LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 78, 1 April 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Funds are now. being raised by public subscription to enable New Zealand to be adequately represented at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in August next. A generous response is hoped for. To assist the project a subscription list has been opened in the commercial office of The Post.

The* Customs revenue collected at the Port '■ of ■ Wellington during March amounted to-'£164,155 13s lid, compared with 1: £127,474 Is for the same period last year. Last month's figures are a record for the port, the previous best total being £147,533 14s 8d in January last. ' The beer duty collected in March totalled £4268 3s 4d, , compared with £2648 Us for March, 1919.' '

The Petone War. Memorial Committee is well satisfied. with tie. result of" its War Memorial Week. The returns so far show that £250 was received, from the sale of tickets, and still further'returns have yet to come in/ The total now in hand for the memorial is between £600 and £700. The sum aimed* at is £1000. ■ '

The Minister for Justice (Hon. J.. G. Coa-tes) has confirmed the appointment of Mr. E. Page, S.M., as second Magistrate at Wellington, which office he has held as 'relieving ' Magistrate for some past. The appointment of Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., to.the Magisterial Bench in the Manawatu district has also been confirmed. ... *

Pursuant to a requisition signed by Councillors Anderson,- Kyle, Hay, and Cook, a special meeting, of the Petona Borough Council is to be held on 7th April to consider the advisability of rescinding the resolution by.which at la-st^ meeting the council allocated among three sports clubs the four playing areas on the Recreation Ground. The resolution gave the use of areas 1 and 2 to the Rugby Football Club, and the use of areas 3 and 4 to the Hockey Club and the Association Football Club respectively.

The New Zealand branch of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows is holding its biennial conference in Auckland during Easter. Messrs. F. W. Watt, grand master, John Kershaxy, corresponding secretary; G. E. Godber, treasurer, and various members of the Board of Directors have already arrived at Auckland from Wellington. • Delegates will attend from Ashburton, Ashley, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Motueka-,' Nelson, Now Plymouth, North Canterbury, United Westland, Wanganui, Wellington, and Auckland. . , ' .

The Returned Soldiers' Association, has been approached by Lieut.-Colonel Beere, Officer Commanding the sth (Wellington) Regiment, with a view to getting returned men to take an interest'in Territorial work. Colonel Beere states that the officers of the sth Begiment have proved themselves to be keen to "carry on," and their active service experience has been a great benefit. N.c.fo.'s,' however, are badly needed, and any x-eturnett men willing to take on this important work are asked to hand in their names to the secretary~'of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association.

It is the intention of the three Governments of Great Britain, Australia, and New.Zeaiand to take over the Island of Nauru and the Pacific Phosphate Company's interest in. Ocean, Island. This means that the company's business at the two islands mentioned, together with the whole of the plant and machinery, will be taken over ;« a going concern. It is hoped that the transfer will.take place about Ist July next. The 'arrangement when completed will ensure a supply of phosphates to New Zealand producers for centuries to come.

The congestion of civil work at the Auckland Supreme Court remains, acute (states the Auckland Herald), and to. all appearances will continue so until t/he judiciary is so enlarged as to make it possible for a Judge to devote his whole time to the Auckland Court, excepting, of course, that .necessary for his attendance at the Court of Appeal. Lawyers are of the opinion that even a resident Judge could not cope with the work in Auckland without occasional assistance. The Auckland Law Sociitty has already moved in the matter, but, doubtlei*, no consideration has been, or,will be, given to the lepresentations until the new Minister of Justice, Mr. E, I\ Jj«e, asaumes'- the portfolio,

With an idea of fostering the playing of .Association football -in the school's, headmasters and teachers controlling sport were invited to attend the Management Committee meeting of the Football Association last night. Owing to the poor response it was decided that the matter should be left in the hands of the committee as in former years, and that members of the committee should personally interview the headmasters.'

Wear and tear on the Wairarapa, roads through the increase in motor traffic is suoh that the controlling'authorities are alarmed at the prospect of continued deterioration. County Councillors, at a recent meeting at Carterton, were unanimous in their opinion, reports the News, that the time was soon coming when the Wairarapa South County would hare to go in for a big loan proposal for the making of concrete or other substantial roads. '

A case presenting some unusual features came before the City Police Court in Dunedin yesterday,., when Sydney Clive Humphries, a young f man, was charged with (at Wellington-) -failing to comply with the terms of an order for tile maintenance of his wife and child, Ohiof-Detective Bishop, in asking for a remand -until Friday week, said that other charges were pending. Accused had made arrangements to get married at 2.30 that afternoon. Accused was' remanded accordingly.

A young married man named Fergus John Adams -was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon with criminal assault on a girl aged 15 years. The Court, was closed during the hearing of the evidence. Mr. E. Page, S.M., ordered that the accused should stand his trial at, the Supreme Court. On the application of Mr. P. W. Jacksou, who appeared for the defence, bail was fixed in the sum of £150, with sureties of that amount.

The twenty-three Maori's tribes which are |o be represented at. the Native j gathering to welcome the Prince of Wales at Rotorua on 28th April are the following:—Te Arawa ; Te Karawa, Ngapuhi, Ngatiwhatua, Ngatimaru, J>Tgatipao, Waikato, Ngatimaniapoto, Ngati-a-aukawa, Whariganui, Taranaki, JJgatikahungunu, Ngatitoa, Te Aitangi-a-Ma-hald, Porourangi, Whanau-a-Apanui, Ngaitai, . ' Te ■ Whakatohea, Matatua, ■Ngaiterangi, Te Patuwae, Ngaitahu, and Tuwharetoa.

An .Auckland telegram .'•• states that motor-cyclists who. exceed the-speed limits will be interested in a case heard at the X Jolic6 Court, when a young man pleaded guilty to three, charges of breaking the law in this respect. Mr. Wilson, S.M., imposed fines totalling £30, being £10 on "each count!** The Magistrate added that it was unfortunate that this was the maximum penalty. High speeding was a menacp to the community, and he would exercise his authority, to safeguard the pubfiv

Dr. Zobel, of Te Kuiti, possessor of-a reputed Holbein, " Christ and the SyroPhenqecian Woman," has now discovered what * was missing from the work, a signature, which is quite in a corner of the picture, when seen in a certain light. It reads "Hoi ben." "There are (he writes) the remains of an initial in front of this, part of which I tak^ for the letter ' J,' but am not quite sure. Holbein used to sign ' Joannes' on . some paintings; e.g., to 'The Ambassadors,' and, of course, his family name he signed in various ways, like.the above mentioned.". Dr.. Zobel states that'he has been, looking for, a signature on the picture for the past six years. It was only by the merest chance that one was discovered. Personally, he has no doubt ■that, the picture is a genuine Holbein.

The d"e^th occurred . yesterday at Havelock North of a pioneer settler named Hugh Campbell (states a Press Association telegramf. He was born in Kirkcudbrightshire in 1853, and came to Ivew Zealand when twenty .years old. He ■was employed on Russell's Otipua estate,, near Timaru, and a few years later re-' moved to Hawkes Bay and became manager of Thomas estate, and later Watt's Longlands estate. Then he himself became a land-owner' in Hawkes Bay, and a few years ago ■ became interested in a large block of land in the Waikato. He took an active part in local affairs, and was a prominent member ol the A. and P. Society. He was .one of the founders'of lona Cottage, and gave the land on which the building stands. He was twice married, and is survived by a widow and three . sons and two daughters. Two other sons were* killed in the war. ' . , '

Replying to question in the Commonwealth House of Representatives, the Assistant Minister for Defence stated that civilian suiting was' being manufactured at the *"■ Federal Government Woollen Mills, Geelong, for sale to returned soldiers, sailors, and nurses only, and the distribution of the cloth would be carried out by the Returned Soldiers and Sailors' Imperial League, which would purchase it from the mills at the following rates.:— Quality No. 1 (grey tweed), 5s 1 6d per yard; quality No.' Z (grey tweed), 6s 6d per yard; quajity No. 3 (indigo blue tweed), 7s . 6d.""per yard. Giving evidence before the Basic Wage Commission, the manager'of tbe Government Clothing Factory at South Melbourne produced ; a smart-looking grey suit, which, he said, it was< proposed to retail from the factory to returned soldiers at £3. The tweed had been supplied by the Commonwealth Woollen Mills, and the £3 was based on the price of the material at 6s 6d a yard. Similar material cost 12s to 13s in Melbourne shops. At the proposed price the suits would return a profit to the factory. He added that the factory could turn out 1500 of these suits a week. It was not proposed to supply the general public, but if they had the material and the extra hands they could do so. .

Somewhat over two months ago a young man was convicted at the Magistrate's' Court on a charge of having been concerned in the theft of a case of liquor valued at JB6 3s 6d, th,e property of Walter: John Williams, and was fined £2 and costs, and he then mado allegations that another young roan. James Shiynan, lxad been the » prime mover in the theft,, which was a somewhat unusual one. The liquor, which, was intended .to be railed to a station on tho Hutt line for consumption at ai wedding party, was ordered in. one af thw bars at the Hotel Cecil, in the presence of the two men. They agreed to intercept the carrier at the railway station, and carried their plans out with success, to the considerable discomforture of the wedding guests. Shivnan disappeared, and was " not seen again by the police until he got into trouble at Gisborne on 12th February, when he and a woman! were charged with theft-. Both were sentenced to twelve months' reformative detention. When Shivnan, was brought before Mr. E. T?age, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning to answer th<i charge arising out of his part .in the theft of the liquor, OhiefDetective Ward said that this; was not. th»; first occasion on which Shivnan. had attempted to pas& the- blame on to another—he had done the same thing over the Gisborne theft.. Mr. 0. E. O'Donnell, who appeared*, for the accused, entered a plea of guilty, and asked for leniency, as, he said, the other man had actually obtained the liquor .from tho carrier, and had received, the lion's share of the liquor. The Magistrate imposed) a .sentence of eighteen months' reformative detention, which wil 1 replace the sentences imposed at < Gisborne.

Mr. G. A. Troup, Government Railway Arohitect, is on a business visit to Hamilton.,

Following upon this . triumph of (i OlKvier and J. C. Peacock (New Zealand) over A. E. Beamish and A . H Lowe (British Isles) the lawn tennis j doubles played at Wellington, the Mayor ?£ Chrisfcchurch (Dr. H. T. J, Thacker, M.P.) cabled as followa to Nonnaii Brookes, ._ the Australian ■ international player:—''Hourly awaiting here Australia s _ challenge international match " "That is what you would call an -irritant," remarked Dr. Thacker, as' h 9 glanced over the message after writing it; "something,lika.a fire-blister." The Mayor is sending this' cable entirely "off his own bat,"v states the , Christchui-eh Sun, with the idea, of bringing:it<to Mr. Brookes's notice that the Dominion lias lawn tennis'players up to Davis "Cop form. ■■■■.;■■ -.- ■ . ..;. \

Unless the district takes the matter seriously,reports the Waverley correspondent of „ the Taranaki Herald, the Moumahaki Experimental Farm seems to be doomed. ; Ever since Sir Thomas Mackenzie was Minister for Lands one aftdr another ! has been fusing,' not a,; pruning knife, but a slasher, cutting back expenses until the present manager has little chance of doing anything but run it as an-ordinary farm <m a pay-its* way basis. Acre-for'acre this district is as productive as any part of New Zealand, audv while it was an experimental farm it Hvas an educational institution that was made use* of by ; a very la.rge number of farmers from Marton to NewPlymouth : an institution that saved time and money for many farmers who could not afford to experimont on dear land. Now. the whole thing is being made useless hy_ someone who should he put , on trial for his blunders. Some there are who blame the Board of Agriculture, and want to know why the Weraroa and Ruakura farms should be pftshed along at the expense of Moumahaki.;

That, there is a good deal of truth'"'in the old proverb that ."ht'laughs best | -who laughs last " has been 'demonstrated by the discovery at s'Foxtofi of a" ■ ruse to represent foreign goods'as beinglof British manufacture. The discovery furnishes an amusing episode to the* "German piano comedy," which waa quoted by the press throughout the Dominion some months ago. When a, Foxton resident offered a second-hand; Bohm pia.no (valued at from £80 to £85) to the! local school committee for £45, the purchase aroused the patriotic in- ■ dignatibn of some members of the committee, two of. whom resigned as' a protest. . Feeling ran high mi the community,- the chairman .was asked to re-, sign, public meetings were held, and the' Education Board was called upon to take action. The outcome- was-the .refusal of permission to allow a piano; oS German manufacture to be placed in the school. Another piano was purchased for £'90, the Education Board paying a subsidy.. of £ f<sf £. On; the front, of this article was the inscription in gold lettering^ "William Raymond, London," and its installation in the school brought quietude. ; The. other day, however, a piano-tuner arrived on the scene, and when he opened up the in- . teraals of the instrument he found- ib stamped throughout with the inscription "Oscar Kohler,*'Berlin," and bearing the number 383584; The discovery is acclaimed the "joke of/the season."

Judgment in the ease "of Gilmour y. the Dannevirke Motor Company, Ltd., »vas given by the Chief Justice (Sir, Robert Stout) in the Supreme Courb yesterday. Being-one, of torn- members constituting the. Motor Company, John J. K. Gilmour had failed to'pay a call of 12s per share, and .was notified that if the call was not "paid-his-namo would be removed from the register, and the shares cancelled. A meeting.of directors was held, but. only two directors attend' ed this meeting., and the articles of association required that: three directors should be present. Besides" the two direfctors on© other person, the attorney for ori« of the absent directors other tfraii Gilmour, attended the.meeting, but his Honour held that this person was not a director, and the absent, director, could not delegate his office of director to a stranger. His Honoui Jield that the only question to be decided was whether the directors had.power to meet and cancel the registration of Gilmour's shares and forfeit them. In this case it was not a question as to the number of the directors, i but. a question of a quorum of directors being present, and there was .no quorum in this' case. The question involved was as .to the validity- of the .iheeting ,at which fewer attended than the articles required, and his Honour held that the removal of .Gilmour's name from the registry was Hot warranted, and ordered, that the register be.rectified by tbe; reinstatement -therein of Gilmour , as a. director holding 1250 shares. * Costs totalling £3 3s were allowed;

With exception here and there, gaolbreakers who have apparently made good their escape find the'.jgath of honesty all too narrow, and -step aside, once again into crime and added punishment. Daniel Murray, alias 'Frederick: Jackson, alias Staaibrook, s who. broke: away from Mount Eden Gaol about three months ago, was recaptured—near-• Nelson last week, and was taken' before Mr. E. Page, S.M.; at the' Wellington Magistrate's 'Court yesterday afternoon to answer charges of having stolen from the dwelling ofl 1 Mrs. Ellen Francis,, Tenny-son-street, ,ai. despatch box, containing money, and ojeweiiery to the value of £20, the property of Mrs. Francis,- and clothing and a suit case, also valued at £20. by their owner, Patrick Joseph MacMalion. Murray met. MacMahon some weeks ago, and went to stay at Mrs. lirancis's ■ house, but decamped with the articles next morning. As the thief was unable, or "unwilling, to force the lock of the despatch box, he took it to A. J. Wycherley, locksmith, and asked that the box should be opened as the key had been mislaid. The locksmith forced the lock, and after securing some of .the jewellery and notes in. the box Murray left, saying that he would return for the box next day. As he did not return the police were notified, and the inquiries made resulted in his being traced to Glenhope, where tie was arrested Accused admitted the theft. Chief-Detective Ward asked that Murray should be remanded for sentence to the Supreme Court, at Auckland, as he had to answer a charge of having escaped from custody in that city. The Magistrate made an order accordingly.

The People's Store will be open till 3 p.m., on Thursday and fill 5,30 p.m., on Saturday, when you, will bo able to secure every requirement for Easter travelling and holiday-making. This store is fully stocked with all the latest creations in stylish and serviceable wearing apparel, and visitors and residents will benefit "by shopping at C. Smith, Ltd., The People's Store, 96-102, Cuba-street, Wellington. -