Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 234, 10 September 1924, Page 4

Local and General.

The returns received by the Government from threshing mill owners show that up to the end of July, 3,836,632 bushels of wheat and 1.760,687 bushels of oats had been threshed out. The average return of wheat per acre is given as 24.38 bushels and of oats as 31.58 bushels. As the particulars of areas are known in 99 per cent of cases these averages afford a fairly accurate record of the yields of the last Dominion grain harvest. The exports from New Zealand to Germany during the seven months January to July, 1924, have reached the record. During that period the value of the exports was £1,077,738, compared with £171,410 for the corresponding period of last year. It is explained that wool exported to Germany is responsible for over £1,000,000, while frozen beef, to the value of £36,000, was also exported.

The Main Trunk express reached Auckland ah hour late on Sunday morning, arriving at 7.40 instead of 6.30 a.m., says the “Star.” Inquiries were made at the District Traffic Manager’s office and it was stated that the delay was due to the tablet porter at Whangamarino, 50 miles south of Auckland, sleeping in. Consequently, he was not at his post when the express arrivel. A messenger was sent to rouse him, and it was almost an hour before the train was released.

The depression which exists at present in the tailoring and clothing manufacturing trades is being discussed by masters and men. in Wellington to-day. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, called the conference in view of the present position in the trade and asked both employers and employees to be represented. The Christchurch representative of the men will bo Mr F. R. Cook, secretary of the Christchurch Tailoring Trades Union, j

A quantity of China clay from a largo deposit in the Glen Massey district, five miles from Ngaruawahia, was sent to the New Zealand pavilion at the Wembley Exhibition, where it attracted great attentionl from potters. An Auckland lady who is studying the art of the potter in England secured a portion of the shipment, and made a number of articles from it, her instructors speaking very highly of the qualities of the clay, which has been locally tested for glazed bricks, tiles, porcelain basins, and china ware.

A magistrate t who happened to be in a hurry, went to examine a woman before she was committed to a mental hospital the other morning, says the “Dunedin Star.” “What are these tricks you have been up to ? What is your reason for acting so foolishly?” etc., he asked, and was doubtless quite satisfied, from the confused and speechless attitude of the woman, that she was a fit and proper case for treatment. However, the police matron arrived and introduced the “patient” as the assistant matron, at which announcement, it is rumoured, there was a tense moment, happily relieved by some laughter and explanations.

A point of importance to small fire boards in the Dominion came before the Dannevirke Board, when an in timation was received from the Undersecretary of Internal Affairs that it was illegal for the board to create a reserve fund by setting aside money each year with a view to the eventual installation of a street fire alarm system. On the other hand it was pointed out by a member that the board could borrow to carryo out th O’ work. An intimation was received from the Minister that he hoped to bring down amending legislation this session to the Fire Brigade Act to permit of the creation of a capital expenditure account, which would permit of the establishment of a reserve fund.— (Presi Association.)

At yesterday’s meeting of the Napier Harbour Board it was decided to lay up the dredger Waikaka and the two other small vessels assisting her. As the trawler Mahutu was coming into the inner harbour at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, it collided with one of Richardson and Co.’s lighters. As a result of the impact, the bow ot the Mahutu was slightly damaged, but I,he lighter escaped without rnis hap.

“Talk about Aberdonians! They couldn’t live among you people!’* quoth the chairman of Bruce County Council (Mr Jasper Clark), when accusing opposing councillors of parochialism in regard to the* upkeep of the main highways.

Nominations for the Havelock North Town Board closed at noon to-day. The following are the candidates:— Messrs T. Cooper, J. H. J oil, 8. Graham, J. D. Heenan, H. A. Mossniaiii, J. .Ninion, J. and I*. J. befton.

The acetylene cylinder, which was the cause of the disaster at Port Ahuriri, was dredged up by the C.D.O. in the harbour near where the accident occurred at 3.30 yesterday afternoon. The theory 1 that it had been blown to pieces has thus been dispelled .

A number of petitions were presented to Parliament recently praying for legislation extending the hours of business of small retail traders who do not employ labour. The Labour Bills Committee has referred the petitions to the Government for consideration, reports otir Parliamentary reporter.

A deputation, consisting of representatives from all parts of the Dominion, will wait on the Prime Minister at Wellington, on Thursday (to-morrow) at 10 a.m. to urge greater publicity and development of tourist traffic for New Zealand. Mr Gilbert McKay, M.P., represents the Hastings Chamber of Commerce.

Master at Arms C. W. Hutchings, who is,at present visiting Hawke’s Bay engaged in recruiting for the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy will attend the Cadets’ parade at Hastings on Friday evening. lie invites those desirous of information relating to the opportunities offered by the Navy to our young manhood, to meet him nt the parade between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

“The folly;of this court is that one Magistrate makes an order and another is asked to vary it,” said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., when dealing with an application for the variation of a maintenance order in the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland. “The proper course,” the Magistrate continued, “would be to apply for tho variation of an order to tho Magistrate who heard the facts am? made the order.”

“He’s a wizard of finance,” remarked Mr Hunt, S.M., the other morning, when a Maori over 60 years of age was sued for a debt of £34. Counsel for plaintiff sought to show that the Maori had received a deposit upon a sale of land, which sale fell through. He did not return the deposit and judgment was secured against him. A friend had then loaned him the money to settle the judgment, but it was stated that he had retained this amount, too. Hovcrever, the Native denied receiving the second sum of money.

“Don’t you find they put the balance of the cakes in their pocketsf ” queried Mr Justice Reed in the Auckland Supreme Court of a tearoom proprietor, -who had stated that he was in the habit of putting a full plate of cakes on the tables for his customers. He- added that not all the cakes were eaten, perhaps only one or two, so that he made a profit, and the /customers did not receive the impression of meanness. In reply to His Honour, witness said that people were not allowed to take anything away tin their pcckets.

“No notice should be taken of people who poke their noses into business that does not concern them. AVe should not allow irresponsible coteries to influence us,” said Mr "W. A. Chambers at yesterday’s Harbour Board meeting, during a discussion of a letter from the Napier Harbour Board League. The chairman (Mr C. Eliison) stated he had assisted the League in every way possible. In reply to a question, Mr Ellison said Mr Peters and Mr Dolan were two members of the league. Mr Turner Williams (ironically): “It is a body of leading and influential business men of Napier.”

At yesterday’s meeting of the Napier Harbour Board, Mr W. A. Chambers was in rather a facetious mood although Mr Vigor Brown had said he had got out of the wrong side of the bed that morning. Mr Chambers related that once upon a time the animal kingdom held a conference and appointed a lion as king, so that they would have peace. “When the board met to elect a chairman of- the Works Committee, it chose a parrot for the position.” (Laughter). Mr Miller at once rose and asked if it was right that such language should be permitted. Mr Chambers retorted that he was called a “liar” at last meeting, and nothing was done. The incident ended abruptly.

Talking of retail business methods in the Old Country, a Hawcra man ii/ow resident in London says in the course of a letter to a friend: “The thing in business I can’t understand here is the two-price system. I mean by this that if I were to walk into a lot of shops with a ragged suit on and a dirty fae<* I would be charged much less than if 1 were to walk into the same shops in a respectable suit and With the same face clean. Our assistant cannot understand our ‘one price for everybody’ principle. She often says: ‘Oh! I don’t think they’ll pay that much-’ I say, ‘Well, if they won’t ’l’m afraid 1 can’t afford to let them have it cheaper.’ On the other hand, in tho ease of a reasonably decently dressed person, she will say to me: ‘He is a gentleman, or she is a lady, and could well afford to pay more.’ ”