LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 18138, 30 November 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho TUmntaka, which arrived at \Vollington afc 3.25 p.m. yesterday from Southampton, 'brought 307 Immigrants of an exceptionally fine stamp. Nearly all'had positions to go to, and the remainder axe willing and eager, and if is not likely that they will be long unemployed. The vessel had a fine and an, uneventful passage. There were no deaths or serious sickness.

The residents of Mosgiol turned out very well last night to a complimentary concert tendered by the Taieri Pipe Band and the Taieri Expansion League to the Mosgiol Brass Band. Both bands and some Dunedin talent supplied the programme—an excellent one. At the interval (lie league presented the borough council with sjmie seats for the Mosgid Park. The presentation was made by Mr J. Inglis Weight (of the Otago Expansion League) on behalf of the Taieri branch, and the gift was acknowledged on behalf of the citizens by tho mayor (Mr Wm. Allan). The seats, which were made by Mr A. Wallace, East Taieri, will prove an acquisition to the park, and residents mil appreciate the action of tho league in presenting them.

At the South Island Poultry Association’s annual meeting, held in Dunedin yesterday, Mr J. B. Mcrrett (Christchurch) announced that, as poultry shows xvera primarily educative and not conducted for profit, the Government had prodded that poultry exhibitions should be exempt from amusement tax. This information had been forwarded by the Prime Minister from Nelson. Tho association expressed its appreciation of the Government’s action, as a similar 001100)3sion had been 'given the poultry industry in'England.

“If the reason is given for demolishing a building that it hqrbors rats, then *;e should have to pull down ©very building in the district used for storage of grain,’’ said a councillor at the Cook County Council meeting recently, when discussing a question of a demolition order (states the ‘ Poverty Bay Herald ’). “ Every grain store is rat-infested,” he continued, “and corn cribs are simply alive with rats and mice.”

“ People are still crossing the old Westshore, bridge, despite barricades of boarding and barb wire,” said Constable Wilton at the inquest at Napier on the man who was drowned ten days ago by falling from the bridge. “ Even women gnd children may be seen crawling through a hole in the barricade and crossing over on r fhe pipes. They do not seem to take any heed of notices or barricades, and prefer taking tho risk rather than crossing by ferry or making a detour over the new bridge-” Li returning his verdict the coroner said that if people wished to take the risk it was impossible to step them.

It ■would 1 appear (says the ‘ Dominion ’) that Dm movement on the West Coast of the South Island to break away from the New Zealand Miners’ Federation and form a more militant body is taking shape. A manifesto has just been issued by (ho promoters of the new scheme, which clearly shows the lengths to which they axe prepared to go. “ The Minors’ Federation as at present constituted,” it states, “isa loosely-farmed and badly organised associa-tion-—its powers to force discipline, to hinder a reactionary minority from, dominating the situation, are nil. No cohesion whatever exists in the organisation. From every part of the country unions refuse to financially support or carry out its decisions. . . . Our only hope as a na-

tional body is by affiliation with the Red International' of Trade Unions of New Zealand and other countries. Linking up with the Reds will make it impossible in time of strike and struggle for the employing class to import or export commodities which will result in defeating the strikers. Let there bo no repetition of British miners supplying tho_ American markets (or vice versa), no New Zealand miners supplying Australian markets, nor Asiatic or African coal imported to New Zealand. The Red International is our goal. The programme of that body must bo oursj no more meandering with the yellow sympathisers of Amsterdam. Wo must ba identified with the world-wide movement —only by so doing can we help to maintain our standard. ”

At the conclusion of. his political address at Onga Onga (Hawke’s Bay) the other night, the chairman, on behaK cf Mr W. E. Fremantle (who, through illness, was unable to attend) presented. Sir George Hunter with a piece of wood suitable for making a walking stick. Tin's wood is of groat historical value, neing a portion of a plguk taken from a, Ornish Viking warship which, was burned at the time of the Danish invasion in King .Alfred's reign more than 1,000 years ago. The wreck was lying in the ITarnblo River, a. tributary of the Southamnton Water, about five miles l from tho Southampton Harbor. There was a memorial 1 erected in tho main street of Winchester a few years ago to commemorate the reign of King Alfred, and the Government then sold this wreck to the people of Winchester for 2s 6d,. When King Edward was crowned he was presented by the townspeople with an inkstand made from, a piece of the planting taken from the wreck. Mr Fremantle’s brother ha,d the honor of having tho design worked out in London ready for presentation. Sir George, in accepting the gift, expressed his great appreciation of this thoughtful act. He had known Air Fremantle for forty years, and during the whole of Ida parliamentary career he hgd been one of his staunchest supporters.

" Surely something can be done to break up the Woolbrokera’ Association, which penalises small ports like Oamaru by refusing to conduct wool sales here,” declared Mr MTnnea at the last meeting of the Oamaru Harbor Board. He went orC to say that the woolbrokers seemed to do as they liked, and he urged that the board should look into the matter and see if the rights of Oamaru could not be safeguarded. Mr Marshall! pointed out that the ship owners endeavored to smash, the woolbrokers’ organisation in Melbourne, but failed. “They are a lot of autocrats,” commented Mr M'OuJloujJh. “They go where they please, gmi the sales have to be held to suit their conveniences, and they won’t budge from their programme.” The chairman sgid he thought the board could do very little. “We are in their hands.” ho commented, “and they’ll! hold the sales at the centres which best suit their convenience.”

Clad only in pyjamas (says the Melbourne ‘ Argus ’), a youth called at tho homes of several Collingwood residents recently and asked to be given some clothes and a pair of boots. Thinking that they had a mental patient to d.eal with, the householders reported the matter to the police. Constable W. M. Glee-son, after searching the streets for about two hours, saw'tlie youth in Riley street. On seeing the constable, ho commenced to run, and escaped. Constable Gieeson again caught eight of the fugitive in We.llidgton street. He. was then dressed in a coat and trousers, but was still without boots. This time tho constable was more successful, and captured the youth. “ are you going about like this for?” asked the constable. “I am a fever patient escaped from the infectious diseases hospital.” was tho reply. The constable promptly let go the youth's arms auTl made him walk several yards in front of him. On, the way to tho watchhouso the patient said ho had rim artay from (he hospital because ho had not received sufficient food. He was aged seventeen, «.nc! wan a ward of tlic Sfatc, and had only recently been sent to the hospital. An. ambulance was obtained', and the youth w»s sent back to the institution. Record Wool Price.—Mr G. L. Rutherford, “Connemara.” obtained the record price of 25R1 per lb at tho Christchurch. November, sale. This wool was dipped with ‘''Highland l ” dip. —[Advt,]