "Why should the land agent pay a tax, more than a lam-yer?" A voice: "Or a dentist.' (Laughter.) "fs a £10 tax going to make a land agent -l'onest?" asked Mr. .Russell. "Impossible!" replied a solemn voice, oimid renewed laughter. Mr. Russell said agents now 'had to enter on a £500 guarantee of integrity. The fact was tflxat Mr. Massey was not out for tihe protection of the country, tout for revenue. There ■were 1200 land agents in New Zealand, and a. tax of £ 10 a head would give Mt. Massey a further £12,000 with which to continue his extravagance.

The award delivered by the Arbitration Court in the liftmen, cleaners, and caretakers' dispute has been made subject of a protest by the Auckland Labour Council. The wages clause was considered by the council last evening and a resolution was passed as follows: ''This council fails to see the grounds upon which the Court of Arbitration justifies its action in awarding any worker a minimum wage, including bonus, so low as £3 10/ per week, as such an amount is obviously less than a living rate of wage at the present high cost of living." The meeting also decided to ask Mr. Reardon to explain his reason for agreeing to the wage referred to.

Aβ a natural consequence of the worldwide rise in the cost of living, there has come an increase also in the cost of dying. At the City Council meeting last night it was decided to raise the prices for burial lote at Waikumete Cemetery from 50/ to £4 apiece, and to increase the scale of fees for grave-dig-ging to 20/, 30/, and 40/. The direction of the cemetery -work was put in the hands of W. Kirkpatrick, a foreman in the Council's employ.

"Oan a revolutionary measure introduced to Parliament by a (constitutional) member of Parliament, designed to .benefit the majority of _he people for the common good, although __stVo_ring an<aent prerogatives, be described as disloyal?" was one of the unpunctuated questions hurled at the Hon. ti. W. Russell at his Parnell meeting last night. "You pays your money and you takes your choke," (replied Mr. Russell, amid loud laughter.

An invitation by the City Council for tenders for the purchase of the bandstand in Western Park for removal brought only one tender, of £12 10/, which was referred 'by the Council last night to the Parks Committee, with power to act. There was no response to a call for tenders for the purchase for removal of Point Erin Park gates and posts, and the Parks Committee has been given authority to deal with these as was deemed expedient.

The Health Department has assumed control of King George V. Hospital at Rotorua. The work will be conducted as usual with practically no change of staff until the end of the year. The present salaries may be revised.

A General Headquarters instruction states that the badges of rank approved for colonels commandant and colonels on the staff are a crown __bove three stars, to be worn on the shoulder straps the two lower stars side by skie '

The Hon. G. W. R_i.s_.l_ started last night that a deputation of fanner, wfhich waited on .him, asked" that he should use his influence to abolish preference to unionists. "I emphatically refused," said Mr. Russell

On account of the existence of firebhght in New Zealand the Government of Fiji has prohibited the importation of apples, pears, medlar-, quinces, rosehawthorn, etc.— (Press Association.) n ' Ladies' coloured kid shoes in endless variety at Pearson and Co.'s, Karangahape Road.— (Ad.) °

The final sitting in connection with the Auckland licensed hotels' dispute is to be held in the Commissioner's. Mr. T. Harle Giles, room on Thursday next' Similar sittings in tho Rotorua and country licensed hotels' disputes will follow.

To prevent Influenza. Colds cause Grip and Influenza. Laxative Bromo Quinine Taidete destroy the germ s and work off the cold. Look for signature of E. W. Grove on box. 1/3. (Ad.)

Grand promenade in Fanners' Union Trading Company's Warehouse, Hobson .Street, this evening, 7 till 9. Musical selections. Tea rooms open.—(Ad.) Have you ever tried cellular underwear? We have a new shipment in all sizes, in singlets and short pants.— Fowlds, Ltd.—(Ad.)

Grand promenade in Farmers' TJnion Trading Company's Warehouse, Hobson Street, this evening, 7 till 9. Mnsical selections. Tea rooms open.—.(Ad.)

Our new shipments comprise skirts, blouses, and millinery for holiday wear! Early inspection advised.—Smith and Cangber, Ltd.—(Ad.)

Grand promenade in Farmers' Union Trading Company's Warehouse, Hobson Street, this evening, 7 till 9. Musical selections. Tea rooms open.—-(Ad.)

Brown Turkish towels at Auckland's lowest prices; 1/6 each. E__rty inspection advised.— nnd C__u**l__v Ltd. _Ad_) -'

Grand promenade ia F__t_____* Un_cu_ ' TraiEng Coropooijns. B-fcswrc .Street, this ewennig, Z till a. l_i__6_a_ Urifa-traHH- Tkm. rwwt age*.—Cit_L_ |j