Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 77, 15 March 1923, Page 4

Local and General.

Government debentures of £4OOO at 5i per cent, for equipping the physics department of the Otago University, have been oversubscribed, says a Dunedin telegram. A telegram from Wellington states that the English Electric Company has secured a big railway electrification contract in India. This is the company that has the Otira tunnel works in hand.

Frank Joseph McKay was fined £25 at the Dunedin Police Court yesterday for unlawfully carrying firearms. The case arose out of charges of assault and disorderly behaviour while drunk. Over a thousand Maoris —Arawas and other tribes—will meet at Whakarewarewa on March 27 over the lake settlement fund distribution. All the Native leaders will be present. Preparations to receive them are being made.

It has been decided to revert to the pre-war practice of limiting the appointment of officers in the Gurkha, Garwhali, Kumaon, and Burma battalions to those not over five feet ten inches in height, except in very special circunistances.

The Westland A. and P. Show on the Hokitika racecourse yesterday was considerably interfered with by heavy rain, which continued till the afteinpon. then clearing too late the attendance, to reach expectations. The entries were nearly double those of last year. The Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Mines, who reached Hokitika late in the afternoon, spent an hour on the showgrounds. During the 24 years’ work in sluicing on .the beach at Charleston, Powell and Sons’ mining parties lifted £BO,OOO states the “Westport News”). Mr. G. M. Powell is making arrangements for sluicing at Brown’s Terrace, where a considerable amount of gold was won by Parsons and others in various drives they put into the terrace. Mr. Powell estimates that he has 20 years work ahead of him. The New Zealand Meat Producers Board has received cabled advice from its London office to the effect that the War Office* invites tenders, up to the 17th April, for 1,088,000 12oz. tins,of corned beef, delivery at Deptford, London. Tenderers must state the quickest rate of delivery they can offer per month, and when the first monthly instalment can be delivered. Members of the Wanganui-Rangiti-kei Power Board have received notification that they must refund the amount which the board recently spent on a trip to the Waikato for the purpose of acquiring knowledge about hydro-electricity. The amount involved (states an exchange) is £5 a member. A fortnight has been given m which to pay.

“Americans reverence their trees, and value them both in dollars and sentiment,” said Dr, R. J. Tillyard, in the course of a lecture on Injurious Insects” in Timaru (states the “Post”). Dr. Tillyard said he look oft his hat to the Americans for the way thev treasured their natural forests, and took infinite pains to protect them from all insect pests.

A bankrunt auctioneer named Percy William Douglas was charged at the Police Court in Auckland yesterday with having fraudulently converted to his own use four sums totalling £287. The informations were laid as the result of inquiries following a meeting of creditors on February 2, when it was resolved to place the facts before the Crown Solicitor. Accused was remanded on bail.

The trial was concluded in Gisborne yesterday before Mr. Justice Reed of Albert Ernest Harris, who was charged (1) with unlawful use of an instrument, with intent to procure a miscarriage on Mona Hamon, (2) with counselling Frances Quinn to commit a like offence. (3) with aiding and abetting Quinn to do so. (4) with attempting to supply Hamon with pills wff'h intent to procure a miscarriage. The accused was defended by Mr. Hanlon, of Dunedin. His Honour advised the jury to return a verdict. of not guilty on the first count and the jury, after an absence of fifteen minutes, returned a verdict of guilty on the three other charges. Sentence was deferred.

At an evening sports meeting at Dunedin, Morgan, the Otago sprinter, won the 100 and 300 yards handicaps, says a Press Association telegram. The district fire brigade conference will be held this year at Waipawa. commencing on Easter Saturday and concluding on the following Tuesday. A Palmerston North telegram states that a fall of earth in the Manawatu Gorge has completely blocked the road, which will not be clear for traffic till midday yn Saturday. The annual meeting of the Otane Memorial Committee will be held on Monday next at the Otane Library. The business to be dealt with is important and a good attendance is desired.

The Census Bureau has announced that the death-rate of the Lulled States has increased from 116 per 10,000 of the population in 1921 to 117 tor 1923. The birth-rate has decreased from 250 to 228 per 10,000. The Alexander, which sailed num Nelson for Pictou last Monday morning. was alive with racehorses, no fewer than hity-five being accommodated aboard the vessel (states tne Nelson “Mail”). The Kaitoa next day took a considerable number of trotters. “Daylight saving” has been xned at the Otaki Native College with great success (says the Levin “Chronic '/, the principal being so pleased at its working that he would nut revert tu the old order of things during summer months. The boarders are also delighted with the change. Owing to the ravages of the veld-fire pest the tobacco crop in South Africa will probably nut exceed 6U per cent, of last year’s yield, in spite of the much larger acreage, 'lhe Government is making special arrangements lor treating next season’s seed.

Mr. Jenkin, president of the Canterbury Industrial Association, during a visit to Hokitika met the manufacturers of the, district. The meeting resolved to form a Westland branch of the Canterbury Association and to use every endeavour to forward the interests of the association. lhe complaints which were recently made copcernmg the position oi returned soldier inmates at Koto Roa island have been investigated by a buo-committee of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association executive (says the “Star”). Members of the committee reported, that they had visited the island and me*, the men. Th6y found there was no cause for complaints, and the men were absolutely satisfied with the conditions.

The value of bringing science to bear upon industry was exemplified recently in Auckland, according to’ statements made at a meeting of the Auckland Industrial Association. Recently .the manufacture of jhigh Jieels for ladies’ shoes was commenced here, but the glazing of them caused great difficulty. The matter was referred to a professor at th© University, who, after a brief experiment overcame the trouble, and as a result the glaze can now. be put on the heels after manufacture without the slightest trouble.

The question of reducing the minimum penalty of £5 for shooting game without licenses has been wider consideratidn by acclimatisation societies throughout the Dominion. It is reported by the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Association that eleven societies have objected to any reduction of the penalty. Three have favoured reduction, in one case to £2. Thirteen societies did not reply. The executive therefore does not consider it would be justified in attempting to obtain a revision of the penalty. The electrically-driven dredge at Rimu Flat continues to give good returns regularly. Fornightly cleaningsup are carried out ,and the results are said to be extremely satisfactory. The noticeable feature about the ground treated is its uniform value, and the secret of the success of the operations is the constant working of the dredge. Rimu Flat is proving one of the richest alluvial flats in the Dominion (states the Hokitika “Guardian”). The dredge has become an object of great public interest, and is being visited by large numbers regularly.

Humorous allusion to the by-laws, the breaking of which cause so many quite reputable people to make unwilling appearances in the police court, was made at a late sitting of the northern Supreme Court in connection with a motor car action. “You break a by-law every step you take in. this city,” said counsel for plaintiff. At once counsel for the defendant replied, “I am prepared to admit that; we are a very much-legislated country.” The first speaker went a step further, saying, “If a man were convicted every time he broke a by-law he would be in gaol most of his time,’’ which remark was at once corrected by his learned friend, who remarked that there was no gaol for breach of the bylaws. Everyone smiles—not excluding His Honour.

A strange coincidence is reported in connection with the fire at the Takapuna Orphanage (says the Auckland “Star”). A stout wooden barrier had been erected at the top of a staircase leading from the old building to the new. On Saturday the foreman in charge of the work removed this barrier and substituted a lighter one, telling one of the sisters he had done so in order that, in the event of anything happening between Saturday and Monday, that exit would not be so effectually blocked. While the fire was raging three adults and a number of children found themselves trapped. The iron fire escape was almost red hot, and could not be used, while the wooden stairway was in flames. Then a sister remembered what the foreman had said, and by means of the new exit the party made their way to safety,

The Hon. J. G. Coates, in course of a speech at Tauranga, said lie an* ticipated that the surplus revenue ot the Post and Telegraph Department this financial year would amount to approximately £700,000. The policy ol the Government was to disburse those profits in the form of cheaper services. It was essential to get back to penny postage as soon as possible, and develop the system generally, particularly in regard to rural services. It was hoped also to reduce Customs taxation as soon as possible. No country could progress under high taxation, and we had to get back to normality at the earliest possible moment. Tho Government had determined to bring to a practical conclusion hydro-electric, works, the Otira railway, the East Coast Main Trunk, and the North Auckland Main Trunk railways.

“Wise and Otherwise.” The wise ones dine at the Napier “Trocadero” when visiting tho city of “Sunshine and Seabreezes.” The food is good, the cooking is of the best, and the service has no equal.*

“Compton’s” will buy your eggs. The price offered now is two “bob” for any quantity of ’em. We pay the cash down. You’re not asked tp take it out in goods. “Compton’s’’ will buy your dairy and separator butter too. in bulk or pats, makes no difference to us.

£6 per week for accidental injury. Premium £2 2/- yearly. Employers see F. C. Wilkinson, agent for Norwich Union (opp. Christie’s), street, Hastings.*

Insure with the Northern. Assets exceed £15,000,000. All fire and accident risks .W. N. Cathro, agent, Russell street, Hastings.*

For the best luncheon, morning or afternoon tea, in Hastings, try tho Elsdon, over Barley Bros. All cakes, etc, homo made; export cooking by tho proprietor, fchas. H. Long. Wo spccalise in hot teas, 5 to 7.30 p.m.*