LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 50, 28 February 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr. Massey stated at Auckland, according to a. Press Association'message, that the greatest demand for trucks just now was from the coalmines. _ At the State coalmines last week the miners established a record. Other mines had been turning out large quantities of coal. Sea-borne coal was exceedingly plentiful, and procurable at a price much lower than for years past. The shipments arriving from' time to time were an extra call upon the limited supply of trucks..

Advioe has been received- by th* Secretary of the General Post Office that the schooner Alumna, which on Friday night was thirty-nine days out from Melbourne, on a trip to Nukualofa, arrived at her destination on Saturday.

At a representative gathering 'of ratepapei's arid business men at Timaru, it was decided to form a Citizens' Associa-> tion to watch the interests of ratepayers and the 'borough generally. Mr. M. Doyle was elected president, and Mr. R. Orwia secretary.

A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states : John M'Naiighton, forty-two years of age, was arrested at, Middl«maroh on 23rd February, on a charge of h«lpl«S6 drunkenness. A local doctor said M'Naughton was suffering from delirium tremens, and the man was sent to Dunedin, and placed in the hospital, where' he died yesterday. Deceased was a farmer~at Middle-march.

A lectern was dedicated, to the glory of God and in memory of Mtb. Mary I. Greenwood at Roseneath Church last night by the Anglican! Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott). 'Mrs. Greenwood: was for twenty years feaidei" of. ,the ohoir. Dr. Sprott also instituted the Yen. Archdeacon Innes-Jones ac vicar of the parochial district, in succession to the Key. F. H. Petris.

"Of the children who- go through our primary schools to-day, I calculate that 53 arid a fraction per cent, go on and take technical school education," said the Hon l C. J. Parr, Minister of Educatioii) at Christehurch on Friday. "That u> to say, over half your children today, through the sacrifice of parents to a large extent, und through the State giving the privilege of free instruction, are taking advantage of post primary education in one way or another, and that, I think, could not be said of education in any other country. I think, therefore, we are getting very good Tesults for £3,000,000 a' year.' However, wo think it might be improved, and it is my business to find out how to do it."

■ "The South ieland land is an agreeable surprise to my northern intelligence," said the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, at Ohristchurch last week. "I have come across the plains of Canterbury and been south and in the Mackenzie Country. 1 saw there wellSettled lands, excellently fanned, giving' evidences of 'prosperity that is perfectly scund. I am boand <o -cay, speaking of the South Island, that as a business' man I observe that your land prices are -iot so high, as in the North. Island. Your land, relatively speaking, i# cheaper than our land in the North Island. I believe that will stand you in good stead should'there be a drop in land values, as is very possible in the near future. I think that possibly we have gone too fa-r in boosting up land prices in the Xorth Island. In the South you have kept your heads better. \\>u have gone more cannily, and the reward of canrrness is generally sure, if not extraordinarily substantial."

The matter of increased freights has been giving the frozen meat trade a considerable amount of concern, and a good deal of uncertainty exists in this connection generally. An uneasy feeling exists regarding meat prospects (says the Sun), and yesterday at Aldington prices were easier for all descriptions of stock. Hundreds of fat ewes were purchased at from 15s to 20s, and at times the price for ewe mutton was,well under 4d per lb. Lamb goes ■ to the English market subject to the restricted price of Is Id per lb wholesale, which, at prices paid for lamb in the past month, leaves the shippers a narrow margin to work on. : In consequence of the somewhat adverse market reports, buyers have restricted their figures for lamb in the last two weeks. A probable solution of the somewhat difficult problem which confronts the farmer with regard to the disposal of fat stock will no doubt be by way of storage. Larger graziers will be disposed to put their stock *nto store for a few months rather than sacrifice it. This course will, be in the nature of a speculation, but the returns from, the prices current foi\ mutton to-day are unlikely to last over any extended period. To freeze and hold will find favour with larger graziers and the more speculative meat exporters. .Indications are that the New Zealand consumer is likely to benefit during the coining autumn and winter, through, lower prices. Feed prospects were never .brighter at this time of. the year in Canterbury, and it is certain that very large quaitities of fat stock will be tufnixi off . ths plains in the next few months,

In accordance with the ruling of his Hoiiour- the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), all the parties interested in the land at the Lower Hutt on which ."pie" —the refuse from the Petone meat works —had been spread have entered into an undertaking not to continue the practice against which an injunction was" obtained some time ago.

It has been said that Lord Kitchener had an instinctiye fear of ths sea, which was to become his tomb many years after his brothers urged him into the surf on the Irish coast. At any rate, most people can' give instances where the shadow of the futuro has teen felt, clouding the present with a va^-ue feeling of impending misfortune. According to tlie Otago Daily Times, such,an instance was mentioned in tbe Coroner's Court at .Dunedin last week during an inquiry into a fatal motor accident by Mr. A. S. Adams, who said that the deceased had always had a special fear of motor-cars, and carried-an identification ticket in his pocket", having a. presentment that he would be run over in that way.-

A protest of small shopkeepers at Auckland against the recent amendment of the Shops and Offices Act regarding early closing was made to tlie Prime Minister by. a deputation representing the A-uckla-nd-Provmcial Shopkeepers' Association. It was Urged that the restriction pressed very heavily on a class of business folk which could ill afford it. The restriction was affecting their income, and would ultimately bring hardship likely to intensify^the unemployment problem. Mr. Massey promised that he would have the matter brought before Parliament, but pointed out that he could not in any way pledge himself ac- to the result of representations made in the House. '■-■■:

"A silly young fool/ 1 was ChiefDetective Ward's opinion and description of a youth, Albert Alonzo Hewson, 20 years of age, who was called before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the' Magistrate's Court this morning decked out as the naval heroes or the tailor's fashion book. Mr. Ward said that Hewson, whose record was • not altogether, in his favour, had been caught by Detective Torrance before he had brought trouble upon his head, and to Othess " who' might have listened to. His tales. He belonged to the Feilding district, and -had by sortie means obtained possession of a naval officer's uniform, a military medal, and other decorations, and straightway became Lieutenant, Young. The Magistrate decided to adjourn further consideration of the charge .of unlawfully wearing the uniform and decorations till to-morrow, in order that -the police might continue their inquiries.

"We are partners in the cause of education." declared the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, at the last meeting of the Canterbury School Committees' Association. Mr. H. Lanftford took up the phrase later in the meeting. "I am" very pleased to hear the Minister says-he was a partner," he .said, "as some of us on the school committees are on the verge of bankruptcy, and we can now rely Upon him to see us through." The Minister rose to the occasion (says the Lyttelton Times). " You will recognise," ho replied, " that all partners are expected to bring money into the business. Mr. Langford has given only advice. I hope he will give some capital as well as some capital advice." Later Mr. Carter reverted'to the subject. "In the partnership the Minister supplies the money," he said, " And some of thea'est of. us will have to find the brains." The Minister laughed heartily at the counterattack, and 'jocularly protested against being classed as a "brainless plutocrat."

A paper by Mr. D. Carrington was read at the^ Conference .of Civil Engineers at, Chfistchurch. It gave a brief description of the general methods followed on the construction of the TransAustralian, railways on which he was, engaged for two years and a half. The _r»ilway starts at, Kalgoorlie, 360 miles inland from Perth, and goes due east for 1100 miles to Port Augusta, a small coast town in South Australia. The paper stated that for almost the whole distance the line runs through a waterless area. Apart, from the actual construction the supply of water and transport of material over those long and dry distances presented difficulties not visually met on,most railway construe-, tions., Qne of the difficulties under which the engineering staff .had to work was changes in Government, which took place four times during the construction. At the beginning of the work Western Australia was returning a majority of Labour members, two of whom were Ministers, and the Government was in favour of carrying on the con-struction-by day work. Piecework and contract work, therefore, were prohibited. Ai a later date the Liberal Government took office, with- a decided leaning to carrying out a part by contract. Labour again got into power. Under a Liberal Government noii-union-ists were free to work oh the line, but with the Labour Government in power sll workers, including gangers, had , to join a union or throw up their job. The estimated cost of the line, as taken out by Mr. C. Y. O'Connor about fifteen years before construction, was £4000 a mile, or a total of £4,400,000. The actual cost, when finished, was £7,000,----000, but wages in the meantime had increassd about 40 per cent. If it had been delayed another three years it probably would lwv 6 cost, about £12,000,000. The construction Work waa started in November, 1913, and express trains were running across Australia about the middle of 1918. . .

Two prosecutions for overcrowding ferry steamers in the Auckland Harbour on Anniversary Day. were 'made by the Collector of Customs (Mr. Mays) in the Police Court, before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M , recently. Mr. Mays said the Ngoiro, a vessel owned by the "Devonport Steam Ferry Company, took on board 895 passengers—-as counted by three Customs Officials* —instead of her complement of 749. A fair margin of error was allowed. The case was brought as a warning. One of the ideas underlying the prosecution was .that some better arrangement for handling the traffic should be introduced. The queue system was Undoubtedly the solution of the problem. Counsel for defendant said the ve&sel was half full before, she was properly alongside the wharf. The company was prepared to take- any reasonable steps to prevent overcrowding, and vould consult with the Harbour Board, the City Council, and the police. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £3 and costs. The second prosecution was made against the master of the Norther.i Steamship Company's steamer Kawax Mr. Mays said the vessel had been engagad to take passengers 10 Calliope Dock. A Customs officer (ire-v the m&ha't, attention to the fact that the vessel was full, but no steps were taken to stop passengers gettins; on board. In three successive trips the vessel carried 46 passengers over the complement. Cust'b ns officers had no authority to stop passengers boards ing a vessel or to prevent it leaving. Defendant said he-had'had i'O knowledge pf thS vessel being overcrowded. It would not have left had he • known. Cross-examined, he said all officers had been warned by his company riot to carry too many passengers on excursions^ They were supplied with mechanical counters. Defendant whs lined £2 on both the second . and third charges, with £4 18s costs.

The Hon. W. Nosworthy,-" Minister for Agriculture, has returned to Wellington, after a fortnight's tour of the North Auckland district,. While in that district he was able to make personal investigation of the steps . being taken ■ to check the spread of fire-blight and cattle-tick.

Th& executive of the South Canterbury Farmers' Union, by resolution, protested against the proposed increasein freight rates on frozen meat, and requested the president (Mr. J. Bit<:hener, M.P.) to forward the protest to the proper fjuarter. It was stated that buyers havo reduced their buying limits in'view of the proposed increase in freights.

Mr. Arthur Fair, LL.B., Who has been practising in Wellington, has be*i appointed to the staff of the Crown, Law Office, in succession to Mr. P. S. 'K. Matas&ey, -who- is entering into partnership With the firm of Memteath and Ward. Mr. Fair was on. active service for several years. Before the war bo was with Messrs. Chapman, Skerrett, 3-Vipp, and Blair.

The Mayor of Christchurch (Dr. Thacker, JI.P.) has received the following letter from the Prime Minister:—" Adverting to my letter to: you of 24th January, with reference to the question of purchasing a-house Moperty at Christchurch for. a, vice-regal residence-: As promised, I, duly-laid this matter before Cabinet at a recent meeting, but regret to inform you that it has been decided to take no action in the direction suggested at present." .

The adjourned inquest regarding the finding of the body of a newly-born mala child, with the-skull fractured, in the harbour near Kaiwarra., on 10th Febru■a¥y,\ was concluded by the Coroner. Mr. W. G. Biddell, on Saturday. The police stated that inquiries .had failed to establish the identity of the infant, and it had riot been found possible to determine how .the infant's skull _ had been fractured. The Coroner returned an open verdict that the child had died on 01' about 3rd February, as a result of a, fracture of the skull, though there was no evidence to show in what manner that injury had been caused.

Peculiar points crop up in most cases regarding alleged infringements of , the Licensing Act, but still a new one marked actions taken by the police last week against P. Firth, William Hampton, and Charles Lark in respect to the alleged sale of liquor to a drunken seaman. Firth, who. was licensee of the Wellington Hotel, sold his interest to Hannifin, but as Tirth had not been three months in the hotel, Hannifin could not get a transfer. He therefore obtained a permit to act as manager, and it was during the time he was acting in, that capacity and while Firth was absent that the alleged, offence took place. , TSotk men were regarded by the police as technically guilty of permitting drunkenness and: selling liquor to a drunken man, and Lark was charged with having supplied, tne liquor. Lark said that the man hkd been put out of the hotel three times, but walked in. ajjain, and just as he made his fourth appearance the police came-in. The Magistrate. Mr. F. K. Hunt,, reserved his decision.