LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 81, 5 April 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The New Zealand Meat Producers Board has received cable advice from the Port of Manchester authorities to. the effact that there has been a drastic revision in the handling rates from alongside ship for frozen meat and other produce, resulting in a. considerable reduction, viz., storing, including one week's rent, reduced from Scs per ton to 12s per ton, and 3s ,6d per ton uer week after the first week.

The sixth generating unit at the Lake Celeridge hydro-eleotricity station will be ran on coal for the first time to-day (states a Press Association message from Christclmrch). This is the final generating unit of the. station, as originally designed, and will develop nominally 3000 k.w., bringmir the total nominai capacity of the station up to 12,000 k.w. The proposal to duplicate the present generating capacity of the station, makintr the total nominal output 24,000 k.w. is held up. awaiting the decision of the .Ohristchurch Ojtv Council jn connection with the ■proposal to develop hydro-electracity from River Waimakariri.

Although the Tauranga election campaijjn was bitterly fought, courtesieß were not altogether lacking. Speaking at Te Aroha, states the "New Zealand Herald," Mr. T. M Wilford. Leader of the Opposition, described Mr. J. A. Young, Reform member for Hamilton, as "one of the most able men in the House, and one who should .have been appointed to the Ministry long ago."

The five electric locomotives which have been built at the Addington Workshops for use on the Arthur's PassOtira section of the Midland Kailway will be hauled to Arthur's Pass in a few days. They are now ready to be used, and after being hauled by steam locomotives to the pass they will be able to run through the tunnel to.Otira by electric power. It is probable that a fair amount of goods traffic will be taken through the tunnel by the locomotives before the opening of thai tunnel for passenger traffic.

Concerning the work of the Soldiers' Settlements Board of Inquiry .in the Ashburton county, the "Christchurch Press" states: 'Tractically all the soldier settlers in the country made application to the board for an inspection and investigation of certain .matters. It is understood that the majority, with assistance, should be able to weather adversity, but there are several very doubtful cases. The favourable change in the markets has meant much to the majority. ' It is.practically certain, however, that widespread assistance will be required." „

On her last trip from Greymouth to Newcastle on 18th February, the steamer Inga, which arrived at Wellington yesterday with a cargo of poles from Grafton (N.S.WJ, experienced very heavy weather. Two days out the vessel encountered a gale, "and the heavy seas continuously washing the vessel, smashed a portion of the steam steering gear. With considerable difficulty a jury rudder was rigged. Oil was poured from the bows on to the water, and this had the effect of calming the sea to a certain extent. The gale ultimately abated and the Inga completed her voyage without further incident.

An amusing story concerning an incident in. South Westland was told by Mr. Julian Grande at one of his lectures in the South. He was. returning from an ascent when he heard loud cries for help. Hurrying forward he - saw a stout lady hugging, the. side of a long suspension bridge, and too frightened' to go forward or back. Mr. Grande walked to her rescue, and after much difficulty persuaded the lady to complete the journey across the swaying bridge. The lady, with tears of gratitude, presented him with a tract. Mr. Grande, who had just completed a net re-rocking ascent, and, rescued the lady in distress, read ihe title with some amusement: "Are You a Drunkard?" >'

Wwin to a typographical eiTorthe sense of a particular portion of Councillor W. H. Bennett's reply to Mr. Coleman Phillips on the. milk question, published in last night's "Post," was materially altered. What Mr. Bennett stated was that it was necessary to pay a special ..price to those farmers who produce during the winter, and that price was 4.4 d per quart or an extra 2.4 d over the summer price. The figures "4.4 d" were published as "Is 4d." Councillor Bennett pointed out that as the council had raised the price of milk by only 2d per quart, this price would entail a loss of approximately .£BOOO for the winter period:

"This is the man who was remanded last week so that he could get a 'clean up.' He is known about the town as 'Dirty Jim,' " said Sub-Inspector Cummings at the Magistrate's Court to-day when John Robert Stringer, 46 years of age, appeared before Mr. P. K. Hunt, S.M., on a charge of vagrancy. Evidence was given by Constable Marsh, who said he had seen the accused; loafing about for some lime. He was in the habit of picki. g up cigarette butts out of the gutter. The' Sub-Inspector remarked that the sergeant could find work for the accused if the latter would keep himself respectable. He should try and earn the name of "Clean Jim." A conviction was entered, and the accused was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, provided that he goes to work.

For the first lime in the history of the "Weekly Press" Challenge Shield, which is competed for annually by ritle teams from Cadet corps in New Zealand, the trophy has come to Wellington, the winners being the Wellington College team. Ihe members of the winning team, together with their individual scores (possible 68) were as follow: —G. Norton 68, 0. J. Richardson 68. E. M'ludoe 68, W. Denison 68, L. Hazleton 68, E. Daniels 67, J. Ellis 67, E. M. Luxford 67, F. Reid 65, J. P. Bertram 63. The first five teams in the competition were: No. 4 Company, Wellington College Cadets, A team, 66.8; A Company, 9th Battalion C.R. (Nelson College A team), 66.7; No. 110 Company, New Plymouth Boys' High School Cadets, 65.9; No. 115 Company, Scots College Cadets (Wellington), 65.6; B Company, 9th Battalion C.R. (Marlborough College), 65.5.

Tha "Shipping World" considers that the fact that from two independent sources attention has been directed to the need of a. direct cargo service from New Zealand and Australia, to Liverpool is worth noting in these days, when there is so much shipping looking for employment. Mr. J. H. Hyslop, president of the Liverpool Provision Trade Association, points out that almost the whole of the very large output of the dairy produce from these Dominions is shipped to London, with the exception of an occasional steamer which calls at other ports, with tho result 'that r:o inconsiderable portion of these arrivals has then to be forwarded from London to supply the crowinc demand of the North of England for Now Zealand and Australian cheese and butter. Pressure on the eteamship companies, Mr. Hyslop asserts, is met by a desire on .ueir part for some guarantees of adequate freight; but his belief is that if a regular monthly refrigerator service, direct to Liverpool were instituted, the volume of freight would quickly prove adequate. TJie council of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce in a reference to this subject at its last meeting' expresed the view greater interes in the shipment of goods direct from Australia to Liverpool were not good, and efforts were beino- made to induce stecn:islii;> companies to show greater interest- in the shipment of good?- ---. direct to Livorpoo.l instead of through London.

Out of one acre of silver pine near Eruaj on the Main Trunk line, timber has recently been cut, giving the high return to the Forestry Department of £88 in royalties. The timber was suitable for purposes ranging from poles to house blocks.

The proprietor of one of the Wanganui hotels at which some' of the visiting oarsmen were accommodated during their stay in Wanganui for the recent regatta feays tlhe "Herald"), complains that their conduct savoured so. much of the larrikin type that he intends to report the matter to the New Zealand. Rowing Association.

A change from the usual tramping was mude by the Tararua Tramping Club over Easter. . The members journeyed to Taumaruimi and came down the Wanganui River. On.several nights they were glad to accept the hospitality >of the Natives, and sleep in their meeting houses. Many points of interest were visited outside the usual tourist route. Community singing and hakas were indulged in at one pa.'

Both Miramar and Seatoun are sadly, lacking in the matter/ of footpaths. Reference to this matter was made' by Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., when speaking at Seatoun last night. The only thins the council could do, he said, was to carry out each year a certain proportion of footpath work, so lhafc,' in a reasonable time, the needs of the district could be met. • ■

Speaking at Seatoun last ni°-ht, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., said that- the duplication of the tramway track in Rongotai terrace would greatly rriieve the present congestion, on the Seatoim line. In view of the likelihood of an increase in traffic, however, the City Council would have to consider seiiously the duplication of the line to Miramar Junction.

Models of the New Zealand-war memorials erected at Longueval and Le Quesnoy, in France, were exhibited today _in the windows of Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains, Lambton quay. In the case of the Longueval memorial, erected on the spot/vhere the New- Zealiinders made their-first attack on Flers, on 15th September, there is a model of the monument, surrounding path.and planted bed. In front of it is the lettering of the inscription, "From the uttermost ends of the earth." The Le Quesnoy memorial model represents the moat, crossed by the, New Zealanders, who captured the town from the Germans a short time before the Armistice, with a terrace in front of it for the accommodation of visitors.

In. the course of his Mayoral election address at Seatoun last night, Mr.' R. A. Wright, M.P., spoke on the new road which it is proposed to construct between Lyall Bay and Seatoun. The matter had been the subject of negotiations with the property owners, who were, of course, aware that they wouid be expected to subsidise the project substantially. He Relieved the owners ; concerned would be quite reasonable in regard to this matter, and give material financial assistance to this road, which would complete one of the finest marine drives in the Dominion, connectinc Seatoun and the intervening bays with the heart of the city. The theft from the steamer Hurunui of a quantity of chocolates valued at 4s, the' property of the New Zealand Shipping Company, resulted in the appearance, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.U., at the Magistrate's Court to-day of a wharf labourer named Albert James King, 46 years of age. Sub-Inspector Cummings prosecuted, and the accused, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr! A. J. Mazengarb. The second officer of the Hurunui, Samuel Ernest Bryant, said that during the day he noticed that a case was broken. Late that evening several men, who were eating chocolates, were noticed down the hold. Witness accosted the accused,, who had in his hand a box of chocolates, which he was endeavouring to conceal. Evidence, was also given by Constables Batchelor and Henry. The defence was a complete denial that the accused had seen, handled, or eaten chocolates. The Magistrate expressed his disbelief of the accused's story, and sentenced him to seven day's imprisonment with hard labour.

Figures supplied by the Commonwealth Statistician show that for the thirty towns in Australia on which calculations are made, the prices of food and groceries for February decreased by 0.8 per cent., as compared with the figures for January, says the Melbourne " Age.". . All of the States except Western Australia show slight decreases. The decrease was greatest in Tasmania (1.4 per cent.), followed in the order named by Queensland (1.2 per cent.), Victoria (1.0 per cent.)> New South Wales (0.8 per cent.), and South Australia (0.6 per cent.). The increase in Western Australia amounted to 0.8 per cent. Compared with the corresponding month (February) of last year, all of the States except Tasmania show increases. The increase was greatest in New South Wales (5.4.per cent.), followed in the order named by Victoria (3.6 per cent.), South Australia (1.6 per cent.), Queensland (1.2 per cent), and Western Australia (0.5 per cent.).' Tasmaniashows a decrease of 0.7 per cent. The weighted average index number for the thirty towns considered as a whole was 1679 in February, 1923, compared with 1624 in February, 1922—an increase of 3.4 per cent. The inoreass in cost in the "thirty towns considered as a whole from July, 1914, to February 3 1923, amounts to 44.2 per cent.

By the time the Commonwealth Public Works Committee has completed its inquiry concerning proposed Government works at the Federal capital, some ofthe mast ardent advocates for Canberra will be sorry they ever asked for a Federal capital at all, says the Melbourne " Age. ' Each day of the inquiry brings fresh evidence that life at Canberra is going to be a costly proposition. Even the cost of water is going to be 50 per cent, higher thu-n the Melbourne rate. Mr. T. Hill, Chief Engineer of Works and Railways, told the Public Works Committee that it was proposed to charge Is 6d per 1000 gallons, and he did) not think the price would ever drop. The days of Is water, he said, wer« rapidly disappearing. The cost of labour and material for the construction of water services had doubled, and he thought the price would rise to 2s per 1000 gallons rather than recede to Is. For members of Parliament who intend to make their homes in Canberra some day, this is a startling prediction. The Federal territory is a very-windy place, and Canberra is sure to be a very hot and dusty city (or village) that will necessitate a lavish use of water and the numerous beverages into which it is made.