LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 9 April 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In connection with the conference which is to be held shortly between re-, presentatives of the Senate, the Board of Studies, the Education Department, and the Secondary School Teachers to discuss the accrediting scheme, as an alternative to the matriculation examination', the Secondary Schools Association has appointed the following as its representatives: Mr. T. R. Cresswell, M.A., principal of Wellington College; -Mr. ]?. Martyn R-enner. 3,1.A., of Wellington College; Mr. j. E. Strachan, M.A., B.Sc, principal of Rangiora High School. At a meeting called yesterday to discuss the formation of a committee of the While Cross League in Wellington, the following delegates to the league' conference on 17th May were appointed: Dr. J. S. Elliott, president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, and Messrs. T. R. Cresswell, principal of Wellington College; J. L. Hay, general secretary, V.M.C.A. ; F. M. Kenner, secretary of the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Association, and Captain R. H. Nimmo. The Secretary, General Post Office, has received the following advice in regard to legal time:—Belgium and France: Legal time put forward 1 hour on the night of the 29th-30th ultimo; Holland : Legal time put forward 1 hour from 30th March to sth October, 1924; Nauru Island; Time of 165 degrees east of Greenwich (11 hours in advance of the mean time of that place); Union of South Africa and South-West Africa: Time of 30 degrees east of Greenwich (2 hours in advance of the mean time of that place). The Kaipara Dairy Factory at Helensville has been hard hit by floods, and that is particularly unfortunate, as a record would have been established in the matter of output, states "The Post's" Auckland correspondent. Starting in 1912 with 130 tons, the factoy has gone up by leaps and bounds, and last year's output. was 920 tons. It was anticipated that for the present season the output would have been at least 1000 tons, but this'disastrous'interruption will probably bring the total down a couple of hundred tons. All the elements are present for trouble at the State mines, as two miners, employed in.the middle brake section, had their lamps stopped on Friday, says the Greymouth correspondent of the Christchurch "Press." This action by the management was due to the men's refusal to continue working in their place without additional timbering.. In response to correspondence from Mr. W. Balderstone, secretary of the Miners' Council, the Prime Minister has written stating that the Government is giving careful consideration to the request by the council that preference should hn given by the Government in the purchase and use of coal to the New Zealand product, as a means to securing the constant working of the New Zealand mines. Street sweeping in the central area of Christchurch is now done by the most up-to-date methods, the "fleet" of two-horse sweepers, which ousted the ' man and the hand-cart " system years c.go, giving place to the motor-tractor (says the "Press "). Under the new method, which came into operation on 20th March, a tractor with solid rubber tires hauls two converted horse-brooms, each fitted with a water sprinkler. So far, this system is being applied only to tho centre of the city, the work being done between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The adoption of the modern method affords another instance of the manner in. which the motor is displacing the horse for "all utility purposes. Under the system which has served Christchurch up (ill the present six heavy draught horses ond three drivers would have been required for the same amount of work as done by the tractor and its sprinklersweeper combination. Some doubts have been expressed as to whether the site in Manners street set aside for Wellington's memorial to the fallen will be suitable for the holding of the open-air service on Anzac Day, by reason of the fact that the attendance of 2000 or 3000 officers and men from the warships will add so greatly to the numbers present that there may not be sufficient room, and it was suggested that this year the service might be held at the Basin Reserve. Representatives of the R.S.A.-and the War Memorial Committee have now discussed the position, and it has been decided to adhere to the original arrangement, but instead of the service being conducted from the foot of the cenotaph, however, a platform will be erected. The service will commence at 11 a.m., and service will also be held in the Grand Opera House and : the Town Hall. At the latter service Elgar's "For the Fallen" will be sung ! under the baton of Mr. H. Temple White., A cheering report was made by tho Dunedin. City Electrical Engineer yesterday (states "The Post's" correspondent. He said that the position seems to be so good that he thought he could say that the factories would bo able to run on Friday all day, and probably on the Saturday half-day as well, providing that in the meantime consumers continue to exercise all the care they can. Asked as to the amount of water available, he added that the Mahineranjri dam level had now risen to 20 feet, a gain of a foot by comparison with Monday. Ho had expected that it would fall, but evidently the users are practising economy, and it is pretty plain also that more water is being gathered than was anticipated, possibly due to a greater rainfall orTthe mountains than was known of. Every effort will be made to allow maufacturers to keep going all this week. Next week the Easter holidays commence, and there will be four days in which to expect an appreciable accumulation. In the meantime, until copious rain actually comes, all tho existing restrictions stand and the streets will remain unlit. The two DiesVl engines were working yesterday morning. Speaking at the final meeting of the Radium Fund Executive Committee last evening, Mr,, W.. S. Wilson referred to Wellington's much greater success in the matter of establishing a-sound fund than had been achieved in either of the other three centres. Although the.Radium Institute at Duuedin had been so great a success it had not. so far been possible to raise more than a few thousands in _that town, while in Christchurch, though a few people were anxious that a radium department should be added to the hospital, nctthing had so far been done. In Auckland, too, little progress had been made in the raising of the £10,000 hoped for. There was no doubt that a very great deal of the credit for the success of the campaign must be given to Mr. G. Mitchell, whosp work as secretary had been untiring. Mr. Wilson went on to suggest that as Wellington had succeeded in raising well over the £10,000 aimed at a certain sum should be held" that the committee could assist in furthering the radium campaign in other centres. The proposal, however, met with the strongest opposition by Sir John Luke, wlvo maintained that the money had been con--tributed for Wellington, and that not one penny could be side-traekecT. "I have another meeting to attend," added Sir John, "but if necessary I will stop here all night and argue that out."

a o^ a o the UPPer Hutt branch of the A.b.K.S. pledges itself to support any action taken by the executive council to secure an increase in wages and to retain the 44-hour week," was a resolution carried at a- meeting of members of that branch on Saturday. According to a Press Association message from Ximaru, the South Canterbury lower Board decided at a meeting yesterday to take a poll on a proposal to borrow £105,000 for the reticulation of the Geraldme and Temuka Boroughs and part of the Gerakline County. The proposed loan to cover the whole of the board s district was turned down. "I move that the secretary keep up an indefinite correspondence with 'Auckland until next season," remarked a member at the Athletic Centre Meeting last evening. The secretary appeared to wish something more definite, but the other members seemed to consider this a good and 'new method of keeping a thing in view. Who is there who does' not relish toheroa soup? The "New Zealand Heraltf says that anxiety was felt last year on account of the reported scarcity of toheroa on the West Coast, North Aucklanu. It is therefore interestine to learn that expert advice is now to hand that supplies are more plentiful thau for many years past. Parts of the beach are said to be .literally swarmin^ witty young toheroa. Christchurch gutter-sweepers are apparently out to break long-distance records. _ The ."Sun" says that before dealm? Wl*h the Works and Sanitary Committees _ report at Monday's meeting of the Christchurch City Council, Councilor W. H. Winsor read a comprehensive report of the work done during the year by tbe committee. All the figures ran well mto the thousands, and some into the millions. He capped them all by stating, that the distance travelled by the gutter-sweepers was 54,876 miles, twice round the world. Thß controversy between the Electrical Committee of the Palmerston North Borough Council and local electrical: contractors was further ventilated .on Monday night, when a deputation, represent-' ms the trade, waited on the council with the request that it should discontinue its' activities in selling electrical fittings on consignment, on- behalf of outside firms. A motion that the council should meet representatives of the trade was lost, the majority of councillors being of opinion that no good purpose would be served by such a conference. l. A statement was made by the Minister of Public Works'(the "Hon. J. G Coates) in the North on Saturday, regarding the imminent declaration of main roads of the Dominion by the Vain Highways Board. Speaking to a gathering at the opening of the Waimauku Post Office. Mr. Coates said that the mam roads, as decided upon by the board, would be gazetted very shortly. The delay in making any announcement, the Minister stated, was due to the fact that some' of the local bodies consulted had recommended stretches of road which were considered by the Government to bn too long. These local authorities were now engaged in bringing their recommendations more within the compass of the Department's desires. Reserved judgment was given by Mr. Justice Chapman in the Supreme' Court yesterday in a case in which George and Doughty, Ltd., claimed to recover from Lindsay, Ltd., the sum of £438 Gs for 487 pairs of boots supplied to defendant. The defence in the case wasi that the lines did not comprise regular sizes, and an arrangemnts was . made with the plaintiff's traveller whereby defendant was authorised to sell what he. could, and return the balance. His Honour remarked on the marked divergence of the evidence on both sides, and said that even if the arrangement was made he did not think the traveller was authorised to make snch an exceptional arrangement. Judgment was given for the whole amount claimed, with, storage charges and costs. The defendant had admitted liability for 183 pairs. At the ■hearing Mr.. D. S. Smith represented the plaintiff, and Mr. J. Tjipe appeared for defendant. Daniel M'Laren, in Dunedin years ago when bookmakers vere licensed iv New Zealand (states "The Post's" Dunedin correspondent) was what is known as a "layer of odds." Bookmakers wero abolished, and the totalisator came in, but M'Laren, like a number of others, is said to have carried on surreptitiously the same business. Anyhow, in March. 1915, a summons was issued charging him with breaking the law in that respect Before the case came on M'Laren left for Melbourne, and has been there ever since until Sunday last, when ho returned "by the Moeraki to his homa in Dunedin. The ever-alert police got to know of M'Laren's existence in the city, and a warrant had been issued. When he failed to answer the summons he received an unwelcome call from Dc-' tective Lean yesterday morning. The result was that M'Laren appeared ■ at the Police Court charged on three informations, each nine years old. One was in respect to betting in a public place, another alleged that he made a bet on the Tradesmen's Handicap at the Southland Racing Club's Meeting held on 24th March, 1915, while the third alleged that he made another bet on the Roslyn Hack Handicap at the same meeting. Chief-B\ tective Lewis, iv asking for a remand, said that naturally the evidence was now somewhat scattered. He understood that while defendant knew the summons had been issued he was perhaps unaware that there was a warrant, out for his arrect. Mr. Irwin, who appeared for the accused, said M'Laren had lived in Dunediu for years prior to going to Australia, and his home continued to be kept up here. The Magistrate adjourned. the case until the 16th inst. Evidence of the fact that the scenic beauties and climate of New Zealand are attracting some attention in the United States is afforded by a letter which has been forwarded by the Government Publicity Department to the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. John Myers, who has always shown the keenest interest in making the advantages of the Dominion known to tourists. High appreciation of New Zealand as a tourist resort was given by Dr. Franklin Martin, in his farewell letter, written on behalf of the Mayo party, which recently visited New Zealand. A letter has now come to hand from ' the International Travel Service, Los Angeles, California, stating that that company has included New Zealand in its tours.- It is intended to have conducted tours from Los Angeles next November to Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific Islands. _ A request is made for further information regarding the climatic and other conditions of New Zealand between November and January; also photographs and particulars as "to sight-seeing points- The Los Angeles International Travel Service says : "We feel that there is a good -market for working these tours; and they are a little off the beaten paths of the ordinary tours—which the public demands." Mr. Myers states that the Welliugton Chamber of Commerce intends forwarding all the information possible in order to induco visitors from America to include New Zealand in the itinerary of their tours.