LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 52, 29 August 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An interesting interlude in tho journey of one of the cars used by the Empire Press Delegation in the journey from Mokau to New Plymouth took place at Uruti, where tho car was stopped by a young couple, ■with a baby in arms. "Is there a Huddersfleld pressman here?" the young woman inquired. "Yes," said Mr. Edward Woodhead, the editor of the "Huddersfield Examiner." In the conversation that ensued it transpired that tho visitor knew in.timately some of the relations of tho young woman, who informed the party that she had been out from Home for only a year. "Would you like to return to England?" asked one of'the other passengers. "Oh, no; we like New Zealand and are getting along well," she exclaimed.

From time to time suggestions havo been made that the Government should subsidise herd-testing associations. Speaking in the House of Representatives on the subject last night, the Minister of Agriculture (tho Hon. W. Nosworthy) remarked that very strong protests had been received from; all over the Dominion against suggestions which had been made to the Government, and ho thought it was better to go on with tho system the Department had in operation. He was quite prepared to ask for more money to develop tho TtKpartDient's syhtem, which had been so successful up to tho present. Once the door was opened to subsidies they did not 1- know where they would get to. He was prepared to extend tho system.

lioplying to questions raised by Beveral members, the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) stated in the House of Eepresentatives last night that ho was glad that he could get more money now for experimental and other work. The Board of Agriculture had submitted detail suggestions as to how best to carry on an up-to-date system of agricultural instruction, and the report on the matter would be placed on tho table as soon as possible. Cabinet would agree to find tho necessary money, and members might be ablo to look forward to an advance being inado on sound lines on what had already been started. Mr. Kosworthy said that ho was not so favourably disposed towards State farms as some . members, believing that experimental areas were preferable. ,

The Timara Harbour Board decided yesterday to ask Messrs. It. W. Holmes and Bon to report on the best method of further improving Timaru Harbour, states a Press Association message.

So far this month the rainfall represents a total of 5.785 inches, says a Press Association message from Christchureh, and tho figures for portion of the year from Ist January Bhow a correspondingly great overabundance. For that period the rainfall is 25.024 inches, which is 10.869 inches, above what fell in the corresponding period of last year.

A Press Association message from Oamaru states that after a heated discussion at a meeting of the Waitaki County Council yesterday on hospital expenditure, it was resolved, on the motion of the chairman, that steps be..taken to have the existing Act amended so as to provide that in the event of a council being dissatisfied with the proposed capital expenditure all of the ratepayers shall be made compulsory.

The executive of the Otago "Women's Olub passed a resolution draw ing the attention of the Empire Press Union to general dissatisfaction folt with tho nature of a large proportion of the news cabled to Australia and l\'ew Zealand. It was contended, states a Press Association message from Dunedin, that tho major portion consists of reports of murders, suicides, divorces, and crimes of every kind committed in all parts of tho world, and often given at great length and with objectionable detail to tho exclusion of news of real interost and value. They earnestly request an alteration in this state of affairs. The resolution was endorsed by tho Y.M.C.T.U., and is, to bo forwarded to Sir George Fenwick.

The set of ocean currents towards the bight formed by the promontories Albatross Point and Woody Head was again illustrated a short time ago when a large blackflsh was thrown up on the beach between Kawhia and Aotea harbours. This locality, states the "Kawhia Settler," has been known as a favourite repository for the waifs and strays of the deep for many years, for, in addition to driftwood, many curious articles have found terra firma after a lengthy sea voyage. Several bottles containing messages from steamers trading along the Australian coast have found their way to this spot, while numerous lifebuoys and other articles washed ashore from the ships' docks have also contributed to a miscellaneous collection.

The difficulty experienced by visitors to New Zealand of pronouncing Maori names was demonstrated at the dairy factory managers' conference at Auckland. Mr. P. J. Carroll, supervisor of dairy exports for Australia, was congratulating Mr. G. J. Arnold, manager of the Eangiwahia factory, on winning the world's championship butter competition and his pronunciation of Eangiwahia provoked merriment. Unabashed, the speaker rose to the occasion. "If I had not known it was a butter competition, gentlemen," he said, "I would have thought the name was that of a racehorse engaged in the Auckland Cup." (Laughter.) Maintaining the sporting vein, Mr. Carroll said Mr. Arnold's factory had scored a meritorious victory by a short half-head.

Two matters concerning the Agriculture Department wore raised by Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) when the Estimates were being considered in the House of Keprescntatives early this morning, Mr. Masters said he thought the item of £.50,000 a year for travelling expenses was high. In the live stock division, which had only 250 employees, the travelling expenses totalled £18,500 annually, which was extraordinary considering the large number of officers who did not do any travelling. Eegardiug the Board of Agriculture, Mr. Masters said he thought it might very well bo abolished. Certainly, the board met from time to time and passed a few resolutions, but, like the Council of Education, no notice whatever was taken of it.

The lot of tho calf is a hard one, says the* "Hawora p Star." Especially is this tho case !in South Taranaki, where the manufacture of the milk into cheeso means a shortage of food for the young animals and the resultant use of the knife. However, the destruction of the offspring of the dairy cow brings into being a small army of buyers who traverse the country, and at this time of the year, enter wholeheartedly into wkat is known, as the "calfskin war." Oomp'etition is exceptionally keen, and theso representatives of agents, most of whom buy on a commission basis, become exceedingly active. One farmer states that since Ist July he haa had no less than twenty buyers on his farm —a state of affairs which seems to indicate that the farmer need not fear a slump in the calfskin market. This year prices are slightly in advance of those offered last season, good skins at present bringing an average of ss, as compared with 4s 6d last August. For another couple of months the "war" will continue, and by the - time the dairy season is in full swing, skins representing a considerable sum of money will have been bought and sold.

"The flower supply and Convalescent Home accommodation' are managed by our Lady Visitors' Association, and the work done by these ladioß is invaluable, but their finances depend on donations, and aro often .limited," stated Dr. P. G. Fen\yjclc in a letter read to the North Canterbury Hospital Board on Tuesday last. "I have often thought that tho beautiful flowers sent as wreaths to mark our sympathy with those in sorrow would bring great comfort to those who are suffering in the wards of our hospitals. Surely these offerings of sympathy would be more valuable brightening the wards than withering in a cemetery. I suggest that if we could establish the custom of sending the cost of a wreath to the hospital instead of paying for flowers that are seen by few and enjoyed by none, our wards would novor bo without their decorations, and our lady visitors would bo able to pay for much moro accommodation tit the Convalescent Home than is at present possible. If tho board accepted this suggestion and let it bo known that tho hospital would bo glad to receive gifts and acknowledge them as marks of sympathy,. I believe that many might be glad to show their sympathy in this practical manner. "I think you will agree with nm that wo can show honour to tlic <]<\tl and sympathy with tho relatives quite as well by tliouglttfuhipsa for the sick as by tho formal cilerinc of a wreath o£ flowftrs wiep &$&£!& as atMig jaiir-.i^,-~ -

According to a Press Association message, three notable pictures, purchased by the Mackelvie Trust, have been added to the Auckland Art Gallery. They are "A Peep at the Hounds," by Birket Foster, "Grace," by Millais,. and "The Mother's Dream," by Leighton.

The Poßtal authorities have received cable advice from Sydney that the Mahono, which left at 11 a.m. on the 28th instant for Wellington, has on board 360 bags of mail from Australia, 654 from other places, including East 37, Africa 4, and 171 parcel receptacles.

Representatives of all Chambers of Commerce in New Zealand will meet in Dunedin next November. Important matters relating to trade, finance, and communications will be discussed and dealt with. The conference will also officially visit the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition.

To-day is* the eleventh anniversary of tho landing of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Samoa. Shortly after the outbreak of tho war, it will be remembered, Now Zealand occupied tho German possessions in the South Pacific, and seized the German wireless station on the island of Upolu. No resistance was offered the landing party.' A reunion of the members of the Samoan Expeditionary Force is being held to-nigh.t

"Automatic telephones" is the subject of an address to be delivered to business men by Mr. iT. R. Smith, of tho Post and Telegraph Department. The object of tho address is primarily to explain to business men at the Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon, the" change-over from the old system to tho automatic telephones. The working of the exchange and the system generally will be explained. It is hoped to show small parties of business men ever the exchange itself. ■ . '

Mr. Scott .Colville, Director of Amusements for the Dunedin Exhibition, reports the engagement of Jiir. Arthur Jordan, the famous English tenor. Mr. Jordan will take the solos in "Faust," "Elijah," "Cavalleria Rustieana," and "The Golden Legend" works, which the combined forces of the 'Dunedin. Choral Society and Royal Wellington Choral Union will render at the Exhibition in March. Mr. Jordan will make fourteen appearances in Dunedin under present arrangements.

The trustees of ths Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Blind Soldiers and Sailors Fund acknowledge receipt of £257 4s Bd, being the fund's proportion of the amount raised by the Otago Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association in their "Big Day" effort. The total sum raised was £1286 3s 6d, which was allocated as follows:—Salvation Army, 6t) per cent., £771 14s 2dj Citizens' Belief Committee, 20 per cent., £'257 4s 8d; C.T. and W. Blind Soldiers and Sailors Fund, 20. per cent., £.257 4s Bd.

'' "We have received a splendid contribution of £50 rrom the North , Canterbury Provincial Council Licensed Trade," said Mr. B. B. Owen at a meeting of the Christchurch Citizens' Unemployment Committee, reports the ,Lyt'telton Times." "Who are they?" asked the chairman (Mr. A. Dudley Dobson)). "They are the Licensed Victuallers' Association," replied Mr. Owen. "I'vo been wondering if we shouldn't ask the Prohibition Party to subsidise the amount." "A good idea," remarked Mr. Dobson.

Allocations of fry and yearlings for the various streams of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society's district have been made, and the fry will be distributed as soon as settled weather leaves the streams in suitable condition. The totals to be distributed are":—Brown trout, 1,050,000 fry and 5500 yearlings; rainbow trout, 134,000 fry and 3500 yearlings. The local trapping season was most unfortunate, as the rivers were constantly in flood, and for three months the toll was ono of lost traps and incessant rains preventing operations. The amount expended usually produces 1,000,000 brown trout ova, but only 800,000 were secured, 400,000 having to be procured from Otago and 400,----000 from Southland. Rainbow ova purchased from Eotorua totalled 150,----000. The allocations of fry are mado with an eye to the drain on the rivers; thus, the Hutt, which carries 300 rod licenses in the season, and tho Wairarapa, which is yearly heavily drained by the society's trapping, receive generous allowances.

The Union Jack which is hoisted on the flagpole in Victoria square, Christchurch, when any event is being celebrated locally, was a gift to the city from the smaller Ohristehurch in- England.' When Dr. Levinge was at Home between 1909 and 1911, he interested himself in Tariff Reform matters, and in the creation of an Imperial Mission, and so came in close contact with Sir Henry Page Croft, who now represents tho constituency of Portsmouth (which includes Christchurch) in the British Houso of Commons. As a token of Imperial sentiment, Dr. Levinge presented a set of Navy League Empire maps to the school at Christchurch, England, and by way of reciprocation, Sir Henry Pago Croft presented Dr. Lovinge with a Union Jack for his city of Christchurch in New Zealand, states the "Press." When.Dr. Levinge returned he brought the flag with him, and presented it to tho then Mayor, the late Mr. Charles Allison. Sinco then the flag has been in the possession of the City Council, and is always flown on the Victoria square staff.

Professor Bartolo, of Malta, a member of the visiting. British Empire Press Union delegates has learned of another Valetta—in "New Zealand. In a letter to the chairman of the School Committee of Westerfield, Valetta, • Canterbury, the professor offered his heartiest greetings, together with his "very best wishes for your progress, prosperity, and happiness." Tho original Valetta, ho said, was for centuries tho home of the greatest order of chivalry.the world has known, that it bears the hallowed name of one who was truly called "tho greatest captain of his ago"; that it represents Europe's tribute to Malta for having saved them from tho Turkish yoke, and was tho stronghold, of Christendom against tho Orescent. He was happy to find such further link between New Zealand and his own country, which, though separated by thousands of miles of sea, havo common ties. Both form part of the (same Great Empire, both played their part, in the Great "War. "Also so many of your gallant boys worn nursed back to health and strength in my island, and so many of them, alas