LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 August 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At- the Hawera Police Court this morning, Mr. G. A. Burgess, J.P., presiding, a. statutory first offender was fined 10s for being found drunk yesterday.

The Waimate junior football team defaulted to Opunake on Saturday. The reverse order was stated in yesterday’s issue.

The Hawera High School football team, under the management ol Mr. Thomas, left by mail train this morning for Feilding, where they play a. match against Feilding Agricultural High school to-morrow.

Several heads of -the. Forestry Service cxf Canada; reached Auckland by the Niagara yesterday en ro-ute to. the British Empire forestry conference- in Australia. They include Mr E. H. Fin-1-ayson, Director of Forestry in- Canada. ‘ ‘There i-s the ease of -a man i n Christchurch who- nominated five immigrants in one week,” was a remark made by Air. J. Riolberts, in the course of his speech at Invercargill last week (reports the ‘‘Southland Times”), when discussing the abuse of the nomination system of immigration. ‘‘This man was himself receiving help from the Charitable Aid (Board, and the day before his nominated friends arrived in New Zealand he took the wise precaution of getting blankets from the Charitable Aid Board to cover his prospective guests 1”

The total number of admissions into the public hospitals in the Dominion during the year 1927 was 68,303. There were 4452 patients in hospital at the beginning ot the year, the total number of cases dealt with during the year being thus 72,755, equal to a rate of 506 per 10,000 of mean population, including Maoris; or, in other words, one out of every 20 persons in the Dominion received some degree of medical treatment in public hospitals in 1927. A total of 47,150 persons were treated in hospitals situated in the North Island, and 25,605 in those in the South "Island. The rates for the two islands were 513 and 493 _ per 10,000 of mean population respectively. The opinion that the main reason for the unsatisfactory position of the Dominion’s fish ex port industry was 'a lack of proper -ship-mug facilities was expressed by Mr D. Minnook in -an -address to the Otago- Fishmongers’ Association (says the Dunedin “Sta-r”). “New Zealand has an abundant, supply of fish- but it lacks organisation, partly owing to its geographical position," its unsatisfactory -shipping, -and out-of-date methods of railwayl transit and handling,” declared Mr Minnook. “The public, have to pay_ for the wasteful methods in conducting the industry, and a lesson cow'd, and should lie, learned from the.; older countries, where the fishing industry is a- national a-s-set, such a-s Great Britain. Norway, Canada and the United States of America.. Only t-lien, and not till then, will the people of this Dominion reap the wealth of the sea.”

Mr. Zane Grey, Who with his partner, Captain Mitchell, is now in Tahiti, writing to the Publicity .Department, says that- he is looking forward with great enthusiasm to his return to New Zealand, “although December seems yet a long way off.’’ Tliev intend- fishing through the Paoifio Islands in the hope of discovering the breeding ground and habits of the swordfish. This great sporting fish is found in all parts of the world at various seasons —in the -Mediterranean Sen, the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific waters —yet nothing is known of its- breeding grounds and little of its travels. Mr. Grey hopes to ascertain whether in the winter period they leave New Zealand- for the warmer waters ronud the islands- and whether in the course of the next few weeks they will be moving south from the islands and about Tahiti.

Responding to the toast of the Po«tramster-Goneral nnd the P. fiTul T. Department at the smoke concert of the P. and T, Employees’ Association at Wellington, the Hon-. K. S. Williams paid a graceful tribute to the prominent and _ intimate partplayed in the daily lives of the community by every member of the postal service. Speaking not as PostmasterGeneral, nor yet as a- member of the Cabinet, he wished, he- said, at the first gathering of officers of the department he had ever attended. t-o thank them as a back country farmer for their ready efforts to make the lives of the back-country people- hearable. In the ease of illness, or at any time when there was need of assistance in the home, the postal people were the first to ring up and ask if there was anything that could he 1 done to help. It was that kindly consideration and eagerness to please which made the work of the department, from the highest to the lowest in it, appreciated' throughout the whole of the country. Frequently they were called upon to do anythin!? and everything, and because they did it well, they had an exceedingly high name all through New Zealand. The competition of Australian oranges with Cook Islands fruit on the- New Zealand market was discussed by the price-fixing committee, traders, and- growers at ia series of meetings at Awarua, Rarotonga-, at the end of June- (states a. Wellington message). It- was decided to ask the New Zealand Government for duties on all oranges grown outside the Dominion during the months of March to September (inclusive), say, one penny per pound; on all banana-s grown outside the Dominion, sufficient to equalise the Cook Islands increased costs of production and marketing, to prevent- over-supply and dumping, and to afford Cook* Islands- a measure of protection, say, a- halfpenny per - pound; and on all tomatoes grown outside the Dominion, say. twopence per pound. It would also l>e requested that no restriction should he placed on Cook Islands tomatoes- during the months of June to December (inclusive).

An effect of the excellent dairying prospects lias been enhanced values for lands, states the Auckland Star. Numerous sales have been effected recentlv in Morrinsville and surrounding districts, prices indicating more than anything o'se that dairying is emphatically on the up-grade. Interviewed, a well-known estate agent stated that- the value of land had increased by between £6 and £7 an acre over last year. He predicted that tlio favourable season Met had just been experienced, together with the bright prospects for bi'tter-fat, would induce still better pri'-es for land. At the present, values could increase by another £5 or £6 an acre without the inflation point being reached, and he was of the opinion that next year would see this advance take place. If the increase went beyond that, there would he a boom, with results -disastrous to sane farming. A pleasing feature of the present land market" is the amount of cash being paid. The majority of properties selling now -Sire small one-man improved farms. Several sales of large areas have, however, taken place, but these have been usually at -prices allowing of further improvements being made.

The act of speaking calls into operation 44 different muscles.

In a, £l5O handicap pigeon match at Sockbum (Christchurch) yesterday, Messrs A. Dobson, O. E : . (I ray, A. E. •McCreadie, I. Lomas, *E. Hammond;, EL Landisell. R. E. Farrow, EL D. McLaughlin, O. E. Brown, D. Campbell!, R. 8. Taylor and H. Belk shot the possible, 14 birds, and divided the stake.

To-morrow (Wednesday) Rev. E. S. Ernmitt, M.C., will give a lecture in the Methodist Church, Normanby, on his experiences of the Great War, m which, he served as a padre. According to an Auckland exchange, over £2090 is the profit assured as a result of the Winter Exhibition held there last month. Reporting upon the financial position at a meeting of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, the secretary (Mr J. 1 indlay) stated that the profits would be shared equally by the Manufacturers’ and the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations. “.-Modern science is the most expensive luxury we have, next to horse racing,” declared Bir John Russell in his address to members of the New Zealand and University Clubs. He explained that scientific apparatus cost suJi a great of money that it was Highly essential to have some central bureau which was capable of testing new kinds of apparatus and new methods. The ordinary research worker had not, as a rule, 'unlimited funds at ills disposal, hence it was necessary for him to know what was best in the way of apparatus so that he need not waste money. In this direction a central bureau could do invaluable work. Strawberry growers in areas near Auckland are now commencing the season’s work. The plants bedded in May and June are just beginning to make headway. The'.soil around the roots ia being mulched —covered .with -a layer of straw or -similar material for. the protection of the tender roots. Due- to the extremely dry weather of last season, a sma’Jer number of new plants was available this year for planting out, andi consequently isupplies of fruit next summer are expected to be rather smaller. The cutting up of suburban areas for building sections will also contribute to the reduction of t-li>3 areas planted. This is particularly notioeab'.e in Avondale South.

Quoting from French sources of the perfume industry, the “New Zealand Smallholder” suggests that the growing of flowers and the bottling, of their perfumes might well become a useful industry lor the smallholders of New Zealand. Enormous tonnages are exported from Europe to- Britain and America, and large quantities homeconsumed. Suitable subjects include carnations, roses, jasmine, violets, lavender, and the scent orange. The average wholesale value of the- perfumes of commerce in Auckland was recentlv stated by “Farming First” at £1 per lb., but for best oil of lavender probablv £lO.

Mr S Okimoto, an officer of the Live Stock Division of the Japanese Agricultural Department, who has been touring the North Island gaining information concerning the New Zealand dairying industry, says New Zealand’s scientific methods of dairying have been a revelation to him. The- development of the- grading system and the system of dairy instruction greatly impressed him. The pastures of Taranaki and the Waikato were excellent, and he would take homei with him a wealth of information concerning New Zealand’s producing and manufacturing methods. The cc-u-rt of directors of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand today approved the following award®:— Harold Ralph, for -rescuing W. J. Busch from drowning at Lake Ferry on March 18, bronze medal; Daisy Miller -and Daniel Oldham, for rescuing Margaret Hewton from drowning at Jacks Bay, Clut-ha, bronze medals; .John Silvester Fulton, for _ rescuing Mary Ann Green from drowning at St. Clair Beach.. Dunedin, certificate.

Yesterday afternoon there was a good attendance in the Methodist- Bible Class Room to hear Miss MioLay’-s address on tho work and- meaning of the WOT.IT. Taking ais her text “God, Home, Humanity,’’ the -lecturer traced the work of the organisation in its efforts to teach the young people true temperance an-cl stressed the importance of teaching the young in the right way. Mrs C. W. Curtis presided in the absence through illness-of Mrs J. Ex-ley, the president. A hearty vote of thanks was proposed by Airs It. J. Squire and carrred -by acclamation.

A Government -reception was yesterday at Wellington extended to the English Rugby League- football team, who -are now touring the Dominion. The Hen. W. Downie Stewart was spokesman in the unavoidable absence of the Prime Minister. The Hon. K. S. Williams also spoke. Air E. O-sbome, manager of the team, stated that the visit 'had a- greater significance than merely to play football, for -such, tours were the means- of istrengtheniing the ties that bound the kith and km of the Empire. Alt Osborne -regretted that the trivial differences between the League and the Rugby codes should be the cause of such heart-burnings as existed-, and he appealed to all not to l\3t those differences enter into their social life.

“Our little Dominion,” so remote

from the great centres of population, is nevertheless, well to' the lore in the matter of adopting improved- devices,’’ remarks the Auciilaiid Chamber of Commerce Journal. “This is well illustrated by the extent to which the automatic telephone has been installed in New Zealand. While there were only nine towns in France which had the automatic telephone at the beginning of this year—Dieppe, Fontainebleu, Le Havre, Alontpellier, Nantes, Nice, Orleans, Rennes, and Nichy—m New Zealand (with only about onethirteenth the population of France) there were 14 towns so equipped—Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dannevirke, Dunedin, Hamilton, - Hawera, Alasterton, Napier, ‘Oamaru, Palmerston North, Stratiord, Wanganui and Wellington.”

It’s an old theory that a man’s occupation plays a definite part in moulding his physiognomy. Clerics and policemen, iawyers, and journalists, traffic cops and barmen, just to mention a few particular examples, are all supposed to run true to their own particular type, arid show the world faces which reflect their professional modes. Hitherto this phase of the cult of the physiognomist has left the municipal politician as among the “unclassified” models, but evidently in Wellington -local experts have made a fine art of the recognition of various grades of politicians. Last week at the Wellington Town Hall there was held a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Municipal Corporations. An Auckland delegate stood hesitatingly in the corridor wondering where the assembly might he. To -him there came a brisk youth, who inquired, “Mtinicipal meeting, sir?” “Yes,” was the reply. “How did you know that?” “Oh, you looked like a Alayor,” was the answer, and the bewildered delegate followed his guide meekly, inwardly marvelling that discussions with infuriated ratepayers on drains, water supply, footpaths, and rates lia-d branded him with such obvious identification marks. The ba-se of the largest Egyptian pyramid covers an area of 13 acres.