Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 76, 9 March 1922, Page 6

Local and General.

Rev. D. C. Bates, Dominion Meteorologist, issues the following weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day:—The indications are for westerly moderate to strong winds and backing by west to south. There is a prospect of fair to cloudy weather. Barometer unsteady.

The Hastings Health Inspector reports three cases of infectious diseases during February. A Timaru Press Association message announces the death of Mr. John AVithell, a well-known meat exporter and sheep breeder. The Havelock North District School will hold its annual picnic to-morrow (Friday), in the Domain, not in Mr Joll’s paddock as previously arranged. The meeting of creditors, convened by Mr R. Bishop, Deputy Official Assignee, in the bankrupt estate of Joe Rota, of the Te Ante, a maori, at the Hastings Court House this morning, lapsed for want of a quarum. Bankrupt had no assets. An endeavour to purchase 10,000 bags of onions in Canterbury at £7 per ton f.o.b. was not successful. The onions were to be shipped to Vancouver, but growers were unable to fulfill the order as the bulk of the crops arc under option to merchants at comparatively low prices. A consignment of 4,600 cases of apples and pears were railed to-day to Wellington for shipment to Loudon, by the Whangaratta. The fruit, which was dispatched by the H.B. Fruitgrowers’ Co., Ltd., consisted of Jonathans, Munros, Reunats, Cox’s Orange Pippins and pears, and constitutes the largest consignment ever sent out from Hawke’s Bay. A {Sheffield inventor is reported to have sold for £SOUU to a well-known Birmingham concern a mass output machine which produces at 7d per pair scissors which, to-day cost Sheffield makers 3s 6d. It is claimed that the machine, operated by one man and a boy, does tne work of ten men employed on hand processes.

The hearing of the action, claiming specific performance, between Claude J. Nelson and Elizabeth M. Phillips m connection with the surrender or the Grand Hotel, Hastings, and payment of debts, was continued throughout this morning at the Napier Supreme Court The hearing is not yet completed - At AVanganui the other day an overamorous young swain was fined a pound for a little forcefully stealing a kiss from a profeesedly unwilling maid. Another maiden fair, apparently less coy, inquired of a reporter whether the fine went to the outraged beauty, because, if .so, she would willingly act as a safety-valve for approved ardent lovers at half the price, per head. , ‘ ‘ The Police Conference in Sydney, ’ ’ writes a Sydney correspondent, “is delightfully free of anything in the way of stodgy, uninteresting business. The interesting event of Tuesday last was the discussion as to whether mounted policemen should Wear riding breeches or kilts. Mr Hind, representing Redjfern, is starting a movement to have the mounted constables’ uniform changed to include kilts instead of brooches. ’ ’ Among the losses in connection with the fire which occurred at the Otago University wore some 60 rats. These were of a special breed that had recently been imported for use in connection with the meuical classes. These rodents, which were of various colours, succumbed to the smoke and heat. A tuatara lizard, which was in a glass case in the damaged building, escaped unharmed.

An amusing incident, for the spectators, occurred during a cricket match Single v. Married Men played on the Featherston recreation ground during the weekend. Following a particularly brilliant hit to boundary, a member of the “singles” gave vent to his feelings by performing the haka. . A dog, mistaking his actions, promptly attacked him. ,and, getting a firm hold of the young man’s trousers at the hip, neatly removed these gaimcnts. At the Hastings Courthouse this morning, before Messrs G. F. Roach and C. Hughes, J’s.P., a man named Peter Berry pleaded guilty to using obscene language in Churchill street last evening. Sergeant Hogan said that the man had been drinking. Accused was fined £5, or in default a month’s imprisonment, and a prohibition order was issued against him, the bench informing him that if he was again convicted of similar offence he would be sent to gaol, without the option of a fine. The Hastings Building Inspector (Mr A. C. Fawcett.) reports-the following permits, issued during (he month of February:—s new dwellings, value £3300; 5 additions to dwellings, value £1.195; 1 bakehouse, value £850; 1 workshop, value £6O; 2 motor sheds, value £lOO. Total, 14 permits, value £5505. Since April Ist last year, 152 permits were issued, value, £72,708. For the corresponding period last year, 194 permits wore issued, value £98,120. For February. 1921, 11 permits were issued, value £7130.

The appalling condition of the Hast-ings-Otane road is the general theme of conversation and complaint by motorists at present, and those whose business compels ihem to use the road aye highly resentfud regarding the lassitude of the Hawke’s Bay County Council. One traveller says that a kerosene tin has been placed in one deep pot hole by some kind person, to warn off daylight travellers, and he says “goodness knows what’s going to happen at night,” but nearly all the pockets along the route are large and deep enough to bury a dog in. The efforts to repair the road are absurd, consisting, for the most part, of an man scattering sliovelsful of loose shingle in the holes, which will •be only dispersed in all directions by the first passing car.