LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 28 December 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Dunedin message reports that about £32,000 was obtained lor I/eague and Association football by the colos&al art union. “1 count the small service before school begins of great value.’" said Sir James Parr, Minister of Education, at a school function at Napier. “It is my own personal opinion, and while I’m Minister of Education I will always hold to it, although 1 do sometimes get into hot water.” A fire occurred on Thursday night in the Auckland Stock Exchange meetingroom in the Government Insurance building which, together with adjoining offices occupied by the, Firth Pinnace Go. and H. G. Gillespie, accountant, were gutted. Three offices on the ground floor beneath were damaged by water. It has already been reported that spurious half-crowns are in circulation, bearing the date of 1916. The coins, however, are not restricted to this date, and another issue, dated 1922. is also being freely circulated. When ■ new the coins bear an excellent resemblance to the genuine article, and it is only when the brightness wears off that the “home-made” character becomes obvious. The coins then have a leady appearance, A party of motorists were recently returning from Tokaanu to Hihitalii, in the Auckland district (states the Star), when one of the men in the car and the driver had an argument as to whether a bird on the lake was a shag or a bittern. The driver turned to have another look at the bird, and the next tiling the party knew was that the car had taken a header into the lake, to the astonishment of the bird which had been the innocent cause of the mishap. A motor-lorry had to be requistioned to geet the car back to the road again. While New Zealand has succeeded in reducing its infant mortality to the lowest rate in the world, maternal mortality is still relatively high. Last year tlie rate was live deaths for every thousand births, a figure, that is considerably exceeded in some countries, but compares unfavourably with the records of Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden, where mortality is from two to three per thousand births. ' At the request of the Health Department, exhaustive investigation of conditions and administrative methods in Holland and Denmark was made by Dr. Sydney C. Allen, of Auckland, who returned on Saturday. He- was cordially welcomed by the authorities in both countries, and given complete facilitiees for studying the subject in all its aspects. His conclusions and a number of important recommendations will be communicated to the Government in a formal report. Dr. Allen said he could not discuss the subject publicly beyond saying that he was convinced that it was fully within the power of New Zealand, not only to equal, but to surpass, the records of Denmark and Holland.

BOYS’ COLLEGE OR SCHOOL OUTFITS. H.B. Hawera are experts at fitting out boys with their School or College Outfits! They can fit your son for any school or college in the Dominion--Suits, Shirts, Caps, Singlets, Pyjama, Hose, Belts, Ties, Shorts, Boots, Bags, Rugs, Overcoats. Bring us your son, we will do the rest at the N.Z. Clothing, Factory, Hawera.

Someone in Australia will be made happier by the action of one of the Auckland Harbour Board employees m rescuing a small brown paper parcel from the water the other day. He found the parcel was addressed to a person in Australia, and on opening it found it contained some Stylish handkerchiefs, which, owing to the good wrapping, had not been affected. 'The workman readdressed the package, and enclosed a note detailing the circumstances under which he found it.

The twin-screw 43-footer Ruamango left Auckland on Christmas Day with H. Court (owner), J. Kelly (engineer), C. .T. Codings (builder), J. B. Johnston and R. Norton on a two months’ cruise to circumnavigate New Zealand. It will proceed to Russell and then to Wellington, via Onehunga and New Plymouth, thence down the east coast of* the South Island to Dunedin, Stewart Island, West Coast Sounds, Grey mouth, Westport, Nelson, Napier, Gis borne, and home.

Dairy farmers throughout Poverty Bay district are facing a serious shortage of feed at present, and unless rain is experienced in the near future the position on the flats will be acute. Already many farmers have had to encroach upon their hay paddocks for feed, and the production of the herds has been steadily dropping. Mr G. 11. Moore, chairman of directors of the Kia Gra Dairy Go., speaking with regard -to the position, said that the present drought wou'd be felt for many months and would probably affect the feed which would be available for cows during the coming winter. One of, the few parts of the district where dairymen are having a good season is around Mat aw ai.

If one were iasked to name the richest nation in the world he would probably say 'Great Britain or America. But he would 'be wrong, for the distinction belongs to the Osages, a .band of American Indians of the Dakota stock, settled on a strip of laud in Northern Oklahoma. This .section of the Indian reservation contains a wealth of oil properties which make the land valuable. For the leases of the ‘land to various oil companies the whole tribe is paid nearly two million pounds a year in rent. As there are barely 2000 members of the tribe, settled) in hundred families, the • average income of each family is approximately £SOOO a year. Therefore, as a. race, they are without question the wealthiest in the world.

It is learned on good authority (says the Lyttelton Times) that the" Hon. \V. Nosworthy will not be Minister of Finance in the new Cabinet, and there is every reason for believing that the Hon. W. Downie Stewart will be allotted that portfolio. It is not thought likely that the portfolio of Agriculure will change hands, and in itself it is generally considered to be a one-man job. Mr. Nosworthy’s acceptance of the Finance portfolio, it will he remembered, was only really in the nature of provisional acceptance. As. it is more than likely now that Sir James Parr will leave New Zealand in March next to succeed Sir James Allen, whose term as High Commissioner ends by effuxion of time, it is considered more than a probability that the. Hon. E. P. Lee, who is not new to Cabinet position, might be found again the holder of one of the portfolios at present held by Sir James.

The influx of the blue-blooded into the ranks of the Labour Party, although on the face of it a triumph for the horny-handed, is causing a certain amount of heart-searching among those leaders of the party who take their job seriously (says an English paper). The latest recruit is Lady Cynthia Mosley, wife of that glittering young person, Oswald Mosley, who recently made a spectacular pass-over from political independence right into the bosom of Socialism. Lady Cynthia, a daughter of that hardest of hard-shell Tories, the late Bad Curzon of Kedleston, has been adopted as Labour candidate for Stoke, which is at present represented by that grand type of working-man, Colonel John Ward. In an amazingly patronising speech, Lady Cynthia patted her supporters on the head, said what splendid fellows they were, and assured them that .she would do "her best for them, and, having satisfactorily finished her slumming expedition, streaked off in her Rolls-Royce. “It is a matter of justice that the law should he altered in eases of this kind, so that the man may give evidence in other parts of the Dominion in respect to the cases,” stated Mr. A. C-. Hanlon at the Dunedin Police Court on Friday, when referring to charges under the motor regulations against drivers living in other centres. Mr. Hanlon said that the alteration was desirable, as the defendant might be at the other end of the Dominion when the case was heard, and had to plead guilty or journey to court. The defendant should be allowed to give evidence elsewhere. Under the present regulations a defendant declared, “I might as well plead guilty and get the case over quickly.” The magistrate (Mr. H. W. Bundle) said that in certain cases a hardship, might be inflicted on the defendant. He might be a visitor to the city and have a bona fide defence to a charge (reports the Otago Daily Times). The man should have an opportunity of placing his evidence before the Court without incurring heavy expenses. Mr. Hanlon said that he 'was pleased to hear his Worship’s opinion on the point. Probably the Legislature would aiter the Act if the motor clubs took the matter up. A theft not without its humorous aspect occurred, at Ashburton last Thursday night (reports the correspondent of the Lyttelton Times). With a view to festivities during. the. holidays two local residents, whose places of residence are. quite, a quarter of a mile apart, have been busily occupied for some time in manufacturing some 18 gallons of ale, of which they have been very proud; so proud, in fact, that they gave a certain amount of publicity to its excellence. The ale was kept at the residence of one of the “co-opera-tive workers,” while: the bottles were kept at the house of the other partner in readiness for the ceremony of bottling on Sunday. On rising in. the morning the resident in charge of the bottles discovered that his wash-house had been broken into and a number of the bottles taken or broken. He was not greatly perturbed by this, secure in the knowledge that the brew was stored elsewhere. He informed his partner of the burglary and lie also enjoyed the joke. The worst part lias yet to be told, however, as on going home the “storeman of the beer” found to his dismay that a burglary had also, taken place- at his residence. The barrel containing the beer was still there, but’ its contents had been extracted. The thieves must have worked secure in the knowledge that they would not he disturbed, as _it would take considerable time to shift 18 gallons of ale.

We have just opened a host of attractive Christmas gifts. Dainty boxed handkerchiefs, smart bags, manicure sets, perfumes, vanity cases, garters, latest novelties in gloves and fashionable hose. —Outred’s, the store where the smart hats are.—Advt. Barraclough’s Magic Nervine stops teeth aching—l/6.—Advt.

Tim Director-General of Health (Dr. T. H. A. Vuliinifcine) in reply to a table sent to Sydney in reference to the recently reported outbreak of infantile paralysis there, lias received the following • from the Direeitoi-General of Health, Sydney: “Position satisfactory, no need whatever tor any restrictions on travelling.”

Tuesday was a red-letter day for the coast (reoorts the Opotiki Guardian), the first car to reach Muraenui arriving from Opotiki. Mr C. H. Fleming drove his car right through to Air Saxby’s homestead at Houpoto Station. On the arrival of the car at Maraenui the Maoris turned out in force, greeting the driver with cheers and decorating the car.

A peculiarity of the legislation affecting landlord and tenant was mentioned at the Magistrate’s Court, Auckland. Air J. J. Sullivan, who appeared as a tenant, remarked that while a landlord could not appeal against a decision, the tenant, could.

The Wellington Post recalls that the Buckle Street School, which was opened on November 10, 1875, was the first State school in the city, to be granted the privilege of local management. The election of a committee took place on December 21 —50 years, ago last Alonday. Hon. W. .Gisborne, chairman of the Board of Education, was chairman of the meeting. Two Christmas Eve revellers were arrested and next morning brought before Mr G. H. Buekeridge, J.P. On a charge of resisting the police, Alex. Cam pbell was convicted and fined £3, and on a charge of drunkenness he was convicted and discharged. The Bench commented strongly on the seriousness of resisting the police in the execution of their duties. John Burke was fined 10s for drunkenness. A pleasing testimony to. the methods pursued in the New Zealand High Commissioner’s Office, London, particularly the Immigration Department, has reached Sir James Aden from a gentleman in Somerset, whose son went to New Zealand under the public schoolboys’ scheme. After referring to the progress made by his son, this gentlemen states: “I must repeat a previous statement of mine, that it is a sincere pleasure to deal with any, or all, of the officials of New Zealand. 1 wish that our own Home Government officials could learn their thoughtful courtesy. Airs and I would not mind being in New Zealand ourselves if we were a little younger. With many thanks.” An earthquake of unusual severity, was experienced in Alasterton on Thursday at 3.40 p.m. The shake was preceded by a pronounced rumbling for about ten seconds, and the severity of the tremour occupied five seconds, during which buildings rocked perilously. No serious damage is reported, the most severe sufferers apparently being the crockery shops, where Christmas displays were disturbed. The town was full of Christmas shoppers, and many shops were quickly emptied, the severity of the tremour causing considerable 'alarm. The .shake is considered -the most severe since 1912.

A function of unique interest took place 'at Government House, Wellington, on Thursday, when General Sir George Richardson, Administrator or Samoa, presented to his Elxcellency tlie Governor-General, on behalf of the ltono Faiipules (members of the Native Parliament) , certain articles of great historical importance and significance in Samoan life, namely a fine mat representing tire authority of the Government, an orator’s 'Stave and tue, symbolic of the voice of the Great Council of Samoa, and a kava bowl used on ceremonial occasions. The Samoan Faipules sent a message of confidence in the New Zealand Government and administration.