LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 7, 9 January 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

| Happy.memories were brought back to Her, Excellency Lady Alice FerguV W' W^en^v,aC^° mpanied by His Excel--1? yu n harles Tergus«>»> she' visile* ™r Gov^nment steamer Hinemoa on Wednesday afternoon under the guidance of Captain Bollons, master of the other Government steamer, Tutanekai. CapTa% v A lo'V* 3 °n the Hinemoa when Lady Alice Fergusson's father, the Earl 1 l nfigo°o V(57^ afi Governor °i New Zealand (1892-97), and he pointed out many interesting things in connection with the I old ship.; Their Excellencies afterwards took afternoon tea with,, him on board £he Tutanekai. The Hinemoa went over to Melbourne to bring Lord and Lady Calasgow and their family to this coun- ■ try when he first came as Governor. I lie ship also visited various points in the Cook Island Group, and later made several trips round New Zealand. Lord I Glasgow and his family also made one , trip on the Tutanekai when she first came'to New Zealand. ■ - : ' The action of the Wanganui City Council m erecting."silent;poScemeh" at various intersections was iSonimeuded by members of the Wangan'ui Automobile Asspoiation at a recent meeting of that body. It was considered that the tims had now arrived when the signs should be made permanent and lighted at night. Ah official announcement was made in Melbourne on>3oth December that the ■Highways'arid Vehicles BUI would come into force from :Ist January, but that the tees payable under the provisions of the Bill -would not. apply to motor vehicles" until current,registrations expired, and it became necessary to re-register. The tee payable tinder the new Act is 3s for i every power weight unit. Power weight units'for a motor-car represent the sum of; the horse-power and weight in hundredweights of the motor, unladen. Thus m the case of a 20 h.p. motor-car weighmg 30cwt the number of power units Would be 50, and the fee £7 10s. If a motor-car is used for carrying passsngers for hire and is not licensed under the Motor Omnibus Act the fees are 3s 9d a power unit if fitted entirely with pneumatic tires, and 5s a power unit if fitted with one or more tires that are not pneumatic. "It is a significant fact that out- | siders have been concerned in the'majority of motor accidents that have occurred in the city during the past twelve months," remarked the Wauganui City Gouncil traffic inspector on Wednesday. He said (reports the "Wanganui Herald") that Wellington drivers were the principal offenders amongst visitors so fay as bylaws generally were; concerned, and occasioned the . inspectors a good deal of trouble when they were regulating, the parking of cars, especially at the beach. .: .

The Minister of Agriculture' has advised the secretary of the Waverley Farmers' Union that after careful consideration; the Government has decided that it would, be of greater advantage to the district if the Moumahaki State Farm were subdivided and settlers placed upon it, and the i-evenue accruing to the Government spent in agricultural instruction work in the district extending from. Wanganui to New Plymouth. The 'Government would have been quite willing for ■ the arrangement of homestead sections to be utilised for the purpose of a subsidised demonstration farm on the lines resembling Stratford, but in.the absence of such an arrangement, it seemed to be the best for all concerned to proceed with the proposal to subdivide and settle the area, and let the, district get the benefit of the revenue from the medium of specialised instructional work. A meeting of those interested in the question will be held at Waverley to-day to consider the Minister's information. , '

A successful walking trip through the Urewera Country from Lake Waikaremoana in the extreme south to Ruatoki on the northern border was completed on New Year's Day by a party from the Tararua Tramping Club, Wellington (reports an Auckland correspondent). The route followed by the party, which consisted of eight men and five women —all'experienced trampers—was along the 25-mile track from Waikaremoana to Ruatahuna and thence down the Whakatane River to Ruatoki. The party met with Tain at intervals and the river was consequently high for this time of the year. Some of the fords, which number nearly 100 between Ruatahuna and Ruatoki, presented considerable difficulty, but with the assistance of a rope all were safely crossed. The members of the party were greatlypleased with the trip, which is through some of the "finest scenic country in the Dominion. The track is a- very primitive one, and has been followed by only a few white people. Nearly every, expedition which had previously taken this trip has been on horseback, and the present party deserve much credit for successfully travelling on foot through such wild country.' It is believed to be the largest party that has undertaken this trip as a holiday. It is the intention of the party to continue the holiday by walking to Rotorua, which will make the total about 150 miles.

Kirkcaldie and ■ Stains, Ltd., intimate that Saturday, the IQth instant, is the lu»t> di»t;enr>!. tUv foi- njonthlv unntunita,

The bad weather •' during the recent holiday period .affected railway travelling from Christohurch a great deal. Boxing Diy is estimated to have resulted in a teas of over £1000 in revenue from Chi'istchurch alone, and other holidays'have also been, disheartening to railway officials: The necessity for care ' and caution and attending to the guide's directions in sightseeing around Rotorua, was again demonstrated last week at Whakarewarewa. Minnie, one' of the guides, had a party, and warned them to keep to the track. One man wandered a little to the aide to take a photograph, and got on to a part where the crust is thin. .It gave way and he was scalded up to the knees, fortunately not seriously. ' The total number of'motor registrations in Hamilton to date is 5758, of which _ 1237 were added last year and 1000 in the previous twelve months. This is more than one registration .to every three of the population. It is doubtful if any town in. the world can boast a similar proportionate registration (states a Hamilton correspondent), Loss of revenue by the Government taking fees in future is expected to be made up during the present year by driver's competency fees. "Eacing in some districts of the Dominion," remarked the Hon. R. F. Bollard (Minister of Internal Affairs) at Waimate on Wednesday, "seems to have got into a pocket, and it is the desire of the Racing Conference and of myself, as Minister ,of Internal Affairs, to try and remedy matters and equalise the meetings to the benefit of; the sporting communities throughout New Zealand. From the conferences I have had I think this can bo managed—and it will be a good thing for the country." '"••.' Commissioner C. H. Hoggard, head of the Salvation Army in IS^w Zealand, and his chief secretary, Lieut.-Colonel Henry, have returned from Putaruru, between \Waik'ato . and Kotorua, where they had been visiting the Army farm settlement! There are at present 120 immigrant boys in residence at the farm, 45 of whom 1 are above school age. The Commissioner was very, pleased with the general progress of the scheme. He also visited '»*The Nest," that beautiful home for unfortunate children near the Waikato Hospital. He expressed hi* great gratification: with the state in which the home was kept and the way: it was run. Commissioner Hoggard left Wellington for Gisborne this 'morning. That casual employees in the Public Works Department should receive more in wages than permanent employees, is a source of dissatisfaction, according to the ' 'Public Service Journal." ' 'Time was," says the "Journal," "when the wage privilege of a permanent, employee in this Department. was Is a day than the caeual worker, but the tables are turned to-day, for the casual (in many cases a man with over ten years continuous service)'finds himself drawing between £30 and .£4O .per annum more than the permanent, though both may be working side by side and sharing the. same work. ' Since let November the position has been intensified by the Government's granting a. -further salary increase to the casuals. The position is extremely unsatisfactory, and, for the moment, it is something\to hear that the Uomnussioner is giving the matter, further consideration." - f or coe o Period Ist April to 6th Dec- '"!? ♦"'Jf&n^ 6 railway revenue amounted to_ £4,550,557, or £93,155 more than tor the corresponding period of the previous year. The expenditure; £3,794,----744, increased by £&1,14&. -The excess of revenue over expenditure was £755,----813, or-£12,010 rnpre than was the case .in 1923. Revenue from the North Island lines was greater by £73,534 than" that of 1923, but there was also, a, .jump 'in expenditure of £65,986; Soujth'lsland lines showed an improvement in revenue to the extent.of £19,720,. While the expenditure on the North Island lines increased by £64,986 over that pi the corresponding period of 1923, that on the South Island lines increased by only £16,158. The revenue from the. North' Island for the eight months was £2,751,----218, or £951,880 more than that from 1 the South Island. North-Island expenditure exceeded that on Southern lines by £433,183: ■:.-'. ■: .- Force of habit in connection with, railway travelling was -jstateft by a Christchurch railway official on Wednesday morning to be the explanation :of why the first express for the South, and the West Coast express were comparatively poorly patronised (reports tie "Lytteltoh Times"), "It might seem an extraordinary explanation, but our experience has shown that the first express on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays has not been patronised to anything like the extent that it has on, Tuesdays, Thursdays; and Saturdays,", remarked the official. "The reason for this is t&at during the greater part of the yean the early, express runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and the public get into the habit of going to the station at midday on Mondays, Wednes- I days, a,nd Fridays. However much the holiday time-table is advertised, there will always be come people who stick to habit." , - Infantile paralysis ■ has made its appearance in Wanganui. during the past tew days, despite precautions, while other diseases, such as diphtheria and scarlet fever, .are also fairly prevalent, the majority of cases being amongst children, states the " Wanganui Chronicle." J-he city was, comparatively speaking, fairly immune from diseases last year, • ,but as is usual with the arrival of the intense heat, 'an increased number of infectious complaints have been notified to the City Inspector. Of the two cases o£ paralyisis, the first one was located at Conville on sth January, and the Second on Durie Hill on Wednesday.' In the first instance the sufferer, who had come from Wellington with her parents, and was staying with relatives in Wanganui, passed away. The other case, which concerns a lad of about eight years, is not regarded as being serious and the patient was reported on Wednesday to be much brighter. Throughout the holiday season the Uawson Falls, Mount Egmont; and the many other beauty spots in their vicinity have proved a source of great attraction, states the "Hawera Star." The whole of the accommodation provided by the cottages and at the hostelry has been required to house those remaining tor a period, and, in addition, the numbers of daily visitors have been of unusual proportions. On New Year's Day, when over 40 motor vehicles carrying 260 passengers made the journey to the Dawson Falls House, the attendance was one of the largest ever recorded. Sunday last was another big day, the number being again in excess-of 200 'The tracks have been in good condition, and the ascent to the mountain top has been accomphshed daily by one or more parties. Acting as "guide to' different climbers, Mr. Don M'Alister, of Stratford, complied on Sunday his sixth ascent in as many days. The Broad tfighway holds no terrors for he who has a bottle of Price's Concentrated Beverage, packed in his haversack. When you feel hot ti-ed and dusty, see how well a glassful goes. So cheap and easy to make too. A Is 6d bottle of concentration makes three gallons of delightful summer drink. Try raspberry, pineapple, russet : apple,. prwigc kola, or Iwnon and lime. Ksfuse BUbstitu.tas-'iaejjtl, ou "£rke'»." Advt.