A. HIGHWAYS PUZZLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 398, 16 May 1922, Page 4

A. HIGHWAYS PUZZLE.

Solomon in all his wisdom would have, perchance, found considerable exercise for his genius had he been pressed for a solution of the contretemps that has arisen in the Horowhenua County through the action of the County Council in deciding to close all the roads within its confines to heavy vehicular traffic for the next five months. Without probing the question of tho efficacy of this move, it must be admitted by those in clo.se touch with county affairs that a drastic step of some such nature or the other has been virtually forced on the council. With high railway freights and a tariff which was never, even in prosperous times, remarkable for its elasticity, forcing merchants and farmers to have their goods and produce carried by motor-lorries, in preference to the railroad, it is a natural corollary that the heavy traffic on the county roads has been exceptionally severe. Paradoxically, the main sufferers through this extraordinary traffic have not been the main arterial roads which carry it, but the by or "district" roads. This is due to the fact that the council has been so extended in order to provide money to keep the main roads open for traffic, that it has lacked the wherewithal to repair and maintain the lesser highways, which incidentally are put to more general use that the former by the county ratepayers. In a nut-shell, therefore, the County Council has impoverished its resources in order to render passable roads which, for the greater part, are used by vehicles and passengers from oiltside districts. As the chairman put it at the last, meeting of the council, hi l proposed to drive hack to the railroads tho traffic which the Railway Department had forced on to the county roads. And there the matter .stands. .Meanwhile, what of the interests of the community as a whole, and of the men who have invested thousands of pounds in building up a fleet of motor-lorries which admittedly —especially during tho railway "cut'' —has performed a much-wanted service ? Is this policy of one county seeking Lo erect, barriers between itself and its neighbouring districts to bo countenanced, much less encouraged through tacit indifference by the authorities to Horowhenua's claims for relief against" an intolerable position!-' Obviously the sooner the longpromised Highways Bill is brought down the better it will be, not only for Horowhenua, but numerous other counties, for it is only natural to suppose that not the least important of its measures finally adopted by the Government will be a provision relieving certain local bodies from maintaining long and costly sections of the main arterial" roads of the Dominion.

The Russian delegation in London has received word that 75 per cent, of tho famine-stricken people are now being fed, The Japanese Press disapproves of the suggestion for a declaration of independence iu Manchuria. Mr Iv \V. Cave has been appointed registrar of electors in succession 10 the late Mr C. E. Shortt. It is stated that tho Prime Minister, or failing liiiu. the Minister for Public Works, will probably be invited to deliver a political address in Foxton at: ait early date. Playing cricket in England lust Saturday, Fender scored 185 by a fine exhibition of hard hitting, making 52 off 14 consecutive balls. Two prisoners from Fiance who were being sent to New Caledonia escaped in Australia. They were arrested on charges of vagrancy and remanded at Newcastle until next week. Canada's navy _is to be practically "scrapped" and a fishing protection cruiser service substituted. A leading Canadian newspaper describes the plan as "smacking of Pinafore." James Bennington was committed for sentenco at'Auckland for tho theft of a launch. Ho was stated to have removed it from its moorings at night, and invited his friends to a fishing party. A lanrc, deputation of citizens recently waited Upon the Dunedin City Council to urge upon it the desirability of taking a, poll on a proposal to raise a loan Jul the erection of a iown hall. \ broken left arm at the elbow was sustained by 1. Fnttcr while playing football at Newtown on Saturday last. His brother also sustained injuries to his hips, but later was able to proceed to his home. An unusual auction sale took place in Gishonio on Fridav, and was attended by ... veial hundreds'of people, when part of the stock in trade of a local hotel, seized under a distress warrant, was submitted. In the Magistrate's Court at Taumarunui Francis John Jennings, on a charge o keeping liquor for sale at Mantmui, a proclaimed area, was lined £SO and given three months in which to pay. The jubilee of St. Luke's (Anglican) Church, Mount Albert. Auckland, is to be celebrated this rear. The church was built and opened in 1872, and was enlarged m 1883 and consecrated on May 8 ot that year. At the Canterbury Returned Soldiers' Association's conference the suggestion was made thai the interest from the canteen fund, should be used to provide for die payment, of a maternity bonus to the wives of returned soldiers. During ihe last fortnight upwards of 400,000 cases of apples have arrived in London from New Zealand and Australia, some of the fruit being in an unsatisfactory condition, causing buyers to exercise mucli caution. At an inquest at Cambridge on unidentified body of a man found in the Karapero slream evidence was given that the legs mkl arms were tied with sheeting and a ploughshare was tied under the waistcoat. The coroner returned a verdict ot suicide bv drowning. li was stated at the annual meeting of the Linton Rifle Club last night that Mr J. McKelvic, of Carnarvon, had presented a Cup for competition amongst the miniature rifle clubs of the Manawatu district. The Rongotea Club are the first holders of the trophy. A Vancouver cablegram to the Sydney Sm, Maiei- that because he had never heard the nightingale sing, and dearly wishes to, Dr. Casey Wood, an eminent American ornithologist, is undertaking a land and sea joiirnev of 3000 miles, lie is going to Engj laud solely to hear the "immortal bird sing of snmnier "in full-throated ease." The students of Canterbury College held high revel in Christchurch on the occasion of their annual capping carnival procession. The chief burlesque this year was u Royal wedding ceremony., which was conducted in Cathedral Square. The procession brought a phenomenal crowd into the city, and the scene in the Square was one of the most remarkable of it,, kind ever witnessed in Christchurch. Many sportsmen in Victoria are acquainted with the great difficulty in obtaining membership of certain cricket, golf, or tennis clubs. The .Melbourne Cricket Club membership li=i, for "instance (say* ihe Age), is complete, and several hundred people are awaiting vacancies in the lw, whilst membership of golf clubs is almost as difficult to secure as is a seat on the Stock Exchange. The magistrate at Timarii stales that "Auckland is notoriously rather worse in some respects (regarding' crime) than other centres of the Dominion. This would bo accounted for partly by climatic condition-, partly Iv the fact that Auckland is a. large citv and a large seaport with a considerable temporary population arriving from Australia, die Islands and America. In the warm climate of Auckland the home has not the same value to young people as iu cooler districts. Fxcep't in wet weather die home U chieflv a. place to eat and sleep. Such a state of things, of course, tends to weaken parental control." Judicial advice regarding his plea was sought by a prisoner who was brought before Mr Justice llerdniau at the Supreme Court at Auckland on Friday on a charge of having stolen a handbag and contents. Accused,"who was already serving sentence For theft, was not represented by counsel, unci stated in answer to the indictment that be did not know what to plead. Addressing the judge, accused said: "l am not sure whether to plead guilty or not. 1 don't know what to do for the best." "You must knew whether you are guilty or not," replied His Honour. "If you are not guilty you should not plead guilty." "I may its well plead guilty in the circumstances," said die accused. ".My word won't be taken anyway." lie was remanded for sentence. Lady Shackleton has written to Mr Massey as follows from Eastbourne, under date March 23rd:— "Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your kind sympathy in mj (treat sorrow, and, above all, for the beautiful appreciation of my beloved husband. Your telegram will be treasured by the children. He loved New Zealand. He had most grateful re< ollections of ihe generous treatment he received there. He used to say lie would like us all to live there. I have been so wanting to write to you sooner. Please forgive the delay. I begin letters and tear iliem up. feeling so' utterly 10-l without him. who was more to me than life, and no words will come again. Thanking you from my heart for your kindness, Yours verv sincerely, Emily Shackleton. The lender of Messrs A. Hopwood, Ltd., for ihe supply of hardware to the Borough Council, has been accepted. Train arrangements in connection with the Wiinganui Steeplechase meeting, to bo held Thursday and Saturday next, are announced in our advertising columns. Mr 11. E. Holland, M.P.. chairman of the Labour Parliamentary Group, will address a public meeting in the Empire Hall on Thursday evening. Mr Holland will deliver a Labour policy speech and Mr V. A. Cbristensen, the official Labour candidate for Palmerston North, will preside. An advertisement, of special interest to farmers appears on page 8 of this issue. An enterprising firm offer to relieve farmers in the district of the worry of chaft'eutting, threshing and pressing hay or straw on the shortest notice and at very reasonable terms. An up-to-date contractor's plant is used for the purpose, and ensures the prompt and expert execution ol the work. Another announcement on page 1 tells of a wood-sawing plant that is worked similarly. Both propositions must mean a good ileal less worry to those who have not their own appliances for these classes of work. —Advt. Selling Wednesday all day—Ladies' purewool tweed frocks. 19s 6d. Square necks, full length sleeves, panel fronts forming' side pockets and trimmed self buttons. W. and O.S. sizes in shades of natural, grey,, fawn, helio mixture. A special nett cash price of 19s 6d for to-morrow to emphasise tho fact that our store is open all day Wednesdays. Window 14. —Collinson and Cunninghaiue. Ltd.—Advt. Golf enthusiasts are welcoming Collinson and Son's generous offer of Dunlop golf balls at 27s Gd the dozen nett cash. All are new and fresh, in sealed individual wrappers —unique values for players, Excellent stocks of golf clubs, approved British makes, also full supplies or requisites for hockey, football, boxing, shootrnj, etc.—Advv

. Increased interest in the sport of bunting is being taken in the Auckland district. Tho New Plymouth electricity department made a net profit of £8062 7-' Td last year. ' The attendance al the school ai [lenderEon, near Auckland, ha- increased in two years f rom iOO to 274 Tiie .Minister of Education stales that there are 160 teachers' residences empty m Various parts of the Dominion. The amount spent cm education in New Zealand in 1914 was £1,497,000, while tho estimates for ibis year are £3,5C0,0G0. Sharp earthquake shocks were fell by residents in Whakatano and tin- surrounding districts on Friday evening last. A youth at Auckland who applied for exemption from drill told the magistrate that ho was (he sole proprietor of a grocery business in Grey Lynn The Hon. J. G. Coates has informed Mr A. McNicol, M.P., that tenders will shortly be called for the' erection of a new post office in Dannevirke. While on a recent visit io Lake Manapouri the Southland Acclimatisation Society's ranger discovered great quantities of whitebait in the lake, No further news of the stolen yacht Raata has been received at Auckland. The Tredenham, which arrived from New Oilcans on Saturday, saw no signs of the little craft. A man who was lined at Wanganui yesterday for being on licensed premises during prohibited hours gave the excuse that he "went, there to use the telephone to ring up ihe butcher's/' The number of unemployed men registered at the end of last week with the Wanganui oflice of the Labour Department was 57. No one was assisted to employment duirng the week. Dining the lion. J. G. Coates's visit to Akitio The other dav, ho was informed mat us much as 5000 bales of wool had been laken from the port in one season and over ICO tons of general cargo brought in. According to the Cluiha Leader. Ronald True, the former thin;: officer, sentenced to death lor the murder of Gertrude Yates at l'ulham (England), is identical with a man who nine years ago resided in the Warepa district, "We know that the Government has been right up against it. but we feel thai the light of day is now dawning and that wo have a happier time in front of us."—The Mayor of likclalmna jMr P. Pike) io the Minister of Public Works. Owing io the weather yesterday not being conducive to ihe quick drying ol clothes, the wife of a resident of Cook street decided to leave her washing on the line over-night. This morning it was discovered that a sneak thief had helped_ himself to every article of attire on the line. The conference of members of ihe Fellowship of Reconciliation tit Auckland passed a resolution recording its keen appreciation of the stand taken by a teacher at Christchurch in refusing to take the oath of allegiance unless so safeguarded by a conscience- clause. A letter was read at to-day's meeting of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association's committee from Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., forwarding a copy of a replyreceived from the Minister of_ Railways, declining to agree io the association's request that school children be carried free of charge to attend the winter show. At the inquest at Dannevirke on the bodv of James O'Brien, the one-legged man who was killed at the Allardiee street railway crossing on Friday night last, the Coroner found that no blame was attachable to any individual. lie added a rider urging the Minister of Railways to take into immediate consideration the necessity of having installed at once a system of warning bells, or other ellective system. The Levin Chronicle stales thai while some excavating was being done by the working parties at the lake foreshore on Saturday to rill in the bays at ihe boatshod, portions of a human skeleton were unearthed. The. bones were much discoloured, apparently by the moist state of ihe ground, but tho jawbones and teeth were almost intact. The remains were only o foot below the surface. ■ Ai the Magistrate s Court ibis morning. beforo Mr J.' L. Stout, S.M., William .lame.- Treanon, alias Watson, was charged that, on February 3. 1922. at Auckland, he did steal a trunk, a Gladstone bag, and a kit. and the contents thereof, io a total value of £3O, the property of Cecil Adolpliu.s Sweie. On the application of the police accused was remanded to appear at Auckland on May 20. Hubert Ashton, die Cambridge triple blue, had astonishing luck while playing cricket (states a London cablegram). The ball struck his wicket, and the bail leapt into the air. Ashton turned towards the pavilion, when Chapman, ihe other batsman, shouted. Ashton, seeing that Ihe bail had resettled on the stumps, dashed back to his crease before Boddington, ihe wicket keeper, had recovered from his surprise. Ai the poultry demonstration at Sol way Mr E C. Brown, chief Government poultry instructor, was able (says the Masterton Age) to solve a problem for a local owner of ducks, the eggs of which had proved worthless because the whites turned to a jelly-like substance and the yolks became a greenish-black. Mr Brown said this was caused by the ducks eating acorns or flaxroots, and the owner admitted thai the birds were particularly partial to acorns. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday the settler who defended the charge of allowing stock to wander on the public road at I'ohangina was 11. C. Lucas, and not "Simon Mora" as stated in the _ report. The name "Mora'' was confused with thai of Mr Simon Moar, who signed the summons. The error is a regrettable one as it may probably lead the people of I'ohangina to think that Air Simon Moar was the defendant in ihe action, whereas he was merely carrying out the duties of a Justice 1 of the Peace. On Sunday night many of those who had been deeply impressed by the inspiring words of R\v. G MocDouall, when speaking at All .Saints of ihe needs of China, came togethet and pledged themselves to raise £BO to provide the passage of a. New Zealander who litis offered to go back to help Ml' MacDoUtall in Ins lonely work in North China. Already £35 of tins sum has been promised, ami the vicar wilt tie pleased to receive any donatio is. which can also be given to Messrs F S. M Ilankn, Clarke S. W. Moore, and hassling, and other collectors authorised by the vicar. The long dig' ll die Auckland yacht thieves recalls to the New Zealand Herald the attempt to escape from justice uiado by John Caffery, master, and Henry Penn, mate of the cutter Sovereign of the Seas, after the murder of a settler named Robert Taylor, at Tryphena, Great Barrier, on .June 19th, 1886. The two men, accompanied by a woman, sailed m ihe cutter lor Australia, the vessel being wrecked on thai coast. They lived for some tune in the bush but were subsequently arrested and brought back to Auckland, where ihe extreme penalty of the law was paid.