Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 81, 20 March 1919, Page 4

Local and General.

The Huddart Parker steamer Westralia, is now timed to leave Wellington on April 3rd for Melbourne.

The Hospital Board call special attention to the collection of next Saturday and trust a generous response will be made. The H.B. Freezing Industry P. and S. Association is endeavouring to form a Rugby Football team for among its members' and is calling a meeting on Saturday next at the Hastings old library. Evidence of the long delays in transmission of the overseas mail is afforded by the mail received on Saturday and to-day ex the Makura and Niagara. Letters received date from December 23 to January 31, an interval of receipt of 82 days and 43 days respectively. The postal authorities in England appear to be holding letters for the Vancouver shipments. As against this, pareeis which are carried by the Panama route have taken but 31 days in transit.

His Honour, the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, in Chambers at the Napier Supreme Court this week granted probate in the following estates: Jonathan Burton, Napier, William James Adams, Blackburn; Louisa Marton, Ashley Clinton; Percy M. Beattie, Eskdale; Robert Cochrane, Glenross. Letters of administration with will annexed also motion for the appointment of guardian of Philip Yokavitch, infant executor, were granted in the estate of Louis Yokavitch, Napier. At the Supreme Court sittings in Napier on Tuesday, His Honou., the Chief Justice, granted a request by the Crown that the argument, in the appeal case Crown (Mr. Cornford) v. Cunningham (Mr. E. J. W. Hallett), should be heard before the full court at Wellington. The. Crown undertook payment of all extra costs of respondent’s counsel, due to the argument being taken in Wellington. The question of costs of the adjournment was reserved for that hearing. Professor John A. Nichols who speaks here to-morrow night comes commended by Miss Frances E. Williard, the “New York Times” and the press of Canada and Great Britain. In Chautauqua -work, special educational work, social economics and biographical history the Professor has made a brilliant name. Hastings can have but one visit from this soul-stirring speaker, .so that his meeting on Friday evening at. 8 o’clock, in the Assembly Hall, will draw a great crowd to hear this Efficiency League’s lecturer. The housing problem has been acutely brought home by the expect ed arrival during the next few days of a hundred or so soldiers with their wives (says the Christchurch Sun). The exact number is not known, but it is obvious that with an absolute famine in houses to let, few will be able to immediately commence housekeeping. The Lands Department has received instructions to make the necessary arrangements, but how this is to be done, or possibly why this department has been selected to work the necessary miracle, its perplexed officials probably could not say. The members of the Port Presbyterian Church, held a successful sale of work in the Wilson Hall, yesterday afternoon and evening. The function was opened by Mr. J. V. Brown, M.P. The stalls were in charge of the following:— Produce, Mesdames Dolbel and Sharp ; fancy goods, Mesdames Bissell ana Meban; bag and handkerchief, Miss Hay; variety. Misses Palmer and Christie ; tea rooms, Mrs. Gazeley ; sweets and cakes, Mesdames J. and G. Riddell; flowers, Misses C. and E. McLellan; bran tub, Mr. Gazeley ; games, Mr. Stainton. It- does not seem to be generally recognised that tickets for the Trentham Scholarships Art Union are on sale all over New Zealand in shops which display the Art Union window' bills. Many people who are willing to purchase tickets have been wondering where to jjet them without the trouble of writing to the secretary. Readers anxious to bite will now know that they have only to enquire at any shop or house where the Art Union bills are displayed. The prizes total £6.300, and tickets are 1/- each, so that the scheme offers a splendid investment whilst, the cause is good. j

The costs in the Cox-Sydney Martell case, yesterday, in which judgment was for plaintiff, amounted to £ll 4/6.

The returned soldier patients at the Napier Hospital were the invited guests of Madame Antonia Dolores at her recital in the Napier Municipal Theatre, last night.

'The sum realised by the collection boxes in aid of Dr. Barnados’ Homes, as opened at All Saints’ Church, Taradale, on Saturday, amounted to £lB 4/10.

Returning draft 232, comprising 44 officers, seven nurses, and 1033 other ranks, is due to arrive in New Zealand shortly by the steamer Willochra. Wellington will probably be the first port of call. A well attended general meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce was held this afternoon, when the Hon. W. J. Geddis delivered an interesting lecture on his recent travels abroad.

Mr. W. La Trobe, superintendent of Technical Education, and Mr. E. C. Isaac, Inspector of Technical Schools arrived in Napier last night for the purpose of reporting on the question of accommodation there.

Nominations are invited for the election of nine directors for the Heretaunga Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., to be held on Saturday afternoon, April sth. For details see advertisement.

The next Expeditionary Force, English and American mail is being brought to Wellington by tho R.M. •S. Moana early next week. She has altogether 1583 bag's of mail matter, included in which are 737 parcel bags.

The Atua, which left Auckland for Sydney at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, is returning to port with a damaged steam pipe. She will berth in. the morning to effect repairs, but it is not known when she will resume her voyage.

Of the 60 mines which the German representatives who signed the Armistice stated the raider Wolf haa sown in New Zealand waters, 45 have already been accounted for. Mine-sweeping operations are being continued in the danger zones at Farewell Spit and the North Cape. —Press Association.

Mr. F. Pirani, chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, has written to the Napier Borough Council, intimating that he is prepared to give a war lecture, togetner with an address on the new English Education Bill, on April 4th. It is understood that Mr. Pirani’s offer will be accepted. A Melbourne cable states that it is unofficially reported that the Eastern Extension Company transfers its head office to Melbourne. It is understood that Mr. Brooke, superintendent of the Melbourne office, succeeds Mr. Webster as general superintendent for Australia and New Zealand. Air. Hendry is also retiring.—Press Association. The old light cruiser Pyramus, which was on the New Zealand sta tion prior to the outbreak of war, is now on duty at Constantinople, with the captain of the base on board. She had a very varied experience during the war, haying seen service in Samoa, East Africa, the Persian Gulf, and the Suez Canal.

The secretary of H.B. Children’s Home acknowledges the flowing donations towards the H.B. Children’s Home: Mrs E. M. Herrick, £lO, “Marmaduke” £5, IL V. Hoadley £5 J/-, Mrs. E. J. Beilby £5, Mrs. W. J. Douglas £5, AV. Hannah £5, Mrs. J. M. Williams 5/-, “A Friend” (per “D.T.” 2- : previously acknowledged. £2610 s’-: total to date, £2645 17.'-. The conference of the committees of the Countess of Liverpool Fund began at AVellington yesterday. Delegates from Hastings, Masterton, Featherston, Cai terton, Pahiatua, ami sevei.il other country districts have armed in the city, ano several matters of interest are being discussed at the meeting. Miss Luckie represents the. Hastings branch of the fund.

The question of motor lorries for haulage of mt tai was briefly discussed at the meeting of the Waihemo County Council on Saturday, when a letter was read from the Manawatu County Council suggesting txai lorries which had been in use in France might now be procured by local bodies for this purpose. The Waihemo Council approved of the principle, and decided to apply to the Government for at least one such lorry if it Could be procured. The following statistics of the work done at Southampton from August 9th, 1914, to November IGth, J9IS, have been given by the ’Mayor :—Total number of }>ersons embarked and disembarked, including troops, sick, and wounded, and prisoners of war, 7,000,000; horses and mules, 821,000; guns and limbers. 14,000; motor lorries and other vehicles, 110,000; stores, supplies, and ammunition, 3,500,000 tons; ships handled, 15,600.

Sir John Findlay, ALP. for H. 8., on being interviewed by a “New Zealand Times’ ” representative with regard to a statement that he had decided to stand for A\ r eiling ton North at the next general election, stated that all he had decided up to the present was that he would not stand again for Hawke’s Bay. “For the rest,” he said, “I have not decided yet whether I will stand again or not; much less what seat I will stand for.”

The position in regard to coal shortage in Auckland is not as serious as is reported in the south. It was stated to-day that a good allotment of space is in prospect on vessels expected here. Should anticipated relief not arrive during the next few weeks, however, the freezing stores will have to refuse further produce. Aleantime stock sales are not appreciably affected as has been the case at Rangiora.— Press Association.

A London correspondent, writing on January 21st, gives the following list of transports which have been placed at the disposal of the N.Z. E.F., for returning troops to the Dominion. The probable dates of sailing are also indicated. All vessels will come via Panama :—Ajana, from Liverpool, February sth ; Raranga, from , February 12th ; Corinthic, from Tilbury, lebruary 14th; lonic, from London. February 2<Jth ; Ritnutaka, from London, February 25th ; Tainui. from ■ mid. lebruary; Maheno, from ——, ; Willochra.

from Southampton, mid. February Carpentaria, from — late lebruary ; Paparoa, from , late leb ruary; Remuera, from latt February ; Bhoma, from Glasgow late February ; Pakeha, train Lon don, late February.

The body of John Lovell, aged 47, single, formerly a porter at the Commercial Hotel, was found in » swamp on Robertson’s fttttn, near Hawera. Deceased had been missing since February 25th.

“I have made further urgent representations to the Imperial Government through the New Zealand Ministers in London regarding tho shortage of shipping for the carriage of frozen meat,’ stated the Hon. AV. D. S. MacDonald, Minister for Agriculture, on Moirday. He had pointed out the urgency of the position if relief were to be afforded to the industry, and he understood than similar representations had been made through the Acting- Prime Minister by the Hon. I). H. Gwf'hrie, Minister in Charge of the Imperial Supplies Department. Dealing with the question of building areas before the Epidemic Commission at Wellington on Monday, Dr. Makgill remarked “With this subject must be considered the provision of adequate cheap transitI venture to think that the importance of suburban railway and tramway services does not receive the recognition it deserves at the handa of cither general or civic Governments. The railway or tramway should be the pioneer lea ing the way to the avail ible open spaces. This policy would entail facing a period during which tin n< vi transit line would be run at a loss To balance this thf department Concerned might reasonably purchase land in the area to lie opetn d up and take advantage of the increased values which would follow