Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11406, 6 January 1931, Page 4

Local and General.

A Darwin 11.I 1 . A. cable status Hint G'apt. Matthews, en route to . England, arrived there at 4.10 o clock yesterday afternoon.

“When 1 was spuakinc to Sir Joseph in the Masonic. Hotel,” said Mr. Francis Trafford at the meeting held last evening to protest against the stopjiage of work on the Gjs-horne-AYnikokopu section of the East Coast line. There vans a tremendous roar of laughter Mr. Lratford’s opinions on strong liquors apparently being known to liianj. undismaved, the speaker picked up. a glass of water from the table-and drank,a toast to the crowd. M hen silence was once more restored, he commented: “And I'm still on tho water-waggon.”

Details of tho .recent Defence Force .retrenchments reveal, a; number of individual eases m winch treatment lifts' been at least iiiicercmonious. One Wellington victim ot the summary dismissals will got a pension, but lie wi,U get scant compensation fqr arrears of leave. Hts Service covers'2D years without one day’s sick leave. Ho loses *o days hack leave and several days .annual leave. ■ When the members o.t the staff were working oil their annual leave recently this man was retained on duty'with'a view to taking ms leave after the 1931 military camps were held. .Now both . camps and leave are' wiped out by retrenchment. ' : * ;•'

Appearing before Messrs. C. blackburn H and: II; M. Porter J s.P.. -in the Police Court yesterday, a man a wed 60, whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty, to a charge, of obtaining credit by fraud on Novembei 5 that he l incurred a debt or to 2s 6d with a- boarding-house: keeper for board and lodging. Detective McLeod' explained that accused , was well-connected and had not previously been before the* court. He went to the boarding-house .and represented that he was. in! the Government employ, but, on payment being ■•mentioned later, he left without satisfying the debt/ . Accused was ordered to" come up* for sentence it called upon, within six months, and also to make restitution of..the amount iniVoLved. •*, ‘ >i ■

Our verv fine range of English, o-oods, Yardlev’s and Moray's, make very , nice gifts. . They are very, attractive ill ; appearance and . y.er.y pleasant to use. The .prices, . from 1/- . to £l, giyeV vou . flie ...choice or line gifts at a Very, easy pricei. Huy now while .selection is at ns best, and be-, fore the rush., We.can give,you un-, divided attention. —A. W. J. Mann, Chemist*

1 Seven cases of notifiable disease were reported to the Gisborne! headquarters of tho East Capo Health District during the week ended yesterday, these- .comprising three of pneumonia and two each of enteric i’over and tuberculosis: One death occurred from tuberculosis. •

• It was oil board ship bound for England. A young Adelaide man laid taken up the cudgels for bis homo town, clinching the argument with--'‘•You must admit that Adelaide is well laid out.” ‘‘Yes, young man,” conceded Melbourne/ ‘‘and if you’d been dead as long as Adelaide yuu’d bo well laid out-, too!” ; . •

Mr. Doherty, of Lagos, West Africa', who died recently, leaving LGOO,000 to be distributed among Ills 1G negress wives and 50 children, was a West African native hearing an Irish name. One of Mr. Doherty's most paying, enterprises was thei sale of Lancashire cotton goods,' which he not only sold at his store in Lagos, but also distributed in dugout canoes.

Reputable British jam makers are inviting tile public to take action if tlieir .jam does not comply with the guarantee that will be found on every jar, on and after November 1. They are taking this action not only to protect the public, but also to safeguard themselves. The British market has been Hooded with jam which lias ■ only a 10 per cent, content of fruit.

Two men jumped to death from skyscrappers in the Wall Street district of Now York on one recent afternoon. One leaped from the 30th. floo r °f the Equitable Building, and crashed oil a T lorry, killing the driver and himself. The other jumped from the 24th storey of the Singer Building and crashed on the edge of the 14th floor, overhanging Broadway.

More than LOCO systems of chain stores, controlling over , 50,000 unit branches, now operate in the United States. Of the systems already counted 91 chains operate 50 or more stores apiece. Altogether the 91 operate 40.095 of the stores counted. In other words, less than 9 per cent, of the existing chains control more than 85 per cent, of the chain stores.

While working on a .haystack at Orini. negr...TAupiri, .yesterday afternoon, a farm laborer, Robert Hastings,, aged SG, .whose home was -at Huiitjy, missed las footing;and fell, breaking his neck. The accident concurred on the farm of Mr W.. F. Carter. Dir. Isdale. of Huntly, was summoned but, on his arrival, the. man was dead. Hastings was a married man with a grown-up family,—P. A.

The chance, of a railway passenger meeting with a , fatal accident- in Great Britain is SCB millions to 1. This fact is revealed in the Ministry of Transport’s report on last year’s railway accidents. Only three passengers were killed, compared with an average of 11 for the last 10 years, hut. 73 lost their lives in ways which suggest lack of personal care. Of this number 20 were killed in attempting to enter or leave trains, and 35 by falling out of carriages while trains ■were moving.

Before the altar m a church at Cuckford. Sussex, stood _ the happy couple—tho groom, a policeman, tall and handsome, the bride, petite and pretty, sayd an English exchange. The ceremony was nearing its end. On the Bible lay the ring, and the minister was about to hand it to the bridegroom when it slipped off the book and disappeared. Search was made, members of the bridal party crouching down and groping about. But it was useless. The little golden band had vanished. Then, when the situation was beginning to look serious, the minister showed .his resourcefulness. He had two rings on his hand and tugged at one, but it would not move. He pulled at tlio other, and after a struggle olf it came, and with this ring, the ceremony was completed. Another search was ma'do for the lost trinket, this time successfully. It was in one qF the “.turn-ups” uf tlio. minister’s trousers.

In connection with the recent claim that diamonds have been located in the North Island, Mr. Henry Hill, of Napier, the well-known.-geologist, in conversation with a “Tribune”., reporter, said lie saw no reason why it should hot bo so. for tile island contained all forms of acidic rock, in which such stones were found; Mr. Hill referred to a spot about a mile and a half beyond Tarawera where there are' intrusive rocks and deposits of bluish grey clay exactly similar to those at "the great diamond fields. It was quite likely that a diamond discovery might he -made in any of the volcanic areas it they were thoroughly 1 .explored bv geologists. lii the Waiot'upu Valley, where there* arc exceedingly high temperatures. Mr. Hill considered it, probable that such crystals .would be found in. the blue .clay, and he was of the opinion that it: would pay the Government to have an expert carry out geological work there.

A further remand until to-morrow was granted when 16 Chinese appeared in the Police Court yesterday charged with breaches of the Gaming Act. Messrs. ,0. Blackburn and H. M. Porter, .1 ’s.P., were on the bench. Jim Lee, 48, the occupie'r of premises m Lowe street, raided by The police on Christmas night, _ was charged with keeping the premises as a common gaining house, and the others were, being found in a common gaming house. Those charged with . the ' .minor offence were: Cliung Hoo; 26.,, Wong Moy, 21, Ah Hoov. 30. Louie Yen, 32. Ah Wong 69,. 'Wong Ah Wee 18, Louie Hong 20 Lui Pakc, 24, Ngyen Luoii, 28, Louie Chow 30, Luk Ten 37, All Sue* 27, Ah Wong 40, Chin Goom 28 and Ah Lee 60. The Chinese were .all represented by' Mr. L. T. ■■ Burnard. The remand' was. granted on the application of .Detective; McLeod and bail was allowed as formerly.

“Business-man” writes: PR.surprised mo at, last 1 night s railway stoppage., protest' meeting, that none of tho speakers touched on what should, bo (regarded . sis .a very, 'vital poipt.' On the. part of the ( Government,.' much, has been, made •of _ tho motor .competition which a railway would, allegedly,: havo. to face on the ’GiiSboriie-Napier ,route. .The real ■facts of tile matter are that motoi transport' has. been developed .to such an extent oh Hjat • pairticulai highway; .simply ' because , there is no railway,. If there had 'been ‘a .railway there 'would . have :'been . .practically no 'motor transport on the highway. T. venthre to say; indeed, ’that “motor traffic .could not live • along the route in competition with a railway. There arcs • some parts of the Dominion in which* the. railway, ..authorities"* are justly entitled to fear indtor' transport. But the conditions . along the GisdornerNapier. railway are. . altogether • different,: for the, road is positively, dangerous" in places and motor transport, cannot possibly be economical. Everything is in. favor- of the Railway,,.v/

On Wednesday next Matliewson's Ltd. commence 1 their half-yearly sale, stocks •"are heavy ' and to effect a .. rapid clearance everything Ilia's been :• drastically :. reduced” : in pi-ice,, ; This. is : an unrivalled opportunity jto ‘ Isepuro j excellent quality oiid' really ':'"■fashibiiable 4 apparel. Lingerie and millinery at . very low prices.- - An-, early • visit ■ will be . advantageous • to - you. Mathewson’s ‘ lAij., ; w]/lw<3 quality,: costs 4 no; more..*

A remarkable s hipbuildiUg was accomplished at iVellscndCLo:. month, when the destroys Brilliant, with guns, engines, masts, and all auxiliaries aboard, ship lias never been attempted fore. ' ; \

: A black cat recently eiiteicd Rom ford Police Court; in England. *i I sat on the knee of a summoned tan nibus conductor. When Jis case • « • called lie passed the eat to .>>«*' L 1 conductor. The cases -against bo h .were dismissed. Then the cat rtoMed over to sit, beside the magistiatm., crossing the path of the next deleiidant, and lie also laid his ease dismissed. —“Sunday Express.

That, lively young man from Turkey, Zaro Aglia, who claims years of life, • must surrender lus laurels without a struggle if> the story of Li Cliung-yun, whose.tame teaches these shores, from tar-on China, is over authenticated, for D claims to liave entered this world JoJ years ago and grown, to the prime of manhood 9G years • before Zaro was given his first nursing bottle.

“The Vicar of Pinhoe (Eng.) wants a donkey.” There was nothing very jremarkable ahoift this recent announcement. In A.D. 1001 a battle was fought by the .West- Saxons against the invading Danes .on «i field behind the church of pinhoe. The local priest saw the English were getting short of arrows. He mounted his donkey, rode into Exeter .and brought back a now supply. He was rewarded for his heroism with the gift of one mark a year from King Ethel red to pay for tlio upkeep of tho donkey. Throughout the centuries every vicar of Pinhoe has received on October 1,16 s for the maintenance of . his donkey.

The - amazing spectacle of a r.onkey dragging a mannequin round a dress show was seen in .London recently. And the mannequin herself was on skis! states the “Daily Mail.” This was one the surprises at the unusual parade of winter sports and indoor skating suits staged at a wellknown ice rink. The practical value of the designs was demonstrated by wearers on skates and toboggans. Velvet trousers and knitted tweed jumpers appeared in several of the new winter sports suits, knickers being carried out en_£uite with skirted models. So many women are expert on the ice nowadays that professionallooking velvet frocks are popular for indoor skating. Accompanied ly a matching coat collared with broadtail cloth, this makes a useful allday outfit.

The qramways authorities m Wellington have now 'before it ail ingenious change-giving machine of Swedish manufacture for'use on oneman cars or buses. The machine does not' actually give the correct change itself, but certain tabs opposite the “penny,” “threepence,” “sixpence.” “shilling, ’ “two shilling.” and “half-crown” receivers tan be manipulated far more quicklv bv hand than a conductor would be able to pick out the change from a inass of money in his bgg. There lias been no decision to use the device so Tan; it is merely under observation. and probably if found efficient-. it may be tested on some of the buses. The whole thing is comprised in a compact space about six indies square, and when handed in at the end of the shift there is no necessity for the c-letks to separate the various coins, _ as these are already in their various compartments

A whirlwind played strange tricks on a Christchurch bowling green a few days ago. On one rink a bowl lay exactly in line with the pegs dividing the adjoining rink. It was the last head and the scores were even. A player was about to put the measure on the bowl to decide the result of the game when the whirlwind came over the green. The bowl was blown back into the bead cf 1 lie rink into which it belonged. and the wind then curled round all the bowls on the head and rolled them across to tlio other rink.

According to Air AY. P. Kirkwood, of Sydney, who is visiting Stratford. the dairying industry is. shrinking in Australia. There is rich land in that country that will grow almost anything, and can be dairied on without manures, but there are large areas giving poor returns and in need of heavy'manuring. The New Zealand farmer on small farms carrying on mixed farming is in ua.rad.ise compared with the small farmer in Australia. Farmers who have visited the* Dominion and inspected the farms here frankly admit that the. New Zealanders are a ion<: way ahead of Australians in their knowledge of the use of manures for production of grass and in their methods of rotational grazing. A drawback in the constituents of Australian soil is the absence of lime... ..

Pleading guilty to charges of breaking and entering and theft, two young men, Lawrence Brown, 26, and 'Wilfred Lloyd Butterill, 19, were yesterday committed for sentence to the Supreme Court at Gisborne. The men were arrested on December 27 and they were charged with breaking and entering on December 26 the dwelling and shop of Thomas Henry Shields and stealing therefrom £1 6s in. money, The owner of the premises gave evidence as to leaving everything locked when going out for the afternoon and finding that entrance had been gained through a back window, a glass -panel in a door dividing the shop from the house being smashed and the sum of ,26s removed from one of the bedrooms. Detective AlcLeod . and . Plain-clothes King gave evidence regarding tho taking of statements from accused, who admitted their guilt. They explained that they left Napier -for Gisborno on December 21, and. arrived here on December 23, . Sometime in they afternoon of December 26, Brown went into the' yard behind Shields’ house and forced in a window. Ho then went back for Butterill, and together they entered the premises. Butterill broke? a window in a door leading into the shop, but they were unable to 'enter. . They then entered a .bedroom, and Brown took 265. from a drawer.' The only excuse Brown could give. for . tho burglary was that they were both out of work and “hard un.” Accused-then pleaded guilty and were committed for .sentence as stated, no application; being'made ter bail. Messrs C. Blackburn and- H. .M,- porter. J’sl"., were.oil the .bench.

n't., Christchurch a. loaf. costs 41 d, , x i ™ it is 7d • benzine in the but here it Is 9d,-but here south is Is 8d auu said Mr advantages ol a borne.

Clever devices shown-_at tho In- • V °t r bo 1 liver collapsible umbrella that cun be put into ibe colS tfviufirffi aUadu’nelifto H iV r . oWtSc iron for keeping the dinner hot; times The model of) an aeroplane ' shown wliit'h the designer canned would carry 8(XI passengers .aero,, the Atlantic in 12 to lo hours. -

An accident 2'gtfi SS-ltlo lA lake, at th« U Mr Inglis ' was assisted summit, -ur. mg . , ~ through the snow, to the but on me S‘ s °BAdcU, I "o" Vk!a..d. A.- & to ow/.a B ,* Chateau and on hci a - jrj grossing; favorably.

The storv of how two young women were ~ providentially picked up when in a -state of exhaustion and saved from drifting -to sea in an some tiiim a-ainot theydo without gaming distance. Ju-y ■ one of the men aboard the launch J ouired whether- they would hkc J be towed, one of their oars broke When the young women were talc aboard the launch they collapsed.

Save in isolated instances, -tnere L now very little: gold circulating publicly and'the -sovereignior halisovereien is almost unknown to many of - -the younger . generation Curious episodes in connection with the tendering of gold • have" been recounted from time.to time_A t.sitor to the races at Awapuni tn other dav found . Jiimself in- the peculiar position of- having a sovereign declined by -a .ticket-seller .at_ one o the totalisator windows. y hiie iwas apparent that.the seUers knowledge of coinage had not been fin developed. the delay m exchanging the gold for the more conunon iar iety of bank note might n ell bate been attended with results. . However, such did jiot oCCUi. for the investor duly made the exvliange and got back in time to back the winner.