Mt. Benger Mail WEDNESDAY, OCT. 20, 1937. Be Just and Fear Not. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mt Benger Mail, 20 October 1937, Page 3

Mt. Benger Mail WEDNESDAY, OCT. 20, 1937. Be Just and Fear Not. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr J. R. Benson, 8.D.5., dental surgeon, advises that he will visit Roxburgh on Thursday, Oct. 28th, and may be consulted at the Commercial Hotel, Roxburgh during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.

A well-known New Plymouth man unsuspectingly received a setback last week when he took ,his collars to a Chinese laundry, says the ‘Taranaki Herald.’ Unwrapping the parcel the man behind the counter observed the collars were of Japanese origin, and he promptly handed them back to the customer and refused to wash the articles.

The latest return of the Clutha River Gold Dredging’ Company Ltd. of 3440z for 130 hours makes the total gold won to date 4,5680z. The dredge began operations on May 22, and the latest return is the third best yet washed up. Taking gold at £7 an ounce, the value won amounts to £31,976.

With only one criminal charge for trial, the quarterly session of the Supreme Court at Palmerston North opened yesterday before Mr Justice Smith, who congratulated the district on the comparative absence of crime during the past few months.

“A day’s work now costs us 47 per cent more than was the case 12 months ago,” stated the chairman of the Hawke’s Bay County Council, Mr P. B. Logan, at the last meeting. ‘ ‘ Our clerk, Mr W. J. O’Connell, has been into figures recently, and that is the position revealed. It is a very serious problem. What it is going to cost next year the Lord only knows. ’ ’

A Dunedin family moving from a rented house to one purchased had the present shortage of rented houses strongly brought home to them. During the time the remover’s van pulled up outside their gate and departed laden, no fewer than 15 different people made inquiries whether it would be possible to rent the house when vacated. These inquiries all met with the same answer. The house had been relet a month before.

The Bishop of Wellington on Friday announced the gift by a layman of the Wellington diocese of a legacy of £IO.OOO to £12,000 for the building of the new Anglican Cathedral. The donor of this bequest, the bishop said, was altering his will' for the purpose, in consequence of the church’s decision to build in the northern part of Wellington. Previously, the bishop himself made a gift of £IOOO, half of his private fortune, towards the cathedral, and a lay member of synod (Mr C. H. Handley) promised a similar amount.

The intro duet ion. of a restriction on the alcoholic content of New Zealand beer as a measure towards the reduction of motor accidents is suggested by a Christchurch business man. “Whilst in Australia recently,” he said, “I was impressed by the mildness of the beer consumed there. Lager beer was extremely popular, and it could be consumed without any ill-effects. It has just occurred to me that New Zealand beer is too strong for the average man, who merely desires to satisfy his thirst. lam also of the opinion that a reduction in its strength would help he Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) to achieve his aim in regard to road accidents.”

A letter written by a Maori on the East Coast of the North Island with the object of obtaining Government* assistance to secure a house caused considerable amusement when it was read in the House of Representatives last week by Sir Apirana Ngata (Nat., Eastern Maori). “Greetings to you and all of you,” wrote the Maori. “May the warm rays of the approaching summer sun thaw the cold blood stream that courses through the hearts of those in authority. Emboldened by the speeches by our Minister when he unburdened himself over our glorious past and voiced his concern for our future, I hasten to send in an application to build a house. Time went by and I waited and in waiting I slept and in sleeping I dreamt that I was at the races, taking part in a steeplechase. As I got over one hurdle there appeared another and then another and another, each bigger than the last. When I had got once round I heard a loud-speaker saying ' Cali the Maori—call the Maori off. We must look into this special circumstances.’ In my disappointment and rage at not being allowed to finish the race, I awoke and great is my sorrow that my dream ended so soon. So without the aid of the gods of night, I send you this reason for applying for a house. If you have no seat any validating legislation which might special circumstances for a new pair. Well, sir, I have no roof to my old tent house, so God bless you and keep you long enough to send me a new house.”