LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 121, 6 May 1936, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL

Wanganella Arrives. The Wanganella arrived at Wellington from Sydney this morning. She had a good trip until Cook Strait was entered, when high winds were encountered, but there was no delay.—Press Assn.

A Fortnight's Holiday. After a fairly strenuous first term scholars and teachers in Hawke’s Bay primary and secondary schools break up on Friday for a spell of two weeks. Primary schools will re-open on Alonday Alay 25, and secondary schools in both Hastings and Napier on Tuesday, Alarch 26.

Earthquake Relic Found. One of the workmen on the Hastings Borough Council’s reserve in Duka street unearthed from among the earthquake debris a man’s pocket watch, which had stopped at the exact moment of the 1931 earthquake. The watch, needless to say, is badly corroded. It is on view iu Mr H. J. Grieve’s jeweller’s window.

Lilac Blooming in Winter. Further evidence of the vagaries of the seasons this year may be seen in the garden of a home at Mount Eden, Auckland, where a lilac tree has been flowering for several days The blooms are large and healthy and full-scented, which is rather remarkable in view of the fact that the tree generally flowers in the late spring.

Armaments and Wool. The recent improvement in the demand for wool, resulting in a rise m prices, was declared by Mr. 11. Abrahams, a leading Australian wool buyer, who passed through Auckland by tho Alariposa on Saturday, to be largely the result of rearming in Europe. Wool was needed by most countries to make uniforms for the increased personnel of their armies, navies and air iorces, while the stocks on hand in Europe were the lowest for many years, and had therefore to be replenished.

Cutting Back Trees. The Havelock North Town Board requests residents who intend cutting back trees in the vicinity of the board’s power lines to communicate with the board before undertaking the work to enable the board to arrange for suitable supervision of the work. Only yesterday the power was off for two hours through the men responsible failing to notify the board that a branch had fallen on the power line. In this case the branch was removed by the men who advised the property owner not to communicate with the board. Two wires were left in contact, however, and tho whole service was interrupted as stated above. Waterside Work, The use of “go-slow” methods by waterside workers employed on the Wellington wharves was referred to by the Hon. J. G. Cobbe (Opposition, Oroua) in an urgent question he asked the Primo Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in the House of Representatives yesterday. Air. Savage said the position on the waterfront had been brought to the notice of the Government last week. Steps were then taken to get in touch with the parties concerned, and there were negotiations in which the Alinister of Alarine, the Hon. P. Fraser, and the Alinister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, took part. He was informed that an understanding had been arrived at and that work was now being carried on under normal conditions. Japanese Love for Timber. “Wood is more generally used by the Japanese than by any other people of the world,” said Mr. E. Phillips Turner, in a lecture to tho Auckland Institute. “In using it for their houses they are not actuated mainly by considerations of cheapness, for good building stone, shingle for concrete, and brick-clays are abundant. They use wood mainly because they have an artistic preference for it. They do not paint the exteriors of their houses, because the grey-velvety appearance gained by the weathering of well-dressed timber is pleasing to them. Neither do they varnish the inside of the timbers, as they consider the finish which they get by the use of very sharp tools is more pleasing than that obtained by varnishing.” Trade With America, “I believe tho time is opportune for this country to negotiate satisfactory trade agreements, particularly with the United States,” said Air. J. T. Alartin, vice-president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in addressing members of the Auckland chamber. “I think New Zealand should make a reciprocal agreement with America as soon as she possibly can. Now is the time lor action. 1 consider that we should send a strong delegation, consisting of leading Government department heads and a responsible Alinister, vested with considerable power and able to put up a good case for New Zealand. The basic objective of the United States foreign trade policy is a satisfactory trade agreement with every possible country. We are in a most favourable position to-day for negotiating a good agreement.” Wool-Sale System. An endeavour will be made this year to arrange a conference of organisations interested in wool sales in New Zealand with a view to altering the present sale arrangements so that daily offerings may be limited to a set maximum. The question was discussed at a meeting of the Canterbury fekeep Owners’ Union last week, a letter being received from the New Zealand Woolbrokers' Association regarding the possibility of improving the arrangements for sales of wool at the various selling centres within the Dominion. The letter stated that after several discussions between tho Woolbuyers’ Association anil the woolbrokers, it was found that there were many difficulties in making a change. It had been found impracticable hitherto to bring the suggested j system of limitation of daily offerings into vngue.