LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 January 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day is the 85th anniversary of the landing of the first settlers at Wellington. The locomotive which ran off the line near Paekakariki a few weeks ago is being partially dismantled for removal.

The Belgian Congo is to have a commercial air route between Leopoldville and Elizabethville. At present it takes six weeks to make this trip, but the aeroplane will do it in two days. A London cable message quotes the Financial News as saying that rumours were current that preparations were already afoot for a Queensland conversion loan amounting to twelve millions.

A meeting of the Eltham Athletic and Cycling Club, called for Tuesday, lapsed for want of a quorum. It is necessary to fix the date of the next annual sports, and although the club is in a good financial position, three attempts to get a meeting have failed. Speaking at a recent meeting of the Stratford Progress League, Mr S. Ward gave it as ids opinion that before long another bridge would be necessary to relieve the Broadway bridge of some of its traffic. Six residents of Lansdowne suburb, which constitutes the north ward of Master-ton borough,, have notified, through their solicitors, that they intend t’o take action against the council for damage to house property and personal effects caused by the bursting of a dam during the floods on December 18. The dam supplied the suburb with water.

Pedersen’s mill, Valley Road, five miles from Raetihi, was destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. A considerable quantity of timber was destroyed. The bush was almost cut out, and the owners contemplated shortly removing the plant to Karioi. Their loss was very considerable. There was no insurance.—Chronicle.

“The system of print-writing is practised in most schools in England snd Scotland,” said Dr. J. IV. Mcllwraith, inspector of schools; in addressing members of the Native School Teachers’ Association at Auckland. “It has been found,” he said, “to be 25 per cent faster than ordinary long-hand, and is, of course, much more legible.” State Advances Department, during the 21 months from March 31, 1923, to December 31, 1924, authorised loans aggregating £11,714,597 to 12,723 applicants. Of this amount £9,625,868 has been paid out to 10,284 applicants for all purposes. There is a large gathering of members of the Ngaitahu tribe at Tuahiwi pa, near Kaiapoi, representatives coming from all parts of the Dominion. The business on hand is the hearing the claims of the natives to ish>a.re in the grant of £354,000 made by the Government on the recommendation of tlie Royal Commission of 1921 as compensation to the tribe for handing over to the white people 77 years ago the greater portion of the South Island. Chief Judge Rlawson is presiding over the sitting of the -Native Land Court, which has been entrusted with the responsibility of arriving at a decision in this matter.

OUTRED’S SALE NOW ON. Cotton Crepe-de-chine Frockjs, 13/6; Coloured Voile Frocks, 22/6; Linen Motor Coats, marvellous value, 19/6; Crepe-de-ehine and Maroeaine Frocks, 39/6; Maroeaine Jumpers, smart styles, from 15/6; Knitted Silk Jumpers, from 13/6; Moire Underskirts, from 5/11. Costumes and Coat Frocks, exceptional style and quality at ridiculous prices. Model Hats and Ready-to-Wears less than half marked prices.—Outred’s, the House of Good Value. High St.

The next amateur athletic championships will bo held at Wanganui early in February.

A large consignment of fa,t stock, mostly from the Alain Trunk line, went through yesterday to the Waitara Freezing Works.

The Hawera Borough Council notify that proceedings will be taken in respect of all rates not paid by February 28.

Owing to Thursday, January 29, being Auckland Anniversary Day, the e.s. Rarawa will not leave Onehunga until Friday, January 30, returning Saturday.

Responding to a toast at a luncheon in England at which, lie was the guest of honour, Sir Wiißa-m Birdwood dwelt on the ignorance ol parts of the Empire with regai«i to conaitions in other pants, especially the ignorance of many m England about matters concerning the Dominions. It was only by going abroad that the people could realise the difficulties of the other parts of' the Empire. All the Dominions were wedded to democracy. Such a marriage brought many cares, and they wanted all the wisdom and experience, they could find to keep them out ol the difficulty. Democracy was extraordinarily jealous of its rights, and sometimes of those it put in authority. All must try to get rid of individual selfishness. It was incomprehensible that t.he great British democracy should be so influenced, as it was sometimes, by aliens, who weye responsible for the introduction, of the kind of tyranny wliicli, sought to make men, who were working their best, work slowly.

Judgment has been given in what was known as the Versailles film scandal. Four Parisian music hall artists, who, it is stated, posed in an almost naked condition in the park of Versailles for films, were fined fifty francs each. Af. Kreisler, manager of the company, was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment with the benefit of the First Offenders’ Act, which means that he was at once released on promising to he of good behaviour. Thus ends what at one time threatened to bring about international complications. People in the neighbourhood of Versailles (says the Central News) noticed a number of young girls nude dancing in the park. Complaints were made, and it was alleged that the film was being made for a German company for exhibition on the Continent, with a view to bringing France into disrepute. A good deal of political capital was made out of the case, but it transpired that M. Kreisler was an Austrian, and in the end the case fizzled out.

Tokaanu, situate at the southern end of Lake Taupo, is an ideal location for the holiday-maker or sportsman. While within the thermal regions it is sufficiently remote from the more frequented resorts to gain thereby a certain measure of attraction, but it is readily accessible by coach service from Waimarino, on the Main Trunk line, from which it is 40 miles distant. Good accommodation is procurable at Tokaanu, and in this issue Mr J. J. Ross 'has an announcement of interest to intending visitors. Air Ross is well known to a wide circle in South Taranaki, he having for many years been engaged in business as a builder and contractor at Opunake. Any Taranaki visitors will be sure of a cordial welcome at Air Ross’s hostel. “I think they are producing a different type of people in Australia from what we have here in New Zealand. They are hiving off—separating themselves, in . temperament and character, from us and from the Homeland.” This view was voiced by the Mayor of Wellington (Mr R. A. Wright, ’ M.P.), who has just returned from a visit to New South Wales and Victoria. His remarks applied particularly, he said, to New South Wales, and to its great capital, Sydney, where the people seemed to be developing more towards the American type. The people appeared to have very little home life; they were out day and night, And always hustling. There was an intense love of amusement, with the result that there was a general apathy in regard to such matters as national and municipal polities.