LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 132, 21 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The installation of the new organ in St. Columba's Presbyterian Church at .Havelock North was commenced to-day.

Tiie tender of Mr. Wilfred Woolf (Masterton) has been accepted by die Orc.ua County Council for the erection of a bridge over the Or'oua river at Menzie’s ford, the price being £2760.

A water main burst in Gray's road. Hastings, last evening, but beyond tearing up the ground and creating a min’ature flood no damage resulted. The break was repaired this morning.

The Hawke's Bay Arts Society held their monthly exhibition at Abbott's Hall. Napier, last night, when some excellent specimens of work were exhibited and a very useful and helpful eridcism given by Mrs. Handyside.

Mr. Win. E. Whir dry. Lockyer’s Buildings, Napier, is j-cle broker for Mtingaoiic Oiliivlds. Limited. Only a limited number of shores remain available. Prospectus and application forms can be had on application to Mr. Whiteley.

Ur. AV. J. McGrath will move at the next meeting of the Napier Borough Council, ’’That the necessary steps be taken to acquire sufficient ground to widen Wnghorne street nt the corner of Custom street, Port Ahuriri."

A Christchurch reporter, in the course of his enquiries into the methylated spirits habit, asked the barmaid if she had oeen asked for the beverage. She said she hadn t, hut that verv day a man d< nianded lime-juice and glycerine.

A recent visitor to Australia states that it is no infrequent occurrence for sheep trains to arrive at thendestination with five per cent. dead. Sometimes the animals are several days on the trucks, the sheep trains generally only averaging nine or ten miles an hour.

The Hon. AY. D. S. .MacDonald, Miirstcr for Public AVorks, opened the Nuhaka bridge on Saturday. About 500 people attended the ceremony. The bridge and approaches have a length of 7-10 fet and the work of construction has been excellently carried out by Mr. R. Gardiner, the contractor. Mr. A. J. Davey was the overseer of the work.

How will they do it I The following remit, which is to be considered by the conference of delegates of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, to be held this week, presents a

‘■poser” that has puzzled many a bright economist. The remit, which is from the Westport Labour Union, reads'. —'‘That we devise a scheme vvlierebv tne price or foodstuffs shall not rise to correspond with the rise in wages.”

The Hom George Fowlds spoke in the King's Theatre, Dunedin, on “Mose 1 ;. the Greatest of Laboui Leader';.” ch Sunday evening. In speaking on the same subject in Invercargill last Sunday evening, Mr. Fovvlds said tnat during iiis life he had tried to combine his business, his religion and his politics on the ‘Pine ethical basis, and therefore made no apologv for gving such an address on Sunday,

In the course of a sermon on social questions at Lithgow, Archbishop Killy said there were those who taught that the worker was a man who produced, and so he had a right to everything, and that society would not be right until there was no i-.uch thing as private property, and that these were held by all in common. These doctrines hindend a man from providing for his family ; and as a man was bound by nature to qualify himself to do this, by his eu.'iii.ig and by his savings and by the fruits of his savings, this doctrine was against nature and it was against God.

The Philarmonic concert on Wednesday evening next promises to be one of the finest given so far by Dm society. Mrs. Gower Burns. of Christchurch, whose services have been secured for the concert, will sing four songs: “lacea la Nolte Placida.” from “11 Tiovalorc.’ Aiallinson’s “Snowflakes,” “Prelude” flu’ll “Cycic 1/1 Life” (Landen Ibm alii), and “Nymphs and Fawns” (Benborg). Miss Ava Symons will play "Mazurka” by Musin, ”Serenade” (Drnla). Mr. Louis Hay, the popular flautist, of Napier, will play "A Romance." by Svendsen. These numbers, together with the performance of Mendelsohn’s entrancingly beautiful work, “Walpurgis Night,’’ should make an exceedingly pleasing prog ram me.

Mr. Foster, M.P.. chairman of the ■Federal Fruit Commission, who arrived in Cairns from the Northern Territory on Sunday, said his visit had removed all doubts in his minds ns to i r -s being a white man’s country. The people there showed best of health, fever was net prevalent, and very few died from it. Mining development was paralysed by tributes to Chinamen. It was likely that the Government would abolish tributes to Asiatics altogether.. The mining industry was only m its infancy. and its prospects were brilliant. No mine cr shaft in the Territory was more than 300 feet. One o-rc-at cattle run on the Victoria river had a herd of 100,000 cattle. Hardly any white labour was employed, the majority being mainlydone by blacks, who were adapted to stock work.

‘'l was told of districts in New South Wales, through which I travelled recently by rail,” said a returned Aucklander to a “Star” reporter, ‘•where there has been scarcely a sprinkle of rain for twelve months. New Zealand farmers don’t know what it is to see a paddock absolutely bare of pasture, with the unfortunate stock without a bite of natural foods. Stocks were dying. I was told, in many districts, through inability to supply them with food and water. The big sheepowners are having a very bad time of it. If the drought does not break soon there will bt a reaction in the Sydney boom before very long, in my opinion. The weather bureau reports are daily scanned in the city with intense eagerness, and it is sad to see one, after another turning away with the same significant remark, ‘No rain yet I’

Replying to the toast, to his health at his reception by New Zealanders at Sydney last Tuesday, Sir Joseph ■Ward said that though he had only come to Australia in a private capacity. he thought, without being egotistical. that his visit would lead to good things for both New Zealand and Australia. He found that there was a growing feeling on the part cf responsible men that it was time the tariff barriers as far as trade between the two countries was concerned were removed, and that they ought to come more closely together. He was pleased to say that the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth held the strongest possible views on this subject. Concluding. Sir Joseph remarked that they were having troubles in New Zealand, but troubles were made to be overcome. ••A.nd if these who are at present m control cannot overcome them. ’ he said, "then I’ll help them io Jo so bv-an J-by.”

Whr.t and who are the Apaches 1 It will all be explained when you see the Red Rose.*

Th; Having steam fire engine is at present being inspected by the Government offi-er.

The Hastings Motor Transport Comuany expect to have their ’buses running in October next.

The Woman's Patriotic Club at Sydney last night held a reception in honour of Sir Joseph and Irndv Ward.

The Pi,vt School Committee La* fixed upon June 26th and 27th for their annual ball. Messrs. Dalg-.’ty and Co. have kindly lent their wool store for the purpose. Air. Martin, the headmaster, Was appointed secretary.

Members and intending membt rs of the Napier Operatic Society are requested to note that the first rehearsal of the next production. ”’~tie Greek Slave,” will take place on or about June 7th. A full muster is desired. Full particulars of date and place will be advert used later.

A resident of Auckland has received a copy of an American trade journal, in which reference is made to the gums and resins employed m trie manufacture of varnishes. Included in the list of raw materials is kauri gum. which is desciibcd as one of the most important of die varnish gums produced in large quantities in New Zealand, “where it is used as a chewing gum by the Maoris.” This is a development that has not yet been reached.

An application for- permission to marry made by two inmates of theCcstlcv Home for the Aged Poor c-uine before the Auckland Hospital Board last week (.says the ’ Herald Mr. J. Jenkin (chairman of the Co.-tlev Home ( ommittee) said thm the man was 80 tears old. and his prospective bride -13 years old. Wb.cn tiie quarters for married couples v ere provided. Dr. M Kelvie warned the boaiiHhat joiiie or llic single inmates might seek admission to thenby the means of matrimony. The board declined the application.

A Marconigram to the New York Times Book Review, under date London, March 39, states that no arrangements have yet been made for the publication of Captain Ronald Amuiids-.en’s book about his Antarctic vovacre and the discovery of the South'Pole. He asks £13,000 for the combined English and American rights and l'-’7>,OGO for the world rights. One American firm lias offered C-luoo for the American rights. pram Scott, befoie .he departure <J Lis rxpediiiou had arranged for the publication of bis projecttd book in both England and America.

The Rotorua Chamber of Commerce has circularised other chambers suggesting the endorsement of the following resolutions :--(!) That the Minis! er for Railways Le requested to institute reduced passenger rates from all stations to tourist and health resorts, which are wholly or largely State-owned properties ; (2) that the Minister for Railways be requested to consider the advisability of issuing week-end excursion tickets on such lines and between such stations as in his opinion would give the system a fair trial; (3) that the Minister for Railways be requested to rev ere to Sir Joseph Ward’s policy whercbv passenger fares for long distances were based upon a sliding scale.

“Lt is dangerous to piophesy till you know, but it looks as if we shall have as good prices paid for cheese and butter next year as this,” says the annua! report of the South Island Dairy Association. The continent of Europe is taking every year a larger quantity or Danish and Siberian and Swedish butter, which the.;; lessens the British supplv. In cheese, Canada even in a normal season >s g>.idually Us'iening her export, quite as fast p; New Zealand is increasing. Holland, the only other big supplier, does not increase, but rather tends io decrease, and then the towns of Brltai i ate taking very considerably the amount availfor their town’supplv . and lessening e.vry considerably the amount, available for the British make of cheese and butter. Il renllv looks as if “all’s well"' with New Zealand's prospects for dairy produce. •

The Hon. George Fowlds, who has been addressing various meetings on the platform of the United Labour Party, left for Mosgicl on Friday. In conversation with a reporter, lie said: " The result of my special mission to Southland has been much more than satisfactory. I have at all meetings had what I consider large and enthusiastic audiences, and the sympathy that I have found with the new party in sections of the community where I hardly expected it lias been very gratifving.” He went on to say that he had appointments to sneak every night until the 22nd inst... and he will complete his South Islam! campaign at Christchurch on that date. Mr. Fowlds will then proceed to Wellington, but he does not yet know v/hat arrangements have been made as to bis tour. He anticipates, however, to devote three weeks on a tour of (lie North Island, at trie expiration of which time he will have covered the whole of tlie Dominion .

Almost every day. says ;m American correspondent, there is a report cf ! some new activity in maritime circles engendered by the approach, of tlie completion of tlie Panama Canal, and as often as not the plans I include provisions for shins to Ausi tralia and New Zealand. The latest announcement is that the wellknown Holt line has under construction eight new liners io be operated tin ot’gh the canal, two of which will be for the Australasian Awi-Gec. These latter will he vessels of 12,000 tons ami about 600 fem long. They will have excellent passenger accommodation, well-suited for carrying passengers from Europe io the Antipodes. Tm- oilier st'.miners it i< understood will operate between Great Biitam r.iid 11-<- port of San Francisco. Other foieign lines that are also r-aid to he preparing il-ets for operation through Paraina Canal are tlie Hnrri-(•’ Diteet Line, the Maple Leaf line and ■.lm Danish East Asiatic- Company. The Ret! Rise is com mg to Hastings, and it will cause as much excitement as it did it Wellington,*

The Education Board has received information with regard to the pre valence of scarlet fever al Wairoa. The board is making enquiries with the object of ascertaining whether it is advisable to close the school.

There is mone.v in some inventions. Rei-enl 1 y two Aucklanders broughl out. a patent, the American rights of which weie recent Iv sold for a large sum. Three New Ph mouth gentle "ien, who bad shared in the svndi rate financing the invention, are report ml to have netted VtO.Ol’O. be sides receiving substantial interests in the American eonipanv.

Last night the police at Palmerston North raided the premises of William Tii, a Uliiuanian suspected of opium .smoking and si c-un-d sufficient evidence to warrant his arrest, fie appeared before the court this morning and was fined .£lO for having opium m his possession, and X2 for smoking opium.

A married woman named Christina Larsen was reported to be very ill in Napier Hospital yesterday, and disclosures led to the arrest of two other wuiii’ii nanii’d Maiy Lovell and Ynnic Solomonseii on the grounds of being connected with an illegal operation performed upon Mrs Larsen. On being brought MeCnrtli.v. tl-.e accused was adnmted to bail and came befoie the ,court this morning. Mrs Lar-cn’r. tundicion is still serious.

Owing to the increasing number of motor cars now plying for hire in Napier it would be well that the public should be placed in poiscsssion of definite information regard ing the fares chargeable. A little •oiifusion exists al present owing to some cars being supposed to plv for ‘urdimvy cab” hire and others at taxi rates. If there is any difference between the “ordinary cab” and the taxi lates it should bo made plain. Lt would prevent misunderstanding:; vvhieli are unpleasant for the drivers as veil as the passengers.

At the meeting of the Mahorn School Committee last evening, Mr. E. Pratt bro light up the matter of free '/ehool book supplies, and pointed out how unsatisfactory the method was, the parents having to buy books because their children were not allowed to take the books Lome for m.e after school hours. A motion was passed drawing the ntienfion of the Educat : on Department to the matter. The general opinion oxpre.-sed b.v those present was that coliool stationary should he supplied free in t 'tcad of the books.

As showing the rapid advance of iati’ yeai s m ihe price of dairying land in the Waikato, a settler from the Harmßon dist'i.t mentions the facts in ci.-nni’etii.n vdli the sale of a laige block of land vlii.-h was farmed sm-eessfullv for years by an ex r. sident of th” M amiwatu. Seven vears ago lie sold at .£6 10 - an acre, and made a handsome profit. The purchaser retained it until 1.1 years ago, when he found a buyer nt £lO per acre, and the latter has now quitted the estate at £l9 per acre, having made £36,000 l>v the transaction.