LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 80, 2 October 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The wording of-the military order denning- the obligatory training of Territorials for 1923-24 might b,e construed, ■Jis it has been construed, as nieaing tliat trainees must put in a week under canvas. It is intended, however, that it snail be entirely optional whether in the course of the six consecutive whole-day parades, which are compulsory, a Territorial Bhall spend the night in camp or go home after each day's operations. For the convenience of units, which chooße to carry out the six consecutive days' training in camp, the Government will provide rations and tent accommodation, but no camp pay wiU be allowed. The Departmental regulation extends the system of optional camps instituted, last year, and modifies the number of halfday parades and night drills. When the City Council loan proposals were submitted to the vote of the ratepayers in 1920, the schedule consisted' ot tune sections, each-containing a separate proposal, with various works specified under it. A correspondent, "^ivis." writes asking what works were joined with the Raroa road tramway proposal Ihe proposal referred to is No. 4 on the schedule which provides for the expenditure^ £66,986 upon the "Kelburn Karon, and Northland tramway extension, viz: Willis street, Aro street and Raroa road; and extension to Northland. ' Surveyors are making a survey of the ' ■belt of gum Jand which runs from Kai- ! goose m the north to Mangapai and Oakleigh m the south-east, in a break between good country-adjoining tlie townships of Whangarei and better land westward toward Maungakaramea and Tangihua. It is understood (states the "Auckland Star") that the survey follows upon a decision to throw open for i settlement, under the, provision of the Homestead Settlement Act, a large area of gum land, which some years ago was considered practically worthless by all but the gumdiggers. The latest decision of the New Zealand Rugby Union to the effect that the Maori Agricultural College is not eligible for the Jtfoascar Gup competition was discussed at the last meeting of the Hawkes Bay Rugby Union's Management Committee. Members considered, states a report from Napier, that the New Zealand Union had made itself the laughing stock-of the Dominion by the way in which it had dealt with the matter. . They thought that" there was something more behind the decision, and considered that the whole of the cards should be put on the table. It was decided to enter a very strong protest to the New Zealand Union against the decision. Plain talk was indulged in by the General. Manager of Railways (Mr. R. W. M'Villy) in the course of an interview with members of the Railway Officers' Institute. One of the matters discussed''was a, proposal' that certain officers be granted a till' allowance. "There is no use quoting any other Department to me," said Mr. M'Villy, "because if it is something I think you ought to get, i well, then, I will give it consideration on its merits. If I think you should not got it, you will be told straight 'No.' My advice to you is: 'Stand on your own feet.' The attitude I take up in regard to the Railway Department is that it is not the smallest show in the ■country, and I want my men to stand on then- own feet." : The absence of pictures on the walls of the Auckland Hospital was referred to by Mr. Chapman Taylor at the annual meeting of the Auckland Society of Arts last week. The speaker said it would be a courteous act if every member of the society made it his or her business to donate a picture to the hospital, the hospital authorities to decide whether the pictures should be hung on the walls of the patients' wards, or in the nurses' home. It was possible that the absence of pictures was due to a definite policy, but the speaker had visited foundlings' hospitals in London where ■ pictures by famous artists adorned the walls (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The proposal appeared to meet with approval, and inquiries will probably be made in the proper quarter as to whether the suggestion would be welcomed. "Evidently the Mayor of Wellington was much impressed by the representations of the deputation which asked him to call a public meeting to consider tho question of raising funds for the establishment of a-radjum department -at Wellington," says the "Marlborough Express." "The information given him. should also serve to win respect from the general public for the object of bringing this country up to date, in tho matter of the adoption of radium treatment." After summarising the statements made by n.cmbers of the deputation, the "Express" concludes: "A movement with such strong recommendatjpns. may be expected to command a. full and instant measure of public sympathy ; and the suggestion „■ readily occurs that its interest is far from confined to the citizens) of Wellington. Marlborough, for instance, is by no means unconcerned in the prospect for the establishmant of a radium institute across the Strait." That it is necesary to preserve good relations amongst the staffs of the Kailways Department was emphasised by the General Manager (Mr. R. W. M'Villy) when discussing with members of the Railway Officers' Institute certain requests made to him. "You can.take it from me so far as the General Manager is concerned I want a contented staff," said Mr: M'Villy. "Mind, the staff have got to expect they will be' disciplined when they are at fault, and there is always somebody on whom the disagreeable task of meting out punishment will rest, but at the same time here wo always try to temper justice with mercy. Nothing gives me more trouble or more cause for thought, than when I have to fine somebody for a eerious breach of the regulations. These punishments are inflicted as much as anything else for educating members of the Service to the fact that therearo certain,pitfalls which they must try and avoid, and that there are things they must, not do. I want to see good relationship between the officers in charge and the men working under them, subject, of course, to the fact that we must have the work done." It was reported by Press Association telegram from Hawera in last night's .Post ,that the South Taranaki Returned Soldiers' Association had passed a resolution that the provision made in the forms provided for revaluation was inadequate in respect of the period allowed over which to estimate the productive yield of a farm. In a statement supplied to the Press the Hon. W. Nosworthy (Acting-Minister of Lands) last night stated that there was quite a misconception on the point, as no mention was made of the date, 28th February, on the form on which an applicant was ask to supply estimated receipts and expenditure for twelve months ended 30th June, 1924. There was no suggestion whatever, said the Minister, that a farm would be valued on its productive value for only twelve months, and. as a matter of fact, the form when' filled in was merely for the information of the district committees. The district committees were quite unhampered as to the manner in which they would determine the valuation of any farms. It transpires ' that the last date for the receipt of j applications for revaluation in 28th>" February next. Apparently the associ- ] ■ation has confused this with the date j of tho period of productive yield from I soluicr* farms. j

The Postal authorities have received advice from San Francisco that the Hauraki, which left San Francisco "on the 29th ultimo for Auckland, has on board for New Zealand 187 bags of mail and 283 bags of parcels. Through falling with his motor-cycle a young man named Francis Eagles, residing at 19, Aurora street, Petone, sustained a fractured collarbone on Monday morning, and was admitted to Hospital, where he is progressing favourably. A well-attended meeting of shareholders of tha Taranaki Farmers' Meat Company, held at New Plymouth yesterday afternoon, unanimously decided not to liquidate, states a Press' Association message. About £50,000 new capital has been subscribed to carry on with. The arrangements for the presentauon to Dr. J. R. Purdy, by the citizens of the Lower Hutt, not having been completed, it has been decided to postpone the function which was to have taken place this evening, until next Monday evening in the local Council Chamber. The" election of directors of the New Zealand South - Seas Exhibition Company, at Ounedin, resulted in the return of Messrs. C. Speight, J. S. Rose P Barr, A. Barnett, H. L. Tapley H ¥ Smeock, P. h. Halsted, T. Somerville' C. Todd, and XV. II Hayward.-FreK Association. v"The expensive part of cricket its not the ground fees,", remarked Mr. D. M'Xenzie at last night's meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association's Management Committee. "What is it?" asked Mr. R. A. Berry. "I think your club subscription i s . the roost expensive part of your cricket," was Mr. M'Kenize s reply. " - The lateness in closing the football season was the subject of adverse-com-ment at last night's meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association. "Football is kept going for just 3 fortnight too long, _ remarked a member. In the discussion on the matter it was stated that on account of. the football being played so late in the season the caretakers of the grounds did not have a reasonable chance of getting the -wickets properly prepared for cricket. The extra, two weeka of football were doing harm every season. Forty-one pheasants, consigned to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society were landed at Auckland on Friday from the steamer Port Napier, which arrived from London. They are a magnificent lot and all m very good order, considering they were wild birds. v Nineteen birds died early m the voyage, as the result of being shipped in an overcrowded condition. The 41 birds landed are now on their way to. the society's game farm at Pukekohe, and they should improve the pheasants of the district very much as the years go by. The society has a big pheasant-rearing programme in hand this year, lar greater than ever in the past. When Auckland recently met Hawkes Bay in Uie final Rugby match for the Kanfurly Shield the Auckland team wore light blue jerseys,- as their usual colours might be confused -with those of Hawkes Bay. For the return match, to be played at Auckland on Saturday next the Hawkes Bay Union has decided that its players shall make the desirable of colours on this occasion. The white jerseys wdrnby the South Island team have been' secured from-the New_ Zealand Rugby; Union, and they will be worn by Hawkes Bay ■n »xfc T> Bat r urdaJ'- The match-is not forthel Ranfurly Shield, but has-been specially arranged for the -benefit of the, Auckland War Memorial Fund. L-u-^ c ,?rice of c"'cket to-day is pro. hibitive,' said Mr. H. J. Buck last evening when the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association was considering ways and means of making the game a little less expensive for the younger players. "Bowls and tennis are cheaper. If we are going to make a reduction, we should make it to the young players coming on." Mr. C Ij. Wilson (chairman)-\also had eometning to say on the matter. "We don't want to make a profit out of these players—the junior players," he said, and added that everyone was in favour of making cricket cheaper if possible. He was favourable to-the proposal to lessen the, ieee paid by the third and fourth grade players. Although the fishing season 1923-24 opened yesterday, it will be this coming week-end before many anglera make'their way tp the river banks. It is weU thai lovers of this sport should remember that no lures or baits, other than artificial ones can be used in the following rivers and streams and their tributaries -.—The Wainui-o-mata, the Wainui tributary of the \\hakatiki. the Mwgaroa, the Koro Koro, the Akatarawa, the Little Akatarawa, the Pukeiatahi (Hutt County); the South Karori, the Porirua, the Kaiwarra (Makara. County): the Mangaone, the Wailohu, the Waikawa, the Waikanae, above Buchanan's House, the Tokorearu, the Makaretu, the Makahiki (tributaries of the Ohau); the Ohau, above the Railway Bridge (Horowhenua County)*; the Mangatarera (Wairarapa); the Kahutarawa, the Tirltea (Kairanga. County) • the Makakahi; the Mangatainoka (EkeWhun County); the Makuri (Pahiatua County), and the Hautapu from Jacobsen's Bridge north of Taihape southwards (Rangitikoi County). "Seeing the fish and successfully angling them are two very different things, ' said the eecreta-vv of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, Mr. 0. I. DaSent, to a Post reporter yesterday j when referring to the opening of the fishing season. Mr. Dasent remarked that fish and their haunts were quite uncertain, and in proof of the glorious uncertainty of fishing related the experience of a resident of Wellington, who had been a license-holder for many years; and who some years ago was fined for taking fish from the Wainui Stream by hand? When asked to explain why so experienced an angler had committed a breach of the regulations, he said it had been his wife's custom when he went away fishing at the week-end to prepare the frying-pan so that she would be ready to cook the tish on his return. He went nut on three occasions and returned home with an empty creel—he could not get a bite. On the third occasion, op reaching his home, he slipped quietly into the washhouse and hurig up his empty basket, and said not a word about his non-success. Later in the evening his wife remarked: "Why don't ypu take up something you can do?" On his next trip he determined to get some fish. He tried all the flies in hia collection, without success. Rather than come home again with an empty creel, he yielded to temptation, and secured several fine specimens by hand Whilst bo engaged he was caught and was duly prosecuted and fined. He admitted the justice of. the fine, and in addition, gave the society a donation. Mr. Harold Whittle, who has been appointed official accompanist at the Wangamii Competitions, left for Wanganui yesterday.