LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 24, 29 January 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The City Council offices are closed today, on account of the annual picnfc of the staff, which is being held at Day's Bay. ' . ' ' The Postal authorities : have received advice from Melbourne that the ftloeraki i left at 4 p.ni. on Thursday >for Wellington. Ste carries for the Dominion 61 bags of mails from Australia, 6 from Africa, an.d 124 parcel receptables from beyond, and 38 froift Australia. Speaking at the opening. ceremony of the Eastbourne Carnival. on Saturday, the. Prime Minister made appreciative reference to the work of the Plunket Society. Many young lives had been saved by the efforts of .this organisation and its band of enthusiastic and trained w'orkevi. He mentioned that the Government during the current financial year had assisted the society" monetarily to the extent of £13,000, and, he added, it was money well spent v ' They had given the society a £ for £'subsidy, and perhaps more. The work of'the eociety had assisted materially in keying New Zealand's death rate the lowest in , the worl. ' "', ' Over 250' immigrants arrived by the lEemiiera at Auckland on Saturday. They include thirteen miners, a number of farmers, besides workers and tradesmen. There were very few domestics, non,e of the latter being assisted. All the immigrants are assured of employment. There are 87 men, 75 women, and 96 children. Of these 20 me.n, 14 women, and 20 children are for Wellington, and 12 men, 11 women, and 19 children for Lyttelton.- The Reniuera met with a-fearful storm in the Atlantic between 20th and 23rd December. "Most of the'passengers were prostrated, and were unable to participate, in the Christmas festivities* Firemen are not generally thought to be great sticklers for etiquette, but an incident on one of the Timaru wharves this week, when an overseas steamer was about to sail, indicates that the fireman is not always prepared- to surrender his right to certain minor formalities (says the ''Timaru Post"). The steamer was ready.to put to sea, Taut two of the firemen were missing. After the siren had shrieked its warning thrice they appeared, slightly inebriated, coming along the wharf. The gangway was lowered sufficiently to allow the men to climb on without much difficulty, but | one man flatly refused to clamber up. He quoted the regulations stating that the gangway must be lowered down to the wharf, and harangued the ship's officers on-deck at great length on his steady determination not to waive one jot or tittle of his privileges in the light of the laws governing gangways. So the gangway was duly brought down to. the level of the . wharf, and; with much dignity.and precision, His Majesty the Stoker came aboard. There are degrees of youth, but nowadays it has become customary to. refer to a person as elderly who has reached fifty years of age. A person might be called old at a tennis match when he had reached the half-century, and a person called, on. the youngish side if at the same age he was, playing a game of bowls. • A man in Queen street, for instance; would be called elderly at fifty when he was contrasted with the youth and beauty of the busy street that walked at his side (remarks the "Auckland Star"). , So out at the Costley Home a man is not considered old when he is fifty, and is, i» fact, quite a youth when compared with many of the old men out there. Recently, when a. full .committee of the- home was present .a.t the ordinary meeting, the medical superintendent, Dr. M'Kelvey, in going through the list of names which had to be reviewed, referred to one man as a youngish man of about fifty ! Several, members of the ' committee immediately straightened themselves up, twirled their moustaches when they had them, and others adjusted their waistcoats and tbeir ties and commented on the fact that apart from their present surroundings fifty was not old after all. "You're only as old as you feel," commented the chairman, ?'and although I'm theoldest man in The room I am sure I feel as young as any of you." Interesting references regarding the' farmers and the Liberal -Party were made by Mr. de la Eei'relle, M.P. for Awarua, at a social gathering tendered to him at Royal Bush. Mr. Perrelle said he wished to make a slight allusion to the statementTof a speaker at a recent Eeform function. This speaker was reported to have said "he regretted the farmer? were not going to be represented as they should be. There were only five farmers' representatives in the South Island." Mr. Perrelle said the inference to be drawn from this statement was that the farmers would not be represented by the elected members. Such a statement very misleading. Speaking for himself (and he was sure ho could speak for other elected members) he claimed to have a full knowledge of the farming industry, and recognised its great importance and its requirements. It oould. not be denied tnat the Liberal Party had, in and out of offiqe, done much to assist the farmer, j and they had only to recall the f.acfc.that | this party' placed on the statute book j £lie 'Brest piece of legislation enacted, the Advances to Settlers Qfice, and many' other Labour measures which went" to assist the farmers. Whether his party assumed charge of the Treasury benches or was still to form a strong Opposition the farmer would have 'no occasion to complain. • Here is another story from the racecourse, says the "Auckland Star." An Auckland business man, hard-headed and keen} decided to motor some of / his clients out to the races. He was anxious,, however, to bring them back early, and in order to avoid the difficulty in getting out of ,the traffic near the course it was suggested that the car should be taken to the home of one of his friends not far off. The party accordingly went there.' As they reached the house, somebody tookjng at it, remarked "No. 17." This was merely the number of the dwelling, but what must the business man and all his clients do but accept it as an ( omen for the next race! So : they all hurried on foot to the course. But as they proceeded, our hard-headed and keen business man spotted a soiled play^ ing card lying on the ground.. He pounced upon it and discovered it was the Nine of Spades. This was/undoubtedly another tip ! Accordingly the party went up to the "tote" and each put £lon No. 17. They had never heard of. the horse which bore this number, and they will probably never hear of it again, hut. it walked home and paid a dividend of over a score. Then the old playiriS card was aram examined, and once more they trooped up to the machine. "No. Nine, one," demanded each,'and each Sot one on N'6i Nine, which in due cniu-ss passed- the post first and paid a fauiy respectable, .dividend.

By the last American mail the Prime Minister received a curiosity in the form, of a hand-forged horse shoe about the size of a threepenny piece. The donor was one Charles Goruck, of Martinsburg, Philadelphia. The shoe is certainly a clever piece'of'workmanship. ■ That there is plenty of money available in Maryborough for investment in solid securities is demonstrated by the fact that the Eivei- Board hns quietly raised £10,000 on 6 per cent, d-jhtei.tures in less than a month, tnd that there were considerable sums offering -when the board's requirements had benn mft. The 510,000 was subscribed by twelve 1 people, in sums ranging from £}00 to £'3000, states the "Marlborough Epress." The Auckland City Valuer suDmitted to the Auckland City' Council on ..Thursday evening his annual report of the rateable value of the city. The annual rateable _ value is £1,678,465, but this iftnount is subject to-revision by the Assessment Court, which in the past averages about' one-half per cent. Fur the previous year, "the rateable'value was £1,591,526, giving the iiew value an increase of £86,939, or 5.4 per cent. This . increase is accounted for as follow.-; -. — New buildmgs and land previously exempt (as per supplementary valuations made Ist January, Ist September, and Ist December), £20,682; increase on Gas Company mains, power board's services, and tram tracks, £10,875; land recently leased from Harbour Board, City Tramways, and Auckland' Electric Power Board, £2498; smaH additions and alterations, such as garages, sheds, etc., £12,000 (approximately); increase on last year's values, £40,884, or 2:5 per cent., making a total of £86,939. -!, It is evident that there is keen, competition this year far wool freight, for co fewer than nine oversea vessels are expected at the end of this week to lift the overseas portion of the' 25,00.0 bales sold, at the Qhristchurch wool sale on 23rd JanuaryjN^states the Chrisf'church, " Star." Jt is announced that ths Piakq is coming to lift American wool, the Ruapehu will load for West of England ports, the Port. Elliott, in' addition to two- New Zealand Shipping Company's vessels, and two Shaw, Savill, and Albion steamers, will load for London. The Canadian Planter is due about :16th February to load for New York, Boston-, and Montreal. ' Messrs. Scales and. Co. have chartered the Bembridge to load for London. It is hoped in -tyttelton that these vessels will not collect in port at the same time as the berthing accommodation will be inadequate, as will also the shed accommodation for- the hand-. ling and pressing of the wool in reaciiness for shipment. ' , ' The practical interest which is being taken in the Auckland /Zoological Gardens was again evidenced at the meeting of _ the Auckland' City Council on Thursday evening, when several 'more animals were offered for inclusion in the collections* (says the "New Zealand Herald"). The offers were accepted with thanks. The donors and their gifts were : —Mt. H. "E. Vaile, two ostriches; Messrs., Smi.th and Caughey, a tiger cat, a pair of Tasmanian devils, a pair of racpo-as, a wombat, an agouti, seven Macque monkeys, ?nd. a donkey; Hutchinson Bros., 'Ltd., and Mr. S. Irvvin Crookss, animals to be scoured.abroad. A memorandum from the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson. stated that, after consultation with the Parks Committee, an-Auckland resident, who is sailing this week for an extended foreign tour, h^d heen' authorised' to procure further animals for the Zoo from Europe, England, and South Africa. For. this purpose £500' had been placed, at, his disposal. This, -arrangement was approved. ' . ' Reference to special courseß in university study nas made by Professor Hunter at the meeting of the University Senate at Dunedin on Friday afternoon. He referred particularly to the question of forestry, and said he would like the -Senate to decide whether special courses must be- tak«n at some recognised school. At- present there was no special school of forestry, and the poirjt was whether the regulations required 'that special courses must be taken at recognised schools. Pro--fessor: Segar moved that the statute should not become operative until a special school in forestry was established. Dr. Anderson moved as an amendment that the subject prescribed .must be taken'at a recognised school of'forestry. iThe Rev. Dr. Cameron pointed put' that though they were- making provision for a course whereby a student might secure the desireiKdegree they were not providing a school where the necessary tuition could be obtained. Both the amendment and the motion were carried, the Chancellor stating that there was no conflict between them. , ' As a result of the continual representation by local merchants, the majority of the overseas steamers which have called at the Port of Otago for some time past haye berthed at Dunedin, remarks the "Qtago Daily Times." For several reasons this is more satisfactory to importers primarily owing to the fact that the cargoes are handled less, which minimises the risk of pillage, - whioh, in these days of high-priced goods, is a very important consideration. Two. large liners, the Remuera and the Athenic, from London, are to include Dunedin in their.discharging ports shortly. Vessels of this class have not beep berthed at the Dunedin Wharf before owing to the fact that they are nearly 500{t in length. Various local bodies have taken the matter up, and have approached the Harbour Board with a, view to getting the vessels to berth at Dunedin if it is at al) possible. Captain :M'Lean, who is in charge of the harbourmaster's department, has stated that it- is quite possible to berth the liners at Dunedin, providing their draught is in keeping with the depth of water in the Victoria- Channel— ' namely, 22ft 6in.' i Special attention has been given to t|ie berths at the Victoria I Wharf,, and the depth- of .water is now 24ft at low water, thus providing against 'any possibility of steamers lying on-the mud at low tide. The New Zealand Shipping Company's' liner Hurunui, which is of 9266 tons gross register, and is 495 ft long, has successfully berthed at the Victoria Wharf, and the extra sft on the Remuera and the Athenic will not, it is claimed, make any difference. -. .The Rev. -J. A_ Asher and the Rev.' A., Hodge, of Napier, have returned from a ten days' visit to the Tongariro National Park, states the "Hawkes Bay Herald." Whatapapa cottage, their headquarters during their holiday, is situated eleven miles from Wairoarino, five miles of travel being along a Rood metalled, road, the highway to Tokaa.nu, and a turn-off is there made along a track very wet and rough in parts, which brings the visitors at last to the cottaae. The cottage has three rooms containing 22 bunks, and two of the rooms have fireplaces. Another cottage has recently been erected by the authorities, and there are a couple of tents ready to receive visitors, -who have to brine; their own bedding and food, do their own cooking and washing up, and also go into the bush and cut firewood. There , have been numerous visitors to the park this month. Amongst these Mr.- Asher and Mr. Hodge met Professors * Taylor and Cotton, of the Sydney University, and Mr. Timcke, the meteorologist of New South Wales. The travellers brought back with them bunches of real Scotch heather, which is growing luxuriantly on the plateau. Many beautiful, native flowere are to be found in the park, but there is a singular absence of bird life. A few bell birds, falcons, robins and fantails .were all the native birds the travellers saw. It is said some deer exist in the mountains, but none was seen. Not even a rabbjt was. to be seen.

■<—————————I——f» "Why buy 'Yankee- stuff when you can get real British manufacture?" This notioe, which was'said to have been prominently displayed in a window in 'Queen streetj was the subject of a protest mads to the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, by a local exporter. It could not tend, he said, to produce thaicordial feeling for which many of the ablest men in this country and the United States have worked and are working. It was decided that the secretary should introduce the writer of the letter to the. head of the firm, to give him an oppor- . tunity of expressing his views. The transports carrying New Zealand troops in the Mediterranean Sea during the wa.r frequently touched at "Malta, and numbers of our wounded were attended to in the hospital there. It will interest many, to know that the Mer- . chant Seamen's Memorial Hospital has now bee,n completed, and was officially opened, recently by Lord Plumer, as the Icing's representative. At the ceremony, Admiral Luce, speaking on behalf of the Admiralty, dwelt on the heroism of the merchant service, its-devotion to duty, " and indomitable spirit during Germany's submarine campaign.- In declaring the hospital open, Lard Plumer mentioned that the King had taken the keenest interest in the hospital from the start. , A number of rare holograph letters, suitably arranged for exhibition in ■■ a ' frame, Jiave been presented to the Auck- • land city by Mr. Moss Davis, of iondon. .The letters include interesting epistles written by Queen Victoria and by Lord Beaconsfield, 1 Longfellow, and other eminent ' men. There is also a warrant from King Charles I. to Sir R Pye and Sir E. Wardour concerning payment of sums due from the Crown to James (Hay) Earl of Carlisle, signed by Lord CoKingham and Sir Francis Windebank, 24th August, 1635-. The letter from Queen Victoria is written in French an<J indited to the Princess Adelaide d'Orleans. It is a reply to congratulations on the birth of King Edward VII., and is dated Windsor, 9th October, 1841. The council decided to send a suitable letter of thanks to the donor.' . The preliminary contributions to the Auckland War Memorial Museum Fund ■ and the accumulated interest on the ■amount already paid to the Representative Committee -now total £140,000; Of that sum donations represent £131,000, and accrued interest £6000. It, is reasonable to claim that the result in the circumstances is a unique achievement, and really notable record for the . Domonion, states the "New Zealand ■ Herald." The comprehensive public appeal has yet to be made—a fact that makes the. ■ initial effort something to ponder 7 over. Since more than half of the estimated sum required for the building of a notable memorial on Observatory Hill . in the Domain has been obtained by, the gentle art of personal appeal to representative firms and individuals with obvious resources, the 'final direct appeal to all people of a prosperous province should be notably successful. "I think the fruit season will be a, good 'orte,' I remarked a well-known nurseryman at Palmerston North to a "Standard" reporter. "There has been a big crop of plums,, so big, "m fact, that large quantities had to be given away. The' apple season should also be good, although I have seen some trees badly blighted. Apples are clean, but the crops are hot heavy, -although about the ' average," remarked another well-known • fruit-grower. The crop, he added, would be good if .the \veather improved.- The | excessive rain was a bad thing for. the tomatoes, and the prospects of a'good crop was poor. Onions, he continued, "were affected by smut, and he expected that there would be a poor yield. Potatoes were also not promising well, Bui the blight was not'at present very widespread, as far as he could. ascertain. The spraying of the crops was undoubtedly proving beneficial., but. everything ; depended on the weather, in which an improvement would have to take place in the' course of the next few days if the blight was to be checked. ' Some interesting details of the work on Orongorongo Tunnel were given members of the French Mission on Saturday by Mr. Robert Semple when they visited the work. He said the men were working three shifts a day of eight hours each, six days a week, each shift consisting of five men. They had already' pierced some 3300 feet from the, Wellington end of the tunnel and 1250 feet from the Orongorongo end; and, if everything went well, they should complete the tunnel by Christmas time, or, at latest, by 'Easter, 1924. They were working on a 49-foot "face"—7ft in height by 7ft wide; and he pointed out that they were laying the big water-main as they went along, utilising it in the meantime as a ventilating shaft for the tunnel. The tunnel, was some 800 feet above sea-level, so that'they would be able to pipe the water direct (jvithqut any pumping to the highest "reservoirs in the city area. The _ hill towered at the highest point about 1800 feet above the tunnel. JC month pr two ago thejT had pierced 280 feet of hard'rock in the month, thus beating the : New Zealand and the Australian records by some .34 feet; and the tunnel als.had a very fortunate record as regards • accidents. So far the only accident had. .been one in which a man had. lost the . topjoint of oi^e finger; whereas'a*"the . Mangahao Tunnel, through very_ similar country, eight men had teen killed ' in about the same period, one blinded, and two serio.usly injured—tlia last two since . Christmas. . The visit of a New Zealand Soccer team to Australia during the coming season is already being anticipated by the" Commonwealth authorities. In a letter to Mr. B. L. Salmon (hon. secretary N.Z.. F.A.), Mr. S. A. Storey (secretary New South Wales Association) says: ' 'We are now going into the matter (in anticipation) of^.the details of the New Zealand - team's visit. We hope to provide a stay in Australia equal to the stay of our team, in New Zealand. The team', will arrive in Sydney and at stages of the tour -will play at Sydney, Granville, the South Coast (N.S.W.), Newcastle, Maitland (Lithgow and Armidale), Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowomba, returning, to Sydney and after that perhaps Goulbourn and Melbourne. .We estimate the team's visit hereto cost nearly £2000." v A very popular fabric for ladies' and children's wear is'the Kayariess Arabian Longcloth, in three .qualities, very fine in texture, and' 42 inches wide. The "prices are Is: 9d, Is lid, 2s 3d yard. Obtainable only from Kirkcaldie and Stains Ltd.—Ad<vt. " ' ~ .' Some of the highest- quality serges,, plain j;rey worsteds, striped, or pinspot worsteds' the woollen world produces is comprised in our stock; of suitings. Also fine ranges in tweeds, Donegals, etc £5 ss, £6 6s, £7 7s, £8 ,Bs.. Fowlds, Manners street.—Advt. . The nerves feed on proteids.- Take Ceregen with all meals, it contains eighty per cent, proteids. All chemists % sell Ceregen. 2s 6d to. 13s 6d.—Advt. Support nation-wide character-building snoods, comprising .Golden Rule Soap, kc-Bubbing Laundry Help, Keep Smiling Floor Polish and Golden Rule School Rulers. Bannatyne a.id Hunter, Ltd., Wholesale Distributers.—Advt. This week, Defiance Butter grades. 96 points but of the maximum ICO. It is undoubtedly the finest, creamiest butter that money can buy. Sold by all -grocers. . Tell your grocer that "when you say butter you .always mean Defiance.' —Advt. .- A magnificent oil painting by J.-Gibb . is being raffled in connection with the Eastbourne Queen Carnival-. The picture is on view, and tickets may be obtained, at The Bristol.—Advt. "