Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 284, 16 November 1923, Page 4

Local and General.

At the Hawera Show on Wednesday Messrs. Bowen and Wilson (Hastings) secured the chmpionships in the pig classes for Berkshire boar. Berkshire sow, Tamworth boar, /ind Tamworth

The Bengal Government has taken prompt action to forbid the use of socalled splitters which hawkers have recently been selling extensively. The implement is designed ostensibly to split wood, hut the 'authorities have discovered that the removal of a screw converts them into bayonets. It is ascertained that eighteen thousand were imported from Germany, land ' eight thousand of these have been recovered. The authorities are endeavouring to track the remainder.

The Wanganui Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union has received advice from the Dominion Executive that it is proposed to bring out about 100 healthy 'secondary school boys from the Old Country for farm work. It is hoped to find homes for these boys in good families, and the wages will probably be from 12/6 to 17/6 for the first year, and after that the ruling wages paid to similar boys on farms in New Zealand. Farmers willing to train these boys’ are to be asked to send in their names to the branches.

'l’ho Girls’ Friendly Society’s Lodge in Lyndon road, off Karamu road, Hastings, will be officially opened by Mrs D- Ruddock, of Havelock North, to-morrow afternoon at 2.30 o’clock.

The Hawke’s Bay Education Board has refused to make a contribution towards the funds of the Napier Wai Memorial Committee.

The Hawke’s Bay County Council has granted £5 5/- to the Hawke’s Bay Education Board towards the expenses incurred by the Board in connection with the Howard Estate.

The Napier Chamber of Commerce decided last evening to recommend that the various sections in the telephone directory be printed on different-col-oured paper. The Heretaunga Swimming Club will open the season on Friday, November 23, when the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Maddison) will preside. The public are cordially invited to be present, no charge being made for admission.

The Gazette notifies that from November 15, 1923, a levy of a penny per carease will he made on all veal and pork imported, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Meat Export Control Act.

The Hawke’s Bay Education Board yesterday decided to send a letter of congratulation to the headmaster of the Taradalo School (Mr. Williamson) in connection with the* agricultural work at the school.

A club room and shed for racing pigeons’ baskets has been completed on the railway reserve by the Auckland Homing Pigeon Federation, wl ich has leased a piece of the reserve from the Government.

The Auckland City Council has had underwritten in London at 99 a loan of £250,000 at 5 per cent, for 21 years, the proceeds to be expended on trainways., £105,000. street works £109,000, zoo department £20,000 and two suburban libraries £16,000.

The secretary (Mr. W. L. Dunn) said a.k yesterday’s meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board that he expected the grants for the new school in Napier South and the remodelling, etc., of the Hastings West School to be along before Christmas.

■ < The Auckland Electric Power Board is publishing the of its £250,000 loan—debentures at 5i per cent., issue at par, and term 21 years. This loan is for the purpose of completing the purchase or plant from rhe Auckland City Council and to excen.l the supply of electricity.

Harry Thomas, a well-known land agent, of Taumarunui, has been missing since Saturday, and a horse he was riding prior to his disappearance was found yesterday near Aukopae with the saddle still attached. It is believed the horse, in fording the Wanganui river, slipped and threw its rider, for whose safety fears ar e entertained.

A progressive euchre tournament and dance is to be held in the Village Hall, Havelock North, this evening. z Complete arrangements have been made and there are indications that the contest for the “black diamonds” will be very keen. The waltzing competition will take place about 10 p.m. A ’bus leaves Hastings Post Office at 7.45 p-m., returning after the dance.

The tanners have announced reductions in the price of leather ranging from about five to ten per cent, and in some cases rather more. Sole leather, which is made from ox-hides, has dropped about 7| per cent., and other lilies of leather jnade from oxhides show about ten per cent reduction. Leather made from cow hides, including that used for boot uppers, is down about ten per cent, and in one particular line about fifteen per cent.

An action arising out of the accident last year at the Mangahao hydroelectric works came before Mr. Justice Salmond at the Supreme Court in Wellington yesterday, the case being that of Alary Maxwell, widow of Alfred Ernest Maxwell, against the King. Mr. P. J. O’Regan, who appeared for the suppliant, informed His Honour that the case had been settled, the Crown agreeing to pay compensation amounting to £lOOO. The question of the apportionment of this amount was held over until affidavits setting out the position of the parties had been filed.

The precautions taken to prevent the spread of fire blight in the commercial fruitgrowing areas of the Auckland district appear to be having the desired effect. The officers of the Agricultural Department report that the settlers and orchardists are co-operating in the work of cutting back the hawthorn to prevent blossoming, and, where necessary, the complete eradication of the plants. The result is that the only report of the presence of fire blight is in the Albany proclaimed arba, where the infection of a number of pear trees has been noted.

“The serious effect on school attendance of sickness and bad weather is reflected in the summarised attendance returns of all schools for the September quarter,’’ reported the secretary (Mr. W. L, Dunn) at yesterday’s meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board. “The total average attendance for the quarter Was 13,620 out of an average enrolment of 15,767, or 86.38 per cent. The total average attendance for the Juno quarter was 14,311 out of an average enrolment of 15,672, or 91.32 per cent. The fall in attendance compared with Juno was therefore 691.”

A’ Maori who some time ago was an inmate of the Southland‘Hospital, has advanced a novel reason why he should not be called upon to pay medical expenses (states the “Southland Times”). In reply to the Hospital Board’s claim he refers the Board to the Treaty of Waitangi, under which, ho states, the Government promised the Maoris free hospitals, free education, and free doctors. He further advises the Board to send the account to Sir Maui Pomare, Minister of Native Affairs and Public Health, who, he thought, would deal with it satisfactorily. The Board has replied stating that it is not in any way concerned with any arrangements made between the Government and the Natives regarding educational and medical privileges. So far as hospital treatment was concerned, Natives were in the same position as Europeans. That was to say. if they had the means to pay, they should do

At the monthly meeting at the Hastings Street (Napier) School Committee last evening, the headmaster reported the roll number as 574 and the average attendance for the month 539. The annual term examination for the promotion of pupils was now in progress and the inspectors would pay their annual visit of inspection on November 21st. Miss Gray wrote resigning her position on the staff, and thanked the Committee for the courteous consideration she had always received. It was resolved to accept the resignation with regret and to write Miss Gray a letter of appreciation for her valuable services during the past three years' as infant mistress. The Thirty Thousand Club wrote soliciting .the services of the school at the" forthcoming Mardi Gras. The Committee regretted that bwiiig to the teachers being away for the holidays the school could not be represented. Accounts for £ll 18s 9d were passed for payment. Messrs Hammond and Grant were appointed a visiting committee for the month.

Dainty morning or afternoon teas. Serwed with delicious frosh rakes straight from the oven at the Napier “Trocadero.” A first-class hot lunchserved between 12 and 2 daily. *Price is 6d.*

M. Quirke was fined 10 and costs at the Napier Magistrate's Court this morning for being found drunk at Port Ahuriri.

The possibilities of holding a health week will be discussed at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay centre of the New Zealand Sanitary Inspectors’ Association in Napier on TTovember 22nd.

The acting-chairman of the Hawke's Bay County Council (Cr. H, M. Campbell) and Cr. J. S. Orr are meeting settlers interested in the erection of a bridge over the Mangone river at Dartmoor at 2.30 p-m. to-day.

The Hastings Salvation Army Corps is arranging a stall on the vacant section in Russell street for to-morrow, where they wish to dispose of goods, plain and fancy sewing, children’s toys, etc., left over from their sale of work last Wednesday. It would be grateful for gifts for the stall. Every shread of available evidence is being raked together by the Police Department in connection with the explosion at Port Ahuriri on Nov. Ist as a result of which two men died from their injuries. It is probable that the inquest on the bodies of Arthur Sturm and Archibald Sporlo, which is to be resumed on November 23rd, will be adjourned for a further week, as one of of the most important witnesses is unable to be present on that date. A representative of the Explosive Department will be coming up from Wellington to give evidence.