Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 131, 26 May 1921, Page 4

Local and General.

The Postal authorities have received advice from Suva that the R.M.S. Niagara sailed at noon on May 24 fur Auckland.

Mr R. B. Morris, Secretary of the General Post Office, has advised that the Pacific cable, which had been interrupted for a period, had been restored. The slump in New Zealand timber is likely to prove a serious setback to many West Coast mills. It is stated officially that, owing to lack of orders, the mills will probably have to close down until hotter conditions rule. The Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association last night carried a resolution congratulating niehibers in Sydney on co-operating with the Australian Soldiers’ League in the recent demonstration to stamp out disloyalty in Sydnqy. On Saturday morning next the Hastings Plunket Society will hold a jumble stall sale at the Society’s rooms. A rare opportunity will be afforded of securing bargains in winter clothing and other articles. There will alsq. be a- supply of beautiful violets. Mothers should make an effort to be in attendance early. Information has been received in Auckland that the Atua is aground in a fore and aft position, close to the Naitonitoni wharf. It is not anticipated that she will suffer further damage. She is making water in No. 2 hold, and the sugar cargo in both the forward holds is damaged Discharging commenced yesterday. A steamer has been sent from Suva to the Atua’s assistance.

A modified proposal for the extension of the accommodation at the Dental School, Dunedin, has been approved by Cabinet on the recommendation of the Minister of Education, the Hon. C. J. Parr. A single-storey wooden building will be erected for use as a lecture-room and clinic, and 25 additional dental chairs are to be purchased. This will double the existing facilities for practical clinical work.

The notes in the financial columns of the London Press on the new City of Auckland loan were uniformly favourable. It is interesting to note that in one of the 1920 annual volumes of the “Hundred Best Investments” that two New Zealand municipal investments are quoted—Auckland and Napier—while the only other so listed of overseas Dominions are Melbourne and Johannesburg. Sarah Bernhardt will be 77 next October. Next year she will celebrate her 60th year on the stage. The one other modern French actress whose name can be mentioned in the comparison with hers, the great Rachel, had a professional career of little more than 17 years, and Bernhardt has been famous nearly four times as long. Among living actresses, only Genevieve Ward can point to a career at all comparable with Bernhardt’s. Dame Genevieve Ward is 84. She has been 66 years an actress, and, like the Grand Sarah, she is still in harness.

A recent Tasmanian fruit journal announced that the Mediterranean fruit fly was prevalent in the State. A speaker at the annual meeting of the Nelson Provincial .Fruitgrowers’ Council mentioned the fact, and said that if it camo to New Zealand it would be a greater curse than the fireblight. Tasmania had shut out all New Zealand fruit and nursery stock on account of the fireblight, and the speaker referred to expressed the opinion that 'New Zealand should take the same precautions to prevent the introduction of the fly. It was mentioned that the fly also existed in the Islands.

Under the Government scheme of providing relief work for the unemployed, 10 men left Auckland on Tuesday for Putaruau on road-making for the Public Works Department. The party, the majority comprising married men, are the pioneers of approximately 100 men who are to be placed this week on similar work at the same job and at a locality near the Thames. The married men are to receive 10/ per day and 2/ per day extra allowance, while the single section will be paid 10/. After refunding the cost of their passages the only expenditure they will be put to will be that for food, cover being provided free of cost in tents.

What is the origin of the name “Sinn Fein” ? A recent book, “The Evolution of Sinn Fein,” tells this story about it. Some people, it says, being convinced that “the freeman’s friend is Self-Reliance,” asked a wellknown Irish scholar for a Gaelic phrase to express the idea. He told them a story of a country servant in Munster sent with a horse to a fair. The horse was sold and the servant, after some days, came back happy, but much the worse for wear, and sprawled out on the kitchen floor* To the inquiries of some neighbours, who came in, as to ,ust where he had been and what had wrought him to that state, he answered: “Sinn fein sinn fein.” (Family matters are matters for the family.) Sinn Fein is commonly translated, however, “For ourselves alone.”

The Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club meets at Te Mata on Saturday at 12.30 p.m. A slight shock of earthquake was felt in Hastings about 10 o’clock this morning. Rat ana, the so-called miracle man, and party arrived in three motor lorries at Whakatane to-day.—(Press Association.) A deputation from the Hastings unemployment committee will wait on the Minister of Public Works (the , Hon J. G. Coates) at Napier this evening. For the position of general secretary of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, over ninety applications have been received.

At the inquest in Palmerston on the body of Edwin John Thorean, who died on May 16th, from injuries caused by being knocked down by a taxi,, a verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attachable to the driver of the car.—(Press Association.)

For many years the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association has enjoyed the privilege of free postal and telegraphing facilities through the Department, but this concession has recently been abolished. It was the decision of the Government this year that Empire Day and the King’s Birthoay shall be observed together on June 3rd. Only a few weeks ago St. George’s Day and Anzac Day were similarly merged. At the Napier Police Court this morning a man mined William {Saunders on a charge of 1 ei.ng a rogue and a vagabond was convicted and discharged. It was stated that the man had work to go to, and was unable to get a bed for the night, being found sleeping out. The new Dennis Fire Engine for the Napier Fire Board was landed in Napier from the Ripple yesterday, and should be ready for work in a short period. The big machine has a speed of 30 miles per hour, can pump 350 to 500 gallons per minute and carries a first aid supply of 50 gallons. Inspector Hugo inspected the Napier Fire Brigade last evening, and will report later to the Napier Fire Board. He stated this morning that the now Dennis Fire Engine appeared to be up to expectations. A large number of these machines were in. use in the Dominion and were proving entirely satisfactory.

Mr. Esson, representative of the Labour Department in Hastings, informs us that the Government has arranged to despatch -10 men—2o from Hastings and 20 from Napier to outside, works on Monday next. An officer of the Department will be in attendance at the office in Hastings all day to-morrow to receive regist-atioms and for the issue of tickets.

A smile spread over the faces of several of those present at the Thompson--11 otop inquiry in Wellington. A witness had stated that Captain Hotop seemed to be always in a dazed condition, when the question was put: “Don’t you think the dreamy look in Captain Hotop’s eyes might be due to that officer being in love!” The witness looked at the questioner rather commiseratingly, and promptly replied, “No, I don’t.’’

A speaker at the Farmers’ Union Conference at Masterton stated that it took £5600 more to load a vessel to-day than it did before the war. He thought the question should be dealt With fnfm a national point of view, and not from harbour boards’ point of view. In Argentine they could “turn a boat round’’ in a week, as against fortyeight days in New Zealard. He rather favoured the suggestion for a permannient staff.

A greaser named John Joseph Buffy, on the Tasmania at Cisborne, was brought before Mr J. 8. Barton, S.M., and charged that being a member of the crew of the vessel he did refuse to obey a lawful command. The magistrate stated that an offence on a ship while in harbour was not so serious us the same offence on the high seas. He was satisfied that the accused’s conduct was the result of drink; Accused was convicted and lined £5, in default 14 days’ hard labour.

Owing to the burning out of an electric wire last evening the printing of the “Tribune” had to be suspended for a time while a new connection was made. In consequence half a dozen of the runners delivering the second edition were considerably delayed. The management tenders its apologies to those subscribers who did not receive their papers for an hour or more after the usual time and craves their indulgence for any inconvenience which may have been occasioned by the unfortunate happening. Our young cadets are progressing (says the Auckland “Star’’). Their excuses for non-attendance at drill are often ingenious, sometimes ingenuous, if ambiguous, as the following serves to show:—“To Lieut. Mclvor, Drill Hall, Auckland.—Sir, 1 wish to inform you that I will not be able to attend parade any more this month, as my mistress is prolonging her stay here. Trusting this will meet with your approval, etc.’’ This document is exciting keen interest among military people, as showing the rapid development of the youth of the country.

Yesterday afternoon a special meeting of the W.C.T.U. (Hastings) was held in Wesley Hall, presided over by Mrs Venables, Napier District President Positions of officers, which had been held temporarily, were filled satisfactorily, and the Hastings branch seems in the way of “going forward.’’ Certainly the attendance was a matter for congratulation, as was also the report from the “Mothers’ Rest.’’ Other business was put through, and afternoon tea dispensed. The monthly meetings are to be held as usual every fourth Thursday in Wesley Hall.

There are to be war memorials to the missing in 85 different cemeteries on the battle area, on the sites of the greatest battles. This has been decided instead of the scheme for each Dominion to have its own memorial to their own missing, as it is the general feeling that the bereaved would prefer a mein orial as near as possible to the spot where their own missing were believed to have fallen. In notices appearing in England as to the Gallipoli area stress is still being laid on the difficulties confronting viators— no accommodation and no available transport on the Peninsula.

The farm labour in the Dominion has on the whole behaved admirably in times of depression, as well as prosperity, was mentioned in the course of the presidential address at the conference of farmers at Masterton. The president (Mr W. J. Polson) had the following to say on the subject: “While our bona-fide farm workers undoubtedly participated in the good times, they made no attempt to obtain either by methods of “go slow” or any other form of irritation more than their fair share. Now that hard times have come upon them they have submitted to the inevitable without rancour. I express the earnest hope here that producers generally will make the greatest effort to stick to their who in most instances have given loyal and faithful service, so that severe hardship may not be inflicted upon men who have not deserved it. If reduced wages are a necessity, as undoubtedly they are, let us reduce wages by all means, i/jt .do not let us turn adrift married man particularly, who in this crisis will be hard put to it to find a roof tree and support for their wives and families;” Incidentally, Mr Polson suggested that the time was opportune for the establishment of farmers’ labour agencies, with branches in all important centres.