LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1764, 16 March 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At yesterday’s meeting of the West Coast A. and P. Association it was decided to write to the Prime Minister urging that £SOOO he placed on the Estimates for afforestation purposes - . Mr 8. Hntchison, of Awapuni, secured two firsts arid two v.h.c’s. at the Young Bird Show held at Aucklano last week in connection with the Poultry Conference. Mr T. Bruce, of Palmerston North, had a third to his credit.

A painful accident occurred to the driver of a milk-cart named Giftcns, on Foxton Line on Monday morning. The vehicle tipped up while going over a rise and crashed on to Giften’s neck and head, inflicting severe injuries. He is now in hospital. Mr Justice Cooper dismissed with costs an appeal from Hamilton, the effect being to hold it illegal for a restaurant proprietor to hire his restaurant to anybody for a social gathering at which liquor was consumed at a time when licensed premises are required by law to be closed. Stock slaughtered at the Borough abattoirs during February included 140 cows, 88 bullocks, 33 heifers, 31 calves, 407 owes, 78G wethers, 361 lambs and 3105 pigs. Four cows, one bullock, one heifer, two sheep and 52 pigs were condemned. Eighty-five head of* stock were impounded in the Borough pound during February. As many people had been making a right of way of the College Street School grounds, the Committee decided to lock all gates. Some irresponsible persons have now removed the locks and chains and damaged one gate. The Committee intends to take immediate proceedings agaipst any one found trespassing in the grounds or damaging the school property. Notice of discontinuance ha? been served on defendants in the case in which Mr Peter Mora, clerk to the Wellington County Council, claimed £4OOO damages from the proprietor of the “King Country Chronicle’’ (Mr J. E. Hammil) for a leader which commented regarding the purchase by Mr Mora of a county farm. The withdrawal of the action of the plaintiff is unconditional.

Eeccntly a female with a child appealed to the Mayor of Masterton for assistance in her distress, and she toldsuch a pitiful tale that his Worship, who has ever a soft spot in his heart for those in trouble, took her and the child to a boarding house and paid £1 for their board. The woman is alleged to have promptly borrowed half of this amount from the landlady and to have disappeared with a male acquaintance, after having a go-cart repaired and charged up to the Mayor.

In connection with the reference to the premises of the Kairanga Auctioneering Company, Limited, in our issue of Monday, we are informed that the Company is taking over the whole of the present store of the N.Z. Express Company, Ltd., in George Street. The latter Company has in course of erection a capacious brick store and business premises having a frontage of 150 feet on Taonui Street, and a depth of GO feet. This building, which will have a storage capacity of 135,000 cubic feet, is being erected under the supervision of Mr E. H. de J. Clore, and Messrs Trevor Bros, are the contractors. The Company will have ample room to extend these premises, which will be completed in a few weeks.

Bather a comfortable-looking car was pulled up in a Napier street and a bystander drew the attention of the driver to the fact that he had lost his number plate. The obliging individual promptly offered to get a piece of chalk to mark the number on the car, in order to save the owner being fineu three quid. He rvent into a shop and returned with the chalk, and then the following dialogue occurred: “AVhat's your number?” ‘‘l have not got one.” “Well, you’ll be lined.” “Look on the back oft.the car.” The bystander did so and on seeing a crown said: “Oh, so you travel for a brewery?” The driver then explained that the crown represented Royalty, and that the car belonged to the Governor-General, and was not governed by the laws of the land.— ‘‘ Taumaruuui Press. ’’ At the W.C.T.U. Dominion Convention resolutions were passed asking for separate lavatory accommodation for women and children on trains, against the practice of consuming intoxicating liquor on trains, against the allegedly inadequate sentences - imposed upon men convicted of criminal assaults upon young children, asking for enlargement of the powers of the picture lilm censor and improvement in picture films, for improved legislation dealing with child labour, the establishment of continuation classes for children who leave school after taking the primary course, advocating that tho father of a child born out of wedlock be held equally responsible with the mother for the welfare of the child, and asking for the appointment of women on antiprofiteering boards and boards of public health.

“We are not going to throw concessions broadcast,” explained the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, when asked what steps the Government was taking to assist the soldiers who were placed on high-priced land and now had difficulty in making ends meet. Mr Guthrie recounted the facilities for postponement of rent, adding that rent would be completely remitted in exceptional cases. The Government might consider the capitalisation of arrears, but this was not in the best interest of the soldier. It would also make revaluations where necessary. As for suggestions of unduly high purchase prices, the Tiraumea estate had been referred to, and anyone with a knowledge of the subject would- know that the owner of the estate sold on generous terms. He sold at £8 per acre, when the valuer estimated the land as worth £9 10/(5. The only mistake was in not taking the stock, which was in splendid condition, and realised high prices at the sale. Possibly the sections were too small, but the Land Board intended throwing some together and increasing the area. Our display of Wool Sports Coats for ladies, embraces all the newest ideas in art wool work, coarse, line or fancy knit, brush wool effects, contrast facings on long roll collars, cuffs and pockets. Prices for these exclusive novelties range from 5 to 8 guineas.—The C. M. Ross Co., Ltd. invite uelectiou for Easter wear.*

Argentina is the latest entry into the field for the Davis Cup. The Australind arrived at Wellington at 1.50 p.m. yesterday from Hampton Roads. The Borough Engineer (Mr .1. R. Hughes) mentioned to the Council last evening that his men were now working on the last street (Vogel Street), in the schedule drawn up for sewerage extensions, and a new schedule would have to be considered shortly. A tip to school committees was given at the Wanganui Schools Committee meeting on Monday evening, when it was mentioned that if any subsidies for special works are duo, it would be advisable to get them in quickly, as the-Government was tightening up the purse strings. An esteemed, but long-suffering subscriber recommends the following recipe for the cure of neuritis:—Buy bottled horseradish, and put into a glass as much as would cover a threepenny piece. Mix it with a very little water, and fill up with stout. If the neuritis is very bad, take this three times a day. The Oroua Lodge of Druids met last night, Bro W. F. Atler presiding, and Past Officers were elected and two proposed for membership. The balance sheet as read disclosed a very satisfactory state of affairs, the funds of the Lodge having now reached £7,300 odd. It "was decided to celebrate this achievement by holding a function. Present weather indications are for the development of a storm from the ■west. Expect northerly winds, increasing and strong to gale shortly in and south of Cook Strait. The weather will bo warm and humid with increasing cloudiness, and rain following shortly on the west coast and. southern districts. The barometer is falling fastpsoon in the south. Those w r ho were privileged to be present at the Opera House last night derived great enjoyment from the presentment of the charming comedy “A Great Adventure,” by Miss Mary Tempest and Mr Graham Browne, and a talented company in support. It was an unique performance which will linger pleasantly in the memory of local, playgoers for many a day to come. The Borough Council received notification from Daw'ber Motors, Ltd., last evening that the Commer bus chassis ordered were on their way to New Zealand per s.s. Remuera. The bodies were nearing completion and the busses would probably be delivered about the end of May. The Mayor: That is all right. We will get them in time.—Cr. Eliott; It is a good job they are not coming any earlier! The Rev. A. Ashcroft delivered a lecture at the Luncheon Club yesterday on “Our Intellectual Debt and Duty to the Race. His contention was that our heritage from past generations who had bequeathed to us a legacy of intellectual riches, should inspire each to contribute something to the great forward movement of humanity, so that no life should .be tired out without adding to the general storehouse of knowledge and achievement. The Mayor mentioned to the Borough Council last evening that the visiting team of bowlers’ from Auckland, who had been taken through the Esplanade, had offered through the President of the Auckland Centre (Mr Coltman) to donarte a seat for the Esplanade drive. A very hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Aucklanders and the wish was expressed by Councillors that all visiting bowling teams would do the same thing. "There must be some sports among them,” commented Cr. Hodgena. It was decided on the Mayor’s motion at the Borough Council meeting last evening to close the Council offices between the hours of 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. each day. The Mayor pointed out that this would be a more satisfactory arrangement for all concerned ,as people would know definitely what time, they could see the Council’s officers if Cr. Hodgens made a plea for the working man who would only have half an hour in which to transact his business. The Mayor said the arrange, ment could be altered if not found satisfactory. The Wellington' Harbour Board is evidently resolved that its casual employees shall work the full time for which thfey are engaged and paid. Knocking off about 9.45 p.m. some men, who’were engaged to work till 10 o’clock, were on pay 4 a l r docked for the time they did not work. As a result, they did not turn to until half anthour late next day. The Har. hour Board refused to engage them until 11 a.m. The* result was' therefore a loss of three hours’ pay. Eleven out of nineteen men who refused to clean up the shed floor between 9.40 and 10 p.m. after (heir evening’s work were dismissed. In view of the world-wide prevalence of pilferage of goods in transport, a suggestion recently made by the Shipping Department of the Federation of British Industries will be very welcome (says the Sydney .“Shipping List”). The Department proposes that goods should be packed iu wirenetting, the parcels being formed into bales as usual, with hoop-iron bands on the outside. With this arrangement the parcel would have to be entirely opened up before an article could be extracted, and it is reckoned that the delay and difficulty of this process would seriously discourage pilfering. The extra Cost and weight involved would be trifling in comparison witli the additional protection afforded. The matter of a municipal milk supply as suggested by Cr. Broad at the last Borough Council meeting, when he asked for a report to be procured from the Wellington City Council, was discussed at the Council meeting last evening, when the Information asked for was received. Cr. Spooner said the matter was a most important one in view of the present high price of milk in the town. Cr. Broad had been justified in asking for the information. If they were going to act it would be wise to act quickly. He moved that a committee consisting of Crs. Hodgens, Oram, Broad and himself be set up to investigate the report. Cr. Oram preferred not to be included, as he could not favour an undertaking fraught with such risk during the present financial crisis. The Mayor, while agreeing that the proposal was a good one, thought with Cr. Oram that the time was not opportune. He also thought it was a question which might be referred to the incoming Council. Cr. Graham replaced Cr. Oram on the committee and the motion was carried.

At the half-yearly meeting of delegates to the North Island Grand Lod,\c of Druids, held in Auckland, it was decided to establish a benevolent fund for the purpose of grantin'’’ ndditionr» relief to members in aisncjrsu circumstances. ‘’The town is to bo congratulated - on the was the gas supply has been kept up,” remarked Cr. C. F. Spooner to the Borough Council last evening. “It may be all right for the houses but the street lighting has given us no cause for congratulation.” said Cr. Eliott. The Mayor: ‘‘We have been better off than other places.” “I don’t say it has been as bad as other places, but it is nothing to crow about,” commented Cr. Eliott. At a meeting to-night of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, a recommendation by the executive was submitted, to the effect that it is not , considered in the interest of bona fide * manufacturers that the Association should federate with the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association, inasmuch as the latter admitted as members importers, and others whose interests frequently ran counter to those of the manufacturers. The recommendation was unanimously adopted.—Press Association. Quantities of "New Zealand produce, purchased by the 1 Imperial Government, and held in store in New Zealand, for which no shipping space had been allocated on March 7, amounted to 302,769 carcases of meat, and there were also about 300,000 bales of wool arid 317,700 boxes of butter awaiting shipment on the same date. Payments made from February 28 to March 7 were, on ac-count-of meat for greasy and fellmongers’ wool £5904, for freezing companies’ slipe wool £167; for butter £432,115. , ’ •