LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 53, 31 August 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A radio message was received from the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. W. F. Massey) from the steamer Tahiti yesterday, congratulating his colleagues upon the successful winding up of a busy session Mr. Massey stated that under good sailing conditions he was making up for sleep lost during many all-night sittings of the House.

Already short-staffed, the activities of safe-blowers in Auckland have resulted in further hardships on members of the Auckland Detective Office. Unionism is a benefit .not yet enjoyed by the Force (states "The Post's" Auckland correspondent), and the latest order to be passed to tße detectives in the city is that they are to, be on duty from 9 a.m. till midnight, with a break of one hour for lunch and two hours for dinner. There is now a ripple of dissatisfaction running through the office at the long hours the detectives have to be on duty, the contention being that the present staff falls far short of requirements. The Commissioner-of Police recently reported that sufficient good men were not offering, and the present state of affairs at Auckland bears this out.

The Governor-General has approved the appointments in the New Zealand Naval Forces of Commodore Alan Geoffrey Hotham, C.8., C.M.G., as naval adviser to the New. Zealand Government's representative at the Imperial Conference in London, to take effect from date of assembly of Conference; and Commodore Alister Francis Beal, C.M.U. as Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Station,.and the New Zealand Naval Forces, and as First Naval Member of the Naval Board constituted in and for the Dominion of Ne>v Zealand, to date 24th August, 1923, vice Commodore Hotham.

' I aßk for an order, sir," said: Mr. Schramm in the Magistrate's Court, Auckland, on Wednesday morning, in connection with a judgment summons matter. "What is the defendant?" asked Mr. E. C. Outteu, S.Mi "He is a buildi er, your Worship, and I understand that he struck the double last week."—The order was made.

Ihe "Gazette" issued last eveningannounces the cancellation of registration of the following Wellington industrial unions of workers at the expiration of six weeks unless cause to tho contrary is shown: Butter- and Cheese Factory Workers' Union; Farm and Station-hands' (other than shearers) Union of Workers • and Shipwrights Union of Workers. ' ' - '

The following story was told at the Invercargill competitions by Mr. Temple White, says tho "Southland Times"). Ernest Newman, one of the greatest musical judges in England, was judging a brass instrument competition in the north. After the award had been made an unsuccessful cornetist came to the judge and truculently asked: "What do you know about cornet-playing ? Can you even play the comet?" "No," was the calm reply, "I cannot, but neither can I lay an egg, yet I Know a good one from a bad one."

At a recent conference of school teachers in Wellington a long discussion took pleace on the action of the education boards in re-advertising applications for teacherahips, the opinion being expressed that where a position was advertised for the highest-graded applicant should be appointed. At the meeting of the Nelson Board on Monday, the Department forwarded the opinion of the Solicitor-Gen-eral on the matter, as follows:—"The Solicitor-General is of the opinion that in the case where the board and the senior inspector do not consider any of the applicants for a certain position sufficiently well qualified, the position may be re-advertised.*' . /

; By an Order-in-Council, dated the 20fch inst., stoats and weasels were. declared to be natural enemies of the rabbit, and giving them general protection. By a notification in last evening's "Gazette" it is announced that in districts which are tree from rabbits, consideration will be given to the granting of an exemption trom the general protection of stoats and weasels upon a petition in that behalf made by anl local authority or acclimatisation society. Inspectors of stock ate also. authorised to issus permits for the destruction of stoats and weasels in respect to island sanctuaries, acclimatisation game-rearing farms, and poultry farms where it is established that damage is being done on such farms by these animal*. , . ■

A strong protest was registered by unammous vote at the annual meeting of the Wellington North branch of the IN ew Zealand Labour Party, against any attempt to carry out public works by means^ of the contract system, v oh tho grounds.that additional costs will be eutailed, and that the workers engaged will be less likely to receive the proper conI sideration in the matter of wages and conditions; The meeting failed to see how the private contractor pre'sentedany advantage over a properly directed and |, organised Public Works Department, 'and it drew special attention in its resolution to the repeated failure of private contractors to carry through important public works, thereby entailing on the Public Works Department the comple, tion of "their contracts.

In an address delivered at the invitation of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce, Mr. A. Seifert pointed out that, while one ton of fibre was obtained from eight and a half tons of New Zealand leaf, it took 60 to 70 tons of Manila leaf to produce the same quantity of fibre. In the case of sisal it required thirty tons of raw material to make one ton of the finished product. If the tow and stripper slips were added to the baled fibre produced in New Zealand the production was one ton' of fibre from six.and a half tons of leaf. This showed that New Zealand producers were extremely fortunate in this respect. Touching on the quantities of sisal and Manila and New Zealand fibre produced, the speaker said that the export of the first-named from the Yukatan, Mexico, only recently had been as high as 700,000 bales, or 140,000 tons, per year. The production of Manila fibre was also very high. New Zealand shipped last year about 12,000 tons, and had never exceeded 29,000. The speaker maintained that there was plenty, of room for the Dominion's product on the world's market. He also pointed out that the production of fibre per awe fvom New Zealand flax wws the highejt in the world. '

A cable message from Sydney yesterduy stated that the New Zealand athletic* tuutn will sail in the Manuno for Wellington to-day.

Hie finals 1:1 t/he Davis Cup tennis matches will b« commenced »t Lone Island, New-York, t<Sd<iy, when Auitra«a will meet America in the first singles matches. This morning the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association cabled wishing, the Australian team the best of luck. ,

llm-fanners' union in the W»irarai>a »? s 01'3 anisecl herd-testing associations at Maryborough, Featheraton, Greytbwn, t-ladstone, and Nireaha. Herd te^tera nave been appointed at each centre", and operations will start on the Ist JSeptember. Through the operations of these associations over 6000 cows, will be under test during the coming season.

At the annual meeting of 'the Wellington North branch of the New Zealand Labr ■- Party, the following officers were eler';.. .'or the ensuing, year :—Presided, Mr. M. Walsh; vice-president, Mr. H. E. Combs; secretary, Mr. A. Parlane: .committee, Mrs. Forde, 'Mrs. Snow, Messrs. Nation, Regan, and Lee; delegates to Labour Representation Committee, Mrs; Forde and Mr. M. Walsh. Shipmasters navigating the coasts ot the Dominion and desiring a weather report may now obtain the same by Calling up the Wellington wireless station. The weather reports specially relate to the conditions at and near the following places i Auckland, East Cape, Gisborne, Wafiganui. Cape femont, Farewell Spit, Greymouth, Cape Campbell, Akaroa Heads^and Bluff.

At the Magistrate's Court to-day a further remand for one week was granted in the. case of James Phillips, charged with the theft of a railway ticket, the property of John Davidson. A similar remand' was also granted in the case of Albert Frederick Clarke, charged with obtaining goods to the value of £12 10s from Stanley Frederick Brailsford by means of a valueless cheque. A meeting of Milking. . Shorthorn breeders (whose association headquarters are at Palmerston. North) resolved yesterday to form a Wellington branch, which will include Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, and Taranaki, till separate branches are' formed for any .of those dis< tricts. Several prizes were subscribed to augment the awards at the- next Manawatu Show, states a Press Association message. Notice of motion was given that the next annual meeting be held in Palmerston North, instead of Hamilton, as previously decided.

. Several letters have appeared in "The Post" recently from correspondents protesting against the speed of motor vehicles in the Karori Cemetery, as being dangerous to pedestrians. The question has been discussed by'the City Council in committee. '• It is recognised that something must be done on account of the increase in traffic, and a committee, consisting of Councillors Gaudin, Meadowcroft. and Burns has been set up to report to the Public Health Committee, which,, in'turn, will report to the next meeting of the City tiouncil.

"A great many of these heart attacks are really not heart attacks. They are indigestion," explained Dr. Borrie when,', says the "Lyttelton Times," he was asked by a member of the Home Economics Association what was the best first-aid treatment for heart failure.'

"The accumulation of wind from indigestion is pressed iip on the heart and causes embarrassment." It made the heart beat quickly, and the patient probably fainted. "You can't work in a minute apace—neither can your heart," he said.

The complaints made •by the Labour members of the City Council against the use of tramway etandards ip the streets of the city are being endorsed by num bers of Labour bodies. At the annualmeeting of .the Wellington North branch' of the New Zealand Labour Party, a resolution was passed .-—"That this branch joins heartily with all "other organisations which urge the removal of tramway poles from the centre of public streets on the ground that their present location is a source of danger to both the passengers and -workers on the tramcars."

The annual exchange/of visits between the Petone and Eketahuna school boys takes place during this week-end. On this occasion the visit is being 1 made to Petone, at which place twenty of the Eketahuna boys arrived last evening under the charge of the Eketahuna District High School master,' Mr. J. Lynskey. The principal reason for the visit is the annual football contest held under the auspices of the Petone Football Club. The .first match will be- played on Friday, and the second on Monday, both at the Petone Recreation Ground. A full programme of entertainment has -een arranged at Petone for the visitors. ,

His Majesty's Trade Commissioner in New Zealand has received advice that the British Industries Fair, lSli, wil be held at the White City, London, from 28th April, to 9th May, and at West Bronnvich, Birmingham, from 12th May to the 23rd of that month. The Fair will take place at a later date than has been the case in previous years, when both sections have opened during the' latter part of February. The- change of date is due to the fact that those overseas tuyere who, in the usual way, visited the United Kingdom in the early part of the year, will, in all probability, delay their visits in 1924 ip order that they may be able to inspect both the British Industries Fair arid the -ritish Empire Exhibition, which, will open on or, about the 15th ipiil.

A rather mean theft was described by Chief-Detective Kemp at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when a young woman named Beryl Lillian May Carew Nay lor pleaded guilty, before Mr. E Page, S.M., to the theft of a £5 note, the property of May Florence Hadler. The Chief-Detective explained that the complainant at the time of the offence was staying at the New Commercial Hotel,, and had invited the accused to remain with her fora few days. This Naylor did, arid during the absence of her friend stole the money in question, paid her board with some of it at the Carlton Hotel, where sho had previously been staying, and Avent away to Christchurch. She was later arrested by Detective Thomas. The defendantwas only 22 years of age, and had been m the Dominion for about seven months. The accused was remanded for sentence until Tuesday.

Following upon the theft of articles of clothing to the value of £19 7s 6d from the shop of Messrs. C. Hill and Sons, a young man named ' Edward Paul Wright, an ex-employee of-the complainant firm, made his appearance before Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day. The accused, it was explained by Chief-Detective'Kemp, had been employed at a weekly salary of £7. He was iii a position of absolute trust, and even acted as buyer for his linn, but after his dismissal, not for dishonesty, information came to the knowledge of his employers and a complaint was made to the jaolice. A search by Detectives Sinclair and Murch of the premises occupied by the accused had resulted in the discovery of the stolen property. On behalf of the defendant, Mi- : J. F. B. Stevenson-said that he had not stolen the clothing jynd sold it for gain, but had worn the various articles himself. He had been very worried by domestic troubles, and his wife had recently gone back to England without his consent and had taken the children with her. The Magistrate decided to renjand the accused fey sentence until Tuesday.

Kvs bankruptcies were recflrdwi in Wellington this month, and the total for the eight months of the yaar stands at sixteen. In Aiigusfc of last y«i ri four bankruptcies were recorded, ■'„.

The descendants of Henry and William "William* are meeting «t Fahia today to celebrate the centenary of the establishment of the family in New Zealand. The missionary, Henry Williams. landed at the Bay of Islands from the ship Bramptou on 24th August, 1823 and three weeks later went to Pahia where he made hit home, and carried on his. work amongst the Maori*. Hit brother William Williams, arrived two yeara later, And wa» afterwards Bishop of Watapu. ; , r

The world-famed fcafc of Indian fakirs wet* referred to by Mr. Reg. B. Oikley in the course of his lecture at Auckland' ou Tuesday eroding. "Th« magic of the Indians is spoken of by traveller, as being in some instance, rl markaole, he sa>d, "although from very close study of th« subject I am led U> believe, in common with most modern mag. wans, that the writers of certain atones concerning Indian magic belong to the school of Jlunchauseu, and that their stories of far-off, lands are about as reliable as those of Mandevilie." The lecturer added that a Major Branson, with 20 yeare" service in the Indian Army, recently offered a reward of 205 rupeis_ to any .native soldier who could give him the name of anybody who could do the celebrated Indian rope trick', but the reward had never been claimed

_ How an enterprising carter named John Henry Morrell made fourteen bags of wood out of the thirteen he had been instructed to deliver, to his customers and sold the extra bag was the story told by Chief-Detective Kemp xat the! Magistrates Court to-day, when the ingenious one appeared before Mr. E Page, S.M. on a charge of stealing the vvood, which was valued nt 3s. Although . the case might appear to be lather trivial, said the officer, in reality rb was of a mor,a or less serious nature. The accused had been employed to cart some coal and wood from the State Coal Department to several persona who had already.paid for the fuel. As previous, ly stated, he contrived to make an extra bag of wood, and perhaps the scheme might not have been discovered had not the husband of the woman to whom the wood was sold become suspicious, and communicating with the Department', learnt" that the accused had no authority to sell wood—his business was only to deliver. Two weeks were allowed the defendant to find £5, the amount of the fine imposed". Default was fixed at one month s imprisonment.