LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

So much, damage is done to tho grain crops in South Canterbury that the Ashburton County Council has decided to purchase birds’ eggs at 9d per <loz. A case in which it was sought to obtain possession of a tenement in Ranfurly Street, Runanga, was settled out of Court, tho tenant, a prominent member of the Miners’ Union, stating ho would endeavour to obtain another house. Look out for special cut price-list this week. 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, Grcymouth.—Advt. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr W. Mcldrum, S.M., one first offender charged with being illegally on licensed premises, was convicted and ordered to pay costs., A second offender was fined £1 with costs. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr AV. Meldrum, S.M., Arthur Beban, manager of Peerless Pictures, was fined £1 with costs for keeping open the Town Hall on Sunday, July ’ 9, for the purpose of transacting busi- 1 ness therein contrary to Section 17 of ? the Police Offences Act.

I It is estimated that the Invercargill 1 Borough Council will receive £lOO less 1 in rates this year than last. 1 Several Southland timber companies are opening yards at Dunedin and In- 1 vercargill in anticipation of an increas- 1 ed demand for building material. I The sum of £2OO has been obtained I by the Ashburton County Council for 1 a quantity of pinus insign is timber cut from the Elgin Experimental Farm. t-4 ' The gate takings at the WellingtonTaranaki football match at Hawera on Wednesday last constitute a record for inter-provincial matches in Taranaki, - totalling over £3BO. 1 The University of Michigan has been ( loaning money to needy students for more than a quarter of a century, and over that span of years has never lost a • cent through wilful failure of the bor- 1 rower to repay. Special Bargains—Boys’ Oilskin . Coats now 17/6, Boys’ Mackintosh Coats usually 39/6 now 19/6, Men’s Double-lined Oilcoats now 19/6. MeGruer and Co., Greymouth, Rcefton and Hokitika.—Advt. The Manchester Guardian’s Berlin correspondent states: —“At least 306 men and women, including Liebknechr, Erv.berger and Rathenau, who have been murdered for political reasons in Germany during the past three years, were all either Liberals or Socialists. The menace of the aristocrats is the greatest of any. Before the Manawatu railway line was constructed the main coach, ran between AVellington and Foxton, an'* frequently arrived practically loaded with frost fish during the winter months. Of late years few of this class of fish have been secured on tho Otaki beach. A six foot fish was recently stranded on the Castlecliff beach at Wanganui. The most pressing need in Napier just now is for some form of employment for those men who are unsuited to heavy work at Eskdale (says the “Tidegraph”). The Labour Department authorities find that many men who are confident that they can do the work abandon it after a week or so. Whitebait is reported to be entering the streams on the West Coast in comparatively large numbers for the commencement of the season. “Silver birch from the North Island is the most lasting and durable timber in the Dominion,” declared the en-: gineer of the Mauawatu-Oroua Power Board at a meeting of that body. There were instances, he said, of logs of silver birch having been dug out of swamps in which they had been buried for perhaps 400 years, and with 4ft pine tree growing over them, and then being so dry and well preserved that the wood when split up could be lit with a match. A neatly-dressed woman of about 35 years of age, and delicate in appearance, was observed to be wandering aimlessly about the vicinity of the railway station at Ashburton. She carried a bag, and was apparently intending to travel. Her meaningless actions excited some curiosity. On being questioned, it was discovered at length that the unfortunate woina was suffering a lapse of memory, and could not give her questioners much guidance as to her identity or intentions. She was taken care of by the authorities, who have commenced investigations. Musical Instruments.— Drop prices at A. E. Kilgour’s best quality Aceordeons, made in Czechoslovakia, special, just opened, 39/6 and 45/-. Violins, good, reliable instruments 85/-, 125/-, 150/-; Mouth Organs, good tone, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6, 5/6, 7/6. A. E. Kilgour, Music Warehouse.—Advt. The whitebait season in the North has opened a month earlier than usual this year. The Auckland market received its first supply some uays ago, when a small quantity arrived from the Waikato Heads, via Tuakau. Only very small catches have been obtained since then, however. Last year whitebait did not appear in the shops until the end of July. Their early appearance this year may be attributed to the mildness of the winter, and is regarded as a sign of an early spring. What is the limit of flight of a pigeon? There are some fanciers who hold that even the 800-mile race from Marseilles, which is being organised by tho Great Yorkshire Amalgamation, will not be a final test. Some years back 500 miles was held to be impossible, but to-day there arc aiumerous pigeons in England which have exceeded that distance. Tho last great test was a 750-milo journey, from San Sebastian, but there were also many flights by war carrier pigeons of extraordinary length and precision. Probably the confidence that English bred racers can do the journey from Marseilles in a day is justified. A Christchurch widow, who has been left with nine children, is seeking a compassionate allowance. Owing to eight of the children having been born in Australia she is not entitled to a widow’s pension in New Zealand. The Cromwell Borough Council, at its meeting on Thursday evening, gave notice to strike a general rate of 2/- in the £l. This, with three special rates, makes a total rating of 4/1, the increase from 3/9 last year being a special rate of fourpence for the new pipe line. The ill-fated five-masted barque France, the largest sailing vessel in tho world, was built at. Bordeaux, wms launched in May, 1912, and is owned by the Campagne Francaise de Marine and de Commerce of Paris, Rouen being her port of registration.

According to Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., for Taranaki, unemployment is acute in his district. A Dunedin telegram states:—A man named Denis Gavin, a resident of Kaitangr.ta, 40 years of age, was found with his head blown off with explosives.

The Horowhenua County Council has received quotations for Australian hardwood timber at lower prices than has been in evidence for several years. A consignment was accepted. A Wellington telegram states that the total strength of the Territorial forces following the postings completed last month is 776 officers, and 13,894 other ranks. The senior cadets number 322 officers and 23,286 other ranks. On Saturday Blackball ladies hockey team defeated Hokitika at Hokitika by two goals to one. The visitors, who were in the evening entertained at a dance, returned home on Sunday by motor. Archbishop Redwood told a gathering at Wellington how he had found amongst his papers a few days ago a letter written to him 67 years ago by the Rev Father Guerin, who, instead of ink, as a medium had used the juice of grapes. The writing was still quite

clear and legible. Teachers salary cuts notified, to the Canterbury Education Board as from July Ist, will be £5 for teachers, and £2 f<»r pupil teachers, probationers and training college students. Secondary and technical school principals not under the Board, arc to be reduced £lO. The latest exploit of Henry Ford is to buy 35,000,0001 b of deteriorating cordite gunpowder at one-fifth wartime quotations, and use it for making artificial leather, says the “Scientific American.” Besides halving the cost of leather, of which 25,000 square yards are turned out daily, this also releases for other purposes more than a million gallons of benzol annually. Thus the Westp-H •• News’’ on the matter of post-oitices: —“As bPest school attendances the population barometer, show: Greymouth Vestport 809, possibly the Department intends to make Greymouth a eub-office of Westport.” The “News ’ ought to know there are about 1490 pupils in various schools within the Greymouth area. The Valuation Department notified Westport Borough Council in a summary that the value of the Borough properties was £117.000 less than that of the previous valuation. To this the Town Clerk took exception and wired asking if the figures were correct. A reply was received from the Department stating that a mistake had been made, the decrease being about £17,000. This will mean a reduction in the amount of rates receivable of £3OO to £4OO. A rather interesting exhibit has been forwarded to the “Waikato Times” by R. Renwick, Putaruru, in the shape of 16 ordinary pins, 2in long and very much discoloured, which he states he found in the gizzard of a fowl which he had killed, not because it exhibited any sign of illness, but for table purposes. These pins and also the remains of a safety pin, were sticking through the gizzard about a quarter of an inch, and how the bird survived would be something of a revelation. The bird was apparently in the best of health , when killed.

natural during the war to pay big prices for necessities. To-day we have quite a different aspect and every one requires to be thrifty and get the utmost value for every £ spent. There is no doubt that the greatest value obtainable for your money in furniture and furnishings is at Harley’s, the furnishing warehouse, who keep anything from a kitchen shovel to a drawing-room suite. —Advt. Tho ladies interested in promoting to-night’s big entertainment at the Opera House in aid of the Ma list Brothers Building Fund have arranged for what should prove a popular feature, namely, a sweets stall, which will do business prior to and during the entertainment. Substantial quantities of sweets, home-made and other varieties, including chocolates in bulk, will bo put up in packages at 1 . <»«1 and 3d apiece, and patrons can rely on good value. All desirous to help the worthy object in view will doubtless unite in seeing the stall sells completely out of its stock. • At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M.. Wong Quing (Nir W. J. Joyce) was charged that on June 17 he did fail to close his shop at the hour of 9 p.m. on the late night as provided in Clause 20 of the Grocers’ Award, in that he permitted a shop assistant employed by him to be engaged in the sale and delivery of goods—to wit, cigarettes —to a customer after that hour. Evidence was given by Nir J. Lowden, Inspector of Awards who said the facts were admitted and the question was merely the fixation of penalty. The maximum penalty under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act under which the charge was laid was £lOO, but as the penaltv for a similar offence under the Shops and Offices Act was £lO he would

claim that amount. He said ho had received a number of complaints about Chinamen selling tobacco after hours. Mr Joyce asked that the full penalty be not inflicted as defendant would give his assurance the offence would not be repeated. The sale was made by a boy not engaged by Quing, owner of the shop. He would ask for a nominal penalty. Defendant was fined 10/and costs.

During June there were 29 birthw and 8 deaths in Grcymouth. The price of butter on the Wellington market was reduced Id on Thursday. The Westport Stockton Coal Company shipped 3,116 tons 7 cwt of . d last week. Westport Coal Coßtpf shipped 11,082 tons 5 cwt of coaV y 1 55 tons 1 cwt of coke. Local sales: 282 tons 4 cwt. “This summons has not been served, ” said Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Christ*-: recently, when the case of a man charged with a breach of a by-law was ’ailed. “No,” replied Mr H. M’lntosh, City Motor Inspector, “it has not been served. The man is dead! ’ “I make a practice of making you people pay for your night’s board an 1 lodgings,” said Mr D. E. Mosley, S.M.. at Christchurch recently, when a statutory first offender offered to take out a prohibition order against himself. Ac cused was convicted and fined 10s in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. The industrious Hindu has a very pleasing trait (says the “King Coun- j try Chronicle”). A bankrupt told his creditors at Te Kuiti that a Hindu labourer, when he heard that his emplover was insolvent, expressed his willingness to lend his brother white man his 15 cows in milk if he wanted “I had a lot of time for that man r declared the bankrupt. Few people when they buy a safe for tin* purpose of storing money and valuables expect to find, on opening their acquisition, a sum of money therein. Nevertheless this was the experience of a Gisborne hotelkeeper who recently secured a large safe at one of a series of auction sales which has been in progress. His amazement was great on opening the safe at finding neatlv tucked away in one of the drawers the sum of £24 10/- in notes. “Referees do not want to take any notice of what appears in the newspapers about them, as the football reporters ‘cut no i.-e.’ ” observed Mr A. E. McPhail, a member of the executive of the Canterbury Rugby Union, at a social function on Monday evening held by the Canterbury Referees’ Association. Well, it doesn’t matter to us (Says the Christchurch. “Sun”; what Nir McPhail says. But one won- . ders how Rugby unions would have got on if there never had been any reporters at their matches and meetings. Amusement seekers of Greymoulh arc finally reminded of the grand plaiii and fancy dress masquerade ball, bai>d| loon dance, and euchre tournament which is feet down to take place tonight in the Druids’ Hall. Great interest is prevailing amongst dancing enthusiasts regarding the balloon dance which takes place for the first time in this district. Prizes of the best quality will be offered for the euchre tournament, mose original custumes and balloon dance. The Hockey Club have left nothing undone in the way of making this function a huge gathering, and amusement lovers are invited to bring their friends along with them. The general belief in Dunedin that the cost of house-building would shortly drop has caused many a man to go on paying rent during the past year or two. Whether the delay has proved profitable is on bare figures an open question, for the prices have not come down in anything like the amount that is represented by the difference between paying rent to a landlord and paying off to secure the title deeds and whatever sentimental value attaches to being in one’s own house is entirely lost. People in Dunedin are now beginning to realise that further postponements are of no avail, since the charges for material and labi ur gL not likely to conic down any mora while—not at any rate to the extent of warranting continued delay and men who provide plans and arrange for contracts say that there is quite a stir in the direction of putting up dwellings. At present the movements are mostly of a preliminary nature, but they arc taken as fairly sure indications that the long postponed boom in housebuilding is about to commence.