LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2311, 2 December 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day has been cancelled as a vising day at the Turakina health camp but Saturday and Sunday will be open days as usual.

The total area in commercial orchards in Now Zealand is approximately 30,000 acres, of which about 75 pee cent .consists of apples. At the ordinary meeting of the Borough Council held on Monday evening, the Town Clerk was authorised to add ten per cent on all outstanding rates, in terms of the Rating Act, 1910.

In the semi-final of the amateur billiards championship of New Zealand played at Dunedin, Mason (Dunedin), G 66 beat Stowart (Dunedin). 649. Mason now meets Hackett (Auckland) in the final.

One of the nightmares of country holiday-makers is the want of protection against the rest-disturbing mosquito, says a Sydney cable. A complaint on this head has lead to a Court ruling that hotels must provide without delay, nets for every bed. Although butter has been reduced in price in Auckland, and is to fall to-morrow in Dunedin, representatives of the Canterbury dairy factories say that no reduction at present is proposed in Christchurch. In Canterbury' the wholesale net price of 1/5 a pound-is below that ruling in Auckland and Dunedin .

The junior high school system initiated by the Minister of Education, the Hon. Sir James Purr, is being gradually extended. The sixth of this type of school is to be established at Caversham, Dunedin. Cabinet has approved, on the recommendation o t the Minister, of a substantial grunt for the erection of a suitable building. It is recalled (states an exchange) that a number of important things in the world’s history have been settled by one vote. The House of Hanover got on the throne in that way, for it was by one vote, that of Sir Arthur Owen, member for Pembroke, that the Act of Settlement was passed, and that gentleman killed several horses in a race from Wales to Westminster to do the deed. The present French Republic was established in 1870 by the one vote of M. Wallon, an obscure deputy who wanted a monarchy but voted the wrong way by mistake. It was by one vote that the American Congress decided on the war in 1812.

The introduction in the schools of the phonograph, for fostering musical appreciation, is finding strong advocacy in Sydney. Those interested in musical education view with some disquiet the sway which the modern jazz and listening-in now hoid on the youthful minds, and they believe that these influences can be most effectively met, and the aesthetic sense best developed in the school, by the use of the phonograph as is being done in the Old Country, in order that even the poorest child can be brought under the influence of great masters, and in personal contact with the musical achievements of all countries and indeed of the last tew centuries.

The state of Robert Louis Stevenson’s tomb on the summit of Vila, in Samoa, is no longer a reproach to those who are entrusted with its'keeping. Some months ago a visitor to Samoa, on returning to Auckland, complained that some vandals had defaced the tomb by scratching and writing their names on its sides. Sir George Richardson, Administrator of Samoa, who reached Auckland on Monday, told a “Herald” reporter that a few days after the departure of the visitor who complained of the desecration he made one of his visits to the tomb and noticed the markings. He, too, felt strongly indignant at this childish treatment of the groat writer’s resting place, and at once had the marks removed and the tomb cement washed. An innovation shortly to be put into practice by the Railway Department Is the Issuing of licenses to porters others than those it employs itself. The system has been used successfully in America and elsewhere. Licenses will bo granted at the discretion of the manager and the licensed porters will be able to ply for hire on the station and transport luggage as directed by any person employ Ing them. Charges have been fixed at Cd for carrying a single article of luggage, and 1/- for each trip when there Is more than one article. The new porters will wear a distinguishing badge or cap and will be in many respects similar to the American “Redcaps.” The Railway Department’s porters have other duties than the shifting of luggage and the Innovation should mean better service all round.

A bargain for men during our big Removal Sale of Footwear. Men’s light Cookhams of English box calf; calf-lined, welted BOles--wide fitting, All sizes In stock: usually 85/-. Removal sale price 25/- net cash at The C. M. Ross Co., Ltd,