Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 241, 25 September 1922, Page 4

Local and General.

The remains of the late Mr. W. R. Douglas, at one time chief inspector of machinery for Hawke’s Bay, were interred in the Havelock North cemetery on Saturday afternoon, the Rev. J. A. Asher officiating at the burial service. The Canterbury Education Board unanimously has decided to strongly support the Canterbury Progress League in urging upon the Prime Minister the national importance of securing the Sockburn aerodrome as a training school for air pilots and mechanics. If a serious attempt to prevent bookmaking in the Dominion were made it could quite easily be accomplished, was the opinion expressed yesterday by Mr. Justice Reed. “The Legislature has only to withdraw the right of trial by jury, and I think it quite easily can be done.” said His Honour. Some years ago the Wanganui Hospital Board changed over From its system of buying its supplies by contract to the system of “buying in the cheapest market,” and a house steward was appointed for the purpose. The board lias decided to revert to the system of tendering. Mr. E. E. Fletcher brought the matter up. He said he was fully convinced that the board was not buying its groceries and provisions in the best way. Dr A. K. Newman (Wellington East) intends to ask the Minister for Health whether, m the interests of the T.B. cases at Pukeora. he will retain the services of Mr. H. E. Atkins, an expert in T.B. cases Mr. Atkins has been rendering valuable assistance to soldiers and others at the Sanatorium (Dr. Newman says), and the patients hope the Government will retain his services in his present capacity. An elderly man suffering from lapse of memory' wandered away from his home in Wanganui on Thursday afternoon, and his absence has caused his family much anxiety (states the “Chronicle.”) He is a thick-set mili-tary-looking old gentleman with grey moustache, and is dressed in a frock coat and hard hat. Though diligent search was made by friends and by the police no trace of the missing man could be found. In the course of his prohibition lecture at Stratford last Wednesday night, Mr. “Pussyfoot” Johnson (relates the “Taranaki Daily News”) asserted that the liquor traffic delayed America in joining the Allies in the late war. “That being Qie case.” was the substance of a poser put to him, “is it the liquour traffic that is keeping America —a dry country—from offering assistance in the present Near Eastern crisis?” Mr. Johnson said he did not know. That much-talked-of book, “If Win-’ ter Comes,” has been dramatised, and was produced in the Margate Hippodrome recently (states the “Daily News”). Mr. Basil Macdonald Hastings, having adapted it to the stage. The play drew to the Hippodrome the largest aridience in its history. Tn its dramatic form. “If Winter Comes” should lie a great hit. There is a subtlety in the play which is unusual in modern productions. The play will be toured in the provinces until the middle of December, when it will be produced at a West End theatre. The plan of the new school building at Waipukurau, to replace the one recently burned, has been approved, and has been drawn to suit the configuration of the present site, the intention being to erect the building on the higher portion. The structure will be a most handsome and convenient one, and can easily he extended if necessary. The main feature of the plan is that the infant department, while attached to the main part of the building, is quite separate with a separate entrance for the infants. Hot water heating is to be installed. The question as to whether the building is to be erected in brick or wood has not been definitely settled. The first public demonstration in Auckland of wireless “broadcasting” was given at a “korero” of the Savage Club at the Scots Hall on Saturday evening, says the “Herald.” It took the form of a short concert, a “magnavox” being used, so that the music was plainly heard in all parts of the hall. Each item was received with applause, and the consensus of opinion was that the demonstration was completely successful. At the same time as the concert was in progress, a large number of amateurs in all parts of the province “listened in” with the aid of private receiving sets. A similar concert “broadcasted” from Hamilton on Friday night was heard as far south as Christchurch. As far as the audience at the Savage Club could see, the mechanism was 'simply that of a gramophone, and, as the selections were all from gramophone records, the similitude was Heightened. Although it had been stated that instrumental music, especially of the kind purveyed, gave the best results, the short speech which closed the demonstration was remarkably clear, every word being easily audible.

Deer from the locality of Waikaremoana are stated to be working their way north, several having been seen in the North Gisborne district. Colonel G. Mitchell, M.P., is taking considerable interest in the subject of wholesale and retail fish prices. He has already put a question in the House, and the matter is receiving the attention of the Bdard of Trade. A conference of the Wellington District Freezers and Federated Trades Union has concluded in Wellington, but the proceedings were- evident(ly not open to the press. Neither Tomoana nor Paki Paki was represented at the gathering. The Paki Paki Hall has been engaged for Thursday night when a Maori entertainment will be given there in aid of the Waipatu Church Building Fund. The entertainment will he followed hy a dance. The price of admission covers both functions. The poles in connection with the Waipukurau’s electric Lght scheme have left Australia, and will reach Waipukurau shortly. In a short time central Hawke’s Bay centre will have the benefit of electric light and power. Added to this, the town will have an up-to-date drainage system and a splendid high school. Advice has been received in Wanganui (states the “Herald”) that the price of hams is firming, and they will be dearer for Christmas than anticipated. This has evidently been brought about by a demand in Australia owing to the tariff adjustment. It is stated that some 5000 hams will be shipped to Australia this month. “I would ask Your Honour’s leave to leave this bqok with the registrar,” said Mr. C. P. Skerrett. K,C., to Mr. Justice Reed in the course of a case in the Supreme Court yesterday, dealing with matters pertaunng to the turf. The book to which he referred was an Australian handbook on turf law. “Thank you,” replied the judge. “We do not seem to nave a copy in the judges’ library.” This being the anniversary of New Zealand’s achievement of Dominion status, the Post Office flag is flying mast high, the solicitors’ the merch-ants’.-and the Government offices are closed, and the schools throughout the district are observing a whole holiday in honour of the occasion. Many family picnics have been arranged, but the general business of the town is proceeding as usual. The local bodies of the Wairarapa have been railed upon to pay £llOO next year towards the salaries of health inspectors, whereas this year they are paying only £430. A deputation waited on the Hon. O. J. Parr at Masterton on Saturday and protested against the increase. The Minister promised to reduce their contribution to £B5O. Dr. Findlay, medical officer of health, who was present, stated that the main reason for the increase was the additional expense in the hire of taxis at so much per mile under the contract system. The inspectors did not have their own cars now.