Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11449, 25 February 1931, Page 4

Local and General.

;. Details: of the principal municipal woyks to 'li e undertaken during the fortnight.-'rajs ..submitted by the engineer (Mr. Geo. Darton) to the Borough Council meeting last evening are as follows: Stormwater druinage, Rutenc road; laying hot mix surfacing, Wainui, road ; repairs to hot mix work, new Esplanade road.

llotenu’e received from ’ the borough bus service during the, fortnight ended on. February 15 totalled £339 3s Id, the mileage* covered was -GG77, the average fare per . mile was 12.19 d and the passengers carried totalled 28,053. “Owing to. traffic falling off early this year,” reported the manager, Mr. K. G. Ball, to tlio Borough .Councii meeting' last evening, “the be&cli services and. extras are reduced from- February 23. .1 am endeavoring .to arrange -for certain clearing and levelling work ou tlio Carnarvon street section to be carried out under the Unemployment Board’s scheme.’-’

Building -permits issued, for structures ,in. the. borough during tho fortnight. ended/ on February 14. totalled lour, to a total value, of £430. They were for one dwelling (£]7o), one alteration (£GO), and two for reinstatement of earthquake damage {£'l9s).

According to the • report of the engineer. Mr. George Darton. to the Borough Council meeting last evening, the hangar at the Gisborne aerodrome has been completed. The landing area is being widened, necessitating the levelling of. an area of 150 by 100 yards. This work was commenced on February 12, 24 men being employed on the job. which is being carried out as a relief work under the Unemployment Boaru’s No. 5 scheme. ‘‘lt is progressing satisfactorily.’’ added Mr. Daßoii.

Prior to the opening’ of the Borough Council meeting last evening, the formal quarterly meetings of the Gisborne and Makaraka Domain Boards were held, the Mayor (Mr. D. W. Coleman) presiding. Regarding tip, Victoria Domain, it was reported that B<J campers had been there since November, and fees totalling £24 had been collected. It was decided to level portion of this domain for basketball, the work to he- carried out under the Unemployment Board's No. 5 scheme.

Judgment for plaintiff by default nab given in the following undefended civil cases by Mr. P. H. Harper, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday: Thomas Praser v. Benjamin Walker. £1 5a and costs Ss: Thomas Joseph Scholium v. Alfred Henry Dearing, £7 18s 8d aud costs £1 2s Gd; Common. Shelton and Co. v. George Edwin Butler and John Thomas Butler. £ll3 IGs -Id and costs :C7 9s; same v. Thomas A. Osmond/ IMG and costs £4 os .Gd. In judgment summons cases C. C. Somervell was ordered to pav the Derby Street Tyre Service Station the sum of £1 9s forthwith, in default four days’ imprisonment; 11. Barnett was ordered to pay I’. and 11. Shields. £8 Gs Gd. in default eight days’ imprisonment. Frank Evans was ordered to pay Phyllis Regina Curtshoi/. the sum of £36 15s forthwith in default 28 days’ imprisonment, the order to be suspended provided lie paid £IP on or before March 7 and £1 a week thereafter.

Amplifying: the statement lie made ill Christchurch concerning; the sliding; scale ol : wheat duties, Mr Forbes, speaking; in Wellington yesterday, said he -wanted it clearly understood that any readjustment that might be made would have absolutely no effect on present crops. Wheatgrowers might rest assured that any arrangement made in respect of the present crops would stand as far as the Government was concerned. The Government’s decision would effect only fiiiure crops. Asked if legislation would be needed to give effect to tile decision of the Government, the Prime Minister stated that this aspect of'the matter was being looked into by the Customs Department. It iVas his’ belief that the Government had power to deal with .the matter without legislation. In reply to suggestions that in the past the question of wheat duties had proved rather a delicate matter on the floor of the House, Mr. Forbes smilingly observed,,'“There will be a lot of delicate matters on the floor of the House during the coining session of Parliament.V —P.A.

“At the last monthly meeting of the Gisborne Fire Board,” wrote the secretary, .Mr... .C. .Blackburn, in a letter.'.which came before the Borough Council last evening, “I was instructed to draw your attention to the danger of cars parking in front of theatres or picture-houses whilst a performance was .on, as, in case of a sudden exit from the buildings, they would very considerably hamper the. crowd, in getting clear of same. At matinees there is also a serious impediment caused by children 7 s bicycles being left up against the kerbing, which undoubtedly would cause many accidents through a sudden rush of people from the building.”— On the motion of the Mayor (Mr. I). W. Coleman), it was. decided to tako steps to pass by-laws preventing this nuisance in the future. —Cr. W. J. MaeGibhou suggested that at the same time, a by-law governing the distance .cars could park from a fire should he • passed-:—The Mayor explained that this matter hud. received tho.. Fire Board’s attention, but as the superintendent of tho brigade had powers in this direction, no recommendation was made.

In the Magistrate s Court yesterday, Mr. P. 'H. Harper, S.M., gave judgment in a ease previously belore the 1 court, in which Mrs. Florence Frances Emma - Doniiett Wells (Mr. W.Mly Willock) claimed from Stephen Brown (Mr. TV A. Coleman) the : sum of ’£7FTs 9d for work allegedly not clone'in, connection with the construction 1 of- a dwelling.- AL. the initial hearing thq, value-, of the .work that required completion -.was estimated at £43,. - butbit .was..,agreed the defendant '.should be;, permitted to do • the workjhh-judgmeiit- being suspended. Si nce * then’: practicallyail the work had been, done, ! and .Frederick _Howard- Forge, : architect, .gave ' evidence yesterday itorthis, effect. The • magisin. delivering;. judgment, said all ...the, -.requirements krecomhiended bv Die- court had been complied

withthough-. tiiei;e were fa few minor tilings’ still to -be done. The question-.: was' whether the .{plaintiff • was entitled to • anything ..for the / inconvepieiico she., hud suffered. No doubt tliere : ; was a qortain amount, of inconvenience, . but, seeing. 'tjiat; the lio'n'SSkv is blow -as was. jeontraeted for, did not ( think that , she' - was entitled to•'damages. , Iff plaintiff, was allowed tliesuni'\of £6 for tho few requirements . still to. bo .. done, ho thought she would he well compensated.-* Judgment would bo for . £5 andl' costs,, £ll v £s (id.

'' Mathbwson's { Ltd,., announce that tlioy havo opened: their, flow-. season’s shipment : of ; fashionable' : .’autuniri goods, -which: ineliidq;; mai>y delightful 'designs .in';tweeds and'tho latest 'in yniiilmery i stylos yin - ( velours and felts.; Every- garment is exclusive.and iiP koepitig * with:, the customary/ high quality ifor X which- Mathewson’s Ltd. have, su .. liily .'a. reputatiox!.^* 8 ~

The Prime Minister’s earthquake relief fund vesterdav totalled £l/0,136 17s 9d.--l\A.

A Fremantle P.A. cable states that the Cathay has arrived from London.

A London cablegram states that the New Zealand earthquake fund totals £36,995.—P.A. -

A warning that the strictest economy' must still be exercised by householders in the use of water was given by tlio Mayor (Mr. D. W. Coleman) ait the Borough Council • meeting last evening.

Pohutu geyser was active on Monday, states a Rotorua telegram,. and played all tlm morning. The Prince s Feathers at Waikowhiti were also active, and generul renewed activity is noticeable.—P. A.

.An 18-mouths-old child, James Burton, whoso parents reside in Awapuni road near the abattoirs, was admitted to Cook Hospital yesterday afternoon, having been accidentally scalded. Last evening inquiries elicited the fact that he was sleeping comfortably.

-Failing to attend the Supremo Court as a common juror yesterday, Lewis Drummond Cooper was fined £2 by Ilis Honor Mr. Justice MacGregor. but this was later remitted when the missing juror attended and made an explanation of his absence to His Honor.

The Methodist conference, sitting at Dunedin, agreed vesterdav at the request of Archbishop Averill to cooperate in a day of prayer on March 8. asking for the guidance of those dealing with unemployment problems.—P.A.

The Minister of Railways mud,, a statement yesterday, that recognising that the cost of food supplies had s’hown a falling tendency, he had decided to reduce tho charge for meals served at railway refreshment rooms from 2s Gd to 2.-=.—-P.A.

Suggestions lor the pacing oi a by-law making it compulsory for all new houses erected in the borough to have water storage tanks were made to by Borough Council meeting lust evening by Cr. H. E. Maude, who had given notice of his intention to move in this direction. After a brief discussion, the motion was cartied.

‘‘There seems to be a bit of a depression in the new work on V\ uinui road,” commented Cr. H. E. Afaude at the Borough Council meeting last evening. ’‘lt’s a sign of the times,” remarked a councillor amid laughter. The engineer (Mr. G. Darton) explained that the work had not vet been rolled.

Regret will lie felt especially among the older residents oi the town at tho decision reached to demolish the home of the late Mr. and -Mrs. John Townley. whose names are so closely associated with the history of the town,-'and iU ' emoval will mark tho loss of another landmark which has many intimate associations with the early public and social life of the town.

Unanimous that such a scheme was not a wise one, the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce decided last night not to support the suggestion made-to the Government by the Palmerston North Chamber that a State lottery should bo organised to secure moucv to rehabilitate the stricken towns in the earthquake area.—P.A.

New Zealand will enjoy but a few more weeks of daylight saving,- for tho present term of summer time will end on the morning of Marcli 15 nextwhen the hands of llic clock will have to ho reversed by half an hour to restore standard time. The statutory five months of summer time commenced on October 13 of last year, when timq-pieccs were advanced by thirty minutes.

A further .reduction in the price of retail, meat has been agreed upon by Hie Master Butchers’ Association of Auckland. The revised schedule of prices will be issued in a day or so. and will become operative next Monday. The last alteration was made last Friday, when beef ami pork was towered in price by from Id to HI. and mutton by from Id to jd. All classes of veal, with the exception lot outlets and veal steak, were reduced by Id. —Special.

The Navy League, states a Wellington message, lias adopted a suggestion made by a correspondent in the “Post” that subscriptions be. solicited to provide a plate for the Veronica. as a mark of th e gratitude of the New Zealand people for the help given during the earthquake. The correspondent suggested that it will not be hard to tine one thousand peo pie who would be willing to give ono shilling each to provide the plate.— P.A

The Minister for Defence, the lion. ,T. G. Cobbe, in a letter read at tho Borough Council' meeting last evening. advised that, from a military point of view, the need for a drill hall at Gisborne was not of pressing moment and the re-building would have to stand over until a later date, when it would he possible to better gauge the department’s requirements in this direction. The Minister added that he fully expected to find that a building of much smaller dimension’s would serve all military purposes in Gisborne.—The letter was received without comment.

On the subject of farm finance, the following resolution was carried yesterday by tli e provincial executive of the Otago Farmers’ Association: “That the Government be asked to establish mortgage and finance adjustment boards in each district, such boards to . endeavor to arrange adjustments between the mortgagor, and the mortgagee. In the event of a disagreement, the board should have power to declare a moratorium for a definite period on that mortgage. The board should also have power to make periodically an equitable disbursement of all income from the farm.”:—P.A.

Women at present outnumber men as petitioners for divorce in Auckland. At the session of the Supreme Court, in a list of 33 eases, which is exceptionally light. 90 wives are •seeking dissolution of their marriages and. iu the, remaining 13 eases the wives ary respondents. These petitions, are all undefended. There are twelve eases brought on the grounds of mutual separation, nine on the grounds, of, desertion, five for allegedly failing to comply with orders for the restitution of conjugal rights, two on. the-grounds of the existence of separation orders, .and three for alleged . misconduct., in eight eases petitions will be moved for the restitution of conjugal rights.—Special.

Keen discussion took place at the Methodist Conference at Dunedin yesterday, on the question of whether women home missionaries should be registered under the Mavriago ‘Act. The Rev. S. 'Lawry moved that

tho conference take steps to induce Parliament to make the necessary alteration to the Marriage Act, so that it might bo possible for women home missionaries to be recognised as officiating ministers. There was a wido difference of. opinion., The Rev. G. Frost moved- an amendment that tho privilege bo not granted till the church hud decided whether it was expedient,.; lawful.. and. advisable to admit' women: to /the Holy ministry. Tho amendment was lost by 86 votes to - 59, and : the motion was "carried.— P,A. - - . 'y . '• C : ■ y ' W - '

Tho Poverty Bay Stockbrokers, will hold a sheep sale at the Tniiroto yards on Tuesday, Match o.

A line of sixty-four English Leicester Cross lambs, sent to th 0 1 jcton freezing works this season oy Mr fe It. Jackson (Runnymede), averaged 45.921 b and returned lis od per- head.

Motor drivers, whether girls of women, boys or men, having been -seized with -the instinct of rescue, aro unconsciously yielding to the excitement incidental to tlio presence of several thousand refugees from Napier in Palmerston North. The arcage pace of motors, already too lasi for safety in the city," lias percentiblv increased by at least ton miles an hour in the past Jew weeks, tragedy lurks at every corner Iho authorities should take stops before death scars their conscience (says tlio Manawatu Times).

That times were bad in 1380 is indicated by an examination of two receipts for tnat year covering ‘-ran.'.actions in sheep m the M airarapa district, writes a correspondent. Gnu records the fact that a line or CLJ cull merino lambs changed hands at, £2O. which is equivalent to 8d no. head. That amount was reduced .by 10s as the cost-of mustering, v inch at the present time is about ”os per day. 11l the same year, another transaction showed that- IoR were sold for £9B 18s Gd.

The making oi ensilage has mcrea sed in Otago aud Southland this year by enormous quantities estimated at 200 per cent., states Mr. it- LTeuneut. Field Superintendent ui the Agricultural Department. He say.-, that his office is inundated with inquiries as to the best methods oi preparation. Wet weather has spouedmanv of the corn crops, some or which have been ploughed in. cwmg to the ears not' filling. From tile same cause it is found m some d.stricts that there can be Im - haymaking. These disappointments ii-’e turned the farmers’ attention to ensilage as the only means ayaualde of making use of the produce.

M.apv farmers in South i araaiihi report "that, though their milk stirply lias increased fairly raaferi uly. the butter-fat has not increase/, in proportion, says the ‘‘Haw-era Stir. In many cases the test is lower aim this is attributed to the vagaries oi the weather in the early part or the season, which brought on the grass verv strongly, but did not increase the protein which tends to high fat content. The pay-out for this amuth is suggested as eightpence. m the light qf prices ruling at Home. The contrast with last January when Is. Gd'was paid is more marked than ever. It is suggested that the advance of ninepence made during the past two months has actually been an over-pavment

The new Delhi, winch has been i'ormallv inaugurated, was first planned in' 1912 Tas the outcome of the» official transfer of the capital of India from Calcutta. It lies to the south-west of the old city, aud “3 symmetrically planned, .with its ro-t-id point in Raisina Hill. The administrative buildings are to tho north and south, with Government Court between them, and higher up the Hill is the Viceroy's Court. Open spaces, wide avenues and magnificent buildings make the new city wonderfully impressive. The halls and. chambers, says one writer, might bo Edinburgh or Hampton Court, bub the atmosphere is the atniospnere of the East. The administrative buildings have been in occupation for a number of years.

In ‘"Early Days in Central Otago: Being Tales of Days Gone By, ’ the author. Mr. Robt. Gilkiusou mentions that v celebrated identity of Central Otago about whom many stories are told was Mr. Vincent Pyke, M-H.K., a man of great ability and merry wit. Once, when county chairman in the Dunstan. he deeply offended the residents of Cromwell by voting fur Clyde as the county town, whereupon the Cromwellians made an effigy of him upon which they heaped contumely, and carted it around town tied to a ladder, then flung it into the Clutha River. Two weeks later a ship arriving at Port Chalmers. reported wreckage. ‘‘Off the Nuggets Lighthouse.” said the captain. *'wc spied the body of a man tied to a ladder. It was too stormy to lower out boats.” Mr. Pyke’s effigy had been carried nearlv two hundred miles by the Clutha. When the California thistle began to spread in New Zealand the Minister of Lands had a bundle picked and forwarded to him in Wellington for inspection. Mr. Pyke called at the Ministerial room, and, putting his head in at the door found the honorable the Minister apparently smelling the thistles. “Very sorry/' said My. Pyke, “I did not know you were at lunch.”