LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Grey River Argus, 12 July 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Professor Goode, who will lecture throughout the Coast on Soviet Russia, will arrive in Greymouth shortly. The New Zealand Trotting Association has a notice in another column regarding licenses and renewals. There were heavy flood in the South ■Westland rivers on Sunday, and the mails for places south of the Waiho were held up yesterday. A full of two and three quarter inches of rain in Hokitika district caused a considerable flood in the river, and a main sewer in Revell Street collapsed, flooding the adjacent streets. Beer duty collected in Greymouth for the month of June, amounted to £175 1/10 and the Customs duties for the same month totalled £3298 15/1. As the Upper House adjourned for a week while the House of Representatives debated the Address in-Reply, Hon 11. L. Michel has returned to Hokitika, but proceeds to-morrow back to Wellington. Attention is drawn, to the change of advertisement in this issue of Tlios. Crankshaw, the ideal tailor. His stock of serges cannot be surpassed. A visit to his premises in Coates’ Buildings will bear out this contention—Advt. The motor ear running between Hokitika and Otira was yesterday unable to make the journey, owing to a slip on the road near Wainihinihi. No mails got through last night to Hokitika. It is hoped to clear away the blockage by to-morrow. Fresh- rabbits and assorted smoked and fresh fish at Rothwell’s Trocadero to-day. —Advt. Owing to assaults on school teachers in 1921, the Birmingham Education Committee recently adopted a by-law rendering any person guilty of abusive and disorderly conduct on school premises liable to a fine of £5.

The work of repairing the sewer at the Junction of Boundary Street and Mawhera Quay is proceeding, and is proving no insignificant job. A lot of material has had to be shifted. The borough is bearing the cost, although the Railway Department is to benefit by the work, as the collapse of the sewer weakened the lines.

I Annual Winter Sale commencing Friday, June 29, and following days. Quick I quit unbeatable prices. 100 dozen • ladies’ all-wool Black Cashmere Hose, i usually 4/11, now 2/6 pair. 50 dozen ■ Elastic Top Sports and Low Bust Corsets, C. 8., British make, every pair guaranteed, Price 6/11 pair. McGruer’s (Westland) Ltd., Greymouth, Reefton and Hokitika.—Advt.

Two young ladies of Greymouth are reported to have struck a lucky ticket in “Tatts” for a small amount. A special general meeting of the State Miners ’ Union is to be held in the Miners’ Hall, Runanga, at 10 a.m., to-day to discuss important business. Rev Father F. Cullen, formerly of Westport, who lias been on a visit to that town for a week, returned overland yesterday en route to Wellington. Mr Willson, father of Mr W. Willson, Sergeant’s Hill, Westport, died at Gisborne on Saturday last. The alterations to the kitchen department of the Albion Hotel have now been completed, and the dining room is now open. —Advt. On Monday a Westport deputation consisting of Messrs Bradley, Beilby, and Canon Coursey left for Wellington to urge on the Prime Minister that the special export tax on coal recently imposed by the Government be removIn the 1921 report tlie Shell Transport Trading Company shows a not profit of £34,841, compared with £7,628,420 in 1920. The question exciting all well-informed critics of the 1921 “profit” is as to where the trust has hidden them. There are about fifty-one Thousand public servants in New Zealand. these seven thousand receive salaries above £320 per year. The other 44,000 get less, and hence in order to effect economy the Government says it must cut the smaller salaries as well as the big ones. The Big Event.—McGruer’s Annual Winter Sale commences Friday, June 29. Profit smashed goods, each and every article positively and substantially marked down. x Special purchase 97 c: ses of manufacturers’ and warehousemen s surplus stocks bought at less than half usual prices. For economy and satisfaction—McGruer’s (Westland), Ltd.—Advt. A recent London press cable stated: —Englishmen have b«*tter waists than English women, according to Miss May Maxwell, an Australian journalist, formerly of the Melbourne “Herald,” in the “Evening News.” Miss Maxwell says that when she first saw Englishmen she stopped and admired them, so well were they dressed and so carefully finished off. Shi' was amazed at the number of shops catering exclusively for them. Sir Win. Fraser, M.at a meeting of the Early Settlers’ Association at Wellington last week, said that though an Otago man, he was in Wellington in 1858. Eighteen years old •when he landed here, he 'was much interested in the almost natural state of Wellington, but left for the south after a fortnight. He mentioned that shopkeepers in Dunedin never thought of taking in goods displayed outside overnight—such was the honesty of the old days. He told of the early gold digging rushes, and of how two men, who came across the river at Clyde to his station to borrow bread, tea, and flour, left their claim with 84 lb of gold, valued at £4,00. In an article condemning the monopoly of all important posts in New Zealand by old people, the “Observer” says:— You never saw a .young judge on a New Zealand Bench or a young magistrate either. There are no young civil servants in charge of departments or young police officers in the higher ranks. All high ranks in New Zealand are refuges for the aged. The

aged who are not in the running for billets to be achieved by effluxion of time go to old men’s homes and are punished thejre for being old. Do you know any important administrative post that is held by a man of 25 years of age? Do you think that if the old wretches who made the Great War had taken Youth into partnership that millions of young bodies would be under the sod? Humus in the £oil, the result of dressings of farmyard manure or other organic manures, has the valuable effect of mellowing the soil and making it retentive of moisture and warmth. Both clay and.sandy sells are capable of improvement by application of manure producing humus, and it is a constituent which cannot be replaced by any other. Commercial fertilisers, useful as they are in many respects, will not take the place of humus in improving the mechanical condition of the soil. This is the reason why farmlard manure or other organic manures are indispensable in general farming. “There is too much of the ‘you have me, and I’ll have you,’ about the farmer of New Zealand,” said MiFear, organiser of the Dairy Farmers’ Union, at a meeting at Levin, when speaking of “robber” cows. Experts, like doctors, differ (observes the Auckland “Star”). In some quarters there is talk of a “second enrichment” in the great Waihi mine, and the possibilities of the deeper levels are being discuss'ed, with the result that the shares showed quite a surprising amount of inquiry, considering how dead mining stock has been for years. One would hardly expect the prospects of the mine to crop up in a report on electric power, but in the report of Mr L. Birks (chief electricar engineer to the Government) on the provisional agreement regarding the -exchange of power from Hora Hora between the Public Works Department and the Auckland Electric power Board, he says: “There is a possibility that the Waihi miners’ lead from Hora Hora will drop off in a few years, or before ( Arapuni is ready to supply power, in whicr case the amount available from Hora Hora for Auckland would be greater than the 2000 k.w. mentioned c in the agreement,”

In Central Otago it has been so cold lately, that parties have been engaging at Oturakau in skating and curling on the thick ice. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., judgment by default for plaintiff was given in each of the following cases: Harley and Co. v. A. J. Sumner, £4 9/5, with costs 8/-; Dispatch Foundry Co. (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) v. North Blackwater Mines, £lOO, with 11/- costs. A bachelors’ ball was held on Saturday night at Kokiri, and was attended numerously by visitors from various localities. The organisers deserve credit for the success of the function, which took place in the schoolroom, and especially the secretary, Mr G. Blair. Messis W. Williams( piano) and Kear (cornet) provided the music in their usual efficient style. The various clubs affiliated with the Competitions Society are now busy practising for the forthcoming competitions, and it is expected the entries will be as numerous as in past years. It is understood (writes our Blackball correspondent) that the Blackball Company, as the result of a demand for cleaner coal, have decided to start one or two hands picking stone off the conveyors. Al I he- local Warden’s Court yesterday, before Air W. Meldrum, Warden, applications were dealt with as follows:—Edward John Barnes, certificate of protection for six months.— Adjourned sine die. Stratford, Blair and Co., hand sawing and timber-split-ting warrant. —Granted. Neil Brooks, hand-sawing and timber-splitting warrant. —Granted. Wm. Buxton, ordinary prospecting license. —Adjourned for report from State Forest Department, to July 25. John Latchman, license to prospect for coal. —Adjourned to July 25. James O’Neill and Robert John Newman, application to amend tramway license.—Granted. Look out for special cut price-list this w-eek. All our new and up-to-date stock marked down regardless of cost. We must effect a complete clearance to make room for our summer goods. Our special cut sale starts on Saturday, July 15. The Mayfair Men’s and Boys’ Wear Specialists. Mawhera Quay, Greymouth. —Advt. The Minister of Public Health, replying to a question, stated there was a Social Hygiene Act on the statute book, but whether there should be compulsory notification of people suffering from the red plagpe was a very moot point on which there was a considerable difference of opinion. A great many women’s societies had taken the matter up, and they were divided on it. Under these circumstances he felt that in the last session of Parliament

he could not take the responsibility, of introducing a Bill which would cause long discussion, a great deal of agitation and lobbying. Therefore he had asked the Board of Health to set up a committee which would co-operate with outside members, including women, to investigate the disease and ascertain if it was so prevalent as was suggested, and, he hoped, suggest some remedy. The Committee who are organising the Railway and Foundry Ball, for tomorrow evening, are endeavouring to excel any social functions of the kind yet held in Greymouth. The ladies’ and men’s committees are both displaying great enthusiasm. The supper, which the ladies are to provide will prove one of the most delectable. The Euchre tournament will be the finest conducted of its kind for a like gathering. The dance music will be entrusted to Mr Williams, whose orchestra is par excellence and the floor will be specially prepared. The committee is endeavouring to transform the exterior of the Town Hall to make it attractive, as well afj making arrangements for the comfort aud convenience of patrons. The semophone, which will be a unique innovation, will signal, not distress to “wallflowers,” but an invitation to go on with the next dance. The proceeds, as has been previously announced, will be devoted to the free carriage of children up to a certain ago, to the next annual picnic. An unusual case came up yesterday before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., at Grevmouth, when J. M. Bunt and P. C. Heaphy (Air F. A. Kitchingham) trustees in the estate of J. D. Lynch (Mark Sprot and Co.), sued Robert McTaggart for £ll 7/6, the price of one hogshead. Plaintiffs’ evidence went to show that in 1921 the plaintiff firm supplied defendant, whi'ii he kept the Barrytown . Hotel, with a quantity of beer and spirits. When McTaggart gave up the hotel he went to settle up with Mark 1 Sprot and Co. and paid an account rendered for £2l 16/1. Apparently one ( hogshead of beer was omitted from the ( account. Plaintiff had since been try- ( ing to got into communication with McTaggart, but was unable to until t recently owing to some confusion over ( names. Defendant stated he told Mark Sprot and Co. clearly when he gave * up the hotel business that he wanted everything up-to-date and he paid what he thought was a settlement of the account. About two years later he was surprised to find that there was a x hogshead not charged. He admitted | h getting the beer, but thought that he | ll had squared up. “It’s faulty hook- P’ keeping that has caused the trouble,”; 1 said’ witness. The Magistrate said that | a there was no doubt in his mind that j n the defendant had received the beer. !in It was disappointing, no doubt, to dis- j w •over so late that a mistake had been ( O : rade. But ha ving been received the |f T jeer must bo paid for. Judgment would oie given for plaintiff for the amount a j laimed, with Court costs 30/- and soli- O] itor’s fee £2/2/-,

Bristol messages state that Fry’s, Cadbury ’s, and Pascal 1 ’s, which have combined to start a new factory at Hobart, are sending out 1000 workers. A shield has been donated by Air J. Heffernan, to the West Coast Rugby Union for competition in the fifth grade games. The Union last evening pass* d u vote of thanks to the donor. Washing by the day is sought by an advertiser on another page. Orders • left at this office will receive prompt . attent ion. I On Saturday next Harley and Co., Ltd., are selling by auction at their rooms, Richmond Quay, a large quantity of new and second-hand goods, including Axminster' and tapesty carpet . squares, hearthrugs, -balance of sample pots, kettles, etc., second-hand furniture, hand and cabinet sewing machine, all without reserve. From the “Sydney Bulletin”: Ed- ■ ward Alfred Parker, the Anglican parson of Peak Hill (N.S.W.), who threw up his job because of insufficient pay and took to barbering, came originally irom Maoriland. He got his ecclesiastical education at Bishopsdate College, in the Nelson diocese, and helped io keep the Devil out of Havelock and Reefton until he drifted across to Australia. ’ ’ There is evidently a changed attitude in many of Labour’s critics, for the Greymouth “Star” admits that at the recent Labour Party Conference at Auckland there was nothing done that would h nd itself to the scare-mongering so dear to anti-Labourites. The “Star ” says: “There was nothing revolutionary, or unexpected, about the remits passed, although these may not be agreed with by those who do not support Labour politically.” Last evening there was a good fresh in the Grey River, as the result of the recent rain, which during the 24 hours from 9 a.m. on Sunday totalled over iwo inches. The only ship in port yesterday was the Ngahere, which, being loaded, was kept under steam against the current. It is expected the fresh will improve the condition of the sump for the borough water supply. The installation in Greymouth of an up-to-date manual telephone system, with metallic return, is a work now being got under way. Footpaths in various streets bear the marks outlining the location of the metallic return apparatus in the earth. It appears that Cobden is not being included in the change, as new arms are being added to the telephone posts in that locality. Orders taken for Excelsior Rubber Stamps and Supplies, Lines marking outfits a speciality, Safety skrip Fountain Pen Ink, proof against-acid permanent on paper, protects cheques and valuable records, price large bottle, 2/-, Swan Fountain Pen Ink, price 1/6 large bottle. We have the Swan Fountain Pen, price 25/-; Waterman 25/-; Onoto 20/-, Unity 10/-. A. E. Kilgour, up-to-date Bookseller and Stationer.—Advt.

Owing to several creeks in the Otira Gorge being flooded yesterday in con- , sequence of the heavy rains, the coaches were considerably delayed in conveying passengers and mails over the I Hill. As a result of this the overland express did not arrive in GreyL mouth last evening until shortly after . 8 o’clock. An inconvenience conse- . quent upon the difficult coach passage t was the fact that only a portion of > the overland mail was brought over, j The remainder will arrive here to-day. Greymouth young man is wiser, . and financially deficient to the extent ' of one penny, as a result of the slot . telephone box being shifted to its present position outside the Post Office. Desiring to ring up an acquaintance he decided to take advantage of the handy position of the phone. After trying vainly for at. least 10 minutes to attract the attention of the exchange, the man decided as a labt resource, to insert the penny in the slot in the hope of securing an answer. This failed to produce the desired result, and, after another few minutes of- furious ringing, the man eaught sight of a notice: “Do not insert your penny until Central has answered your ring!” The central figure in this incident is seriously considering the prospect of becoming a subscriber. The cables are silent about the great U.S.A, coal strike. The United States have been in the throes of a coal war tor at least three months. It is part of the world-wide wage-struggle, and due to a direct attack by the mineowners on miners’ wages. To the American workers it is a most vital struggle ,as the rank and file in many other industries are beginning to realise that a general drive has been initiated by Combined Capitalism to smash all working class organisations, reduce wages below the subsistence level and establish the shop,” with a return to conditions more abhorrent than absolute slavery. The miners have taken up the challenge with a solidarity never before equalled in the Labour history of U.S.A. Why are the cables denying the workers news of this great struggle? Is no news good news? The only reference was the recent highly-coloured story of how half a dozen scabs were hanged from trees, and how a number of others were done to death is graphically related, and from the particulars one assumes that there is a coal strike on in America,