Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 218, 12 September 1923, Page 4

A heavy clearance of shipping took place between 3 and 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when five steamers were diepatched from the three wharves. They were: B.M.s. Niagara, 13.415 tons, for Vancouver, 3.25 p.m.; Westmoreland, 9512 tons, for New York, 4.35 p.m.; Arahura, 1590 tons, for Gisborne, 4.45 p.m.; Flora, 1253 tone, for Wellington, Ct p.m.; Canadian Constructor, 7177 tons, for Brisbane, C p.m. The total tonnage of the live steamers was 30,983 tons gross. » A certain Christehurch business firm has got commercial acumen down to a fine art (remarks the "Manawatu Daily Times"). A letter was read at the last meeting of the Jlanawatu Rugby Union, offering to do all boot repair work for the Manawatu touring team when in that city, and stating that "tsprigs" were a speciality. If the Union would say the word, the firm would send along a representative to collect the boots. The offer was "received." The unfortunate owner of the premises, or, as the pedantic would have it, whose soot in the chimney, catches fire is usually called upon to contribute 20/ and costs to the coffers of the State. Win n a case came before Mr. H. W. Bundle, 5.M., at Dunedin (states the "Otago Daily Times"), he remarked that he understod the fine went to the corporation. If this were so, he remarked, it would be more fair to pay rne money to the Fire Board. Senior Sergeant liiathieson stated that he did not know to whom the money went, but he agreed that it should go. to the board. A reporter who made inquiries from the Fire Board authorities was informed i that the money goes to the State. The Commercial Union Assurance Company draws attention to the fact that it issues special policies which, not only cover loss from fire following earthquake, but also damages arising solely I from earthquake shock. I " Don't think I am going to be shopman and accountant for £5 a week," said a well-known butcher when asked by counsel in the Supreme Court at Masterton if it was not his duty to have put entries in the books. The Postal Department intends ;stablishing a post office at Arapuni, where a site for such has been reserved by ".he Public AVorks Department.

The following paragraph appeared In the minutes of the Auckland Harbour Board in Committee: "Empowering Bill, 1923. The chairman stated that the bill had been stonewalled and had failed to become law, and recommending that the ■ bill be again laid before Parliament next session." The board's approval was recommended, but at yesterday's meeting Mr. T. Bloodworth moved that the clause be referred back to the Board in Committee. He had certain amendments to suggest, and he wished the chairman of the board to be present when he did so. That a professional man will always defend his calling—even n the most trv'al matters—was demonstrated at a meeting of a school committee in the -Morrinsville area. The secretary wae reading the accounts for payment. He came to one owing to a local firm, ''but," he said, " we hope to bleed the Education Board for two pounds ten of that." The dentist of the town, who is a committeeman, sat up and took notice. " I take exception to the word ' bleed,'" he said. " Painless extraction," suggested another. A mixed reception was recorded by the Auckland Harbour Board to a letter from the Auckland Motor Trade Association asking for the use of one of the sheds on Prince's Wharf (when completed) for the purpose of holding a motor show. Mr. W. Wallace, deputychairman, said the show was merely a trade affair, and he suggested the use of the shed should not be granted. Mr. M. H. Wynyard said the matter should not be looked at in that light and he pointed out that motor cars were a big factor in harbour dues. That had been recognised by the Wellington Harbour Board, which granted the use of Pipitea wharf for a motor show recently. The matter was referred to the board in : committee, it being agreed to hear a deputation on the matter. " The Bankruptcy Act was designed to relieve people from their debts, and it was also designed to relieve people from the misery of struggling to pay off a mountain of debt which would make them more or less useless members of society. That is the object of the Bank- J ruptey Act—to enable debt-ridden people '' to cope with their difficulties and be ueeful members of the community."—Mr. Justice Hosking, addressing counsel during the hearing of a petition for discharge from bankruptcy in the Wanganui | Supreme Court recently. I Sheep farmers on the coastal lowlands of Otago who breed lambs for butchering about Christmas report that the lambing so far is quite satisfactory and fully up to expectations (states the Dunedin "Star"). The recent frosts somewhat browned the pastures, but that only amounts to a check in the growth of the grass. Away in the back country some of the farmers are looking awry at their grazing paddocks, the frosts bavins: quite spoiled their appearance. There is reason, however, to hepe that these pastures will recover in time for the general lambing in the high country. The prospects are distinctly encouraging. Oranges are being sold in Gisborae at 1/ per dozen by the growers, and, as a result of a chat that the secretary of the Otago Expansion League (Mr. \V. B. Stee) had with a Gisborne business man, a sample case has arrived in Dunedin. Mr. Steel reports (says the " Otago Daily Times") that he snowed the sample to a Dunedin shopkeeper, who assured him that they would readily sell at 2/ per dozen at this season. But the transit charges make all the difference. On the case referred to the steamer freight was 3/6, and the wharfage and delivery at Dunedin 3/. Mr. Steel is of the opinion | that if the land charges were reduced , there would be an opportunity to open j up a trade that would be beneficial to both Gisborne and Dunedin. "In every hundred boys there are about six brilliant ones, about six rather i dull—and the others are average," re- i marked Mr. George Lancaster (head- ! master of the Christchureh Boys' Hish School). "Well, I like to look after the average boy, not only in the class work but in the sports." He made it clear that his policy was to improve the average rather than to seek special limelight for the school by giving more than a fair share of attention to the exceptionally ■ clever lads. Some years ago, Mr. J. P. Firth (formerly headmaster of Wellington College) expressed similar opinions, ' when it was complained that the college | was not winning as many scholarships aa some of the other secondary schools, j Mr. Firth explained that he was not , implying that other schools had a habit i of " pushing on" the brighter boye. He merely stated his policy—and his record I showed that he acted on it, to the advantage of the pupils in the aggregate. At about 7.30 o'clock on Saturday night a motor car, driven by Mr. D. Patrick, collided with a stationary motor bus in Main Street, Lower Hutt. It is stated that when the driver of the car I swerved to avoid the bus one of the rear | tyres burst, and this caused the collision. Three people were in the car; one was thrown through the wind-screen on to-' the road, but the others managed to retain their seats. Nobody was badly: hurt, but the car was extensively | damaged. Tlie "Gibson Girl" is a household word throughout the English-speaking j world. Her creator, the American j artist, Mr. Charles Dana Gibson, has been visiting London. Mr. Gibson, found his wonderful types of young, fresn, healthy womanhood among his wife's J relatives. The first Gibson "girl he drew I iva-s a portrait of his wife, formerly' Miss Irene ILanghorne, of Virginia, and the originals of others were her sisters, I 3ne of whom is Lady Astor, M.P. \ A dairy farmer (says the "Manawatu Daily Times") recent "said that the mistake of his life had been that he had not travelled more and seen how the best j men in the business managed their farms. "I lost ten times the money it' .vould have cost mc," he said, "in Jlunders and unwise efforts that I need not have made." He was right. There :annot be too much interchange of opilions and experiences amongst farmers. A proposal that a change room and t dining room be provided at Calliope Dock for the use of various tradesmen vorking there has been rejected by the ! Harbour Board. The board in committee | iad before them a report on the matter '■ rom the dockmaster, and a letter from j he commodore commanding New Zeaand. Naval Station; At Monday's meeting of the Waipa bounty Council, information was re- j ■eived from the State Advances Office ;hat the Board has entertained the Council's application for a loan of £3000, being the first instalment of the Kakepuku Riding special loan of £9500 for forming and metalling roads. "Do yon gamble on horse racing or :ards?" inquired counsel of a bankrupt I ivho applied for his discharge from bank- j ruptey at the Palmerston North Supreme | Court. "Gamble?" queried the bank-' rupt. "Oh, no; I was once in business, md that was a big enough gamble for "This order was made in 1004 for 10/ to be paid towards the maintenance j 3f his wife," said counsel in the course ! if a maintenance case at Wellington. 'Since that date he has only paid 10/, md the sum of £507 is now owing to ais wife." f . .--.-.