LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 124, 22 November 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The primary schools of the Wellington district close uniformly from the evening of Thursday, 20th December, and re-open after the irnnmer holidays on the morning of Tuesday. sth February.

A subscription list in connection with the Radium (Radiation) Appeal has been opened by the Mayor, Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, at the Petone Borough Council office.

It was mentioned last evening at the mass meeting to protest against prohibition/of pillion-riding that the Motorcycle Union would shortly receive a communication from the Automobile Association suggesting some form of amalgamation. The two bodies had a great deal in common, and if they could get together would form the strongest combination of motorists that could be attained.

In asserting that weight on the back wheel helped to keep a motor-cycle steady and gave a better grip on the road, a speaker at last evening's meeting to discuss the prohibition of pillion riding, said that the theory was put into effect a good many years ago by a gentleman named Watt, whose steam engine would not move on the rails, the wheels slipping. He proceeded tp fill the tender with pig-iron. People "thought he was mad, but the engine moved. Of course, he said, he was not comparing pillion-riders with pig-iron. (Laughter and applause.)

A denial was given by the Railway Department last night to a statement that £5000 compensation had been paid to victims of the Ongarue railway disaster. Aif official statement issued by the Department says:—"The Department has paid out nothing by way of compensation, being under no liability to do so. It has, however, paid out certain small sums by way of compassionate allowance, to tide people over their immediate necessity. These payments have, however, been confined to cases oE genuine hardship arising out of the accident.

The current issue of the "New Zealand Life and Forest Magazine" contains some interesting forestry notes. In the Tararua Tramping Club section the following advantages of the Kaitoke route to Mount Alpha over the Woodside route aie supported:—"The crossing of the Tauherenikau River is avoided, and that is a difficult and dangerous matter during times of flood. There is also, of course, the saving in train-fare. Dry firewood is scarce near the Tauherenikau Hut, whilst it is plentiful at Dbbson's Mistake, and the camp at Dobson's Mistake is generally speaking more comfortable than the Tauherenikau Hut. The Woodside route also involves 1000 to 1500 feet more climbing than the Kaitoke route. It is to be hoped that funds will be found to convert the new track into a good horsetrack, as the grade is much easier than the grade of the Woodside track."

A a dispute regarding the sale of a house was the subject of a civil case dealt with at the Magistrate's Court, by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. The statement of claim set out that the defendant, J. Davidson, a salesman, of Wellington, agreed to purchase the' house of the plaintiff, Mrs. Annie Jakeman, at 27, Holloway road, for £700. The defendant, it was alleged, unlawfully refused to complete the purchase, as a result of which the plaintiff was the loser to the extent of £55 16s 6d, which amount was claimed by way of damage, and included £30, the difference between the price offered by the defendant and the amount for which it was subsequently sold arid substantial commission and incidental expenses. The- defence was that the_ oiter made by Davidson.was only an option to purchase. The Magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff for £20, and held that as the agent had not collected the^ deposit, he was not entitled to the commission included in Mrs. Jakeman's claim. Plaintiff was represented by Mr. J. O'Donovan, and Mr. J. A. Scott appeared for the defendant.

A valuable save from the sea is recalled by the visit of the steamer City of Naples to Auckland. This vessel, which arrived there on Monday night from New York, is the historic ship that lay submerged at the entrance of Dundee Harbour for eight months irj 1918, and was successfully salvaged by the owners at heavy cost. The performances of the steamer since she was reconditioned at the Tyne after the refloating proves that the salvage was a complete success. On the occasion of the sinking investigations were made and it was discovered that the City of Naples had struck an uncharted rock while entering the harbour. Proceedings at law ended in the owners obtaining a Government grant covering,the total expenses of salvage and reconditioning, after a decision in their favour had been r«versed in the Appeal Court, and finally upheld by the Lords. The City of Naples is 5739 tons gross register, and is usually engaged in the New York-Indian trade (states the- "Star"). During her recent voyage she made the passage from Panama in 24 days, at an average speed of just over 11 knots.

The question as to when current from Mangahao would be available was raised by Mr. A. Ross at the last meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board at Palmerston North. Mr. Ross thought the board's canvass for consumers would go on much better if they had something definite to go on. An endeavour should be made to find out definitely when the current would be ready. They had been promised it in 1924, and now they were told it would be 1925. Mr. A. Seifert said that about three weeks ago he had been over the Mangahao works and he was satisfied that they would get the power in August, 1924. He thought those who said 1925 were unduly mistic. The chairman (Mr. G. A. Monk) said he thought the latter statement had been made because Wellington was not ready for the power. He had every confidence that, providing nothing untoward happened, they would get current by August. He thought the board should go and inspect the works at Mangahao. Mr. D. W. Matheson supported Mr. Seifert's view. It was decided to visit the works on sth December.

The story of a gamekeeper's war against harrier hawks, dogs, cats, rats, and weasels is told in the "New Zealand. Fcrest and Life Magazine" by Mr. A. H. Messenger. He states that Mr. James Dobson, who has charge' of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society's game farm at Aratapu, North Auckland, in the first month of this year shot one hundred hawks, a fox terrier, and a pointer dog on the game farm. During the second month the bag consistent of one hundred hawks, while the third month's total included the same number of hawks, two pointer dogs, and a cat. Mr. Dobson told Mr. Messenger tbat ono of the pointers killed sixty pheasants, and another dog, which he describes as some lady's pet mongrel, destroyed 151 birds before it was shot. In addition to the game birds, fifty white Wyandottes and Black Orpington pullets were killed by these same stray dogs. A common grey rat in less than an hour killed sixteen young pheasants and dragged them all into a run-way among the rushes, where the marauder also came to a sudden end at the hands of the keeper. Weasels also have to be kept down. The killing of three hundred hawks in three months suggests that North Auckland is well endowed with these. One day fifteen were shot in three hours.

Satisfactory progress wag being made with the preparations for the building of the Thorndon sea-wall, stated Mr. G. Mitchell, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board last evening, and the contractor would probably commence putting in concrete next month.

Green peas have a severe enough struggle in their early Btages to survive the attacks of birds'and snails, but, on reaching maturity, have generally been considered secure. A Remuera resident states, however, that rats have attacked his peas in the pod, first carefully shellmg them (reports the "Ne\v Zealand Herald' ). The ground between the rows is a, litter of empty shells; and, having observed a rat eating the peas, the irate amateur set traps and had the satisfaction during the week-end of catching three of the marauders

When half-way across the Pacific the passengers of the Arawa, which aririved at Wellington this week from London, were startled by the cry of "boy overboard." The helm was put "hard over," three lifebuoys were thrown overboard, and the accident boat was made ready to be launched; but as the ship circled round, no sign could be seen of the missing boy. After a fruitless search for three-quarters of an hour, the Arawa resumed her voyage. The list of the passengers and crew was checked but nobody was found to be missing. Later in the day it became known that some children had lost a ball overboard, and that someone had jokingly raised the cry of '-ball overboard." This had been mistaken and taken up for "boy overboard." "

As instancing the rapidly increasing need of a traffic bridge across the Hutt River at Haywards, Mr. J. F. Menzies, the chief speaker of the deputation of btokes Valley residents who waited upon members of the House and the Mayor and city councillors at Mr. W. H. George's residence at Haywards yesterday afternoon, said that two years ago there were only two settlers in Stokes Valley, but to-day there were fifty, and if better communication were given a great inducement would be given to others to go in for small farming in the district. They proposed a reinforced concrete bridge, 14 feet in width and 420 feet in length, the estimated cost being £6250. The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) had been approached, and had replied as follows in a letter dated Saturday last: "There was a sum of £250 provided on the appropriations for this bridge. This £250 was marked as on account, on a basis of £1 for £2. I propose that for the current year the £250 should be on account of £1000. The bridge itself, with approaches, is estimated to cost £6250. It is admitted that this bridge will benefit the Stokes Valley residents on v the left bank, and that it will also open up 3 road from the Hutt Valley to the coast at Paremata and Plimmerton, but it cannot in any sense be considered as a main highway. . . . lam agreeable to pay a subsidy at the rate, of £1 for £2 on the full cost of the bridge, and on the cost of construction of connecting roads on the right and left banks of the river,. This subsidy will probably amount to over £2000, and is almost as much as the whole cost of the Moonshine Bridge, which is a few miles higher up and was "erected in 1914."