LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1741, 17 February 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Indian labourers in Ba and Tavua cane districts, Fiji, have struck, demanding higher wages. There were no disturbances.

A paragraph in yesterday's issue gave the exchange rate on New York as 239 cents. This should have been ,"89 cents.

William Arthur Edward Atkinson, barely 17 years of age, pleaded guilty at Hawcra to forgery and uttering, the amount involved in tho charges being £(SS. He was committed for sentence, bail being allowed.

The Victorian Government has declined to lift the restrictions on racing. The Moonee Valley Club is affected for its Saturday meeting. The decision is likely to remain until the shipping dispute is settled.

The slaughtermen at the Burnsidc freezing works are reported to have adopted the "go-slow" policy as a result of the refusal of the company to dismiss a man to whose employment the union had taken exception. Most of tho stock is being sent to other freezing works.

Last day of sale to-morrow. Many lines further reduced to clear. Blouses, Sports Coats arwl Dress Skirts must go at final reduction prices. All Manchester and Dress remnants at. markdown prices to clear. Be in at the final. The C. M. Ross Co. close all day on Saturday for annual picnic*

A special general meeting of the Y.M.C.A. Athletic Club will be held in the Buffet at 7.30 pan. to-night. The very interesting" report of the Rongotea sports and picnic which appeared in the "Standard" last night was scissored from the columns of the "Manawatu Daily Times" without acknowledgment.

The engineer of the Wanganui Harbour Board finds if necessary to be very emphatic in contradicting anonymous newspaper correspondents who criticise him and his staff unjustly. "A damned lie" is what he calls one statement thus made.

The .judge's summing up in the case in which Frederick Malaquin, of Christchurch, charged with the attempted murder of his wife, was generally in favour'of accused. The jury, after an hour's retirement, returned a verdict of not guilty. -

A painful accident occurred on Tuesday to Mr A. Woodmore, son of Mrs' Woodmore, of 109 Ferguson Street. Mr Woodmore was engaged in felling trees in connection with telephone line erection when he received' a severe gash across the leg from a scrub-cutter.

Five thousand fat sheep and 1800 lambs are held up in Dannevirkc owing to the shortage of trucks. A big consignment of butter, cheese, and other dairy produce is also held up for the same reason, and representations are to be made to the Department to relieve the pressure.

The road between Woodville and Pahiatua is in a very bad state of repair. -Notwithstanding this it was converted into a speedway by a certain type of motorists, who drove at a reckless pace amidst clouds of dust and made travelling in that vicinity dangerous and uncomfortable to ordinary sane people who had to be out and about on other than racing business.

"Ratepayer" writes: I feel very pleased with Cr Lancaster. Your report of his opinions on borough matters show that he is a practical man with a fair amount of common sense. It is quite refreshing after the tommy iot we have been having from some of the Council make-weights for some considerable time back. I don't know Cr Lancaster personally, but from what I can learn from his experience as a public man he would make a very good Mayor if he would take the job on.

German men of science are swarming into Japan, ■ and being very warmly welcomed there. The Tokio correspondent of the Federation of British Industries states' that a regular colony of Germans is. springing up in Tokio, that Germans are being appointed to high scientific posts and that in nine such recent appointments the salaries ranged from £2OOO to £2500 a year. In iron and steel works, in the dye-stuffs industry, and in the manufacture of medical instruments "German brains" are evidently preferred by the Japanese.

During the past year the Government sold wheat to millers at the flat rate of 7/5 —the price to Auckland millers is much higher—and paid a subsidy of £4/7/6 a ton to keep down the price of flour and bread. As no accounts have been published for two or three years, the actual cost of this scheme to the taxpayers cannot be ascertained, but it runs as high as £400,000 a year. The outlook now is for much dearer wheat, involving a complete review of the flour subsidy, the price of flour, and the price of bread.—Auckland "Herald."

The Hastings Chamber of Commerce resolved to support the Christchurch and Duncdin chambers in their efforts to obtain the Government's consent to make this year's income tax payable in two six-month-ly instalments, and concession to be granted without restrictions so as to place all income tax payers on the sanio footing. In the course of the discussion it was emphasised that the collection of £12,000,000 in practically two months ip income tax and under the compulsory loan clauses would result in serious consequences to the industries and commerce of the Dominion.

Regarding the proposed name of the new street "Roiigopai," which was submitted to the Borough Council for approval, and which was then said to mean "peace," a friendly contributor says that it may be translated as "good will." A tutefttry god of the Maori was Rongo, prince of peace; but the literal meaning of Rongopai is rather "good news." The name Rongotea was regarded by the Rev. T. G. Hammond and the late John Stevens as having the meaning "glad tidings" when they conferred it upon the township, which Was then known as Campbelltown, after the late Hon Robert Campbell.

A garden party in aid of the funds of the .Ladies' Guild of the Methodist Church was held yesterday in the grounds of Mr T, A. Gibbs' residence at Terrace End. Although the attendance suffered by reason of numerous other attractions, a very pleasant afternoon was spent. The tennis court was well patronised and croquet and a "treasure hunt" were indulged in. Mrs Harnett, secretary, was tn charge of affairs, while the following ladies managed stalls: Produce, Mrs Whitehead; plain work, Mrs Cook and Mrs Clarke; fancy goods, Miss Andrews' and Mrs G. H. Bycroft; ice cream and sweets, Miss Cunningham and Miss Musker; treasure hunt, Mrs Bycroft.

Speaking at Christchurch, Mr Massey said that when he. camo back from his last visit to Europe be found that the Main Trunk expresses were not running, owing to lack of coal. The then Minister of Railways almost immediately handed over his portfolio to him, saying that, in consequence of the curtailments he had lost some of the confidence of the public. He (Mr Massey) then told the General Manager that tho trains must bo kept running at all costs, and this had been done, though the Government had paid prices for coal that would make the public gasp if they saw the figures. At. present the country was losing £300,000 per annum on the railways, but at one time the loss had been over £IOOO a day. It had been necessary to go outside New Zealand for large quantities of coal. "I don't know," added Mr Massey, "whether we shall get back to the good old times when wo could live on our own supplies, except for a certain amount of Newcastle coal for gas and other special purposes. I know that we have enough coal in this country to last a million years.

Final clearance price for Druid Holeproof Hose. Novel block check design m fine mercerised Lisle, full fashioned leg, wide suspender tops, shades Kawn, Champagne, Mole, etc. This season's novelty, ijuirkod 10/U, faro bargain at 5/11. The ('. M. Ross Co. Ltd. Sale ends to-moi-^w,*

An Auckland message says: Overtime on every ship in port was worked to-night. The departure of vessels will now be expedited, as the waterside rs have apparently reverted to the old order of things. Present indications are for moderate to strong southerly to easterly winds and dull, misty and cooler weather generally, with drizzling rain probable, especially in districts with an easterly aspect. The barometer has a rising tendency. The first of a series of fortnightly dances was commenced in the Oddfellows' Hall, Cuba Street, last night, under the auspices of the Druids' Lodge. The functions are being held in aid of the Lodge's benevolent fund. The attendance last night was excellent. The music was supplied by Mr H. Paul's orchestra, while Messrs Lyall and Fenton were the M's.C.

The majority of the watersiders at New Plymouth refused yesterday for the first time to work overtime after 5 o'clock. While Wellington, Auckland and other watersiders were adopting these tactics the New Plymouth men worked overtime, but now the brighter outlook at the main ports has been clouded by these men "going slow." The men are not unanimous in their action. —Press Association.

At the Picton Regatta yesterday the Maiden Fours resulted: Wellington 1, Picton 2, Poverty Bay 3; time, 5.49 2-5. Junior Pairs: Wairau 1, Poverty Bay 2, West End No. 1 3; time 6.55 4-5. Junior Fours: West End 1, Wairau 2, Wanganui Union 3; won by half a length; time, 9.0. Champion Fours: Wanganui Union 1, Aramoho 2, Blenheim 3; won by half a length; time, 12.10 2-5. Champion Sculls: St Clair (Hamilton) 1, Sharp (Wanganui Union) 2; time, 10.17 3-5. At the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday John Weston was charged with bookmaking. A circular was read that Weston claimed to be an electrician, but no electrical appliances were found on his premises. Mr Justice Stringer said the police evidence was far too flimsy to justify the conclusion that Weston was systematically carrying on business as a bookmaker. After a retirement of half an hour the jury found Weston not guilty. While in the South Island, Mr> Mas. sey was asked if Parliament would have an opportunity of discussing the naval and military policy of the Dominion prior to his departure for the Imperial Conference. "So far as lam able to judge," he replied, "there will not be a good opportunity to discuss these matters until I come back to the Dominion. lam very strongly in favour of a proper scheme of naval defence, not only for the Pacific, but for the whole Empire. I feel very strongly about it, for I am convinced that the future of the Empire depends upon the maintenance of our naval supremacy. I do not believe, for a moment, in a so-called 'naval holiday.' We could not afford it." In connection with the complaint of a local farmer to a Wanganui "Herald" representative a couple of days ago that, while some were refused accommodation by the banks, he knew of a wealthy farmer being lent £50,000, a leading member of the banking fraternity characterises the statement as nonsense. He stated that the banks were treating all their customers, farmers or otherwise, alike, and the only advances being made were where it was necessary to keep a man from going under through absolutely unavoidable commitments. As to any man getting '£50,000, he continued, there might be one or two exceptional cases in the Dominion in which a man might get a tenth of that sum, but no one could get £50,000 to-day or anything like it. All the public Departments have been directed lately to keep down their expenditure. Some of the big increases, caused by advancing wages and salaries and the high cosj of supplies, have been unavoidable, but other increases have been due to the growth of staffs, and the attention of heads of Departments has been drawn to this point. Another move in the direction of economy is-the issue of an instruction to certain Departments to prepare balance-sheets, such as would be required of a commercial,., undertaking. The Departments have been reducing staffs to some extent by dispensing with the services of tem 7 porary clerks. An important item in the increase of Departmental expenditure in Wellington has been the hire of buildings and offices. The amount of accommodation used by the Departments has increased very much since 1914, and many high rentals are being paid.

Whilst inspecting sixty odd cases of infantile paralysis under treatment at King George Hospital, the members of the Parliamentary party were deeply pained at the awful predicament of many of the patients, but were very favourably impressed with the value of the treatment afforded. Most of the patients are from six ,to fourteen years of age, with a slight predominance of girls. The complaint was most marked in regard to the arms and legs, but' notwithstanding their dreadful physical disability the patients were remarkably cheerful and constant smiles lighted their faces during the politicians' visit. It was found that all accommodation for such cases was utilised and that the majority of the patients were* victims of the 1919 epidemic. The most pitiable case was a bright boy of 12, who had completely lost the use of both arms and -who had trained himself to do many things with his toes. He interested the visitors by picking up coins with his toes and putting them into their pockets and removing them. The medical officer in charge said the hospital was now only receiving cases of ree'ent origin,' as only such cases could be speedily cured. He said an old ease might take two. years to cure and on account of the lack of accommodation it was felt that it was better to use the beds for newly contracted cases which could be effectively treated in a few months. It could not be made too widely known that an earlier case received a better chance of early recovery.

The infant brain works In strange circles. The other clay the teacher of a kindergarten class had been explaining all about elves, goblins, and fairies, and at the conclusion asked a little girl what a fairy was. "Please teacher," piped the. little one. "It's wot does the washing for muvver." The reference being, of course, to the well-known and popular washing powder having the picture of a fairy for its trademark. Fairy Wonder Dry Soap at all stores.* Thick.iess of tread is a big reature of NORTH BRITISH SOLID TYRES for all types of trucks. Replacements are very small indeed. Local agents, G. E. Splnley. 118'

Let your old False Teeth help to buy you a now summer hat. —Pearllne Co.. 168 Queen Street. Auckland.*