Local and General

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 156, 17 June 1920, Page 4

Local and General

The Mapourika arrived in" Napier at 6.15 last evening. Heavy weather and rough seas delayed tne vessel.

Sir Thomas Lipton, has presented the Ponsonby Cruising Club, Auckland, with a handsome silver enp for competition. A successful euchre tournament was held in the Hastings Oddfellows’ Hall, last nighty between the members of the Napier- and Hastings Drivers’ Union. Forty members arrived from Napier, and the gaiines resulted in a win for Hastings by 60 points to 52. First prizes were won by Alessrs T. Sullivan and T. Hickey, of the Hastings team, the TSoby’s were awarded to Alcsirs F. Cantlin and W. Pitch, also of Hastings team. Songs and recitations were given by members of both teams and a very enjoyable evening, came to a close shortly before midnight.

The Eureka Lodge, U.A.0.D., held their usual fortnightly meeting on Tuesday last, Bro. Simcox A.D. presiding. There was a large attendance of members, and the Lodge was favoured with -a visit by Brother Liddell D.P., from Napier. Unsocial committee reported that the reunion held last week was a great success and that they decided to hold another social and had engaged the hall for that, purpose. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to all those who helped to bring the social to a successful issue, and especially to the ladies committee. A vote of thanks was placed on record to the past secretary, Bro. H. Price, for the services rendered during his term of office.

Bessie Barriscale’s latest picture, entitled “Josselyn’s Wife” now appearing at Everybody’s Theatre, Hastings, is an unusually interesting and emotional drama of domestic life, in which a woman marries an artist who afterwards falls in love with his fascinating step-mother. The story •-orks to an exciting climax, when the husband is indicted for the murder oi his father, and his accidental and extraordinary exoneration by his little son is totally unexpected. “In the Gloaming” which features Violet Hopson, is a powerful drama and the climax is remarkably well done. The further episode of “The Lightning Raider,” latest gazettes and Everybody’s Orchestra constitute the programme.

A remark made by Mr. Justice Chapman in the Auckland Supreme Court that he “thought this would be his last visit to Auckland” was referred to by Mr. J. A. Tote. K.C.. prior to the adjournment of the Court. Air. Tole had just commenced to address the judge, when his Honour interrupted, saying that representatives of the Law Society had called upon him, and he had discouraged th« idea of ...cir addressing him.and he would not like to encourage Mr. Tole to say anything Mr. Tote said he simply wished to express the, regret of members of the Bar that this would be his Honour’s last visit here. They appreciated the courtesy thev had always received from his Honour. ‘ He could only express his deep regret that by his Honour’s .e--tirement the Bench would lose so able a judge. His Honour said: “It’s most likely you may see me here again perhaps. The remark I made was somewhat hastily made.”

The Napier Swimming Club Roll of Honour at the Municipal Baths will be unveiled at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday next.

Charles Gohns, who was seriously injured in the motor cycle accident at Wanganui died just before midnight last evening. A visit is paid monthly to Porirua by the Wellington Executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the object being to keep the inmates in touch with relatives and friends who, on account of distance, are unable to see them.

The shortage of kerosene supplies in Auckland at present is so acute as to practically constitute a famine. A heavy demand for candles is one result, and supplies of candles also are very limited. Importers of kerosene anticipate the shortage will continue throughout the winter months. “Romneys axe not the only sheep in the North Island,” said Mr. Duncan McGregor at the meeting of the general committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association during a discussion relative to using Romney Marsh sheep in the sheep-judging competitions at the Masterion Show. “Every breeder nearly is going in for Southdowns in connection with the fat lamb trade, and I think we ought to use Southdowns in the sheep-judging competitions at the show.”

There is something peculiarly striking in the tribute which one soldier pays to and those who heard General Birdwood’s reference on Saturday afternoon to Lord Kitchener could not but be struck by its simple force and sincerity. “I served with him for two years in South Africa and for seven years in India,” he said, ‘‘and I am absolutely devoted to his memory, because I regard him as one of the greatest of Britishers—a great soldier and a great statesman, and one who always had before him the ideals for which he lived.—“Otago Daily Times.” The old Maori idea regarding tapu still prevails in some districts, notwithstanding the spread of education. Lithe North, a Maori woman had been engaged by the local constable to scrub out the Police Cburt. When the constable inspected the job before making payment, he noticed that the dais on which the majesty of the law is represented by the magistrate had been carefully left untouched. Upon demanding the reason, he was informed by the woman that she dare not touch that because it was “tapu,” that she feared to approach the spot where the magistrate sat to dispense punishment. In a charge offctheft at Christchurch against a man who was ai victim of drugs and drink, the evidence showed that he had been in an Inebriates’ Homd for six month's. Air. Day, 8,51. remarked that it was useless to send such a man to a home for less than two years. He added: “It is becoming useless, in my opinion, to send people to Roto Roa, as they are let out too soon if the relatives bother the authorities. The line of least resistance is to let the patient out. Medical testimony shows that two years.is the minimum time required to rid the system of dfffiik.”

A collision between a spring-trap and a motor car occurred on the Alaraekakaho road about twenty minutes to six on Saturday evening, when the occupants of the car, which consisted of Mesdames M. J. and E. H/Kitt and Messrs. A. and S. Kitt had a narrow escape from a serious accident. It appears that the trap (which is reported to have had no lights) and horse crashed into the car near Joll road, with the result that Airs. E. H. Kitt had both of her legs bruised and Airs. Al. J. Kitt was badly shaken, while the car was considerably damaged. Through the presence of mind of the driver, Mr. A. Kitt, who promptly applied the brakes, a more serious accident was avoided.

At the Hastings Courthouse yesterday afternoon Air. R. W. Dyer S.AI. was occupied in a civil action in which E. S. Robson (Air. Hoiderness) sued Quirk’s Air Gas Ltd. (Air. Hallett) for £l5 for hire (£l2) and damage (£3> alleged to have been done to a moto) cycle, by a man named Hamilton, an employee of the company. The claim was based on- the assertion that the cycle wax used on; the business of defendant. For the defence, it was con J tended that Hamilton, who was defendant’s manager, had no authority to pledge defendant’s credit. His Worship, after hearing evidence, said that the company,, by its way of dealing in Hastings, had given reason to suppose that their representative had implied authority to pledge its credit. Judgment was given for plaintiff for the amount claimed, with costs £3 7/-.

In the possession of a sense of humour General Birdwood is equipped with one of the chief graces of a public speaker, and it ran like a thread of gold through his address at Dunedin on Saturday, says the “Times.” In describing the difficulties with which he was faced when men came up to him and said: “Don’t you remember me?” he recounted an incident which occurred in the north, where a man said to him: “Don’t you remember one night when you were going round the trenches at Quinn’s Post, you name along and trod right in the middle of my stomach?” (Laughter.) “I could only say,” added the General I was very sorry that I did aot remember him, but under the circumstances 1 must have made a much greater impression on him than he did on me.” (Renewed laughter.)

General Bramwell Booth is not an orator. Probably he would not be so effective if he were (says the “Otago Daily Times.”) But he knows how to paint in the detail on occasion so as to make an intensely vivid and memorable picture. There were many such scenes painted in the course of his talk about his father, General William Booth, on Sunday,. and they threw much light on that great man’s character. In one instance, he told how when a boy he was passing homeward with his ftaher late at night through a London, slum. Suddenly and impulsively his father pushed open the door of a lighted bar and entered, the little boy holding his hand. He gazed round at the miserable crowd that filled the place, drink-sodden men, evil leering women, half-starved, pitiful children, mothers with neglected babies wrapped in shawls. Then he looked at the lad and said, “Willie (that was a pet name), these are our people. _ These are the people I want you to live for. my bov. to bring them to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of men.” “That incident.” said the General, “has often occurred to mo as revealing the inner life of the man.”

The Hastings Post and Telegraph Ball, which came off last night, was quite a brilliant affair, the hall being lavishly decorated for the occasion and the adornments entranced by the electric lights intermixed with the banners and other artistic displays which clothed the walls. The orchestral dais was also prettily bedecked and em blazoned, the scene, when some 200 couples were whirling in the dance, being quite radiant. Alessrs L. F. Pegler, H. J. Smith, R. Shannon and McCombe acted as stewards, and their duties were discharged punctiliously, as under their direction, all danced and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. During "the supper interval, extra waltzes were played bv Mrs Culver, Miss Afay Nelson, Air. Clark and Alaster Leslie Henry and a vivacious gathering dispersed homewards, a.t about 1.30 a.m.. after spending a merry time. Air. C. Rudman, who put in; some hard work in. the drab secretarial work, may be sincerely complimented on the success of the reunion, and Mr. Gruzilier. who had control of the decorations, and the post and telegraph staff, who installed the extra electric lights which had such a lustrious effect, deserve the thanks of the executive for their excellent work-

At the ballot for sectfons, in the Porangahau soldiers’ settlement, yesterday, it was T. £)’Connor, of Hastings, who drew section 3, block 7, 510 acres, and not J. O’Connor, Waipukurau.

The committee appointed to deal with the site for the proposed hospital, in connection with the Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial in Hastings, inspected the fourteen properties under offer this A morning and a meeting, will be held » later to decide on a selection.

About 4.30 yesterday afternoon, a surf-boat belonging to the Richardson Company’s steamer Koau which was engaged discharging cargo at Waikokopu, Wairoa, took fire and was completely destroyed. The surf-boat had about four tons of cargo. including some benzine which was all lost.

“The Firing Line,” featuring Irene Castle is the star picture at the Hastings Municipal Theatre on the current programme. . The story interesting right through develops into a sensational -climax. The supporting characters in this production are of an unusually superior order. In “Putting it Over,” Bryant Washburn has a. character that has never been put on the screen before, as far as is known. Although everyone knows just such a person as he portrays, the dramatic possibilities in the typical “Village Cut-up” have never been realised. Shirley Mason plays opposite and portrays her part in her usual capable and captivating style. The supports of scenic, topical and educational subjects make up a series worth white, anyone’s inspection. A London corespondent, writing on April 15th, states the latest strength return of the remnant of the N.Z.E.F. left in the United Kingdom shows a total of 10 officers and 55 other ranks for repatriation to New Zealand. There are now five officers and 14 other ranks their discharges in England. Twenty, absentees are_included in the total given, and it is not anticinated that any of these will'return'. There are still 10 cases in hospital, and four are completing sentences of detention. Afarried men, with wives and other dependants number two officers and nine other ranks. Evacuation to New Zealand since the armistice nnw stand at: hffiners 2453, other ranks 44,203, nurses 392.

A ce-tain practical joker in Nanier is wondering what sort of expression aeneared on the face of a young man who. picked up a parcel in Tennyson street on Saturday evening, when the nsrqel was opened. The cause of the ioke was a young “kitten,, apparently hunery and motherless, whose troubles were ouietlv ended when no owner could he discovered. The body was carefully wrapped un and placed in a nnsition convenient for watching. An old man glanced at the parcel and nassed it by. Shortly afterwards a vonng man appeared, turned it over with his boot, and satisfied fkat it was hona fide, looted un and down the street +o see if his nath was clear, then hurried!v placed the parcel tinder his coat and departed.

At a meeting of the Christchurch members of Parliament yesterday a denutation from the Returned Soldiers’ Association brought under the notice of . members the following remit in ’■’"w of the acute shortage of houses •--- This Association urges the Government to continue the protection viven to returned soldiers hr the War Regulations Act. 1914, against election from routed dwellings for a further period of twelve months as from August 2nd. next. Opposition to the ingress of Chinese and Hindus, and also-of white immiurants was expressed in. tho following remit:—“That--the satisfactory adjustment of the problem of vonatrin+ion shall be the determining farter in deciding on an immigration n-Jioy and that the general poller of a White New Zealand be adopted.” /In a speech at Wellington, Professor Murphy, the economic expert of Victoria College, had this to_ say: Paper money was a most unsatisfactory standard of deferred values, and therefore a. most unsatisfactory mode of payment to people of fixed incomes. The quantity of paper depended on the will of the Legislature, and in practice be-. came increased beyond the needs of a circulating medium. This upset all time contracts, and promoted series of . strikes and the desperate efforts of wage-earners with fixed incomes to meet the gradual depreciation of the purchasing value of the remuneration received for their labour.” This sort of business of “soft money” was leading to all sorts of “soft ways.” The working man, through the continual shrinkage of his wages, saw himself pillaged, and did not care whether he worked hard or not. The Prime Minister was probably aware of these facts, but recognised the dangers of suddenly curtailing the paper.. Since 1914 the paper money in circulation had risen from £1,900,000 to £7,700,000 in 1920. The country had been deluged with soft, depreciated, and shoddy paper—-over-production of money and underproduction of goods. The way of raising loans by issue of paper money might seem cheap in the first place, hnt it was mighty dear in the long run. No section could benefit by the reduction of confidence in stability, and the salvation of the country was the victory of the “hard money” men. There was too. much flabby thought, too little work, and too much money. What was wanted was Hard thinking, hard - work, and hard money. (Loud and prolonged applause.) In the course of some outspoken utterances at the farewell dinner to delegates to the Post and Telegraph Conference held under the auspices of the Wellington Post and Telegraph Offir cers’ Association, Mr. A. Hirst Assistant Secretary to the De- - partment, reminded his fellow officers that their working conditions, privileges and concessions were in excess of those enjoyed by any other body o£ men and women. “For instance,” be said, “some of you will remember that years ago no overtime was payable unless an officer performed duty in excess of 96 hours a fortnight. Then the Department reduced that to 48 hours per week—a distinct advantage, as you will all realise. Subsequently you pressed for a reduction to 44 hours a week... . Well, the latest request is for overtime after seven hours daily. To be candid with you 1 am entirely opposed to that. If you were a number of men being paid by the hour for your labour, with no rights, privileges, and concessions, you would be entitled to it. But surely it is not suggested that you should work under the same conditions as those paid by the hour for their labour. Now 1 suggest to you that in making a claim for the payment of. overtime in excess of seven hours daily, you are not giving one thought to the Department’s side of the question. I put it to you this way: For a week a large number of you will work from six hours to six hours forty-five minutes daily, inclusive of your smoke spell, and perhaps three or four hours on the Saturday, and this continues month in and month out. Now, do you consider that you are warranted in asking for overtime if public business requires your attendance on very rare occasions for 8 or 9 hours per day? Does a man outside who receives a fixed wage enjoy anything like the privileges and concessions you do? I think the answer is. No. Ido not. like to have our officers compared with some organisation as I have heard. Goodness me, there is no comparison. “What happened to the -wages man if he became sick? Did lie receive full pay for several months, half-pay for a like period, and quarterpay for several months more?”