LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The final count of the poll in the Tauraiiga, by-election gives Mr. MaoMillan a. majority over Sir Joseph Ward of 1125 votes. The figures are as' follow :—Mr. MaoMillan (Keform), 4360; Sir Joseph Ward (Liberal), 3235; majority for Mr. MaoMillan, 1125; informal, 35.

Yesterday morning's earthquake was recorded at Christchuroh at 3.28 o'clock, but the shock was only a- slight one, and no damage' was reported, says a Press Association telegram. ' The earthquake was not altogether unexpected, as the. Government Meteorologist in Christchurch (Mr. M. H. Skey) stated that calculations cased on previous earthquakes showed that a shock would probably occur at midnight on 12th April.

One of the shortest speeches ever made in the Auckland Arbitration Court, or for that matter, probably ever made in any court, by one side in a dispute, was recorded one mornino- this week when the Auckland stage employees' dispute was heard. Mr. J. H. Bettison, on behalf of the union, when called upon, said : "We are here, representing the union, prepared to accept the Wellington award." Then he sat down. A short discussion on minor points afterwards took nlace, in which Mr. Bettison proved himself capable in argument.

An application for a new trial on the ground that a juryman had spoken to an important witness was made at the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon in the case of John Thomas Conway against the Neuchatel Asphalt Co., a claim for damages in respect of a.n accident. Plaintiff in the action claimed £1500, and after a hearing lasting- two days was awarded £900. Mr. M. Myers, K.C., yesterday moved for a nonsuit, or, alternatively, a new trial on the ground that die jury had been guilty of misconduct. On "behalf of Conway, Mr. _ P. J. o'Regan admitted the irregularity, but urged that the Court should be quite sure that the irregularity complained of. had ntt'ected the jury's verdict. Mr. Justice Salinond reserved his decision.

The Postal authorities have been advised that the mails which left Auckland on the 7th ultimo via Vancouver by the R.M.S. Niagara arrived in London on the Hth instant.

The opening meeting ior the year of the Wellington Accountant Students' Society will he held in the Accountants' > Chambers on Wednesday next, when a mock meeting' of shareholders will be held as advertised.

Restlessness in the Government service is commented upon by the "Katipo," the official organ of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association. "The truth is," says the "Katipo," "that the old-time faith in the 'Government job' has been rudely shaken. Stability of income, which was reckoned one of the advantages, has fgone by the board' as the outcome of the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act. The failure of the Government to keep to its agreement of 1920 has pronouncedly undermined the spirit of confidence which should prevail if a great national service is to he carried on with the best possible results. Ths whittling away of one-time 1 rights m the matter of sick leave and holiday leave are also having a definite effect on the attitude of mind prevailing. Offioers are pondering over the^e and other things, and as the pressure of the needs of tehir dependants "become-more pronounced they feel that 'there is only wages in it, after all.' " The "Katipo" concludes by saying that it is to be hoped service conditions will be so improved that those who are now looking for other avenues for their energies, will give, the matter further consideration.

The position in which the Wellington Waterside Workers' Band found itself, when it was suddenly deprived of its instruments at the Dunedin competitions might well be summed up in the words of Rabelais: "Above the pitch, out of tune, and off the hinges." Not only did the seizure of the instruments prevent the band from filling the air with sweet straina- of anisic, but it led to Court proceedings as well. These were amicably settled at the Supreme Court yesterday, afternoon, however, and quite a pleasing atmosphere pervaded the room in which the final scene was enacted. Mr. Justice Hoskihg raised a taugh when he made the discovery that he was a patron of the band, and there was further mirth when each of the counsel appea-ring against the union stated that they had contributed to_ the band's funds to the extent qf a guinea. "The one pleasing feature of the case*," said his Honour, "is that our band seems to have carried off the prizes." "Despite the fact that, the instruments have been the cause of quite a lot of discord," remarked counsel for the union, amidst further laughter.

The matter of usintf the third grade football games as a link between secondary schools and club football is a. problem that has been set some members of the Auokland Eugby Union to solve, says the Auckland "Star." It is proposed to include the three secondary schools of the city in the third grade club competition, which is to have two objects—to find the champion team of the class, and to find the champion secondary school. Provision has to be made for_ non-interference with the school vacations, which will not favour the school teams at the expense of the club teams, and for an internal competition among the school teams, so that the issue will be two finals, one for the champion team of ■ the grade, and one for the champion school team. If the problem can be worked out, it should give a fillip to both school and club play for the Grammar School team are holders of ..the Moascar Cup. and to defeat the cup-holders is bound to be the ambition of every club team in the competition, while the battle to avoid that stitrma should harden the esprit de corps of the. Grammai" team. ; "

Speaking at the opening of a girls' hostel in connection with the Gore High School, the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister, of Education, said he was Bure that no other country was doing more in the mat; ter of secondary education, than we were, and he rejoiced at the fact that it 'was so. To-day there were over twenty thousand children attending high schools, grammar schools, and similar institutions, and this was a higher percentage than any other country could claim. It was far better to leave a legacy of a sound education to a child than worldly wealths he considered. He was proud to be able to say that of this 20,000 scholars 91 per cent, were in receipt of free places, and it was. also noteworthy that of the scholars who passed Standard VI. 66 per cent., or two-thirds, of them went on to receive secondary education. In addition to that number about 12 per cent, more attended, a technical college, so that no less than 73 per cent, were can-ying on their education to a higher plane.

Residents of Takapuna. (Auckland) must feel gratified when they read the report of the Health Inspector, who inquired into possible causes of pollution of the borough water supply. According to the injector, wiat was seen had evidently been going on for years. All round the lake the weed growth was very bad, extending from 20ft to, 70ft into the water, except at one place, where ther« was an area of about eight acres of weed 1 and putrid mud. On the shore of the lake all round, and for some little distance into the water, the weed ■was in a decomposed state; it save off a very bad smell and formed a breeding ground for several classes of insects. There were signs of cattle and horses having free access to the water over nearly the whole shore, and the shore and paddocks were littered with manure, which wae also seen on the water. Cattle were seen, up to their bodies in the lake. Two lot« of ground water were found running into the lake, one at the rate of 100 gallons per hour, At one grazing property there was a large swamp at the bottom of the natural water course, and the water fell into the lake near the Birkerihead, pumping station. There were fifty-five houses on the watershed, with twenty septic tanks, and five cases of broadcast drainage, while 89 cows and 111 horses were accounted for.

In a statement made for publication yesterday, the Prime Minister alluded to the introduction of sectarianism into public affairs. "So far as Tauranga is -concerTied, I think it will'be admitted," said Mr. Massey, "that I travelled a great deal during my visit to that district, and I am very glad to testify to the fact that I saw less of what may be called sectarianism in.that contest than in any previous election. Sectarianism was put on one side by both parties, and the election was fought out -on the strictly political ■ issue. I can personally say that a number of settlers who "'are good members of the Roman Catholic ■Church voted on the same side as my friends and supporters. So far as the introduction of sectarianism is concerned, I have in my possession a letter dated 2nd April from Mr. Ewen MacGregor, who is at present the president of the'organisation known, as the Protestant Political Association, in which Mr. MacGregor says:—'l congratulate you upon your win in Tauranga. Neither I nor my association helped you, as we considered it best to let the country realise what a solid menace we are up against in the combination that was arrayed against you.' That is a complete answer to the using of sectarianism at Tauranga in the recent by-election. I hope I shall be able to say the same thing about the Oamaru contest, when it comes to an end, namely, that sectarianism was eliminated. The fight at Tauranga was a .straight, clean fight on the political issues of the day, and as far as I am concerned the Oamaru contest will he fought in the same way."

One first offender for drunkenness, whose name was called before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day, was ordered to forfeit the amount of his bail, 10s.

A prisoner named James Stuart, who was recently convicted at Palmerston North on a charge of fake representation, in that he wrongly drew the pension of a dead brother, came up /or sentence before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) this morning. The Chief Justice remarked that the case appeared to be one in which a period of probation was warranted, and he accordingly admitted him to probation for twelve months.

" More energetic measures should be taken to improve and beautify the Town Belt, _and all waste and barren places in the city, and remove the reproach that Wellington is looked upon as the most drab centre of the Dominion. We have natural 1 advantages that are uncompared, hills and valleys that could be clothed in native bush, and 40 to 50 miles marine drive equal to anything of its kind' in any part of the world."—Mr. JohnAston, a candidate for the City Council, in a speech at Melrose last evening.

A "Gazette" notice issued laet night declares paradise duck and pukeko to be native game. Open seasons hav e been declared from Ist May to 14th May as follow: —Ashburton acclimatisation district, paradise duck; Lakes district, paradise duck and pukeko; North Canterbury district, paradise duck and pukeko; Otago district, paradise duck and pukeko; South Canterbury, paradise duck; Southland district]! paradise duck; Waimate district, paradise duck and pukeko; Waitaki district, paradise duck.

Optimism in the future of Christchureh was expressed by' Mr. D. Reese at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Builders' Association, cays an exchange. Recent figures showed, he said, that the population of Christchurch was now about 107,000. While Auckland, owing" to its geographical position, would be the'largest city in the Dominion, he believed that Chrißtchurch would always. be a good second. He considered that with the opening of the Arthur's Pass tunnel in sight the prospects for the building trade were distinctly bright.

"We ar?' now within a fortnight of the poll," stated Mr. John Aston, who is a candidate for the City Counoil, when, speaking at Seatoun on Thursday evening," and the. ratepayers meanwhile hays no detailed information before them regardin? the Kelburn tram purchase. There is just the bald proposal to borrow £45,000: for the purchase. When thjs matter was decided in council some time ago, the whole of the councillors, except one voted in favour, so that, detailed facts and figures should be available. Several suburfcan associations, also the Civic League, have written, askinsr the City Council to publish the needed information, but nothing is yet forthcoming."

A committee of the Canterbury Progress League, has reported on a proposal that a Community Fund should be established to systematise public appeals on behalf of the work of the V.M.C.A., Salvation Army, Prison Gate Mission, Society for the Protection of Women and Children, and other bodies. The committee suggested that a special committee should be appointed by the league to confer with the bodies concerned. It was decided by the executive that the committee already appointed by the executive should be a-sked to formulate concrete proposals for submission to the Mayor_ and City Council, as the civic authorities-have power to permit or reject applications for street appeals.

"Should you be disposed to seek reelection ih two years' time, will you stand- down for Mr.' Mitchell?" was a question asked of Mr. R. A. Wright at his meeting at Brooklyn on Thursday night. Mr. Wright replied, "Yes." He also stated that he had no intention of standing, as he considered four years sufficient for one man. If elected, at the end of this term he would support Mr. Mitchell. Mr. Wright gave the questioner permission to publicly use this answer if he so desired. Councillor Len M'Kenzie has ,also, indicated in the course of his election campaign that if elected Mayor, at the coming poll he will be prepared Jo stand aside on the' completion of his term in favour of Mr. Mitchell.

In an interview in Dunedin, Mr. E. B. Tennent, of the Department of Agriculture, said that quite a large number of applications had been received from farmers desirous of attending the special course of instruction to be held in Dunedin from 29tb. Hay till 4th June. The Southland and Otago provincianTranches of the New Zealand Fanners' Union are co-operating with the Department in an endeavour to make this, the first farmers' course, a success. Among the applicants are farmers from Southland, North Otago, and Central Otago. "The up-to-date fanner of to-day realises,".said Sir. Tennent, "that successful farming means the co-ordination of intelligent and thorough cultivation with the principles of modern scientific agriculture. The subject* to be dealt with at the ferthcoming course will undoubtedly appeal to the practical farmer, and it is safe to assert that those attending will return to their farms with a better appreciation of the means whereby their many problems may be solved."

A Wellington lady visitor to Wanganui, a member of the S.P.C.A., writes as follows in the "Herald":—"l have just come down the Wanganui Eiver from Taumarunui to Aramoho, and on the way saw dead cattle and sheep that had starved to death on sand banks and bits of flats, where they had either fallen or been washed in . a flood. I also saw one sheep a bag of bones, slowly starving, without one blade of grass to eat, also a bullock by the caves almost starved, where it can only die; and down close to Wanganui another bullock wth a broken leg, starving. This last beast was opposite Uponkongaro, where there is a cliurch and apolice station. I spoke to the stationmaster at Aramoho, who very, kindly at once got in touch with the police, who said they had seen the beast, and were trying to find the owner, which I sincerely hope they did. Could you not come to some arrangement with Hatrick's,; and have the beasts that must perish shot and put out of such a lingering death? The owners cannot recover them, for it's impossible to get thpm away, but the river boat could easily run in and shoot them without five minutes' delay. Some poor beasts have b#en in the same condition each time I have gone up ,or down—four times now."

KirkcaJdie and' Stains, Ltd., _ha/. e opened another shipment of lovely Cardigans and Golfers, in a. great variety of colours and shades and styles. The values are exceptionally good and must appeal to womenof discernment. To be seen in, our Blouse Section.-rA&'vt. .

Boots at the people's price, see our box calf derby bals, leather- lined, heavy soles, 32s 6d; glace, leather lined, 27s 6d.—Fowlds, Manners street.—Advt.

Grocers, kindly oblige by forwarding us your orders early for No-rubbing Laundry Help, Keep Smiling Floor Polish, and Golden Rule Candles to facilitate prompt delivery., A. Hatrick and Co., Ltd., wholesale distributors.—Advt.

Slight colds often lead to chronic chest; complaints. Banish the cold and prevent greater ailments by taking Bonnmgton's Irish Moss. Sold everywhere, la 6d and 2s 6d. Be sure you get Bonuington's.—• Advt, ? . -