LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 125, 24 November 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association message from Christchurch states :—Archdeacon Ensor has just returned from Te Araroa, where his daughtei, Nurse Ensor, recently died from typhoid contracted, while acting as a volunteer nurse for Maoris suffering from typhoid. The Archdeacon intends taking legal, advice with regard to proceedings against the Health Department for contributory negligence.

Speaking at a presentation of war medals at Invereargill. the Hon. J. A. Hanan condemned the practice of telegraphing through the Dominion the news that some young man, charged •with some offence, was a returned soldier. This reference or association was absolutely uncalled for and unwarranted. Colonel Mac Donald said he, too, "strongly disapproved of what Mr. Hanan had mentioned. There had been ■little, acts of or omission on the part of some unfortunate soldiers, •but let them minimise those as much as possible and keep uppermost in their minds only the great things that these lads had done.

A full congregation "attended St. Mary's Church, Karori, yesterday morning, when the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott), assisted by the Vicar (Rev, G. Y. Woodward) dedicated a beautiful memorial window, "Tho Good Shepherd," to the glory of God and in memory of the late Mr. Robert Caldwell, who hud been one of the most devoted'workers and members of the parish. The text of the address given by the Bishop was taken from the 23rd Psalm, verses 1 to 4. The Bishop said the fact that the window was donated by friends and fellow-workers, and not by the immediate relatives of the late _Ir. Caldwell, showed a unity and fellowship in the parish which he would 'wish existed in all parishes. Suitable Hymns and psalms were sung. Mr.- Sydney Shortt presided at the organ.

The joys of "baching" at the bays round Wellington are many, a fact' that is evidently recognised by others than those who have worked hard to make their .temporary homes as comfortable and as neat as possible. • Whether some visitors to the .bays, Day's Bay particularly, consider these "baches" common property or not is open to discussion, but the fact remains that some 01, these daily or nightly pleasure-seekers are not content to remain on the beach^r in the bush, but-are obsessed with the idea that a comfortable little home would be more suitable than the. open air. They accordingly break into isolated houses, and make free with the furniture and effects, and usually leave the place in a disgusting state. Several times lately th_- has occurred, and complaints have been made to the police, who are, or have been, making inquiries, and it is hoped that an example will be made of the vandals— they are no more—who cannot respect private property.

Prior to the ceremony on Saturday evening of distributing the prizes won during the Competitions, the chairman of the executive made a speech in which he expressed the warm thanks of the executive and the society as a whole to those who had helped to make the Competitions highly successful. These included the public, whose support had been most generous; the competitors, whose work, he said, had been of a very fine standard, and who had without exception displayed excellent feeling and ah. admirable spirit. Mr. Cray mentioned especially the judges (including Miss Helen Gardner, and Messrs. Harold Gregson, J. H Hopkins, and Kil gour), the official accompanist (Mr Harold /Whittle), the honorary piper (Mr W. Gordon Brown), tho stage manager (Mr. W. P M'Lachlan), and the'seeretary, (Mr G W. Renner). He also took/ the opportunity of explaining that the Competitions were not run for the benefit of any person or persons All surplus funds were banked in a' trust account, for the purpose of providing scholarships to encourage young performers to come forward in the future. He indicated that the funds had been well started by the proceeds' of the season jnst ended.

The census cards in connection with the sowings of crop throughout the Dominion should now be in the hands of the Government Statistician, and it is to be hoped that they will soon be available (writes "Agricola" in the Farmers' Union Advocate). It is a foregone conclusion that they will disclose a considerable reduction in the area sown this yeai< The weather is partly to blame for this, and the fact that wheat is not now looked upon as a paying proposition. One knows some farmers who have not got an acre in this year—men who usually have considerable areas under cereals There is .not much use in talking of compulsion in the matter of growing wheat. The only remedy for the problem is to depend upon Australia for our supplies, or to so help the industry that farmers will be.sure of some profit from the industry. If compulsion were made the policy, tho North Island would have to come un-, der any regulations that ma.; be ds-ci-'.ed upon. The area of wheat there is a very email one indeed, though there are areas that are well adapted to that branch of farming. In the southern end of this Island there are also districts that could grow wheat quite as easily as North Otago and Canterbury They would have to be brought in. If all did their duty, it would mean very little for each Individ ual. 1 But the brunt of the work at present falls on certain portion-'of the South Island.