LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 February 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The steamer Matatua arrived at Lyttelton yesterday morning to load meat, but the watersiders refused to work her unless paid an extra 6d an hour. The local disputes committee being unable to settle the matter, has referred it to the National Disputes Committee at, Wellington. The Christchurch School Committees’ Association has passed a motion taking strong exception to Sir James Parr’s comments that the committees of the association are the only ones in New Zealand not satisfied. The association contends that there is hardly a committee in the Dominion that is satisfied, but they have become tired of asking for their rights. The Auckland City Council has approved of a proposal by the Christchurch City Council to hold a conference of delegates representing the four chief cities to consider competition by privately-owned omnibuses with municipal tramways. The council suggested Wellington as the locale of the conference, and appointed two delegates. In the article last tveelt dealing -with Clydesdales sold recently in Taranaki to the Waikato, a slight inaccuracy was made. The filly Bellgrove Queen, which was bred and owned by Mr G. Alexander, of Nornianby, won at Wanganui and was second at Hawera to the winder at the Koyal Show in 'Palmerston North. The sire, Bonnie Dene, belongs to the Hunter Estate.

The proposed business men’s tour of the North Island, which was suggested by the Wellington Chamber of. Commerce to take place this month, will not now eventuate until May at the earliest, and then only if sufficient support is forthcoming. Only eight gentlemen were ready to make the trip this month.

The Engineer' to the Inglewood County reports that about sixty chains ofthe Mountain Read South has been laid down this season. The two sections of road now completed should be linked up within two weeks. The metal arriving from Rangitikei is now of much better quality, although the supply is nqt coming up to expectation. On the Junction Road West a beginning has been made with the grading and foundation work on this section. The road is now advertised as closed and approximately 30 chains of metal has already been laid.

A meeting of ladies was held last Tuesday evening the in Band room, to arrange for the conducting of the Tea Kiosk at the Motor Cycle Races, the Club having kindly granted the 'privilege of the services of the. Band at their forthcoming meeting. It was arranged that another meeting would be held next Tuesday evening at 7.30, and a hearty invitation was extended to all Indies interested to attend. The total receipts will, he- in aid o.f the instrument fund.

In discussing the question of surnames with one well versed in Maori ways, an Auckland Star representative was informed that it was quite common for natives to take their names from some article of clothing or furnishing. In fact, there is a tribe in New Zealand which is named after a garment. He referred, he said, to the Moetarau tribe. Literally translated “moetarau” means “sleep in trousers,” and this particular name dates from comparatively ancient days when the natives knew nothing of European clothing and one of the tribe achieved great mana among his fellows by securing a 'gift of a real pair of trousers from a visiting whaler captain. It gave the lucky beneficiary a wonderful distinction among the Maoris to be clothed in pants, and one can quite understand that he found it necessary to sleep in them to keep both the mana and the pants. Anyway he did wear them night and day, as long as they lasted, and became a great chief because of them, with the result that the tribe to this day is known as the “sleep in trousers” tribe. Without this explanation the sophisticated pakeha might see in the name some suggestion reflecting on the sobriety of the tribe.