LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume 65, Issue 65, 17 March 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postmaster-General announces that the special tax of 2d, which has been imposed on all cable messages sent from the Dominion since September, 1915, -will be removed after the end of the present month. This means that the charge on every cable message sent from New Zealand to any part of the world will be reduced "by 2d. A message was received in Wellington ' from Christchurch on Saturday, announcing a rise in freight from Australia of 15s 6d a ton, as from Ist March, but inquiries made show that no advice has been received by local merchants of any advance. The manager of the Union Company (Mr. S. K. Sleigh), who was shown the message, also professed ignorance of any rise in freights from Australia. As was pointed out by one merchant (states "The Post's" Dunedin correspondent), the messase may refer to a rise which is reported to have taken place in connection with the rates on goods transhipped from Singapore, and some confusion may have arisen in that way. So keen has been the demand for mining claims on the Kawarau River that the whole of the available area has been taken up by investors, while about 40 others are waiting- for a chance in i-ase some of those who have already taken up sections fail to see the scheme through states the "Otago Daily Times." Each claim extends over a quarter of a mile of the river, and about 125 claims have been taken up. The survey of the river is almost completed, and as soon as the plans have boen sent to Wellington and have been finally approved by the Warden for the district, constructive operations will be commenced. ■ It is understood that an order for sluice {rates was tentatively placed in England some months ago, and it is anticipated that the dam will be completed in about six months. "Once again the dairy farmers of New Zealand have had to pay the penalty of irregular shipments of their produce to the London market," said an expert to the Taranaki "Daily News," when pointing out that the rapid decline in quotations for butter and cheese was largely due to the fact that in a little over three weeks Tooley Street was compelled to' deal with a fraction over a sixth of the Dominion's annual output of butter and slightly more than a third of the output of cheese. New Zealand's annual production of butter and cheeseis about 60.000 tons of each commodity In the period between Bth February and Bth March, the arrivals :in London ™°™^ to 9714 tons of butter and 18,913 tons of cheese. A burst joint in the 24-inch water mam from Wainui in its Thorndon quay length at about 2.30 o'clock this morning made necessary the shutting off of that main, and consequently resulted in a marked lowering of pressure in 'the city when t!u> morning demand commenced. The Karori supply was turned, into the city mains' at about 3.30 a.m. to help out the one main supplying from waimii, while repairs were bern« effected, but this was not sufficient "to keep the pressure up to anything, like normal. The fact that.the break occurred oc Monday morning perhaps helped to muse the position more awkward, for the- household demand would be 'extra heavy, mid while washtubs on the lower levels tilled—in lime—kettles hi somo of the higher love! houses would sc.nvelv iill at alt- The brea'U, » "lost" reportor wna informed this muniing, \v;is nut, ;i serious one, and normal wnt.'r pret>- ■'''**.' would m, doubt, be roisloii.vj ovrr l!i« whulc cily before lu-uiumm- muriiins.

Mr. Justice Adams held a brief sitting of tfie Supremo Court at Holdtika liist week, says a Press Association message. In the case of Neil Nicholson's motwn to quash the Westland County I Council bylaw re motor traffic, his Hon- j our stated thai, the question was a very important one, and agreed to refer the heaving nf argument to the Full Court-I wlndt is shortly sitting at Wellington. j ■ hi' fi final decision. "Do the tramwaymen accept uniforms that another man has worn?" asked Mr. W. G. Smith at the Arbitration d'ourt 011 Saturday. Mr. H. Hunter : "Yes." -Mr. bmith : "Well. lam surprised I [ wonder how they get on for size. lam | rather stout, I could not wear Mr Le Groves uniform." Mr. Justice Eraser •■ 'Ao, you would change with me, and Mr. Le Grove would get Mr. Scott's." "There is one steward on the Niagara who boasts that he makes £1000 a year " stated Mr. W. G. Smith at the Arbitration Court on Saturday. "The manner lie lives ashore indicates that lie makes a lot. Ho stays at the Hotel Australia in Sydney. One day when at this hotel he approached an erstwhile passenger and remarked, 'You don't remember me 1 was your bedroom steward on the -Niagara.' The passenger certainly did not recognise, the- steward, who was then dressed for polo." Mr. E. Kennedy: Uiat man must have had a good hold on your leg when lie put over that tale." -Mr. bmith : "It is no fairy tale " The language of the Navy, by' means of Hags i.f varying shapes and sizes, is always a mateter of interest to shore folk who rarely understand the meaning of the signals, remarks the "New Zealand Herald." The H.M.S. Laburnum, now lying at the Sheerlegs Wharf, has flyinrr from her mast a long, narrow, white pennant, 50 or 60 yards in length. The unusual sight has been the subject of much discussion among passengers on passing ferry boats.^- The flag in question is the ''paying off" pennant, signifying in this instance that several of the officers and crew on the vessel have completed their period of service on the New Zealand station, and are due to return Home. It is customary for this paying-off pennant to be flown from the commencement of the final trip until the new complement takes the vessel into, commission. This will be toward the end of the present month. ''Cycling on this track prohibited." j This notice, more or less in a state of I dilapidation, is exhibited on a post at the Clyde quay end of the broad asphalt strip which forms the surface of the fine walking promenade round to the head of Oriental Bay. When the track was laid down to Te Aro baths some years ago its use by cyclists was permitted, but more recently this privilege was rescinded, possibly because the track has become a popular rendezvous ' for pedestrians. The notice warning I- cyclists off the asphalt strip, however, is wholly disregarded, and boys on bicycles take a ' delight in racing" along the promenade, to the danger of adults, and more particularly little children. Yesterday afternoon h child had a very narrow escape from being knocked down by three boys who were riding on the smooth asphalt pathway With no regard whatever to any speed limit. Possibly if the warning notice on the post near the gate entrance to the morgue in Clyde quay were painted up. it would avert the necessity for holding an inquest at somo time or other, and the stationing of one or two Corporation traffic men along the promenade to take the names of cyclist offenders would help in coiiiining the asphalt strip to pedestrians. "I was very much interested in. Mr. U Kenn s statement regarding Wellingtons claim that the Arbitration Court award should contain a clause giving a |(j per cent, increase an the Wellington district,, said Mr. J. M'Oombs, M.P., at Christchurch on Friday. "Personally, I think the workers will get nowhere by sectional moves of that, kind, and furthermore, I do not think that it can be 'shown that the cost of living is higher in Wellington than in Christchurch.. It is true that rents in Wellington are 142 points higher than in Uinstchurch, but groceries are nearly 100 points higher in Christchurch than in Wellington, and 140 points higher in Dunedin than in Wellington. Meat is very much cheaper in Wellington than in Christchurch, and if we take the average of all the food groups combined) including dairy produce, which is dearer in Wellington, the average for combined food groups shows a 46 per cent, increase in Wellington since 1914, as against a 53 per cent, increase in Christchurch, and a 55 per cent, increase in Dunedin. I think it could also be shown that clothing and boots are dearer in Christchurch, and all these things combined far outweigh the higher rents in Wellington. I think New Zealand is too small to be cut into sectional parts of living districts." Exception was taken by Dr. Thacker at a meeting to consider making arrangements in connection with the visit of the light cruiser squadron to Lyttelton, to a letter from the Railway Department stating that civilians who travel ,with the sailors on railway excursions will be requested to pay their fares. "I consider it is a miserable business," said Dr. Thacker. "We all know that when sailors come here they make friends—not men friends—so much as lady friends," He thought that each sailor should be allowed to take one friend with him free, reports the "Lyttelton Times." Mr. J. J. Dougall: l;What about the girjs in the country?" | Dr. Thacker. replied that he thought it rather hard that young ladies who accompanied the sailors should have to pay their fares. The Mayor explained that .the letter Dr. Thacker referred to was from the General Manager of Railways. It stated that members of the public travelling with the sailors oil the special trains would be allowed tickets at holiday excursion rates. Dr. Thacker moved that the General Manager be written to asking that the men be allowed [to take one friend each with them free of charge. The motion was seconded, and was put to the, meeting. Before the Mayor had declared the result of the voting Mr. W- Walton said he wished to oppose the motion. He expressed the opinion that any civilians travelling with the sailors should be quite prepared to p;iy their fares. It was hardly fair for the Railway Department to have too big a burden put upon it. Dr. Thacker interposed that Mr. Walton was not in order, as the motion had been put and carried, but the Mayor decided that as the voting had not been declared, the motion should be put .to the meeting again. The motion was declared lost oo the voices. Dr. Thacker then asked foi n, division, and the Mayor declared the voting to be three to one against the motion