Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 128, 17 May 1923, Page 4

Local and General.

A statistical return shows that the jKipulation of the metropolitan district of Brisbane at the end of last year was 230,000. The New Zealand Presbyterian Assembly delegates, including the Moderator. have arrived in Sydney to participate in the church’s centenary celebrations. and received a hearty welcome

In the absence of the resident porter, the Waharoa railway station was broken into during the week-end. and it is alleged that the sum of £2 10/ was taken, but the sum of £l3/4 was left in a box in which the money was kept. A further sum of the porter’s own money was overlooked. “You are not supposed to refer to what occurred with third parties,” said Mr. Justice Hosking to a witness in a divorce case at Wellington. “That is not supposed to be legal evidence. I don’t know why u should not be. It is a ridiculous rule, but we are bound by these rules.”

A Gazette Extraordinary dated Tuos* day, May 15, further prorogues Parliament until June 5 next, says a Press Association telegram. The Hastings Chamber of Commerce will tender a complimentary luncheon to Mr. G. A. Maddison, Mayor of Hastings, in the Carlton Club* Huk*l at 12.30 p.m. to-morrow. The Gisborne Borough Council has accepted the tender oi F. Goodman, of Auckland, for the construction of the new Kaiti bridge, says a Press Association telegram. Some idea of the extent of the recent disastrous flood in Dunedin is to be gained by an inspection of a picture now being displayed in the window of the Cosy Tea Room in Heretaunga street.

A public meeting of farmers at Gisl>orne was addressed by Mr. W. J. Polson, Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union on the subject of an agricultural hank, and unanimously endorsed the proposal, says a Press A ssociat ion telegram.

Mr. Tx‘o A. Walsh, of the New Zealand Flying School, Auckland, is in Wellington to advocate the claims of Auckland for a |>ernianoni aerodrome and seaplane base. The lease of the Flying School site, he explained, would shortly expire, and it would be necessary to find a new site if the nitrations of the school were to Is* continued.

It is understood that where the electric transmission line will cross die Ruahine ranges, steel towers will bo used in place oi haidwood poles. A “Manawatu Standard” reporter was informed that the former are jireferable to the latter as their construction presents less difficulty in transport over the mountainous country, as they can lie taken in sections to the site of erection.

Te Awamutu is shortly to have another industry (reports the “Waipa Post”). A start will be made with the manufacture of paint and varnish brushes, and to this end a shipment of the necessary bristles has been ordered. As the business increases additional machinery will be installed for the manufacture of other kinds of brushes, such as yard and stable brooms, scrubbing brushes, and the like.

Mr. W. J. Polson Dominion presi dent of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, addressed a large meeting at Wairoa vesterdav afternoon on matters pertaining to the. welfare of the farming community. A motion was passed unanimously that, the Dominion executive take up the matter of the union entering politics, and also unanimously approved the idea of a Dominion Agricultural Bank. Two Chinese Ming Fui and Ah Chew, appeared at the Auckland Police Court yesterday charged with having been found in uossessiou of opium in a form suitable for smoking. At first they pleaded not guilty, but after hearing the evidence pleaded guilty. The Magistrate, remarking that it was not a bad case, fined Fui £1 and Chew £lO and costs, giving them a month in which to pay. The Housing Committee of the Dublin Corporation, in a report for a meeting of the Corporation in March, dealt with a scheme for yhe erection of 428 houses at Marino at a total estimated cost of £319,808 (£747 each house). Tile finance is to be provided by a Government grant, £213,206; loan, £79,952; and housing rate. £26.651. The 428 houses are to contain living room, parlour, and three bedrooms, with scqllery. larder, bathroom, w.c., and coal cellar.

Something of a novelty in the way of bands has been introduced by the formation in Wellington of a Chinese hand. Among the Chinese there are several musicians who in their own country, had professional status. They recently combined to form a band, and instruments have been imported from China at considerable cost. The uniforms, which are being made in the city, are said to be very claliorate. The hand will make its first appearance in YVellington at the end of the present month.

A largely attended public meeting was held in Masterton yesterday to promote woollen mills there. The Mayor presided and strongly advocated the project in the interests of the town and district. The proposal is to raise £30.000 locally towards a total capital of £150,000. The mills will be situated in Masterton and are expected to start with 200 operatives at least. The provisional directors propose a profit sharing system with the employees. The meeting enthusiastically decided to support the proposal.

The report presented at the Australasian Oddfellows’ conference at Sydney characterised the increase of the Australian membership as unsatisfactory compared with New Zealand, where excellent organisation resulted in an increase of 3164. The Dominion was now the second largest jurisdiction and was also becoming an active patriarchial branch of the order. Grand encampments would probably be instituted in New Zealand and Victoria inside a year.

The remarkable growth of pasture in the Auckland district during the spring and summer months this season lias heen continued into the autumn. The rainfall has been almost too abundant at times, but the genial weather experienced of late has been extremely favourable for growth, states the “New Zealand Herald.” Many dairy farmers this season intend linking through the winter, and there should be ample feed in most districts to enable operations to be carried on to advantage. The hearing was resumed yesterday in the Hastings Magistrate’s Court in the case in which Nurse D. J. Smith (Mr. W. McLean) claimed from .1. H. Heimann (Mr. C. Duff), orchardist, of Havelock North, the sum of £lO (£3 !3/- nursing services—paid into court—and £6 17/- for travelling expenses). Agreement to pay the car travelling was denied. After reviewing the evidence- this morning His Worship gave judgment for plaintiff for £3 3 - nursing services and £4 6/8 for travelling expenses, plus costs £4 7/6.

A suggestion put forward by Mr. A. J. G. Schmitt, organiser of the Waikato sub-provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, that an unofficial committee be set up consistiug of members of Parliament, representing country electorates, to inquire into ail legislation affecting agricultural interests that may come before the House, was considered at the last meeting of tltf Waikato sub-provincial executive, and was approved. Mr. Massey is being consulted with regard to the proposal. It is suggested that the committee I* of a non-party character. and that it should take steps to further the interests of farmers generally.

“I am convinced.” said Mr. D. Buchanan the well-known Ayrshire breeder of Manawatu. who has just returned from a trip to Australia (states the “Manawatu Daily Times”), “that the prospects for the next season in the Dominion are exceedingly good, partly as a result of the terrible drought that has prevailed in the Commonwealth for so long. I shall not be at all surprised if, very soon, we experienced a big demand for fat sheep and mutton from Australian consumers. because their own stocky are depleted and they must draw supplies from somewhere Graziers should be on the look-out for this demand, which I feel sure must come soon.” ”1F YOU LOVE GOOD FOOD.” If you love good food and wish to enjoy the sense of well being which conics from eating it in a pleasant place, wi*h courtesy and congeniality all about you, then come to the Napier ‘‘Trocndero.” Come once ,nnd you’ll find out why so many come.

Advances amounting to £3 per ton have been made in the price of potatoes shipped from South Island ports. The rise in pnos is attributed to anticipated damage by floods to crops in the ground and potatoes stored in the paddocks.

'The Taranaki Tourist and Expansion league has been advised from Mahoenui that the new Awakino Valley road from the end of the metal at Malioenui to the tunnel, a distance of about six and a half miles, is a veritable sea of mud, and iiuite unsuitable for. motor traffic at present. As a consequence the through motor service from Te Kuiti to New Plymouth has been su*[M'nded for tile winter. In three years the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ Association has gained over one hundred members, the membership being 72 in 1919 ami 177 in 1922. Latterly, stated the an nual report of the association. Greymouth and Pukekoho have joined the association, and it is hoped that Feilding. Hastings, and Nelson will soon <*ome into line Except in Auckland and limaru. the manual training topchers are still out of the association.

Ihe “Rotarian” is the title of an attractive little magazine <'s|ablishe<i by the Wellington Rotary Cluh to birther the ideals ol Unit admirable organisation. We are in receipt of a copy of the first issue, which contains several excellently written and very readable articles on subjects of such general and varied interest as the “Discovery and Settlement of Port Nicholson.” “Economic Aspects of Gambling.” “Immigration.’’ and “Industrial Organisation,” to quote a lew of the titles. The magazine is published monthly.