TOPICS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9185, Issue 9185, 8 April 1910, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand's exports still continue to increase, and haveiiow A Year's passed the twenty million Exports, mark for the year ending with March. Compared with the previous year there is an increase of £4,349,403 in the value oi produce sent out of the country, the total value being. £20,048,221, an achievement of which a community + or barely a million people can justly feel proud. The -Department or Agriculture has issued its monthly statement of exports for March, during which period two and three-quar-ter millions'sterling worth of produce were exported. The butter was valued at £230,337, the frozen meat at £406,000, and the wool at £1,293,488. The effect of such a large increase must certainly be to add to the Dominion's prosperity, and so long as the land retains its fruitfulness there need never be any fear or the country's' financial stability. There may, of course, be times or depression, such -as has been experienced during the past few years, but the steady stream of exports will inevitably restore normal conditions, though, as in the present case, it may be a matter of time.

On several occasions previously publio reference has been Overcrowded made to the overClassrooms, crowded state of some

of the classrooms, particularly the infants at the College Street School, and the attention of the Board has also been drawn on numerous occasions to this undesirable condition of affairs. It is now fully three years ago since the Board promised to make necessary alterations and additions to the infants' room, but nothing has been done, though the school committee has persistently kept the question before the Board. The latest phase is a.letter from the Board, and read at last night's meeting of the' committee, suggesting, with a total disregard for the convenient working of the school, the interchange of several classes with a view of overcoming the difficulty complained of. The most striking feature of the Board's suggestion is that the sth and 6th Standards, both important classes, should be taught in the one room and, naturally, at the same time. The headmaster at last night's meeting mentioned _ several disabilities in connection with the Board's suggestion, particularly with regard to the teaching of the two highest classes in one room, and in accordance with a resolution Mr Low will set out in concise style, so that members of the Board may possibly understand the position, the state of affairs that would result by giving effect to the Board's proposal, and this will be posted to Wanganui. The whole position is most unsatisfactory ! and, unfortunately, there seems little prospect of the improvement desired by the Committee being effected.

Speaking at yesterday's meeting of millers, Mr M. Cohen Some criticised severely the Plain attitude of indifference Speaking, adopted by the Government towards the hemp industry. "The Government seems to be entirely out o'f. sympathy with the industry." he said. "It has grossly neglected us. You have only to go abroad and see how Governments in other lands assist their industries to know how badly we have been treated. What has it done for us beyond the establishment of the grading system, and the more or less inaccurate cabled reports of the High Commissioner? We have been trying to battle for years to get something done whereby this most valuable adjunct to the industrial wealthy of the Dominion should be recognised, but we have been left entirely to our own resources. It looks as if we were too small a body to be worth recognising. Government has been entirely _ culpable in the matter, and if the industry fails, there will be a loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds to this Dominion annually. I don't think any Government ever had such an opportunity of doing something that would be a boon to the workers of this country, but they show no sympathy whatever in our endeavours to keep the industry alive. They might do for fiaxmills what they had done for goldmines by the cyanide process. Outsiders coming to New Zealand are astonished at the possibilities of hemp for manufacturing purposes, and are amazed that nothing is done and no assistance given. We do not want to be wet-nursed or to run a bonus-fed industry, but we do want our puny efforts seconded. We have gone in a most proper way time and again to interest the Government in the industry, and have not had the encouragement we desire. Speaking out straight like this," said the speaker in conclusion, "might be the means of bringing the Government to see their gross negligence of a very important matter."

Mr Fred. Mowlem has donated one guinea towards the funds of the Kia Toa Football Club.

It is stated that under-sized flounders are sold openly in Foxton. The maximum penalty for this offence is £20.

The newly-formed Feilding Employers' Association has. decided to apply for affiliation to the New Zealand Association. Mr Fred Pirani is president and Mr W. McKenzie secretary.

Work at All Saints' Church is not quite finished yet, but it will be sufficiently advanced by the end of the week to allow all services next Sunday to -be held in the church. The harvest festival, however, will not be held until Sunday week, 17th inst., so that there may bo time to make the necessary preparations.

At the Police Court this morning a first, offender, a strange in town, charged with being drunk last night, was fined ss, cab hire 2s, in default 24 hours. Daniel Keane, a person with a very much contused and battered face, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing some light refreshments from a Chinese shop in town, viz., a couple of pounds of apples and three tins of jam.- A sentence of two months' imprisonment was imposed, there being three previous convictions against accused. Messrs J. A. Nash and Woodroft'e. J's.P.j' presided.

At Park's warehouse splendid assortment of Ladies' "Peggy" Bags, Pocket Books. Purses, Letter Cases, Fitted Drossing Cases, Crick-it, Croquet and Teonis cfoods. —Adv*Women will bo particularly interested in the splendid door mat values ( Messrs Collinson's aro offering. A glance at the price's must appeal to the keen buying housewife. inches x 15 inches Iβ" lid each, 27 inches•> x 17 inches 2e 9d each, 29g inches x 18g inches 3s 6d each; larger sizes As 6d, 4s lid, 6s 6d. Collinson andSon, "Chcauside." Palmerston N.—Advt.

The Appeal Court reserved its Judgment in the case concerning tho right of way through the Wanganui racecourse. The unsurveyed land in Taranakiavail--able for future settlement is 92,000 acres arid tho Maori land awaiting settlement 480,000 acres. . ,

"Well, thank goodness, you've never seen mo run after people who have money," exclaimed the agitator. bnnU voice in the audience': "No, but I vo seen people, run after you because you didn t have money."

"I'm beginning," remarked the lectur-' o f "I might say that I have come to •> the conclusion——-" The buret of enthusiasm which tho audience let loose at this juncture struck the lecturer as constituting rather a doubtful compliment. The Patea Press reports that Mr W. Gadsby, who was for many years farming at Cloverdalo, Patca, .and more recently S Waipuna, Manutahi, has lately bought a 100 acre block of land in the Te Kuiti district where he expects shortly to reside. -.■■'■ ■<*iV Tnsonh Ward will deliver a policy snecch at Winton at the end of the month when he will disclose the revenue and railway returns for the past year, and outline the sessional programme. The Prime Minister states that Parliament, will not meet till the last week in June. 4 Wairarapa dairy farmer, is busy finiehin- a new type of milking machine . vhich he claims will do the that ; the various milking, machines inl minion arc now-doing, while the initial ; co6t oi the machine will be considerably lees. ■ . -Mr While carrying out alterations at Mr Monopoli'a house at Paraparaurnu on; Tuesday the carpenters found, between the ceiling and roof, a human skeleton , which had been placed inside a cask. There were no other bones and tne matter is a mystery that will probably never be cleared up. In regard to the Dominion Scouts inquiry it now transpires that Acting-Cap-tain Dalrymple'was reprimanded for the following:-1) The circumstances connected with the establishment and ineffectual closing of the canteen, and (d) '-• discussing with N.C.O.'s and ters affecting his subordinate officers.

R J. Soott, the well-known wrestler,, of Stratford, on Tuesday night lodged a deposit of £30 in Wellington for a wrestling match with Alex, Bain (Hackenschmidt's wrestling partner). The contest will be under Lancashire rules catch-as-, catch-can, and wrestled to a nrnsn. it will take place in Wellington in about three weeks' time. At the Blenheim Supreme Court the other day, when a female witness was being sworn,-she was asked to take the slovc off her right hand, whereupon, reports the Express, his Honor said that there was a, mistaken idea that a woman could not be sworn with her glove on. It was bad enough for the witnesses to have to kiss the same book, and he hoped that very soon kissing the Book would be abolished.

A man named Stevens, after arreefc • at Dannovrike for drunkenness and theft, - attempted to stab Constable Keane. Whilo in the cells he was visited by the Sergeant and Constable Maloney. Stevj ens was then feeling the effects of drink. When Constable Keane appeared, - it is stated that the prisoner became - furious, and made a spring at Keane. Constable Maloney states that he saw the flash of a knife, and Constable Keane felt blood trickling down his cheek. The - three policemen jumped on Stevens, but, though he is of a fair age, he ie wiry, and they had a hard tusslo to secure the knife, which is much tho same as a butcher uses.

In order to secure additional protection, for their premises the business people and firms from Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame's, Ltd., to Hallenstein .Bros., Ltd. (inclusive), have engaged a nightwatchman to guard the back portions of their shops, which abut on. King street; and in order to assist it ie intended to rcqueefc tho Borough Council to permit the street lamp in King street to remain alight until daylight

every night, as the etreot becomes very dark when the lights are out. As the block of buildings form an important portion of the Square the request respecting the street lamp will, no doubt, bo acceded to bv the Council.

After four years' absence from his tribe, the Ngapuhi, a young Maori, Ihu K. Ngawaka, returned to New Zealand yesterday on the Turakina. He has been trained as a vocalist, being the possessor of a lino baritone voice, but the singing profession has no attraction for him. Ho appeared in concerts at the Town Hall, Sydney, and Qucensgate Hall, Kensington, but otherwise did not seek to obtain distinction before the footlights. There are too many trying to earn a somewhat • precarious livelihood from music, ho found, and the thing was not worth following up. "I preferred to pay at- , tontion to work among my own people," ho explained, "and it is my intention to. leave music alone and take up farming , among my own people near Hokianga." Ho has observed the methods of European farming-, and is anxious to see his people co-operating to make better use of their land, now providing them only with the barest necessities of life.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the College street School Committee was held last night. There were present: — Messrs Plodder (chairman), Gerrand, Whitehead. Sanson, Carville and Jewell. Mr Low, headmaster, was also present. Correspondence was received from the Education Board, stating, in reply to the Committee's protest as to appointments being made without them being consulted, that the present course had to be followed to meet the requirements of law, and further that the Board was always willing to consider objections to proposed appointments. Tho Board also wrote that Miss Meads had been appointed to the school, vico Miss B. Pigott resigned. Tho headmaster reported that the roll number was 464, with an average of 402 for tho quarter. During the quarter 104 pupils have left and 87 have been admitted, leaving tho roll 17 lees than at the end of last year. Routine business was transacted and tho meeting terminated.

There is some discontent in Levin because Mr Fisher, M.P., was invited to open the flower show instead of the member for the district, Mr Field. The explanation made to the local paper was that Mr Fisher was invited simply through ;i desire "to lend variety to the opening proceedings." In referring to the inn tier, the Chronicle says:—"There is an unwritten law amongst Parliamentarians that no member shall participate in a function in another member's electorate- except when the latter mem-' b.cr's absence is or when the member for the electorate also ..is. present. In the case of the Levin Flower Siiow. the member for the district (Mr W. H. Field) was not asked to perform the opening ceremony, though it ought to have been clear to everyone that he willingly would have done so. FailingMr Fie!d ; the Mayoress was a fittingperson to have approached. And the importation of Mr Fisher, M.P., fromt Wellington, sets a bad precedent. , Next year, if this practice extends, we might, see the Horowhenua Agricultural and Pastoral Society getting Mr Frank Lawry. M.P., down from Auckland, to makf> eulogies on its pig exhibits, or Mr "Tommy" Taylor being brought up from Chnstchurch to declare'the annual race meeting of the Shannon- Club well and truly opened."

A grand show of the latest creations in model millinery is now on display in the centre window of the Bon Marche. As this, is the first. full display of tho season, it, will no t f a il to interest con- . toinplatjng buyers.—Advt. Diaries for 1910 at Park's warenou«e Pme and Presentation Books, Pravec awd Hymns, Bibles, Church Praise Oa- ( tholre Prayer Books, new Annuals' Post Cards, etc.--Advt. » , Importera uro invited to send their shipping documents to J. J Curtis and vo.. Shipping, Forwarding, and Customhouse Agents, Customhouse. Quav Wei' " 1,-gton. This firm will do your cWomY work correctly w' f<-.rwar«l ■ '&~ nA, pioniDtlv •— Advt

It has been decided by the Government that the next session of Parhaineni will open in the last week in June.

The man Frederick Wigglceworth, who shot himself In Ponsonby on Monday night, died at the- Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

The Devonport (Auckland) Council has decided to carry out its original intention to provide for a million-gallon reservoir at a cost of £8000.

The Rev. Bates wired to-day:—Light and variable winds, but moderate easterly prevailing, indications for fair weather, cold night, glass little movement.

There was a very good attendance at the Empire Hall last night when sections in the Clifton estate were offered for sal© by Abraham and Williams. None of the sections were sold under the hammer, and they are still available privately.

A young man named Scott, who is a. good swimmer, caused a sensation at Manly, Sydney, by going in a place indicated by signal as dangerous. He threw- up "his hands as if in difficulties, and when a member of the Surf Club swam out to his assistance, he stood up and, walked out of the water. The Magistrate characterised his conduct as heartless and cruel, and calculated to prevent persons in real distress from receiving assistance. Scott was fined £3, or one month's hard labour.

Several days ago the railway station at Ongarue, on the Main Trunk line, was broken into and a case of beer was tampered with. 'With such a. tempting bait in a prohibition country, it was only natural to expect that the station would receive another visit, and so Constable Owen took up his watch there to bo ready to receive any\midnight visitors. Ho was not disappointed. Last Sunday two men were seen to cautiously approach the building and force the- door. The constable then made himself known and arrested a. man named John Thompson. The second man, Duncan M'Rae, got away, but was captured shortly afterwards. The prisoners were taken to Te Kuiti, where they were charged and remanded till Friday.