LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 261, 20 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The retail price of butter in Duneing on Wednesday was reduced from 1/8 to I'7 a pound. The Commission to inquire into the apportionment of the cost of the Westshore bridge sits on Wednesdayday next. On account of next Monday, the 23rd, being Labour Day, solicitors’ offices, members of the Hawke’s Ba.y Law Society, will be closed all day. In the butter fal competition at the A. and P. Society’s Show yesterday’ Mrs. J. Wall secured first and second awards, and not first anti third as reported. s Next Monday, the 23rd instant, being Labour Day, all offices and stores of the merchants of Napier, Hastings and Port Ahuriri will be closed all day.

During the screening of “The Rosary” at the King’s Theatre, Hastings, to-morrow night, Miss Dorothy Hastings will sing the name part.

There was an unusually large crowd of passengers on the 9.25 Hastings-Napier train this morning. The train was ten minutes late in its arrival at Napier. Many grape vines in the TaradaleGreenmeadows district were badly affected by’ the late frosts; and a very poor crop is anticipated from the strawberry’ plants. Potato crops also suffered. The effect of the war on prices of material is shown by’ the fact that before the war began fencing wire was quoted in New Zealand at £lO a ton, and that since the outbreak of hostilities it has gone up as high as £35.

The jurors who tried the longdrawn out Shannon flax case at Palmerston North about three months ago have been exempted from service for the next five years. The jury in the Rua case at Auckland were granted exemption for ten years.

At the Hastings Police Court this morning, James Laing, for a third offence for drunkenness was convicted and fined £1 and costs or 24 hfurs’ imprisonment. A first offender W as convicted and discharged. Mr. G. Land was the presiding justice..

Wairoa was strongly represented at the A. and P. Show, the most successful exhibitor from that prosperous district being Mr. R. E. Jefferson. During the parade of stock yesterday’, Mr. Jefferson’s exhibits were ranch admired, the owner coming in for hearty’ congratulations from many’ of those present.

“Is the Nation morally fit for Peace or for Victory?” is a subject upon which the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt will discourse next Sunday night at the Hastings Methodist Church. The music will be of a specially attractive nature, and combined with the preacher’s important theme should ensure a large congregation. A week ago the Napier-Taradale road was in superb condition, but it has since been spoilt for the summer by the putting down ot patches of deep shingle. Seeing that it has conclusively’ been proved that heavy metalling with shingle does not pay, especially when put down in dry weather, it is surprising that the surfacemen, or those over them, persist in what is so obviously a wrong method. This is not the only’ road in Hawke’s Bay that- suffers from overdoses of shingle.

Under the “Orchard and Garden Garden Diseases Act. 1916,” every person who commits an offence against this Act is liable to a fine not exceeding £2O. Under these regulations every occupier of any land upon which one or more of the following fruit-trees are growing—viz., apple, pear, quince, peach, nectarine, cherry, apricot, nut, or citrus tree, or grape-vine—is required to make application for the registration of such land as an orchard on or before the 26th day of October, 1916. Forms of registration maj- be had from Mr. G. Esam, Orchard Instructor, Hastings. The Hon. W. C. F. Carncross, M.L.C., in a letter to a number of English provincial papers, says:— “As a result of my visit to the trenches I was deeply impressed with the indescribable importance of the work that is being done by the munition worker. By the vastness of the supply of our munitions we are going to win this war. When at the front I conversed with many soldiers, and how delighted they were when I told them what I had seen in various munition factories and of the prodigious efforts that are being made to keep up supplies. Especially w r ere they interested when they heard of the strenuous efforts of the' many thousands of women and girls who are working so bravely and well to help to win the war, and more than one soldier fervently exclaimed: ‘God bless the women.’ ”

To show the popularity of the “Tribune” among the country people visiting the show and also as an indication of the energy of our street sellers, it may be mentioned that one of the boys sold 156 copies of the “Tribune” yesterday evening. Another boy sold 108 and other street sellers, numbering a dozen, also did exceptional business, averaging about four dozen copies each, Mr. Rogers, of the Hastings railway bookstall, reports that the sale oi “Tribunes” yesterday constituted a record ip the sale of newspapers at the. Hastings bookstall.

“Most satisfactory service” is one of our business policy planks, and it will be as familiar as another plank, , viz., “Quality first.” We hitch these two phrases together, and by a strict interpretation of th© “square deal” use them as the propelling force of our business. You are assured prompt and courteous treatment. Onr Hastings business is situated in Heretaunga street, in premises lately occupied by S. Armstrong, and nearly opposite the Grand Hotel. We are direct importers of all motor accessories and stockists of all the best makes of tyres. It will pay you to make yourself acquainted with the Motor Accessory Co., Ltd.* Although close on a hundred of “Brinsmead’s” employees arc “on active service,” the old established firm has still been able to supply and maintain the high standard of pianos for which Brinsmead’s are renowned the world over. The two fine instru-! ments being used at this “monthly Pop” are “Brinsmead’s,” supplied by Don’s, Hastings, who are (he sole’ Hawke’s Bay agents

A general meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce will be held at 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday to meet lI.M. Trade Commissioner, who has asked for an opportunity to discuss trade matters with the business people of Napier. Private James W. Kum, a young' Chinese resident of Palmerston, is leaving with the 19th Reinforcements. His patriotism, as the “Standard” puts it, is a stirring incentive to many New Zealanders who have not yet taken the trouble to enlist. Mr. Walter Smith announces a concert, social and dance at the Maori Agricultural College, Bridge Pah, this evening. No doubt all motorists will enjoy a spin out to the college and hear the boys again before the closing of school. It is expected a large number of friends will avail themselves of this opportunitv.

It is reported that a new Norwegian shipping company is likely to open a regular service to Australia in the counse of the next few months. The most meagre information is available at present concerning the position, but it is understood that the vessels are all of the cargo class, and will be big carriers, especially of timber. The fleet to be used has been secured; in fact, it is reported that some of the vessels that will be used in the service are already known in Australia, and have visited that country under charter, at various times. An incident which caused no little surprise during school swimming championships held at the tepid saltwater baths in Auckland was the appearance, of a tiny tot of five years. Not content with swimming one length of the bath, tbe diminutive lass negotiated the return by swimming on her back to the starting point. As a finale she executed a very’ neat running dive from the springboard, to the amazement of the large crowd assembled. The little girl is the daughter of Hr. M. Champion, the caretaker of the baths, whose name is famous in swimming circles.

A correspondent writes: —About a week ago I went one evening for a walk down Karamu road, Hastings, past the High School, and at the corner of Karamu road and a short road—l don’t know its name—was tipped on the road a load of sand — I presume to put on the tarred path. Last night I walked down there again and the sand is still, there, or what is left of it after the motor cars and drays have been over it. Now if anyone got hurt through it and nulled the Borough Council, who would they blame ?—the man who put it there, or the man who ordered it to be put there and forgot all about it ?

The Stratford correspondent of the “Taranaki Herald” writes:— “From what I hear of the manner in which the papers in connection with the excess income tax have been filled in, the officials charged with the duty of assessment have a nice picnic before them. What is going to happen when the assessments are made and neighbour* compare notes, chaos only knows. How legislators with any knowledge of the capacities of their fellow countrymen could suppose that the returns were to be satisfactorily filled in by the average farmer or tradesman is a mystery. I question whether ten per cent of members of Parliament have properly completed the papers. The thing puzzles lawyers and accountants."'

A very striking instance of a brilliantly military operation by a young New Zealander was brought before the University’ Council by Dr. Benham at Dunedin on He mentioned that an old Otago University’ student, Second! Lieutenant Eric Croft, of the Royal Field Artillery, Special Reserve, had recently’ been awarded the Military’ Cross for very’ gallant service. Lieutenant Croft, while out reconnoitring, came upon an officer and 35 men of the enemy’, who showed fight. With the assistance of one infantry’ officer and two bombers only, he forced the whole of the party’ to surrender. He moved thatthe council offer its congratulations? to Lieutenant Croft on receiving the Military Cross for distinguished bravery’ on the battlefield in France. The motion was unanimously carried with applause.