LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

We publish in to-day's issue the finish of a series of articles on the results of the Washington Conference written by Captain E. Moualey, M.A., LL.B., Cam., LL.8.., New Zealand, who was secretary for New Zealand and Publicity Officer at Washington. Mr. Mousley is the author of "The Place of International Law and Jurisprudence," "An Empire View of the Empir« Tangle," and the "Secrets of a Kuttite." The position he occupied at the Washington Conference, and his close study of the important subjects discussed, enable -him to write with authority, and th» public should find the articles informative and interesting.

The attention paid by the Wellington Rugby Union to its younger players last season is indicated by a paragraph in the annual report:—During the past season the sum of £105 2s H was paid out to sth, 6th, and 7ih class players as compared with £29 19s 3d the previous year.. ■

A Wellington canary fancier, Mr. C. Denny, was particularly successful with the birds he exhibited at. the . annual show of the CSiristchurch Canary and Cage Bird Club. In the open classes his birdg secured the club cup, two special prizes, four firsts, and four seconds, and in the Yorkshire section a first and two seconds.

The difficulty of getting selected players to go on tour last season was the disap;poihting feature in connection with Rugby representative fixtures, this being particulaxly marked as regards the B team's tow. The annual report of the Wellington Eugby Union states:' "The committee, realising that the the arrangement of tours of this nature is one channel through which it is able to encourage its players, went to considerable trouble to arrange a programme of matches, and coupled with a similar experience in the 1920 season the lack of support received was not encouraging., Indeed, the committee is, of opinion that it is a matter for the serious consideration of the incoming committee as to whether tours should in the future be arranged for B teams." ■

One of the latest economies on the part of the Government is the stopping of free distribution of copies of awards or amendments, except that each cited party is entitled to one copy. Previously it was possible for individuals or firms interested to obtain copies on application to the Labour Department; but now these must be applied for to the Government Printer in Wellington and paid for at the rate of sixpence per copy. Cited parties must go through - the same procedure if they require extra copies. By muqy people (comments the J)unedin Star) this latest "reform" is looked upon 1 as .another "^enny wise" measure; but the Star is assured by the Labour Department that thousands of the copies of KWiirds and amendments that are applied for 1 are wasted.

A majority of thci'^nen who "downed tools" as a protest against a wage of 12s ii day for relief work on the railway construction works at Wailii have resumed work (states the Auckland Star), and it is probable others will return during the week.

Regularity in habits is said to be a virtue, but there are times when virtue wears a strange cloak. A witness in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning was asked how often he had been convicted of drunkenness. "Oh! about onco every twelve months," was the casual reply. /'About Christmas time?" suggested the Magistrate. . "Yes," replied the witness.

The Hon. J. G. Coates, who arrived in Timaru. yesterday afternoon from the South, discussed with the Timaru Borough Council matters in relation to the supply of electricity. He stated that if the figures of his officers were correct South Canterbury could be supplied from Lake Coleridge within a comparatively short time. He m-get} the formation of a power board to reticulate and retail the supply.

It is the opinion of the Wellington Rugby Union's retiring Management Committee th;it the war-time practice o£ playing home-and-home matches wjtb various unions which involves two tours in one season should be reviewed, and a recommendation is made that the pre-war practice of Northern and Southern ■ tours in alternate years be reverted to.

A correspondent writes to The Post asking the following questions : (1)- Whfit is the highest temperature ever recorded in Wellington ? (2) What is the lowest temperature ever recorded? (3) What was the highest in the summer before last ? (4) What was the highest last summer? The answers, supplied by the Meteorological office, are as follow -. (1) 88 degrees, 20th February, 1895 ,• (2 28.6 degrees, 25th July, J920; (3) 81.6 degrees; (4) 82.3 degrees.

How much gas, water, and electric power is consumed at the Wellington Hospital each month ? The' figures are certainly surprising. During February, ■the shortest month in the year and, moreover, a summer-time month N jvhen comparatively little lighting power is used, the consumption of gas was 258,400 cubic feet, 1,003,000 gallons of water were used, lighting ate up 2112 units of electricity, and electric heating and ■power 972 unite.

Prospects for the coming season are mentipned in the Wellington Jlugby Union's report as being of a decidedly promising nature. The committee confidently anticipates that the interest shown by the public last season will be fully maintained and even increased. The contests in all grades promise to be very keen, and good football may be expected. The committee anticipates that the number of teams in alt grades will this year be considerably in excess of 100. The great difficulty for the incoming committee will be in obtaining sufficient, playing grounds.

Consent has been given. to the raising of the following local body bens :—Palmerston North Borough Council (consolidated loan), £186,400; Invercargill Borough Council (for electricity), £50,000; Invercargill Borough Council (for tramway improvements), £25,000; Jnvercargill Borough Council (for reclamation ■works), £1500; Whangarei Borough Council (for erecting workers' dwellings), £5000; Cobden Town Board (for liquidating liability to Grey County Council), £2300. The term for which the Palmerston North Borough Council may borrow overseas the above-mentioned £186,400 is fixed at ten years. ;

When a case was - called against a Judgment, idebtor;-at the Magistrate's Court at Auckland on Tuesday, the solicitor for the creditor suggested that an order, if granted, might have the effect of causing the man to b? bankrupt, which would be best for him and fairer

to the creditors as a whole. Mr. B. 0. Cutten, S.Mi, said that was not the object for which the Act was passed. The i proceedings of the Court were not inI tended to punish a debtor, who could j-only be imprisoned if the Court was »atisived that he had the means but neglected to pay his debts. Under the circumstances no order was made.

A headmaster's responsibility wiflb. regard to the education of pupil-teauliers and apprentices is the subject of a circular issued by the Director of Education, Mr. John Caughley, to senior inspectors. Mr. Caughley points out that head-teachers are required to see that tno necessary instruction is given to all trainees, and that those who matriculated before appointment should sit for their D certificate at the end of their first yeaT, and then go to. the training college. Reference is made to the fact that in some districts failures by this class of teaciiet were unknown, while in others they were far too numerous. Strict observance of the regulations for four hows' teaching and one hour's study is enjoined. Assistant teachers are to assist in the Instruction and to give the trainees' work kindly criticism, while the latter are not to be allowed to attend technical school classes without the permission of the Board of Education.

Something in the nature of a cyclone struck the central portion of New Plymouth shortly before six o'clock the other afternoon. With loud, startling roar, the wind came off the sea in the vicinity of Kawaroa Park and took a narrow course through the town in an easterly direction. It waa accompanied by torrential rain, which for a few minutes made watercourses of the streets. Several dwellings and business premises suffered damaged The -verandah roofing was torn completely away from a house in Hine-street, and one of the supporting posts was hurled on to the roof of a neighbouring house, penetrating the iron. The roof of a garage in King-street occupied by Messrs. George and Julian was also damaged. At the foot of Kingstreet the cyclone struck King's Buildings, breaking the glass of several windows and bringing down a brick and iron chimney, which fell on a skylight, Sweeping thence into Devon-street, the cyclone broke one of the large plateglass windows in the H.B. building and a window in the Imperial Hotel. The force of the wind seems to have been dissipated as it progressed beyond .this point:

"Is August the last month of winter in New Zealand, or the first month of spring ?", inquii«s i correspondent. On the matter being referred to the Dominion Meteorologist (Mr. D. C. Bates), he stated :—"Great differences of opinion have arisen as to the actual dates of the commencement of the seasons, mainly through astronomical conditions. Of course the sun is the ruler of climate, hut meteorological effects follqw the (what may be called) astronomical seasons. Thus, the warmest part of the year follows Midsummer Day; and some people would make the midsummer, midwinter, and equinoxes only the commencement of the seasons, while others make them the middle of the seasons. But neither would be correct in a meteorological sense, and the division adopted by meteorologists is (in this hemisphere) to divide the seasons as follows:— Winter : June, July, August; spring : September, October, November; summer : December, January, February; autumn : March April, May. As all meteorological records are kept in months, the coming of winter and spring is different in different years, and there are.differences in the harvest in tho North and South Islands of New Zealand. The seasons also differ in length in different countries, but as a general rule the seasons, divided as I have givon you, on this sjde of the world and their corresponding months in the Old, answer all practicalpurßOs.es." • v

In commemoration of the memory of that great footballer, the late David Gallagher, captain of the famous "All Blacks," the Auckland Rugby Union, ■proposes to ask the delegates' sanction to provide a oup { to be known as "The Gallagher Memorial Challenge Cup," for competition among senior, club?.

At the annual meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board the chairman stated they had paid off the debit at the beginning of the year, had met all ex? pensas, and started the current year with a clean sheet. There was no antecedent liability to ■wipe off. Referring to the board's housing scheme for employees (eight houses have been built) the chairman said it was generally admitted that their scheme was the best in the Dominion. Apparently the houses \cast £250 to £300 less than in other centres.

During the period 15th February to ye3terda>- the Finance Committee of the War Relief Association dealt with eight cases of loans, advances, repayments, etc., the total involved being £1000. Of that £100 was approved as a business loan, and £150 as an advance under' second mortgage for the acquisition of ai dwelling house. The remaining £750 was represented by amounts previously adivanced to six applicants (dwelling houses £100, soidier settlera £650). Thei financial statement showed that the total funds available were £^5,498 17s Bd, of which £4T^22 odd was'invested, and £3955 odd was at current account.

Seven of one family in two-polo teams is the unique record put up by the Kayfamily, "of Parawera, Kihikihi, in the provincial polo tournament held at Te Avyamutu. The teams (says 'an exchange) are the TeAwanrutu. A and B, Hnd it is significant that the captain of the A team has a eon in the B team. Had it not been for the death of the late Sergeant Archie Kay at the front, it would have been possible to put in two. teams composed wholly of Kays. Mr. Orakau Kay, though at present, indisposed, could also have filled the gap ha 4ft fo°en really necessary, as the yeteran still is af keen as ever.

The assistance rendered by member* and others at the Wellington Boxing Association tournaments is referred to in the annual report of the association. "In addition to the many onerous duties incidental to control of contests which have been undertaken by every member of the committee, the assistance in controlling the hall rendered by many who have assisted us for many years has been of great, assistance, not only to the association, but to the public who patronise our tournaments (states the report). Hearty thanks are due to them, and also to Messrs. Allan Maxwell and Earl Stewart, who have willingly given their services to referee the large number of contests promoted." The committee's thanks are also extended to Mr. William Lawless, representative,in Australia, and to the press.

The extortionate prices charged for rooms in Auckland were commented upon, by a Salvation Army officer, who had had a good deal to do with assisting' immigrants, when conversing with an Auckland Star representative. "There are some people, you know, who are not paying more than 25s to 30s for tha whole house, and yet they charge almost as much for one room. Well, up to 25s at least," lie remarked. "It is 6imply ridiculous. People cannot pay these prices. And as for children, they will not have them, near." He believed there was a great lack of sympathy among women. He had had several cases of real distress, including a young mother just 'put .of hospital with her baby, and had experienced. th« very greatest difficulty in'finding rooms fop them. In these instances ma hnabands had work in the city, and it was absolutely essential to find shelter of some kind for them. '

General,approval of the Government's nominative scheme in connection with immigration was expreaeed to "nJ Auckland Star reporter by an officer connected with the Salvation; Army's operations in that direction. He said that a veTy good class of citizen was on the whole being introduced into the country, and generally they were very. well satisfied' with conditions when they arrived here. Up to the present he hadi not had any difficulty in placing, them., and. they, were not very long in the\ city, except in certain cases. "So long as the Government can find work for them, that is. what we want," he continued. "Dp to the present we have not had any difficulty, because their friends very soon take them off our hand*. It is only in exceptional cases, where the Government has had to. cofne to their assistance." Conditions had been so bad at Home that the men were anxious for any employment, and he considered that things could not be any worse in the Dominion to what they had experienced in the Homeland. What' they desired was a living wage, and the right to work. That was the attitude, he concluded, of the average emigrant with whom the Army had come in con- ! tact.

The recent increase in the cost of burial was detailed at the last meeting of the. Auckland Hospital Bpard.by the member representing the North Shcwe boroughs. At a meeting of tht, Relief Committee a widow said she had paid sixpence per week for some time before her husband died to insure his lite, so that at his death she might get £50. This sum she had obtained, but £40 of it hadi gone in funeral expenses, £12 alone being spent in buying a plot of land at Purewa Cemetery. A few years ago the their contractor's price for funerals iof bought for £4. The chairman said that tehir contractor's price for funerals of people who had no relations w;as just two pounds, although the contractor had recently asked for an increase'^ as increased fees had been laid upon him. Half of £40 would have been 3, high charge for a widow in poor circumstances to pay for the burial of her husband, was the opinion expressed by. members, but aa the money had been paid it was now. too late to do anything in the matter.