LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 102, 27 October 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"There are only 2000 Maoris in the South Island, and they are not Maoris," said the Rev. J. T. Mac William at the Auckland Anglican Synod. The South Island Maoris, ho continued, lived like pakehas. At tho time of the visit of the Prince of Wales' to Rotorua he gave a sermon in Maori and in English. . A party of South Island Maoris showed no interest in the Maori version, but followed the translation. They later admitted that they knew very little Maori.

There is every prospect that strawberries will bo plentiful during the coming, season, states the "New Zealand Herald." A few crates have already reached the markets, but they will not come in in any quantity for two or three weeks.' Last season tho strawberry crop was very ])oor owing to floods and the extremely severe spring. Although the weather conditions have not been good this season to date, the plants in most cases arc bearing up well and look very healthy:

Tho Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment, will hold a reunion in tho Town Hall, Auckland, on Monday, 2nd November. Tho function will tako tho form of a complimentary dinner to the Prime Minister, Mr. Coalcs, who, for a long period, commanded a company in tho battalion, and later was second in command- ot the battalion. Keen interest in (hi! reunion is being manifested by men who served in the battalion,'and a large attendance at the dinner is assured (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Mr. Coatcs, who held the rank of major, is held in very high esteem by all soldiers who served under him, and many are coming long distances to attend the function.

The following discharges from bankruptcy were granted at the Supreme Court to-day by his Honour Mr. Justice Ostler: —Henry Drown, of Berhampore, storekeeper; Frederick Houldsworth, of Ilataitai, grocer: Samuel Allen, of ■Wellington, hotelkeeper; and William Stephen Ferguson, of Wellington, cabinetmaker. In the case of Allen, the OfncialAssignee (Mr. J. Tansley) said that tho bankrupt had only paid 2s sjd in the pound, and he asked that the debtor's discharge be made conditional on his making that up to 5s in the pound. But, on account of the man earning only £4 a, week and having a wife and child to support, his Honour granted the discharge unconditionally.

That the copra industry in Fiji is very good was stated to a "Wanganui Chronicle" reporter by Mr. J. I). Canning, of Suva. Copra, the visitor pointed out, was a safe investment, and always had been, although a pest had done some dainago to file plantations in one island. An introduced parasite had successfully combated the disease, and it was probablo that coconuts would again be planted in this particular place. In referring to fruit growing, the visitor explained thai bananas were the only block at the present time. .Australia was not now taking Fiji bananas, and New Zealand could not consume all the fruit

grown. The time had come, ho considered, when Fiji would have to grade its bananas, and ho believed the Government was taking steps in this direction.

"Everything possible has been, done i'or tins man. Since January last, he has been doing nothing else but getting drunk, drunk, drunk," said >SubliiKpix'.tor Hollis, when Michael Conney (47) appeared at the Magistrate's Court tins morning, charged with a fourth offence oi: drunkenness, with casting offensive matter on the struct, ami with having committed a breach of his prohibition order. Accused: "If your Worship will give, me a chance I'll get away on tho next Homo boat." The Magistrate (Mr. W. G. Kiddell, S.M.): "I prefer to send you to liotoroa Island for-twclvo months. You will get your, chance there. On tho two first charges, you will bo convicted and discharged."

Although many inducements had been held out to Maori clergy of the Anglican Church, not one of thorn had gone over to the new faith started by Batana, said the Bcv. G. T. Bobson, speaking at the Auckland Diocesan Synod. T,he Maori clergy of other Christian bodies had not been so loyal. Becently, a prominent member of another communion had gone out ni! his way to attack fho Anglican bishops for the stand they had taken regarding the Batana. movement, but l.lie .■fuel- w:i.s tli.'il. l.liat man liaii not; a. niii}-l<! Maori minister left.—they had all gone to Knlana! Tiu-.identully, tho speaker mentioned that he had been inl'oi'Mioil <nt good authority that followers of Jiill.'inu U'oro now worshipping him, saying prayers to him, and singing hymns to him (reports Ihi "Auckland Shu-")- It said much for llio Anglican Maori clergy that they had remained steadfast to the old faith.

Take no risks. Keep tho boys' and girls' nocks covered. Helmets, in grey, crash, or khaki, 2s lid; white, 3s Ocl, Poirlds, Manners street!— Advt.

Seven jurors called for the opening of the criminal sessions were excused from duty this morning by his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), who said that when men had perfectly good excuses, such as that their absence from work would cause others to be unemployed, they could save themselves time and expense by sending in written excuses.

Is it true that the average churchgoer never puts more than a threepenny piece in the plate 1? Just how much does the Church receive from the people in a year') To any who have ever asked themselves such questions while listening to a dry sermon, it may be a matter of some surprise to learn that last year, Anglicans in the diocese of Auckland, which comprises 76 parishes, gave in all £53,728 3s 3d. In the ordhiary collections, they gave £20,05!) for the support of their pastors and the Churcli generally. Subscriptions totalled £7652. 'For missions and the lighting fund of the diocese they gave in all £5G35. Had the plate collections, made from seat to seat, been given in nothing more than threepenny pieces, some 4,298,253 coins would have been counted by the wardens during the twelve mouths! All but six churches in the diocese have abolished pew rents in favour of. the system of* free and opeii churches, so that pew rents for the year ended 31st March, 1025, returned the comparatively insignificant sum of SOB 7.

If the Empire is to hang together there should be greater knowledge and understanding between the Dominions, a fairer exchange of news mid closer trade relations, stated Mr. C. Crandall, of the British United Press, who is v passenger by the Aorangi from Sydney to Vancouver. Mr. Crandall, who has his headquarters at Montreal, was one of the Canadian delegates to the British Empire Press Conference, states a Press Association message from Auckland. Mr. Crandall said he found complete ignorance of Canada in many parts of Australia and New Zealand, and it was also true that in many parts of Canada little was known of the Southern Dominions. There was a lack of solid news. The- volume of cable news that came to Australia and ,New Zealand was not suff^jenfc to cover the important news of the world, let alone news of the British Empire. However, as the outcome of the Press Conference and negotiations afterwards he felt sure that a better exchange of news between the different parts of the British Empire would bo facilitated. Speaking as a Canadian, he thought Australia' had greater possibilities than any other portion of the British Empire. It also had greater obstacles to overcome. The Australians were a self-confident, strong, and courageous people, but they needed all their courage to overcome the obstacles.